Best Museums in San Francisco for Kids & Families

7 family-friendly museums with age ratings and parent tips.

Highest rated: Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences, Bay Area Discovery Museum, CuriOdyssey. 3 listings are indoor. Every listing includes age fit, stroller notes, cost signals, and parent tips.

By Kit, KidPaths editor

Covers 71 cities. Reads a lot of parent reviews.

Top Picks

Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences

4.8 stars

The Osher Rainforest is a four-story glass dome inside the California Academy of Sciences where free-flying tropical birds, butterflies, and reptiles

Best for ages 3 and upIndoorIncluded with Cal Academy admission: approx $130-160 for a family of 4

Bay Area Discovery Museum

4.7 stars

Bay Area Discovery Museum sits right at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito with views that make parents stop in their tracks — but kids d

Best for ages 1-10Indoor & Outdoor$90-120 for a family of 4 (approx $15-20 per person, infants free)

CuriOdyssey

4.6 stars

CuriOdyssey has live native wildlife that kids can observe up close — mountain lions, river otters, red-tailed hawks, and other California native anim

Best for ages 2-10Indoor & Outdoor$70-90 for a family of 4 (approx $15-20 per person, children under 1 free)

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

4.6 stars

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose is one of the largest and best-equipped children's museums in the Bay Area — the 52,000-square-foot facility h

Best for ages 1-10Indoor & Outdoor$70-90 for a family of 4 (approx $15-18 per person, members free)

Explorit Science Center

4.5 stars

Explorit Science Center in Davis punches above its size — this small, community science center has hands-on exhibits that let kids genuinely explore s

Best for ages 2-10Indoor & Outdoor$30-50 for a family of 4 — significantly more affordable than Bay Area science museums

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