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    Exploratorium

    4.4 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Exploratorium

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    Reviews With Photos

    At the Exploratorium.
    Alex C.

    5/28 It's been quite some time since my last visit to the Exploratorium. Ironically, I felt like a child when there were no children to be found. I went to experience After Dark and felt like a kid in a candy store. The museum and exhibits seem and feel bigger than ever before with both new and pre-existing experiences. I kept walking, walking, and walking into what seemed like an endless amusement park. My mind was both overwhelmed and exhilarated while I touched, felt, grabbed, banged, spun, tapped, listened and saw with my eyes. There is still much more grounds to explore and it's also a fun group outing to do.

    Paul N.

    This place is definitely for kids but man we could have spent 5 to 6 hours here. Such a great interactive museum that blended science with fun. If you have time to kill, check this place out instead of Pier 39.

    Kimberly W.

    Very cute museum. There are lots of children and lots of things to do. My favorite exhibit was the Morse code experience where you can try to type in Morse code. I promise you I spent about 30 minutes there. Then the next person using it probably also spent about 30 minutes there because I wanted to go back before I left and she was still there lol. Everything was very interesting and fun. I love that. There was so much opportunity to interact with the exhibit and demonstrations. This is a great place for curious children as they are able to touch and play with everything! The staff was also very kind and welcoming. I went through the wrong entrance, but the staff assisted me with my ticket regardless. So helpful especially when I was stressed and feeling anxious because there were so many children. Thank you for a great experience!

    I love the light illusions section!
    Maylen L.

    Exploratorium San Francisco, CA Date went 4/25/26 Time went around 1:15pm on a Saturday It was very busy to say the least Bonus the entry fee is $5 for food stamp recipients Atmosphere It was so great to see a mixture of young children with parents, teenagers, and even older people in this establishments. I saw lots of laughter, play, and wonder and despite it being packed everyone was respectful and I didn't see any hogging of the different activities. You could easily spend at least 3 or 4 hours in there. Food Court I ordered a chicken avocado bacon burger and it was surprisingly delicious! Also, not too expensive. Overall I highly recommend coming her with your kids, on a date, or just for some fun scientific exploring! I didn't get to see what the regular entrance fee was, but I'd say this would be worth it for about $25-$30 per person. I wish I would've taken more pictures of the different activities Recommendations - More hand sanitizing stations, I only recall seeing one throughout the entire place

    Charles W.

    First time at the exploratorium since it moved to the pier and it brought me back when I was a kid. There are lots of interesting things to be hands on. The staff are very helpful if you need to find or locate certain areas of the Exploratorium. They have a cafe and the Restuarant which the food is pretty good. There is a gift shop to bring home something to remember your adventure at the Exploratorium. Great tourist spot in SF or spend a day with the kids.

    *Zoom In* Toothpick sculpture of SF landmarks by Scott Weaver...it took 50 years to build!
    Cherylynn N.

    **** AFTER DARK THURSDAYS **** * 18+ over * Full bar * DJ spinning Get lit and let your inner child come out and play...without looking like a creepy weirdo and getting side eye from parents. Touch, blow, tap, bang, spin, hit....the interactive exhibits. If you dare, go into the pitch black Tactile Dome, a twisting maze where you use your sense of touch to find your way out. Prepare to get on all fours...crawling, climbing, and sliding. I have not returned to the Exploratorium since middle school but been to Nightlife at the Academy a handful of times. After Dark Thursdays is like their crazy genius cousin BUT dog-friendly (Founder Dr. Frank Oppenheimer loved dogs)! With a caveat tho, it can get crowded after 7 pm so come at 6 pm opening time for the safety of others and your dog. If you have a small dog, I recommend putting them in a carrier. My dog loves meeting new people and visual stimulation so he enjoyed it. Once there was more foot traffic, we left and enjoyed the outside exhibits. Oh and my favorite part...you get to watch SO many awkward first dates play out! *Busts out popcorn* O T H E R I N F O * Tickets: $19.95 pp. There's themed nights. * Tactile Dome require rezzies and is $15.95 pp. No shoes or phones inside. * Food available at the on-site resto but it's the city with so many better options. Pregame at Pier 23 Cafe (5 min walk); drinks are decently priced. * Discounted parking at Pier 15 lot across the street. $10 flat rate; code required (see Exploratorium's website). * Lockers available.

    Nancy C.

    The Exploratorium in San Francisco has been around since 1969, the original home was at the Palace of Fine Arts but moved to its current location at Pier 15 and Pier 17 on San Francisco's waterfront since 2013. This place is perfect for kids: 2 years old and over. Technically, it's great for all ages. There are so many hands-on activities everywhere you go! You can definitely be here for 5+ hours! There are outside activities as well. As far as food and where to eat, as of January 2026, The Tinkering Table Restaurant has taken over the Seaglass Restaurant. There's also a cafe located at the front that's connected inside and outside of the museum. To get to the Exploratorium, I recommend taking public transportation when possible, there's ferry and BART, it's a good 15 minutes walk from the Ferry Building, you can also take the F Line Streetcar/ Muni and it will take you there to the front. Although there's parking lots and street parking, it can add up and be expensive! I've been here at this location and at the Palace of Fine Arts location as a kid when I used to go for field trips! Now I go with my daughter, nieces and nephews! Would I go again?! Absolutely! Maybe one day I'll try and go on Thursday's for Exploratorium After Dark.

    Asal B.

    Back again and it was fun as always. Story time, crafts, animals, bubbles and experiments galore keep my toddler happy for hours. Also very impressed with how quickly they change out exhibits. We'll be back again!

    Buckyball
    Sho R.

    I got a free pass from discover and go. If you are a member of a bay area public library, you can visit Expoloratorium free once every year. I liked this place more than the California Academy of Sciences. There were a lot of physics hands on experiment items.

    Kai S.

    I have been here multiple times throughout the years, and have only had good experiences. However, my last visit stood out to me the most. A few weeks ago was my senior prom, which was at the Exploratorium. The exhibits and environment were very fun and made for a super engaging night! As a trans person, I have a lot of anxiety in public bathrooms. Although they were unable to open up the general neutral bathroom (I mean, it's high schoolers, you can't trust them). However, the staff was extremely accommodating and kind, and escorted me to a separate bathroom. They made sure I got to pick the bathroom I was most comfortable in, as well as apologized for the inconvenience. Not only is this place fun, entertaining, and family friendly, they are welcoming, kind, and caring. I will never forget the kindness that I was shown.

    Anand P.

    This is an amazing place to bring the entire family. They have interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. So many things to see and do when visiting the exploratorium. Adults can also join in the fun. They do have a cafeteria and the food is good, but it's not cheap. The ferry is great way to go if you are coming from the east bay. It's just a short walk from the ferry building to Exploratorium.

    I seen this familiar pack hanging by the water in SF
    Juan V.

    Being born and raised and still in San Francisco one of my favorite places in the city besides Golden Park was the Palace of Fine Arts and it was not particularly only for its exterior ( or a good place to drink at night). Inside there was the Exploratorium which I had a great experience and fun memories growing up in San Francisco. It was the first place which I enjoyed science and where science was fun going on field trips as a youth. The Exploratorium today is located in the Embarcadero on Pier 15. I now enjoy coming here as an adult whether day or night ( for After Dark Thursday night events). They always have interesting displays of science of the past , present, and future. I enjoyed there latest display of Adventures in AI. The AI vibes here were strong. The focus of the usage and possibilities of AI utilization for industrial, visuals , information, art, nature, sonics and human creation was inspiring. I enjoyed playing with the AI tools here. My favorite was "Guess the Animal ". I also enjoyed the different exhibits like the Explore life from DNA and cells to organisms and ecosystems. I also like the tinkering stations in the Exploratorium. This is a fun place visit and for people of all ages ( except on After Dark Thursday Night which is 18 and over ). Go the Exploratorium and open the "door "to the new wonders of science has to "explore" and AI has been here for decades but now its mainstream and hard to "ignore "and see science displays of the past and present walking inside the Exploratorium "floor" Wait there is "more "because the Exploratorium they have outside exhibits displays about the "ocean shore "and after you finish you can learn a little extra about science by grabbing something at the Exploratorium "store"

    Jarred F.

    We have been too many cities and we try to take our son to the local children's museums and this one stands out as the best we've been to in the United States. There's a focus on science and most of the exhibits are hands-on. We basically spent half a day at this museum and it was really incredible for our 10-year-old. A great way to spend a day if the weather doesn't cooperate.

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    Page 3 of 33

    Exploratorium Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Exploratorium

    Is it stroller friendly?

    Yes! :)

    What type of things are at the gift shop?

    There are books, toys & games for younger children, apparel & jewelry, mugs, and lamps to name a few. You can get a more comprehensive list on their website: www.exploratoriumstore.com

    Are there stores in the exploratorium?

    There’s a cafe and a gift shop!

    What are the dinning options here?

    Seaglass Restaurant food is okay quick service too. I'd walk around and find places to eat outside fun to explore

    Is there a parking lot on site?

    No. From their site:… 

    Military discount with valid ID?

    Yes, they do offer a military discount for admission

    Do you need to show your vaccination card?

    well.....it depends on who is the host of the event. The Exploratorium is simply the venue. So, in our case, the host or organizer made sure everyone in attendance had proof of vaccination. Hope this helps.

    Is this something toddlers (almost 2) can enjoy?

    Absolutely! They do have Pre-K activities on their websites

    Since none of my friends seem to be interested I'm thinking to go alone, will I be missing out a lot to try out because I'm solo?

    Not at all! While there are some exhibits/activities that require 2 people, I think you can visit solo and still have a great time!

    Is this still temporarily closed?

    As of 2024, I can say they are open

    How crazy crowded is it on a Sunday? Should I plan my visit on a weekday instead?

    Great question! Non-holiday weekends and weekday early morning right when we open at 10 a.m. and early afternoon after lunch is generally quieter for us. Are you traveling in with kids? If not, we also offer adults-only evenings on Thursdays After… 

    I was wondering how many hours would be a good amount of time to spend at the Exploratorium?

    It depends mostly upon the attention span of the kids. I normally plan on at least 3-4 hours, and that can be broken up with lunch. But however long you spend don't expect to see everything in one go. We've been there many time and still stumble… 

    For exploratorium after dark, do you have access to the same exhibits that are normally there or are they completely different exhibits?

    HI Leeana! During After Dark you have the same access to all 6 indoor and outdoor galleries, which includes more than 650 exhibits. On top of the normal museum experience, After Dark brings pop-up bars, themed programming (i.e. music, speakers,… 

    Is it allowed to enter the Exploratorium with food, like snacks or sandwiches?

    Hi Wladimir! Yes, you can bring a simple snack into the Exploratorium.

    Is the Exploratorium open on New Year's Day 2019?

    Yes open on New Years Day 2019....

    Bought some online tickets to gift it to someone.. didn't realize that the "biller" wouldn't be able to technically change the name on the tickets. Will they still be able to use it if I'm not there?

    Should be fine, but I'd call the museum and let them know, they might be able to make a note of it.

    Can u bring a dog to the exploratorium?

    Yes, on the leash though!

    Will the Exploratorium be open on July 4th?

    Yes, it opens on 7/4/18 :)

    Can I bring a double stroller? Is there room for it to maneuver around the museum or is there a secure area to leave it?

    You absolutely can bring a double stroller and while visiting with my toddler in a single one, I saw other families with double strollers. They appeared to navigate the Exploratorium with ease and comfort. I don't know about a safe place to leave… 

    How much does a family membership cost?

    $149, up to 2 adults and 4 kids.

    View All 25 Questions

    Review Highlights - Exploratorium

    Needing to escape the triple-digit temperatures of the Sacramento Valley, we headed to SF for a day at the pier.

    Mentioned in 135 reviews

    Read more highlights

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