If you’re looking for a family-friendly day out that combines art, nature, and free fun, the Legion of Honor in San Francisco is one of our favorite gems. Nestled in Lincoln Park with views of the ocean and surrounded by greenery, this fine arts museum offers a surprisingly accessible experience, even for families with young children.
In this post, I’ll share how we spent a relaxed, budget-friendly afternoon having a picnic on the museum’s front lawn and admiring Monet’s impressionist masterpieces. I’ll also walk you through the many ways to visit for free and share tips to make your outing easy and fun with kids in tow.
Why We Love the Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor is a stunning museum that showcases art and artifacts from ancient times through the early 20th century. You’ll find everything from ancient Roman sculpture to European paintings by masters like Rembrandt, Renoir, and Monet.
Admission is typically $20 for adults, but kids under 18 are always free, and there are multiple ways for local families to visit at no cost, which makes this one of the most affordable museum experiences in the Bay Area.
Legion of Honor Address and Hours
The Legion of Honor is located at
100 34th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121, at the edge of Lincoln Park.
Legion of Honor Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30 AM – 5:15 PM
It’s perched above the Lands End coastal trails and offers views of the Pacific Ocean. While you can’t see the Golden Gate Bridge from the lawn, the location is still breathtaking.
Legion of Honor Free Days
We’ve never paid general admission thanks to these great programs:
- Bay Area Resident Saturdays
If you live in one of the nine Bay Area counties, you can visit for free most Saturdays. Just bring proof of residency and reserve a timed ticket online in advance. - Free First Tuesdays
Everyone gets free general admission on the first Tuesday of each month. These days can be busy, so I recommend arriving early and booking in advance if possible. - Discover & Go
SF Public Library cardholders can reserve free admission passes online. (If you’re a California resident, you can apply for a library card. This perk alone makes it worthwhile.) - Bank of America Museums on Us
On the first full weekend of every month, BofA, Merrill, and Private Bank cardholders receive free general admission. Just show your card and a photo ID. - Military Admission
Active-duty military and veterans always receive free general admission. - Museums for All
SNAP recipients can receive free admission. Just show your EBT card and ID at the entrance.
Check Out More Free Family-Fun in San Francisco
Friday Morning Little Bears Music Class at the Chase Center
How to Go to the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco for Free
Picnic on the Lawn Beside El Cid
Before stepping into the galleries, we always start our day with a picnic on the Legion’s beautiful front lawn.
We usually settle near the dramatic statue of El Cid, a towering equestrian sculpture that never fails to capture my kids’ imagination. Just steps away is Rodin’s The Thinker, which sits in front of the museum’s entrance and adds to the dramatic effect of the space.
The front lawn is expansive, clean, and a perfect spot for kids to run, roll, and shake off their energy before heading inside.
We pack a picnic blanket and a bag of groceries from Trader Joe’s. Our current favorite combo is an organic baguette, brie, and fig jam. Sometimes I bring an art history book to read aloud, but more often, my boys prefer to climb nearby rocks or look up at the statues while munching on fruit.
On our last trip, we sat near El Cid because my kids love the Geraldine McCaughrean retelling of the Poem of the Cid*. But the lawn near Joan of Arc has an incredible view of the Lincoln Park Golf Course and is just as lovely.
Tip: Food and drinks aren’t allowed in the museum, so this is a great chance to fill little bellies before heading inside.
Admiring the Legion of Honor’s Grand Architecture
Even before you see the art inside, the museum itself is a masterpiece.
The Legion of Honor is designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, which borrows elements from classical Greek and Roman design such as massive columns, clean symmetry, and a stately entrance.
My kids immediately pointed out the Corinthian columns and wide front steps. We talked about how ancient architecture inspired this design and how even the building tells a story.
Rodin’s The Thinker sits alone in the entrance courtyard, framed by the colonnade. It feels like the sculpture is standing guard, inviting you to think deeply before entering.
Taking time to walk around the exterior gave us space to slow down and talk about art and design in a way that was very natural and relaxed. Even if your family doesn’t go inside, the outside alone is worth the trip.
Exploring Monet’s Masterpieces
When we visit a museum with kids, I’ve found it helpful to focus on just one artist or gallery. It gives our visit direction and gives the kids something to anchor their observations to.
This time, we zeroed in on Claude Monet, the famous impressionist painter. The museum has four of Monet’s pieces and a beautiful collection of works by other impressionists, including Degas and Renoir.
Before our visit, we read Linnea in Monet’s Garden*, a lovely children’s book about a girl who travels to France to see Monet’s garden and his paintings in real life. The book helped my kids understand how Monet used short, choppy brushstrokes and bright colors to capture the way light changes in nature.
It was magical to see my kids stand close to a painting and comment, “It looks messy,” and then watch them gasp when they stepped back and the image of water lilies or a garden came into view.
My kindergartener, who often feels frustrated that his art looks messy was especially encouraged. Seeing that even a master like Monet painted splotchy scenes up close gave him new confidence in his own art.
Kid Tip: Ask simple, open-ended questions like “What do you see in this painting?” or “Do you think this is morning or evening light?”
Legion of Honor Highlights
While Monet was the star of our visit, the Legion of Honor has many other galleries worth exploring, even with young children:
- Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures with busts and mythological figures
- Medieval armor and weapons, which were a big hit with my boys
- Furniture from Versailles, full of sparkle and perfect for pretend play
- Rodin Gallery, including The Kiss and an indoor version of The Thinker
- European paintings by artists like Rubens and Rembrandt
The layout is easy to navigate and not too overwhelming. We usually spend 60 to 90 minutes inside and find that’s the perfect amount of time with young kids.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Food and Drink: Not allowed inside the museum
- Photography: Allowed in most galleries without flash
- Restrooms: Available on the bottom floor near the gift shop
- Accessibility: Stroller and wheelchair-friendly with ramps and elevators
- Parking: Small lot in front of the museum, additional street parking nearby
- Front Facing Baby Carriers: Backpacks and rear-facing baby carriers are not permitted in the gallery
- Nearby Attractions: Walk the Lands End trail, visit the USS San Francisco Memorial, or explore the golf course paths
Next: Blankets and Blockbusters at the Chase Center Free Family Field Guide
Our day at the Legion of Honor was a beautiful blend of fresh air, meaningful conversation, and creative inspiration, all without spending a dime. It reminded me how rich San Francisco’s cultural offerings are, especially when we take the time to slow down and share them with our kids.
If you’re looking for an easy, enriching outing, I highly recommend adding this museum to your list. Whether you stay outside for a picnic or wander the galleries inside, there’s something here for the whole family.
Do you have a favorite free family outing in San Francisco? I’d love to hear about it in the comments or over on Instagram.
Next week on the blog: I’ll be sharing all about the Chase Center’s “Blankets and Blockbusters” Summer Movie Series, another great free event for families.
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