I've been coming to the Exploratorium since I was in elementary school 40 years ago, and after all these years, I can honestly say that my love for this place has only grown deeper. I'm now a STEAM instructor myself, and I still feel the same sense of wonder every time I walk through the doors. The Exploratorium understands something incredibly important: science isn't just a collection of facts to memorize. It's something to touch, hear, build, question, experiment with, and experience. What I admire most is the institution's mission to make science tangible, accessible, and genuinely fun. The exhibits invite curiosity instead of demanding expertise, which makes them just as engaging for adults as they are for children. Every visit reminds me that science belongs to everyone. As someone who teaches kids for a living, I know how difficult it is to create experiences that are both educational and exciting. The Exploratorium has been doing exactly that for decades, and they continue to set the standard. Their educators, exhibit designers, and staff have created something truly special. San Francisco is full of iconic landmarks, but for me, the Exploratorium will always be one of the city's greatest treasures. It played a role in shaping the person I became, and I have no doubt it will continue inspiring generations of curious minds. I was a science-loving kid when I first walked in, and, thankfully, I'm still a science-loving kid now. read more

We visited the Exploratorium as part of the City Pass. It was definitely a full day of exploring and was better towards the end of the day when the summer camp kids left. My kids enjoyed but we also had to take breaks in-between. Why 3 stars you ask? It's a huge space, but all of the exhibits were similar to science museums we have in So Cal. Some things were broken or not operational the day we went. Lunch offerings were super healthy which is a plus. But we liked 2/4 entrees we ordered. Priced are as expected for museums. Logistics wise, you really have to come early to secure good parking. We came an hour after opening and street + parking lots were full. If you plan to come, I say it's a deal via City Pass, but I wouldn't pay full admission prices to go. read more

We planned our first time here thinking 1-2 hours would be enough but we were wrong. This place has lots to do and see and I could spend the whole day here. There are the things to see, read and do. I loved interactive sections where kids (and adults) can create things and learn as they experiment. It feels like an elaborate science fair + museum. My six year old was drawn to certain sections and as a space lover I was intrigued by certain exhibits. We will be coming back. I'd recommend planning your spend at least half a day (if not more). read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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 read more

Exploratorium - I love the light illusions section! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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. read more

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**** 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. read more

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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. read more

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Great science museum, one of the best I've been to! Lots of very fun and interesting exhibits and demos. Our family spent about 4 hours in here and could've spent a little more time even, but it was a pretty good amount of time. They have discounted parking for the Exploratorium nearby, but we decided to park at the Levi's Plaza garage (also nearby) because it seemed cheaper. We had a nice lunch at Saigonese Cafe before heading over to the museum and then the Ferry Building. Highly recommend the Exploratorium in you're in SF. read more

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! read more

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This is great for kids or teens who love finding out how things work in a tactile manner. We were worried our 13 year olds would be too old but they spent all day here and loved it. We especially liked the temporary space exhibit. It can be crowded though even on a weekday due to school groups etc. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

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. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

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" read more

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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. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visited the exploratorium at least a dozen times as a child, and even took my own son when he was growing up, but that was years ago . I always had fond memories of it and when I recently learned that it was dog friendly, I decided to head back with my dog. Although a majority of the exhibits are for school-aged children, you can still learn a thing or two even as an adult. We spent about 90 minutes looking through the exhibits and some of them prompted us to research a few things on our own. I love how Hands-On and informative everything is. There were lots of children there that were having a great time and I even found my husband playing with one or two of the displays. They also had new section dedicated to AI, which is so important. This is a fantastic activity for families, especially those with children and now apparently dogs as well. read more

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We were walking down the water front with our kids and decided to just poke in to the Exploratorium. They were closing in an hour so we didn't think they'd let us in, but the person at the box office was able to 'cut us a deal' and we got in very cheap so that made the pitstop more than worth it. The second we walked in, my wife and I were overwhelmed. I don't remember this place being so jam packed with things. It's definitely somewhere you could spend all day in if your kids (heck, or you) go around and try all of the experiences. But it's crammed with kids who are running around and yelling & having a great time. But it just makes for a bit of a chaotic scene. Because we were only here for an hour, we never really got to spend a lot of time in one area. But our kids enjoyed every stop we made. They were laughing and smiling the whole time. Did they learn any physics or science or anything? I'm not sure. But that's fine. Once again, I'm sure if we had more time they would've asked questions and learned a lot. Some of the highlights for them were learning about high speed photography and how light/images can get manipulated with bent glass and other items. The staff all around were incredibly friendly and helpful. I really appreciate everything they do. I'm sure it's exhausting work so to have them be as peppy as they were by the time we came in shows that they seem to enjoy their job. In all, we had a great taste of the Exploratorium. The next time we are in the city, we definitely want to spend more time here so our 3 boys can really get their hands dirty learning about all sorts of great things. If you have some time and your along the water, definitely take the time to make a stop here. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Last time I was at the SF exploratorium was back in the 90s during my high school days. Yesterday our little nephew was into town so we decided to go into the exploratorium. I had never been visited at the new location. My time is dating back to the old location within the palace of fine arts location. I miss that little lagoon over sunset. This new location is just as good. Pier 15 has a sigh of the bay and the bay bridge. I remember the exploratorium very differently. We definitely had fun with Alonzo. We walked, played, explored and learned all while having fun. read more

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Amazing science and science-art interactive exhibits that are fun for all ages. My toddler enjoyed roaming around and my older kid had a blast playing with all the creative science demos. Very cool that they have an open workshop where you can see their staff work on their next great ideas. Exploratorium is an SF institution since 1969 and was originally created by Frank Oppenheimer the brother of J. Robert Oppenheimer (father of the atomic bomb)... wild! read more

Exploratorium - The front entry of the Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really fun spot for little ones and a great way to let them explore, touch, experiment, and burn off some curiosity-fueled energy. The exhibits are engaging for both kids and adults, so it doesn't feel like one of those places where parents are just surviving the clock. That said, weekends can get jam packed, so I'd recommend going early or trying a weekday if you want a calmer experience. Overall, a great family outing in the city. read more

The Exploratorium is like the Children's museum of Houston but for adults. It has interactive exhibits with explanations. It's perfect for date nights or corporate events. I even heard of weddings being held here. It's an inspiring place for people with curious minds. read more

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This is 100% great if you have kids! But on a day date it's ok... we went during the last week of school for everyone. So we didn't know it was like their field trip day. So there was def lots of kids. We didn't get to fully explore the exploratorium because the kids def explored the exploratorium. They lost a star because some exhibits were out of service. Also, when we went to the gift shop it was hard to find a gift for a 4 year old. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

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i loved this place. there was so many different things to look at. it includes human living systems, an indoor tornado, food which includes views of the bay, and you can see workers which build new exhibits read more

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Scored a pair of free tickets to the exploratorium! Lots of hands on and textile exhibits throughout. There are also daily scheduled activities in different parts of the galleries so be sure to check out the daily schedule of events to plan your visit. It was pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon and I can see this would be a good place for a nice family friendly trip with the kids. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

When I was a kid, my dad took me to the Exploratorium back when it was at the palace of fine arts, and it quickly became one of my favorite places. I still remember the sense of wonder I felt exploring the exhibits with him. touching, learning, laughing together. Felt like such a science whiz haha Even though the museum has since moved from its original location, those memories are still vivid and special to me. I hope that today's families are discovering the same magic and making unforgettable memories of their own. Can hosts private parties in the evening too! like special events and corporate parties with bar and food read more

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Cool place to take your kids but nothing too exciting for adults unfortunately. They have prime location so it's center to most things downtown. The exhibit is limited to a couple a science display. Not much footprint. You can walk the entire thing in 15min. read more

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Loved this experience. We came here few weeks ago with my daughter's elementary school and tickets were free yay! We took the ferry from jack London and walked. This turned out to be a incredible day for the children and adults. They tried so many different things and got their body to move, their brains to think and hands dirty. Absolute gem! We had a snack and lunch outside in the seating area. Great place and great location. Looking forward to visit again! read more

The exploratorium is a cool place for kids over 5 I would say. I also think it's important that parents know it's a lot of exhibited. You will need at least 3-4 hours so go when it opens. It wasn't my favorite place to go I personally like the children's discovery museum better but this was fun to check out! read more

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I LOVE IT HEREEEEE! touch everything! The gift shop is the best and they have such great things in there! I love it! Come here with anyone at any age! The science is so interesting and I came with my 4 year old ADHD son and my 81 year old Father and they both had a great time! (They have needohs) read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

June 2025 review Fun fun fun !! Kid fun, Adult fun ! Get in when they open to achieve a full day of fun and exploration There are indoor and outdoor exhibits and a resting area for after all the walking and exploring ! Lasers, magnets, fish, cultures, chemistry, physics, biology - they have it all it covered in a fun learning way :) We will be back to explore the upper floor, yes they have a floor 2 ! read more

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OKAY SO THIS WAS AMAZING I really wanted to find a unique museum in San Francisco to go to for a New Year's trip with my partner. I found the Exploratorium and new instantly that I'd need to visit! When I looked into tickets further, I stumbled upon the After Dark (18+) nights. IMMEDIATELY SOLD. Once you go, you'll realize just how important it is to go to when there aren't kids - it's a highly interactive museum, and without the After Dark night, it would be near impossible for any adult to get their hands on the exhibits. My partner and I got to be little kids again!! Touching, questioning, learning, exploring, playing...all of the things! I had an amazing time and would absolutely go again! (keep in mind that it's a very busy museum with lots of people, in case you're someone who doesn't like crowds) read more

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We took the little guy, with Grandma and Grandpa to the Exploratorium and it was a truly GREAT experience. We took Bart into the city and then walked in. It was a beautiful day, so it was a lovely walk over to the pier where they are located and I would say it only takes 10ish minutes. If you're with Seniors, there is a Senior price for tickets, but news flash, did you know they have a Triple A discount? They happily reduced our ticket price for our 2 Adult tickets and since these things aren't cheap, it was much appreciated. The little guy loved everything in this very hands-on museum. His favorites were the thing upstairs that drops dry ice onto a table and you watch it dissipate (this was a fan favorite with a bunch of kids who sat around chanting and laughing for probably an hour), the Shadow box room, the room where there is an absence of color and you can shine a light to see color again, and the decaying animal (this one is too gross to describe but actually very interesting). He also got to use a machine 1:1 with a Volunteer to select pens which were then put into a contraption that our little guy agitated. It made different sizes and shapes based on how it was agitated and he had a great time learning all about how that happens. We were impressed by how much time we were allowed and loved interacting with the Volunteers in the exhibit. They even told us about Adult night where they close off the museum to kids and allow Adults to wander around...wish we lived closer to give that a try. We will definitely be back! read more

Did you know that with an EBT card you can explore the Exploratorium for just $3? Sometimes being unemployed pays off. I don't think I would ever pay $40 to come here but sign me up for $3. Worth the visit, fun times and you should definitely check out the After Dark. read more

My friend and I enjoyed after dark ( Thursday night) after a long stressful day at work. I love that it was close to Bart, and it only took 16 minutes to walk there. It's super chilly, so make sure you dress warm. Once we got inside the place was packed. There is a locker you can rent for $3. We were amazed how big this place was and how many endless things to do here. I saw lots of couples, but some were solo. There was endless things to do, and not enough time to see and do everything. The best surprise was they had a live show at 8pm that night. We rushed over, and got lucky to find the last few seats available. There were activities inside, and outside of the exploratorium. I would gladly need to return a few more times to do everything here. read more

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Great place to spend a day with kids aged 6-15. Adults have fun watching and experimenting too. Lockers at a reasonable rate to stow away your belongings. Places to sit in between exhibits(not many and very comfortable though). You can bring your own food inside. Very helpful if you have young kids or seniors with eating restrictions with you. A lot to explore at ExplOraorium. read more

Exploratorium - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here last weekend with my girlfriend and her niece. It was a great time. The price was ok. The customer service was good. Everyone was very kind. The activities were all good and interesting. read more

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This thing feels like an engineer's playground! Could be a good date night spot. We were members of the after dark for a while. They have guest speakers come in every now and then to talk about interesting topics. They switch up their theme every few months and half custom installations according to that theme. Highly highly recommend! read more