Arts & Culture | San Francisco Travel

San Francisco
Arts & Culture

San Francisco is a city of inspiration. You can see it all around you, in whichever neighborhoods you visit.

Festival attendees dance at the Portola Music Festival

San Francisco's art scene is vibrant and dynamic, with a rich history of artistic tradition, from murals to cutting edge performing arts. Today, the city is home to a thriving community of artists who work in a wide range of media, from painting and sculpture to video and performance art. In its energy, its diversity, and its creativity, San Francisco’s art scene embodies all the best of the City by the Bay.

 

SFMOMA lobby

Experience the Magic of San Francisco’s Art Scene at SFMOMA

Discover SFMOMA's diverse art collections, exhibitions, and events. Explore 50,000+ works across 7 floors, from photography to sculpture. Plan your visit to San Francisco's cultural gem.

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Close-up view of the marquee of the Roxie Theater in the Mission District, San Francisco, CA.

Your Guide to Film Festivals in San Francisco

At any time of year ,there’s a film festival unreeling in San Francisco. Check out our guide to discover which festivals are happening each month.

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Buckyball
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.

The cast of "Wicked" at San Francisco's Orpheum Theater

Your Guide to San Francisco's Performing Arts Events This Fall

Here's a helpful round-up of the must-see performances in San Francisco this season.

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Van Ness Avenue Installation

Your Guide to San Francisco's Public Art This Fall

In San Francisco, the city is our canvas. No matter which neighborhood you’re exploring, you’re bound to find some breathtaking—and free—art.

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Exploratorium

The Exploratorium

Described as a mad scientist's penny arcade, a scientific funhouse, and an experimental laboratory all rolled into one, the Exploratorium is regarded as the world’s foremost interactive science museum. With more than 650 hands-on exhibits that ignite curiosity and transform the way people learn, visitors of all ages can play, observe, and discover.

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SFMOMA

SFMOMA

The home for modern and contemporary art in San Francisco, and the first of its kind on the west coast, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art showcases boundary-breaking works in painting, sculpture, and photography. Explore all seven stories of the building, which is itself a piece of architectural wonder. Book your tickets ahead of time. 

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Dancer in the Carnaval celebration

Explore San Francisco's Cultural Districts

San Francisco leads the way in preserving the character, community, and history of its neighborhoods. Visit our city's Cultural Districts and be part of an authentic local experience.

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