A Day at PIER 39, San Francisco

Savvy Way to do San Francisco’s Pier 39

Pier 39 in San Francisco is one of those places people say are for tourists only. They lie a little. Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but the locals do go there from time to time. My sister, who lives in Napa, used to take her kids on the ferry to San Francisco for day trips, and they always had a blast.

There’s always something going on at San Francisco’s Pier 39, from shopping and looking at the sea lions (a must do) to tours and attractions. If you go, you’ll want to check out the Pier 39 attraction discounts and coupons.

Things to do at Pier 39 in San Francisco

Aquarium of the Bay is the most popular attraction at the Pier. And most people enjoy the shops and the San Francisco Carousel. Throughout the year, holiday events draw the locals, especially for the SF 4th of July Fireworks, the Christmas Tree Lighting. (Keep reading for more about Pier 39 annual events.)

Buskers are known to put on some impressive free shows right in the center of things while you’re wandering around. If you plan ahead, you can make a day of it by booking a cruise, whale tour, sailing charter or fun RocketBoat ride. You can rent bikes and ride around the Embarcadero, play at Players Sports Grill & Arcade, or take the kids for the Turbo Ride 4D Experience.

6 Savvy ways to Save at Pier 39, San Francisco

Pier 39 is free to enjoy just walking around and shopping. If you want to spend the day exploring Pier 39 shops and attractions, theses offers might help you save a bit.

1. PIER 39 Attraction Pass {$31 Off} — The Pier 39 Attraction Pass for one low price. This savvy partner source charges around $2 in fees. If they run out or change the offer, another source offers it here: {$11 Off, no fees}. You can also find discount tickets for Aquarium of the Bay separately.
2. Go San Francisco Card {build your own} — The new “build your own” option is my favorite choice now, and also includes the Aquarium. You can select as few as two great Bay Area activities and save a minimum of 20%, plus you have 30 days from first use to see both/all, and a smart phone option. This standard Go SF discount card provides free admission to 55+ Bay Area attractions including Pier 39 discounts and coupons, with a month to use it all up. If you’re planning to play San Francisco tourist for more than a few days, this one is a great choice.
3. AAA Discount — Show your AAA card at the California Welcome Center, located on Level 2 by Fog Harbor Fish House at PIER 39, and get a discount at participating restaurants, a FREE PIER 39 Fun Pack and other special offers.
4. Amtrak Discount — Show your Amtrak ticket at the California Welcome Center, located on Level 2 by Fog Harbor Fish House at PIER 39, and get a FREE PIER 39 Fun Pack.
5. Locals Coupons — If you live in one of the SF Bay Area counties, you can join PIER 39’s free Local Advantage program and get coupons so your kids can eat and play free. Counties include: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo or Yuba.
6. Military Discount — Show your military ID at the California Welcome Center (Level 2 by Fog Harbor Fish House) for a free PIER 39 Fun Pack full of discounts to Pier 39 shops, restaurants and attractions, plus two hours of free parking in the PIER 39 Parking Garage.

Pier 39 Christmas Tree Lighting

Locals and tourists alike show up for San Francisco’s PIER 39 Tree Lighting Celebration in November as it magically lights up the holiday season in the City. The event is free and a fun tradition to enjoy with friends and family. The fun usually starts at 6pm each night.

Pier 39 Tulipmania

My favorite event at Pier 39? Tulipmania, a free and low key event every February that features lush displays of tulips on both levels of San Francisco’s PIER 39. The festival’s 39,000 tulip bulbs come primarily from Holland and a few from Washington state.

Most people take the free self-tour, but you can also join one of the free guided Tulipmania tours led by a member of PIER 39’s landscaping team. The guided tours begin daily at 10am at the Crab Statue in PIER 39’s Entrance Plaza and conclude with complimentary refreshments at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant.

San Francisco 4th of July Fireworks from Pier 39

If you’re looking for something fun to do in San Francisco on Independence Day, here’s what you need to know about the biggest city celebration. Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf is the place to see the fireworks for free if you love crowds, plenty of live entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks display.

Fireworks usually launch from the foot of MUNI Pier and barges just north of PIER 39, San Francisco, CA. Find a viewing spot along the waterfront at Aquatic Park, or try a different view from Coit Tower, Ghirardelli Square, or the Cannery. SAVVY TIP: Public transportation is highly recommended. The Municipal Pier, located at the foot of Van Ness Avenue, will be closed to the public on the Fourth of July.

Know Before You Go

Here are a few savvy tips for getting to Pier 39, plus you can use the interactive map below.

• Discount Passes: Choice of Go San Francisco Card and Pier 39 Pass.
• Official Website: www.pier39.com.
• Address: PIER 39, at the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA.
• Getting There: Here’s what you need to know …
  • Driving Directions — Put 2 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 in your GPS.
  • Public Transportation — Take MUNI’s historic F-Line street car or the 8X, 8BX, 39 or 47 bus. San Francisco’s cable cars also drop off just a few short blocks from The PIER.
  • Parking Garage — The PIER 39 Garage is located directly across the street from the Entrance Plaza, is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, $9 per hour.
  • Savvy Tip — If you dine in one of the full-service PIER 39 restaurants, you can get one hour of free parking before 6pm or two hours of free parking after 6pm. Street parking may also be available.