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SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf

3.4 (145 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf Photos

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Front
Jennifer N.

I had some time to kill around Fisherman's Wharf and decided to check out SkyStar. It's kind of a cool concept and you do get some epic views of the bay and city skyline. For $19 a person, you get about 4 rotations around. During a cloudy, foggy day, the experience falls kind of flat (my choice to still take the ride.) I'd recommend going on a clear day, sunset or at night to see the surrounding area lit up. Ticket purchase was easy and it was a pretty short line. Okay for it what it is, but it's a one and done kind of experience. I think I actually would have preferred the scenery in its original location at Golden Gate Park. Good, not great, nice staff, run of the mill tourist attraction-nothing to rave about.

Wheel
Jarred F.

Pricey, but it gives you a nice view of the entire bay area, including all the bridges, Alcatraz and the full perspective of the hills of San Francisco that meet the ocean and bay.

Fisherman's wharf
Diana R.

Came here with out of towners and bought some tickets via Groupon. The tickets from Groupon were a lot cheaper than buying them on the spot. It was a very busy day so we waited about 15-20 minutes before we could board. I found that everything ran smoothly, the employees were kind and had the whole operation down to a science. The view for the most part was spectacular. Our timing was really good because by the time we got on, the sun was starting to set. I would recommend this experience at least once in your lifetime.

Doing the touristy thing in San Francisco and loving every minute
Jennifer T.

Yes it's touristy but the wait is never horrible to get on. Its just a fun way to view the pier and see the surrounding city and bay. Try it. Its worth the cost. Its one of those things you can add to your vacation bucketlist and say "that was kinda cool"

City view
Lisa M.

I love this location for the Ferris wheel. We also rode on it while it was between the Academy of Science and the de Young museum. This spot has better views and is a hot spot for tourists. We got in line around 12:30pm on a Friday and only had to wait five minutes to get on. The operator said there would be three rotations, but they gave us four. It took about 25 minutes, maybe shorter. We had the kids go potty before getting on to avoid an accident. The tickets are $19 for adults and $13 for kids. 2 and under are free.

Denise C.

My parents took me on cruise to Norway ..oslo etc ..gondola city view ..super ..ski gondola near water city view with parents

Afshin A.

Breathtaking Views The SkyStar Wheel is a large Ferris wheel that has become a popular attraction at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. While I have never been on it myself, those who have say it offers breathtaking views of the city, the bay, and iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The SkyStar Wheel was first introduced in San Francisco to celebrate the city's resilience and offer a new entertainment option for locals and tourists. It was originally set up as a temporary attraction in Golden Gate Park for its 150th anniversary celebration in 2020. However, for various reasons, the decision was made to relocate it to Fisherman's Wharf. It Stands at 150 feet tall and features 36 climate-controlled gondolas, each of which can hold up to six passengers. It is also equipped with LED lights, creating a spectacular display at night. The SkyStar Wheel was relocated to Fisherman's Wharf in 2021. It has become a popular fixture in San Francisco, attracting visitors from all over the world. It provides a unique city perspective and has contributed to the local economy by drawing more tourists to Fisherman's Wharf.

Views from the star whee!
Lurine J.

Use Groupon and save yourself a few dollars. This was a great way to see the San Francisco pier! My family and I really enjoyed how many times the star wheel went around. Definitely get your money worth.

The gondola seats 6 people!
Rachelle P.

This was both my 4 month and 7 year old's first time on the Farris wheel, my eldest was nervous, but I helped her conquer her fear! Inside SF's first waterfront observation wheel, we enjoyed the view from the top of Fisherman's Wharf! As well as looking for daddy and our puppy down below, as the ride went around! I would recommend visiting this ride, they allow service dogs and strollers if they fit in the 6 person gondola. No outside food or drinks are allowed during the 9-12 minute ride. Prices are fair, Kids 2 and under are free, kids are $12 and adults are $18! I'll be back for a romantic ride with my hubby! SYOY! :-)

Overcast view of the Golden Gate bridge around dusk time from the ride apex.
Darrin K.

Meh. I love ferris wheels. And like many, I suppose I bought into the hype when it was announced a few years ago that SkyStar was relocating to Pier 39. Finally got around to trying it. And it's a 1 & done experience for me. The Giant Wheel's about a 10min. flat walk from Pier 39. Tickets as of this writing are $19/per adult (lesser for children and other patron catergories). We lucked out and were aware of the Groupon deal, where a 2 person admission ticket is $28.xx. Thereby saving about $10 off the reg. adult admission for two. But we saw just about everyone in line forking over their cards seemingly unaware of any discount (the attraction only accepts cards for payment, no cash). The Groupon deal's worth it in the end, even if the click-thru sequence to validate the tickets is a little annoying. You get 3--or if you're lucky 4--rotation spins in the wheel. And the ride's over in about 8-10 min. Some of the views I thought would be better, but it was overcast and many of the sightlines were obstructed by various parts of the ride mechanics. Upshot might be to consider riding primarily during clear sunny conditions for optimal enjoyment, idk? Wondering if the original wheel placement or alignment is optimal for sightlines? On the plus side, the ride's really smooth, no herky-jerky movements and such experienced with lesser wheels like at state fairs, etc. By comparison, we actually enjoyed the High Roller Giant Wheel in Las Vegas a lot more. As the ride there's a lot longer, bigger cars, better (clearer) views and you can walk around and eat & drink in the carriage pods, all for about the same price point. Back here at SkyStar, they take your group or individual photo before you board and then have them on display for purchase at the end of the attraction like at Disneyland or other amusement parks. Cute photos with the Golden Gate Bridge background. This package I heard the guy tell another couple was $35. However, they hand you a card with a QR code where you purchase the digital download photos for $25. Most folks, ourselves included, politely declined. Bilingual crew staffing the attraction were really cool guys. In summary and perhaps in repeat, the attraction was cool the 1st time and recommendable overall, but just not one of those things that you'd necessarily wanna do a 2nd time. Happy & safe holidays.

Linda H.

Have only been to sky star when it was in first in Golden Gate Park which was cool but this location is fire!!! Great views of the bay, Golden Gate Bridge and north beach with coit tower. Phenomenal for sunset! Great for visitors and locals who like to play tourists like myself. Def worth checking out. You go around like 3 times, so by the end you're like...I'm good.

The view
Tia K.

The Ferris wheel had great views on it, The emploies were supa~dupa~insanely nice it is about $20 but not exactly. I'd deffenetly go again if you want to go on ones you should DEFINITELY do this one bravo who ever owns this. Whiter you found this helpful or not you can show me down below

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Thanks for the great review, Denise C!

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Thanks for such a great, detailed review of SkyStar!

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9 months ago

23 of 36 gondolas empty making people wait so it looks like it's popular. Kinda upsetting

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Ask the Community - SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf

What size stroller would fit in the gondola?

Hi Ternell. We only allow folding strollers on the gondolas. But we have a safe area to store the stroller while you ride the wheel if it doesn't fold up. We look forward to seeing you!

Is there a long wait to ride on a Sunday?

The ride is between 7 to 10 minutes depending on the day and the number of sections open. (There's seven sections and they use three gondolas for each section)… Read more

Is the Ferris Wheel open xmas eve and xmas day? If so what time does it open?

Yes! It's open at the usual time. (10am-10pm) and maybe a bit later depending on traffic.

Now that sf is back in purple tier starting January 28 2021 is this reopening?

Not yet! Hopefully soon. I just called and checked

Do you have to print out your tickets? or can they scan your phone?

They can just scan them through your phone. Done this both times I've been.

View All 6 Questions

Review Highlights - SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf

If you ever find yourself at golden state park I would recommend visiting the sky star wheel!

Mentioned in 4 reviews

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3.5(44 reviews)
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This is one of the many attractions in Pier 39. They have the flyer ride, they have a "7D…read moreexperience" which is like a "shooter" game on a giant screen, and then they also have two "escape rooms." Everybody who worked here was very. friendly. I did the flyer ride. It is about a seven or eight minute ride, It was a lot of fun. It's one of those where you sit in the seats, and then the floor drops out from under you, and it is like you are flying over the city. The wind blows in your face, and when you were going over the water, you feel just a little bit of a spray. I don't want to give anything away, but it does take you all over the city. It was really a lot of fun. The only reason I'm taking off a star, is because the flyer ride is a bit expensive. It's $14 per person, adult or child. That wasn't too bad for myself, but if you are more than two or three people, it can add up. Regardless, it was well worth the money for myself to do. I wouldn't ride the same ride again, but if they changed the movie, I would definitely ride it again. This ride is also part of the "San Francisco city pass." I had fun... Thanks.

An okay one-time tourist attraction…read more I didn't know this existed until I came here with my family this past weekend. It had been a while since I last visited Pier 39. We were showing my aunts and uncle around the city, so I thought this would be something fun to do with the family. We had 8 people, and it was $14 per person. After we got our tickets, we went up the escalators to the second floor and walked inside. There was no wait. We sat in the top row, and we could see the edge of the screen. If you have the option, I would recommend choosing the bottom row. Note, if you're super, super afraid of heights, this may not be for you. The guard rails go away and the platform slightly lowers during the ride. I'm afraid of heights but this was nothing for me. However, my two aunts told me they were gripping the handles tightly the entire time. The experience was really short, about 5 minutes or so. For the price, video quality, and duration, I wouldn't pay to do this again. Definitely not worth the $14 per person.

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Outside their building, lol love my hubby!

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SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf - amusementparks - Updated June 2026

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