California Academy of Sciences General Admission Ticket
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the four-story Osher Rainforest
- Discover the Philippine Coral Reef at Steinhart Aquarium
- Experience immersive shows at Morrison Planetarium
- Meet Claude, the albino alligator in the Swamp exhibit
- Enjoy panoramic views from the Living Roof
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Instant-access admission to the California Academy of Sciences
- Formal tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities (not required)
Itinerary
Explore hands-on exhibits as you stroll beneath the bones of some of the planet's largest inhabitants. Meet the charismatic African penguin colony while a biologist feeds them and answers your questions, be dazzled by nearly 400 dazzling specimens from the Academy's renowned geology collection, and more. Plus, uncover the surprising connections between California’s unique species, places, and people in our newest 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.
Home to nearly 60,000 live animals, representing more than 1,000 unique species, you can experience one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums. Plunge into the world's deepest living indoor coral reef, encounter over a dozen species in the Venom exhibit, and descend into the little-known “Twilight Zone” to learn about the diverse marine life of the pitch-black sea.
The 75-foot planetarium dome screen will immerse you inside cutting-edge visualizations and hyper-realistic virtual environments. From faraway galaxies to the working of our own planet, zoom through the cosmos like never before. Choose from multiple different award-winning show options and times available each day. Planetarium show passes are included in the price of admission and can be reserved at the planetarium pass pick-up desk across from the planetarium entrance.
Step inside a glass dome filled with a lush four-story rainforest teeming with over 1,600 plants and animals. Mingle with free-flying birds and butterflies to exotic reptiles, golden-silk orb weaver spiders, enormous Amazonian fish, and more. At each stage of the journey, you'll come face-to-face with some of the incredible animals that call these forests home.
California Academy of Sciences is located within Golden Gate Park
Important information
Know before you book
- Planetarium shows require reservations; check the daily schedule upon arrival.
- Some exhibits may have limited accessibility; inquire at the guest services desk for assistance.
- Food and beverages are available for purchase on-site; outside food is not permitted.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as the museum covers a large area.
- Consider bringing a light jacket; some exhibits are cooler than others.
- Parking is available on-site, but public transportation is recommended due to limited parking spaces.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Planetarium passes are free and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. When you arrive at the Academy, scan the QR code posted in the lobby to reserve a showtime. Please note that shows may not be appropriate for children under 7, and children under 4 are not permitted.
- Sustainable, grab-and-go food and drinks are available for purchase at the Academy Café and Terrace Restaurant
Traveler reviews
Various Exciting Displays for the Entire Family
Large and varied displays. The aquarium is beautiful. Be sure to see the penguins. Kids love it. Do the earthquake experience. Well done! The tropical garden with hundreds of butterflies is fun and beautiful. You walk up the ramp around the garden, and the butterflies fly around you carefree. The dinosaur T-Rex at the entry is a great photo shoot. Rideshare drops and picks up in front of the museum.
Great activity with family
I ended up booking tickets here because it was raining out and my family and I had time to kill. We were pleasantly surprised with the amount of different exhibits and how interactive they were. The rainforest display was really cool to walk through with my kids- the highlights were the butterflies at the top
Buying from Third party vendor
Enjoyed the Academy of Sciences. The only negative is that we missed our train and we were very late. I tried to get the ticket changed through the museum but because I bought it through a third party vendor they were unable to do that. There was no way to reach Viator or Tripadvisor to ask if there was an opportunity to exchange the tickets for another day. We had one hour to rush through.
Free admission tip
Free admission from 9 to 10 a.m. but need to apply and can do it online. Get there early for parking spaces on side road.
Everything close at 5 PM,...
Everything close at 5 PM, big problem is a parking spot, planetarium, not really good, talking about telescopes only not about the stars