One of the things to do in San Francisco if you are in the Embarcadero area is a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay on Pier 39. More than 20,000 marine animals await you in this place that attracts adults and children every year.
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Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco: Information
The Aquarium of the Bay is an aquarium that has been open to the public since April 1996. It is located in one of the most distinctive areas of San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf. While you can see over 900 species and 40,000 specimens from around the world at the Academy of Sciences ‘ nearby Steinhart Aquarium, the Aquarium of the Bay focuses on local marine species, those that inhabit San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean more generally.
Directions
The Aquarium of the Bay is located at PIER 39 in San Francisco, address: The Embarcadero and Beach Street.
If you are driving, remember that the aquarium does not have its own parking lot. You can, however, leave your car at the public Pier 39 Garage ($15 daily on weekdays and $20 on weekends) or at paid parking spaces along the street.
If you use public transportation, the stop for BART and MUNI is the Embarcadero Station. From the Embarcadero and Stockton Street stop you it is a one-minute walk to the entrance to the aquarium.
If you arrive by public transportation, don’t throw away your ticket because you will be entitled to a $2 discount on the adult admission ticket and $1 off the admission ticket for children and over 65s.
Here are some insights you may find useful:
San Francisco Aquarium Hours and Tickets
The Aquarium of the Bay is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On December 24, it closes early at 3:00 p.m. with the opportunity to buy tickets only until 2:00 p.m. On December 25, the aquarium is closed to the public for the entire day.
Ticket cost is:
- $29.25 for the 13-64 age group
- $19.25 for children between 4 and 12 years old
- $1.00 for children under 3 years old
- $24.25 for those over 65.
For families with two adults and two children between 4 and 12 years old there is a single ticket called Family of 4 Bundle of $80, thus saving about $12.
Included in the ticket is the possibility of downloading an audio tour with explanations in various languages: just scan the various QR Codes found near the various pools with your cell phone.
The Aquarium of the Bay is one of the attractions included in the San Francisco City Pass, so you will be able to save on the entrance fee by combining it with the other attractions included in the pass.
Another way to save a few dollars on admission to the Aquarium of the Bay is the Official San Francisco Downtown Experience, a pass that saves you about 13 percent on the purchase of a package that includes an Alcatraz City Cruises trip, a walking tour of Chinatown, and admission to the aquarium.
If you are not currently in San Francisco, the aquarium has arranged virtual tours lasting just under 1 hour on Zoom, during which not only does a guide take you to see the shark tunnel and other areas of the aquarium, but you can also discover areas closed to the public and learn the secrets of how the staff cares for the animals.
Virtual Behind The Scene Tours last 45 minutes. The Zoom link is sent about an hour before the tour begins. The cost is:
- $40 for up to 4 computers connected at the same time;
- $60 for up to 6 computers;
- $100 for up to 12 computers.
Finally, the aquarium offers opportunities to dive and work with experts to help preserve the habitats and wildlife found in San Francisco Bay. Dates and experiences offered from time to time can be found on the museum’s website in order to help preserve marine species.
Visit the Aquarium of the Bay
Besides having an enviable location, the Aquarium of the Bay is perfect to visit with children. Especially interesting are the underwater tunnels that allow you to walk around surrounded by sharks, jellyfish and other marine species.
The aquarium is not very large and is divided into a few macro-sections:
- Discover the Bay: exploring the seven habitats that characterize the San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Moray eels, Garibaldi orange fish, anchovies and the newborn fish area can be found here.
- Go with the flow: from colorful jellyfish (more than 200 species) to sea nettles. You are at the entrance to the Under the Bay section.
- Under the Bay: the most impressive section of the aquarium. A tunnel about 295 feet long allows you to walk under and to the side of animals such as sharks, stingrays, sturgeons, anchovies and giant octopuses.
- Touch the Bay: here the experience becomes tactile. In this area you can touch various sea animals including sharks and starfish with your bare hands, as well as discover how climate change affects the lives of turtles, frogs and many other living things.
Where to Stay in the Area
The Aquarium of the Bay is conveniently located to explore an area full of restaurants and attractions, as well as beautiful views of the bay. Offerings of places to spend the night abound in this area (Fisherman’s Wharf) so you won’t have much difficulty, but I still recommend you check out our guide on where to stay in San Francisco to learn about all the best areas of the city for overnight stays.
