Experts' Choice Award

California Academy of Sciences

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Top 1% of attractions in San Francisco

9/10

14 expert reviews

“The California Academy of Sciences is an unfortunately stuffy name for an institution that is anything but staid.”

– Afar Magazine

Fodor's

"The Cal Academy is one of the city's most spectacular treasures." Full review

Concierge

"The California Academy of Sciences is as renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them."

Be sure to pick up tickets for the hourly shows at the state-of-the-art Morrison Planetarium, the world's largest all-digital planetarium; sit up high for the best perspective on the 75-foot-diameter dome.

Lonely Planet

Top choice

"Architect Renzo Piano's 2008 landmark LEED-certified green building houses 38,000 weird and wonderful animals in a four-story rainforest and split-level aquarium." Full review

Travel + Leisure

"The Museum, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, extends green, sustainable architecture in unprecedented ways." Full review

Condé Nast Traveler

"Renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them." Full review

Even on a foggy day, when mist twirls in the treetops, the park views from atop the roof are stupendous.

Where

"The academy is an international center for scientific education and research and the only museum in the world to house an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum under one (living) roof." Full review

Atlas Obscura