Plan a Visit
Welcome to the Academy – the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof. It’s a stunning architectural achievement with hundreds of unique exhibits and nearly 40,000 live animals.
General Admission
Admission to the California Academy of Sciences includes access to all museum and aquarium exhibits, including the rainforest, planetarium, and living roof. Admission to this popular Bay Area attraction includes a wide range of daily programs and activities, including dive shows, penguin feedings, swamp talks and more. It's fun for the whole family!
Museum Tickets
The Academy is one of the most memorable Bay Area attractions, and is a great place to bring friends and family.
During peak periods, a $5 admission surcharge is added to ticket purchases at the door. This surcharge does not apply to tickets purchased online, which are valid any day, including peak periods.
| General Admission | Buy Tickets |
| Adult | $29.95 |
| Senior (ages 65 and over) | $24.95 |
| Student | $24.95 |
| Youth (ages 12-17) | $24.95 |
| Child (ages 4-11) | $19.95 |
| Ages 3 and under | FREE |
| Specialty Tickets | |
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| Behind-the-Scenes Tour Details | |
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$89 / person $69 / Academy members |
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| Group Tours Details | |
| NightLife Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Adult (21 and over) Details | $12 |
| Member (21 and over) | $10 |
| NightLife VIP Tour Details | $59 |
| Upcoming Peak Period Days | |
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May 26 through May 28, 2012 |
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The Planetarium is very popular and tickets are handed out on a first come first serve basis due to limited seating. Visit the cart at the planetarium theater to pick up a show pass. The show is not appropriate for children 6 and under, and children 3 and under are not permitted.
School and youth groups are required to have an advance reservation in a school show in order to attend the Planetarium. Please check your reservation carefully for confirmation of any requested programs, we do not accept walkup requests on the day of your field trip.
Museum Free Days
Free Day Changes
The Academy changed its free day policy to target additional working families, who were previously unable to come on the Wednesday free days. We hope that this change to quarterly weekend dates will allow a wider range of people to attend.
The free Sunday days for 2012 are:
- February 5, 2012
- June 3, 2012
- September 16, 2012
- December 9, 2012
San Francisco Neighborhood Free Days
Residents of San Francisco can enjoy free admission on a designated weekend each spring and fall, according to ZIP code. Click here for the 2012 SF Neighborhood Free Day schedule. Details
Admission to the Academy is on a first-come, first-served basis, and early arrival is recommended due to the likelihood of high demand. Please note that some visitors may experience a wait at the front entrance during peak times, and final entry to the museum on free days is 4 pm.
Museum Hours |
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Monday - Saturday
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tickets can be purchased up to an hour before closing.
The Academy is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Members-only Hours |
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Tuesdays: 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Sundays: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Members may bring ticketed guests during members-only hours. All guests must have a paid admission ticket and be accompanied by a current member.
Location |
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55 Music Concourse Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-8000
Accessibility |
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The Academy provides a wide variety of services to individuals with disabilities.
- Wheelchairs are available at the Coat Check on a first come, first served basis.
- Accessible parking is available in the underground garage.
- Assistive listening devices are available for visitors who are hearing impaired.
- Service animals are the only animals the public is allowed to bring into the museum. Read the Academy’s service animal policy
To download a PDF version of the Accessibility Guide, please click here.
Brace Yourself! |
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Get ready for a kinetic journey into the world of seismic phenomena when the new Earthquake exhibit and planetarium show opens on May 26.
Memberships |
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Join today to enjoy a full year of unlimited admission, be one of the first to see Earthquake during Member Previews (May 24 – 25), and more
Academy Insider |
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Download the Academy Insider, a free iPhone app provides information on exhibits throughout the museum, self-guided tours, a live daily programs feed, museum floor plans, step-by-step directions, and other useful tools. Users can learn more about Academy exhibits through fun facts, quizzes, video and audio clips, and other interactive activities.
Academy Sleepovers |
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Camp out for a night at the Academy and see the museum in a whole new light with our new sleepover package.
