https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/san-francisco/best-family-friendly-attractions/10070000249130
Family-Friendly Attractions
Top 10 Family-Friendly Attractions in San Francisco [2025]
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California Academy of Sciences
4.7
/5
918 reviews
7.8
From AED 91.82
Based on 6,079 reviews
Sunset District | 4.1 km from downtown
Phone +14153798000
Address: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Best Things to Do
Saved by 263 users801 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The California Academy of Sciences is not only a research institution, but also a natural history museum, which houses 46 million specimens and is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. The California Academy of Sciences was founded in 1853 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
if you love science this is a place to go it was so amazing you can learn a lot of stuff there my kids love it and so do I I'm great customer service
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Exploratorium
4.7
/5
160 reviews
5.6
From AED 146.67
Based on 3,609 reviews
Embarcadero (North Waterfront) | 3.5 km from downtown
Phone +14155284444
Address: Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.19 of Best Things to Do in San Francisco
137 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Exploratorium exceeded our expectations. Almost all parts were interactive! We loved seeing each exhibit and we had fun trying out all the activities. We could've easily spent the 6 hours or more inside. Visiting on a weekday afternoon was a good choice. It wasn't crowded and we didn't have to wait. We also enjoyed the cafe.We spent 4 hours visiting this museum. It was a really good experience.
The Discovery Museum is a museum that combines knowledge and fun. You can learn a lot of scientific knowledge in the museum. It is a museum with popular science functions, and the experience is also quite good.
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The Walt Disney Family Museum
4.6
/5
62 reviews
5.2
From AED 91.80
Based on 2,860 reviews
Richmond District | 4.5 km from downtown
Phone +14153456800
Address: 104 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94129, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No.20 of Best Things to Do in San Francisco
Highlights:
Exhibits for the whole family
348 frames of Mickey's early animation
74% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The best museum I have ever been to, so much detail, history and facts, so much fun to do, so much to see, read and hear. Please don't rush because you can spend a whole day here and not see it all. This is the best museum I have ever been to, very well done. If I am ever in the San Francisco area again, I will come back.
As a Disney fan I was excited to visit this museum. It's located in San Francisco and is beautiful. The museum itself seemed disappointing. There were some artifacts but I just expected more. I paid extra for this particular exhibit and it didn't seem worth it.
No.
4
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Aquarium of the Bay
4.1
/5
76 reviews
4.2
From AED 112.76
Based on 1,714 reviews
Fisherman's Wharf | 3.9 km from downtown
Phone +14156235300
Address: PIER 39 The Embarcadero &, Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Featured in Best Things to Do
Highlights:
Close encounters with large marine life
Touch rays & leopard sharks
46% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
I love aquariums because you can see everything and it doesn't take all day and you still have time to see other exhibits. We loved the tunnels with fish swimming above us and we got to see sharks up close next to the wall. We really enjoyed the colorful jellyfish tanks. There were really a lot of fish in a smaller area. You can also feed the manta rays and fish as they swim by. It was really nice to check out this place.
The aquarium tunnels are really cool and there are many different kinds of animals. The otters are very cute. It's fascinating to pet the manta rays and watch them play happily. Not bad
No.
5
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San Francisco Zoo
4.3
/5
112 reviews
4.0
Based on 956 reviews
8.7 km from downtown
Phone +14157537080
Address: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Featured in Best Things to Do
Highlights:
Koalas & penguins & otters exhibit
Kid-friendly zoo interactive experience
59% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Stunning place, all the animals were content and looked in good shape. The walking area around the zoo was open and easy to walk around with great views of the animals and their surroundings. The area was clean and tidy and the shop had lots of good stuff to buy. The restrooms and baby amenities were good.
According to many other reviews, the zoo is currently undergoing a major construction project with multiple areas/parks closed. The zoo did not clearly state this nor did it post it anywhere and I would not have gone if I had known this was the case. The enclosures for the big cats are very small compared to other zoos in California. Advice - Use the free street parking on the main road/roadside outside the zoo to save on the $12 parking fee. - If you do decide to go, leave two hours in the late afternoon to wait for the animals
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