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Aquarium of the Bay
4.2(5,753)4.2 out of 5 stars, 5753 reviews San Francisco, CA
About Aquarium of the Bay
A compact waterfront aquarium on the pier featuring an underwater tunnel and hands-on touch pools, making it a quick, engaging, and educational stop for families with young children if purchased with a discount.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a quick, educational waterfront activity to fill an hour of their dayParents with toddlers and young kids who enjoy sensory and interactive touch exhibitsToddlers (2 years old) and young children (6 years old) who benefit from interactive, hands-on exhibits
Why families love it
- Playful otters that climb trees and interact with visitors near the exit
- Mesmerizing jellyfish exhibits
- Large underwater tunnel with sharks and diverse fish
- Interactive touch tanks where kids can duck under and touch marine life
- Friendly, educational explanations from staff and volunteers tailored for kids
- Underwater viewing tunnel with sharks
Insider tips
- Look for city pass packages or discounted tickets (like $25 deals) to make the admission price worth it
- Plan your parking in advance since the aquarium is located on a busy waterfront pier
- Combine this with other pier activities as the aquarium visit is short (under an hour)
Good to know before you go
- Paying full price ($30) if you are expecting a large, multi-hour aquarium experience
- Very small physical size with few individual enclosures
- Short visit duration, taking only 15 minutes to an hour to walk through
- High regular admission price of $30 relative to the short experience
- Overpriced gift shop items, such as $10-$12 magnets
- Value
- Regular admission of $30 is considered expensive for a 15-60 minute experience, but it is a good value if purchased at a discounted rate of $25 or through city pass packages. Gift shop items are pricey, with magnets costing $10-$12.
What parents say
"The aquarium is a fantastic spot for families and friends looking for a fun and engaging experience on the pier. The exhibits are well-designed, and there’s plenty to see and learn. One of the highlights was watching the otters—they were full of energy, interacting with visitors, and even showing off their impressive tree-climbing skills, which was something I didn’t know they could do! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, making the visit both entertaining and educational. Whether you're a marine life enthusiast or just looking for a unique outing, this aquarium is definitely worth a visi"
a month ago
"Took our 2- and 6-year-old to Aquarium of the Bay and they had a blast! The jellyfish were mesmerizing, and the interactive tanks where kids can duck under or touch sea creatures were a big hit. Lots of great photo opportunities and hands-on exhibits. The volunteers were friendly and did a great job explaining the animals in a way our kids could understand. Perfect family stop along the waterfront. Definitely a bit more on the expensive side, so plan in advance for parking and you can often find deals with city pass packages."
2 weeks ago
"It's a small aquarium with not so many individual enclosures/aquariums. The main attraction is a big tunnel under the water where there are a lot of different fish, including sharks. They also have 2 funny and playful otters just before the exit. The gift shop is pretty small and in my opinion the prices are a little exaggerated(10-12$ for a magnet). The entry ticket was on a discout and was 25$ and for this money I really think it's worth it."
4 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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