San Francisco Exploratorium Ticket: 700+ Hands-On Exhibits
Northern Waterfront, San Francisco
Immerse yourself in a world of curiosity as you touch, tinker, and play with 700+ hands-on exhibits at San Francisco’s iconic Exploratorium with this full-day admission ticket.
Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is an interactive science museum suitable for families, students, couples, and solo visitors interested in hands-on exhibits.
Highlights
- Rated #1 Museum in San Francisco (TripAdvisor) and Top US Science Museum (USA Today)
- Over 700 immersive exhibits including touching a tornado, bending light, and dancing with your shadow
- Watch staff prototype and build exhibits in real time
- Experience the Tactile Dome, a pitch-black maze navigated using only touch
- Located on the waterfront near the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf
Description
Founded in 1969 by physicist Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, the Exploratorium combines science, art, and curiosity through interactive exhibits. It encourages visitors to touch, tinker, and test scientific concepts firsthand.
The museum features six indoor galleries and outdoor spaces with exhibits created on-site by artists, scientists, and educators. Visitors can stop time with strobe lights, explore perception, observe a fog tornado, or challenge their senses inside the Tactile Dome. Exhibitions rotate regularly, including special shows such as Glow, which explores the science and art of light.
On Thursday evenings, the museum hosts After Dark, an adults-only (18+) event with cocktails, music, and immersive programming available with a separate ticket.
The building is a sustainable design model, being the largest net-zero energy museum in the United States, fully powered by renewable energy and cooled by Bay water.
What You’ll Explore Inside
- Human Phenomena Gallery: Explore thoughts, emotions, and social behavior
- Tinkering Gallery: Experiment with prototypes and hands-on building activities
- Seeing & Listening Gallery: Test perception with light, sound, color, and heat
- Living Systems Gallery: Investigate various scales of the living world in a working lab
- Outdoor Exhibits: Engage with large-scale displays on wind, water, and motion
- Bay Observatory: Enjoy panoramic views of the Bay alongside exhibits on local history, geography, and ecology
Includes
- General admission to the Exploratorium on the selected date
- All taxes and applicable fees
- Written guides available in 12 languages
Excludes
- Food and beverages
- Public tours
- Tactile Dome (available for separate purchase on-site or by calling the museum)
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.
For the best experience, plan to spend at least 2–3 hours exploring. Booking tickets in advance is recommended, especially for After Dark events. Comfortable shoes and layers are advised due to the waterfront location and varied indoor/outdoor exhibits.
