Perched on Pier 15 along San Francisco's waterfront, the Exploratorium turns curiosity into a full day out. With more than 650 hands-on exhibits spread across six indoor and outdoor galleries, visitors can chase a tornado, get lost in mind-bending mirrors, and much more. The museum leans into weird and wonderful details that make science memorable, from a toilet-shaped drinking fountain to an area to blow giant rainbow bubbles.

The experience suits every age group, whether it is a family outing, a school break activity, or a quirky date idea. Most visitors spend two to four hours exploring, and the self-paced format lets each guest set their own rhythm, from a quick sprint through favorite exhibits to a full afternoon of discovery. Between wheelchair-accessible galleries, multilingual museum maps, and sensory tools for visitors, the museum works at making its mix of science, art and play accessible to a wide range of visitors.

Any restrictions to participate?

• Age: All age groups are welcome. Children 12 and under should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Who can you accommodate for?

• Children: Children ages 3 and under enter for free. All other visitors, including children, need their own ticket.
• Individuals with disabilities: The museum is wheelchair accessible throughout, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge at the Information Desk (ID required as deposit).
• Languages: Museum maps are available in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Arabic and French.
• Pets: Leashed service animals and leashed pets under the owner's control are both welcome.

What to expect on the day of the experience?

• Duration: Visits are self-paced. Most guests spend 2 to 4 hours exploring. This is not a timed ticket.
• What's included: General admission to the Exploratorium and access to a printed museum map. *After Dark (18+) admission and the Tactile Dome are not included.
• Who will be present: Other museum guests will be exploring alongside you, along with staff wearing colored vests who can help with any exhibit.
• Photo/video: Personal, noncommercial photography and video are welcome during regular hours, as long as they do not disrupt other visitors.
• Specific rules to follow: Weapons, firearms, and explosives are strictly prohibited for all visitors.

How to prepare?

• Weather dependency: This is a waterfront museum with both indoor and outdoor galleries, so the experience runs rain or shine.
• Parking: Discounted parking is available at the Pier 15 lot with code 4302100; metered parking is also available along the Embarcadero.
• What to wear: Comfortable, layered clothing is recommended, since the museum includes outdoor spaces along the waterfront that can be breezy, alongside climate-controlled indoor galleries.
• What to bring: Personal cameras are welcome; tripods and professional equipment may require advance permission
• Restrooms/lockers/changing rooms: Restrooms and lockers are available on site, including all-gender restrooms in Gallery 4.

Anything else I should know before going on this experience?

• Tickets are valid only for the selected date and are nonrefundable.
• The Tactile Dome requires a separate reservation and is not included in general admission.

Unused Experience Vouchers can be returned within 14 days for a full refund to the original purchaser, no questions asked.

If you have any unused Experience Vouchers, you can exchange them for any other experience in our marketplace, free of charge, no matter when. If you choose an experience that's more expensive, you'll need to pay the difference.

No refunds or rescheduling are allowed once the experience is booked.