4.6 (11,501 Reviews)

California Academy of Sciences Tickets in San Francisco, CA

55 Music Concourse Drive • San Francisco, CA 94118
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California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California
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‘Tis the Season for Science transforms the Academy into a winter wonderland of festive fun and discovery, November 23–January 5.

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Overview

Located in Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences offers a museum experience unlike any other in the world. Where else can you find an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum all in the same building? When inside, guests can explore a 4-story rainforest, waddle with penguins, learn about space, engage with interactive exhibits, and so much more.

up to 4 hrs 1 or more people

Good To Know

  • Fun for all ages.
  • Most visitors spend about 3 hours exploring the Academy.
  • Please avoid arriving early to minimize crowding at the main entrance.
  • Re-entry allowed same day with hand stamp. Be sure to request a hand-stamp before exiting.
  • Children 2 and under visit for free.
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Description

The California Academy of Sciences, based in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, is home to the world's only aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum—all under one living roof.

Inside one of the greenest museums in the world, visitors can find captivating experiences, including nearly 60,000 live animals, with new exhibits added every year. Every visit supports the Academy’s mission to regenerate the natural world.

This holiday season the Academy will be buzzing with wintry activities for all ages. From Nov. 23 through Jan. 5, ‘Tis the Season for Science offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to connect with baby reindeer, camels, and yaks, plus partake in festive daily programming like music, dance, and magic performances, falling snow, icy science experiments, seasonal story time, and more!

Kimball Natural History Museum:
Meet the charismatic African penguin colony while a biologist feeds them and answers your questions, marvel at one-of-a-kind specimens, and more. Uncover the surprising connections between California’s unique species, places, and people in our new exhibit - California: State of Nature! With scientific specimens, engaging interactives, illuminating multimedia, and fascinating models, we’ve got everything for you to explore our state’s unparalleled biodiversity across four ecosystems.

Living Roof:
Visit the rolling hills and fields that cover 87% of our 2.5-acre rooftop. California wildflowers bloom in spring, while dozens of native plants provide habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies year-round.

Osher Rainforest:
A glass dome houses the four-story living rainforest, where birds and butterflies fly freely among lush tropical trees, plants, and other animals from around the world.

Steinhart Aquarium:
This 100-year-old aquarium is home to nearly 60,000 live animals, representing more than 1,000 unique species. Experience one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums.

The Swamp:
Meet the Academy's most iconic resident, Claude, the alligator with albinism, who shares his home with a trio of prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtles.

The last entry is one (1) hour before closing. Holiday hours are subject to change.
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Two fluffy calves stand in a sunny dirt pen next to a wooden fence, with clear blue skies in the background. The DJ at Nightlife - California Academy of Sciences cheerfully plays the beat to hype the crowd. California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California Creatures of the night as what they called the Nightlife guests dancing on the upbeat music at the outdoor bars with ambiance lighting, and nearly 60,000 live animals.
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California Academy of Sciences photo submitted by Aarohi Savani
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California Academy of Sciences Reviews

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Angelgirl4life16
Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
"Great!"
TripAdvisor user rating 3.0 out of 5
Reviewed October 31, 2024 NEW
It was nice. I recommend this to families. When we went there were a lot of school field trips going on so it was crowded. We went on a weekday pretty early in the morning, so you should definitely come early before it gets even more crowded. they had a lot of cool stuff like an earthquake simulator, a planetarium, and more. We thought we would spend more time there but we looked through everything pretty fast and only stayed for about and hour and a half.
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dustythoughts
Manchester, Connecticut
"Stuffed with wonderful living exhibits"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed October 14, 2024
I've been to San Francisco several times, and am disappointed that this was my first time visiting this stupendous living museum, as it was a glorious experience. The entrance fee is a bit steep ($43/person for adults), but it's absolutely well worth the price. This place is truly a living museum - it has a fascinating rainforest exhibit with living birds and butterflies, an aquarium with live animals, and a super-cool natural history museum (we loved the African Hall). The planetarium was also fantastic, although please note that you need to make a reservation for one of the shows. We enjoyed just wandering through the museum to take in the exhibits at our own pace.
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California Academy of Sciences is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive • San Francisco, CA 94118
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Frequently Asked Questions about California Academy of Sciences

Is the museum accessible?

Yes. California Academy of Sciences is fully wheelchair accessible. Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge at Coat Check on a first-come, first-served basis in exchange for a photo ID. In addition, all exhibits have built-in detection points for the blind, and the public elevators are equipped with auditory signals. Wherever possible, exhibits have been made tactile for an enhanced experience. For the deaf and hard of hearing, transcripts are available for all regularly scheduled Planetarium shows and other multimedia in the Academy. Assistive listening transmitters are positioned in the Planetarium, Earthquake Mini-Dome Theater, and Earthquake Shake House exhibit. Interpreters accompanying a deaf or hard of hearing individual are admitted free of charge.

Where do I park for California Academy of Sciences?

JFK Dr. is closed to cars in Golden Gate Park. You can still access the Music Concourse parking garage via the Fulton St./10th Ave. entrance or the Music Concourse Dr./MLK Dr. entrance. Free street parking is also available on MLK Dr., Nancy Pelosi Dr., and Stow Lake Dr.

How long should I plan to spend at California Academy of Sciences?

There is no time limit, but most visitors spend about 3 hours exploring the Academy.

Do you need reservations for California Academy of Science?

Visitors are encouraged to book their tickets ahead of time, but it is not required. Please note that tickets purchased prior to your visit date will be less expensive than tickets purchased on the day of your visit.

Can I re-enter after leaving the building?

Yes. If you plan to re-enter the Academy later in the day, please ensure you receive a hand stamp from a door attendant before exiting.

What dining options are available at California Academy of Sciences?

The Academy Café serves a variety of family-friendly food and beverage options, as well as Andytown Coffee drinks. Guests are welcome to dine in the Café or in any of their outdoor spaces. The Terrace Restaurant serves seasonal dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients, plus beer and wine.

Can you bring food into California Academy of Sciences?

Guests are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Please head to the East Garden to consume items brought from home.

Are lockers available?

Yes, lockers are located just off the main lobby and are available for rent for $5 per day for standard-size lockers and $8 per day for family-size lockers. Lockers are checked frequently and cleaned and disinfected daily. Payment for lockers is by credit card only.

Will I be able to rent a wheelchair?

Yes, wheelchairs are available for guests to use during their visit. Please see a Guest Experience staff member in the Lobby for assistance when you arrive. Wheelchairs are cleaned and disinfected after every use.

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