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California Academy of Sciences General Admission Ticket

San Francisco, United States

From $38.75

Select Date and Travelers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
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Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 3 to 5 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket

Overview

Enjoy easy access to the California Academy of Sciences with this pre-paid skip-the-line ticket. Walk right in to enjoy the museum's 4-story rain forest, planetarium, and aquarium. Avoid wasting your precious vacation waiting in the long lines to purchase tickets for this exhibit-packed museum. Your admission includes all shows and exhibits, and is a perfect activity for families. IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE: All guests ages 12+ must provide proof of full vaccination or a negative test taken within 48 hours of a visit in order to enter the Academy, and photo ID is required for all guests ages 18+. While masks are longer required indoors, we strongly encourage all guests to keep masking up.
  • California Academy of Science admission ticket includes all shows and exhibits
  • Instant-access ticket means no waiting in line at a separate kiosk to redeem your voucher
  • Perfect for families—there's something for everyone to enjoy
  • Enter the world's largest all digital planetarium for an astronaut's view of Earth
  • Step inside the 4-story rain forest and look for frogs, chameleons, and free flying birds and butterflies
  • Make friends with the fun and friendly colony of South African penguins in Africa Hall

What's Included

  • Instant-access admission to the California Academy of Sciences
  • Formal tour
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities (not required)

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • 55 Music Concourse Dr
    55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA

Start time

Opening hours

  • 1/1/2023 - 3/31/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 4/1/2023 - 6/30/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 7/1/2023 - 8/13/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 8/14/2023 - 9/1/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 8/14/2023 - 9/1/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 9/2/2023 - 9/4/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 9/5/2023 - 11/18/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 9/5/2023 - 11/18/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 11/19/2023 - 11/26/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 11/27/2023 - 12/22/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 11/27/2023 - 12/22/2023

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 12/23/2023 - 1/7/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 1/8/2024 - 1/12/2024

    Monday - Friday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 1/13/2024 - 1/15/2024

    Monday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 1/16/2024 - 2/16/2024

    Monday - Friday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Saturday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 1/16/2024 - 2/16/2024

    Monday - Friday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Saturday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 2/17/2024 - 2/19/2024

    Monday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 2/20/2024 - 3/29/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 2/20/2024 - 3/29/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 3/30/2024 - 4/7/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 4/8/2024 - 5/24/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 4/8/2024 - 5/24/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 5/25/2024 - 5/27/2024

    Monday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 5/28/2024 - 6/30/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

  • 5/28/2024 - 6/30/2024

    Monday - Saturday : 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM

    Sunday : 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Start by making your way to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, and then breeze right past the long ticket lines and enjoy a wait-free entrance. Make the most of your vacation time and get started exploring the shows and exhibits right away.

Discover the African Penguin colony; get right up close to the glass and say hello as they swoop and dive through the water. Catch a penguin feeding by the museum's marine biologists, during which they will answer any of your questions about the penguins’ biology or behavior. Visit Claude, the American alligator with albinism, and some of his swamp friends while listening to a Swamp Talk by the museum's staff.

Enter the Morrison Planetarium, an all-digital planetarium, for a show that lets you explore the farthest reaches of the universe. Then descend into the Steinhart Aquarium and see live 40,000 animals from the world over, including octopus, seahorses, and jellyfish. Watch divers as they clean the tank and tend to the fish in the world's deepest living coral reef exhibit.

Peel off your jacket and enter the 4-story rain forest. Watch for free-flying birds and butterflies and listen as the scarlet macaws argue over their toys. Check out the spiders, amphibians, and reptiles in the many glassed-in exhibits that dot the rain forest trail.

California Academy of Sciences

Admission Ticket Included

Steinhart Aquarium

Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Entry into Planetarium is by free reservation in order to facilitate physical distancing. Upon arriving at the Academy, guests will be able to scan a QR code with their smartphone and select an entry time. Please note that the capacity for Planetarium is extremely limited. Planetarium shows may not be appropriate for children under 7, and we regret that we cannot permit any child under 4.
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Proof of vaccinations, boosters and masks strongly encouraged but not required.
  • For the latest vaccination and mask requirement, please check our website: https://www.calacademy.org/reopening
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

See more

Traveler Tips

Go during the week, ideally later in the day to avoid crowds.
No reservation time needed to get into the Academy of Sciences.
Reviews
4.0
490 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 490 reviews
I thought there would be...
Jennifer_E, Feb 2023
I thought there would be a limit to how many people were actually there. I was surprised at how crowded every exhibit was. not worth the funds I shelled out.
Planetarium was nice and...
Carlos_O, Feb 2023
Planetarium was nice and aquarium was awesome ,the whole experience was great for my kind was a lot of fun 😀
perfect access to a popular museum
Judith_T, Jan 2023
memorable part of the visit is the no-hassle entry to the museum and the discounted entrance fee. we maximized our 4-hr visit very well and it was the perfect birthday gift!
Saturday Science
KIMBERLY_W, Jan 2023
Great exhibits. Loved the coral reef and aquarium areas. The rainforest adaptation is well done, but not enough animals. The amount of strollers made the experience challenging. I was wrongfully charged for food items that are already overpriced
It was big that I thought...
Clementino_L, Jan 2023
It was big that I thought with 3 levels and lots to see and enjoy or a date. With friend or family. You get the opportunity to learn as well as observe the animals. It's a great time and you can also get yourself a bit to eat while you're walking around taking in the sites.
Good learning experience...
Margarita_D, Dec 2022
Good learning experience for all ages. Love that it covers a bit of everything under 1 roof! We had fun.
Most enjoyable
Marijane_G, Nov 2022
The kids enjoyed the shake shack, the fog room, the special “bugs” exhibit, and being snowed on in the auditorium.
Problem with reservation
Suzanne_K, Nov 2022
There was a problem with the reservation. They couldn’t find it and I couldn’t find it on my phone, so I had to buy the tickets again (for $165.) Although parts of the the exhibit were good, I liked the architecture and character of the original building
Perfect day at the California Academy of Sciences
Marci_P, Oct 2022
Loved the aquarium and the butterfly and bird attractions. The flow of the building and attractions was seamless. Stayed for hours!
Good museum
Claire_B, Oct 2022
This was a great museum however it wasn’t as we envisaged. The aquarium, what we were looking forward to the most wasn’t anything like we imagined. There was the tiniest tunnel to walk under with fish above but we imagined much longer with sharks etc. glad we visited but came away slightly deflated. Science buffs would be in their element as would children.
Traveler
Heather_H, Sep 2022
I wish I had more time there. It’s so beautiful in there. Next time I want go from open to close. There’s so much to see.
Misssed opportunity due to travel accomends
William_F, Aug 2022
Can we reschedule for Thursday 8/11? We weren’t able attend and I would like to! Can we get a reschedule for thursday
Great science exposure
David_H, Aug 2022
Great way to spend a day. Kids enjoyed rainforest, aquarium and planetarium. The bugs/insects exhibit less so.
Victor
VictorManuel_B, Jul 2022
excellent place, it takes several hours to enjoy it quietly, getting there by public transport is very easy as well as using a bicycle
Family Memories
Maria_G, Jul 2022
The planetarium! We loved all of the shows. it was well done! We learned so much and the experience will be remembered for years to come.
Parking was terrible 😢
Jocelyn_V, Jul 2022
The 🪸 Reef show was breathtaking (newer) (we’ve been here before). A must see for the whole family. Staff were very nice and courteous.
Our trip
MaryAnn_B, Jul 2022
Nice experience. We enjoyed our day. We liked the easy entrance tickets. Thanks. We would recommend to others.
Dad Visits Cali.
Jewels_B, Jun 2022
It was an exciting and memorable experience. I had my husband, kids and my Dad. My dad’s first time to visit and see. He was here to visit from New York. And we all had a wonderful time.
Science Lover
Vanessa_S, Jun 2022
Such a great time to learn science and experience how the way of life works and has evolved. Awesome attraction for family time, the kids will absolutely love it!!
Kids enjoyed
Lisa_E, Jun 2022
Probably the white crocodile for the kids and T Rex when we walked through the doors. The aquarium was our purpose but it's a little disappointing when the tide pools for hands on wasn't open. The rainforest was difficult to find entrance. No food or drink inside was a pain but they do offer an area for kids outside to eat and play which the kids did enjoy.
...

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