Things to do in San Francisco with kids
7 attractions in San Francisco • Updated May 2026
The best things to do in San Francisco with kids, all in one place. San Francisco is home to California Academy of Sciences and a stack of science museums for families, plus easy day trips across California. Below are 7 family things to do in San Francisco with addresses, ticket info and age suitability. Use the search to find a specific name or filter by category.
Published May 2026. Editorial oversight by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
Working out when you can actually go? Our California school holiday calendar lists first day, last day and every break for the state's biggest districts.
Planning a family day out in San Francisco
San Francisco has 7 family attractions we would happily take our own kids to. Alcatraz Island (Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing) is the one most families start with. Board a ferry across the bay to walk the cell blocks of America's most infamous federal prison, perched on a windswept island. California Academy of Sciences is the other name that comes up again and again. Journey from deep sea to deep space under one living roof, with an aquarium, planetarium, and four-story rainforest. Children's Creativity Museum rounds out the pick of the bunch. Two floors of multimedia art, design, and innovation activities build creative confidence in San Francisco. Also worth your time: Exploratorium, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens and The Walt Disney Family Museum.
Published prices run from $20 at Children's Creativity Museum up to $47.95 at Alcatraz Island (Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing). 3 of the 7 listed here quote a starting price. The others vary by season or by what you add on, so check before you travel.
Beyond family attractions, families in San Francisco also head for science museums (2), children's museums (1), historic sites & landmarks (1) and history museums (1). If you are ranging wider, everything we cover in California is one click away.
7 attractions in San Francisco
Search and filter by category to find your next family day out.
7 of 7 attractions
Historic Sites
Alcatraz Island (Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing)
San Francisco, California
Board a ferry across the bay to walk the cell blocks of America's most infamous federal prison, perched on a windswept island.
Science Museums
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, California
Journey from deep sea to deep space under one living roof, with an aquarium, planetarium, and four-story rainforest.
Childrens Museums
Children's Creativity Museum
San Francisco, California
Two floors of multimedia art, design, and innovation activities build creative confidence in San Francisco.
Science Museums
Exploratorium
San Francisco, California
Touch, tinker, and experiment at San Francisco's hands-on laboratory of science, art, and human perception.
Parks Gardens
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Roam one of America's most-visited urban parks, packed with gardens, lakes, and museums.
Zoos Wildlife
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco, California
A conservation-focused San Francisco zoo set among lush gardens by the Pacific coast.
History Museums
The Walt Disney Family Museum
San Francisco, California
Trace the life of Walt Disney himself, from humble beginnings to Disneyland.