Pier 39 Market

Address: Pier 39, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA

Website: https://www.pier39.com

Hours: Public pier open daily; individual businesses vary (shops often 10am-9pm)

Admission: Free (attraction access); some museums/attractions on-site have separate fees

Pier 39 is a two-level shopping, dining and entertainment pier at Fisherman’s Wharf on San Francisco’s northeastern waterfront, opened in 1978 and widely known as a tourist hub. It combines retail, family attractions and waterfront viewing in a single complex.

The complex contains dozens of shops and restaurants, street performances, a hand-painted carousel and an on-site public aquarium focused on Bay species. A notable attraction is a colony of California sea lions that haul out on floating docks adjacent to the pier; viewing areas on the pier allow visitors to observe them at close range.

The pier was developed and opened in 1978 as part of the revitalization of the Fisherman’s Wharf area and has since been modified and expanded with visitor amenities and attractions. The sea lion presence began in the late 1980s and became a recurring draw alongside the retail and dining offerings.

The pier sits at Fisherman’s Wharf on San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront, adjacent to other waterfront attractions and within easy walking distance of North Beach and the Embarcadero promenade. It is accessible by public transit and popular with both visitors and locals.

• Sea lions: Home to a group of California sea lions that began hauling out on floating docks in the late 1980s; viewing platforms on the pier give close vantage points.
• Bay views: Upper-level walkways provide clear views of Alcatraz Island, parts of the Golden Gate and the city skyline on clear days.

What to See#

• Sea lion docks: A floating dock and haul-out site adjacent to the pier where a colony of California sea lions regularly basks and can be observed from dedicated viewing platforms and the pier’s upper level.
• Aquarium of the Bay: A public aquarium focused on local Bay species, with walk-through tanks, touch pools and educational displays about San Francisco Bay ecosystems.
• Pier 39 Carousel: A two-level, hand-painted carousel located near the pier entrance that provides family-friendly rides and overlooks the bay on the upper level.

Pier 39 sits at the foot of Powell Street on The Embarcadero. From BART/Embarcadero station take the F-line historic streetcar, or from Market Street take the Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason cable car lines and walk down to the Embarcadero (about 10-15 minutes from Powell Street station). Paid parking is available nearby but limited.

• Arrive early (before 10am) to see the California sea lions at their loudest haul-out on the docks with smaller crowds.
• Walk east along the Embarcadero toward Fisherman's Wharf for better views of Alcatraz and the Bay; the best photos are late afternoon light.
• Avoid peak summer weekends if possible - the area fills with cruise-ship visitors; use the stairs down to the lower level for quieter sea-lion viewing.