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SFMOMA Seven floors of modern and contemporary art, one of the largest collections in the US.
🛡️ Independent — no pay-to-rank🔎 Graded for who you are✓ Verified 2026-06-06How we grade → The verdict
Who it's worth it for
If you've only got a day Couples Solo travellers Photographers History & culture buffs The genuinely curious Worth it for if you've only got a day, couples and solo travellers; not for families with kids.
Why we say this
Insider secrets & local vibes Even without a ticket there are over 45,000 square feet of free public art space to wander, including the ground floor and rooftop garden.
timeout.com Snøhetta's 10-story addition made it 'the largest modern and contemporary art museum in America,' with Warhol, Calder, Kelly and the Fisher Collection.
afar.com Six terraces, the country's largest living wall of 19,000+ plants, and 'endorphin-spiking' monochrome restrooms make the building itself part of the show.
timeout.com Marquee shows like Kusama's infinity rooms cost an extra $10 for a few rushed minutes — KQED clocked it at '16 cents every second.'
kqed.org SFMOMA paused its long-running Free First Thursdays program amid budget woes and layoffs, so a popular no-cost entry point is gone.
hoodline.com What it feels like
Reading the room, traveller by traveller For photos
Seven floors and 33,000 works — easily two to three hours, with the entire third floor given over to the Pritzker Center for Photography.
“The entire third floor is dedicated to the Pritzker Center for Photography.”
afar.com On a budget
Walk the free ground-floor galleries and rooftop sculpture garden, and bring anyone 18 and under who enters free.
For food
In Situ, the museum's lounge-restaurant, is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Corey Lee — a destination meal in its own right.
“In Situ, the museum's signature 150-seat lounge and restaurant, helmed by Michelin-star chef Corey Lee.”
afar.com For photos
The Pritzker photography floor plus the fog-and-bay-inspired Snøhetta facade and living wall give both the art and the architecture to shoot.
What people say
Straight from the reviews “There are still over 45,000 square feet of free public art spaces to explore for free.”
timeout.com “The room is indeed breathtaking, as colorful and trippy as the tesseract scene in Interstellar.”
kqed.org “If the idea of spending $40 to access an art exhibition for four minutes gives you pause, just remember: that pause will cost you over 16 cents every second.”
kqed.org Good to know
Before you go
Best time Allow 2–3 hours; the free ground floor and rooftop need no ticket any time
Getting there 151 Third St, SoMa, near Yerba Buena and Montgomery BART
Booking Free First Thursdays discontinued; special exhibitions often add a surcharge; SFMOMA is a CityPASS choice option
Accessibility Visitors 18 and under enter free Was this helpful? 👍 Yes 👎 No Add a tip
Make the most of it
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Check availability → 🛡️ Independent — no pay-to-rank🔎 Graded for who you are✓ Verified 2026-06-06How we grade →