I haven't been into a Ripley's in probably 15 or more years. We tooks our kids while in San Fran today. We had a great time. Pretty sure the spinning thing that make you feel like you're the one spinning, not the walls, was all of our favorite. We used Groupon for the tickets but Groupon kept messing up & wouldn't open the voucher. The guy at the entrance was awesome, he honored our tickets knowing Groupon kept messing up. Thank you! read more

See all

The front desk staff was very friendly and welcoming, so this review is not about the service. We decided to visit because of the great reviews, and our 3.5-year-old was excited by the entrance. What we didn't realize is that the museum has a lot of very lifelike mannequins and human figures right from the entrance and in the first room. Both my son and I are uncomfortable with realistic mannequins, and we were surprised by how many there were. We ended up leaving after less than a minute. It was disappointing to lose the admission fee, but we were simply too uncomfortable to continue. I'm giving 4 stars because I don't think it's a bad museum--it just wasn't a good fit for us. I mainly wanted to mention the mannequins because I didn't see that in other reviews. If you or your children are sensitive to lifelike human figures, it's something to be aware of before buying tickets. read more

I decided to revisit ripleys at the wharf ..it was the end of 2022 and now it's 2025 ..I'm 40..the teacher says she wants to take u on a field trip or we are having a reunion trip and ripleys harkens back to 1993...I wasn't born when Ripley was on TV or this museum doesn't make sense to u ...it's creepy...there is a mirror maze and u will hit your head on the wall ...it was kinda different..still has outer space ...Egypt Asia...makes fun of household artifacts ...all over the world by now ..says Norway ...it's not very big ..better idea to ask your high school teacher...visiting as if it's an old school trip ..believe it or not ..I meant butter read more

See all

I'm so glad that this place is still around. I used to come here in the 80's They've added a few new interactive experiences, and this was appealing and entertaining for our entire family. I would also like to mention that the young woman working there was welcoming and helpful. The mirror maze had us in a fit of giggles. read more

A lot of interesting attractions. If you're a first responder you get a discount which is nice. A nice way to spend a little time in SF.

Convenient spot at the wharf. Quick self lead tour of the place. If you like weird stuff and museums this is for you! I used to love watching the show when I was a kid. The person that helped us was nice and rang us up quickly. Doesn't seem like there's too much foot traffic through this place but it was fun. There's a mirror maze but I get vertigo so I didn't go in. The small crowd inside sounded like they were having a bunch of fun! read more

See all

This museum is so neat! To slow down and reach each story behind each artifact is the way to go! I love all the neat things and people you get to see. Also fun with the new Interactive stops! The laser race is seriously pretty cool especially for the littles! Overall very Fun time for teens and/or young ones. Good place to kill an hour or two and be entertained. Lot's of reading (but interesting stuff if you take the time to read it). There were several interactive exhibits to keep the kids interested as well. Staff was friendly and a good deal with the CityPass or a coupon. read more

See all

This is my favorite museum in the city. Too many incredible things on display to mention. The many things that man has created. The worlds tallest to the worlds fattest man. Things made from lotto tuckets to things made from toothpicks and more. You will never be the same after seeing the many wonders of the world that Mr. Ripley has discoveref. read more

Plethora of fun, whacky items with the stories behind them! It takes like 1-1.5 hours to walk through it all if you take the time to read some of the plaques. There's something cool to everyone. It's great for all ages. Went on the weekend and it wasnt crowded so we didnt feel the need to rush which was perfect. There's a cool section where you walk thru a tunnel and you have to go thru it at least 3 times for the experience! Definitely worth checking out :). read more

Came with with a friend while visiting San Francisco and it definitely didn't disappoint! I love learning cool new things and here I learned so many! There's a lot of really unique exhibits and rare things i didn't even think would exist! I love all the interactive displays, those were def my fav! I wish they had the Alcatraz Items here instead of the Orlando location... idk just makes sense since this one is so close to Alcatraz. Definitely check out the mirror maze too!! It wasn't too busy when we went and we happened to get a tour from the manager which was also really neat! Def worth a visit! read more

See all

This museum is known for explaining weird and unusual facts throughout history and it is a must if you are looking for things to do when exploring the Fisherman's Wharf, especially if you like weird and unique stuff. It is reasonably priced, especially if you pay for a combo for the family. One thing I enjoyed the most was this tunnel that gave the illusion of the room rotating and once you walk through it, it makes it feel like you're moving with the room. read more

See all

So fun, I really liked it So many fun things to see and do!! Will definitely be going back !!

A good museum to see oddities from around the world . I find it amusing to see all the stories told by Ripley. There must be some fact checking on some of the items but it's entertaining to hear the stories. A fun place in San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf to explore . read more

See all

On Saturday the 10th my boyfriend and I decided to stop in, as a teen I visited the location in Florida so I was curious on how it compared and my boyfriend had never been. We definitely learned some amazing, odd and also creepy facts, for example: Bobby Blackburn, the Crocodile Nature Preserve Ranger wore dentures made from crocodile teeth to tear through crocodile meat. We also came across The Sorting Hat and this one tells fortunes vs which house you're in like Hogwarts, he said he saw big money coming my way soon and Zoltar from the movie Big! And let's not forget the worlds tallest man, and I thought I was tall! And last, but certainly not least, you can take a photo of your shadow! We were told to exit the museum we must go through their mirror maze, they provide gloves and sanitizer and then you walk through this challenging maze of many mirrors. Let's just say we got lost for what seemed like forever and got a panic attack, thankfully we finally discovered the way out. read more

See all

This place has elements of Winchester Mystery House, Disneyland, Exploratorium, funhouse, art museum, arcade, and carnival, all rolled into one... but not as focused or fancy as any of these... rather something unique. Yes there is no real organization to the displays and exhibits, but that's the point. It's supposed to be filled with random weird stuff. I understand that some things you find here will seem cheesy, and yes the fact that they use replicas may make it feel like a rip-off, but there is far more to appreciate and enjoy about this place. And if you come in, understanding that this is a "tourist" attraction, you'll have an extraordinary experience! I guess it also depends who you come with. I think it's mostly geared toward kids (afterall, i enjoyed this place a lot as a kid), but it can also be a really great date spot for adults or someone who's never been, somewhere you can have interesting discussions or laughs together, or photo-worthy moments. There are a lot of fun random facts to learn about (everything clearly labeled), interactive exhibits, (ie. shooting targets, the shadow wall, the spinning tunnel), and a lot of unique art (such as Abraham Lincoln portrait made out of pennies). Some of the rooms have really cool setups/themes, which is why I said it's kinda like Disneyland, such as the train room which makes you feel like you're riding a train. The design of the auditorium is like a fun house where you go from room to room, climbing up and down stairs and through walkways and tunnels, not knowing what you'll see next (amusing not just for kids). As of March 2021, there are a couple interactive exhibits which are shut down due to COVID regulations, but many are in operation currently, they found a way to make it work. That wedding dress made out of toilet paper, I wonder if they shut down THAT exhibit when the pandemic started!?! If you like history or if you're not a know-it-all, you'll find the learning aspect of this attraction appealing, not only the exhibits and displays of world records and strange happenings of the past (which you may or may not believe), but the history of Robert Ripley himself, which is incorporated throughout the museum. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because I think admission is just a tad overpriced and you probably would get bored of this place after 1-2 visits, they don't change much over time (unless you go with someone new each time because that changes the entire experience). Either way, get over the whole "I'm too good for tourist traps" thinking, and just check it out... you'll get more than you expect out of it :) read more

See all

Really enjoyed the layout of this museum. There were many interactive displays - but weren't working. Not sure if that had to do with not touching due to Covid restrictions? Would have been nice to have a sign if that were the case rather than trying to 'interact' and not being able to. The 'spinning room' (my name for it) is a trip - don't go in if you have a sensitive stomach. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Shadow room was fun - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fun interactive museum. Glad we went, as it was unique. Only paid an extra $10 to attend this museum after visiting the wax museum. Glad I only paid that much for what we saw. Although unique, it seems outdated and the things on display could use some retouches. It's decent size, but it took us less than an hour to go through. read more

Brandon is the best !!! The museum was fun too. Love the way they have Burmese culture in therez read more

You can buy tickets at the wax museum as a package deal. Pricey, but it's definitely fun. I love Ripley's. I grew up in LA, so the first time I went ro Ripley's in Hollywood, I thought it was the coolest thing. Anything strange, an oddity and abnormal or strange, tends to be interesting for me. Shrunken heads, cool paintings, masks, interactive fun, interesting statues and carvings, stories and facts that are shared in each room. The collections that come from all the countries Ripley had traveled through are definitely amazing. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Shadow pose as you're leaving Ripley's museum - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Although I really love taking my kiddos here and seeing all the interesting facts, I do feel it is overpriced. If you so not walk slowly and engage in every display, you could literally be done in 20 minutes. So I suggest- make sure you look at every thing, read everything and engage in all interactive parts!! Take your time. The Mirror Maze was included in our purchase- do that a few times and have fun with it. read more

"Tourist trap"? Of course. But it's a really good one. I skipped this place for decades because it's an obvious tourist trap but am glad I finally went. It's not a big place but it has a surprising number of well-designed and well-maintained exhibits. I expected dusty, broken displays crammed together, but the place is well cared for and the flow and design are well considered. You can blow through it in an hour or spend a few hours -- there is a lot here. Most of the exhibits are small displays showing an oddity, some are larger, and they are mostly organized into collections by theme or topic. The signs are well written and clear. You will learn 100 new things if you visit here. The place is clean and organized. Interactive displays are offline for Covid but there is still plenty to see and learn and do. We went on a Sunday but it was not very crowded, everyone wore masks, and it was easy to maintain Covid-distance. Pretty good place for kids -- educational and factual, with just a few "mystical" oddities and these are labeled factually. Science wins here. But it is creepy and our nine year old threw in the towel halfway through. The mirror maze seems like a gimmick but don't underestimate it: It's a hoot and really well designed. The spinning tunnel midway through is also not to be missed. I won't say more, trust me. Great for a touristy day in San Francisco. From there, we went to Madame Tussaud's (also a surprisingly fun "tourist trap") and Boudin Bakery. read more

See all

This was so lame I almost committed insurance fraud. It's not the staffs fault they can't help how boring and underwhelming it is. I've had more fun staring at a tree read more

I have to say I'm not generally a fan of the Ripley's Museums. They are the definition of a tourist trap. You pay a lot of money and don't get a lot out of the experience. We got our museum passes along with our Alcatraz tickets (as a combo deal). Alcatraz was great, but the museum really just wasn't. There's no rhyme or reason to the layout of the exhibits. A lot of the things are just replicas of actual items, instead of seeing the actual item. There are some interactive exhibits but they get ruined by having too many people around. They also offer a mirror maze and laser maze here. The laser maze is a bit more fun as it's kind of a challenge, but even that really isn't worth the cost. Overall I wouldn't recommend this place. There are far better ways to spend your money in SF. Stay Cheerful ;) read more

See all

Front desk service was top tier. Museum was kept clean, most if not all exhibits were up and running. Furthermore, Mr. Brandon such a polite gentleman. read more

A fun display of the weird and wacky. This was a fun show a while back that let the world see some of the oddities that are out there. There are models that are of the originals. Some are really interesting some are a bit grotesque. The pathway through a spinning room will make you feel as if you are loosing balance. I would compare the feeling to having vertigo. If you get motion sickness walk around that exhibit. Some of the crafted items in the lobby change from time to time. To entice new venturers. read more

Staff and manager especially are very helpful! I saw a souvenir penny machine during the tour but sadly I didn't have any cash on me. After the tour I went to find an ATM and came back with cash and asked if they could go and get the pennies for me, but instead they remembered me and let me go back in to get the pennies. Manager in particular (I didn't catch his name) was very helpful and friendly for this! I highly recommend visiting this attraction! If anything, I would suggest installing an ATM within the site in case other people run into the same problem I had, but overall A++++++++!!!!!!! read more

Not going to lie, I was not trying to go here when it was suggested. Definitely thought this was more of a kid thing and although I would still say it is, for people who like trivia or fun facts, this could be interesting. Honestly my favorite parts were the interactive ones (the mirror maze and lazer one). It always feels great feeling like a kid again! Probably wouldn't pay the money to go to another one in another city but since I'd never tried it before, I think it was a good first time. read more

See all

What fun. Took the family to SF for the day and ended up checking this place out . Lots to see and read. Kids enjoyed it . We also did the mirror maze. That was A little intense for me that's super fun. It's not crazy big but enough that you get turned around. Worth the money read more

Walking through Fisherman's warf and came upon Ripley's! BAM flash back to my siblings and I watching the tv show when it aired. Lol we loved the weirdness me more so I think. It was Sunday night and they had a special. $20 for three different attractions; Ripley's, mirror maze,and laser room. I was not disappointed with Ripley's weird artifacts and things. I loved it lol. I suggest that you read about the exhibits to actually enjoy it. Took off a star because a lot of the exhibits are only a replica of the actual, but none the less I enjoyed it. My favorite exhibit was about the shrunken heads. Finally know how they do it lol. #weird I skipped the laser room, there was a line. Not a fan of lines. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Not as cool as I remember as a kid and our kids went thru it super quick as they weren't overwhelmingly entertained. Clean place but didn't draw me In. Recommend the mirror maze. Look online for discounts - the girl at front is less than helpful. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This place has such unique and interesting items. Such a fun experience, especially for first timers to San Francisco. Great for a date, great for a family. Stop in! read more

A very interesting museum in SF. I have heard of this place a lot and finally decided to visit it with my friends. The mirror maze was my favorite. They are some very interesting displays like donkey made from wine corks, Golden gate bridge made from tooth picks and so on. They also had a lot of interactive things to do like unlocking a mystery gate, laser shooting, etc. Take time to read all the placards. It is definitely worth it. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

All the years we lived here, we decide to come here.. it's so worth it, in my opinion.. all, the things you're reading and the things you see.. (being mind blown).. I wouldn't mind coming back here at all... so much new things to learn.. for 2 people it was about, almost $50 dollars.. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - 1st time here - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Its so much fun and the mirror maze is alot of fun but it scared the crap outa me a couple times but it was funny.

Ripped off by Ripley's Believe It or Not ! I have been going to Ripley's Believe It or Not in San Francisco since I was a teenager. It's always really cool to walk through and view so many types of Oddities like the world's tallest man, a real shrunken head, the Golden Gate Bridge made in toothpicks, Etc. I remember spending at least 2 hours walking through and having fun, so many different interactions. One of my favorite Parts was always walking through the 1906 earthquake display. Well it's been 15 years since I've been there and I took my adult daughter and 6-year-old granddaughter to check it out. First, it cost $30 a piece for all three of us to go into the museum. I thought $30 was a lot for a 6-year-old child. We didn't know at the time that the price included RIPLEY'S MARVELOUS MIRROR , a maze with 100 mirrors and LED lighting in which you have to find your way out of. This maze is what took over the space of many attractions within the museum , which includes the San Francisco experience of the earthquake etc. It was a Complete waste of time and money. I was so upset because we could have done something fun at Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square or ate in a nicer restaurant at the end of the night. Very unimpressed, I felt very ripped off by Ripley! I could think of so many better things that could be on Jefferson Street to get people to come in and actually have a good time. I hate having to write a review about this museum being so awful but I had to. Don't waste your time. Go to Pier 39 and see the aquarium, take a drive down Lombard Street or maybe even the bus tours. Anything is better than Ripley's Believe It or Not in San francisco. read more

Ripley's is a tourist trap no matter what city it is located in, but if you remember the excitement from reading the books growing up or have kids of your own now that love the books then a trip here is worth every dollar. You'll get a solid hour or more of entertainment here, and kids under 5 are free. Check Groupon for deals as well and save $8/person read more

Come and experience the strangest, odd and unbelievable place in the Pier 39! Ripleys Believe it or Not is a MUST come when in the Pier 39 area of San Francisco and if you have young children. I came here as I had a SF GoPass and this was an option to explore. Ripley's Believe It Or Not is a franchise that was founded by Robert Ripley and deals with bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that some people may question the claims. I have to admit this place does have the weirdest, funniest and amusing things in here. The most fun was the mirror maze and laser beam challenge at the end and the glass "Disco Hall" complete with music which you can bypass if you can't bring yourself to step on it to walk across. SOME ATTRACTIONS: There are the usual exhibits like the Vampire Woman, Robert Wadlow,and the Lizard Man but I saw a few that I had never seen before and that was great! TICKET PRICES: Just to see Ripleys is: $18.99 Mirror Maze: $9.99 They also have the combo tickets that let you bundle multiple attractions at a reduced rate. Combine: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, the Marvelous Mirror Maze, LaseRace, Aquarium of the Bay, or City Sightseeing Tours but that comes in many different prices depending on what you really want to see. TOUR: The tour takes about 45 mins to an hour. For me, it took about an hour because I was SO amazed at the exhibits and went back a couple times to my favorite ones. HOURS: The Odditorium is opened 365 days a year!! Yayy! Sunday - Thursday: 10am - 10pm Friday - Saturday: 10am - 11pm This place is perfect for adults and children! You will truly be in awe and ohhs when you come here! So many cool and weirdest things that will definitely have you thinking. read more

See all

First let me tell you that my review is coming from my children's response to the place and some stuff from my own point of view. We were greeted by Simon when we walked in there and this guy was not only courteous but very helpful. I asked a few questions about the place before entering and he responded to everything patiently and accurately. You see, my 11-year-old has been collecting the books for years and this was like a little dream for him but I still wanted to make sure all of my children would be ok in there since middle son has Autism and could respond to certain things very badly. I would have liked to go in and check out the Mirror maze but not sure how my middle son would respond and not knowing how easily I could exit the place if I needed to made us all agree that we'd skip that and just look at the stuff on display. Thank you Simon! My kids LOVED it. They read everything and loved seeing things they had only seen in books. I even met a man in there that wasn't too impressed with me but I threw myself in his arms anyway. *see picture Tickets are 10.99 for children 5-12. 18.99 for 13-adults. This is the price for the museum alone. I didn't think that was bad at all and considering why I was there... cheap to make a little dream come true. My 3 children enjoyed it but my 11-year-old was beside himself. So much to see. They really make good use of their space. I'm sure the exhibitions change but we liked what they had there when we visited and will definitely visit again. read more

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - I met the man of my dreams at Ripleys, I don't think I am the woman of his dreams though. (sitting statue) - Museums Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ripley's has to be the weirdest, quirkiest and most fun museums that I have been to. I've been here a few times and have always enjoyed myself, tapping into my inner child and learning new things along the way. While I find myself getting extremely squeamish whenever I try to watch the TV show, in the museum I am wide eyed, interested and intrigued! Ripley's Believe It Or Not! has over 400 out of this world exhibits and artifacts encompassing 2 floors, they have 3 different attractions all under one roof. There is the Odditorium which is the main portion of the museum and it houses various exhibits like the Shrunken Head, Transformers made of recycled car parts and Wire Sculptures just to name a few. The second attraction is something that everyone should be familiar with and that's the Marvelous Mirror Maze, you can definitely find yourself trapped in and here and running into mirrors while trying to find your way out. Then last but not least the Impossible Laser Race which has you trying to get through the lasers effectively as fast as you can, kinda like the movie Mission Impossible. This museum can be enjoyed by both adults and kids, I believe that everyone would love this place. I've come with friends, family and an ex bf and found that every visit we had a ball in this place, I mean so much fun, lots of laughs, lots of interesting things to learn and just being silly. You will see some really unique and cool things here, some that are amazing, some that are jaw dropping and some that will make you squirm a little bit. It's not too pricey considering you can go to all 3 attractions for less than $30 and sometimes Groupon or Living Social has deals as well. The museum does offer a few deals of its own, they have an aquarium combo which includes the Odditorium, Aquarium Of The Bay, Mirror Maze and Laser Race for $43.99 (Adults) and $26.99 (Children) as well as a City Sightseeing Combo which includes the Odditorium, City Sightseeing Tour, Mirror Maze and Laser Race for $52.99 (Adults) and $33.99 (Children). read more

Interesting place to visit while stopping by San Francisco..got a deal with Madam Tussauds wax Museum. Both worth checking out read more