California Academy of Sciences

Open map

55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA

Tours

Tours for this place are currently closed for booking. They will be listed here again once the supplier reopens them.

There are currently no active tours for this place.

Alternative tours

San Francisco, USA

de Young Museum Admission Ticket, San Francisco

From

€36

San Francisco, USA

de Young Museum Admission Tickets, San Francisco

From

€14

About California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences sits inside Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and it packs an unusual amount under one roof. It's a natural history museum, an aquarium, a planetarium, and a four-story indoor rainforest all in the same building, which makes it one of the few places where you can walk from a coral reef to a swamp to the far side of the universe without stepping outside. The current building, designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2008, is best known for its "living roof," a rolling green landscape planted with native California species that helps keep the interior cool.

The big draws inside are the Steinhart Aquarium, home to thousands of animals including the Philippine Coral Reef tank, the Osher Rainforest dome with free-flying birds and butterflies, and the Morrison Planetarium, which runs regularly changing dome shows. The Kimball Natural History Museum fills out the rest with skeletons, dioramas, and specimens, including the much-photographed African Hall penguins. Plan on a half day to see it properly, more if you're visiting with kids who want to linger at the touch tide pools.

The Academy is an easy pairing with the de Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the Botanical Garden, all a short walk away in the same park. Public transit and park shuttles reach the Music Concourse, but parking in the area is limited and fills quickly on weekends, so arriving earlier in the day helps. Planetarium shows and some special exhibits may need timed tickets on top of general admission, so it's worth checking the current arrangements before you go.

Weather in San Francisco

Today 66°F19°C 51°F11°C Rain 1%

Today 70°F21°C 52°F11°C Rain 0%

Tomorrow 71°F22°C 57°F14°C Rain 0%

Mon, Oct 26 64°F18°C 56°F14°C Rain 1%

Tue, Oct 27 63°F17°C 56°F13°C Rain 1%

Wed, Oct 28 63°F17°C 54°F12°C Rain 3%

Thu, Oct 29 65°F18°C 54°F12°C Rain 2%

Local time 1:44 AM, UTC-07:00

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Most visitors spend around three to four hours, which covers the aquarium, the rainforest dome, a planetarium show, and the main natural history halls. Families with children often stay longer, since the tide pool touch exhibits and the penguins tend to hold attention.

Is a planetarium show included with admission?

Planetarium shows are included with general admission, but seating is often by timed ticket because capacity in the dome is limited. It's a good idea to pick up or reserve a show time when you arrive, or to check current arrangements in advance, especially on busy days.

What's inside the California Academy of Sciences?

It combines several attractions in one building: the Steinhart Aquarium, the four-story Osher Rainforest, the Morrison Planetarium, and the Kimball Natural History Museum. There's also the living roof and a set of touch tide pools, which makes it a strong pick for a mixed-age group.

How do I get there and is there parking?

The Academy is on the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, reachable by public transit and park shuttle. Parking nearby is limited and fills fast on weekends and holidays, so arriving earlier in the day or using transit is usually the easier option.