Aquarium of the Bay is San Francisco Bay’s Aquarium. We are passionate about providing fun and unforgettable encounters with our natural world in ways that ignite both wonder and conservation. We do this from our 50,000 square foot building at the heart of San Francisco's history and culture. We are nestled in the shadow of Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill on Fisherman’s Wharf at PIER 39, along the City’s “Walkable Waterfront.”

Aquarium of the Bay is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco.

We focus on water, beginning at the heart—the very depths—of San Francisco Bay. Our facility boasts 300 feet of crystal clear acrylic tunnels holding 700,000 gallons of carefully maintained bay water that sustains approximately 30,000 animals, from octopuses to eight-foot native, sevengill sharks. Visitors are also treated to mesmerizing walls of jellies and a chance to touch bat rays, skates and “splash zone" animals.

In our fifteen year history, over seven million guests, including more than 100,000 school children, have visited the Aquarium.

Our research efforts are grounded in peer-reviewed science and focus on monitoring and improving life for all San Francisco Bay species. We work both alone and in partnership on research including shark monitoring and captive breeding programs. Our goal is to understand how best to ensure that native animals can thrive in the busy, much used waters of San Francisco Bay, its estuary, marshes and tributaries.

Explore the magic, beauty and wonder of San Francisco Bay at Aquarium of the Bay. Your visit will take you through three main exhibit areas that display the amazing riches that lie beneath the surface of the San Francisco Bay and surrounding waters.

Your Aquarium of the Bay exploration begins in Discover the Bay, featuring the distinctive ecosystems that support an incredibly wide variety of marine life.

Stroll through 300 feet of crystal clear tunnels featuring over 20,000 marine animals from San Francisco Bay and nearby waters.

The magic of San Francisco Bay is literally at your finger tips in Touch the Bay, featuring touchpools with sharks, rays and sea stars, and the interactive Bay Lab station.

Working to protect, restore and inspire the conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed – from the Sierra to the sea.