San Francisco Bay Aquarium

Tips to Visit the Aquarium of the Bay

san francisco bay aquarium

Learn what a trip through The San Francisco Bay Aquarium entails. Located at Pier 39 San Francisco this San Francisco Aquarium is a family friendly choice.

The Pier 39 aquarium focuses on all the animals and plants located in the San Francisco bay. They did a great job in setting up the flow of the San Francisco aquarium. I learned quite a bit my first time through and I think you will really enjoy a visit here.

You start on the second floor. This is the history area with some videos and written information. You then begin your 'journey' through the San Francisco Bay Aquarium.

It starts with the smaller animals and plants living near the top of the water. As you continue through the San Francisco Bay aquarium, the animals and plants shown are those living deeper and deeper in the water.

The second floor is small with just a few exhibits. Don't let that fool you!

After you complete the second floor, you look out over the San Francisco bay as you wait for the elevator to the first floor. This is where most of the exhibits for this aquarium are located.

When you enter the first floor, you begin to see larger animals and plants. The last time I visited, there was a really cool jelly fish exhibit as you enter this floor.

You then continue on through a few more exhibits. When you turn the corner, you see the real reason for coming! There are two large walk through aquariums.

The first one contains some of the smaller fish, animals and plants. The second one has quite a few larger fish from the bay. I'm now a little scared to go swimming in the bay! As you head back upstairs, there are some interactive activities that are fun for kids and adults.

The crowd favorite is the star fish area. The tank is set up so you can touch some of the different types of star fish.

Finally, there is a video and a gift shop on the way out the door. Overall, I would recommend the San Francisco Bay Aquarium for those traveling with kids.

Best Times to Visit

The last time I was at the San Francisco Bay Aquarium, I visited during the week. It was a great time to visit since it wasn't very busy.

bay aquarium san francisco

There was a small group of children right in front of us. It was fun to see their faces and hear their excited voices at every exhibit. I recommend visiting first thing in the morning and/or during the week if possible.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday get a little busier, but you are still able to see most of the exhibits as you walk through. You might just have to wait a little bit longer for a spot to clear.

It took us less than two hours to visit the aquarium. So, it's a short trip.

Cost and Hours

The cost to visit is $8 for children (3-11), $16.95 for adults and $8 for seniors (65+). The family pack ticket option is $39.95. This includes tickets for two adults and two children.

There is also a behind the scenes tour at the aquarium. It is a little more expensive. I haven't done this tour yet, but am scheduled to do it in the next couple of weeks. I'll report back with a recommendation on which tour option is the best.

The aquarium is open seven days a week. They are only closed on December 25. Their hours vary slightly during the week vs. the weekends. They also vary slightly in the summer and winter months. Here are their general hours of operation:

Summer Hours
Daily: 9 am to 8 pm

Winter Hours
Monday-Thursday: 10 am to 6 pm
Friday-Sun: 10 am to 7 pm

You may want to check out the days you plan on visiting specifically to confirm the hours. Tickets are available directly through the San Francisco bay aquarium or as part of one of these four San Francisco attraction passes.

	This pass includes access to five popular San Francisco attractions including the Aquarium of the Bay and a Bay Cruise. The pass is good for seven days and is a good value for those looking to visit the aquarium and other attractions around the city. Learn more about the San Francisco CityPASS.
	The Go San Francisco card covers more than 50 attractions in San Francisco and the bay area. With the card, you will gain access to the aquarium, discounts at certain restaurants and retailers around the city as well as entry into other popular San Francisco attractions. Discover all of the attractions included in the Go San Francisco card.
	The Pier 39 Attraction pass is a new pass that includes access to and discounts for some of the top Pier 39 places to see. It includes tickets to the aquarium, a one-hour bay cruise and a tour with the hop on hop off trolley. Find out more about the Pier 39 Attraction Pass.
	The Fishermans WharfPass is another great option to save a little money on your trip! You are able to choose from a variety of tour and attraction options -- including the aquarium. Learn more about the benefits of the San Francisco WharfPass.