Balmy Alley
A one-block alley in the Mission covered end to end with murals. The paintings change, the politics don’t. This has been San Francisco’s most concentrated outdoor gallery since the 1970s.
Attraction Category: Murals & Public Art
Clarion Alley
A mural-covered alley between Mission and Valencia Streets where the art turns over fast and the politics stay loud. Scrappier and more punk than Balmy Alley, six blocks south.
Three Gems (James Turrell Skyspace)
A James Turrell skyspace hidden inside a grassy hill at the de Young Museum. Free to visit, LED lights shift your perception of the sky through an open oculus. Most people walk right past it.
16th Avenue Tiled Steps
A 163-step mosaic staircase flowing from the stars down to the sea. Hidden in the quiet Sunset District with ocean views from the top.