Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

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
  • Salaamus
    Turlock, California151 contributions
    Great place to take pictures.
    Cool place to see if in the area. Pack with lots of tourist. Water pond in the middle with vary pretty architecture. Photo op of a city that is a jewel eating to be discovered and in joyed.
    Visited January 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written December 23, 2022
  • Czar Emmanuel
    Manila, Philippines6,246 contributions
    Relaxing, with lovely gardens
    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.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written July 29, 2023
  • Anna L
    Brantford, Canada154 contributions
    A Pleasant Surprise
    I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed visiting here. It is quieter than Golden Gate, although obviously not as big. But I found it to be so pretty and peaceful. We walked from the Ferry Building area so were glad to have somewhere to rest for a bit. It's a pretty park with a pond and the architecture, while imitation, is still quite impressive. There were quite a few people having their wedding photos taken when we were there. And beware the ducks... they are not afraid of people and won't hesitate to walk right up to you while you sit on the grass near the pond. I'm glad we took the time and came here. It's also in a pretty part of the city.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written August 2, 2023
  • Alan H
    Whitchurch, United Kingdom197 contributions
    Bucket list holiday
    The Palace of fine art is a must see if you like nice gardens and odd architecture. My wife and i walk from our Hotel to the park which is around 9 mile around trip. You can hire bike if you don’t fancy the walk.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written August 9, 2023
  • Paula T
    1 contribution
    Beautiful place!
    Beautiful place!!!!!! Very recommended, the lake and the view is really nice. It’s a great place to see the time pass by and relax by the lake. There were pretty clean public bathrooms. If I had the money I would definitely live in front of the park and the palace.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written August 18, 2023
  • E450KCad
    16 contributions
    Underrated attraction
    Underrated attraction. It is picturesque, larger than expected, not crowded and free. Will not take long (around 30 minutes) to see but worth it. Some seating (benches, wall) is available within the park.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written October 11, 2023
  • FunBoyOne
    London, United Kingdom199 contributions
    Quirky site, lovely in the sunshine
    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.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written November 2, 2023
  • Michael K
    991 contributions
    An awe inspiring structure that is a must see attraction in San Francsco
    This is a must see attraction for visitors to San Francisco. The structure is simply awe inspiring. Even though it was built over a century ago, the place is well kept and clean without the grime and bird dropping usually found in historical buildings. Parking is available but may be hard to come by.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written November 27, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
4,496 reviews
Excellent
2,910
Very good
1,298
Average
248
Poor
33
Terrible
7

Michael K
991 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
This is a must see attraction for visitors to San Francisco. The structure is simply awe inspiring. Even though it was built over a century ago, the place is well kept and clean without the grime and bird dropping usually found in historical buildings. Parking is available but may be hard to come by.
Written November 27, 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.

wombatdavid
Hobart, Australia2,492 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
We parked nearby, had a look at the Golden Gate Bridge and walked here. Great photo spots and well worth a visit.
Written November 13, 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.

FunBoyOne
London, UK199 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 November 2, 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.

Dr Javed Rasheed
Kurnool, India2,685 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
I have seen the palace of fine arts in movies, heard about this and read about it and finally visited it on the 24th of May 2023. The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure located in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, worth visiting while one is in San Francisco. If one goes on a weekday then there is less of a crowd but one can find families, couples, photographers enjoying the scenic view. The Palace of Fine Arts is an extravagant neoclassical icon—a faux palace surrounded by an idyllic pond, its reflective surface graced by snow-white swans. It's one of San Francisco's most popular spots for wedding photos. I found this place to be a photographer’s delight !!
Dr. Javed Rasheed
Written October 27, 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.

Honey
United Kingdom88 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Couples
The Palace of Fine Arts would be in my priority list when in San Francisco. I could spend the whole day here having a picnic apart from enjoying the historical part.
Written October 17, 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.

E450KCad
16 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Solo
Underrated attraction. It is picturesque, larger than expected, not crowded and free. Will not take long (around 30 minutes) to see but worth it. Some seating (benches, wall) is available within the park.
Written October 11, 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.

Nathalie Leenders- den Nijs
Oosterhout, The Netherlands4 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
Very pretty, but there were no restrooms available. A lot of people taking wedding photos, couldnt reslly watch everything freely because of this.
Written October 9, 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.

greenbox
Cardiff16 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Solo
I saw a show here, the staff were lovely. The place is impressive and maybe I should have stayed longer - just had a look whilst waiting for the show
Written September 22, 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.

Timothy M
San Francisco, CA292 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Solo
Beautiful tranquil area. Very close to the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a perfect spot for photography. It’s also just steps away from the Presidio where there are many paths through the forest.
Written September 12, 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.

mm b
5 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Friends
The Palace of fine Arts is a must see in San francisco But Be Warned DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING VALUABLE IN your Vehicle like Pass port suit case back packs Luggage Because this Area parking lot is high break ins Do not just stop there on your way to airport with Luggage in back of car follow these guidelines and you will have a very nice day and don't for get to take photo of Golden Bridge from the back parking lot hopefully it's not to foggy enjoy
Written August 25, 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.

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PALACE OF FINE ARTS THEATRE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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