Perched dramatically above the Pacific in the Richmond District, the Legion of Honor is arguably San Francisco's most underappreciated cultural gem. Modeled after the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris, it houses centuries of European art, from medieval works to Rodin sculptures, all with an ocean backdrop that alone is worth the trip. On any normal day, general admission runs $17 — not exactly pocket change in a city that already bleeds your wallet dry at every turn.

But on first Tuesdays? Free. No catch. No means-testing. No app to download. Just show up.

This is frankly how more city-funded cultural institutions should operate. San Franciscans pay some of the highest taxes in the country, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco — which operates both the Legion of Honor and the de Young — receive significant public funding. Free days are the bare minimum acknowledgment that residents are already footing the bill.

If you haven't been, here's what you need to know: go early. Free days draw crowds, and parking near the museum in Lincoln Park is limited. Muni's 18-46th Avenue bus gets you close, or you can take the 38 Geary and walk through the park. Pro tip — the grounds themselves, including the stunning Land's End trail nearby, are free every day and worth the visit even if the museum is packed.

In a city that seems determined to nickel-and-dime its residents into oblivion, a genuinely free cultural experience is a small victory. Take it. First Tuesday. Mark your calendar. Bring the kids. You've already paid for it.