Balloon Museum

4.0 (89 reviews)

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Balloon Museum - Entrance - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Terry K.

This Balloon Museum is conveniently located and easy to get in and out. Who knew they had price surging? YUP! Surging on the long weekends and also for summer.... I guess that is their busiest times. But I wanted to see what new exhibits were added as this Balloon Museum travels the world. This is their second appearance in the State of California. I saw the Museum in Los Angeles last year. Yes, they do have new exhibits added compared to what I saw last year. The Balloon Pool had orange balloons compared to black that I've seen before. Very organized! Not sure why their price was so high but I guess it is what it is. Once you see this Museum you are set! No need to go again.... unless you check the listing of exhibits and compare it to what you've already seen The interaction with sound to the balloons is what you want to see! Go ! At least Once ok?

Sherri W.

An amazing adventure at The Palace of Fine Arts to host The Balloon Museum. With so many exhibits I felt there wasn't enough time to relish in the creativity of the artists. It was so much fun. I also appreciated how each exhibit had a tribute from the artist who created their exhibit, it gives you a little perspective. There are way too many photo ops & way too little time, but I was so glad to have participated at this museum.

Shawna G.

I visited the balloon museum on the last day they were open. I was confused by the large blow up person laying on their back, where you literally walk through their spread legs. The art piece was labeled as a disabled person, but when I walked through the art, and even above this piece, I searched thoroughly for some indication of it being a disabled person and saw nothing... just felt like a very unnecessary piece to put in a museum that attracts kids. Most of the rooms were interactive with was fun only if you interact with the rooms. I think three of the coolest rooms were the giant ball pit, the dark bubble room, and the room with the colorful glass that gets projected onto the walls. The ball pit room played a strange video on the screens that included mushrooms, a man floating around that was a shadowy figure and a giant eyeball. Again, it was very strange for a balloon museum that definitely attracted a lot of kids. The last weird thing we saw was this room where you put on virtual reality goggles and you would think they would show something kid friendly or having to do with balloons, but it showed some dancers that were in piñata looking clothes and they were touching each other and very much virtually in your face. Before we got to see what people were seeing, I saw a little girl take off her goggles and she didn't want to put them back on, but I don't blame her. Overall the museum had some cool interactive rooms, but there was a fair amount of weird things I wouldn't want my kids to see.

Ada H.

My best friend and I had really high expectations for this museum but most rooms were pretty lackluster. We had a time slot for 11:30 and were swiftly led into the first exhibition which were a bunch of balloon arches. Our favorite room was the ball pit but unfortunately they only gave us a minute before they started their show. Once the show ended, everyone was told to leave the room. If we had known, we would've waited for the next show so we could truly enjoy the room. The short time we did have, the ball pit room was perfect for photo ops and we were delighted by the nostalgic feeling of playing in a ball pit. Our second favorite room would be the silver balloon room. We adored the color scheme! The whole exhibition took about 40 minutes which we felt was not worth the price. I would say if you do have kids, it is worth it for them to enjoy.

Aesthetically pleasing to look at though.

Ilse H.

I'm sorry but I expected more from this place, especially what I paid for. It's definitely pricey on the weekends. The ball pit was the funnest interactive portion but everything felt eeh to below mid. For the price, I expected a lot more interactive rooms. The bubble room needs a few mops here and there because even with the shoe socks on, my pants were getting soaked at the bottom. The workers seemed miserable. Although, I don't blame them since doing a repetitive task can be draining. Pick something else if visiting SF.

Khyei A.

I wanted to check out the Balloon Museum because I've been to other cute balloon exhibits with ball pits that were really fun and interactive. Unfortunately, this one didn't really spark my interest. It felt more like a place designed mainly for kids, photo opportunities or maybe date nights for couples. Other than that, there wasn't much that I found particularly engaging or exciting.

Elaine N.

This museum is so fun! We went here on a Saturday around 4:30pm and it wasn't too crowded that day. This museum reminded me of the museums in Japan and they have a cafe with snacks and drinks too! Anyways, I loved how interactive this museum is and I had a bunch of "favorite" rooms. My favorite rooms were the Invisible Ballet, Swing, ADA, Airship Orchestra, Hyperfeeling, and Playground! Out of all those favorites I listed, the Hyperfeeling room was my very favorite because of how fun the ball pit pool is! I'd recommend this place! We spent a little over 2.5 hours here, but I would've stayed longer if we didn't have other plans in this area. I tend to love interactive museums and exhibits, so this was a lot of fun.

Shannon T.

A pretty cool museum located in the Palace of Fine Arts. It's inside where the old Exploratorium used to be. We went on Juneteenth so there was somewhat of a crowd, but nothing too crazy. The tickets were pretty expensive for what the experience was and I don't think it's worth it for about ~$50 per person. We spent about less than 90 minutes here. The exhibits are really cool and you can get really hands on with the exhibits. There's giant balls you can play around with and you can walk inside and through really neat inflatable structures. I'm really bummed out about the ball pit room because we only got to be there for maybe 10 minutes or less and I saw other reviewers said they got to be there for longer. I think we got the short end of the stick because we were one of the last few people to get in before the next group, and when we got in the video experience started. The workers then had usher everyone out and I wish I had more time in this room. We got a few neat pictures in but it was a bummer. The gift shop has balloon animals you can purchase as well as other merch. Theres a dessert and drink bar too. Overall, it was a neat experience but definitely not worth for the money. I'm still pretty bummed out from the ball pit room.

Anna L.

My husband and I actually had the BEST time together at the Balloon Museum! We were in SF for work, but I surprised him with tickets to celebrate his birthday on the day we flew in. I had seen the promo video for EMOTIONAIR and it looked awesome, but I didn't really know what to expect. These types of pop-up/traveling museum experiences can be hit or miss sometimes, but we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of balloon installations and interactive elements. Even without having children, we had a blast. The experience starts from the moment you arrive outside with the Octopus Attacks! installation taking over the building with its tentacles. The venue being set at the Palace of Fine Arts is the perfect backdrop and makes for a beautiful walk before and/or after the museum experience. There are at least 20+ different rooms/installations and we both felt like the length of the experience was well worth the price. We went through the whole thing in about 1.5 hours, but you could spend more time if you had young children who were actually playing along the way. I took wayyyy more video content and than photos (pics don't really do it justice), but I'd have to say one of our favorite installations was the Invisible Ballet -- a room filled with hundreds of silver balloons dancing through the air while you stand in the middle of it, wind blowing your hair everywhere -- it was so fun! We also really loved the massive ball pit "HYPERFEELING" that was thankfully not too crowded when went. The whole digital show within the ball pit room is so cool, we spent about 15-20 minutes in that part. I'm glad we were able to catch this unique museum while were were in town. There is even a VR experience and cute balloon shop at the end. Loved the balloon flower bar!

Melissa B.

Balloon Museum is great for everyone! It is a good family activity to do with your kids, or it makes for a great date night with your significant other. Planned this day to spend with my hubby, we spent $108.34 for two tickets. Location of the museum is at the Palace of Fine Arts. There was a lot of interactive things to do, I suggest to bring some hand sanitizer wipes if preferred. You are able to touch, play, feel, and see. You're interacting through art! Had a lot of fun taking pictures and getting videos. At some points there was long lines started to form, but it didn't take long to get through them. Towards the end, you're able to buy snacks, drinks, candy, etc.

Kashyap J.

The Mother's Day called for something both mom and son love. We went to the museum for 3:30 entry on a weekend. You can stand in the line little later to not have cranky toddler. The museum exhibits are a mix. We loved the ball pit, bubble sound machine , the bubble laser show and most importantly balloons from shop. It took 1.25 hrs to complete it. Our son was not excited for some of them as it was over stimulating. Loved the ball pit experience. There are restrooms at the entry and make sure you visit since there is only one route to go from one to another. It can get stuffy inside depending upon number of people. But visit once for the experience. Parking is $3 per hour and could be long wait too.

Annabelle R.

We checked out the current exhibition at the Palace of Fine Arts this past weekend, Emotionair: Art You Can Feel. Staff worked efficiently, so there were no delays with entry (at our reserved time), and the entire experience was well organized. Visitors can explore at their own pace once inside, though there are some lines for a few exhibits, no unreasonable waits. Shoe covers were provided for a couple of the rooms (far more efficient than having people remove their shoes, like at other similar interactive art exhibitions). There are clear signs describing each work of art, keeping with the balloon theme, images or use of inflatables, hot air balloons, LED balloons, and bubbles. Emotions are connected to each interactive exhibit, including surprise, anger, frustration, contemplation, resonance, trust, enthusiasm, entrancement, layered, expectation, amazement and wonder, and carefree joy. My faves were the "Hyperfeeling" ball pit which combines multiple emotions as visitors of all ages engage in a multimedia show, and the giant inflatable bunnies (even if they're meant to be creepy with the tunes playing in the background) in Momoyo Torimitsu's "Somehow, I Don't Feel Comfortable". But I also really liked "Invisible Ballet", being immersed in what is described as a tornado of balloons, and "A Quiet Storm", surrounded by soap bubbles and captivated by the lovely shadows created with the light effects. There's a gift shop and cafe at the end, serving pastries, desserts, and cocktails. There are a few tables and seating here too, as well as an additional VR exhibit (not for kids), The Eternal Guardians, which we were able to experience before leaving. Note, if you use the bag/coat check in the beginning, you need to exit the venue at the end and walk outside back to the museum entrance to retrieve your belongings.

Vinkin Ken T.

I was fortunate to grab the tickets at 50% off. Had a 6pm time slot for a Thursday but we arrived by 5pm. We had to wait until 6pm. No early entry. There are some nearby benches plus the Palace of Fine Arts to walk around to pass the time. You can also buy tickets in person. It seems any time slot between 5-6pm, had a few people entering but by 6pm there was a medium size line. Still it didn't seem overly crowded once inside. Lighting is dim, so photos on iPhones don't come out as nice. There is a fee for coat check, I believe it was a $5.xx a piece. We decided to keep ours and our backpack on. We only really needed to set them down for a bit while we were in the giant yellow ball pit room. There are restrooms before you enter as well as inside. The water fountain near the entrance has been broken for some time. We spent a little less than 1.5 hours there. A fun place for families, groups of friends or even date night. Seniors may not enjoy it so much due to the strobe lights and stairs. At first the pieces seemed underwhelming but it got better. Staffs for the most part were nice. However the last bit in the VR room, the staff looked like he didn't wanna be there. There is a bar-ish area and a gift shop but that was at the end. It would have been nice if we were allowed to hang out there before our timed slot to get a drink. Who wants a cocktail or beer after the fact?

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Bea S.

1279

1341

1 year ago

Paid about $160 for two adults and a high schooler and a middle schooler. We had a blast! I thought we'd breeze through in 45 minutes but we spent a good hour and a half checking things out. We came during the week, found street parking in the neighborhood, got there around 12:30. I recommend this because there wasn't a lot of people so you're able to take a lot of videos and photos and you don't feel like you're in a cattle in a pen. We loved the bubble room with the ship foghorn. We didn't understand the pretty room with the pillow seats on the floor. Ball pit was large and fantastic. Music was uplifting. Favorite room was the balloons that floated around. So many fun videos and photos. Music was also great. This room single-handedly put me in the best mood. Highly recommend! But again, would've not enjoyed if it was crowded. read more

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Jacqueline K.

Elite 26

463

1 year ago

Overall the museum was pretty impressive. Though tickets are pricey, I feel like the exhibits were pretty impressive. If we weren't with our kid, we would have read the descriptions of the ~art~ haha. Otherwise, we were just there to see our 3 year old enjoy the balloons and giant ball pit. I will say that I didn't expect there to be so much waiting for the exhibits, and the ones like the ball pit are timed so you have to wait to get in and then get kicked out after a certain amount of time, which is kind of tough for kids. I understand why since otherwise it'd get way too crowded. I can't really say if this is good for little kids (like under 5). My son enjoyed it overall but he got scared at some of the exhibits and tbh I was sort of scared too haha. I guess I would recommend going here if you want to spend ~$50/person for about 1.5 hours of entertainment; also keep in mind parking can be tough. I only wanted to go here to entertain my son but otherwise I personally wouldn't have wanted to drive over an hour each way for it. This would probably be cute for a first date or something, too. read more

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Katie M.

Elite 26

362

122

1 year ago

Had a lot of fun here on a date night! Especially loved the giant ball pit, bubbles machine, and silver balloon rooms. I bought the tickets well in advance on an early promo so it was well worth it. read more

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Cheley F.

Elite 26

462

416

11 months ago

What a great experience! Super fun for all ages! Highly recommend this for friends, family and visitors to SF.

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Elizabeth L.

Elite 24

418

2315

5080

1 year ago

The Balloon Museum is located in Palace of Fine Arts. It is art you can feel with a bunch of rooms filled with different unique exhibits. Tickets are about $55 each on the weekends for adults - a bit steep, but definitely a good experience to try one time. Parking is hit or miss here, it is already difficult in general, but even more difficult that day because there was also some time type of recital here when we came. I think the set-up is well organized for the most part from the time we lined up for our specific time slow, so there were no delays to going from room to room to the end where there was a gift shop / cafe with a bunch of cool stuff and snacks that you may purchase. I love how they just gave us shoe covers instead, so we did not have to go through the hassle of taking off our shoes and putting it back on (for the ball pit and bubble exhibits). While a lot of the exhibits were fun and interactive, our favorite one was definitely the ball pit - I personally always loved ball pits growing up because it is a wonderful childhood memory for me. read more

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Artemis K.

112

10 months ago

This museum is supposed to be stroller & wheelchair accessible. When we checked in we were told that the elevator was broken and we'd have to take the stairs to the upper level. We weren't able to take our 14 month old out of the stroller and up the stairs for medical reasons. I asked for a refund, so the ticket scanner person called for someone to help us. A glum looking woman came out from the back and asked us what we wanted (maybe all of her helium had leaked out). Then she smugly went to fetch a guy who gave us the refund. He did offer to have someone carry the stroller up the stairs, but that wouldn't work for us. We drove over an hour in traffic to get there. I kept wondering what a person in a wheelchair would do. Would they offer to carry the person up the stairs? There should be a way to notify ticket holders of broken elevators, it's 2025, AI is everywhere, yet they can't send a text or an email. Before discovering the broken elevator situation, we had walked around the PoFA for 10 minutes trying to find the entrance to the museum, which wouldn't normally be a huge deal, but it's a timed entry and if you're 15 minutes late you might not get in. There was zero signage except for the attached photo. I've seen better signs for garage sales. We had parked and entered the PoFA garden from the opposite side of the entrance, and Google Maps led us to the center of the PoFA for the 3601 Lyon St address, by the water, where there was a lovely wedding event happening, but no Balloon Museum. We walked back out towards the street, but saw the tiny sign (see photo) leading us back towards the water. We finally found the entrance thru no help from the venue, but why not just have better signage? (BTW, follow the tiny sign towards the water, turn left at the first pathway, walk all the way along the back of the building, then turn left again and you'll see the entrance.) After we got the refund and were heading back to the car, we passed that tiny sign again and my sister, bless her heart, turned the A-frame around so it wouldn't mislead anyone else. A rude little man who apparently worked for the PoFA angrily said don't turn that sign, it's our property! We tried to explain how confusing it was and he didn't give one horse pucky. He talked over us, wouldn't listen, and said they allowed the Balloon Museum to stick that tiny sign on their A-frame as a "courtesy." Wowzers. What a classy joint to allow such a grand gesture. So, the whole trip was a bust and the workers, for the Balloon Museum and for the PoFA, were rude, blandly apologetic at best, and couldn't give a toss about the broken elevator or the single, tiny, misleading garage sale sign from 1983. For the price of the tickets, everything should have been more professional. read more

Balloon Museum - Awesome signage for the Balloon Museum event. Don't blink or you'll miss it, but if you do see it, it will lead you right into the water. - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Linda P.

137

345

10 months ago

Overall C-: Engaging and interesting, clearly built for kids. Very disappointed there was no nod to hot air balloons, which is why we went. Employee snarked it would be too expensive. Just a small frame of one would be great, or an advertising opportunity for nearby Napa/Sonoma hot air balloon rides! Additionally, ticket price and tiny food bar were rather expensive ($7 for a cupcake!) for the 40-minute experience. Do not recommended. Would appreciate a refund. read more

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Brooke B.

139

10 months ago

Such a cool and immersive experience!! It wasn't just Instagrammable moments, but truly interactive art for kids and the kid inside of us. read more

Balloon Museum - Kaleidoscope Room, Balloon Museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - HYPERFEELING Room, Balloon Museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - Playground Love Room, Balloon Museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - Ada Room, Balloon Museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Himani A.

135

10 months ago

Had the best experience with my family, there were a bunch of interactive exhibits. The ball pit and final balloon tornado exhibit were a special highlight. I would definitely recommend it to families with kids. read more

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Delian P.

11 months ago

This is a really fun experience! If you wanna let your inner kid out and make your inner child happy this is the place. Makes your really in touch with the exhibits. I highly recommend it to everyone! read more

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Edward M.

Elite 26

179

108

1 year ago

I had an amazing date setup with my wife yesterday, neither of us had been to the balloon museum in San Francisco. Such beautiful scenery before you even make it to the entrance. Seeing Art depict emotions in such expressive and immersive ways I couldn't get enough, I literally didn't want to leave. The Pools of balls and flying balloons were my absolute favorite. Trying VR for the first time was a great experience as well. read more

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Ruby S.

1 year ago

Yes, you should go. Yes, take your kids. Pictures do not do it justice. Live the huge ball bit and the silver floating balloon room. My 6 year old said it was the best day of her life. Lol I've taken her to Disneyland! read more

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Jorge D.

11 months ago

Such a fun experience! A lot of interactive activities for people that go. My girlfriend and I had a grand time and we'll more than likely bring our family and friends here! I'd highly recommend going! I'd say it's worth the price we paid for. read more

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Eamon K.

11 months ago

UrbanAir was very futuristic. I really liked kicking all the inflatable therapy balls all over the air. Also I really liked popping bubbles and the ball pool was like a colossal toy chest. Unfortunately I was sinking in the balls and had a difficult time trying to escape, but my MOST favorite of all time was the balloon room with fans on the walls. By the way, this place is where the old Exploratorium used to be. read more

Balloon Museum - Air soccer - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - I dunno what that writing is. - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Kevin Y.

Elite 26

125

304

1 year ago

A super fun collection of immersive art exhibits all made with Balloons!! A fun time for both adults and kids, with tons of variety and types of exhibitions. I suggest you buy tickets in advance especially if you're coming on weekends. If you can, come during slow hours and you'll have to fight less people for photos and have fewer people in your photos in the background. You'll have the place to yourself! Budget spending 1-1.5 hours here. This won't be here forever so come while it's still here! I loved all the creativity and blending of lights, sounds, colors, etc. read more

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Cassandra N.

11 months ago

I love experience museums and try to find ones that are not just instagrammy money grabs. This definitely is not one of them. There was a ton of thought put into each exhibit and some really did stick with me. It is pretty large so it feels worth the money and I thought there was a lot more there than just a backdrop for photos. Was it gross? Yes, but not more disgusting than any other museum where everyone is touching the same thing over and over again. I truly wanted to give this museum five stars. However, the use of AI in the ballpit is disgusting. I understand that it's California, but for a MUSEUM to not commission an artist for an exhibit on human emotion really left a bad taste in my mouth. Balloon museum, I URGE you to commission an artist to replace the AI slop you have as the video in the ballpit. The experience of watching a video was great, but I couldn't believe it was just weird AI generated nonsense. Still a great museum though! read more

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Mei L.

Elite 26

224

363

1 year ago

What an excellent display of colorful, playful balloons and thoughtful rooms. It was certainly a great place to venture around in. We enjoyed the large balls to hit back and forth, the floating balloon with chalk ends, the pendulum balloons, the red and white morphing sleeping/awake bunnies, the silver air room balloons, and the incredibly fun ball yellow ball pit. The kids loved the bubble machines and playing with the bubbles that fall out of the air and are filled with smoke (that was pretty special). It's a fantastic place for enjoying time with friends and getting incredibly rich and vibrant photos. Go on a weekday if you can because weekends can get a bit crowded. I'm surprised more people don't know about it honestly. Take your best friend, your lover, your kids, and the grandparents. There's something for everyone! Also if you want to park, there's plenty of it. We were extremely impressed. Thank you for popping by! read more

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Elizabeth M.

1 year ago

It's a lot of creative fun!! Lots of interaction, beautiful choreographed lights/balloons, and a cool VR experience. My only complaint is that it was difficult to find the entrance. A little extra signage would have solved this issue. read more

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Nathalie V.

1 year ago

It's a cool place, gave me an eerie feeling. expensive and i wish they warned about how the bubble room is messy and the shoe covers don't do much. This really is the epitome of modern art... if you know you know. There's a little snack place and shop at the end. I believe there's also a VR room and to make flowers balloons but you have to pay extra for that. If your kids get scared easily of noise and weird looking things I recommend taking them. It can get loud and scary for them, sometimes even overstimulating. I heard a lot of crying kids. read more

Balloon Museum - These are the really loud and weird machines that produce bubbles. Scared a lot of kids. - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Clarissa E.

1 year ago

I LOVE THIS PLACE , me and my bf paid abt 80 something including parking which I would very much PAY again. It was very easy to navigate. read more

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Jeremey M.

284

1 year ago

Amazing and worth the money! Just be prepared to have a f@cking blast and probably buy a lot of merch. read more

Balloon Museum - Ballon Ball Pit - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Sara S.

Elite 23

100

653

1908

1 year ago

"Its completely normal to feel this whirlwind of feelings all at once. It's what makes us beautifully complex and utterly human" Tips: ladies: do not go with a fresh manicure wear shirts that will not fly in the wind wear pants bring gloves to touch the huge ball watch kids at your feet in the bubbles for all ages especially if you're a kid at read more

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Devyn C.

1 year ago

This was such a fun and interactive museum! Went with a friend group and we all had a great time. The best parts were the ball pit and the soap and air bubble walk through that was right after it. Recommend wearing comfy shoes that u can put shoe covers over (they provide for the ball pit and soap bubble walk through). A friend wore sandals and after she had soap foam all over her feet (even with the shoe covers). At the very end they have VR, merch, and food. The food is pricey and not very tasty (never had frosting that tasted like wax before ). So I wouldn't recommend getting food there. read more

Balloon Museum - Chalk interactive - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - Cupcake, cake pop - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Trenee J.

1 year ago

Worth the money! So many exhibits, great for kids and adults. Definitely an experience to get lost in. Comfortable shoes are a must!! read more

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F S.

103

11 months ago

Great for all ages, fun interactive exhibits and a one of a kind experience. The only issue is parking so Uber if possible.

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Jose C.

10 months ago

My daughter went here 2 weeks ago and absolutely LOVED it. Great experience in there and the pics are wonderful

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Dominique L.

10 months ago

Wonderful experience I have children on the spectrum and they were allowed to attend free of charge I only paid for myself and my partner and one child we had a great time all the displays were beautiful and interactive read more

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Balloon Museum - This exhibit was beautiful - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - This was awesome but be careful those black knobs on the ball are like charcoal pens they leave marks - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - My son has autism and this was his favorite room in the entire museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - This giant ball is super fun - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Balloon Museum - This was very cool - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Harith H.

1 year ago

One of the greatest contemporary interactive art museums I've ever attended, I wet twice, highly recommended! Parking available, book your tickets online or in there. read more

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Socorro D.

11 months ago

So many cool things to see. I love the art behind it. I wasn't a fan of the bumble room just due to smell but over all great museum

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Tim S.

199

1 year ago

I have gone to the balloon museum in Paris. This is twice the price half the museum. Dirty and dark comparatively. This isn't worth the money. Do not go read more

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Susie B.

1 year ago

This place was so fun! Our favorite part was the ball pit exhibit. Great for all ages

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Christine P.

11 months ago

Pretty expensive for what you get and the employees there just dgaf. Not what I'd call active participants in their job. Definitely not "art" but it's a fun place for small kids. The adults without kids we saw there were just focused on social media pictures. read more

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Netz K.

1 year ago

It's good but price is steep for what is. Good day out with family and kids would enjoy it. read more

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Carina Z.

1 year ago

So fabulous! Incredibly fun and immersive, totally worth the ticket price. Really loved exploring different artists' takes on the world! Would recommend the stop. read more

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Christopher F.

172

1 year ago

Don't waste your time. I was with 6 disadvantage teens who were going as a reward for all their hard work this school year. We had an email confirmation the day before saying all was set. When we got there, our tickets scanned as "canceled". Apparently there was a dispute from the bank about the charge for the tickets. Fair enough. But why were we given a confirmation the day before if we couldn't get in? Why did we not get a notice that the tickets wouldn't work? More importantly, why didn't the 7+ people I talk to seem to care about our problem? They seemed annoyed and defensive, & insisted that it wasn't their fault. One of the men was mildly apologetic, but everyone else was rude & abrasive. We drove 2 hours, & were turned away with little effort to help. I'm sure the exhibit was fun, but this experience left a bad taste in my mouth. If you would be inconvenienced by being turned away at the door, don't waste your time. read more

Balloon Museum - Museum scanner, showing our tickets to be canceled - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nicole V.

1 year ago

Realizing that pop-up events can leave you wanting more or disappointed, my expectations were not that high. With that said, I absolutely loved it. My kids (9 and 5) truly enjoyed themselves. Each exhibit stimulated your senses and reminded you of life's simple pleasures. Balloons, bubbles, color, music...art! Even my 66 year old dad was all smiles and dipped in the ball pool! Spent about an hour and a half inside but it certain didn't feel like it. Kids were not bored and their laughter was contagious. We all agreed we would certainly go back. Glad we went for this experience. Until next time! read more

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Robert G.

1 year ago

I understand that many children have enjoyed this exhibit, but I would not recommend it for 2 year olds. We had to escape through an emergency exit because my 2-year old granddaughter was terrorized by the deep darkness and scary light shows and the horrific, grating, unbearable loud industrial noise that permeated the location. From almost the first minute, she was scared and clinging. She barely left our side, and later, she cried uncontrollably until shaking, and we had to leave. Just make sure to take a good look at available videos before going there, especially if you or your children are sensitive to VERY loud noise or flashing lights. I hope those of you who decide to go will enjoy the museum, but my granddaughter, wife, and I definitely did not. read more

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S R T.

1 year ago

Super fun interactive experience for the whole family. Each exhibit has an element of air (eg bubbles, wind, balloons etc), and an emotion it evokes (joy, surprise, fear etc). Very unique concept. We enjoyed it. read more

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Saundra A.

1 year ago

I took my 12 year old niece to the museum today. She Loved it! So did my husband and myself. It is colorful, immersive, interactive, self reflective and fun. As a migraine person I did come out of the experience with a bit of a headache. But after food and water it went away. That being said, I would go again and I highly recommend this experience. read more

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Stri Z.

1 year ago

Super fun interactive, interesting exhibit. A lot of out of the box activities that people of all ages, children and adult would enjoy.

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Page 2 of 3

3601 Lyon St
San Francisco, CA 94123
Marina/Cow Hollow
Directions
Visit Website
https://balloonmuseum.world/faq-emotionair/

Hours

What time does Balloon Museum open?

Balloon Museum opens at 1:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Balloon Museum opens at 11:00 AM on Friday.Balloon Museum opens at 10:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Balloon Museum close?

Balloon Museum closes at 7:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Balloon Museum closes at 9:00 PM on Saturday.Balloon Museum closes at 8:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Thu 1:00 PM - 7:00 PMFri 11:00 AM - 7:00 PMSat 10:00 AM - 9:00 PMSun 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Other Amenities

Does Balloon Museum have free WiFi?

Yes, Balloon Museum has free WiFi.

Ask the Community - Balloon Museum

Will this be open in December?

No. The one in SF is only through Sept 28th.

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Is it accessable for seniors with a cane and mobility issues?

I wouldn't recommend it for that demographic. While they might be able to walk through the venue and look at the exhibits, there's many exhibits that have a lot of sensory things happening and it might be overstimulating or stressful, esp if they…

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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Kaws: Family, May 01, 2026. I can imagine many of these images on colorful T-shirts.

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Kris C.

573

135

596

1 year ago

The Balloon Museum in San Francisco is a fun and unique spot for all ages. We went on a Thursday around 3:15 PM with our 2-year-old, and it wasn't crowded, which made it easy to enjoy each area. Buying tickets online was simple, and adding them to Apple Wallet was convenient. The museum is at the Palace of Fine Arts, which is nice to walk around. Parking is paid and nearby. We used the PayByPhone app, which worked fine, but you'll need your card info. Inside, there's balloon art, bubbles, music, lights, and interactive rooms that felt playful and fun. Some areas need shoe covers, and the floors can be slippery, especially near the bubbles. Keep an eye on kids. The ball pit was a big hit, but small items can fall out of your pockets. There are sanitizer stations, but bringing your own is a good idea. The gift shop and snack area don't take cash, but tap and cards work. We bought a zip-up sweater that was really comfy. We stayed for about an hour and skipped the VR part since it's for older kids. Tickets were about $50 for adults, and our toddler was free. Great place for families or anyone who likes interactive stuff. We had a great time and would go again. read more

Marlene C.

1 year ago

I had a great time here with my mom! We got half-price tickets and spent almost 2 hours exploring. At first, I was bothered by the kids running around, but then I enjoyed it and had fun like a kid. Each area is unique and gets better as you go. You can explore at your own pace, but some exhibits have lines and group tours. If you jump into the ball pit, leave your phone and anything in your pockets behind. Mine fell out, but another family found it for me. They also helped me get back up. Overall, it was great fun and created lasting memories! Kids must be fascinated! read more

Chris

11 months ago

This was an amazing experience! I really recommend it but it can get dark I also think children would love this place

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