The best rainy-day plan in San Francisco is not a long list of indoor attractions. Pick one substantial indoor anchor, add food in the same building or within one short transit ride, and avoid repeatedly crossing the city in wet clothes.
For most visitors, the Exploratorium plus the Ferry Building is the best-balanced plan. Families who want to settle in one place should choose the California Academy of Sciences. For art, choose SFMOMA and let it fill most of the day.
Choose the right indoor anchor
| Best for | Main stop | Time to allow | Rain exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| A varied first visit | Exploratorium + Ferry Building | 5–7 hours | Low if you use the F streetcar |
| Families and science | California Academy of Sciences | 4–6 hours | Very low via the 44 bus |
| Modern art | SFMOMA | 3–6 hours | Low; food is available inside |
| Art on a smaller budget | Asian Art Museum + Main Library | 3–5 hours | One short outdoor crossing |
| A free, shorter outing | Cable Car Museum + Chinatown meal | 2–4 hours | Moderate; surrounding streets are hilly |
Hours and prices below were checked September 29, 2026. Confirm them on the venue page before leaving, especially on holidays or dates with private events.
Best overall plan: Ferry Building and Exploratorium
9:30 or 10 a.m.: Ferry Building breakfast or early lunch Start at Embarcadero Station and stay inside the Ferry Building while choosing food. The building is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but each merchant keeps separate hours. BART, Muni and the F historic streetcar stop nearby (Ferry Building visitor information). Use this compact Ferry Building visit plan to choose merchants without circling the hall.
Late morning through the afternoon: Exploratorium Take the F streetcar north rather than walking the exposed Embarcadero; it stops in front of Pier 15. The Exploratorium has more than 650 all-ages exhibits and food inside, so it can absorb most of a wet day. It is normally open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.; it is closed Monday. Adult admission is listed at $39.95. Tactile Dome reservations are required, with advance booking strongly recommended (official visit page).
This pairing works best in ordinary rain. The waterfront can still feel raw in wind, so skip the outdoor promenade and use the streetcar even for the short hop.
Easiest family plan: California Academy of Sciences
The Academy is the simplest one-building day: aquarium, rainforest and planetarium under one roof. Public hours are generally 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday. Planetarium reservations are required, and the rainforest stops admitting visitors before the museum closes. Adult daytime admission is listed at $49, or $55 on peak dates (current hours, prices and closure notices).
For the least wet arrival, take the 44 O’Shaughnessy, which stops directly in front of the Academy northbound and across from it at the de Young southbound. The 5 Fulton leaves about a five-minute walk; the N Judah leaves about a ten-minute walk (Academy transit directions). In steady rain, that difference matters more than it appears to on a map.
Do not automatically add the de Young just because it is opposite. Either institution can occupy half a day or more. If your priority is art rather than science, compare the de Young and Legion of Honor before committing to Golden Gate Park.
Best art plan: stay inside SFMOMA
SFMOMA is large enough that there is little value in scheduling another museum across town. Start with the exhibitions you care about, pause for lunch, then use the afternoon for unfamiliar floors rather than trying to “complete” the building.
Standard hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Tuesday and Friday–Sunday, noon–8 p.m. Thursday, and closed Wednesday. General adult admission is $30, while visitors 18 and younger enter free. The entrance at 151 Third Street is a few blocks from Montgomery BART (SFMOMA visitor guide).
Staying put is practical here: Jane on Third is open to the public without a museum ticket, while Cafe 5 is available to ticket holders. Both have indoor as well as outdoor space, although their hours differ from gallery hours (SFMOMA dining details).
Lower-cost plan: Civic Center art and library
The Asian Art Museum at 200 Larkin Street and the Main Library at 100 Larkin Street make a compact pair. Begin at the museum, then cross Fulton Street to the library for exhibitions, reading or a scheduled event without adding a cross-city transfer.
The Asian Art Museum is normally open Thursday from 1–8 p.m. and Friday–Monday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; it is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Adult general admission is $20. General admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, while special exhibitions cost extra (official ticket information). The Main Library’s posted hours run until 8 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, making this pairing particularly useful on Thursday.
Free short plan: Cable Car Museum, then Chinatown
The Cable Car Museum works well as a free, short indoor anchor rather than an all-day destination. It is open Tuesday–Thursday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Friday–Sunday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; it is closed Monday (museum information).
Its 1201 Mason Street location is on a hill. Wet pavement makes the climb from lower downtown a poor place to save a fare, so check the SFMTA trip planner and approach by transit or a short ride instead. Afterward, head downhill toward Chinatown for a meal, but keep the extension short if rain is heavy.
Adjust the plan to the storm, not just the forecast icon
For showers, normal sightseeing with a waterproof layer and water-resistant shoes may still be workable. For sustained rain, choose the Academy or SFMOMA and minimize transfers. In heavy rain or high wind, the city advises avoiding unnecessary travel, flooded areas, downed power lines and trees in parks (San Francisco severe-storm guidance). Stay near your hotel rather than forcing a waterfront or Golden Gate Park itinerary.
The useful rule is simple: trade outdoor distance for indoor depth—one area, one major attraction and one easy meal.