Back to top
Home | Visit a Museum for Free in January

Visit a Museum for Free in January

Family looking at art in Legion of Honor gallery San Francisco

The Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco offers free general admission on Saturdays and the first Tuesday of the month.

Did you know you can visit most of the Bay Area's major museums and cultural attractions for free every month? Just about all museums have one day a month set aside as a free day. They all aren't on the same day, too, so if you plan it right you can take in several museum outings without having to pay a thing.

Note that many museums charge for admission to special exhibitions which is not included in the free general admission offered on free days. Advance reservations may also be required and holidays may affect open hours. Check with each museum for details before you go. Also, groups are generally not admitted on free days; check with museums for their free day group policy.

Every Wednesday—January 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

First Thursday of the Month—January 2

Every Saturday—January 4, 11, 18 & 25

For general admission for all San Francisco Bay Area residents (must show proof of residency like a valid photo ID or utility bill)

Bank of America Museums on Us—January 4 & 5

Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card holders get free general admission on the first full weekend of every month. Present your card and a photo ID for admission (one free general admission per cardholder). Get full details here. Participating museums include:

First Sunday of the Month—January 5

    First Tuesday of the Month—January 7

    Second Sunday of the Month—January 11

    Second Tuesday of the Month—January 14

    If you can't make it to the museum on any of these free days, don't worry—the Marin County Free Library offers Discover & Go museum passes for patrons to check out. These passes provide free or discounted admission at many San Francisco Bay Area museums, including the Asian Art Museum, the Lawrence Hall of Science, the California Academy of Sciences, Exploratorium, the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Children's Fairyland, Pacific Coast Air Museum, the California State Railroad Museum, and more. You can even log in with your library card number and print a pass online! You can also check out passes to the Bay Area Discovery Museum at your local Library. Visit their website for more information.