Where to See San Francisco Murals
Most visitors start in the Mission District, where the murals sit on alley walls, storefronts and one five-story building. Coit Tower, across the city on Telegraph Hill, holds a separate set of Depression-era murals inside the building. The table lists each place, what it is, and what its own organisation says about visiting.
| Site | What you see | How to visit (per the official source) |
|---|---|---|
| Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center, 2981 24th Street | Guided walks of Mission murals, including Balmy Alley; mural arts store | Public tours Saturdays; meet at the Center. Store hours: Mon to Fri 10 am to 5 pm, Sat noon to 5 pm |
| Balmy Alley (off 24th Street) | Alley murals; a Precita Eyes tour stop | Public alley; Precita Eyes does not state hours or a mural count on its site |
| Clarion Alley (Mission District) | Murals made through the Clarion Alley Mural Project since 1992 | Guided tour starts at the Valencia Street entrance; no regular tour days listed |
| Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street | MaestraPeace mural, five stories tall | Self-guided tour Tuesdays 10 am to 3:30 pm; mural is visible to passersby |
| Coit Tower, 1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard | 1934 murals inside the base of the tower | Open daily; 10 am to 6 pm April to October, 10 am to 5 pm November to March |
Precita Eyes Guided Mural Walks
Precita Eyes: Tours and prices
Precita Eyes lists two public walks, each about 1.5 hours. The Saturday Morning Special Mural Walk starts at 11:30 am, and the Classic Mission Mural Walk starts at 1:30 pm. The dates on the page right now are October 31 and November 7, 14 and 21 (plus November 28 for the Classic walk). Tickets are sold online or at the door, and reservations are not required for public tours.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| General admission | $25 |
| Seniors 65 and over | $15 |
| Youth 17 and under | $10 |
Private tours and school field trips are by reservation; Precita Eyes asks you to phone (415) 285-2287. The Center sells a Mission District Mural Map in its store. The site does not say whether the map is free, so ask when you call.
The Center is at 2981 24th Street, near Harrison Street. Precita Eyes has painted in the Mission since 1977, and its home page points to murals such as “Viva Cinderella!” at 24th and Alabama Street.
Related on this site: Precita Eyes Muralists and Balmy Alley Murals.
Clarion Alley Mural Project
Clarion Alley is a street in the Mission District covered in murals. The Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP) is an artist-run nonprofit; its site says more than 900 murals have been made since 1992 and that it receives over 200,000 visitors a year.
CAMP’s guided Clarion Alley Tour lasts about 60 minutes and is led by CAMP artists. The price is a sliding-scale donation starting at $15 per person, with children under 12 free. It meets at the Valencia Street entrance to the alley. An Extended Tour of about 2 hours adds the Roxie Theater lobby murals (16th Street at Valencia) and CAMP’s Labor Project murals in the Redstone Building (16th Street at Capp Street); the price is not listed. CAMP lists no regular tour days or times, so contact clarionalleytours@gmail.com to arrange one.
The MaestraPeace Mural at the Women’s Building
The Women’s Building is at 3543 18th Street in the Mission District. Its MaestraPeace mural stands five stories tall and was painted by seven muralists with almost 100 volunteers. The building’s site says it was painted in 1994, with drawings beginning in 1993 and the mural completed in 2000. A self-guided tour runs Tuesdays from 10 am to 3:30 pm. For questions call (415) 431-1180.
Coit Tower Murals
The murals inside the base of Coit Tower were painted in 1934 by artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project, and depict life in California during the Depression. The tower is open daily at 1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard, 10 am to 6 pm April through October and 10 am to 5 pm November through March. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Elevator to observation deck, adult | $8 SF residents, $11 non-residents |
| Elevator, senior 62+ or youth 12 to 17 | $5 SF residents, $8 non-residents |
| Elevator, child 5 to 11 | $2 SF residents, $3 non-residents |
| Elevator, child 4 and under | Free |
| Docent-led tour including murals (groups of 4 to 6, 30 to 40 minutes) | $10 per person |
| Docent-led second-floor-only tour | $5 per person |
Mural tour tickets are bought at the tower. The elevator may be out of service, in which case the viewing level is 13 flights of stairs. See also Coit Tower.
Planning Your Mural Day
- Pick a Saturday if you want a guided walk; the Precita Eyes tours are the only public weekly-style schedule listed above.
- Start at the Precita Eyes Center on 24th Street, then walk to Balmy Alley, which is a public alley.
- Add Clarion Alley and the Women’s Building (open to self-guided visits on Tuesdays) for a second Mission loop.
- Keep Coit Tower for a separate trip; it is on Telegraph Hill, not in the Mission.
- The murals are on walls neighbours live beside. Keep voices down and stay out of garages and gates.
More on the neighbourhood: Mission District. Travelling with children? See free things to do in San Francisco with kids. For food nearby, the Ferry Building Marketplace is across town.
What We Could Not Verify
- The Precita Eyes tour page lists dates without a year. We read them as the current season; confirm before booking.
- Whether the Precita Eyes Mission District Mural Map is free.
- Balmy Alley’s length, mural count and opening hours; Precita Eyes’ pages do not state them.
- Clarion Alley regular tour days and the Extended Tour price.
- General Women’s Building hours beyond the Tuesday tour.
FAQ
Are the Mission District Murals Free to See?
Walking an alley costs nothing, since the murals are on public alleys and streets. Guided tours cost money: Precita Eyes charges $25 for adults, and Clarion Alley’s tour starts at a $15 sliding-scale donation.
When Are the Precita Eyes Tours?
Saturdays at 11:30 am (Special Mural Walk) and 1:30 pm (Classic Mission Mural Walk), each about 1.5 hours. Listed dates run October 31 to November 28. Reservations are not required.
Can I See the MaestraPeace Mural Without a Tour?
The Women’s Building says the mural is visible to passersby at 3543 18th Street. Its self-guided tour runs Tuesdays, 10 am to 3:30 pm.
What Does It Cost to See the Coit Tower Murals?
SF Rec and Park lists the elevator at $8 to $11 for adults and a docent-led mural tour at $10 per person. It does not state whether the ground-floor murals can be entered without a ticket, so confirm at the tower.
Checked on 27 October 2026 against Precita Eyes (precitaeyes.org), the Clarion Alley Mural Project (clarionalleymuralproject.org), the Women’s Building (womensbuilding.org), and SF Recreation and Park (sfrecpark.org). Hours, dates and prices change; confirm with each organisation before you go.
Sources
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Are the Mission District murals free to see?
Walking an alley costs nothing. Guided tours cost money: Precita Eyes charges $25 for adults, and Clarion Alley's tour starts at a $15 sliding-scale donation.
When are the Precita Eyes tours?
Saturdays at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm, each about 1.5 hours, with listed dates October 31 to November 28. Reservations are not required.
Can I see the MaestraPeace mural without a tour?
The Women's Building says the mural is visible to passersby at 3543 18th Street. Its self-guided tour runs Tuesdays, 10 am to 3:30 pm.
What does it cost to see the Coit Tower murals?
SF Rec and Park lists the elevator at $8 to $11 for adults and a docent-led mural tour at $10 per person. Confirm at the tower whether the ground-floor murals need a ticket.
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Cite this page: Project SF, “San Francisco Murals: Where to See Them and How to Visit”, projectsf.com/guides/san-francisco-murals-guide/ (updated ).