- Hours: Open daily except Thanksgiving and December 25
- Reservations: Not required, but buy in advance online to get in faster
- Cost: Admission charged. Children under 6 years old get in free. Third Wednesdays free for everyone and monthly free days for San Franciscans by neighborhood.
- Location: Golden Gate Park, driving directions below
- How Long: 3 to 4 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays are less crowded
Visiting California Academy of Sciences
For the California Academy of Sciences, science means the natural one - exhibits include an updated planetarium, African Hall (with penguins), a swamp exhibit with a white alligator, T Rex and 87-foot-long blue whale skeletons, a planetarium, aquarium and some great multimedia exhibits. The building sports a "green" roof covered with local plants and has a nice observation deck.Tips for Visiting the California Academy of Sciences
- On a November Sunday in 2008, the ticket line stretched more than a block at opening time. Stay out of the line; buy tickets online in advance and get in much faster.
- Planetarium shows fill up fast. Pick up passes as soon as you arrive.
- The California Academy of Sciences opens later on Sunday than other days.
- Entry is allowed until 1 hour before closing, but given high admission price, going so late would not be a good value for money. Get there at least 2-3 hours before closing.
- If you get hungry, fuel up at the Academy Cafe or the Moss Room, a full service restaurant. Make restaurant reservations by calling 415-876-6121 or online through Open Table.
Getting to California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, CA
415-379-8000
California Academy of Sciences website
The California Academy of Sciences is on the east end of Golden Gate Park, near the DeYoung Museum and Japanese Tea Garden.
If you drive to California Academy of Sciences, enter Golden Gate Park at Fulton Street and 8th Avenue to use the underground garage. You can park for free on streets nearby. Most convenient are John F. Kennedy Drive near the Conservatory of Flowers or Martin Luther King Drive near the Arboretum. Find several ways to get there by car.
Parking fills up on weekends and some nearby streets close to automobiles on Sunday. The Academy encourages using public transport and offers a few dollars off admission if you take it or bike in. Check public transit options.