Hotels near California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a natural-history museum, aquarium, planetarium and four-storey indoor rainforest all under one living roof, set in the heart of Golden Gate Park. Its green roof, planted with native species and dotted with skylight domes, is a landmark of sustainable architecture in its own right.

Inside, you can walk through a humid rainforest dome of butterflies and free-flying birds, descend to the aquarium beneath it, and recline under the digital sky of the Morrison Planetarium. It is the city's best family attraction and easily combined with the rest of Golden Gate Park.

Pro Tip: Book a timed ticket online and arrive at opening to enjoy the rainforest dome before it gets humid and crowded. The adults-only NightLife evenings on Thursdays turn the museum into a lively after-hours event with a bar.