The Best Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids
Family-friendly San Francisco, ranked: hands-on science museums, a living-roof academy, and a waterfront aquarium that keep younger travellers happy between the ferries and cable cars.
Available
6 options
Avg. rating
4.7 - 7,246 reviews
From
$25 USD
Cancellation
Free up to 24h before
San Francisco with Kids: what to know before booking
Family-friendly San Francisco, ranked: hands-on science museums, a living-roof academy, and a waterfront aquarium that keep younger travellers happy between the ferries and cable cars.
- Availability
- 6 ticket options compared
- Starting price
- Tickets currently start around $25 USD before checkout fees.
- Rating signal
- Compared options average 4.7 stars across 7,246 traveler reviews.
- Location
- Golden Gate Park (Academy of Sciences) and the Embarcadero / Pier 39 (Exploratorium, Aquarium of the Bay)
- Best time
- Weekday mornings beat both the crowds and the afternoon fog
- Ticket note
- Mostly timed entry valid for the selected date; check each listing for the entry window
San Francisco with Kids in San Francisco
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Everything you should know before you book
San Francisco is an easy city with children: the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park packs an aquarium, planetarium, and four-storey rainforest under one living roof, and the Exploratorium on the Embarcadero is a wall-to-wall hands-on science playground. The Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 is a quick, kid-sized stop right by the sea lions.
Buy timed tickets for the busy ones. The Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium hit capacity on weekends and school holidays, so a dated ticket saves a queue. Pier 39's sea lions and the cable cars are free or cheap add-ons between the paid stops, and the waterfront is stroller-friendly.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do in San Francisco with young children?
The California Academy of Sciences for the aquarium, planetarium, and rainforest, the Exploratorium for hands-on science, and the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39. The wharf's sea lions and the cable cars are free or cheap extras.
Is San Francisco good for a family trip?
Yes — it has a high concentration of hands-on, kid-friendly attractions within a short Muni or F-line ride, and the waterfront is easy to explore on foot or by streetcar.
Are museum tickets cheaper online?
Booking ahead is usually the same price or better and guarantees timed entry on busy weekends and school holidays, when the science museums fill up.