San Francisco

Exploratorium Admission Ticket - After Dark Thursday Evenings (ages 18+)

Badge of ExcellenceSan Francisco, USA
  • 2 to 4 hours
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Every Thursday evening, one of San Francisco's premier museums opens up its doors for an After Dark gathering of the coolest kind. The Exploratorium transforms into an adults-only intellectual playground, welcoming everyone 18 and older to dance, mingle, and explore while sipping on cocktails (own expense) and participating in the museum's ongoing advances in art, science, and technology while enjoying spectacular views of the Bay Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
  • Admission to the Exploratorium’s popular After Dark Thursday evening event
  • Stimulate your senses and learn new things while engaging with hundreds of exhibits and installations
  • Admire panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge
  • Grab a drink (own expense), dance to music, and make new friends at this vibrant and lively intellectual playground

What's Included

  • Admission to After Dark at the Exploratorium (ages 18+)
  • Regular daytime admission to the Exploratorium
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Tactile Dome

Meeting and Pickup

Start time

Opening hours

  • 11/26/2023 - 6/30/2024

    Thursday : 06:00 PM - 10:00 PM

  • 7/1/2024 - 5/24/2025

    Thursday : 06:00 PM - 10:00 PM

What To Expect

On Thursday evenings after the Exploratorium closes, crowds of everyone from computer programmers to fashion designers pour in to nourish their curiosity. It's a weekly gathering of inquisitive minds (ages 18+) amid a festive atmosphere with ever-changing themes.  

Wander among cutting-edge exhibits that blend art, science, and technology while sipping on cocktails (own expense). After Dark crowds also seem to be as diverse as the installations, speakers, and performances that vary from week to week.

The museum's individual galleries include Gallery 1, which showcases and explores human behavior, Gallery 5—where you can explore winds, tides, and natural phenomena—, and Gallery 3, whose exhibits revolve around experimentation with light, mirrors, and bubbles.

The Exploratorium is an easy walk from the Ferry Building and a short stroll from Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf.

Exploratorium

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Ages 18 years and older only (no exceptions)
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Coin-operated lockers are located just past ticketing and the Info desk
  • Guide dogs and other certified assistance animals are welcome
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Wheelchair accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan, free of charge, at the Info Desk on a first-come first-serve basis
  • Near public transportation
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Complimentary museum maps are available in English, Spanish, French, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Filipino.
  • Visitors must be age 21+, with a valid government-issued ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.5
37 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 37 reviews
Night in SF
Giancarlo_M, Mar 2024
The tour guy hosting a quick seminar. He talked about marginal rates and elasticity problems some brain teasers for the group.
Fun date
Carly_S, Mar 2024
This was such a fun experience! Told my boyfriend we were coming here for date night. After coming, I think we will be back as we did not get through all the exhibits in 3 hours.
Fun experience
Emily_M, Dec 2023
Fun experience worth the trip! Glad we made the last minute decision to go and we learned a few things.
Fun night out without kids
Brennan_G, Dec 2023
This was fun, but more crowded than I expected. I would recommend it to others, but would caution them that if you are expecting to experience every exhibit, you will need to wait. With that said, there was only one that I really wanted to experience that I did not get to.
Cool night time experience
Judy_F, Dec 2023
Fun activity, not crowded. It was an enjoyable experience where you had the chance to try all the exhibits with no wait times.
Amazing Experience at the Exploratorium
Taryn_O, Dec 2023
This was the BEST thing I've ever done in the city. We literally had the best time ever! My boyfriend and I booked this trip after talking to a friend and just asking, "what's your favorite unique thing to do in the city?" She said that the Academy of Sciences does this Night Life event once a month. Which didn't interest me much but then I figured out the Exploratorium does it too! We unfortunately got there an hour after it started which was a mistake because we didn't see everything in the museum. Get there as it opens and just explore ;) I have been recommending this to everyone I know. So much fun ! And no kids in sight, at least 3 bars we spotted, lots of lovely couples and respectful adults. The vibes were immaculate, truly. Also ! don't forget to check out the upstairs ice exhibits and outside on the pier!
Fun in the dark
ANNE_B, Nov 2023
Getting to spend as much time as we wanted on an exhibit without children paint in front or rushing us. The adults were very polite
Horrible
Roger_J, Aug 2023
The app did not work! I bought the tickets and the voucher would not appear? The ticket takers at the Exploratorium tried and nobody could get the ticket voucher to appear. I had to buy new tickets to enter. A frustrating experience I will never use this app or the services of this app again. Terrible!
Fun Time!
Antonia_A, Jul 2023
Great experience & worth the value. You could easily spend 4 hours here if you wanted to. There’s a lot to see & do. The restaurant was decent & quick as well. We had a great time! It was just super busy with a lot of people there.
Love the inquiry-based approach
Bill_S, Jun 2022
Loved the rocking and rolling chairs, echo tubes, wave machine simulating the beach, all the wave stuff,fog simulator. Great stuff and great example of the power and effectiveness of an inquiry-based learning approach.
Great museum! We went for...
Natalie_D, Apr 2022
Great museum! We went for the after dark adult experience and it was so fun. I recommend eating before you go. The cafeteria is expensive and the food acceptable.
Adult fun
Lizzywiz, Feb 2020
So fun! Lots to see and do. Best part....no kids!! It wasn’t overly crowded, we were able to experience everything in the building (and outside as well!)
I went to this event with my best friend and it was so fun! Such a breath of fresh air in comparison to a bar or club.
Inger_F, Aug 2019
Absolutely awesome and interesting! So many things to see and learn about. Takes your thinking and puts it in a whole new perspective and invokes critical thinking.
Fun for grown up kids, too!
Kathryn_C, Aug 2019
Really easy to purchase online and then scan the tickets for a large group from my phone at the museum. Attendants were nice and the drink selection was great. TONS of hands-on activities to do, would be worth it to visit again to see everything.
Excelent
EduardoLuis_L, May 2019
The experience is amazing and os possible to try any place. We recomend this tour. Without children is more fun.
Excellent place plenty to do spent 4...
jean d, Feb 2018
Excellent place plenty to do spent 4 hours inside and out at exhibits. All exhibits are hands on
Fun way to spend a night. Could have...
MICHAEL G, Sep 2015
Fun way to spend a night. Could have spent many more hours exploring the museum.
WORTH IT! 4 hours is a bit tight to...
LTB, Jul 2015
WORTH IT! 4 hours is a bit tight to enjoy all the exhibits, but it's manageable if you eat before and after going to the Exploratorium and not during. Less people than during the day, and interesting talks.
This was a great way to spend a...
Lisa, Oct 2014
This was a great way to spend a Thursday evening! We loved the various exhibits, especially the short films and an interesting session on the wine industry. The Exploratorium is quite large and we didn't get a chance to check everything out, so we will definitely be coming back soon. A perfect activity for friends or date night.

From $19.95

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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