By Karen. Updated June 8, 2024.

The Exploratorium
in San Francisco

Come and visit the Exploratorium! This popular San Francisco attraction is located at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero, walking distance from Fisherman's Wharf.

It's much larger and grander than the old Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, and the equipment is more professional-looking, but it's still a fun place to play while learning.

There are hundred of displays and gadgets to investigate, each one illustrating a different scientific principle.

This is truly a hands-on experience; visitors are encouraged to dive in, and pull, push, twirl and move stuff around to see what happens, and then to figure out why it happened. Adults seem to enjoy the museum as much as children!

Some of My Favorites...

The Distorted Room (strange and shifting perspectives, a bit like the Mystery Spot illusions).

Infrared Imaging: wonderfully weird images of hot and cold areas.

The Mosquito Magnet. Are you the one the mosquitoes go after? You know who you are! Stick your hand in and find out.

Games of cooperation vs. competition. Will you get a drink of water or a squirt in the face? Play variations of the Prisoner's Dilemma with your friends and family.

The Tactile Dome

When it's busy, which it usually is, reservations are required, and it's an extra $15.95 fee, for the privilege of crawling and sliding through a series of rooms and mazes in the complete absence of light. Ages 7+.

The dome was designed and built by August Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola's brother.

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• Avoid weekends and school holidays, if possible. This is very popular and can get crowded and hectic.
• If there are no kids in your group, go on adults only night (18+), every Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. You get to play, instead of watching others! A lot quieter, too.
• Save money with discount passes like the San Francisco CityPass, or the Go City San Francisco Explorer Pass, if you'll be seeing other attractions as well.

Note: I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This helps me provide all the free information I post on this website.

The SF Passes that include the Exploratorium:

San Francisco CityPass: combine admission to the California Academy of Sciences and a Bay Cruise with admission to the Exploratorium and another attraction of your choice. $87.

Go City: SF Explorer Pass: choose from 2, 3, 4, or 5 attractions, from a list of 25. $69+. Good for 60 days after activation.

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History of the Exploratorium

The Exploratorium was created by Frank Oppenheimer, brother of Robert Oppenheimer, both of whom were physicists who worked on the Manhattan Project in the 1940's.

The Exploratorium opened in 1969, providing a hands-on science experience designed to encourage curiosity about the physical world. It had a home in the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District for many years, and moved to its present location at Pier 15 in 2014.

Exploratorium Hours

Tuesday-Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm.
Sunday: 12 pm to 5 pm, (Sunday: members only, 10 am to noon)
Thursday evenings, 6 to 10 pm. Ages 18 and over only.

Closed Monday.

Prices

Adults: $39.95
Seniors 65+, teachers, students and 4-17 year olds: $29.95
Kids (under 4): free
After Dark Thursdays (Age 18+): $19.95
Tactile Dome: $15.95

Tip: If you buy tickets online, you can go directly in without standing in the ticket-purchase line (either print them out, or use the PDF on your mobile phone). If you have a Go City Pass, go to the ticket desk to validate it. Buying the tickets online, you're guaranteed admission that day if they fill up.

You can buy tickets on the Exploratorium website or through Viator tours.

Getting to the Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is on Pier 15 on the Embarcadero, along the SF waterfront.

Public Transportation: the F-Line street car runs along the Embarcadero; Green Street is the stop for the Exploratorium.

If you are coming in on BART, get off at Embarcadero Station and come up to Market Street to catch the F-line streetcar. Actually, it's probably easier to walk it from there - about 10 minutes; head towards the Ferry Building, then left to Pier 15.

From Fisherman's Wharf, you can catch the F-line trolley along the Embarcadero. Or walk, about 12 minutes from Pier 39.

Hop On Hop Off Buses

The double-decker, hop on hop off buses also stop right near the Exploratorium. See Hop On Hop Off tours for more info and booking.

Parking Suggestions

There is a parking lot directly across the street from the Exploratorium. Pricey, but convenient. They charge $10 for the Thursday Night Exploratorium visit, but it's not on the sign. They also have daytime discounts for Exploratorium visitors; see below under parking discounts.

Note: San Francisco is experiencing an epidemic of car break-ins at the moment, so it's best not to leave any valuables in the car, and nothing in view, no bags or jackets even. This lot has experienced a lot of break-ins, especially after dark, so you may not want to park here. It's maddening: my apologies!

The Exploratorium does offer storage lockers inside, so if you have bags in the car, that's an option.

There are quite a few parking garages and lots in this area. I've listed the best (and safest) ones on my page on Embarcadero parking, and put them on a map.

Parking discounts: The Exploratorium has an arrangement with the parking lot across from Pier 15. Use the code 4302100 to get the discount, either with the parking attendant or when paying at the kiosk. See their parking page for details.

Book a parking space. If you're driving to the Exploratorium with kids in the car (or not) and looking for convenience, you may want to give the Spot Hero parking app a shot.

The Spot Hero app lets you check for parking garages and lots near the museum and reserve guaranteed parking ahead of time.

And if you're looking for street parking, the Spot Angels app can be very helpful.

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