A Day at PIER 39, San Francisco

Things to Do at San Francisco’s Pier 39 + Discounts

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.

SKIP DOWN this page for Pier 39 attraction discounts and coupons.

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. My sister, who lives in the North Bay, used to take her kids on the ferry to San Francisco for day trips, and they always had a blast.

What to do at San Francisco’s Pier 39

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay is by far the most popular attraction at the Pier. If you do nothing else, check out this aquarium, especially if you’re there with kids. It’s small and has fun touch pools and exhibits.

SAVVY TIP: Check out my post on how to get discount tickets to Aquarium of the Bay

SF Sea Lions

The sea lions loll around Pier 39 like they own it. In winter you may see up to 900 sea lions. In summer the sea lions migrate south to the Channel Islands to bread, but we’ve seen small groups of them still around even in June.

SAVVY TIP: For more on the Sea Lions, you can go to The Sea Lion Center, a little Pier 39 museum managed by Aquarium of the Bay.

Pier 39 Shops

Most of the time, when we’re in the area for a day, we just wander around the Pier 39 shops. You’ll find two levels of funky specialty shops featuring SF memorabilia, gifts and collectibles. My fave: the shop just for left-handers. Yup, I’m a southpaw.

Street Performers

Buskers put on some impressive free shows right in the center of things while you’re wandering around. Several shows take place daily, featuring a variety of acts. On any given day you may see jugglers, magicians, comedians, musicians, and more.

San Francisco Bay Tours

If you plan ahead, you can make a day of it by booking a cruise, whale tour, sailing charter or fun RocketBoat ride.

1. San Francisco RocketBoat

From Pier 39, you can take a tour of San Francisco Bay aboard this high-speed boat. (Find RocketBoat discounts.) Your captain will zip you down to the Bay Bridge for all the cool views of the city. The boat zigs and zags to classic rock soundtrack. Runs May through October. Fun for families.

2. San Francisco Whale Tour

From Pier 39, you can hop aboard an eco-friendly catamaran and head out to the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

3. San Francisco Bay Cruise

From Pier 39 you can take the premier San Francisco Bay ferry service, Blue & Gold Fleet, on a choice of cruises that feature the city’s best views.

4. San Francisco Sailing Charters

From Pier 39, you can book a sail on the San Francisco Bay with Adventure Cat Sailing Charters. Choose from sunset sails and relaxing afternoon bay cruises, complete with San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, and Golden Gate Bridge views. Available March through November.

Pier 39 Rides & Games

San Francisco Carousel

This old-school carousel — organ music and all — is hand-painted with famous San Francisco icons like the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, the Pier 39 Sea Lions, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Alcatraz and  more. The carousel is dripping with 1,800 twinkling LED lights.

The Flyer

The Flyer is a flight simulator ride with motion seats, live-action and computer-generated imagery. The visuals feature local landmarks, so you’ll appear to take flight over the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Chinatown, and the Redwood National Forest.

7D Experience

The 7D DarkRide Experience at Pier 39 is a 10-minute ride/game combo that appeals mostly to families.  It’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of game that involves laser blasters and a virtual reality quest.

Mirror Maze

Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze is another way for families to spend some fun time together. Challenge each other to make it through infinite hallways, avoiding endless circles and dead-ends.

Puzzling Adventure

This SF Puzzling Adventure is a two-hour walking adventure game you play starting at Pier 39 using your smartphone. You solve clues and complete challenges around San Francisco — you choose the neighborhood. Part of the fun is enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the tour, with plenty of downtime factored in.

Rent Bicycles at Pier 39 and bike the Golden Gate Bridge

Pier 39’s Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals is the place to rent bikes and ride around the Embarcadero. You can also rent a bicycle to ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and Tiburon for the day, then return on the ferry.

Pier 39 Restaurants

Fresh seafood anyone? Or maybe just ice cream? Pier 39 has 13 full-service restaurants, and many other eateries just for snacking. Last checked, the Pier 39 food options were the following (in alphabetical order):

Aunt Fanny’s Hot Pretzels, Beer 39, Biscoff Coffee Corner, Boudin Bakery Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market, Candy Baron, Chart House, Chocolate Heaven, Chowders, Crab House, Crepe Cafe, Doughp Cookie Dough Bar, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Shop, Eagle Cafe, Fog Harbor Fish House, Funnel, Cakes & Churros, Hana Zen Japanese Grill, Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco, Luau Lounge Tiki Bar, Luigi’s Pizzeria, Mango’s Taqueria & Cantina, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Nathan’s Hot Dog Cart, Pier Market Seafood Restaurant, Players Sports Grill & Arcade, Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant, The Fudgery, The Hook, Trish’s Mini Donuts, Waffle Cone Shop, Wines of California Wine Bar, Wipeout Bar & Grill.

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.

San Francisco Pier 39 Annual Events

Pier 39 is a gathering place during a few of San Francisco’s annual events. These tend to draw crowds, so if you go, plan ahead and take public transportation.

Pier 39 Tulipmania

If you love gardens and flowers, check out Pier 39’s annual Tulipmania, a free and low key event that takes place every February. Tulipmania 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.

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 San Francisco Know Before You Go

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

Pier 39 Tickets

You can get tickets to Pier 39 attractions on site, or check out the discount options mentioned above.

Pier 39 Location

PIER 39, at the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA.

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.

Official Info

Available on the Pier 39 website: www.pier39.com.