Theme Parks in San Francisco

Two of San Francisco’s top attractions live up to California’s reputation as a leader in conservation efforts in the United States. Both the Aquarium by the Bay and the San Francisco Zoo seek to educate visitors about conservation with outreach.

Meet endangered species from all corners of the globe. Hear the stories of orphaned bear cubs finding a new home. Explore the waters of San Francisco Bay without getting wet. Discover hundreds of animal species with tickets to two of the best theme parks in San Francisco.

San Francisco Zoo

Take a trip to the African savanna, Australian outback and South American tropical forest, all within 40 hectares. A day spent at the San Francisco Zoo leads you through thoughtfully crafted habitats that recreate the homelands of its more than 2,000 animals.

Explore the zoo’s six main sections and smaller features in any order you like. Flanking the main entrance are the African Region and the Exploration Zone. Check out kudus, zebras, giraffes and other savanna residents. Wander among endangered bird species in the African aviary and note the Human-like behaviors in the Gorilla Preserve.

The family-friendly Exploration Zone is a hive of learning activities. Interact with the residents of the Family Farm, stroll the nature trail, and thrill at the capers of red pandas, meerkats and prairie dogs. Take in a fascinating presentation at the Education Center, the Animal Resource Center, theater and more.

The zoo’s Lemur Forest is the largest outdoor lemur habitat in the United States. Inspect the way the seven different lemur species share their lush forest environment. Intelligently-placed viewing spaces allow you a variety of vantage points into the lemurs’ world.

The neighboring Great Ape Passage shelters chimpanzees, mandrills, sifaka and orangutans. Spend time at the Primate Discovery Center that nurtures some of the most endangered tamarins, monkeys and langurs in the world.

Venture down under at the Outback Trail. Watch hopping kangaroos and wallabies, long-legged cassowaries and cuddly koalas on your “Australian walkabout”. The nearby South American region gives you a glimpse of life in the tropical rainforest, Andean peaks and arid plains south of the equator.

No visit to a major zoo is complete without time with the big cats. Make your way to Cat Kingdom for lion, leopard and tiger sightings. Rubbing shoulders with Cat Kingdom are rhino, and penguin spaces. At Penguin Island, see an active breeding colony of South American birds next door to rhino, komodo dragon and river otter enclosures.

Head back to North America in Bear Country where you’ll eye brown and black bears, wolves and peccaries. Make sure to see Kiona and Kachina, two brown bears who were orphaned as cubs and found refuge at the zoo.

The San Francisco Zoo’s commitment to animal welfare and ecological conservation is evident at every turn. A wealth of programs for all ages help to spread the message of wildlife protection, from zoo camps for kids to adult volunteer opportunities.

Aquarium by the Bay

Perched right at the waters’ edge, the Aquarium by the Bay encapsulates life in San Francisco Bay. The facility features only species found in the area with exhibits dedicated to shallow water, deep water and land species.

Exhibits allow you to touch the animals, experience underwater perspectives and marvel at land creatures. Highlights are “Discover the Bay”, “Beauties of the Bay”, the “Sharks of Alcatraz Tunnel” and “Touch the Bay”. You can even move past the walls of the aquarium to learn about the sea lions of Pier 39, right outside the doors of the facility.

Start your visit with “Discover the Bay”, a display that introduces you to the unseen wonders of San Francisco Bay. Feel amazement at the floor-to-ceiling tanks of jellies. Glimpse their inner workings as colored lights pass through their bodies. Spy shimmery schools of anchovies as they dance together. See recently-hatched sharks, rays and perch explore their new surroundings.

At “Under the Bay”, witness the varied life found in the bay’s surprisingly shallow waters. The bay’s depth is about three meters, creating an ideal environment for sea stars, green eels, octopi and many colorful fish species. Don’t miss the bright orange garibaldi, California’s official state marine fish.

Move through 90 meters of acrylic tunnels that afford you the immersive feel of swimming among sharks. Observe the deeper-water dwelling soup fin, leopard and seven-gill sharks gliding over your head. Watch as they swim among the rays and sturgeons that live in the waters around Alcatraz Island.

At “Touch the Bay”, let the shallow water tanks invite you into local marine habitats. Feel the skin of rays and leopard sharks as they glide beneath your hands.

This section of the aquarium features an education center dedicated to sparking visitors’ concern for protecting species and their habitats. Here you can get a closer look at land creatures like tortoises, chinchillas, frogs and the aquarium’s four famous river otters.