traveltowith

Find the Best Activities & Hotels for Families, Couples, and Solo Travelers

About UsContactTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy
© 2025 Traveltowith. All rights reserved.
t
Search...
United States/Things to Do in San Francisco, with baby

Aquarium of the Bay (with baby)

with kidswith babycouple tripsolo trip

How Baby-Friendly is Aquarium of the Bay?

71%Baby-Friendly
View Map

What makes it 71% Baby-Friendly: Infants enter free and strollers fit aisles, but the aquarium lists no dedicated nursing rooms or diaper tables and dark, noisy galleries may unsettle some babies, so suitability is moderate.

Google
Reviews4.1/ 5
(from 6,013 reviews)
The Ultimate Aquarium of the Bay Tour: Not Worth The Cost!
26 min
Start from:
0:00
The Ultimate Aquarium of the Bay Tour: Not Worth The Cost!
3.9K views • 1 year ago
Visit at the Aquarium of The Bay, San Francisco- CA, 2023
7 min
Start from:
0:00
Visit at the Aquarium of The Bay, San Francisco- CA, 2023
1.7K views • 2 years ago

Positives:

  • Free baby admission: Children 3 and under enter free with each adult ticket.
  • Stroller-friendly paths: Wide aisles allow standard strollers; bring your own as rentals are not available.
  • Interactive exhibits: Short demos and touch pools engage all ages, including curious little ones.

Challenges:

  • No nursing room: No dedicated nursing room; breastfeeding or pumping may require restroom or bench seating.
  • Slippery floors: Wet areas near touch pools can be slippery; hold your baby securely.
  • Touch pools safety: Pools are shallow but open; watch your baby closely and skip if uneasy.
Aquarium of the Bay image 1
Aquarium of the Bay image 2
Aquarium of the Bay image 3
Aquarium of the Bay image 4
Aquarium of the Bay image 5
🏖️ Explore Aquarium of the Bay with a local guide: GetYourGuide's 10 BEST Activities and Tours around Aquarium of the Bay. Local guides know the hidden gems you'd otherwise miss, read what other travelers experienced, and book easily.

What is Aquarium of the Bay?

  • An aquarium devoted to the marine environments of the San Francisco Bay, located on Pier 39 and the Embarcadero
  • Home to over 20,000 aquatic animals, including local species such as sharks, bat rays, jellyfish and river otters, displayed in underwater tunnels and dedicated galleries
  • A science and conservation facility featuring live exhibits, touch tanks and research presentations focused on regional aquatic biodiversity

What is so special about Aquarium of the Bay for with baby?

  1. Free entry for children under 3.
  2. Wide, stroller-friendly tunnels with overhead marine life.
  3. Engaging touch pools and otter shows for all ages.
  4. Indoor setting perfect for unpredictable weather.
  5. Short demos suit a baby's attention span.

Recommended visit duration: 2-3 hours

Why 2-3 hours visit duration is ideal for with baby: This timeframe lets you enjoy main exhibits and short demos at a baby-friendly pace.

(View Aquarium of the Bay on Map)

Baby-Friendly Activities in Aquarium of the Bay

Under the Bay tunnels:

Walk through clear tunnels with sharks and bat rays swimming overhead.

Tip: Bring a front baby carrier for hands-free comfort in crowds.

Touch the Bay pools:

Rest your baby at the edge while you gently touch sea stars and leopard sharks.

Tip: Stand back with baby; surfaces can be slippery near pools.

River otter presentations:

Watch keepers feed and play with North American river otters.

Tip: Arrive early for a front-row spot and let baby see action clearly.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Aquarium of the Bay

  1. Pre-book tickets: Buy tickets online to skip box office lines and enter quickly with a baby.
  2. Use a baby carrier: Front carriers work better than strollers in narrow tunnel sections.
  3. Check show schedule: View feeding and demo times at the entrance to plan around your baby's nap.
🏖️ Tour Aquarium of the Bay like a local: GetYourGuide's Top 10 Activities and Tours in Aquarium of the Bay. Local experts uncover hidden treasures you'd never find alone, browse authentic traveler reviews, and book your perfect adventure hassle-free.

Reviews of Aquarium of the Bay

Powered by Google
Sam Smith

Sam Smith

Sep 2025

We went when they open on a weekday and had the entire place to ourselves. We loved the fish and shark tunnels, especially seeing the stingrays. The otters and jellyfish were lovely too. The only criticism I have is take several pictures in the beginning versus one, as the option we had wasn’t a great photo of either of us, so we weren’t interested in purchasing any of the nice options available a...

Douglas Aberdeen

Douglas Aberdeen

Aug 2025

Small bit nice aquarium with two large tanks you take tunnels through. Nice jellyfish and otter section as well. A couple of hands on pools. At less than half the price of the Monterey aquarium I can see aquarium of the bay becoming more popular.

Sai Datta Mikkilineni

Sai Datta Mikkilineni

Jul 2025

To be honest, this place is more suited for kids. The aquarium is quite small — it took us about 30 minutes to go through the entire exhibit, even with kids. Unless you’re already nearby and have children with you, I wouldn’t go out of the way to visit. This was my first time visiting any aquarium, so this was pretty underwhelming. The main highlight here is definitely the walk-in tunnel — as exp...

Tim W.

Tim W.

May 2025

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....

Sandeep Baskaran

Sandeep Baskaran

May 2025

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.

When is the best time to visit Aquarium of the Bay (San Francisco, United States)?

Weekends in summer draw crowds; visit on weekday mornings or rainy days for shorter lines.

✈️ Ready to go? Check the latest flight deals to San Francisco on Trip.com

Explore These Activities

Typical Budget for a Family of 3 (2 Adults + 1 Baby)

ItemCost (Approx.)
Adult tickets (2 × $30.70)USD 61.4
Baby entry (under 3)USD 0
Total EstimatedUSD 61.4

Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Content Notice: This content combines editorial expertise with AI assistance to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date information. Our team regularly curates and reviews all content for accuracy and relevance. Help Us Improve

Map of Aquarium of the Bay

Address: PIER 39 The Embarcadero &, Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA

Map will load when you scroll here

Scroll down to view the interactive map

Looking for other Things to Do besides Aquarium of the Bay (San Francisco)?

← See other Things to Do in San Francisco (with baby)

About Aquarium of the Bay

Opening Hours

Monday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Hours may vary during holidays, special events, and peak seasons. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.

Website

Official Website

Phone Number

+1 415-623-5300

Average price

US$ 27.98
Book on GetYourGuide

Explore Popular Things to Do

🇺🇸 United States, with baby

Things to Do in Hawaii, with baby
Hawaii
Things to Do in New York, with baby
New York
Los AngelesSan FranciscoLas VegasSeattleAustinNiagara Falls

🇨🇦 Canada, with baby

Things to Do in Vancouver, with baby
Vancouver
Things to Do in Toronto, with baby
Toronto
Things to Do in Montreal, with baby
Montreal
VictoriaCalgaryQuebec CityOttawaNiagara Falls

🇮🇪 Ireland, with baby

Things to Do in Dublin, with baby
Dublin
Things to Do in Cork, with baby
Cork
Things to Do in Galway, with baby
Galway

🇬🇧 United Kingdom, with baby

Things to Do in London, with baby
London
Things to Do in Edinburgh, with baby
Edinburgh
Things to Do in Manchester, with baby
Manchester

🇮🇹 Italy, with baby

Things to Do in Rome, with baby
Rome
Things to Do in Florence, with baby
Florence
Things to Do in Milan, with baby
Milan

🇫🇷 France, with baby

Things to Do in Paris, with baby
Paris
Things to Do in Nice, with baby
Nice
Things to Do in Lyon, with baby
Lyon

How You Can Support Us

If our website helps you, please support us by booking your travel needs through this link: Book Flights, Hotels, Activities on Trip.com - New App User Promo up to 10% OFF. We may earn a small affiliate commission - at no extra cost to you!

It's a simple way to help us keep the site running and improving for everyone. Thanks for your support!

Average price

US$ 27.98
Book on GetYourGuide
traveltowith
HomeDestinationsAbout
San Francisco, United States

searching for