Tickets to the Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Thursday night After Dark experience (18+) is available every week from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. 

On Sunday, the museum is open for daytime members and donors only from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and then is open to all visitors from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

We recommend visiting the museum outside of the holiday season and school breaks. Weekdays are generally less busy.

Rated the top museum in San Francisco by Tripadvisor, the Exploratorium was founded in 1969 by none other than Frank Oppenheimer, physicist, educator, and younger brother of J. Robert Oppenheimer, ‘father of the atomic bomb.’

The famed museum of science, technology, and art was located at the Palace of Fine Arts until it moved to its current location at Pier 15 at the Embarcadero. The interior and exterior of the historic pier were renovated to accommodate the collection in keeping with the aesthetic of industrial naval chic.

The space is divided into separate thematic galleries hosting over 600 interactive exhibits aiming to merge art and science and educate the community:

• Bernard and Barbro Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomena approaches human perception and suggests to experiment with thoughts, feelings, and social behavior.
• Gallery 2: Tinkering is basically a workshop area where you can practice your creativity and explore the contraptions on display.
• Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Reflections hosts some of the oldest objects from the collection that showcase the ways in which light, colour and sound operate.
• Gordon and Betty Moore Gallery Gallery 4: Living Systems is focused on life science, with numerous exhibits demonstrating the local flora and fauna.
• Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits, with the Fog bridge and a rain machine, allows to interact with the Bay environment and its natural phenomena.
• Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes presents the history, geography, and ecology of the Bay Area.

The museum is located at Pier 15 (Embarcadero @ Green St.), San Francisco, CA 94111. It is easily accessible by public transport or by bike.

The Embarcadero & Green St stop (tram line F and L-OWL night bus) is right in front of the pier. Bus lines 2, 6, 14, 21, and 31, and metro rail lines J, K, L, M, T, and N also stop within walking distance. Embarcadero BART station and the ferry terminal are both about a 15 min walk from the museum. 

Bike racks are provided for the visitors.

If you’re driving, a few parking garages and lots are located near the Pier 15 campus. The museum provides a discount code 4302100 for the following lots: Exploratorium Pier 15 Parking Lot and Pier 19½ Parking Lot. Alternatively, metered parking can be found on the Embarcadero and local streets.

The private tour of San Francisco’s historic landmarks will take you to the waterfront and Chinatown within walking distance of the museum, so you can easily add one more stop to your route.

Tickets cost $39.95 for adults aged 18-64, $29.95 for children aged 4-17, seniors aged 65+, people with disabilities, teachers, and students. Children aged 3 and younger and members go free.

On the annual Community Day, all visitors can pay as much as they wish. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Admission is free for members of the following programs: EBT SFMediCal, Discover & Go Library Program, Community Family Pass Program, and ASTC Passport Program.

California Public School teachers can apply for free admission.

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