Pier 39 Tours and Activities

Pier 39 showing signage, street scenes and a city
Pier 39 featuring landscape views and signage
Pier 39 featuring a city and street scenes
Pier 39
Pier 39 featuring signage


This waterfront attraction offers thrilling rides, innovative street performers and colorful souvenir shops, but it’s the sea lions that win the day. 

Belching, barking and back scratching are hardly the stuff that tourist dreams are made of, unless you’re talking about the colonies of sea lions that bask in the sun and play on their floating docks at Pier 39. 

The sea lions have called the pier home since 1989, shortly after the San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake. Marine biologists believe the animals reside here because there is plenty of food in the bay and their natural predators (white sharks and orcas) don’t hunt here. Their numbers fluctuate during the year, and they’re typically absent in the summer months when they venture south to breed and give birth. But you may be lucky enough to see hundreds of these playful critters in November 2009 a record 1,701 were counted! 

There’s a wide variety of sea life on display at the nearby Aquarium of the Bay. Walk through two clear tunnels and see marine species native to San Francisco, including rays, sharks and octopi, swimming right above you.

Pier 39 is a two-level complex of shopping, sideshows, entertainment, dining, rides and attractions that can keep you busy for an afternoon or an entire day. If you need some down-time, step aboard the "Neptune" for a 90-minute wine tasting cruise on the bay. Or, just settle back on a bench and check out the terrific views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the city skyline.

Pier 39 is immediately adjacent to Fisherman's Wharf at the northern end of the Embarcadero. It is accessible on foot and is also serviced by cable cars which run up and down the Embarcadero and also to downtown.

Plan a trip to see Pier 39

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Bay Landing San Francisco Airport Hotel
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Cavallo Point

Tours & day trips

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History & culture

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Reviews of Pier 39

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
395
5 - Excellent 51%
4 - Good
323
4 - Good 42%
3 - Okay
43
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
9
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
8
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Amazing views

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Take a uber to this location.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Toilet lines are very long. Not many public restrooms

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Expect a tourist trap.

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller

Big tourist trap. Nothing special...lots of shops and dinning area.

4/5 - Good

Joanne

Lots to see, but very expensive

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Pier 39

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
4 out of 5
2500 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
3.5 out of 5
1500 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf
4 out of 5
425 North Point, San Francisco, CA
Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf
4 out of 5
1300 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf
Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco
Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco
4 out of 5
555 N Point St, San Francisco, CA
Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco
Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
4 out of 5
250 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA
Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
Kimpton Alton Fisherman's Wharf by IHG
Kimpton Alton Fisherman's Wharf by IHG
4.5 out of 5
2700 JONES STREET, San Francisco, CA
Kimpton Alton Fisherman's Wharf by IHG
Wharf Inn
Wharf Inn
2.5 out of 5
2601 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
Wharf Inn
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
4 out of 5
5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.