Rainy day activities in San Francisco center on California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, SFMOMA, and Aquarium of the Bay. Visitors can also explore Ferry Building Marketplace, play vintage machines at Musée Mécanique, or head to SPIN San Francisco for ping pong.
Rainy Day Activities in San Francisco Worth the Trip
Seven indoor stops cover a wet day in San Francisco, each suited to a different group.
California Academy of Sciences: A science institution featuring an aquarium, planetarium, and indoor rainforest, suited for curious families and evening date nights. Exploratorium: A waterfront museum focused on science, art, and human perception through hands-on exhibits, suited for tactile learners, inquisitive teens, and social adults. SFMOMA: A large museum of modern and contemporary art near Yerba Buena Gardens, suited for art lovers, couples, and visitors 18 and younger, who get in free. Aquarium of the Bay: A nonprofit aquarium at PIER 39 focused on San Francisco Bay, suited for families with children and marine life enthusiasts. Ferry Building Marketplace: A landmark market with nearly 50 local artisan food merchants, suited for hungry couples, small friend groups, and casual lunch grazers. Musée Mécanique: A hands-on museum of vintage arcade games and mechanical devices at Fisherman’s Wharf, suited for budget-conscious gamers, history buffs, and nostalgic groups. * SPIN San Francisco: A ping pong social club with a chef-driven menu and a full bar, suited for groups of friends, office teams, and weekend dates.
8 ping pong social clubs · US & Toronto
Bring your group to SPIN
Ping pong tables for up to 10, party packages, and private events with food, drinks and a DJ. Pick your city to book.
Museums for a Wet Afternoon
Three museums fill a wet afternoon indoors: the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, and SFMOMA.
California Academy of Sciences
Located at 55 Music Concourse Drive in Golden Gate Park, this institution brings multiple attractions under one roof. Guests can explore the Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, Osher Rainforest, and Kimball Natural History Museum. Daytime exhibits suit families with children, while the adults-only 21+ NightLife evening programs suit couples on a date.
Exploratorium
Physicist Frank Oppenheimer founded this hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception in 1969. The Exploratorium has been on Piers 15 and 17 on the waterfront since 2013. Daytime visits suit inquisitive families, whereas the adults-only After Dark program suits adult friends seeking an evening outing.
SFMOMA
This modern and contemporary art museum welcomes guests at 151 Third Street, steps from Yerba Buena Gardens. Visitors 18 and younger get in free, so SFMOMA suits families with teenagers as well as adult art lovers.
Aquariums and Arcades on the Waterfront
Two waterfront piers hold indoor stops for marine life and mechanical games: Aquarium of the Bay at PIER 39 and Musée Mécanique at Pier 45.
Aquarium of the Bay
This nonprofit aquarium at PIER 39 on the Embarcadero focuses on San Francisco Bay. Its signature Under the Bay tunnel exhibits show more than 200 aquatic species swimming directly overhead. The Under the Bay tunnels suit curious children, visiting relatives, and ocean enthusiasts.
Musée Mécanique
Situated at Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf, this privately owned museum houses more than 300 vintage arcade games and mechanical devices. General admission entry is free, allowing guests to walk through the displays and pay only to play individual machines. This hands-on venue suits nostalgic gamers, budget-conscious travelers, and groups of friends looking for classic entertainment.
Ferry Building Marketplace
The Ferry Building Marketplace houses nearly 50 local artisan food merchants, restaurants, and small eateries, so you can graze indoors on a wet day. Located at One Ferry Building, this San Francisco landmark dates to 1898 and has Bay views.
The market suits hungry couples, small groups of friends, and solo grazers. Pair a Ferry Building visit with a waterfront stop at the Exploratorium on Piers 15 and 17 or Aquarium of the Bay at PIER 39.
Ping Pong at SPIN San Francisco
SPIN San Francisco pairs ping pong with a full bar. At SPIN, we are the original ping pong social club, and our flagship began in New York City about 15 years ago. Your friends will enjoy ping pong and great food across 18 tables, surrounded by communal seating and art from renowned artists across 12,000 square feet.
You play on Olympic-grade tables with Stiga equipment, and guests can ask the front desk for a Stiga Pro Carbon paddle. Staff keep ball baskets stocked, so your group spends its time playing. Between matches, guests can relax with couch games like Uno, Connect 4, and Jenga, or step onto the covered all-season patio.
SPIN Pros may play with guests or share game tips, and house DJs play on weekends. The kitchen prepares a chef-driven menu featuring locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, alongside cocktails, spirit-free drinks, craft beers, and wines. The club is family-friendly and becomes a 21+ venue after 9 PM.
Guests can also take photos in our signature bathtub filled with ping pong balls between games. You can book table reservations for 2 to 10 guests before you head out.
Group Plans for a Wet Day
At SPIN San Francisco, groups can reserve party packages for 4 to 20 guests on most weekends, bookable 30 days ahead. Groups of any size can book private events in San Francisco, where party planners handle your event so that you can relax and enjoy.
SPIN San Francisco has a private room with a dedicated bar, so your group gets its own space. Company leads can plan team building activities in San Francisco or corporate holiday parties in San Francisco at SPIN. Friends can book indoor birthday parties built around ping pong instead of a sit-down dinner.
For more social gathering ideas, read our guide to rainy day activities for friends or review indoor group activities for rainy days. Travelers heading north can compare these options to rainy day activities in Seattle. If the rain lasts into the evening, see our ideas for a spontaneous night out in San Francisco.
San Francisco Rainy Day FAQ
What can you do on a boring rainy day in San Francisco?
You can head indoors to a museum, a food market, or a ping pong club. Walk through the Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences, graze the Ferry Building Marketplace, or reserve a ping pong table at SPIN San Francisco.
What are some quirky indoor things to do in San Francisco?
Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 has more than 300 vintage arcade games and mechanical devices, and you pay to play each machine. Visitors can also take photos inside a bathtub filled with ping pong balls at SPIN San Francisco between couch games like Uno and Jenga.
Are there rainy day activities in San Francisco for adults only?
Yes, several San Francisco venues host dedicated evening sessions strictly for guests ages 21 and older. The California Academy of Sciences runs its NightLife program, while the Exploratorium hosts its After Dark evenings on the waterfront. SPIN San Francisco also becomes a 21+ venue after 9 PM.
Where can a group go on a rainy day in San Francisco?
Groups can gather at SPIN San Francisco for ping pong matches across 18 tables alongside a chef-driven menu, cocktails, and couch games. For cultural outings, midsize groups can walk through SFMOMA or browse the food stalls at the Ferry Building Marketplace.
