Exploratorium Reviews

We spent a couple of hours here as we had some time to kill before going to a baseball game and we walked past. It was fantastic! What an unexpected surprise for us all. Full of interactive displays and exhibits, virtually all fully functioning (which you don’t expect when children are battering them day in day out!) My 10 year old was in his element but my 13 year old moody teenager also thoroughly enjoyed it too. We just wished we had longer as we only saw about half in the time we had. Would highly recommend this to everyone

This is one of the best museums I've ever visited. I recommend being there when it opens and spending the entire day. Even then it will be hard to see everything. All the exhibits are very educational in a facinating way. It has something for every age and every interest. I especially like all the exhibits which teach you how your eyes work.

Very fun time for adults or kids. My girlfriend and I went at night (it was an adults only night). A whole day could easily be spent there, the place is huge. Exhibits were very educational and interesting

as a science nerd, this place is awesome. if you have kids, this place will entertain them. interactive exhibits make learning fun and easy.

Family of four with an eight year old and a sixteen year old. Wish I could give it ten stars. Beautiful and engaging exhibits

It was a great time. My husband and I decided to play tourist and decided we would check out the Exploratorium. We really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to everyone.

This is an interesting exhibition / event area that is mainly directed towards children. Based on the waterfront area .

What? You have never been to the Exploratorium? Or "Explo" as the cool kids call it? It's budget-friendly and has something to offer, even those folks who think "what's that? Is it 'science' or some such?" Yeah, even you! Make your way there on public transit or your two feet. Right there on the bay with the bridge in the background? Come on! Do it. No, really. Do it!

This is a great place to explore, because, well, you can really explore! We spent about 2-3 hours in the exploratorium. Pretty much everything is kid friendly, but its a pretty great place for adults too. You can learn and discover, and pretty much everything in the museum is interactive, which makes it more involved and interesting. I think its a great stop in SF if you've got the time!

The exploratorium is literally chocked full of the wonders of science. It has many interactive activities that are fun and interesting for everyone. Check out the frequent "fog" rolling in outside the building. Great gift shop.

A place were someone of any age can learn science and have fun. While it may be geared towards the imaginations of children, you would be hard pressed not to find the many exhibits fascinating no matter how old you are.

I cannot visit this place enough. Every time I go I discover something new and look at the world around me in a new way

If you are visiting San Francisco this is a great place to visit - especially with kids! There are tons of interactive exhibits which show you how things like math are applied in the real world.

It is a place where science explains everything to you in a very educational, entertaining and fun way.
Very interesting for children and adolescents and in many cases even for adults.
Highly recommended visit.

We were looking for something to do to entertain 3 young children (7, 9 & 10)- my friend's grandchildren and decided to take them to the Exploratorium - went with an open mind not knowing what to expect but was glad that we did go. We went on our own - no problems getting ticket at the venue. Though the price was a bit steep - Adults $29.95 Senior $24.95 and children $19.95 it is worth every cent! Children had fun as well as the adults. Allocate at least 4-5 hrs. Spent nearly 5hrs there and still did not cover everything.

With our City Pass we got in for free and it's really exciting. Whether it's math, physics or chemistry, there's something for everyone. I can only recommend it and you should go around 10am when it's not so busy. It's great that you can try out lots of things. Adults can have a lot of fun here too. With our City Pass we didn't have to queue either. It could be expensive for a large family, $37.00 per ticket, not exactly a bargain, but if you get the City Pass at home you can save a lot. Great facility. The staff are also really friendly and helpful. I lost my cell phone. The staff helped me look for it and it was found. I can only recommend it.

This was one of the best experiences of our entire trip. We had 3 adults in our party. Two retired teachers and a newly minted PhD. We all throughly enjoyed it. In our hometown we have several interactive museums but none of them measure up to the Exploratourium. The exhibits were well thought out and offered the science in an entertaining and fun way. We highly recommend it for those spending more than just a couple of days in the area.

This place is a lot of fun, but....Be prepared. It’s pricey. $50 for a child and an adult to walk through the door. We had a few hours of fun, but if you live in or near a major city and/or travel frequently to have access to museums, I’d pass for the price. If you don’t have as much access, you’ll get in a few hours of fun.

The Exploratorium has always been aimed at the kid in all of us. Today's version of the museum seems to be more professional and more focused on younger students than ever coupled with a strong dose of social consciousness. While still a good museum I miss the chaos of the previous location near the Palace of Fine Arts. Too many of the Exhibits exhibit a level of self consciousness that makes me long for the humble innocence of the early version of the museum.

Having taken a citypass for my stay in San Francisco, I had the choice between the Explorerium and the Museum of Modern Art.
So it's without much conviction that I chose the Explorerium, and what a good surprise!

Between "scientific" manipulations and sensory experiments, I spent 2 hours on site to test everything!

To be done with the necessary time, especially if you come with children who will want to try everything!

The kids really enjoyed this "museum" and so did I honestly - we literally spent the entire day there checking out all the exhibits but we were exhausted nearing the end of the day. We had really good sushi at the lunch cafeteria as well. You could spend less than a day there but you won't see it all...

Exploratorium was great. Interesting stuff and really makes you think about how we perceive things. Double check your ticket from Viator. The tickets issued had expired nine months ago.

As a native San Franciscan, I've loved this museum my entire life. My wife and I even had our wedding reception there (at the Palace of Fine Arts location). It's a magical place. I recommend it to anyone visiting San Francisco.

Finally something that was appreciated by the whole family. I have three children of the following ages: three, eight, nine. For us, a day was not enough, honestly we could not appreciate everything there was, but the children had fun and really learned a lot and we adults ditto. Really congratulations!!!

If you have kids and are visiting San Francisco (or are a resident of the Bay Area), the Exploratorium is a must.

This is one of the most engaging museums I've ever been to, fun for both kids and adults alike. My five-year-old son loves coming to the Exploratorium - there is so much to do that even after visiting a total of 6 times last year, we still find new things to do and see every time we come.

We've even driven in from where we live in the East Bay on a number of occasions and found free parking just a few streets away. Highly recommend!

Recently held an family get together in SF, and one of the places we visited was the Exploratorium. Our party included ages ranging from 12 to 62. I can genuinely say everyone enjoyed this excursion. I felt like a kid again. Great for anybody but most especially kids to discover about science and some of the everyday things we take for granted. Spent over 3 hours there and could have stayed longer. We probably only saw half of the exhibits. You can get your hand stamped so you can re-enter if you decide to temporarily leave the place. Highly recommended.

Grand son and friend had a ball with all the hands on exhibits this is a must go to museum if you have children

When the exploritorium was over by the Palace of fine art then it was fun and a interesting place to spend a couple hours . Now its just for some Dumb Stupid people who want to throw their money away because they havent any Sense .

This is a great place for people of ALL AGES! Hands on, great learning and great fun! Don't miss this place!

Lots of things to do for kids. Plenty of switches / levers / buttons to press and keep them interested. Really well looked after and well thought out place.

We spent nearly a full day here and still could have done with more time. Absolutely amazing building and displays, interactive and static, well worth the time to go and have a look

My two teenage boys were hesitant at first but once they got going with the different, inter-active exhibits, we had a great bonding time!

I love this museum. So much to engage with and so innovative. I can’t recommend it enough. Leave plenty of time to explore. Good value for money.

Wonderful spot. It’s a great idea opening the museum up after dark and having themed cocktails. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and being able to wander around the while it was less busy

Wonderful place of science. Amazing exhibits and not too crowded. You can enjoy your whole evening here and play and learn about our fantastic world.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco is an absolute gem for both kids and adults alike. This hands-on science museum is a place where curiosity truly comes alive. With hundreds of interactive exhibits spread across various themes—ranging from physics and biology to art and perception—there’s something to captivate every interest. The exhibits are beautifully designed, offering a perfect blend of education and fun. I especially loved how each display invites visitors to engage and experiment, making learning an exciting, immersive experience.

The museum’s location, on the waterfront with stunning views of the bay, adds another layer of charm to the experience. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, always eager to share insights and spark deeper exploration. Whether you're visiting with kids or going solo, the Exploratorium offers an inspiring, thought-provoking environment that's both entertaining and enriching. Highly recommend it to anyone visiting San Francisco!

My partner and I enjoyed a wonderful date night at the Exploratorium's After Dark. We ran around, played with their cool experiments and mind boggling contraptions. We were giddy. It was good to feel the excitement of childhood wonder again. One of my favorite pieces was Flock, a simulation where you can observe and manipulate birds in flight, SO COOL. I also love the tidal memory towards the back of the museum, it shows the last 24 hours of the tides and has great views of the bay too. We can't wait to go back, there is so much more to experience and explore!

Our 3 year old granddaughter loved it. She went from exhibit to exhibit turning knobs, playing with the things that were meant for playing. We spent over 3 hours there, just following her around.

Did this with my daughter's school class and I really enjoyed the whole thing, including drinking out of a toilet. It's perfect for field trips.

Visited: 11/06/2023

Really enjoyed the visit to this interactive museum. Worth a pop in for a couple of hours. Plenty to learn about and enjoy, and even better that you interact with some exhibits to help you understand how it works.

My only advice would be to adults without kids, try to visit on a day when kids are in school otherwise you don't really get to do much interaction.

Former elementary school teacher who remembers better days after many field trips to visit- for this tired attraction. The old location was better. Many exhibits are more adult/older child oriented although our 14 year old relative found little of interest. Nothing held the attention of 2 normally inquisitive toddlers. The entry price is outrageous. Nearly 40$ for adults. The exhibits are worn out and not clean. Definitely not worth the price of admission.

Wow, this place is much nicer than I remember as child when it was still at the Palace of Fine Arts. What an amazing place with a very helpful staff.

After Dark is the best! We went on a Thursday and had a great time. The tornado exhibit was definitely our favorite. I also liked the double-pendulum.

Go! Do the Tactile Dome, and then learn about science and physiology in a fun way.
Exploratorium—you put the Boston Museum of Science to Shame!
Spend at least 3 hours there to see everything.

Loads of hands on experiences for the kids! We enjoyed all of the themes throughout the complex. Indoors or outdoors, loud or quiet, simple or complex. There were things for every age. Catch the clock performance on the hour and half hour.

We visit the Museum of Science and Industry often. This is a different experience. It’s much less formal. The kids become the scientists. They decide how far they want to go with the experiments before they move onto the next theory.

We found discounted tickets, so be sure to check for specials before you buy at the door!

I’ve been going to the Exporitorium for 35 years, first as a student and now with my children. The newer location on the water is wonderful and convenient to other attractions. My most recent trip was with my 12 year old son, who has been several times, and my 32 year old brother in law who was a first timer. They both enjoyed it very much, but it’s safe to say we made it through the entire museum in about three hours. As for me, there are still some of the same exhibits from when I was a child and the many times I have been there since in my teens and when my children were very young. I do wish they would update these and keep it a bit more fresh for returning visitors. Though I find it unlikely I will, it’s a great museum for first time visitors and definitely a fun way to spend the afternoon with kids.

The Exploratorium is my favorite place in San Francisco! I’ve loved it at every stage of my life from childhood to adulthood. They have fabulous hands on exhibits that are understandable for children and are elevated for adults. Its a fabulous place to take the kids or go on a date night.

Two sets of grandparents, 2 parents and one 7-yr old had a great time on our visit today. We are all science lovers, so lots of things to fascinate and educate us all!

I've been to several science centers across the US and the Exploratorium is so cool. The hands-on science is all around you. You could go from one exhibit to another and spend all day, literally, playing and learning. Definitely worth stopping by if you're going to SF. Biggest recommendation is go early. Go right when they open to beat the crowds. Budget 2-3 hours for yourself or you'll feel rushed.

This museum is full of interactive exhibits - something for everyone. Our two year old had a blast here, and we stayed almost 6 hours. Luckily there are plenty of stools to sit on, and even exhibits for mom and dad to enjoy too. They also had some interesting demonstrations - I watched the dissection of a cow's eye. Gross but cool. Well worth the price on this one.

Our concierge gave us a list of places we should hit during our last day in the City. We started with the Exploratorium and never left. We expected the visit to last a couple of hours, but were blown away with the content rich and interactive nature of the place. Absolutely every exhibit is interactive and engaging for all ages, with solid science technology math and engineering lessons underpinning the presentation. This is a place kids should absolutely be taken, not once did our 10 year old ask to leave or go somewhere else. It was an easy move from exhibit to exhibit packed with powerful information in a fun interactive setting. Great way to spend a day, and I would image perfect on a day with inclement weather.

We got entry with our city pass, for families with inquisitive children who like to get hands on with exhibits and science type activities it is worth a visit. With the city pass head to the ticket desk and they’ll scan the QR code and provide entry tickets, very easy process and very friendly staff.

We spent 4 hrs working our way around and there are loads of things to play with. These include science, nature and geography type activities. , We did find some were not working/available but to be fair it didn’t detract too much from the visit. Best advice, get here early, lots of school group trips so gets very busy and can result in big queues at some popular exhibits. Has its own cafe and depending on how long you spend there, having a coffee to rest the feet is a good idea as you can walk a distance around here.

Plenty of public transport to get you there and definitely worth getting the 1 or 3 day travel pass to move around the city. It’s also close to the popular Peir 39 so can be combined with a visit there to see the sea lions and other attractions.

Me and our boy were very happy with the visit and we would definitely recommend when in SF with kids and teens.

The Explpratorium is my top recommendation for museums that have young engineers & scientists in them! Everything is hands-on, everything is interesting, and kids (and their kids-at-heart parents) will love it. There’s so much to do you’ll find yourself needing to come back for more, which is a great thing.

Great museum for science lovers, kids, teenagers, families and whoever is curious about how things work. It's divided into sections such as optical illusions, bio-science, mechanical theories/experiments etc. During night time (on Thursday) the museum is open to adults 21+ only, and it offers all the daily attractions plus music and drinks.

If you're looking for something to do in SF as a family, look no further. The Exploritorium has so many interactive exhibits for everyone. We've been to many science museums and this has to be the best. You can be in here all day and still not experience everything.

Don't make the mistake we made, allow at least half a day to go around. Our 11 year old was enthralled at all the exhibits and 3 hours wasn't enough. Thankfully we were able to return later in the day and finish off the museum. So many ways to present science in an interesting way. I thoroughly recommend a trip for kids and grownups alike.

Great site! Loved how user friendly it was and there were no fees! No need to print out tickets. We just showed up, walked past the ticket line, showed our passes on my phone and in we went.

We visited with two teenagers and only had a couple of hours to spend, which was not enough for them at all. Lots to do and experience. A couple of consecutive visits is probably to recommend.

One of great science-art centers of world. Great fun no matter what your age you will have fun and maybe learn something.

Had low expectations but was blown away. Amazing facility for all ages. Wish we had more time to explore.

We had an amazing time. Our children usually go through museums so quickly. We spent almost 5 hours at the Exploratorium and disnt see everything. I highly recommend to families and even adults, as my husband and I really enjoyed it as well.

This venue is great for all ages. It provides hands-on experiences that involve science, but are also engaging and fun...Be sure to try the whirligig art!!

Super fun way to spend an evening. Great date night spot. Also fun for larger groups of friends and family! 10/10 would recommend going to an After Dark.

It was awesome! Great exhibits and cool vibes, went with some friends to show them around the city, and they said it was their favorite part of the whole trip!

Awesome time, great date night spot! Went last month with my girlfriend. Would most definitely recommend going. Awesome time, great date night spot! Went last month with my girlfriend. Would most definitely recommend

I went here for the first time as a kid and it was an experience I'll always remember! I have returned as an adult and it was just as awesome.

I have an intuitive hands on science museum in my town called the moxi, but this one is amazingly fun (even for a 19 year old). I would have to say it is huge, given it uses the whole warehouse of the pier location. Definitely worth the visit!

The Exploratorium occupies a large space right on SF's waterfront that makes learning fun - in a way that brings a smile to everyone from toddlers to seniors. The space is easy to get around but filled with one hands on exhibit after another. You don't just learn by looking or reading about something, you actually work with the exhibit yourself and usually that involves more than one person at a time to make it especially fun - with your friends or even another stranger. Great for families, couples, kids - anyone. And there is a restaurant where you can either just socialize or take a meal break before heading back to try your hand at more of the exhibits.

Stayed for about 3 hours, but wish we stayed longer. So many great interactive exhibits, probably better than the Academy of Sciences (not that that was bad). We went as part of a CityPass with a family of four, inc a 5 and 7 year old. Highly recommended

This was my first visit at the Pier 15 location. This was also my 2yr old grand-son's first visit to Exploritorium. Had a ball! Parking was good also (we went on a Thursday afternoon). Anytime my grand-son can touch EVERYTHING , there is fun to be had!!

So many cool exhibits. They are great, and science blooms all over! I think this is the best science laboratory in the world. Uh and I traveled in December 2018

Fun for all ages to explore, learn and imagine. If you have an interest in science, you will certainly enjoy your visit.

Exploratory is always an incredible experience to learn new things. They also have a thursday late night opening with music and more of an adult vibe.

We initially didn’t include exploratium in our itinerary due to time. There was a change of plans and we spent a day here with a 7 year old and a 5 year old.

This place is huge. Despit the crowd it won’t feel packed as there are hundreds of exhibits to play with. There is sure to have something that interest every kid. I like that each exhibit has a explanation why things work that way.

There is a restaurant at the back and one at the exit/entrance. Go early for lunch as it gets Super crowded.

We spent 5 hours here and didn’t manage to cover everything. Is time worth spent !

There is something for everyone at the Exploratorium! Truly ttime well spent.
So many concepts explained and experienced...surprise..wonder.
A truly shared family experience finding new ideas every visit.

Great experience but you need to be patient and wait for some of the exhibits, especially during the weekends/school holidays.

my girls always have so much fun here. so informative and enjoyable for all ages! We just got season passes, we liked it so much

So much fun. Lots to do. Playground for adults. Great date night. Also fun for singles too. Will come back.

This is the most kid-friendly place in the city, especially on a cold or rainy day. It is sheer magic for children of all ages . . . and fascinating for adults as well.

Great place to do on Thursday nights, at night (adults only) - otherwise the kids storm the activities (and they're right).

Don't be afraid to touch everything and read descriptions. My favorite place in SF.

Young or old, you'll find lots to intrest and stimulate the mind. Worth a couple of hours of your time.

So much science. Experiments galore. Love the map room upstairs. The place is designed to engage young minds but all adults will love it. Also, lots of local lore and history re North Beach and its environment.

There are so many exibits to explore, for both young and young at heart. All you have to do is go to the Exploratorium!

I went here on a date and it was so fun! We loved being able to goof around with all the interactive pieces. Definitely need to come again so we could check out everything!

My nerds, gather 'round, and let me tell you a little story.
It's about a young Phreddiva, born and raised in the Bay Area.

I was one of those awkward kids, those GATE-enrolled geeks who didn't yet know how awesome it was going to be, later, to be a geek. And the Exploratorium was a candy-land, a wonderland, and that basketball suspended above a traffic cone funneling air was a visualization I used with every voice student I've ever had. I didn't know it then, but the Exploratorium was to be a cornerstone of my future self.

Fast-forward.
A move. Some improvements. A rich AF city full ... FULL OF ... teeming with ... nerds.
Oh my people. This beautiful place, staffed by, run by, populated by people who all give many, many darns (can I say that here? Many darns? [edit - no, I can't, I was told I can't use profanity so I swapped in darns for the first word I tried to use]) about science. About making it entertaining, and accessible and creating AFTER DARK for those of us who like to drink and science at the same time. This place is... has always been, and evolves to continue to be, a haven, a core of what makes this city delightful, intelligent, learning-focused.

Plus, it's in one of the most accessible parts of the city.

Go. Bring the kids. Then leave the kids at home and come back at night with a date. Do what we all want to do - keep this city awesome and nerdy. While drinking.

Amazing for all young old doesn’t matter. We have also been to the 18+ after dark. We love the the themes the museum has very interactive. Highly recommend this museum

An amazing place for both children and adults alike. The time just flies by as you explore and get hands-on with the many displays and exhibits.

This place is amazing! We are a family of 10, ages 5 to 72 and we all found it exciting and fun and informative. We had timed entry but you can get a stamp and go out for lunch and then return to make it a full day event. Not to be missed Science experience, even for non scientists:-)

Really great time. The exhibits really caught the interest of a wide age range (we're in mid-70s, grandson 15), especially the interactive ones. We should have gone earlier to have had more time. We felt that there was a lot we didn't see. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

There were many exhibits to go to, and it was overall very fun. There were outdoor exhibits. There were many different types of things to see, and there were many explanations.

The person by the till was very kind to offer us a discount due to our profession, despite us not having ID. A great start! We spent a whole afternoon here and unfortunately didn't finish! This was because of how long we spent at each station. Hours of fun to be had here, would definitely recommend

I love the Exploratorium. There are so many interactive exhibits and so much to do. The kids have so much fun too. The employees and volunteers are very friendly and helpful. We went on a Saturday, and it was very crowded; Obviously, we expected that. Even though it was the weekend, the kids and parents had no problem getting a turn to try the exhibits. The location is amazing. Outside, the weather was perfect, and the views were gorgeous. We will revisit the Exploratorium when we go back to San Francisco. We have family in the area, so we go back at least once a year.

Had an amazing time with my kids and wife, they really enjoyed everything! The staff was super friendly and made the experience more enjoyable.

Spend the morning at the Exploratorium - could have spent all day if we had the time. Really enjoyed the interactive exhibits. Great place for kids - my teens were into it!

This is a great place to let your curiosity run wild. Its good for adults as well as kids, although you will probably be surrounded by kids at some stage. This was a really fun 2 hours.

Interactive displays for all ages and informative, too. Staff and volunteers really take the time to get you engaged and as you do so, you expand your mind.

I missed the Moon display a few months ago but I still had a very good time here.

Come one, come all and take your time walking around the displays.

Its clear that the exploratorum is mainly geared towards kids but trust me when I say it is far more than that. All of the exhibits would be fun for all ages, especially given how hands on they all are. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun in this great museum.

I went with my boyfriend in the morning to visit the Exploratorium as we had the visit to Alcatraz at 3:50 in the afternoon, and we were very close (everything is in the Fisherman’s Wharf area). We were highly recommended, but I didn't really love it. There were too many children and too many parents tired of chasing them. It reminded me a bit of the Papalote Museum in Mexico City. The museum has many different exhibits, but it is difficult to see them all for several reasons: they do not have a clear order, the number of children is huge (and they are not aware that there are people waiting for their turn), and there are too many things to see. The museum didn't seem especially pretty inside. On the other hand, the exhibits they have are very interesting and also all are interactive. I think it’s a museum where you have to go with time and eagerness to learn, as it has many different exhibits and activities, with clear explanations (if you go with time you can read them calmly and learn a lot). As a tourist it was interesting and there were three or four exhibitions that caught my eye (I learned about circuits and electricity by connecting cables to batteries, spotlights and robots, there was a giant mirror that created a godfather optical illusion,...). I think it’s generally a parent museum, especially for children, but I would have preferred to have visited Young’s museum or the SFMOMA (which is amazing) rather than the Exploratorium. If anything, comparing the Exploratorium with the Science Museum (which could be the two most fun museums for children) I would choose the Science Museum.

I was really impressed with the Exploratorium, with the size of the facility, the slick feel of the facility, the diversity of the exhibits, and the interactivity of the guests with the exhibits. Families can spend as much time as they want and let their children explore the magic on the world around them . Even an older retiree like me can have his curiosity piqued and intellect challenged for a modest entrance fee. Money well spent!

I was there for the After Dark events on Thursdays evenings and had a great time just exploring the exhibits while sipping on some drinks. The museum had a great crowd and I'd highly recommend checking this out as a night time activity!

The Exploratorium is a great place to just have fun! There is so much to do and see. There is always something new every time we go. I am planning our next trip there.

OK, let's get the cost out of the way, $30 for adults plus $$ for children. Go early, grab a self-guided map and explore. There are too many things to dwell on, but classify this as "science at your fingertips." I know, in an era where touching and being close to others is not cool, take precautions and wear latex gloves or something similar. Wait until it's OK to roam freely then let your inner science geek discover how you fit into the world in which you live. You don't have to know trigonometry or physics to understand how things work. Plus you can always say "I knew that." It's an all day adventure for friends, family, couples, whoever. Engage, explore, discover and learn.

There are so many hands on attractions that you are never waiting around to try something. We almost entered the day before a couple of hours before closing but so glad we came the following morning instead as we were occupied for hours and still could have done more. My kids are 14 an 16 and we all had a great time.

Okay, so we weren't too keen on visiting a 'museum' in San Francisco. I mean we grew up near the Science and Industry museum in Chicago and I've been to the Franklin Institute in Philly like way too many times. Our SF relatives suggested this place, and we initially said, no, not interested. But then when we were on a tour to Muir Woods, our guide looked at us like we had 3 heads when we said we weren't interested in going to a science museum. He's like oh, you HAVE to go there, (and we had 3 kids with us ages 7, 10, and 14). We were more into seeing the redwoods and Alcatraz and SF history, but we reconsidered squeezing this in. SO GLAD we did!!! Our 80 year old relative enjoyed it as much as we and our kids did. This is basically more of a hands on experiment museum. Truly fascinating in so many areas of science. We spent about 2+ hours here but we considered going back a day later because we only saw a little more than half. We just didn't have time to go back. It's really really cool, and our middle schooler got LOTS of science project ideas that we had never even thought of (and my husband and I have doctorates in the science fields), so yeah, it's totally fun even for the professionals! Don't miss it!

Great place! I took the MUNI there and since it was near the pier, I went there and grabbed a quick lunch after heading to all of the exhibits available at the Exploratorium.

The Exploratorium was super interesting and fun! Good for all ages and interests. Lots of interactive experiences and definitely educational as well. We enjoyed it!

I went here with a large group of high school students as a chaperone. I spent 3 hours in the exploratorium, and had lunch in the restaurant. The lunch was beautiful as well as delicious! I enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend the exploratorium.

Our children have been coming here for years. The acres of hands-on science experiments guarantee a full day of fun. It takes days to discover everything, so be prepared to miss half the museum if you are only able to visit for one day.

Tips- Start in the back to avoid the lines in the front. Stop by the thermal imaging cameras to see your body heat. Bring food if you can, as the wharf is a tourist trap.

This place was AMAZING! I have teenagers and wasn’t sure how good it would be since there were so many young kids around but they absolutely loved it! I thought this place was even better then the Cali Science Center!! You can easily spend 3hrs here so you can definitely get your monies worth.

It is a bit pricey, but you can spend HOURS there which make it worth it. So many fun things to do for ALL ages!!!!

I thought it was a bit expensive at first ($80.00 for two adults and a 4 year old), but it was great. Huge place with tons of stuff to see and do and the vast majority of it being educational and fun. I'm sure slightly older kids would like it even more.

Nice view but not as we understood it to be. Was seeking a quirky night out and was greeted by unusual music combined with drawing on a window. Not our cup of tea!

For over 3 decades I have loved this place. It is an ever-changing, dynamic, participatory experience that reflects best practices in science center audience engagement. I can't imagine visiting the city without stopping in to see what's up.

As we were here during the virus we could only see the outside interactive things but I assume inside was very good

This was an awesome experience. It did not disappoint at all. It was a very entertaining interactive experience. Great music, good drinks.

Visited here recently with my sister (both 27 lol) on a very wet and cold weekday and we really enjoyed it. We were here for hours! Was obviously full of kids but as the time goes on, it becomes emptier! This was part of the city pass we purchased.

Fun for all ages. If you have time after seeing the SF sights, visit the Exploratorium. Hands on. Fast activities on all science, including social. It is inside, loud, sensory stimulation overload, but sure worth the time. Enjoyed going in different directions and sharing what we found and then talking later.

I've never experienced anything like the Exploratorium anywhere else in the world. It's hard to describe without actually visiting, but it's well worth the trip. Equal parts, science, mystery, and pure fun, it's the kind of place you can completely lose track of time.

Highly recommended!

Went here for a double date on one of their evening events.
10/10 fun experience with some great live performances. Seeing how the exhibits were made at the workshop was amazing.

Thursday Night After Dark @ Exploratorium was a wonderful experience. Great exhibits and experiences. Highly recommended.

We told our 4 year old Grandson here for the day. We got there at opening (10am) and didn’t leave till 3 pm. There were many things there for his age and up. We ran all day.
The restaurant was closed, but there was small foot drinks bar open. Their quesadilla were good.

Dozens of experiments throughout in which the visitor can participate contributing to actual data collection for refinements of selected endeavors. My favorite was being shown different photographs after each of which a robot would "read" my reaction (happy, sad, disgusted, surprised, etc). I would then confirm or deny the robot's findings. Enjoyable evening, but go early as it soon gets crowded. Wine and other refreshments overpriced and I passed on them.

We were able to bypass the line and walk right in. My boyfriend is visiting SF for the first time and we had a wonderful time!!!

Me and my wife visited while on vacation. Although we had a great time we realized our kids would have probably had a better time! There is so much to do and learn here. Highly recommend!

I love the Exploratorium!!! Awesome place, one of the best date spots in the city, and one of the best museums in the Bay!!

Loads of little exhibits with explanations alongside comprising of the beauty of mathematics, physics, and biology (didn't see anything chemistry related but I did have to start rushing towards the end).

Lots of little set ups with interactive things for people to play with, and a load of partner-based things too.

All in all a decent place where I killed two hours and could've done a couple more if I wasn't running late for a pre-booked tour!

We were hoping to go to Alcatraz, but they were sold out so we came here. This is huge place full of all types of science exhibits that are for the most part interactive. The kids around the place were having a great time. Many field trips from schools were taking place. We had just an OK time as I not sure we were in the mood for interactive things but do recommend this place as it is very unique.

Must do in case of rain.
Personally we wouldn’t have done it otherwise but it’s worth a visit for children and teenagers.
Allow 2/3 hours minimum but we are not bored.
Children can touch anything and learn things.
Very playful.

Hubs and I could have spent ALL DAY here. So many interesting things to see and do. Be careful with street parking nearby - they ticket hourly!

I love visiting the Exploratorium every time I come to San Francisco. It has the most interesting exhibits. They have knowledgeable, hands-on, educational exhibits. I will tell my family and friends it is a most see.
I can spend hours there and enjoy every second of it. Must see.

I think this is the best museum we have ever been to. There is so much to do. Such fun for all the family. We bought a day ticket thinking we would be there for a couple of hours. We ended up spending 6 hours there and we still didn’t get to see everything. We loved The Animal Orchestra. Not much happens. Just lovely lights set to the rhythm of animal calls but it is so relaxing. We had to drag ourselves away after 30 minutes as we didn’t want to spend a whole 98 minutes there. Anyway we would highly recommend the Exploratorium for every age.

This is an excellent day out, I would book at least a full day to be able to explore this venue. The things that are available for visitors to do, are excellent to learn about science. The Exploratorium is excellent for kids and for parents and anyone who is interested in how the world works. My favourite items were the air balls and also the sand circles. I loved the wind machine and also the wave maker and all the instruments to make music.

Lot of great exhibits to explore! Definitely don’t miss drinking from the toilet water fountain! There were exhibits in the new building that I recall from the Palace of Fine Arts location. Great views of the bay from the outside!!!

I have two engineering degrees, and my kids, my wife, and I spent nearly the entire day climbing all over the amazing hands-on exhibits inside the Exploratorium. It started with the mechanical displays at the front which captured the imagination of my teenagers (how do you do that in the smartphone era?) and moved throughout the whole exhibit. I think my favorite exhibit was the color room, where they use a single monochrome yellow sodium light to trick your eyes into thinking everything is in black and white. When you shine a regular flashlight on anything the colors explode. It was simply awesome.

Went with my niece and nephew. Absolutely amazing. We've gone 4 - 5 times over the years and it's a new and interesting experience every time. The museum keeps getting better and better, and every show and exhibit is more and more ambitious. Loved it as a kid myself, and love it as an adult chaperoning kids now.

What a great place for a engaging hands on experience that's fun and interesting for kids and adults alike.

The Exploratorium is organized into 6 main galleries by broad categories. We spend most of our time in Human Phenomena (including illusions and social behaviour), Seeing and Reflections (light, sound, & mirrors), Living Systems (DNA & twins), and Exploring Landscapes (exploring the geography and history of the bay area).

Like the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium was also filled with school age children behaving like school age children. However, the Exploratorium felt less crowded somehow, it could be because it has a greater number of interactive stations that you never felt like you had to wait very long for anything.

We enjoyed interacting with many of the displays or simply enjoying watching young people play and learn about science while having fun (and not realizing that they're making their own scientific discovery).

As for access, the Exploratorium seems fairly accessible all on its own. It's easily reached by public transit, Muni, and is nearby to other San Francisco attractions or restaurants.

We found it well worth spending about 3-hours in.

The Exploratorium took us some driving around to find, but it was well worth the effort. There are too many exhibits to DO—not see, but do—all in one day. The entire science museum is interactive. Faves of me & my 7-year-old son: Recollections; creating a wave with mechanical links, then a water wave created with sound; the entire sizable Cells to Self section; playing with balls & discs on a 4-foot rotating plate. Please forgive any omissions, we were running from one exhibit to another for 5 hours. We dinked around with exhibits till we were exhausted, and we explored at best 1/2 of everything there was to see. I don’t care who you are, you & your family will love the Exploratorium.

We were looking forward to visiting after reading lots of positive reviews. It would have been useful to have been provided with a map of the different galleries so we knew what was where. It was quite a stressful experience when we visited on a Sunday in July (perhaps these are busier days) - there were people everywhere, which made it difficult to look at the exhibits properly as you felt rushed or crowded. Unfortunately we also encountered several people with no manners, who proceeded to stand in our way or not wait their turn to look at exhibits. All visitors had to wear masks; we do understand the need for this but it was warm in the museum so we felt quite stifled by the heat and masks. Food in the restaurant also seemed overpriced (nearly $10 for two packs of crisps and one can of pop!) Due to the reasons mentioned, this was not the most enjoyable of experiences for us so we didn’t spend long at the Exploratorium. Maybe if we’d have visited on a quieter day, we would have enjoyed it more.

The evening visit to the Exploratorium was truly a great experience. In addition to the countless scientific exhibits (especially physics but also biology and mathematics), which are extremely interesting, there is the possibility of tasting a good beer or dancing in the small disco corner.
In the four-hour visit I barely managed to try all the proposed scientific experiments. When the bell rang at 10pm I was very disappointed.
Don't miss the view of San Francisco's illuminated downtown from the terraces of the interactive museum.

Contains some neat stuff but wouldn't really recommend as a destination for just adults. Kids must be school age to really appreciate.

Take the Golden Gate Bridge x Alcatraz x your favourite burger joint = the Exploratorium.

This place is awesome - my advice is once in go straight to the furthest exhibit (section 6) and work backwards. Everyone seems to stay in zones 1 & 2. Find the Icy Bodies stand - I’ve seen some cool things in this life but this is out there. Well done.

Wonderful hands-on science exhibits. The place is cavernous; it'll take more than one visit to see everything.

The kids loved it, me not so much, but it was fun watching them try stuff out. I’m not sure they learned or retained much, but it kept them entertained for a morning.

I was always nervous about visiting the exploratorium, as I know that a hands-on museum is made for children, and people look at you funny as an adult wanting to play with everything. Thursday : After Dark at the Exploratorium is the time to do just that, with no funny looks - it's an adults-only evening, with live music and a bar. I loved feeling like a kid, running from exhibit to exhibit, not to learn anything, just to play. And a properly-mixed drink in my hand certainly did not hurt! Points of interest included the drawing table, the many light boards and video screen which changed as you walked by, the safe in the telephone booth and helping to discover the lock's code at the other end of the museum, and the geysers that seemed to never erupt! Everyone is is a good mood and having fun - it makes for a great evening, and I could imagine it being a nice place to take a date, too!

This museum touches different sciences - biology (dissecting a cow's eye. seeing a chick's heart beating, shrimps), geology, physics (wheels, floating fabrics). So much to see and explore with kids. Worth the time and energy to visit!

We were all adults & had a great time. Beginning with a drinking fountain in a toilet there were many, many unusual things to do. It would keep kids and adults entertained for hours. We had so much fun & wished we had allowed more time because we weren't able to do everything we wanted to. I would recommend it for anyone looking for something different to do.

Great place, not only for children, for the curious and ”like to try/find out self” people.

A massive number of ”experience/do it yourself cells”, divided into 6 categories, over a very large area. Science focused. You can easily spend several days here, so don’t go if you don’t have time.

Cafe’s and fast food inside the walk around area, so you don’t have to leave and come back. You can, however, get a stamp, leave and come back same day.

We were struggling for something to do as we had cancelled our Alcatraz tour due to weather, We chose the Exploratorium and were blown away by the experience. We had been there for 3 hours before we looked at the time and were stunned. Seemed we had been there an hour at most. So much to see...and do.

We arrived with 2 adults and 2 children 10,13, all of them were really interesting, we spent 3 hours there, we only went because we were hungry. A lot of activities, everything you can touch and experience, of course the explanations and instructions should be translated to children if they do not understand English.

My 13 year old daughter loves this place. Lots for kids and families to explore and experience. Highly recommend going.

Whether it's time tested favorite exhibits or new ones reflecting today's ever-evolving technologies, you can always count of the Exploratorium to make for a fantastic visit. It really is more than just your going science museum, it's also one of perception, art, and even nature. They were one of the first to offer so many interactive exhibits and lectures where you actually become part of the experience instead of just observing. We love their After Dark feature, also affectionately known as 'Date Night', every Thursday evening from 6-10pm. As to their newer exhibits, one of them, the "Cells to Self" is fascinating in its collaboration of science and the human body. But then again, that's just normal for the E, they're always looking for ways to challenge the mind and showcase the wonders of intelligence.

The whole family loved our day at the Exploratorium!
We took our kids when they were growing up, several times and now we've taken our grandson, next generation also!
The food in the restaurant was delicious and the view of the Bay Bridge right through the floor-to-ceiliing glass walls was amazing too!

this place was way too crowded. we came on a friday afternoon. my kids didn’t enjoy it as much either for that reason. too many people with kids and adults cutting in front.

Had an incredible time at the Exploratorium! So many interesting exhibits - was not enough time to see everything.
Staff at shops were exceptionally helpful.

Our family of four (2 adults & 2 teens) spent a rainy afternoon exploring the scince center. It is a huge complex filled with interactive tactile attractions for all ages. Be prepared to spend atleast 2 hrs or more there.

We are veterans of children's museums & science museums across the county & were still so impressed w/this place. They had exhibits we'd never seen before & we 3 adults all thoroughly enjoyed this museum. Spent 5 hrs there & could have spent more!!

The Exploratorium #AfterDark was a fantastic post-Christmas outing with my adult family. They say kids of all ages can enjoy the science museum, but it’s a much more enjoyable time with cocktails and sans the squealing children 😂😂😂 my family, ages 29 to 61 absolutely loved the experiments and the experience! Thanks Exploratorium!

If you have a chance go here! This was one of the best museums I have ever been to! We spent 4 hours here and felt rushed, you need a full day! I went with my 16 yr old and 14 yr old and we all had so much fun! Highly Recommend!

Spent a fun afternoon here. The place is usually packed with families/children but get quieter after 3PM. If you love science,music, understanding the body and more there are all kinds of things to check out.

The experience at the exploraturiom was so much fun. Beware of the parking all around the piers. There cars were broken into on less then five mins. The back and side windows were busted out. Spoke to the locals and they said it is the norm. They do it all day long everyday. It is very important to not leave anything in your car.

I’ll write an honest review although some might consider it politically incorrect.

We went here a rainy weekend like many other tourists - including families with children of all ages.

The actual items were interesting, well-made and educational. I understand the educational value of this place... when based on the curriculum and under teacher supervision.

However, the day of our visit the place was crowded with children who claimed every item, pressed any button that could be pressed, spun every wheel that could be spun etc. You get the idea. It was literally impossible to actually get to try items or to even move around.

I’d liked it if they had an adults only area or a children free hour.

My recommendation for other childless couples is to go here a sunny day when children are off swimming. Or a weekday when they are in school. Avoid rainy weekends.

This facility was fantastic and truly engaged the tweens. The only issue is that we allowed 3 hours and while the kids had an excellent time, you really need the whole day to sample the majority of exhibits. The staff were friendly and ready to help. If we had more time in SF, we would have spent the day.

One of the best and most entertaining places of science you find fun and learning for Rhodes the ages

The Exploratorium is geared for all ages but most of the exhibits are designed mainly for young children . Numerous exhibits are based on principles of Physics for children to clear their concept on the subject after experimenting with the exhibits.
The Bio & Arts exhibits are equally interesting.
The exhibits are highly absorbing & complete visits to museum needs 4-5 hours.
Must visit place for science students of higher secondary education.

Wife and I decided to visit the Exploratorium on a recent visit to San Francisco. We got there about 11 and it was crowded with kids. There is so much to see there that it doesn't matter that there are a lot of kids there - they are well behaved and add to the enjoyment of the place.

at about 12:30 we decided to take a break for lunch and we walked to Mission and Stewart (about 1.5 miles) and ate at Yank Seng. We think they have the best Dim Sum in SF. Only thing is it was $50 lunch. We walked back and stayed at the Exploratorium until closing - 5 pm. We then walked to the Nordstrom shopping center on Market street - about 1.5 to 2 miles. We were tired when we got there.

Stayed a while then took a Lyft back to our hotel, Cow Hollow in the Marina district. Very convenient and cheap. We shared our ride and it was no inconvenience at all. Ate dinner at Blue Barn on Steiner just down the street. Very interesting place and good for vegetarians like us. There's a Vegan place right next door but it closed a 8 pm.

We have always loved the Exploratorim. It's fun for all kids of all ages.
If you can go during the school year, it will be less crowded. It's a interactive museum that you can do experiments with the tools they give you.

Great morning spent here, however a bus load of school going kids approx 10-12 years of age arrived just before us and took over the qhole ground floor, which was slightly annoying as it proved difficult to experience a lot of the exhibits on display as they were being hogged by the kids!
However the experiments and exhibits on display are 10/10 and a great day or a couple of hours can be had here.

Exploratorium is an amazing place to visit! It offers fun for all ages, making it a great opportunity to learn about science in a hands-on way. I went by myself and had a wonderful time exploring the various activities and enjoying my time at Pier 15. There is so much to see and do, making it a fantastic destination. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the area or for those who live in the Bay Area!

We visited as a family of four (2adults & 2 children, 13 & 10) during our holiday and found this to be a really engaging and interesting place. We enjoyed exploring all the hands-on exhibits and spent a good few hours there. We attended a day or two after the local schools had resumed, so it was fairly empty.

The staff were all very helpful and friendly and the place was clean and well kept, even the restrooms. We had lunch in the on-site restaurant, which was quite expensive, but the food was tasty with good sized portions (our girls only managed about half a slice of pizza each).

There is a lot to see and do at this attraction, both inside and outside. It is easy to get to via the F-line trolley/streetcar or bus. I would definitely recommend this place to curious children who enjoy finding out how things work.

Great trip to Golden Gate Park and the museum. So much to see with interesting dispalys. A great place to visit.

If you’re travelling as a couple without children, don’t even bother. This place is absolutely fantastic for children, teens and young families but as a person without kids, this is a bit of hell on earth. If you’re from the UK and are expecting similar to the Science Museum in London, this is not it!! Their mars room is very cool but out of 5 different areas, that was the only area that really stood out.

We saw so many reviews and people telling us to go here, save your money and go somewhere else.

Also crazy this isn’t free to the public, all children and families should be able to experience this in California.

Only scoring low because it didn’t suit us, doesn’t mean it isn’t fantastic for families. If you’re travelling with children this will be amazing. Shame it’s so expensive tho.

Went there for Valentine's day. Was an absolute blast. Perfect post dinner activities with a partner to get the romance flowing.

Experiment with science: a journey around 6 themes, rapid tests to be carried out (solo or in pairs). Electricity, the human body, colors: varied themes with very varied experiences that allow to appropriate the elements (monochrome images, electrical conduction by pedaling ..). Absolutely awesome! Count a good 1/2 day

The Exploratorium is huge. Kids (ages 11 and 10) spent all day here, and wanted to hang out longer. There are lockers available for fifty cents (bring quarters) if you don't want to lug your heavy bags around all day. All the exhibits are interactive and well thought out, and there are a LOT of them. Most of them are located indoors in the two story building, though there are some outside as well.

The cafeteria is expensive, but we thought the food quality was good. Disappointing gift shops, the kids were looking for hoodies and shirts, but there really wasn't much of a selection.

I loved the variety of exhibits for all ages found at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. My 9 year old grandson had a ball!

So many opportunities to experience science without realizing it. Learning become a Joy for young & Mature.
Favorite: making silhouettes in amazing dynamic colors & having the opportunity to capture it to share with their parents & other grandparents

Was hesitant to visit since I wasn't sure if my kids were too old but our entire family had a great time. There are so many exhibits that you can skip many of them and still spend several hours in this place. We went on a Tuesday and it was still a bit crowded with several field trips that day but the crowd was manageable. With so many visual and audio exhibits, we actually started getting sensory overload so was glad to leave after about 3 hours.

The museum has discounted parking in a couple of the lots across the street but we found street parking which turned out to be cheaper anyway.

I was anticipating a great experience at the Exploratorium but it turned out to be much better. And this place is big! The exhibits range from ok toys to truly educational experiences. Very well done!

I always thought the Exploratorium was just for kids, but as older adults, my partner and I had a grand time and learned a lot too! Interaction is the name of the game here; pretty much everything is hands-on and designed to make you think.

I have been going to the Exploritorium for over 40 years, and there are so many reasons that this is a MUST DO whenever I have visitors in town. Not only is the museum educational, but it is 100% interactive. It is great for all ages and I can't think of a better thing to do for date night. Do not miss this one of a kind experience right down on the water front in San Francisco. Walking distance to the Ferry Building, Pier 23 (amazing locals only restaurant) and fishermans warf. You're welcome.

Contacted the Exploratorium to purchase a gift card for my son's family for Christmas.
Customer service rep in the Exploratorium store could not have been nicer or more helpful!
In assisting me - she went out of her way to provide a couple of other "specialty" items that I had asked for - to include with the gift card.
She immediately shipped the items - and they arrived within the week.
In today's fast-paced world, true Customer Service is very hard to come by.
I would say that the Exploratorium has it in spades!!!
Thank you for a job well done - thank you for a most positive experience.

My family loves a hands on science experience and this one is one of the best we've been to. Was there nearly all day and still didn't experience it all.

Amazing, there are so many experiments one can do. We (2 adults and 3 children (6, 9 and 11)) really had a great time. Three hours were not enough.
I can only recommend!!!

Little kids love the interactive exhibits. Teens can grapple with stimulating games. Old geeks find excellent physics everywhere. Even classes on field trips can effectively participate without disrupting the flow for others. An excellent time and a must day for kids.

Nice new space. Great parking. And my 2yr old grand son had a ball. The pricing options was also a plus. An awesome place for little ones and grown-ups to learn by touching EVERYTHING!!

The Exploratorium is a really fun, hands-on museum in a great location on the Bay.

It's a great place to learn, have fun, and experience new perspectives to expand your mind.

What a great find at Pier 15. I only wish we had more time to spend there. Interesting phenomenan like optical illusions and physics surprises.

A really nice experience to kids and anyone interested in science, it is an interactive exhibit and you will love to tryout different experiments and learn more about them.
But set aside sometime for it, if you want to explore it good, then 3-4 hours is needed.

The exhibitions are amazing. Employees with great knowledge. Great for families and science lovers.

Super interesting place to visit! We didn't have the opportunity to go inside but just the outside is so amazing.

Have to say. This may have been my 17 year old kids favorite place she visited in San Francisco. Wasn’t expecting much but you can literally spend a day there. Personally I left her alone there by lunch time and she could have stayed there even past closing

This is fun place for inquisitive kids who like science. But the admission fee is very high. I never understand why adult prices are so high considering they are really only there to chaperone the kids. There is no senior discount. We didn't spend as much time there as we thought we would. There were too many people who do not have manners and just step in front of you.

After four hours we haven't had enough. You can easily spent the whole day there. Staff were around to help you navigate and try out the experiments.

Maybe separating the area for adults and chillaren but overall really interesting things to look at.

This place is AMAZING!! First of all I had trouble with my international card and a wonderful staff member invited us to attend as her guest as she didn’t want us to miss out. We were blown away by the kindness.

There are SO many awesome hands on activities for all ages. My sons aged 15, 12 & 8 all found things they really enjoyed. Even after spending most of the day there we didn’t manage to do everything.

We are travelling and home schooling and the quality off exhibits from a learning perspective was excellent. The live demonstrations were really neat and the demonstrators were friendly and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful way to spend the day and I would highly recommend it.

This is such an awesome place to spend 4-5 hours having a blast. It's perfect for anyone who loves science like me. There are tons of interactive exhibits where you can play with lights, make giant bubbles, mess around with magnetic sand, watch dancing water droplets, and get lost in infinity mirrors. Plus, you'll learn lots of cool science facts in a fun and engaging way. There's something here for everyone! Would highly recommend this especially to those who have kids.

The Exploratorium offers an extensive experience that can easily fill 4-5 hours of exploration. It's a must-visit, especially for science enthusiasts. With a diverse array of interactive displays, from playing with lights, creating giant bubbles, experimenting with magnetic sand, observing dancing water droplets, infinity mirrors, and discovering fascinating science facts presented in an engaging and fun manner, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

I expected to enjoy the Exploratorium so much but left disappointed.
Maybe I am too right-brained to enjoy it. I am admittedly NOT a science fan.

We visited on an adults-only Thursday evening. We spent a fair amount of time waiting for other people to "get off" an exhibit so we could check it out. I can't imagine this place crawling with kids. It was bad enough with "adults only."

Things got repetitive, and I think you need to have a deeper appreciation for science than I do to enjoy this place. It seemed like the "coolest" exhibits were near the entrance, and as you got further into the museum, things were less interesting/exciting. Overall, I would not recommend the Exploratorium or visit again.

Very cool for adults and kids. The exhibition is large and needs time to see everything that has legal.

We arrived at Exploratorium at 10 AM and didn't leave for 3 hours, but we didn't experience the whole thing. It was a blast. Caution: Eating there can be expensive. It cost me $3.50 for a can of water, yet around the corner from the cashiers was an area where you could get FREE city water. Two of us ate for $25, but the portions were not satisfying.

I loved it! I went with my family in July 2018 and we really enjoyed it. It’s a great activity to do with kids because you learn playing and touching the different objects around the building. So didactical and fun.

This was our 2nd time to the Exploratorium, but my 12 year old didn't remember it. It was just as much hands on fun as the last time, and we saw dolphins out in the bay from the window. We'd go again. It was full of field trips from local schools on a weekday, but it was still a blast.

The Exploratorium is an incredible experience. Hands on science at its best. Everything is well designed and a credit to the teams who come up with the ideas and make them a reality. Our family had a blast. It was the best museum type place we have been to anywhere in the world because of the way you get involved with the displays. Would go back in a heartbeat. Highly recommended.

So many things to do..... We stayed only 3hrs and had many, many things to keep doing here. My girls are 12 and 14, they turned in their phones and tried everything. Go for the fun but enjoy the conversation with your kids!!!!!

We visited on a Wednesday, there were several large groups of children on site but there was still plenty of space and so many exhibits to explore. We stayed for 3 hours. A really interactive science center.
Can highly recommend, particularly, if you have teenagers aged 14-17.

I have visited the Exploratorium many times over the years, and I always discover something new every time I go. It's a great place to entertain friends and out of town guests, as it gives you something to talk about, a shared experience where the enthusiasm of your guests fuels your own enthusiasm and curiosity. Many classic exhibits are fun to show off to people who have never been there before, and there are always new exhibits to explore here and there. Never not a fun and interesting time at the Exploratorium! Definitely 5 stars!

It was excellent our visit, many different attractions, from different areas of science, everything super well marked and organized, we spent 6h (!!!) inside the Exploratorium and the kids still didn't want to go out 😂 very interesting and the adults also liked it a lot.

It was ok not as cool for me as it was when I was little lol food was alright lots of kids running around parents not teaching them to wait their turn lol it is what it is

Hands on and exhibits are enticing. Science oriented. The 3 kids (10-8-6) found so much to interest them. I (over 65, female) enjoyed many of the exhibits. I thought it was very good for children and would interest them even if they went back several times -- there is so much to see and do.

Everyone had to wear masks and have proof of vaccination. As it was hands-on, there wasn't an opportunity for the staff to clean equipment after every use. But there were many available sanitizer dispensers.

Food was below-average museum food. Hamburgers, hot dogs and vegetarian burgers were freshly made. All the different breads used for the hot dog, hamburgers, vegetarian burgers and p-nut butter and jelly were extremely stale. I expected a much better vegetarian burger -- it was just a patty of black beans. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. There are so many great eating opportunities in San Francisco, why waste your money?

This is a truly excellent, well thought out, captivating and intriguing hands on opportunity for all. It is refreshing to see young minds being stimulated to think and understand the forces in our world (aside from a small screen). The SF really bumps it up in exposure and opportunity and probably stimulates many to take advantage of the UC system. Everyone can benefit from the exhibits and atmosphere of investigation—the huge workshop for creation of new displays is very inspiring.

I was there 4.5 hrs and didn't even finish the first floor. I ate an expensive lunch, then realized there were outdoor experiences as well!

So the museum itself does have lots of neat stuff probably. I say probably because we could only access about 20% of it due to the high volume of screaming, unsupervised kids EVERYWHERE. I get it, schools out, it was rainy, it’s a science museum for kids. Not even the exploratorium’s fault, unless they at some point start turning people away because #firecode. It just made me hate humanity. Lots of parents were using this as a play place where they were drinking coffee on their phones while their kids ran amok. The parents that were involved were almost worse, since they allowed their little snowflakes to just use the exhibit for as long as they wanted never acknowledging the other kids waiting. My son ended up so disappointed the whole time because he would see something cool and never get a chance to use it. Other reviewers commented on how crowded and crazy it was and still gave it 5 stars which means they are more patient and generally just a better person than i am but we couldn’t wait to leave.

My advice: make sure it’s a random Tuesday. During nap time. When the sun is shining.

Not for adult only it is really made for family with kids, Exploratorium offers loads of little interactive exhibits with explanations alongside dealing with mathematics, physics, biology, etc.(6 categories). Many exhibits are not accessible because of the number of kids playing around. Kids might spend the day there! You can however, get a stamp, leave and come back later in the day. The cafe at the back is expensive.

And we thought we knew how things were developed and worked but even in our elderly years we learned a lot here and it was all presented in a way suitable for all the family

Oppenheimer founded The Exploratorium because he felt science education had gone down the wrong road. Science is based on experiential engagement. The old Exploratorium was almost all engaging, exploration based exhibits. Unfortunately, with the move to the building on the pier, they have devolved into "here's the science lesson you are going to learn and here's how you are going to learn it after you've read this essay" kind of nonsense that Oppenheimer was objecting to in the first place. Kids race from exhibit to exhibit pounding on buttons and yanking on levers, but it's hard to tell if they are getting anything out of it. If you want an amusement park for your kids, better to just go to an amusement park.

I have also witnessed uncivil behavior from their youth volunteers and was treated unacceptably by one of their employees. The Exploratorium could care less.

Totally enjoyed learning and exploring this magical place.The interactive exhibits made learning fun.

This was our second visit to the museum from a few years ago. We thought the variety of exhibits was outstanding. Our 8 and 14 year olds equally enjoyed exploring and discovering new and fascinating facts. The experience is well worth the admission price. We spent over 5 hours at the museum and could have easily stayed longer. A definite must-do experience for all ages.

Just the best activity in San Francisco for any ages: kids and adults.
The activities always change and are very fun.
Highly recommended

This place is fun and interactive and great for kids or the inner child in you.

It is a place that makes you think, inspires, and keeps you in creative wonderment.

This was recommended to me by a coworker and I’m happy I visited.

One thing to note, expect to spend a good 2-3 hours here, there so much to do, interact with, and see.

If you’re in San Fran and looking for something different- check this place out!

We had great fun visiting the Exploratorium with our 2 year old daughter. Spoilt for choice in terms of displays to look at, buttons to press, machines to operate. As parents we had loads to do at the same time as our daughter and all took something away. I found this more value more money versus Academy of Sciences which we did later in the same week.

My husband, 12-yr-old son and I visited SF for the first time recently and as were walking around having hopped off at a stop on one of the Bus Tours, we decided to check out the Exploratorium. We had a great time with all the hands on exhibits and happily spent a few hours there. A great place for families. It was a busy day so recommend getting there earlier rather than later if you have younger children so that they have more time to spend on the exhibits without the crowds.

I’ve been going to the Exploratium since I was a kid, and it deeply influenced the way I think of and interact with the world: with curiosity for how things work and a delight in discovering things I’d never considered before. I’ve taken my kids there throughout their childhoods, and now I get to take my granddaughter! As nostalgic as I am for the original Palace of Fine Arts location, I’m really enjoying the smart design of the Embarcadero location.

There is so much to do and see at The Exploratorium: from the permanent exhibits that will teach you how things work to the special events and programs, you really can't go wrong visiting this museum with your kids, with friends, or with your out of town guests. You will learn something, see something cool, and just have fun in this souped up science museum!

We just loved this museum and the entire experience! Our nine-year-old twins were fascinated with all the different exhibits. We arrived at 11:00 am and other than a quick stop at the cafeteria for lunch, we were all happily occupied right up until it closed at 5:00 pm. The interactive exhibits were so informative and so much fun, for kids and adults alike. I highly recommend for families with kids of all ages!

The Exploratorium has so much to do and see that four hours is not enough but we did all that we could! We experimented and played with light, sound, touch, color, and more. We, all adults, had an amazing time there and we would definitely go again!!

Our 12 yo LOVED LOVED LOVED this place. We spent all day there, and she wanted to return the following day, but our vacation plans did not have time for that. There are so many hands on exhibits and different experiences to try. She and her dad paid extra for the tactile dome - where they worked their way thru a maze in complete darkness. Meanwhile, I watched videos of some classic science experiments about human behavior.

We had so much fun! We all learned something and we will definitely be back with our friends and family. A must see when visiting San Francisco!

I adore the Exploratorium; I’m 40 and have been going since I was in elementary school. I always find and learn something new and love taking the little ones in the family who get to discover the exhibits for the first time.

At the last minute we all decided to stop by the Exploratorium. Outstanding. It is outstanding for kids of all ages (and adult kids of all ages). Very hands on - very educational. Plan for more than the two ours that we allotted. Like plan for all day if you can.

Immaculate vibes. Truly worth your time. Enjoyed the exhibits they offered in addition to the tasty drinks! Will be coming back

This place was a lot of fun for our whole family. It's very "hands on". Definitely a germophobe's nightmare, so if you're wary of crowds and lots of kids touching everything, maybe go elsewhere. We went in a Sunday afternoon, and it was packed. Perhaps it's not as crowded during the week? It's huge, with lots of different experiments for kids to try. Our family likes science museums, so we had a great time. Our daughter is now 15, and she still found it interesting. I'd say it's best for school aged children, 6-12, but even grown-ups can enjoy it with out kids.

The Exploratorium is a great science museum with lots of hands on exhibits. Though less eclectic than its original location, this bayside museum is a treasure. I took my teenage godson and brother and they really enjoyed it. Have taken other visitors from around the world. It really does have something for all ages to get the mind going.

The dining room features a great view of the Bay with a respectable menu and a bar.

There is a separate After Dark experience which is novel and enjoyable for adults.

Stuff is very friendly and there to help you navigate and try out experiments. This museum combined various science into fun learning experience. The place is well kept and bathrooms are clean. Excellent for family activity. Our 9 year old kid loved this place. Fun that activates the mind.

An amazing interactive exhibition for kids and adults alike. It's an interesting learning experience, with six key areas to explore, each with dozens of experiments and experiences to play and take part in. It took us over an hour just to do one area, so if you're hoping to see the whole exhibition you could need at least half a day if not a whole day to explore. Tickets aren't cheap though so not the greatest if you're on a budget, or have a whole family to take in. The lockers were useful so we weren't having to carry out bags and coats all the way round. On site restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained.

My grandson enjoyed the museum so much, we left when they turned the lights off. The dissected cow eye kept his attention.

The Exploratoruim on the shores of San Francisco bay is an excellent venue for the family to visit. Over 650 interactive exhibits that range from the making of honey to how much electricity is in your body is there to explore. A very wide range of topics are covered from sports to zooplankton in the sea. So much for the whole family to enjoy.

Although it is aimed at children , any age can have fun in the museum. These are fully interactive attractions that explain the concepts of physics. Fun and contentful.

It was our second visit and it remains a favourite with our family. Parking is across the street for $15. It is popular with the kids and there are a lot of them. Sometimes it’s hard to view or interact with the displays. Still I would recommend a visit to this place.

My kids fav place! We love the Expliurotriaum and go at least 1x per month!!!!!! So fun and educashinal.

I stayed for maybe an hour and a half, and that wasn't NEARLY enough time. There were so many little fascinating and interesting exhibits and activities. There were lots of children there when I went, but it didn't feel like a "kids' museum" at all. There's plenty there for all ages!

Boring nothing much interesting could use a little more excitement. Should have a little more interactive booth

Make sure to give yourself plenty of time. We spent the entire day here! Our kiddo is 9 and the perfect age to enjoy the museum. It's fun for grown ups too!

Absolutely recommended / amazing setup and all is hands on to experiance all yourself. Great experiments from many diciplines, bring science in a fun an fundamental understandable way closer to you. Cant miss this one.

I don’t know how to classify this cool place. Interactive science museum? Go at your own pace open classroom? Funhouse? You will definitely have a better experience if you have at least one other person with you to share the myriad of experiments that explain natural phenomenon, sociology, biology, weather and many other topics. We spent a couple of hours and wished we had come earlier in the day to be able to spend more time. Really interesting and well done exhibits.

I’ve always been a fond of technic and experiences, so how couldn’t visit this museum in SF? It’s a very interactive museum in which you can learn and discover the principles of physics as well as making many other scientific experiences. Recommended to children too!

The Exploratorium in San Francisco is an absolute must-visit. This hands-on museum offers a fascinating mix of science, art, and human perception exhibits that are as educational as they are fun!

Exploratorium is a science-based attraction that generally attracts families and school aged children who want to add a bit of hands on educational activity into weekend or holiday time. On Thursday evenings, however, the over 650 interactive exhibits are turned over exclusively to adults (over 18 years old) in what is billed as Exploratorium "After Dark". Uninhibited by the tendency to let the children go first, adults, often in couples or groups of friends, are encouraged to let their inner scientist loose. The opportunity to purchase alcohol during the evening probably assists with the warm, somewhat romantic ambience that is created. In addition to all of the daytime exhibits, each Thursday evening provides adult specific programming including guest speakers, music, film and specific themed discussions. It would make for a fantastic first date setting since conversation and laughter flow easily as individuals are puzzled by the wonders of scientific principles. Well done, Exploratorium.

The very best entertainment for any age. Every time I travel to SF I find time to visit the Exploratorium because there is so much to do with my granddaughters and I could never finish exploring the hands-on science exhibits that enthrall all of us. Good for ALL ages. I cannot say enough about the learning that happens while you spend the day. There is even a cafe. Easily take a day or two or .... Great place! Nice people working there.

A hands-on and interactive museum for all ages. This place is not only for kids but for those who like to learn how things work.

My 15 year old daughter and myself visited museum in July 2019. We spent three hours at Exploratorium but the truth is we could spend 30 hours there. Everything is very hands on, interesting and educational. Also we have visited many science museums around the world, and often we find some machines/exhibits that either do not work or are poorly explained. However, at Exploratorium everything was so well labeled and the exhibits are very inspiring and often very thought provoking. We cannot recommend the museum more highly.

Lastly I also want to thank their assistant manager Tia Cerone-Fancher and also Alan Wong who work at the museum. I lost my wallet on the day of my visit and had to travel back home the following day. Tia replied to my email very promptly and together with Alan they sent back my wallet immediately before I even send them a check. Tia was very understanding, kind and professional in our email exchanges and made a stressful situation so much better. I really appreciate their help and want to therefore show them my appreciation by writing a review, which I rarely do! Thank you Tia and Alan!

I've been here back in the summertime of last year. Nothing to dislike about this place. I really liked to how colorful it was.

We didn’t enjoy our experience at the exploratorium due to the crowds of screaming kids running around. The noise level and chaos made it very difficult to enjoy the exhibits. If you’re sensitive to noise, and crowds, it would be best to visit during an adults only event.

The indoor restaurant is more than obsolete to begin with which should have alerted us. Chicken with almost no sauce was cold inside, my fries too salty and a fluffy one that looked like a laser cut cake so thin the slice was. I hope we don't get sick. Only positive thing is the person who welcomed us, very nice

A fun and cute interactive museum. Covers a wide variety of things, as a photographer, I had a lot of fun with the light area!

The Exploratorium is my go-to destination when I have family and friends in town visiting from the East Coast, also cousins from Japan. You see their kids' eyes truly LIGHT UP from the minute they walk in!

Everything is interactive, "touchable" and fun for all ages -- so we all get into it together. I find that it give me a chance to engage with my young cousins, to meet them on their level and learn new things together .. and ultimately to create memories, since we only see each other a few times a year.

The Exploratorium has become a family tradition for us. The location is ideal, too -- parking lot across the street, and you can walk down to The Ferry building afterwards for an ice cream, blue bottle coffee -- and the adults can even have a glass of wine!

Fabulous hands on science museum for all ages - more than you can see in one day.
Exhibits are hands on with explanations.
Make your reservations ahead of time - they sometimes sell out.
We arrived at 10 and spent 4 hours there.
While you can not eat inside the museum, there are plenty of benches in their outdoor space where you can eat. I strongly advise you to bring your own lunch. The day we were there (a Thursday in August) the restaurant was closed and the cafe had about 3 overpriced sandwiches. Shame on them!
Otherwise, this is a world class museum and a must for any visit to San Francisco

This place is *amazing!* It's a hands-on, freak-you-out-how-did-they-do-that *enormous* museum filled with explanations of all kinds of scientific principles. It's fun, fun, and the more fun! Hubby and I spent more time there than we thought we would, and marveled at everything we saw--there's even an outdoor "play" area where the kids were happily running around and making all the exhibits work.
For the price we got a *bargain.* And we didn't even get to everything because there was so much! Don't miss the lights in the main room and the bowl-shaped Sun dial upstairs.

Fun looking at all the exhibits but more family oriented then a solo traveler. It was interesting seeing the workshop and learning the different sciences.

I got tickets to the Exploratorium based on reviews from friends but was unsure what my 10th and 6th graders would think. Turns out our whole family loved this place. The hands on stuff really worked (not been my experience at other "hands on" museums), the science was right (thank you, rocket science husband), and it was fascinating. A great mix of human science (game theory, perception, etc.) and physics. Just a delight for the whole family -- worth the ticket price.

Nice museum but it is for children. There are a few interesting exhibits but not worth it if you don’t go with a child.

This is truly a hidden jem. A summer vacation activity that was educational without the kids knowing it. Took our 9 year olds there and literally had to drag them out of there when we had to leave. There is so much to do. Very interesting experiments. It was a bit crowded with summer camps visiting, however we still enjoyed ourselves. We would choose this over the Aquarium of the Bay if we had to.

What a place to visit. So many interesting and interactive things to see and do. Visually stimulating with colourful lights and your eye being drawn to new hands on experiences to try. We were there for a couple of hours but could easily have spent a few more.

Great place for people of all ages to learn about themselves, the planet, things around them & science. This is a museum where you learn by interacting with the exhibits. You can easily spend a full day here, though you could rush through & spend part of a day. If really interested you could spend 2 days here. The Exploratorium is on the waterfront. The cafeteria here has creative food items, a variety of food & is vegetarian & vegan-friendly. You can eat inside or outside with great views of the bridges & bay. There are 2 parking lots where you can get discounted parking. Their website has clear information.

Playful experiential learning and gorgeous conceptual integration in exhibits, this place is one of the greatest man made institutions of any kind on Earth. Learning about the Universe and your place in it should always be this fun and beautiful!

Great learning experience! Picture a huge airplane hanger style (several) all out overlooking the pier / bay. The building is divided into 6 galleries that each focus on a specific scientific topic. Every 2 feet is a hands on tactile experiment for the kids to participate in. My son is 10 and we spent 6 hours here. He had a blast. Beautiful environment and really encourages tactile learning in multiple ways. Buy the tickets to also do the dark dome. Was a really fun and interesting experience. Would encourage all families to visit!

I’ve been here before and it’s great, interactive activities for young and old alike. Disappointed at some things removed presumably because of the pandemic though. But still a good time.

The exhibits were so interactive and informative! Made me think deeply about phenomenons we experience every day. Space section models were beautiful. There was so much to see that we didn't get through the whole museum; will definitely be coming back!

I went to the Exploratorium on one of their adult nights. If you don't want to wade through children to play and see the exhibits, this is for you. Awesome Orchestra was playing in gallery 4. There were cocktail bars set up in several places. The exhibits are wonderful. It brought back so many memories of my physics classes. It also made me think of the book "How Things Work". Sometimes we take items around us for granted and they are more complicated than we thing. Fun to play and observe here!

There was a lot of interactive fun which would be much more enjoyable if visiting as a group. Would not recommend for solo travellers. Good for all ages.

This was one of the BEST experiences we have had as a family. You could enjoy this place all day as a date as well. Leave yourself 8 hoursto make sure you can stop and take breaks and also to be sure you can see everything. So much fun and no one feels like we are learning, but wow, we learned so much more than we did in school!

This place is terrific for everyone interested in the Sciences and the presence of kids DOES NOT RUIN ANYTHING FOR ADULTS.

I worried about two things:
1) that exhibits would be dumbed down for kids
2) that unruly kids would ruin the experience

Neither was true. The vast majority of the exhibits are not watered-down at all and FULLY INTELLIGENT FOR ADULTS. Kids will have fun but they probably wont grasp the scientific or engineering concepts being explored. This is fascinating, thoughtful, beautifully presented stuff!

I spent three hours there last weekend. I could have spent 90 minutes more but was hustled out by the rest of my group - which included some very tired kid-lets. (I had ditched them and set out on my own)

Everything is SO WELL DONE. Almost nothing was broken. The food in the Commissary is surprisingly good. It's clean. I want to go back!

My suggestion is get there early and simply head in a direction different than the crowd - meaning head towards the back. But this isn't anything critical. You can just walk up to countless exhibits anytime without any waiting at all. Near zero down time.

Some of the sociological exhibits blew me away.

So, as entertaining as the Exploratorium is for kids - which it certainly is - it's even deeper and richer for folks more seriously interested in the Sciences.

I paid full price. Well worth the $$.

It's like a giant playground for curious minds. I loved getting hands-on with all the interactive exhibits, especially the ones about science and art. It's a perfect place to spend a day exploring and learning in a fun way. If you're ever in San Francisco, definitely check it out!

Our friends and there kids are coming to California next summer. We went to Exploatorium to see if it would be a nice place to take them. It was very exciting and entertaining. They have 4 small childern 6, 9. and 12. We are really exited to take thme when they visit.

Wow. lose yourself for hours, touching doing reading and '' playing'' - huge space fantastic interactive exhibitics - every town should have one

Terrible. The food is overpriced just like the tickets and the people there were rude. Also some times the machines would get broken. Alot of the negative reviews were taken down about this place based on guests personal experiences.

This museum has two floors plus the second is just an observatory. The rule of this museum is touch everything. Visit because he is Excellent

My kids have been to the Exploratorium a half dozen times and always seem to interact with new exhibits when we're there. Definitely one of our favorite places to visit in SF!

I read all the reviews - and everyone said that 3hrs isn't enough, to plan your trip - they are right! It was so cool, we were all involved in the attractions. After 2.5hrs we had to leave unfortunately. We didn't get through 3 of the sections! Although it seemed like a lot of people there, there was hardly any waiting at the attractions.

Hands down, my favorite place in SF, and easily the best museum in the city. The exploratorium rotates through new exhibits constantly, is diverse and inclusive to all, and every time I go there, I feel like I have seen something new.

I go there pretty often for Thursday nightlife sans the kids, and every Thursday they have something new and cool to look at and learn. My favorite time was when they brought in live animals from a wildlife rescue. I got to see a REAL baby sloth, and was able to pet a REAL baby alligator (so soft!)!

They had a diversity exhibit running for a moment too, where they had the real Black Panther costume on display, and cool learning opportunities for people of all ages to learn about inclusion. I frequently go with children of all ages during the day, and adults of all ages during Thursday nightlife - and also during the day when I can play hookie from work!

You can usually find me walking along the embarcadero, where I am quick to mention to any passerby to make sure and visit the Exploratorium any chance they get.

12/10 would recommend.

Excellent view from this museum you can see the bay area. Also all the instruments deserve to try to play and watch!

My husband and I were in two minds about visiting as the only time we had was a Sunday afternoon at 2pm and we were worried it'd be too busy... But it's such a well organised museum with SO MANY FUN hands-on activities (definitely for all ages) that we raced around the museum all afternoon and had a brilliant time! Such a worthwhile experience.

The Exploratorium is the most innovative and fun space I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. While the main exhibits are dynamic, hands-on and truly cerebral, the guts of the building are even more interesting and inspiring. The Zero Net Energy Facility boasts bay source cooling, solar panels and advances lighting controls that rightly deserve their own tour. Chuck, Marie, and the rest of the Facilities team have been informative, fun and knowledgeable tour guides. Keep up the awesome work!

This attraction was so much fun! There were so many interesting and interactive displays. My son and I only had a couple of hours to explore and it was not enough time because there is so much to do! I was worried that it wouldn't hold any appeal to my teenager but I was completely wrong, this is for all ages. We are science nuts but even someone with little interest in science will thoroughly enjoy the Exploratorium.

Tips: Kids and families abound so if you want to dodge these younger visitors try the Exploratorium After Dark.

Recommendation for the Exploratorium: Because everything is so hands on, perhaps hand sanitizer stations could be set up in a few places.

There is nothing like The Exploratorium - a museum where you can pretty much touch and play with everything there! This isn't just fun, it is also the essence of what real science is about. i've been going for years and every time i go, I see new things that I had't noticed before. As a longtime resident of San Francisco I can categorically say that this is the best museum in our city.

It was me, my husband and my 18-year-old son. We liked: experiments and activities interesting and interactive. Some funny and curious, others techniques and specifications. We were there a couple of hours, unfortunately the session 6 Observatory was not open for private event. Recommended

Had an amazing time at the Exploratorium back in September. Brought some family who were in town and showed them all the amazing exhibits that the space has to offer. They had the best time. Would highly recommend to anyone on how to spend a Saturday.

wish my kids and grand children were with us to learn hands-on and enjoy . so many interesting parts.

There are many children present but most if not all the exhibits and activities are more than suitable for adults as well. A very informative place with the best gift shop ever

Our family came here one afternoon and spent over four hours here. There are endless exhibits and experiments to inform and amaze both kids and adults. It all makes you really appreciate science and what it adds to the world around us.

One area that stood out for me was the map room where you can look back at what the bay area was like years, decades, and centuries past.

Also eye opening, seeing how many microbes are living on your face....ech.

Worth going here and going again. A great option for kids and adults when the weather is not so nice.

We used our Go City Explorer pass to visit the Exploratorium. This is a huge science museum. I read that most people spend 3 hours here, but if my kids had a choice, we could have spent most of our entire day there.

I was really impressed with the sheer quantity, quality and variety of exhibits. This place needs a lot of staff to keep it so well maintained (very few pieces were out of order). I also liked how they had some pieces shown like artwork where they provide details of the creator and exhibit piece.

Close enough to the Ferry Building to grab a nice lunch before spending more time there.

By far the best science museum I’ve ever visited. Using the Go City pass made it more affordable.

Great place for kids and adults alike. So many weird and wonderful things to do and see and the cafeteria is pretty good too!

Overwhelming number of exhibits for all ages and levels of interest in science, from biology to astrophysics. Adults: Prepare for sensory overload and wear very supportive and comfortable shoes. Many of the activities on the main hallway are geared to younger kids. The cafeteria food is good and affordable. Even the views of the Bay and Bay Bridge are beautiful.

We had a lovely time! Enjoyed exploring scientific knowledge through such a wide variety of kinesthetic experiences. Especially fun to see adults having fun during the After Dark experience!

Went here with my grand nieces and nephew this summer. My goodness! What an amazing array of things to play with! And all of them were educational. The location on the Embarcadero in San Francisco is charming. Highly recommend for adults and children alike.

First off here is some thoughts for adults without kids. GO THUR NIGHTS BETWEEN 6 and 10 PM. This is adults only where you can be among other tame souls and concentrate on the exhibits. Not knowing this I showed up at 11 am. Big mistake. Between children who've never be taught to not scream and shout in public places, school groups that think the place is a play ground, teens running and playing tag and youngsters of all ages bumping into you and/or butting in while you are looking at an exhibit you will wish you had picked a better time. Things do seem to calm down after 1:30 or so daily. The ruckus was so intense I found a corner on the 2nd floor to escape for awhile.
Lenght of visit depends on your curiosity level.
Classic street cars will take you right to the front door.

Brought my sister with me to San Francisco, sported the exploratorium right at the Embarcadero. I typically try to go around that area when I come to SF. I only live 1 hour away from SF as it’s always chilly. It’s chilly mostly because of the bay. I brought my sister to the exploratorium, she really enjoyed it. We are science geeks and enjoyed it a lot. We went to the exploratorium and they even had an educational show on dissecting a cow’s heart and teaching it to everyone on how the heart works for both cows and humans. Super interesting place and full of interesting stuff!!

You definitely need at least 3 hours to fully go through each station. There are 6 stations and each is about 30-45min.

They also offer military discounts!

Excellent experience - spent several hours there with our teenage son. Restaurant is great too - view of the ocean, good value and clean.

We visited this museum with ATSC member reciprocity from our local science museum. Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Tactile Dome (extra fee) experience as well as the hundreds of hands-on exhibits. Highly recommend!

Spent several hours here with a 12, 6 and 4 year old. They had a blast. There is so much to see and do. Definitely worth going.

Fun for adults and kiddos. Very interesting things to do and explore!! Lots of places to sit and soak it all in.