Senior Discounts in San Francisco
It’s nearly as easy to leave your wallet as your heart in San Francisco. The City by the Bay is known for must-see sights, fresh food, and fine arts, but it’s also an expensive place to live. Because the city’s cost of living is well above the national average according to Forbes, seeking ways to stretch your dollars is a smart retirement strategy. Here are some of the most useful and interesting senior discounts in San Francisco:
Getting around town
The city’s Muni bus, rail, and cable car system offers discounts for riders age 65 and up on single-fare passes and on its monthly Clipper Card. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system offers a 62.5% discount on train passes for seniors age 65 and up—perfect for trips to Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Fremont, and the San Francisco and Oakland airports.
Enjoying local flavors
Seventeen farmer’s markets in San Francisco participate in the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which provides coupon booklets to qualifying seniors to shop for fresh produce, herbs, and other farm-fresh products. Among the SFMNP-friendly locations is Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, where locals rub elbows with chefs and foodies shopping for produce, dairy, meat, and other California-grown edibles. The market is open on the Embarcadero on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Making a break for it
A stint on Alcatraz is a rite of passage for San Francisco tourists and locals alike. Day, night, and early-bird ferry boat rides to the former prison site are available at a small discount for guests age 62 and up. Besides the famous cell house, the island features nesting seabird colonies, Civil War and Native American historical sites, and art exhibits.
Sailing through history
Visitors age 62 and up get 33% off admission to the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, the only unchanged Liberty ship from World War II. The National Historic Landmark anchors at Pier 45 between cruises. Tour the ship, learn about its wartime service, and check out the restoration work that’s made it famous today.
Reliving childhood memories
The Walt Disney Family Museum is a popular spot for Disney fans of all ages, but it’s especially sweet for seniors because the galleries focus on Walt Disney’s early career and popular success from the 1920s through the 60s. Visitors age 65 and up get a 25% admission discount.
Appreciating the arts
Two of San Francisco’s most popular art institutions, the Legion of Honor Museum and the Asian Art Museum, both offer discounts for senior guests age 65 and up. At Legion of Honor, visitors can explore thousands of years of European and ancient Mediterranean art. Cultures from ancient Arabia to modern Japan are on display at the Asian Art Museum.
These are just a few of San Francisco’s senior discount opportunities, and deals can change often. It’s a good idea to call ahead to confirm senior discounts, and it never hurts to ask your favorite shops and restaurants if they offer senior deals.
Learn more about Financial Assistance for San Francisco Seniors here:
Assisted Living in San Francisco
Social Security for San Francisco Seniors
Find affordable assisted living in San Francisco on SeniorAdvisor.com.
Casey Kelly-Barton
Casey Kelly-Barton is an Austin-based freelance writer whose childhood was made awesome by her grandmothers, great-grandmother, great-aunts and -uncles, and their friends.