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SKIP THE LINE: Exploratorium After Dark Thursdays (18+) Admission

51 Reviews 4.71 out of 5 stars Based on 51 reviews collected by Cool San Francisco and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 94% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
San Francisco, USA

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On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.

2 to 4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English
and 9 more
French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino

Overview

Things Look Different After Dark. See for Yourself.

6-10pm every Thursday night at the Exploratorium. Adults-only (18+).

Lose yourself in more than 700 interactive exhibits exploring perception, art and science. Grab your friends and a drink and get immersed in everything from a fog bridge, to a large-scale kaleidoscope, dazzling light displays, mind-bending mirrors and more. Journey through total darkness in our twisting, turning, world-famous Tactile Dome. Or savor adults-only programming: featuring unique guest speakers, great music, cutting-edge films and one-of-a-kind activities. It'll change how you think about the world around you. But don't take our word for it—see for yourself.

The Exploratorium is located at Pier 15 on San Francisco's Embarcadero – just minutes away from the Embarcadero BART Station, Pier 39 and the Ferry Building.

What's Included

  • SKIP THE LINE Admission to After Dark at the Exploratorium (Ages 18+)
  • Regular daytime admission to the Exploratorium
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Pier 15 Embarcadero at
Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Exploratorium

Expand your mind by exploring the hundreds of interactive machines, contraptions and artworks at San Francisco’s Exploratorium, a quick 10-minute walk from the Ferry Building and a 15-minute walk from Fisherman’s Wharf. Head down on any Thursday at 6pm for the wildly popular After Dark event, when the museum stays open until 10pm for a full evening of adults indulging their curiosity about science and art. Each night revolves around a different theme. The Exploratorium is an intellectual playground for adults — part art gallery, part museum, part laboratory with a dash of party thrown in the mix.
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Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Ages 18 years and older only (no exceptions)
  • Coin-operated lockers are located just past ticketing and the Info desk
  • Guide dogs and other certified assistance animals are welcome

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the SKIP THE LINE: Exploratorium After Dark Thursdays (18+) Admission?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

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

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Activity code: C-5987DARK

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.71
51 reviews

Average 4.71 out of 5 stars based on 51 traveler reviews collected by Cool San Francisco and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
45
4 stars
3
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
3

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On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • SKIP THE LINE 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

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Ages 18 years and older only (no exceptions)
  • Coin-operated lockers are located just past ticketing and the Info desk
  • Guide dogs and other certified assistance animals are welcome
  • 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
  • Complimentary museum maps are available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, 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

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

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

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

Sorting, ranking, and search results

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On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool San Francisco over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.