Aquarium of the Bay

Negative experience: On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, I visited your facility with my family and arrived around 1:20 PM. At approximately 1:30 PM, we entered the tunnel area and were approached by two young women—one appearing to be of Asian descent and shorter in stature, and the other appearing to be of Hispanic descent. They told us, "You need to go the other way." I noticed the exit sign at that location indicated both directions with arrows, so I politely suggested, "Maybe you should put that on a sign so others won’t make the same mistake." Instead of responding respectfully, both women walked away and mockingly laughed, “Hahaha,” in an exaggerated and insincere manner. Following their directions, I went around the way they indicated. However, after doing so, the same two individuals repeatedly passed by me, giving me unfriendly looks as if attempting to intimidate me. After the fourth time, I asked, “Are you trying to intimidate me?” They did not respond. I am 61 years old & these individuals appeared to be in their 20s. Their behavior was unprofessional, inappropriate, & disrespectful especially in a place that is supposed to offer a safe & welcoming environment for families. I reported the incident to a manager upstairs, who then directed me to the front entrance. I am bringing this to your attention because this type of conduct is unacceptable & does not reflect the kind of experience guests should have at your establishment. Boni

Positive experience: It was A nice aquarium. The kids loved and had a good time. I gave it four stars because there was a pretty little squirrel there. It looks sad and I didn’t want to be there. It was very nervous. I was scratching at the door scrolling trying to get out. I think they should let him free and be happy. I felt very bad for that. My heart was broken that I couldn’t help him just my opinion Everybody’s different.

Fantastic experience: It's rather small, but very well done and a great option if you don't want to drive all the way to Monterey.

Negative experience: Unimpressed. It’s really small. What they do have (jellyfish… otters) is cool, I guess. But I was expecting a much larger aquarium, given the location. Also, the only way to get to and from different floors is via the elevator. Why not make stairs public???

Positive experience: Took my brother, mom and two of my nephews here and it was great. I thought there was going to be more attractions but it was only a few, kinda expected it since the building wasn’t huge. Overall pretty good place to bring little ones.

Positive experience: It was quite small. I thought it would be a bigger place and would have more animals to watch. I still prefer Monterey Bay Aquarium but it was an experience.

Negative experience: I grew up going to the GA Aquarium so I know to keep my expectations low when visiting others but I expected nothing and was still disappointed. The price of admission isn’t worth the 20-25 mins in there (as a comparison, GA Aquarium, which is the largest in the US is only $8 more). Also, a bunch of fish are just kinda laying there…would be nice to have someone reassure guests they’re not dead…unless they are dead…2 stars because I touched a bat ray so that was cool

Fantastic experience: Very cool! They had multiple walk through tunnels where you can see a variety of fish, stingrays, and sharks. They also had multiple touch tanks. They also take your picture upon entering. You do have to pay for the pictures but they are available online with watermarks.

Fantastic experience: Always the place to be. This time, we had got to actually look and touch without our child being walked over by adults and their children. The entrance desk wasn't paying attention, but the end desk was very attentive. Shout out to them for helping us choose our pictures.

Negative experience: I've been to several aquariums. This aquarium needs several fixes. 1. Several exhibits are damaged. 2. There should be deeper and more complete information on the marine animals. 3. Marine plants and plankton don't figure into this aquarium, at least in a meaningful way. 4. One of the sheep's head fish is injured. 5. Ground squirrels aren't aquatic animals, and neither are king snakes. We enjoyed walking through the tunnel and we liked watching the jellies. More info on the jellies would be nice.

Fantastic experience: Not crowded. Lots of cool fish. The tunnels are awesome

Positive experience: This is a fun aquarium for younger children. There are two aquarium tunnels - one of them is a shark tunnel. There is also a stingray pool and an otter exhibit. I thought the otter was the best part of the entire experience. At the admission counter, we purchased our aquarium tickets at a slightly discounted price using their family pack. They also sell tickets to a few other local attractions at a discount with your aquarium tickets, but not mandatory.

Fantastic experience: There is a great variety of marine life. I was truly impressed and enjoyed every moment while exploring. Starfish, various fish big and small, turtles, snakes, and many more. There was even a baby sea lion — it was so adorable and walked around so playfully that I could’ve watched it forever.

Positive experience: Fee is bit high as they have limited species.

Negative experience: Finished after 30 minutes. Had it's best time probably in the past. Particularly, the aquariums are outdated and not much information is given on the animals. If you would like to see a good and interesting Aquarium go to the California Acedemy of Science.

Fantastic experience: It was fun for a quick visit. We could spend a lot of time petting the little sting rays. River otters were sleeping, so we didn't get to see them. Maybe catch them next time.

Positive experience: River otters were super active and vocal the day we went. Moving sidewalk in the tunnels weren't on. Loved the jellyfish.

Fantastic experience: This was a great spot to visit while in San Francisco. We had seen the videos online of the friendly stingrays and it was one of the major draws. Great for families and aquarium enthusiasts like myself! The staff were lovely, the aquarium was relaxing, and it offered great educational opportunities on the local wildlife. Special mention goes to the river otters and the stingrays they keep there. The otters were actually asleep when we first encountered them but ten minutes later they sprung awake. Be sure to stop in if you can!

Positive experience: Some of the lights were out where the fish swim, otherwise it a good learning experience.

Fantastic experience: Gives me nostalgia and it is very fun to go there. Especially the otters, they are very fun to watch and listen to. I brand my cousin here and we both had a lot of fun.

Positive experience: It's ok, it's basic, I wouldn't go here again, nothing groundbreaking. If you have been to many major cities aquariums and seen a lot, I'd give this a miss. Staff are great and friendly, but there's not much here.

Positive experience: Pretty small aquarium for 28$ lots of jellyfish and sharks. The otters were shy and sleepy. It’s spread out over 2 floors

Negative experience: Worst aquarium I've ever been to. There was basically 6 fish and a squirrel to look at. We went with the city pass so it wasn't so bad but I would have been way more upset if I paid full price for a ticket. Wish we chose something else to do. Don't recommend at all. Go look at the sea lions down the pier instead.

Fantastic experience: The creatures are all local species and they were well taken care of. Their aquariums were clean and free of any unhealthy specimens. That's always my number one concern when going. Everyone was knowledgeable. There was a great variety. I had a wonderful time. *** Go earlier! The otters and all the fish get sleepy closer to closing!! But they're still cute.

Fantastic experience: I enjoyed this visit because the atmosphere was great. Everyone was enjoying themselves with thier children and families. Not bad for the price.

Fantastic experience: I loved how informative the signs were. They shared information about the animal(s), their respective habitats, and how different types of pollution affect the sea life. The staff was also very welcoming and friendly. I really enjoyed my time there. Thank you so much!

Positive experience: It's nice little aquarium, and good for little kids' attention spans. It was just under an hour to see it all. We bought tickets in advance, so the check-in process was quick and easy. I was surprised to see that the exhibits had plastic plants, so I asked about it. Due to the amount of concrete used to construct the building, almost no natural light gets in. Plants need light! I appreciated the knowledge passed on to visitors by the staff. It was a fun visit.

Positive experience: If u like aquariums, this one’s def worth a visit. Can easily spend an hour or more here. They click ur pic at the start n add fun effects so u can grab it as a souvenir later. U even get to touch baby rays n sharks—kinda cool. The underwater tunnel’s the best part, feels like walking through the ocean. Sharks n jellyfish steal the show. Fun n chill spot to check out.

Negative experience: "Inhumane Policy – Children Forced to Suffer Due to Heartless Rules" "On May 7th 2025, during our visit, your employee Kasy (ticket counter) refused to allow a 9-year-old child to re-enter the aquarium to use the restroom, citing your 'no re-entry' policy. When we pleaded that this was a minor with an urgent need, her response was cold and bureaucratic: 'No exceptions.' Since when does rigid rule enforcement trump a child’s basic dignity? This wasn’t just poor customer service—it was a blatant failure of compassion. Even worse, no supervisor intervened to resolve the situation. We demand: A public apology for this unacceptable treatment. Mandatory staff retraining on handling emergencies involving children. Immediate revision of your re-entry policy for humanitarian exceptions. Until then, we caution all families to avoid this attraction. Tourists: Is this really a place you want to support? Shame on you, @AquariumoftheBay.

Fantastic experience: We held a marketing event - a product launch - here. The exhibits were fascinating and the team there is on top of every detail. I would use them again. Our keynote was the actor Tim Russ, pictured answering questions.

Fantastic experience: Compared to other aquariums I've been to, it's relatively small, however, it is nice and educational. Good place to go to to help fill your day.

Positive experience: We found the pricing a bit high for the amount we saw, but we still enjoyed ourselves. We went on a weekday and there was not much of a crowd. We were able to see all the animals we wanted to. We did wish it was a little bigger as we only spent maybe an hour here, but it was still fun.

Positive experience: Crowded and small, exorbitantly priced for what it is. I was lucky not to have to pay full price this time or it would've been ridiculous. It's not a bad stop but really should be priced at a max of 10 dollars per person. San Francisco not having a world class museum is a bit ridiculous. My toddler loved it though but again wouldn't have paid full price. It's more on par with mall strip aquariums that are for profit. I don't mind them making a profit just do it right!

Fantastic experience: I did not go to the aquarium this visit. I just went to pier 39 and took some pictures. Next to the walls of the aquarium, but i've been to this aquarium many times years ago. i would like to take my kids next trip. It just wasn't budgeted in this time.

Positive experience: Took our 2- and 6-year-old to Aquarium of the Bay and they had a blast! The jellyfish were mesmerizing, and the interactive tanks where kids can duck under or touch sea creatures were a big hit. Lots of great photo opportunities and hands-on exhibits. The volunteers were friendly and did a great job explaining the animals in a way our kids could understand. Perfect family stop along the waterfront. Definitely a bit more on the expensive side, so plan in advance for parking and you can often find deals with city pass packages.

Fantastic experience: It was so good the fish feel decent I well come here every Friday five star recommended to go I been here for 36 time I want you to come here we saw a lot of fish and family me and my children love it it was so fantastic. It so good and fun recommend to go here last time we had a field trip about his in 2023 so I want you to go here

Fantastic experience: Honestly had a wonderful time here, the tickets are a very good price. I can’t wait to go back. Wish they had free parking, I would definitely recommend taking a bus.

Fantastic experience: Great experience for the family! Location close to Pier 39 was easy and convenient to shops and restaurants for pre - or post activities. The aquarium staff were kind and informative. The exhibits were fascinating, and kids loved the touch pool area. Coolest part was walking through the tunnels with fish and sharks swimming around you! Oh, can't leave out the playful otters!

Negative experience: We were so disappointed, this is the worst aquarium we've been to, especially for the price. The staff could care less about answering questions or sharing much about the aquarium and it really shows. The exhibit display really left a lot to be desired. The layout and organization of the aquarium between the various floors is poorly illustrated. We will not be visiting again any time soon.

Fantastic experience: The aquarium is a fantastic spot for families and friends looking for a fun and engaging experience on the pier. The exhibits are well-designed, and there’s plenty to see and learn. One of the highlights was watching the otters—they were full of energy, interacting with visitors, and even showing off their impressive tree-climbing skills, which was something I didn’t know they could do! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, making the visit both entertaining and educational. Whether you're a marine life enthusiast or just looking for a unique outing, this aquarium is definitely worth a visit.

Positive experience: Bottom level has cool tunnels my son really liked. I’ve been to larger, more impressive aquariums, but for the price and location I’d do this one over on our next trip to the Bay,

Positive experience: Unfortunately a little run down/disappointing Still had fun but I got my tickets for free otherwise if I had paid I would not have been very happy The academy of science museums has a much better aquarium and it’s a much better value as you can enjoy the rest of the museum as well. Here there were quite a few empty exhibits and missing/broken interactive displays All the videos and media seemed extremely dated like from the 80s or 90s There was only one touch pool open And of the exhibits that did have fish/animals they felt pretty empty My original rating was 2.5 but the otters brought it up to 3 they are really fun to watch! Also some other highlights would be all the jellyfish and walk thru tunnels! I found it weird that you can only go to the 1st and 3rd floor not sure what the second floor has but just felt like we were missing out on something and felted pretty small I would probably not return!

Fantastic experience: We always enjoy a visit to Aquarium of the Bay. Our toddler was EXTREMELY excited to walk through the aquarium tunnel. The jellyfish are our favorites and she even got to see divers maintaining the tunnel aquarium and they waved to her. She absolutely lost it she was so stoked when they waved to her.

Fantastic experience: It is a small one but could be a quick 1 hour activity with kids. The aquarium tunnel is built pretty well and you can see many varieties of fishes and sharks pretty close by. The individual membership that allows one additional guest felt like a good deal for us as we think it is a good place to visit multiple times with kids.

Negative experience: Nice location but unfortunately the enclosures were quite small. The otter enclosure was especially small. It was an all rock enclosure which limits their ability to behave as they would in the wild. They were swimming round in circles and appeared to be stressed and bored. The staff were very nice but it was sad to see the animals cold have better enclosures.

Fantastic experience: It was a very nice experience, it wasn't too crowded (on a rainy weekend). A lot of interesting displays and I really enjoyed the water "tunnels". The price was on the high side but a good value for our experience.

Negative experience: Sad and in disrepair. The staff were great but thats about it. I would not recommend and i wish i could

Positive experience: Visited due to very rainy conditions in San Fransico meaning we had to change our plans, this was a great experience one of the better aquariums I have visited I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and we got to see the otters in training too which was great at the end

Negative experience: Underwhelming to say the least. Sick fish swimming in dirty terribly small aquariums. Truely cruel the aquarium tub where the Pacific Sardines keep swimming on a loop until they die. Big other species swimming in very small spaces. You can tell the fish are not doing well as most of them lost their colors! The staff was very nice, however. But San Francisco, you need to do better!!

Negative experience: Being here made me sad. The tanks were basically empty and it really seemed like they didn't take care of their animals at all

Fantastic experience: Took my nephew to see this. From the moment we entered, he was in awe. His phone was taking thousands of pictures! The otters were super cute, playing and swimming on the ice and water.

Fantastic experience: It’s not too big, easy to walk through in an hour or so. Otters were interactive. Make sure to come around feeding time for the sharks to see them in action.

Positive experience: We went as a family with a wheelchair. Very small aquarium but still had a good amount of wildlife. They had elevators inside the aquarium but we had take a long route through their gift shop and the piers elevator to get up into the aquarium. The entrance elevator was there but was not open at the time. There was a tunnel through which you could walk and see the fish swimming around which was pretty cool. Also had the option to take a picture which we opted to not purchase but was available after the visit as well. They had manta rays that were available to be touched as well as sturgeons, which were not there at the time. Jelly fish, some land animals and a couple others. The otter exhibit was a little difficult to look into but they moved around so much that it wasn't a problem seeing them.

Fantastic experience: What a wonderful aquarium! We went in with no expectations and left with the biggest smiles on our faces… we could have stayed forever. The sea animals were absolutely fantastic, the facilities were lovely and the staff were kind and friendly! Best aquarium I’ve been to so far and I’ve been to many!

Fantastic experience: It's a small aquarium with not so many individual enclosures/aquariums. The main attraction is a big tunnel under the water where there are a lot of different fish, including sharks. They also have 2 funny and playful otters just before the exit. The gift shop is pretty small and in my opinion the prices are a little exaggerated(10-12$ for a magnet). The entry ticket was on a discout and was 25$ and for this money I really think it's worth it.

Negative experience: Been to many aquariums in our travels. This one is very small. Not much to do or see. Sadly I was not impressed. If you have a go city or city pass, it's worth checking out, otherwise, not so much.

Negative experience: This was a really sad experience. We have traced and visited many aquariums- this used to be our favorite despite its small size. We just visited in December of 2024, and the entire aquarium has become completely dilapidated. Many features were broken or not working, like the moving walk way in the fish tunnel, a couple elevators, which created numerous congestion points with the crowds scrunching up and no where to go. There didn’t appear to be any stairs available and there were no staff walking around to assist. Finally, our trip was ended because someone pulled a fire alarm and they evacuated the entire aquarium- no refunds were offered or provided.

Fantastic experience: Nice aquarium, but small. Takes about 1.5 hours to see the aquarium.

Negative experience: I was really hoping to have a good experience here but unfortunately we were very disappointed with our visit . For the price of the tickets we expected to see more sea animals but there was only a handful of them and the rest were random petstore animals even a squirrel! I see those daily ! Please don't waste 30 minutes of your life and money walking through this . Monterey aquarium is 1,000 times better then this .

Negative experience: Overall you're better off going to the Golden gate park to go to the aquarium there, this one is really small and the best thing it has are otters

Fantastic experience: Had fun walking around . Looking at all the sharks and cool looking fish . Love the otters and little sting rays .

Fantastic experience: So much fun! I love that they had a treasure hunt. The prize is a shark's tooth!

Positive experience: Small but nice aquarium! The otter exhibit is awesome, and they have multiple of those water tunnel habitats. So you can walk through a regular fish area and then the shark tunnel! There's also a touch tank, which is always a winner. You probably don't need to buy tickets in advance, but I always think that's best so that you don't show up and it's full.

Negative experience: What is there is pretty good and interesting however like other reviews there is very little here and you can be done within the hour. We seriously thought we accidentally missed areas. When compared to Ripleys in Toronto it almost feels unfinished.

Positive experience: I’ve been in a few Aquariums, this was the worst! I’m sure the cost of maintaining an aquarium should be outrageous, but you can’t charge $30 per person and be so small! It can take you as little as 15 min to walk through it and there is now way you can take longer than an hour. It’s neat… that’s all I can say. The experience is simply too short and compared to other Aquariums… it leaves wanting more… a lot more!

Fantastic experience: This is a nice place to visit if you’re ever at Fisherman’s Wharf! Alot of nice fish!

Positive experience: For the price, it is a bit disappointing. There is not much to see, but what you do get to see is interesting. The place is very clean. I wasn't too happy that I had to go on an elevator for the majority of the tour. There are no stairs and I nearly had a panic attack thinking I was stuck in the elevator because the numbers didn't go down and it felt like it wasn't moving.

Fantastic experience: Nice variety of aquatic life viewing experiences. The tunnel is cool and a little unnerving when you first walk in and there's a shark swimming overhead. The couple of river otters they had at the time were a hit. And a fun opportunity to touch rays! Expect lots of little kiddos running around. The layout also pretty much forces you to visit each section of the aquarium in order, so if you want to revisit an exhibit you kinda have to swim upstream.

Fantastic experience: Fell in love with this place. I've been to San Diego and I have to say this sweeps the floor with it. Warning it is small but the long viewing tunnel is extraordinary and you will love it as much as the other guests we were passing by saying how amazing it looked. The glass is maintained clean and clear. The amount of creatures is relatively low but I wouldn't worry about it... they got otters! Paying was a bit confusing because I didn't know whether I had to pay inside or by qr code that was outside. We paid inside. I have to add and big shout out to whoever designed the shirts and sweaters. I have never ever in my life bought merch from aquarium of the Pacific and I love that place but I bought one from here and if I was a girl damn there were some nice looking sweaters. Also the team here is great smiling and radiating happy vibes. Keep up the good work!

Positive experience: The aquarium was much smaller than anticipated. The exhibits were clean. The fish were mesmerizing to watch. The moving walkway was not working during our visit.

Negative experience: Huh. That’s it? Such a small aquarium, especially for the price. The cost is not commensurate with the experience. They have two small floors, and as of October 2024 multiple exhibits and then the gift shop were under renovation. Unless you have very young children who do well with short experiences, I’d skip it.

Positive experience: Very nice and well maintained aquarium. Lots of fish and sharks to see, even though this aquarium is pretty small compared to some. Not sure if it was necessary worth the price, since we did the whole thing in less than an hour, but I’m still glad we visited. The little otters were our favorite!

Positive experience: This was a fun stop as we missed going to the San Diego aquarium. The tunnel was really cool as I’ve looked forward to this for years. Would recommend stopping here. Not very big but how big do you need?

Positive experience: Great aquarium with a good amount of sea life. Some of the aquarium glass is starting to show its age but, coupling the aquarium with the other sites like the indoor rainforest and planetarium, there's hours of fun to be had for a family. It was worth the cost of entry and I enjoyed my visit.

Fantastic experience: The aquarium is beautiful and quite large. At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by seals, so don’t forget to say hello to them! As you walk inside the aquarium, you get captivated by the magic of the giant fish and sea animals, and they are just a few inches away from you. If you ever come to San Francisco, make sure to visit this aquarium.

Fantastic experience: Prime of the Bay of super dope and super cool place to come.Bring your kids bring your family.Hang out from the full day to what you want by tickets here highly recommended.

Positive experience: Great place to visit with the family. It was crowded though but we enjoyed it.

Fantastic experience: Very fun aquarium. Definitely worth the money. The otters are super cute and there are some large fish that made the trip very entertaining.

Positive experience: Aquarium of the bay right next to the commercial area on pier 39. Only 2 levels and relatively small, especially compared to aquariums in other US cities, i.e. Chicago. The staff are nice. Not a wide variety of species or activities. You can touch stingrays and starfish.

Fantastic experience: Great small aquarium. There are lots of things to see and it wasnt super crowded. We were actually able to stop and look at each tank. I loved the jellyfish exhibits and the stingray touch area. Otters were adorable and shark tunnels awesome!

Positive experience: The aquarium wasn’t as large as I expected. The ticket prices are high however I saved by purchasing through Groupon. It was mesmerizing watching the majestic jellyfish swim. There was adequate information about sea life & my granddaughter really enjoyed reading it all.

Negative experience: First experience here to start off a lot of steps, pushing my baby in a stroller. My wife and I carried her up. Looked for the entrance, we walked all around the entire building before finding it. Inside, the lady encouraged us to buy before we arrive or go back down stairs, i wasn't doing that. We paid with a card two adults and a year old free over $70.00. We enter at our own risk. Seen some jellyfish and carried on we waited for an staff or attendant but she was too busy flirting with a guy and his two children should walked on looking at the fish, luckily I'm familiar with Pacific ocean fish and there is pictures with labels as you go on. Overall, it wasn't worth the walk or the $70.00 dollars walk with taking our time was about 20 minutes.

Fantastic experience: Can’t say much . It was a new experience the place was entertaining to walk around and see all the cool fish. Recommend for the younger folk .

Positive experience: It is a little small for being an SF destination. Water tunnel is impressive and fun for the whole family. Part of the "Museums for all" program.

Negative experience: This place is so disappointing and horrible. You pay what like 35$ per ticket? It took us like 30 mins to get through the whole aquarium. There’s only 2 floors that are about the size of a McDonald’s lol. Gift shop doesn’t have anything and is more disappointing than the aquarium itself. The animals all look depressed and have such small enclosures, it should be labeled as animal abuse.

Negative experience: The most boring and sad aquarium we've ever been to, and we've been to a few. The fish looked absolutely depressed and sick. Only highlight were the otters at the end. It was so small and over in about 20mins. Not worth going and spending the money!

Negative experience: I'm so glad I only paid for the museums for all rate. 3 and under are free! I would not pay 35 for an adult to go here. We saw the whole thing in about 30-40 minutes. The elevators are so scary. One of them doesnt even feel like it's going down and u just feel like ur stuck in there, I started freaking out no lie cuz I thought we weren't going to get out cuz it wasnt moving. The other one when going up was jerking on the way up and one guy said the suspension was all bad . The photos you can take are cute, it's 43 after tax for the whole package and it comes with all your digital copies along with 2 8x10 printed ones a 3 smaller ones and a magnet photo frame. It's very hit and humid down under, there are lots of people and very little to no ventilation. If you are paying full price, ur wasting your money in my opinion.

Fantastic experience: The aquarium of the bay houses more than 24,000 marine animals . It was a mesmerising experience for me. The beauty and diversity of the Northern California aquatic life is mind blowing. It’s a home to many aquatic animals like sleek sharks,jellyfish,otters n many more

Fantastic experience: We came on a summer Wednesday morning and it was wonderfully not busy. It's a small place, so I was questioning the price of admission until the incredible tidepool docent spent more than ten minutes answering every question my 8yo had, and asking him a few more, challenging him to think! That alone was worth every penny - thank you so much for giving my son a truly educational and fascinating experience!!

Positive experience: The Aquarium of the Bay is one of the many tourist attractions at the popular pier 39. It consists of two floors. The first floor has a tank of herring, touch pools with rays and anemone, and a pair of sea otters. The highlight is the lower floor. A long underwater tunnel offers great views of native sea creatures, including several types of sharks. Overall, the aquarium is small and can get crowded. The fee for adults of $24 is rather steep. However, the underwater tunnel is quite an experience.

Fantastic experience: This was a really fun aquarium. I highly recommend adding it to your Pier 39 or SF visit. It took about 2 hours to see everything. They had a touch pool where you could touch baby rays (we could've been there all day) and another with sea slugs, star fish, and anemones. Really enjoyed it, and we will be back again.

Fantastic experience: The Aquarium of the Bay, nestled at the edge of San Francisco’s Pier 39, offers an intimate and engaging marine experience. This well-maintained facility showcases the rich aquatic life of the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding waters, making it a perfect destination for families and marine enthusiasts alike. One of the standout features is the mesmerizing walk-through tunnel, providing a unique, immersive perspective of local marine species, including vibrant jellyfish, sleek rays, and graceful sharks. The touch pools are a hit, especially with children, allowing for hands-on interaction with sea stars, anemones, and more. Educational programs and informative exhibits make learning about marine conservation both fun and impactful. The knowledgeable staff and volunteers are eager to share insights about the bay’s ecosystem and the aquarium’s efforts to protect it. Though smaller compared to other aquariums, its focused approach on local marine life offers a personalized and manageable experience, ideal for a few hours’ visit. The aquarium’s location also provides easy access to the bustling Pier 39, where visitors can enjoy dining and shopping. In summary, the Aquarium of the Bay is a charming and educational destination that provides a captivating glimpse into⬤

Positive experience: For me, it was nit so bug aquarium. The cool thing about it is you can touch/pet some baby sting ray and they have a tunnel aquarium where you can view the fishes at the side and on the top. We went on a weekday so its not that crowded.

Fantastic experience: Aquarium is on the smaller side so only need to spend maybe an hour or two maximum but it was well kept, clean and I’d recommend purchasing the City Pass that also includes the admission to the aquarium. They have the walk-in tunnel where you can see many sharks which I found really cool.

Negative experience: Man, I hate doing this, but that’s what reviews are for I suppose. This is an overpriced money pit. I am sorry to say, and I hope someone other than the public funds them, because this is lame. First of all, overpriced for what you get. Start out on one floor and then stop to ‘take a quick picture’ at the elevator. This takes entirely TOO long and we chose not to do it. We politely said, “no thanks”, and the girl/photographer politely smiled and said “I haven’t told you guys to move on.” Clearly irritated. We were confused as we have never stood on this spot in the world. EVER. So we were perplexed and thought we did something wrong. She then moved us on, dripping with politeness. (We could tell she was annoyed.) So we wait in the hot hall/room for elevator. BTW, you have to take it back to exit and it is a LONG wait and still just as HOT. One comes, fills up, then another. We get on and it’s full and did it mention HOT? Took a few minutes to get down. Then the disappointment of the aquariums. Maybe I am used to larger places like this, but it was small. It was very cool and the highlight of the trip was to see the sharks up close. Well all the animal life for that matter. Ultimately though, I kept looking for my favorite animal. It was at the end, just before the gift shop. One swimming otter and one chillin’ otter. They were cute, but not much going on for what we saw. Then ANOTHER set of photographers were in the mix somewhere there too. We took the pics but didn’t look for any to buy at the end. Do yourself a favor, save your $$ for somewhere else. There’s a LOT to do in SF. This one is a disappointment.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely recommended. Here, there are various of sea creatures for kids and adults to explore. There are also two long tunnels that you can see fishes, sharks, and stingrays. Very impressive to bring such an enormous amount of sea creatures in a small area.

Positive experience: Nice self paced aquarium. About an hour tour and then gift shop at the end. Great water tunnel, the variety of sea life was amazing

Positive experience: This was my son's first time visiting SF Aquarium. He really enjoyed the new experience. But for me, SF Aquarium had always felt small and cramped. Especially since I took him to the Tampa Aquarium a few years ago, and that was place was amazing. But I enjoyed the otter exhibit and the fact it's right on Pier 39 makes up for the space.

Fantastic experience: It's a bit smaller than other aquariums on the area but has an underwater tunnel walk through 2 distinct regions, and the tanks are not totally overcrowded. The fish do not appear stressed at all.

Fantastic experience: Another awesome attraction in SF! Kids and family, out of town visitors or by yourself Great experience, lots to see and learn from. It’s a walking tunnel aquarium where the fish swim above your head :) big jelly fish tank so beautiful in there One of our favorite was the touching pool Where you can touch, sting ray, shark, starfish and Anemone