Exploratorium Tickets

Exploratorium Tickets

The Exploratorium in San Francisco transforms scientific concepts into hands-on adventures across over 650 interactive exhibits. Located on Pier 15, this science museum encourages you to touch, experiment, and discover through six themed galleries that cover everything from human perception to environmental science. Unlike traditional museums where you observe from a distance, here you become the experiment.

Each gallery offers a different scientific focus. Gallery 1 explores human behaviour and perception, including the famous Tactile Dome where you navigate through complete darkness using only touch. Gallery 2 features tinkering stations and the remarkable Rolling Through the Bay sculpture, crafted from over 100,000 toothpicks over nearly four decades. Gallery 3 focuses on light and sound with exhibits like the Giant Bubble Maker, whilst Gallery 4 brings biology to life with displays including live chicken embryos and Bacteriopolis.

The outdoor Gallery 5 uses San Francisco's environment as your laboratory, featuring the Fog Bridge that creates clouds of mist and the Wave Organ that produces music from bay wave movements. Gallery 6, the Bay Observatory, offers real-time observation of weather patterns and tides through installations like the Sky Theatre.

Highlights

• Navigate the Tactile Dome, a pitch-black maze where touch guides your exploration
• Marvel at the Rolling Through the Bay sculpture, a detailed San Francisco model made from over 100,000 toothpicks
• Experience the outdoor Fog Bridge that produces clouds of mist you can walk through
• Create stop-motion animation at the tinkering stations in Gallery 2
• Explore light manipulation at exhibits like Bright Black and the Shadow Box
• Listen to the Wave Organ create music from San Francisco Bay's wave movements

Plan Your Visit to the Exploratorium

The museum features cafés and snack areas for refreshments during your visit. You can leave and re-enter on the same day with a stamp at the entrance. The Exploratorium is fully wheelchair accessible with ramps and accessible facilities throughout.

Entry to the Tactile Dome is included with your general admission ticket, making it excellent value for the range of experiences available. The museum is designed for visitors of all ages, with exhibits suitable for children, teens, and adults. The hands-on nature of most displays means you can easily spend several hours exploring and experimenting.

While visiting San Francisco's waterfront area, you might also enjoy exploring Alcatraz Island tours for a different perspective on the city's history, or taking in the views from the nearby Golden Gate Bridge tours to complete your San Francisco experience.