The best arts & culture spots in South San Francisco

Opulently decorated house, HQ & museum for avant-garde entertainment troupe, with private tours.

225 San Leandro Wy (San Francisco)

SFO Museum Gallery Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is showing Harvey Milk: Messenger of Hope, a quietly powerful exhibition tracing Milk’s path from…

San Francisco International Airport, SFO), Terminal 1 (San Francisco)

Whether you grew up blowing into cartridges or fine-tuning your aim, make The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) your this-week…

921 Washington St (Oakland)

Skip the doomscroll and wander History San Jose at History Park, an outdoor campus of historic buildings and museums where the Valley’s…

Pacific Hotel Building, 1650 Senter Rd (San Jose)

Whether you’re nerding out on mummies or chasing a midweek curiosity kick, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum packs the largest collection of…

1660 Park Ave (San Jose)

Nonprofit gallery showing works including paintings & sculptures created by world-class artists.

1025 Market St (San Francisco)

A local institution staging highly acclaimed plays & nurturing talents like David Mamet since 1967.

Fort Mason Center, Landmark Building D, 2 Marina Blvd (San Francisco)

Free-admission museum and library showcasing 85,000+ objects related to typography and graphic design.

2325 3rd St Fl 4R (San Francisco)

Nonprofit theater company with an innovative bent putting on 6 plays annually in its intimate venue.

529 S Second St (San Jose)

Featuring an expansive collection spanning from historical garments to contemporary textile art.

520 S 1st St (San Jose)

A place for kids to explore arts & technology by making music videos, animating short films & more.

221 4th St (San Francisco)

Free galleries with rotating exhibits on art, history, science & culture, plus an aviation museum.

International Terminal Departures Level (San Francisco)

Movie theater chain known for presenting 3D films on a giant screen, including blockbusters.

201 S Market St 1st floor (San Jose)

Museum highlighting Japanese art, history & culture with an emphasis on the Bay Area.

535 N 5th St (San Jose)

Accessible, hands-on exhibits for all ages in a spacious facility, plus an attached IMAX theater.

201 S Market St (San Jose)

Landmark 850-ft-tall building shaped like a narrow pyramid & housing offices & retail space.

600 Montgomery St (San Francisco)

Big complex featuring interactive exhibits on outer space, a planetarium, a gift shop & more.

10000 Skyline Blvd (Oakland)

Built in 1869, this Italianate mansion houses a museum with period furnishings & decor.

672 11th St (Oakland)

Over 18,000 Asian artworks & artifacts in the updated former main library opposite City Hall.

200 Larkin St (San Francisco)

Hundreds of interactive, educational exhibits & activities illustrating scientific principles.

Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St (San Francisco)

Sprawling landmark with a staircase leading nowhere & other odd features designed to confuse ghosts.

525 S Winchester Blvd (San Jose)

Park featuring homes, businesses, landmarks and trolley rides, with events and an ice cream parlor.

635 Phelan Ave (San Jose)

Natural history museum with an aquarium, planetarium & scientists conducting a variety of research.

55 Music Concourse Dr (San Francisco)

Museum for kids focusing on environmental science & wildlife with indoor exhibits & an outdoor zoo.

1651 Coyote Point Dr (San Mateo)

Children of all ages explore more than 150 interactive exhibits including a full-size fire truck.

180 Woz Way (San Jose)

This historic Queen Anne Victorian home is open to the public as a museum with docent-led tours.

2007 Franklin St (San Francisco)

Artifacts & interactive displays in a modern building focusing on state art, history & science.

1000 Oak St (Oakland)

Museum housing an extensive aircraft collection & various aviation exhibits in a historic hangar.

8252 Earhart Rd (Oakland)

Presidio museum exploring the life of Walt Disney featuring hands-on exhibits & original artwork.

104 Montgomery St (San Francisco)

Contemporary & modern paintings, installations, photographs, media & more in a sleek space.

151 3rd St (San Francisco)

A sleek, minimalist space featuring 3 galleries dedicated to rotating exhibits of contemporary art.

560 S 1st St (San Jose)

Gallery showing work by local artists, with frequent events.

300 S 1st St Basement Level (San Jose)