San Francisco · With kids

San Francisco with kids: things to do

By Ramya ChinnaduraiPublished 19 October 2026Updated 19 October 2026

San Francisco rewards families who plan around its cool, mild weather rather than sun: highs only reach about 23 to 24 C even in late summer. Muni buses, Metro and streetcars are free for everyone 18 and under, and cable cars carry children 4 and under free. Between Golden Gate Park's historic playground and carousel, a zoo, an aquarium and a science museum, a week of days out is easy to fill.

This page for San Francisco uses only the operator, transit and climate pages linked below, opened on 18 October 2026. Where a ticket page did not state a kids' price, none is printed here.

Sights and what children pay

[Exploratorium](https://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/faq). Hands-on science museum. Children ages 3 and under are admitted free without a ticket; ages 4 and up need a youth ticket. Age band: Youth ages 4-17.

[California Academy of Sciences](https://www.calacademy.org/tickets). Combines an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum. Child price rises to $45 at peak times (spring break, summer, holiday weekends and the Nov-Dec holiday periods). Age band: Child ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free. Listed kids' price: $39.

[San Francisco Zoo](https://www.sfzoo.org/tickets/). Weekday child price $22, weekends and holidays $24 (SF residents $19 and $21). Age band: Child ages 2-11; under 2 free. Listed kids' price: $22.

[Aquarium of the Bay](https://www.aquariumofthebay.org/visit/tickets). Waterfront aquarium. Online price is $22.00 including a 6% web service fee, and peak pricing applies on some days. Age band: Child ages 4-12. Listed kids' price: $20.25.

[Koret Children's Quarter and Carousel (Golden Gate Park)](https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Koret-Childrens-Quarter-and-Carousel-414). Playground thought to be the nation's first public playground, reopened in 2007 with a wave-shaped climbing wall and rope structure. The 1914 Herschell-Spillman carousel has 62 animals. Carousel ride costs $1 for ages 6-12, with children 5 and under free with a paying adult. Age band: Carousel: ages 6-12 pay; 5 and under free with paying adult. Listed kids' price: $1.

[Cable cars](https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares). A single cable car ride costs $9.00 for adults. Children 4 and under ride free. Age band: 4 and under ride free. Listed kids' price: free ($0).

Getting around with children

Child fares. Muni (buses, Metro, historic streetcars): youth 18 and under ride free; cable cars are excluded, where children 4 and under ride free. BART: children 4 and under ride free; ages 5-18 get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card.

Airport. BART serves SFO and runs to downtown stations; BART's SFO guide lists current fares and times.

Transit sources: sfmta.com, bart.gov, bart.gov.

Weather in every month

Best months: June to September: the warmest stretch, with highs of about 22 to 24 C. Even then nights fall to 12 to 13 C, so bring layers.

Source: climatestotravel.com (1991-2020).

Where to stay

Near Golden Gate Park. The Koret Children's Quarter and carousel sit inside the park, and the park's playground has a $1 carousel ride for ages 6-12.

Downtown around Powell Street. BART from SFO reaches downtown stations, and cable cars and free youth Muni rides make it a simple base for day trips.

Free entries and listed prices

Listed as free for kids on the source page: Cable cars.

Kids' prices that the pages state, lowest first: Koret Children's Quarter and Carousel (Golden Gate Park) at $1; Aquarium of the Bay at $20.25; San Francisco Zoo at $22; California Academy of Sciences at $39.

Adult and resident prices, extra-fee exhibits and promotions are in the sight notes above where the source gave them; confirm the date-specific price on the operator page before you buy.

Age bands to check before you book

• Exploratorium: Youth ages 4-17
• California Academy of Sciences: Child ages 3-12; ages 2 and under free
• San Francisco Zoo: Child ages 2-11; under 2 free
• Aquarium of the Bay: Child ages 4-12
• Koret Children's Quarter and Carousel (Golden Gate Park): Carousel: ages 6-12 pay; 5 and under free with paying adult
• Cable cars: 4 and under ride free

Choosing your dates

On the monthly table, the warmest average high is 24.2 C in September and the coolest is 14.6 C in January. The spread between the two is 9.6 C, which is the number to weigh when you choose dates. The source's pick, repeated from above: June to September: the warmest stretch, with highs of about 22 to 24 C. Even then nights fall to 12 to 13 C, so bring layers.

See all family guides

All San Francisco guides