California Academy of Sciences Tickets at California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences Tickets

The California Academy of Sciences houses four major attractions under one remarkable living roof in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Your ticket gives you access to the Steinhart Aquarium, the four-storey Osher Rainforest, the Morrison Planetarium, and the Natural History Museum. You can spot Claude, the famous albino alligator, walk through a tropical rainforest with free-flying butterflies, and explore the cosmos in one of the world's largest planetariums.

This isn't just another museum. The building itself features a Living Roof with 1.7 million native plants that provides panoramic views across San Francisco. Nearly 60,000 animals call this place home, from colourful reef fish to exotic birds. The California: State of Nature exhibit lets you interact with digital displays showcasing the region's diverse ecosystems, whilst museum educators provide live demonstrations throughout the day.

Highlights

• Meet Claude the albino alligator in the Steinhart Aquarium alongside thousands of marine creatures
• Walk through the multi-storey Osher Rainforest where butterflies and birds fly freely around you
• Experience the Morrison Planetarium's immersive dome shows about the universe
• Explore the innovative Living Roof with its 1.7 million native plants and city views
• Discover California's ecosystems through interactive exhibits in the Natural History Museum
• Watch live educational talks and demonstrations by museum experts

Plan Your Visit to California Academy of Sciences

The museum gets busiest at midday and weekends, so arrive early morning or visit on weekdays for a more relaxed experience. Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring, though you could easily spend a full day here. Planetarium shows require timed passes that you can collect free at the venue, so head there first to secure your preferred showtimes.

All main exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and strollers are welcome except in the planetarium and rainforest dome. You can bring outside food to enjoy in the designated picnic areas, and same-day re-entry is allowed with your ticket stamp. Last entry is one hour before closing time.

While you're exploring Golden Gate Park, consider visiting the nearby Japanese Tea Garden or catch a show at one of San Francisco's historic theatres. For more scientific adventures, Exploratorium tickets offer hands-on experiments and interactive exhibits across the bay.