Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
4.5
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Designed to look like a Greco-Roman ruin, this structure was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It's now a prime events venue.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Marina District
Beautiful homes, beautiful people, and a beautiful backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge welcome visitors to the Marina. Originally the location for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 (whose remnants can be seen at the Palace of Fine Arts), much of the land was filled and flattened to accommodate a world’s fair. That ample space has given way to a jogger’s paradise at the northern edge of the city. With the picturesque bay setting as its backdrop, it’s no surprise that the area has hosted numerous movie productions. Daytime activities focus on café culture and boutique shopping, while the evenings turn this neighbourhood into a party-going hotspot.
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See what travellers are saying
- Nico Samneil Sy SaladoNewport, Vermont1,999 contributionsMesmerizingA really relaxing place. Feels like you are in greece or somewhere European! The redwoods are pretty amazing as well. No entrance fee. Parking has a minimal amount to pay. See images and videos for further information.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 4 May 2024
- Sara G.Saint Louis, Missouri968 contributionsBeautiful Walk!The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco is captivating. And right in the bustling city. The walk through the grounds is visually stunning and alive with the presence of various critters. Originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the structure was meant to be temporary, yet its beauty and cultural significance have ensured its preservation. The architecture is inspired by Roman and Greek styles in 20th-century design and dedicated to the arts. Absolutely beautiful and a must do.Visited August 2024Travelled on businessWritten 10 August 2024
- Vanessa PCalgary, Canada1,465 contributionsPanama Pacific exposition! Free and must to seeWhat a beauty! It was built for the Panama Pacific exposition, it is a promenade with a tall rotunda and colonnades by a lake. Very pretty! A sight to see, it was saved by local efforts and it is a must to see if you like history and architecture. Also beautiful gardens in its surroundings. Free!Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 August 2024
- Lynne CCarshalton, United Kingdom440 contributionsStunning architectureThe Palace of Fine Arts is definitely worth a visit. You can get the hop on hop off bus there. Spend time, walk around. It's beautiful architecture on a grand scale. It's peaceful and you'll recognise parts of it from certain movies like Venom or So I Married an Axe Murderer. There's not much around it as it's a residential area so we couldn't find a cafe or anywhere to grab a drink. Go round then jump back on a bus.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 September 2024
- Eva TUnited Kingdom5,875 contributionsNot what I expectedWe've been on guided bus tour and made a short stop at this place. It was totally different what I expected, not a gallery or theatre in general meaning of these worlds. It was like big monument with lake and lots of trees. Our guide told us to look at the statues at the top and then we realized that all are turned with the back to outside world. How odd but also interesting.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 September 2024
- The_Concierge_8Trinidad and Tobago3,817 contributionsOught to be on a list of the Modern Wonders of the World! No photos do it justice!This was a stop on our Grand city tour of San Francisco. We got 20 minutes to walk around here but you do need some more time. We saw couples having their wedding photos taken here. Seems a popular thing to do and the same reason why it was a popular film location for dozens of movies. Don't let the name fool you. It's not a Palace in the real sense of the word but it is in scale and grandeur! Can't believe that these amazing structures were built for an International Exposition! (Similar to the Eiffel Tower). It's funny how we no longer build statement-making structures that can last hundreds of years to celebrate milestones or achievements any longer. The architecture is stunning and massive! I felt like we were in a land of giants! I saw locals sitting on the lawns and on benches looking at the water. It's a very serene place. If you have the opportunity do go have a look. It will take your breath away!Visited September 2024Travelled soloWritten 6 October 2024
- dustythoughtsManchester, Connecticut2,259 contributionsBreathtakingly gorgeous open-air theatreThis breathtakingly gorgeous theatre only goes to show that art isn't just limited to a typical art museum - you can find beauty anywhere! It's an open-air theatre with beautiful architecture and places to sit and reflect. It was busy when we were here, but it didn't get noisy or crowded, as there was plenty of space.Visited October 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 October 2024
- WIKITRAVELPEDIAMiami Beach, Florida618 contributionsFree activity in San FranciscoA nice place to spend a morning or afternoon strolling the grounds. One of the many free activities to do in San Francisco. Best part, there's no entrance fee to walk around the compound.Visited November 2024Travelled with familyWritten 4 December 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
4,519 reviews
Excellent
2,927
Very good
1,303
Average
248
Poor
34
Terrible
7
FunBoyOne
London, UK529 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
A friend recommended this slightly quirky place and we visited in the morning of our last day in San Francisco and we were very glad we did. It’s on the edge of the bay with a good view of the bridge, located in an upmarket area and it is very well maintained. Lovely garden and lake with herons, turtles etc. Lots of photo opportunities with the lake, bridge and buildings. There was a poor guy spending time composing his photo of the lake with a tripod who kept getting interrupted by the instagrammerati.
Written 2 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andyh67186334
Coalville, UK11,316 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
To think that this monument could have been demolished, would have been a travesty. The Palace of Fine Theatre is located away from the city centre near the San Francisco Yacht Club and Marina area of the city.
A picturesque area to walk around, which is surrounded by water and some impressive houses. It's free to enter and is illuminated at night.
A picturesque area to walk around, which is surrounded by water and some impressive houses. It's free to enter and is illuminated at night.
Written 21 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina Montinola
Makati, Philippines458 contributions
June 2022
This place is beautiful. The lake with the ducks is so serence and relaxing, you can just sit somewhere and kill time while watching the ducks. You can walk your furry pets around here, be sure to pick up after them. You can also have photo shoots especially pre-nups since the structures are so nice here. My niece had her civil wedding here as well.
Written 14 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Czar Emmanuel
Manila, Philippines10,221 contributions
July 2023 • Friends
Perhaps less visited compared to the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39, the Palace of Fine Arts Theater is also worth-visiting. There you'll see a reconstruction of some structures built in 1915 on the occasion of the Panama-Pacific international exposition. They are neoclassical structures of Greek and Roman inspiration. There are also lovely gardens in the area. The whole place is very relaxing, but there's really nothing much to do here except taking pictures, watching birds and exploring the gardens.
Written 29 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GitchSup
Duluth, MN1,400 contributions
May 2022
This absolutely beautiful structure is done in Beaux-Arts style architecture that was popular in the early 1800s, meaning there are a lot of both french and baroque influences making it super ornate and stunning to look at, every detail is a marvel. There are Grecian women looking over the edge "into" the theater, greek urns on the ledges, latticework in the rotunda, stunning columns in a russet red color, shell and floral stonework at the top of the pillars; everywhere you look there is something more to see. If you love architecture you should allow at least an hour to see this stunning sight.
Written 5 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JostVonDyke
Washington Crossing, PA617 contributions
July 2021 • Family
The Palace of Fine Arts is a beautiful site to take in breathtaking architecture and impressive landscaping. Walking around the site is free. Tours are also available for a reasonable price. There are plenty of other tourists and photographers walking around, but everyone seemed very respectful.
The palace was built in 1915 for the Panama Pacific Exposition then completely rebuilt from 1964-1974. I was impressed most by the rotunda. The site is very convenient near the marinas along the bay.
If you’re in the area, stop by and spend a half hour or an hour taking in the beauty. It’s a great spot for some photos of an iconic San Francisco site!
The palace was built in 1915 for the Panama Pacific Exposition then completely rebuilt from 1964-1974. I was impressed most by the rotunda. The site is very convenient near the marinas along the bay.
If you’re in the area, stop by and spend a half hour or an hour taking in the beauty. It’s a great spot for some photos of an iconic San Francisco site!
Written 20 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WayneTech
Mississauga, Canada264 contributions
June 2022
Look, it's a beautiful building, and that's it. If you want to go take pictures, this is a nice place to do it. Apart from that, there's noting of interest here. When I went, at least, the inside was pretty much warded off. There were these cylindrical viewing spots where you could look into and see the history of this building. Worth it? Not to me.
Written 30 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connie R
Iowa253 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
The Palace of the Fine Arts in the Marina district of San Francisco is an iconic site visible from many parts of the bay area. If you find yourself in the city and you have some time to wander, it is well worth your time to visit this beautiful location. I recommend reading a little bit about the structure’s history before you go. There’s a nice pond and a grassy area which would be perfect for a picnic lunch. Or you could just stop by on your way to somewhere else as my husband and I did, and wander through this lovely location.
Written 17 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reed
Orlando, FL2,504 contributions
June 2021 • Friends
Often times large public parks/structures like this can be overhyped in tourist cities, but this legacy building from the 1915 Panama-Pacific exhibition is exceptionally impressive. It’s beautiful to walk through and amazing to photograph from any angle, especially when you have nice weather. We were lucky enough to see a band perform in the center for a few minutes, but make sure you take the time to walk around the whole grounds and look at all the details. As with most tourist areas in San Fransisco - DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR CAR AT ALL.
Written 2 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ehlly
Macau, China358 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
One of my favorite place in SFO. Good for couples, group of friends, family or even solo. Love walking here very calm and the view is stunning. Architecture is amazing feel like I'm back in old times. Best to come during sunset for me :) If you want some peace of mind you can just seat in the grass or in some bench available and watch the beautiful lake with ducks and birds flying.
Written 27 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
it is an open air park. i don't think it "closes" at all.
Written 25 June 2023
Hola, cómo se hace para poder entrar? Qué costo tiene la entrada de ese lugar y dónde se consigue?
Written 17 December 2022
Hola. Es gratis. Cuando yo estuve solo se podĂa visitar por fuera y creo que es siempre asĂ. Está en un parque cerca de la zona del presidio.
Written 18 December 2022
We took the bus from downtown, we felt safe in this location. We ubered back after walking the bay
Written 19 January 2020
Anywhere to eat close by, attending an evening concert .
Written 14 October 2019
While you are there Im presuming you will go in to the Presidio National Park which is a beautiful park We walked through the park before heading to the palace of fine arts., check out the presidio Social Club which is the old army barracks. Good food and good prices
Written 17 October 2019
I would love to see this at dusk but was wondering about the area safety regarding crime or the homeless in the area. Thank you.
Written 14 November 2018
Greetings Tara L., I can understand your concern about crime and the homeless in San Francisco. You will have absolutely no problems at dusk in this area. The homes surrounding the Fine Arts Center are what you would call upper class. This is a REALLY nice neighborhood. I would think the homes surrounding the Fine Arts Center will fetch 1 to 5 million if they were on the market. I have photographed the Fine Arts Center as late as 11:00 PM and have had absolutely no problems with neighbors, park visitors, park police etc. The dusk time frame visit will be very nice. Wait for the blue hour, between sunset and one hour later. That is when the Fine Arts Center is at its best. Try to park on Baker. During the day parking along Baker can be hit or miss because of all the visitors. But as dusk approaches most people leave and you can usually find parking on Baker right in front of the Center on the park side (West side) of the street. Try to approach the Center from the North, leaving the Presidio by driving South. It is a little easier to get parking on Baker when driving South.Be really conscious of the resident's drive ways if you have to park "off street". We want to be as nice to them as we can when visiting their neighborhood. So, I hope this helps. You will be just fine there at dusk. Let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns I might be able to help with. Safe Travels. Cheers, Rich
Written 14 November 2018
Hi Guys, if the place is perfect for wedding..can you recommend which timing is better morning or afternoon..(which time of the day the building looks more stunning and lesser people i guess..hehe..) thanks!
Written 4 July 2018
Greetings Ghie, I would go with late afternoon as the light would be fairly uniform with the sun being on the West, less interesting side, of the facility. The photographer should have an easier time getting wedding shots with external flashes rather than using reflectors. Photos with the sun in the back will make portraits a little easier to get with speedlites, etc. Just my opinion on dealing with light for the pictures..... Plus, if you go into the evening towards the blue hour the building and columns will be lit, but you will still have blue sky (not black) and the dome will show nicely. Think about tux color if you go late into the evening as black will be hard to separate from black, unlit areas in the background. Just a thought.....Chrissy Field is a stones throw away and you can get some wedding shots with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Congratulations on the wedding. You will have a wonderful and memorable wedding with it being held at the Place of Fine Arts. Cheers, Rich
Written 4 July 2018
What is the opening hours? From the website it says until 5pm but Tripadvisor says it opens till 9pm.
Written 8 June 2018
5PM is the office closing time....the venue closes at different times depending on the event
Written 8 June 2018
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