SFMOMA is the largest and most important museum of modern art in San Francisco, as well as being the first on the West Coast to be entirely dedicated to this sector. It was closed for a few years for renovations and it has doubled its original size and now offers its visitors 7 floors of cultural exhibitions.
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How to Get to SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is located in SoMA near Yerba Buena, which was the original nucleus of the city, and is just over a 10-minute walk from Union Square. The address of the museum is 151 Third St.
SFMOMA Tickets
Tickets to enter SFMOMA costs $25 for adults and is free for children and teens under 18.
Here you find all the days of free access to the museum. If you want to try to save some money to visit the museum, it may be helpful to know that the SFMOMA is included in the San Francisco CityPASS and the Go San Francisco Card. Getting one of these passes can be an option to consider especially if you plan to stay in the city for several days and you want to visit other attractions as well.
More information on San Francisco passes
SFMOMA Hours
The museum hours are as follows:
- Friday-Tuesday: 10:00 am- 5:00 pm
- Thursdays: 10:00 am- 9:00 pm
- Closed: Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and January 1st.
If you are planning to reach the SFMOMA by public transportation, here are the nearest stops:
- Montgomery Street: About 5 minutes on foot. It is served by all BART lines.
- Market St & Kearny St: 5 minutes on foot. It is served by the F line of the light rail.
- End of the line of the cable car: The museum is about a 10-minute walk from where two cable car lines start on Powell Street.
SFMOMA Exhibits and Attractions
I advise you to take the elevator directly to the top floor and then make your way down and visit the various rooms and pausing to admire the works or exhibitions that you consider most interesting. Also, do not miss the opportunity to go on the many terraces to enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
One of the most popular and curious attractions of the museum is certainly the Living Wall on the third floor. It is a wall almost 33 ft tall with more than 19,000 different plants with various shades of green that contribute to make it a real “living wall” that grows and changes over time.
If you love photography, the third floor will be the one for you, because the most important works are concentrated there. This is where the renowned Pritzker Center for Photography is located.
In addition to the permanent collection, the SFMOMA complex hosts numerous temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year. For this reason, I invite you to consult the official website to find the updated list of exhibitions on display during the period of your visit.
A side note about the use of color in the museum (in every sense): The museum’s bathrooms have been painted a single color (a different one for each floor) and they have such lively colors that they have become one of the most photographed parts of SFMOMA and have a dedicated website.
The most famous works of art in the museum
Among all the works in the museum, there are some important works that stand out. However, I invite you to check if they will be present at the time of your visit, because exhibitions often change and some works may be transferred or loaned to other museums.
- Jeff Koons: Large Vase of Flowers (7th floor)
- Frida Kahlo: Frieda and Diego Rivera (2nd floor)
- Henri Matisse: Woman With A Hat (2nd floor)
- Andy Warhol: Triple Elvis (5th floor)
- Pablo Picasso: Head Of A Woman (4th floor)
- Jackson Pollock: Guardians of the Secret (2nd floor)
Museum Store
Like all major museums, there is a well-stocked shop. It is located on both the first and second floor, and the section on the first floor is more complete and extensive. From books dedicated to temporary exhibitions, and jewelry, to themed clothing, nice gadgets, and toys, here you will surely find something to satisfy your curiosity and buy a souvenir to make a gift to those waiting for you at home.
You can get an idea of everything available in the store by visiting the store’s official website.
Can you take pictures?
Inside the museum, visitors are allowed to take photos and videos for personal use unless specifically instructed. However, it is forbidden to use flash, tripods, and selfie sticks.
Where to Eat
If you want to get something to eat or drink inside the museum between exhibitions, here are the options you have:
- Sightglass Coffee at SFMOMA: This cafe is on the second and third floors. I recommended it especially for a coffee break perhaps accompanied by pastry rather than lunch.
- Cafe 5: It is located in the sculpture garden space on the fifth floor. The cafe’s menus vary over time and it uses select and seasonal ingredients.
- In Situ: Located on the first floor, In Situ is not a snack bar where you can grab a quick snack between one exhibition and another. Rather, it is a classy restaurant. The menu has been designed in collaboration with more than 90 chefs from all over the world.