4.6 (11,501 Reviews)

California Academy of Sciences Tickets San Francisco, CA

55 Music Concourse Drive • San Francisco, CA 94118
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Steinhart Aquarium is full of many different species!
Animatronic T-Rex on display in the garden for Dino Days. (Opening March 2025)
Visitor interacting with condor model in California: State of Nature exhibit.
Father and son gazing at plants in the Osher Rainforest.
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Total Price: $42.79 (USD)
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Overview

Step into a world where science, nature, and discovery collide at the California Academy of Sciences! Marvel at a four-story rainforest, dive into a vibrant coral reef, and witness the wonders of the cosmos at the planetarium. Don't miss seasonal delights like ‘Tis the Season for Science. A must-visit San Francisco landmark for all ages!

up to 4 hrs 1 or more people

Good To Know

  • Explore the Osher Rainforest dome with free-flying birds and butterflies and the Philippine Coral Reef, home to 2,000+ marine creatures.
  • Daytime admission includes access to everything at the Academy, including the aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, natural history museum, and Living Roof.
  • Morrison Planetarium shows require advance reservations—available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The Living Roof is a 2.5-acre rooftop covered in native plants, offering stunning views of Golden Gate Park.
  • Seasonal exhibits like 'Tis the Season for Science blend holiday cheer with interactive science activities.
  • The Academy is fully accessible, with complimentary wheelchairs available for use.
  • Enjoy dining at the Academy Café and Terrace Restaurant, offering meals and snacks.
  • Conveniently located in Golden Gate Park, with nearby parking and public transit options available.
  • Same-day re-entry is allowed with hand stamp—request one before exiting.
  • Children 2 and under enjoy free admission.
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Description

Based in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, California Academy of Sciences is the only place in the world where an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum come together under one living roof. Recognized as one of the greenest museums globally, it features nearly 60,000 live animals, interactive exhibits, and new displays added annually. Every visit supports the Academy's mission to regenerate the natural world.

2 New Exhibits in Spring 2025
  • Dinos Days: Enjoy special themed programming and walk among prehistoric giants as 13 life-size animatronic dinosaurs take over both of the Academy’s outdoor gardens.
  • Unseen Oceans: Explore the mysterious wonders of the deep sea and discover the latest ocean science with glowing supersized models, an interactive submersible, stunning displays, and more.

Iconic Exhibits
  • Kimball Natural History Museum: Meet African penguins during live feedings, explore rare specimens, and more.
  • Living Roof: Stroll through 2.5 acres of native wildflowers, fields, and habitats for birds, bees, and butterflies.
  • Osher Rainforest: Enter a four-story glass dome teeming with tropical plants, free-flying birds, and butterflies. Osher Rainforest will be closed for maintenance January 14-16, 2025.
  • Steinhart Aquarium: Explore over 1,000 species and 60,000 animals in one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums.
  • The Swamp: Say hello to Claude, the Academy's iconic albino alligator, and his snapping turtle companions.

Note: Last entry is one hour before closing. Holiday hours are subject to change.
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Promotional Images (40)
Docent sharing specimens within the Academy collection with guests. California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California A couple holding their cocktail drinks is with an Academy staff explaining about the artifacts found at California Academy of Sciences. The DJ at Nightlife - California Academy of Sciences cheerfully plays the beat to hype the crowd. California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California
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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
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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GrandTour34398601256
"I liked the earthquake machine the best"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed August 17, 2024
Expensive. At $40 it is really costly for a family. There is lots to see and I understand the price because what they have takes a lot of upkeep. While the building is handicap accessible, the rain forest is not. Unfortunately, you cannot start at the top and work your way down.
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maxpaste
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
"So much to see"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed August 12, 2024
We loved this museum. The planetarium show was great (you reserve a spot for free once you arrive by using a QR code), the rainforest and aquarium were wonderful, and be sure to check out the collections, which displays all sorts of things they’ve collected over the years.
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V3768WPcharlieg
Miami, Florida
"Great multi experience facility for families."
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed July 15, 2024
There's a lot to do here even though you can be done real fast. It's true what they advertise; you get to experience different biomes and environments and learn about different things. SOme underwhelm (the earthquake experience), and some are really neat (the aquarium).
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jaimielaura
"Penguin & Pajama Event-don’t bother!"
TripAdvisor user rating 2.0 out of 5
Reviewed April 21, 2024
Don’t bother with the penguin and pajama event. You pay $132 for the overnight. It includes sleeping on a dirty floor, skeleton crew, either paying full price for dinner inside or eating a bag dinner outside, 2 hours in the evening to really see the museum before you are funneled to your dirty floor to sleep on, dirty (not cleaned from a full day of use) bathrooms, then sleep with lights on, then woken up at 6 AM for a horrible breakfast that is included, then shuttled out by 8 AM. My point is, just pay $32 for the regular ticket and enjoy it during the day. The overnight is gross and a hassle.
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JaDeGirL01
Orange County, California
"A fun way to spend a rainy day in SF"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed January 31, 2024
My husband and I took the bus from out hotel to Golden Gate Park on a rainy day to check out the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. We didn't have tickets so we waited in line to get to the ticket window. While there, I was searching online for some possible discounts. Score! I found one and we were able to use it. They are still doing timed entry so we chose the next hour time slot to enter. We walked across to the de Young and got admission there as well. We wandered around looking at art before checking out the cafe. Once our time slot opened, we walked back over the the Academy to enter. It's huge! It was our first time and it was hard to decide on what to check out first. You definitely feel like a kid again with all that was going on. They have dinosaurs (natural history museum), a planetarium, an aquarium, and a rainforest. Oh my! We just picked a direction and headed to the aquarium. I saw a line for the planetarium and decided to put us in for a timeslot later that day. The aquarium is quite large. They have penguins, jellyfish, and loads of fish. We saw the albino alligator in the center enclosure. We weren't sure if it was real but he did move his arms. The dinosaur skeletons were the best. We saw a geode exhibit too. We didn't quite make it into the heart of the rainforest but we felt like we made a dent in what we saw. The California Academy of Sciences is ideal for your inner curious child or if you have kids they should go too. We had a great time. We also popped across back to de Young for more art while waiting on our planetarium timeslot and had no issues with reentry with our stamped hands. If you have a few hours to kill in SF, this is a great spot to check out. Definitely look for discounted admission because it'll save you some money too!
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KulturewithKatrina
Johns Creek, Georgia
"So much to see and do, for anyone;"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed January 29, 2024
I visited on Jan 17 and only for 1.5 hour. I specifically want to visit the Planetarium, and I saw two shows, which both were soothing. I did have time in between shows to visit the Dinosaur exhibit, the minerals and the rooftop garden. And there was so much more I did not get to see. There is a cool Rainforest Biosphere and an Aquarium. There is an adults only night, to see the center at night. Pros: - Not a far walk from Muni stop - So much to see!! - Open and clean! Only two cons: 1. I wish I had more time! I could spend all day there! 2. Full day full price ticket is $45isg. I got there with 1.5 he to close and paid $40. It was very clear, but feel it should have been a greater discount at that hour. Not a deal breaker, just feedback. On my list to definitely go back!
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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

Are the exhibits fully accessible?

Yes, the California Academy of Sciences is fully wheelchair accessible, with free manual wheelchairs available at Coat Check (photo ID required). Exhibits feature detection points and tactile elements for the visually impaired, auditory signals in elevators, and transcripts for Planetarium shows. Assistive listening devices are provided in select areas, and interpreters for deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors receive free admission.

Where do I park for California Academy of Sciences?

You can 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?

Re-entry is allowed; visitors must obtain a hand stamp or show their ticket at the entrance.

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.

Are there bike racks at the museum?

Bike racks are available outside the museum for visitors who choose to cycle to the venue.

Can I bring a stroller into the museum?

Yes, strollers are allowed throughout the museum and exhibits.

What is NightLife, and who can attend?

NightLife is a 21+ event held every Thursday evening from 6–10 PM. It combines music, cocktails, and after-hours museum access for a unique experience.

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