Aquarium of the Bay

Come face-to-face with the sharks of Alcatraz in one of three tunnels, admire the diverse wildlife of San Francisco Bay’s shallow mudflats, and explore schools of anchovies that live off the coast of California. Touch pools and interactive lab stations offer the opportunity to immersive engagement, too.

Several passes, such as the San Francisco CityPASS, Go San Francisco card, Pier 39 Attractions Pass, Fisherman’s Wharf Pass, and Alcatraz Attraction Pass, include admission to the Aquarium of the Bay. Hop-on hop-off bus tours also stop at Pier 39 and you can also prepurchase general admission to the aquarium online.

• Book a skip-the-line tour to avoid waiting in line at this busy Fisherman’s Wharf attraction.

• The aquarium is quite small and easily combined with other sights around Fisherman’s Wharf.

• A must-do for families with young children or anyone interested in learning more about the ecology of the San Francisco Bay region.

• Present a current Bay Area public transport pass for $2 off the admission price.

Located two piers east of Fisherman’s Wharf, the Aquarium of the Bay is most easily accessible by public transportation. San Francisco Muni’s E and F street car lines stop within a block of the Aquarium of the Bay. SF Muni 8, 39, and 47 bus lines also stop nearby. There's wheelchair-accessible parking across from the main entrance at Pier 39 and additional parking at Pier 35.

Fisherman’s Wharf and the Aquarium of the Bay are busiest during the summer months. A visit during winter or early spring means quieter galleries. The aquarium is open every day from the mid-morning until the evening; late afternoons are the quietest times to visit. The aquarium is closed on Christmas Day.

Aquarium of the Bay tours (not included with general admission tickets) offer a deeper dive into the inner workings of an aquarium. One tour takes visitors across catwalks above the tanks to learn about dive operations and how to care for marine life, while another allows visitors to feed sharks, rays, and skates.

Walking at an average pace, you can see the entire Aquarium of the Bay—meaning all the exhibits—in San Francisco in about 90 minutes. Attending a scheduled presentation, such as an otter-viewing party, can add 10–20 minutes to that time, but you can split up your aquarium visit with in-and-out privileges.

The Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco is mostly accessible—visitors using wheelchairs need to take an elevator to the main entrance on the second floor. The aquarium also has wheelchairs that guests can borrow by leaving a photo ID on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Yes, you can bring backpacks inside San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay; however, the aquarium is part of Pier 39, where all bags, backpacks, and purses are subject to inspection without advance notice. Also, the aquarium doesn't have storage for personal items such as backpacks, luggage, or strollers.

Yes, you should prebook admission tickets to the Aquarium of the Bay. While walk-up tickets can be purchased, it's best to secure your entry and avoid waiting in ticket-purchasing lines. The aquarium is one of the most popular attractions on Pier 39, which becomes full of tourists during summer and the holidays.

To avoid tourist crowds, skip a weekend visit, and go to the Aquarium of the Bay on a weekday, but remember that school groups sometimes visit during the week. You can also visit during an event like an otter-viewing party—check the aquarium’s event calendar on their website before your visit.

Yes, you can take pictures at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco. The aquarium has some particularly photogenic sections, including two underwater tunnels. These tunnels contain about 700,000 gallons (265 million liters) of San Francisco Bay water and are home to sharks, rays, octopuses, and other marine life.