Discover the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco

Name: Aquarium of the Bay
Address: Beach Street, San Francisco, California, 94133, US
Rating: 4.2

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Discover the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco

Overview

Located near Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf, the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco spans an impressive 4,645 square meters and showcases the fascinating marine life of the San Francisco Bay and its surroundings. This aquarium is dedicated to local research initiatives, including studies on shark populations, efforts to reintroduce native salmon, and promoting sustainable seafood practices. With three major exhibit areas—Discover The Bay, Under the Bay, and Touch the Bay—visitors can engage with marine creatures intimately. Experience the thrill of walking through 91.4-meter clear acrylic tunnels while surrounded by 20,000 swimming animals. The aquarium also offers highlights such as daily feedings, interactive 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, and various family-oriented programs, making it an educational and entertaining destination for all ages.

Reviews

Lukas Novak

Romania

The aquarium is small with limited enclosures. The highlight is a large underwater tunnel featuring various fish, including sharks. There are also two entertaining and friendly otters by the exit. While the gift shop is compact, their prices seem somewhat steep (about $10-12 for a magnet). I got in on a discount, paying $25 for entry, which I think is reasonable for what it offers.

Samuel Persson

Sweden

This aquarium was underwhelming compared to others I've visited. While I understand that maintaining such facilities can be costly, charging $30 per person seems excessive for such a small attraction. You could walk through in about 15 minutes, and it’s hard to spend more than an hour there. It’s clean, but overall, the experience leaves much to be desired.

Sofia Jensen

Denmark

A well-maintained aquarium with plenty of fish and sharks to observe, even if it’s smaller than some others. While I’m uncertain if it's worth the cost since we finished our visit in under an hour, we still enjoyed it. The two little otters were a highlight for us! 🦦

Emma Thompson

United Kingdom

Our recent visit was disappointing. We have visited many aquariums, and this was once our favorite despite its small size. In December 2024, the facility had deteriorated significantly. Many attractions were non-functional, including the moving walkway in the fish tunnel and some elevators, leading to overcrowding. There were no visible staff to assist. Our visit concluded abruptly after a fire alarm was triggered, causing an evacuation with no refunds offered.

Michael Anderson

United States

This aquarium showcases a good variety of marine life. Some of the aquarium glass is showing its age, but when combined with nearby attractions like the indoor rainforest and planetarium, it provides hours of family fun. The entrance fee was worth it, and I had an enjoyable visit.