Unveiled in 1995, the modern art museum that is the SFMoMA helped a budding art movement in SoMa and has acted a a guiding light for museums in San Francisco. The landmark structure houses the nation’s second-largest collection of modern art. Enter and you are greeted by the gleeful hues of a permanent Sol LeWitt installation. An atrium construction fills the lofty space with light, while a sombre staircase invites you to ascend the four levels. The permanent collection includes more than 15,000 works, from paintings by Magritte, Man Ray, and Matisse to sculpture by Calder and Modigliani. Special exhibitions showcase the best of modern art, photography, and design. On Thursdays SFMoMA stays open late and often has live music. The cafe is quite good for light meals and snacks.