People sitting outside de Young museum in a group

de Young museum, San Francisco, 2021. Photograph by Gary Sexton

Group visits + tours

We offer unique experiences for groups of all kinds. Explore our extensive permanent collections and special exhibitions, and enjoy casual or fine dining by booking a group visit.

Please note: Group Sales will be fully closed April 22 – May 2. Bookings will reopen May 3. Please allow additional time for docent requests and order processing.

What is a group?

A group is 10 or more people. We encourage 10 or more people visiting the museum together to order tickets as a group in order to receive discounted admission rates and planning assistance. For any group visiting with chaperones, a minimum of one chaperone is required per eight youths.

Booking a group visit

Fill out the group visit form.

If you are paying by credit card, you may also place your order over the phone by calling us at 415.750.3659.

Please note:

  • We do not book group visits during Free Saturdays.
  • All request forms need to be submitted with two weeks advance notice. We cannot guarantee access with shorter notice. 
  • Your admission reservation is not confirmed until you receive an emailed receipt.

Booking a group tour

We are pleased to offer private special exhibition tours led by docents for your group visit! If you’d like to book a private tour for your group, please indicate this on your order form. You can book a private tour for your group by calling us at 415.750.3659 or emailing us at groups@famsf.org.

Tour times and docent fees for hour-long special exhibition tours:

  • During regular weekday business hours, tours may begin any time during the following blocks: 9:30 – 10:45 am, 1:30 – 4 pm.
  • Tours outside of regular business hours are currently unavailable.
  • There is a $150 docent fee* for private tours, in addition to the cost of tickets. Additional fees apply for multiple docents.

Please note:

  • Tours are currently limited to 6 – 10 people per docent.
  • Larger groups will be assigned an appropriate number of docents and charged per additional docent.
  • Larger groups with multiple docents will need to be staggered (about 10 minutes apart); please schedule accordingly.
  • Your order form and payment information must be received at least one month prior to your visit to secure a group tour.

*Effective October 1, 2023, the docent fee will be $225 for private tours.

Booking an Art Talk

Bring the museums to you! Art Talks are entertaining, educational, multimedia art presentations delivered by museum speakers. These talks can be presented to your group either on-site at your venue or online through Zoom. Select Art Talks are offered in Mandarin or Spanish. Onsite talks are $200 and live online talks are $150. Email AT@famsf.org for booking information.

Please note: If you request an online (Zoom) talk, we ask that you host the talk on your platform and provide technical support during the program.

Group visit FAQs