ExploratoriumvsPalace of Fine Arts Theatre
Exploratorium and Palace of Fine Arts Theatre are both recommended by professional reviewers writing for major publications. Overall, Exploratorium scores significantly better than Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. Exploratorium comes in at #1 in San Francisco with endorsements from 12 reviews including Michelin Guide, Where and Time Out.
Exploratorium
Fodor's
Concierge
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Condé Nast Traveler
Not For Tourists
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
Where Show All Reviews
Pier 15, on the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
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Fodor's "Walking into this fascinating "museum of science, art, and human perception" is like visiting a mad-scientist's laboratory." Full review
Concierge "Adults as well as kids will enjoy blowing giant bubbles or entering a tiny room that scrambles one's sense of perspective."
Frommer's "Scientific American magazine rated the Exploratorium "the best science museum in the world" -- and I couldn't agree more." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Find answers to questions you wished you'd learned in school, at San Francisco's thrilling hands-on science museum." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Prepare to spend several hours here; rotating exhibits like “Making Sense of Sound,” where visitors don headphones to hear how deer, snakes, and other creatures process sound." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Designed... to teach you about science and perception through play." Full review
i
New, larger, oceanfront location and excellent restaurant
Not For Tourists "Experimental hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception."
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"This innovative museum of science, art and human perception has served as a model for similar science museums around the world since its opening in 1969." Full review
Afar Magazine "This is not, however, a museum simply for kids—though curious kids will definitely be entertained while learning. Instead, its exhibits aim to raise the scientific literacy of visitors of all ages." Full review
Where "This educational center offers an array of interactive scientific exhibits and hands-on displays that stimulate the senses and minds of the young and old alike." Full review
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre Fodor's Concierge Lonely Planet Condé Nast Traveler Not For Tourists Michelin Guide Where
Atlas Obscura Afar Magazine Afar Magazine Show All Reviews
3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
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Fodor's "At first glance this stunning, rosy rococo palace seems to be from another world, and indeed, it's the sole survivor of the many tinted-plaster structures." Full review
Concierge "A mock-classical ruin erected for the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition in 1915, the Palace of Fine Arts was originally fashioned from wood, plaster, and burlap."
Lonely Planet "Like a fossilized party favor, this romantic, ersatz Greco-Roman ruin is the memento San Francisco kept from the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "A mock-classical ruin erected for the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition... was eventually recast in concrete in the '60s." Full review
Not For Tourists "Designed for the 1915 World's Fair by Bernard Maybeck, the Roman ruin's grandeur is strikingly beautiful."
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"Ranking among San Francisco's best-known landmarks, this grand rotunda and peristyle were replicated from structures designed by renowned architect Bernard Maybeck." Full review
Where "Featuring a lagoon with swans, today this is a popular spot to stroll and take photos." Full review
Atlas Obscura "The last remaining relic of San Francisco's glittering 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition. " Full review
Afar Magazine "Standing out in San Francisco's Marina District, this historic landmark is a leftover from the 1915 Pan-Pacific International Expo and was designed by Bernard R. Maybeck." Full review
Afar Magazine "One of my favorite things to do in San Francisco is to walk on the Bay Trail from the parking lot by the Beach Hut Cafe west to Torpedo Wharf." Full review
