San Francisco: Aquarium of the Bay General Admission

20,000 Animals in 700,000 Gallons: What's Inside the Bay

You enter with your ticket and explore the aquarium's main exhibits on your own time, walking through the Bay section to see local fish, then through a 300-foot underwater tunnel surrounded by sharks, rays, jellyfish and a giant octopus. The whole visit is self-paced, wheelchair accessible, and takes as long as you want it to: most people spend two to three hours, though you can do it faster if you're just passing through.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Aquarium of the Bay exhibits

• Arrive at Aquarium of the Bay
• Enter with general admission ticket
• Explore main aquarium exhibits
• See marine life of San Francisco Bay
• Discover orange garibaldi and moray eels
• Learn about anchovies and breeding fish
• Walk through 300-foot glass tunnel
• Observe jellyfish, octopus, rays, and sharks

The experience

There's something that stops you the moment you walk into the Aquarium of the Bay: the scale of it hits different when you're standing in front of a tank and realize you're looking at a living cross-section of San Francisco Bay itself. The aquarium sits right at Pier 39, wedged between Fisherman's Wharf and the Alcatraz ferry landing, so it's easy to slip in between other stops without losing your afternoon. You get general admission access to the main exhibit areas, which means you move at your own pace through tanks holding more than 20,000 animals living in 700,000 gallons of bay water.

The first section, the Bay exhibit, shows you what actually lives in the water outside (orange garibaldi, green moray eels, colorful rockfish) the fish that belong here. But the real draw is the Under the Bay tunnel, a 300-foot stretch of clear glass where the water surrounds you on three sides. You walk through it slowly, watching jellyfish drift past, a giant Pacific octopus tucked into a corner, rays gliding overhead like they're not even trying. There are multiple shark species in there (sevengill, leopard, spiny dogfish), and sturgeon that move like submarines. It's the kind of moment where you stop checking your phone.

The whole thing is self-guided, so there's no schedule to follow and no group moving faster than you want to go. Strollers and wheelchairs work through all the areas. The aquarium opens at 10am every day except Christmas, and you can stay as long as you want once you're in: some people spend an hour, others linger until closing at 5pm. Kids under three get in free, and if you're traveling with service animals, they're welcome too.

What’s included

Your admission includes access to all main exhibit areas of the Aquarium of the Bay, featuring the Bay exhibit with local fish species and the Under the Bay 300-foot glass tunnel with sharks, rays, jellyfish, octopus and sturgeon. The aquarium is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and you can stay as long as you like during operating hours (10am–5pm daily, closed Christmas).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Aquarium of the Bay

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see what actually lives in San Francisco Bay without arranging a boat trip. The aquarium brings the underwater world to you, and its spot at Pier 39 means you can fit it into a morning or afternoon without changing your Fisherman's Wharf plans.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

How long does it take to see the whole aquarium?

Most visitors spend 1.5 to 3 hours. You set the pace, so it depends on how long you linger at each tank.

Is there a guide, or do you go through on your own?

It's self-guided. You move through the exhibits at your own speed with no scheduled tour or group.

What's the 300-foot tunnel?

It's called the Under the Bay exhibit: a clear glass tunnel where you walk surrounded by water on three sides, with sharks, rays, jellyfish and other bay creatures swimming around you.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair and stroller accessible throughout the aquarium.

What are the opening hours?

10am to 5pm daily, closed only on Christmas Day.

Is it close to other attractions?

Yes. The aquarium is at Pier 39, next to Fisherman's Wharf, the sea lion colony, and the Alcatraz ferry dock.

Can I bring my service animal?

Yes. Service animals are allowed throughout the aquarium.