Arts and Culture Explorer Map

7 Arts & Culture Neighborhood Maps to Help You Explore San Francisco

If you've come to San Francisco to get cultured, you've come to the right place. Our city is full of incredible artistic achievement—in our museums, galleries, and theaters, but also in our parks, atop our buildings, and even on our streets.

If you want to experience culture in San Francisco, from the traditional to the cutting-edge, you can do that in almost any neighborhood in the city. To help you plan your experience (and keep you from being overwhelmed), we've created these Cultural Explorer Maps for you to use during your visit. Explore any one (or more) of these San Francisco neighborhoods to witness our creativity in action!

Please Note: It's best to contact the establishments listed in these maps directly to confirm their hours of operation.

Civic Center/Central Market

San Francisco’s professional opera, symphony and ballet companies are all located in historic venues opposite City Hall; the arts found here are as resplendent as the area’s Beaux Arts architecture.

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Dogpatch

On the eastern edge of the city, this former industrial hub is now an artistic playground. Galleries, independent shops, and tremendous exhibition spaces are complimented by some excellent bars and restaurants.

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Fillmore/Japantown

One of the most lively entertainment districts in San Francisco, the Fillmore is frequented by jazz, blues and rock-and-roll luminaries. Take advantage of the rich cross culture with the adjacent Japantown, the oldest of only three in the U.S.

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Golden Gate Park

With more than 1,000 acres to explore, Golden Gate Park starts where the Haight-Ashbury ends and continues to Ocean Beach on the edge of the Pacific. Explore museums and landmarks, giant redwoods, trail, lakes, windmills and gardens.

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The Mission

Featuring a culturally diverse and vibrant range of San Francisco’s art scene, the Mission offers murals, galleries, cafes, bookstores and boutiques with eclectic wares as well as Mission Dolores, one of the oldest structures in San Francisco.

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Union Square

Often thought of as the retail heart of the city, Union Square has more theaters than any other neighborhood in San Francisco. Many were built not long after the 1906 earthquake and fire.

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Yerba Buena/SoMa

With the highest concentration of arts institutions west of the Hudson River, this neighborhood is filled with museums, galleries and renowned architecture. There are 11 museums within three blocks and many of them house gift shops featuring unusual souvenirs and locally made items.

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