Aquarium San Francisco: tickets, prices, tours, etc.

The San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay is located at Pier 39, between the ferry that leads to the island where the former Alcatraz prison is located and Fisherman's Wharf. Opened in 1996, this beautiful aquarium is one of the main attractions of the city of San Francisco, and beyond being home to so many marine creatures, it also works hard to conserve the oceans and their specific fauna.

Walking through its incredible glass tunnels you can be part of a unique experience: you will be surrounded by amazing creatures, from giant octopuses and sharks, to starfish and eerie manta rays.

Through the link I've left above you can buy your tickets for the San Francisco Aquarium in a practical and easy way. You can enjoy 2 hours at one of the city's most famous, and one of its most interesting, attractions.

You'll find that prices start at 29 Euros. You also get free cancellation, so your booking is risk free.

Recommended if... you don't want to waste time waiting in long lines.

Aquarium tickets for adults start at 29 euros, and for children between 4 and 12 years of age, prices start at 19 euros.

While the prices are not expensive, considering that this is a truly amazing place, the aquarium does offer a few options to save a few dollars.

By purchasing the Family of 4 Bundle for families of 4 (two adults and two children aged 4-12), you can save up to 12 euros on your tickets.

You can also ask about discounts for larger groups of more than 10 people.

No, there are no guided tours of the San Francisco Aquarium. It is really worth noting that they are not at all necessary, as the staff are fully trained and inform visitors about the various attractions, as well as anything else they want to know about the marine species found there, as well as the aquatic life in the bay.

It is very important to note that on the tours you will also find various QR codes that you can scan with your mobile or tablet, in order to listen to information about the different points of the aquarium.

Given the popularity of the place, all this information is available in several languages, including: Spanish, English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin.

From the opening of the ticket office you can buy your tickets directly, and you can choose between several different means of payment.

This, of course, has an important disadvantage, as depending on the number of visitors, you may have to wait in long lines.

Therefore, my recommendation so that you don't waste time in vain is to buy your San Francisco Aquarium tickets online.

Another option is to buy one of the many tourist passes where the entrance fee is included.

Means of payment accepted at the San Francisco Aquarium ticket office

• Cash
• Debit or credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover)
• AliPay
• WeChat

Please note: There is an ATM machine in the Aquarium shop to withdraw cash, should you need it.

Yes, of course they are included in some of the San Francisco Sightseeing Passes, as the Aquarium is one of the city' s most popular attractions.

On the San Francisco CityPASS, the Aquarium is one of two attractions of choice. This pass includes access to four attractions. Two of them are fixed (to the California Academy of Sciences and a boat ride on the San Francisco Bay).

With the other two attractions you can choose from the following options: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, The Walt Disney Family Museum, the Exploratorium, or finally the San Francisco Aquarium.

The other tourist pass that includes among its activities the Aquarium of the Bay, is the Go City San Francisco, with which, in addition, you will get full access to about 25 activities to do throughout the city.

The Aquarium of the Bay is located on Pier 39, at The Embarcadero and Beach Street. The Aquarium of the Bay is easily accessible by public transport, which is very cheap and reliable.

You can get there easily on the F line of the tram and the Powell-Mason line of the Cable Car.

As for fares, tram travel will cost around US$2.5 for adults and US$1.25 for children between 5 and 18 (or adults over 65). Note that children under the age of 5 are free on the trams.

If you opt for the tram, remember that if you have a Muni Pass or City Pass, you don't pay a ticket. Nor do you pay if within 90 minutes before boarding the tram you have made any other journey on any other means of transport on the Muni network.

You should also know that if you buy your ticket directly on board the tram, you will have to pay with exact change.

If, on the other hand, you use the iconic Cable Car, the price per adult is approximately US$7, and for the over 65s between 9pm and 7am the price is US$3.

With the City Pass and Muni Pass you will have unlimited travel on this mode of transport, and if you get the Go San Francisco Card you get one trip per day totally free.

If you choose to go by car, unfortunately the San Francisco Aquarium does not have its own car park, however at Pier 39 you will find a public car park that is open 24 hours a day, every day.

Of course it is! The Aquarium of the Bay is a very fun and educational place, which is why it is one of the best things to do with children in San Francisco.

I can assure you that the little ones will be amazed by the huge amount of aquatic animals they will meet. They will also have the chance to see them up close. The underwater viewing tunnel will leave them open-mouthed as soon as they see a group of sharks swimming above their heads.

Note that inside the aquarium all the staff are always happy to help, and at all times they will be teaching the children about the wonderful animals they are meeting.

There is a purely educational area, known as the Bay lab, where children will even have the chance to touch some of the animals - can you imagine feeling the back of a manta ray, fluffy anemones, starfish or even the fin of a shark with your own hands? It's a sublime experience.

Plus, there are plenty of fun shows and events throughout the day that will delight these little tourists. .

The Aquarium of the Bay is subdivided into different sections, according to the activity or attraction it offers. These are as follows:

Discover the Bay section

Here, a gallery immerses you in the ecosystem of San Francisco Bay and you can see seven different habitats with their animals and how the underwater creatures shape their homes.

Here the beauties of the bay are on display, and colourful animals will amaze you with their majesty. Some of these species are the bright orange Garibaldi, the green Moray Eels and the colourful Rockfish.

Under the Bay Section

This is the most important and classic attraction of the aquarium. It is a tunnel approximately 100 metres long, completely glazed, where you can feel like you are walking under the waters of the mythical bay, while appreciating all the richness of San Francisco's marine fauna.

The sensation of walking, as the name suggests, under the bay is truly unique. San Francisco Bay itself is shallow, but is home to a wide variety of aquatic species.

Go With The Flow Section

In this part of the aquarium you'll find that the ambient lighting recreates a perfect backdrop for watching the mesmerising jellyfish. The huge tanks in this section are home to several different species of jellyfish, of which there are more than 200 in total worldwide.

Jellyfish are very peculiar animals, since, among other things, they have no organs and their movements are driven by electrical impulses and ocean currents.

Touch the bay section

This is the part of the aquarium where you can interact more closely with the animals. Here you will have the chance to touch some of the most amazing marine species, from manta rays and leopard sharks to starfish, among many others.

In addition to the touch pools, "Touch the Bay" includes the Bay Lab. This section shows how the lives of certain terrestrial species in the bay, such as chinchillas, turtles and frogs, are affected by climate change.

The message of this section is really very important on an educational level and helps to raise awareness among visitors to the aquarium, especially the younger ones.

Find out all about river otters

This section consists of a gallery, where you can meet the most curious and adorable river otters. Here you will find out about the main differences between river otters and sea otters, as well as learn about the fundamental role that this animal species plays in the river systems of river basins.

The presence of these small animals is a very useful indicator that the watercourse is healthy.

The San Francisco Aquarium has three main attractions, which you should not miss.

• One of them is Go With The Flow. This section is dedicated to marine animals, invertebrates, octopuses, sea sponges and jellyfish.
• Another must is Under the Bay. Here you will find the famous underwater viewing tunnel, where you can see sharks swimming above you.
• Finally, the area known as Discover the Bay. This area is home to some of the most typical fish of the west coast of the United States, such as the incredible Garibaldi.

Visiting the aquarium with children will take you an average of two hours, as children tend to spend much more time than adults looking at the animals and exhibits, and it's common for them to want to attend all the shows on offer, even down to the feeding sessions.

If you only stop to see the main attractions and take a quick tour of the aquarium, an hour may be more than enough time. Although I must tell you that it is best, if possible, to visit it in good time, as it is well worth it.

The San Francisco Aquarium is open absolutely every day from 11am to 6pm. Thanks to its extended opening hours, it will be very easy to include it in your itinerary when organising your stay in San Francisco.

However, my advice is to enjoy it first thing in the morning, as soon as it opens.

This will save you from waiting in long lines, as after midday the number of visitors starts to increase, especially in the summer months, on weekends and during school holidays. In addition, you will find that the animals themselves are more active and predisposed in the morning.

Please note that on holidays, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, opening hours may vary, so it is best to check the official San Francisco Aquarium website before planning your visit.

Here are some practical tips for you to consider when visiting the beautiful San Francisco Aquarium.

Online tickets

My top tip is to try to buy your San Francisco Aquarium tickets online to avoid wasting time waiting in long lines.

Clothing

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, so you can walk around the Aquarium without any discomfort. Don't miss the opportunity to take a moment to stroll around Pier 39, where the Aquarium is located, as the views from there are privileged.

Sea lions

The pier is also home to a huge colony of sea lions, ideal for meeting them and taking pictures.

Enjoy Pier 39

The pier is also home to one of the most important shopping centres in San Francisco.

Other visits

If you have time, a great idea is to combine a visit to the aquarium with a tour of other nearby tourist attractions in the city.

A few metres from the aquarium is the world-famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

Also within walking distance is the curious interactive museum of 20th century arcade games, the Musée Mécanique.

Without leaving the bay, just a few metres from the aquarium you can see the SS Jeremiah OBrien** and the **USS Pampanito Submarine**, and of course, you can tour **Fishermans Wharf.