PIER 39 is a waterfront shopping and entertainment complex on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, built on a former cargo pier and opened in 1978. It’s best known today as the year-round haul-out spot for wild California sea lions, which began congregating on the pier’s K-Dock in 1989 and remain one of the city’s most popular free attractions.
Beyond sea lion watching, the pier houses more than 90 shops and restaurants, the Aquarium of the Bay, a two-story carousel, and street performers along the boardwalk. Sea lion numbers peak seasonally from March to May and again from August to October.
The sea lion viewing area is accessible around the clock and free to visit, though individual shops, restaurants, and the aquarium keep their own daytime hours. PIER 39 connects directly to the rest of Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square along the waterfront promenade.
