This post covers discounts, free days, tickets, exhibits, and activities of the California Academy of sciences. There are several different ways to save money on admission to the California Academy of Sciences but we have picked the best ways to save.

Check the discounts section below to find out about the discounts available for admission to the California Academy of Sciences.

Let’s begin

TICKETS

There are a few different ticket options for entry in to the California Academy of Sciences these include General admission, Memberships, Nightlife tickets and more. Below we have listed some of the best options to choose from. NOTE: Ticket prices vary by date, entry time, and Age group.

General admission

Price: $49.00/ Adults(19+)|$45.00/Youth(13-18)/$39.00/Child (3-12)
Kids 2 and under get in for free
Mon- Sat Hours:9:30 a.m -5 p.m
Sunday Hours:11 a.m-5 p.m
Availability: Daily

⚡ Why Pick This?

• Gain entry to all shows and exhibits
• Explore hands on exhibits
• Meet nearly 60,000 animal’s residents. i.e. playful penguins
• Discover the magic of the natural world
• Skip the ticket line                                                                                                                                

Purchase tickets here

The tickets include access to everything at the Academy, In addition to that, all guests including members must reserve timed-entry tickets online in Advance as walk-up sales are not available. However, if you plan to be a frequent visitor to the Cal Academy then you should consider going for the membership option. This will not only save you a lot but also be convenient for you.

Nightlife Tickets

$23- $25 per person
Hours: 6pm-10pm
Availability:  Every Thursday
Must be 21 or older

⚡ Why Pick This?

• Entrance to the California Academy of Sciences Nightlife event
• Entrance to current exhibits including Morrison planetarium
• Groove to San Francisco’s best Dj’s and performances  
• Enjoy cocktails + Music 

Purchase tickets here

VIP Nightlife Tickets: (Nightlife Plus)

$75 per person
Hours: 6pm-10pm
Availability:  Every Thursday
Must be 21 or older

⚡ Why Pick This?

• Enjoy upgraded admission with discounts
• Includes  reserved  Planetarium seats
• 2 complimentary cocktails
• Includes  get behind the scenes tour

Purchase tickets here

If you are a night person, then this is the best time to visit the California Academy of Sciences. The entire museum is beautifully lit with different colorful lights, which give an incredible feeling to the visiting individuals and families. As a visiting guest, enjoy reserved planetorium seats and light bites before setting go on behind the scene tour.

DISCOUNTS AND FREE DAYS

Under this section, we will cover each of the best discounts offers available for tickets to the California Academy of Sciences this includes Attraction passes, free days, and reduced admission offers.

Tourist Attraction Discount Passes

San Francisco Go City All Inclusive Pass

With the Go San Francisco Pass you pay, nothing at the gate includes admission to the California academy of Sciences and a dozen of other top attractions.
Besides that, this pass would grant you additional discounts on dining or shopping just check for the available offers.

San Francisco Go City Explorer Pass

The Explorer Pass allows you to choose the number of attractions you’re interested in visiting You can either pick 3,4 or 5 from over 27 attractions including the California Academy of Sciences. The pass is a good choice for someone interested in exploring a select few attractions.

Also, this pass includes exclusive offers and discounts on selected restaurants, gift shops, and many more .just check on the official website for current offers.

You can read the full review of the San Francisco Explorer Pass here.

San Francisco CityPASS

The City Pass is a booklet based pass that allows you to visit four top San Francisco attractions for one flat fee. The pass includes admission to the California Academy of Sciences. You will get a 3-day muni pass with unlimited rides on the cable cars this will make access to attractions easy and save you a lot on transport within the San Francisco Area.

You can read the full review of the San Francisco CityPASS here.

FREE AND REDUCED ADMISSION

Military Discount

The California Academy of Sciences offers $ 3 off daytime general admission for active-duty military personnel only. This offer does not apply to family, friends, or dependents. When you go present a valid Military ID or proof of service (VA card or DD-214)

Public transportation Discount

Get $3 off Admission when you bike, walk or take public transportation. Show your bicycle or your public transportation ticket to get a discount.

Discover &Go

This is eligible for cardholder’s aged between 14 and older you can check out participating libraries from San Francisco learn more via Discover &GO

Free Days

The California Academy of Sciences offers Neighborhood free Days for San Francisco residents. To be eligible for this offer you’ll need to show proof of residency.

Combo Packages

There is currently one combo package that includes admission to the California Academy of Sciences. This combo tour features a 1-day hop-on, hop-off bus tour, entry tickets to the California Academy of Sciences, a guided walking tour of Chinatown, and more.

SF: CA Academy of Sciences & Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Price: $110 Adult (Age 13-19) / $90 child (Age 3-12)
Kids 2 and under don’t require a ticket
Save up to 15%

⚡ Why Pick This?

• California Academy of Sciences Admission
• Explore the city with an unlimited hop-on, hop-off bus tour
• Photo stops at Fisherman’s Wharf & Golden Gate Bridge
• Enjoy the stunning views of the Embarcadero, Union Square, and Ghirardelli Square
• Enjoy a guided walking tour of Chinatown

Purchase tickets here

Lastly, this package tour provides you with the opportunity to explore the city’s most iconic landmarks and attractions on a hop-on, hop-off bus, accompanied by professional digital commentary along the way. You’ll learn about the different cultures, architecture, and the history of early Spanish settlers, among other things.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

It is not every day that you get to explore and enjoy the natural habitat together with your family in this world of science. Luckily, for you, there is just but one place in San Francisco that has a natural historical museum, together with an aquarium, and a planetarium all with beautiful serenity to explore and experience.

EXHIBITS & ACTIVITES

In this section, we will detail some of the best exhibits and activities to enjoy at the California Academy of Sciences. About that, we have listed some of the current exhibits that occur daily, and below are the iconic exhibits that are not to miss while at the academy:

• Dino Days (come face to face with prehistoric giants)
• Penguin feeding(watch the penguins’ daily feeding and informative presentation)
• Color of life ( reveals the significant role that color plays across species)
• Shake house ( Step in and hang on Earthquake simulator)
• Unseen oceans(introduces you to the unusual creatures in the deep sea)
• California state of nature (reveals the connections between people, places, and species)
• Philippine Coral Reef Exhibits (watch reef fish and giant rays sail)
• Venom, fangs, and stingers ( encounter a potent array of venomous species)
• Twilight zone (deep reefs revealed)
• Water Planet (Learn about how animals have evolved)
• The swamp ( watch colorful freshwater fish circles and an Albino American alligator)

Morrison Planetarium

Morrison Planetarium is a 100 percent recycled steel, perfectly built dome with a 75-foot projection screen, to display the best pictures of our planet, galaxy, and the universe as a whole. The shows are supported by scientific data, with visualizations from the recent findings, theories, and discoveries of the Universe. Insider tip: Book your time for the show as soon as you arrive, stop by the Planetarium kiosk, and reserve your spot. Note that it’s come first served.

Kimball Natural History Museum

The academy had a mission to sustain life, explain it, and explore life itself. There are exhibits that explain the process and the patterns of evolution. The museum also shows how one can protect the natural diversity; this is an important vision of the academy to educate the next generation yet to come. To achieve the above, the museum has live experiment sections, these being: the Project Lab and the Science in Action. One of the most interesting exhibits in this museum is the shake house; here, you’ll explore what’s under the Earth’s surface in the walk-through replica that illustrates the forces that lead to earthquakes.

Osher Rainforest

The three levels of rain-forest are found displayed inside a 90-foot-high dome structure. It includes a floor for the Bornean forest, an intermediate floor for the Madagascan forest, and a canopy turned into the Costa Rican forest. The view from the canopy creates a beautiful picture of the forest. This rain forest is home to more than 1600 live animals, including 250 free-flying birds, butterflies, and close to 100 exotic reptiles, making it more lively and thrilling for you to enjoy the whole forest experience

Steinhart Aquarium

Renowned for its Biological diversity and one of the best interactive aquariums in the world. Steinhart Aquarium is home to nearly 60,000 live animals and more than 1,000 unique species; with excellent glass, you’ll be able to view terrestrial habitats, colorful fish, mangroves, sharks, and more. While there, head over to the lower level at 11:30 am or 2:30 pm to catch the daily dive shows.

Living Roof

This unique living roof consists of California native grasses, shrubs, and native plants such as California Fuchsia, beach strawberry, and more. All these act as food and habitats for the local wildlife, including birds, insects, butterflies, and other animals. Lastly, this living roof plays a vital role in keeping the Academy green through reducing energy needs, capturing 100% of excess storm water, and transforming carbon dioxide into oxygen.