14 of the best · California, USA
Arts & Culture in California
SFMOMA and the opera, ballet and symphony of San Francisco, The Old Globe in Balboa Park, Palm Springs modernism, Hearst Castle and the Spanish missions.
Our 14 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in California
Browse by type
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love California.
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Modern art in SoMa
SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, on Third Street in SoMa.
151 Third St, San Francisco, CA 94103Explore View on map
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War Memorial Opera House
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco's opera company, at home in the War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Avenue, with a performance history going back to 1923.
301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102Explore View on map
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Three stages in Balboa Park
The Old Globe
San Diego's great theatre in Balboa Park, with the Old Globe Theatre, the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre and the open-air Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
Balboa Park, San Diego, CAExplore View on map
The full list: Arts & Culture, A–Z
Show 13 of 14 places on a map
Visual arts
Museums 3
Great collections.
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Museums and gardens
Balboa Park
San Diego’s great park of museums, gardens and Spanish Revival buildings.
1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Explore View on map
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Aquarium, rainforest and planetarium
California Academy of Sciences
A natural history museum with an aquarium, a rainforest dome, a planetarium and a living roof, in Golden Gate Park.
55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118Explore View on map
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An aircraft carrier on the bay
USS Midway Museum
A decommissioned aircraft carrier turned museum on the downtown waterfront.
Art museums 3
Modern and classic art, from San Francisco to Palm Springs.
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Art and architecture
Palm Springs Art Museum
The town’s art museum on Museum Drive, with modern and contemporary art and architecture.
101 Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262Explore View on map
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On State Street
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
The town’s art museum on State Street.
1130 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101Explore View on map
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Modern art in SoMa
SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, on Third Street in SoMa.
151 Third St, San Francisco, CA 94103Explore View on map
Architecture & missions 4
The Spanish missions, Hearst Castle and desert modernism.
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Mission San Carlos Borromeo
Carmel Mission
The mission basilica at Carmel, with its museum and gardens.
3080 Rio Rd, Carmel, CA 93923Explore View on map
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At the south end of Big Sur
Hearst Castle
William Randolph Hearst’s hilltop estate above San Simeon, seen on guided tours.
750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452Explore View on map
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The Queen of the Missions
Old Mission Santa Barbara
The Spanish mission above Santa Barbara, with tours of its church, museum and gardens.
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Mid-century style
Palm Springs mid-century modern
The town’s mid-century modern houses, hotels and banks, best seen on a self-guided drive.
Performing arts
Concert halls & music 1
Where to hear music.
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Davies Symphony Hall
San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco's orchestra, at home in Davies Symphony Hall on Van Ness Avenue.
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102Explore View on map
Theatre & musicals 1
Plays, musicals and the playhouses.
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Three stages in Balboa Park
The Old Globe
San Diego's great theatre in Balboa Park, with the Old Globe Theatre, the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre and the open-air Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
Balboa Park, San Diego, CAExplore View on map
Opera, ballet & dance 2
The great houses and companies.
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War Memorial Opera House
San Francisco Ballet
The city's ballet company, which dances its seasons at the War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Avenue.
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102Explore View on map
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War Memorial Opera House
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco's opera company, at home in the War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Avenue, with a performance history going back to 1923.
301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102Explore View on map
