The 4 Best Aquarium Visits in San Francisco

1.Aquarium of the Bay General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 299 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $28Our pick

At Pier 39, your Aquarium of the Bay ticket covers the main exhibits and more than 20,000 animals from San Francisco Bay and nearby waters. Walk through a 300-foot glass tunnel beneath sharks, rays, and other sea life, then explore smaller exhibits at your own pace. Allow about two hours, though a quicker visit is possible.

“Great fun and educational! The adults enjoyed it too! Would go back! The kids loved the sharks Highly recommend”

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2.Aquarium of the Bay VIP Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $61Top rated

Start at 9:15 am for an early-access Aquarium of the Bay tour led by an aquarium guide. See the exhibits before public opening, ask about the animal-care team’s work preparing habitats, and finish with a video on river otter training. The group ranges from 3 to 25 people, and aquarium admission is included.

“It was a really awsome experience! Our guide was very friendly and told us so many things and stories about the Aquarium. We also had enough time for everything.”

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3.Alcatraz Tour w/ Yosemite Day Tour & Aquarium Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $285

Spend day one at Alcatraz and Aquarium of the Bay, then ride a biofuel mini-coach to Yosemite on day two. You get a narrated valley drive, a stop at Tunnel View, and about three hours to explore on your own. Alcatraz departures are offered at 10 or 10:30 a.m.; Yosemite pickup is included, but day-one transport is not.

“I taught we were going to see the séquoia trees. Very disappointed. Thé trials were nice. Very nice group of people.”

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4.Muir Woods and Sausalito + Ferry, Alcatraz Night Tour & Aquarium Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · 9 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $205

Start near Union Square for a small-group trip to Muir Woods, then explore Sausalito before taking the ferry back to San Francisco. Later, head to Pier 33 for Alcatraz’s night tour, with an audio guide and access to areas closed during the day. Aquarium of the Bay admission is included, though no visit time is specified.

“Not worth it. Really expensive. You can get a better offer over there. There's no big value on this tour.”

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