Musical Stairs, Bay Area Travel Guide

4.5 (288)

Experience the magic of music at Pier 39's Musical Stairs, where every step creates a melody in the heart of San Francisco!

Located at Pier 39 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, the Musical Stairs offer a playful and interactive art experience. Painted like a giant piano, each step plays a different note as you walk up or down, creating spontaneous melodies and joyful moments for all ages.

A brief summary to Musical Stairs

San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf, California, 94133, US

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Musical Stairs.

Visit during weekday mornings to avoid large crowds and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.
Bring a camera to capture fun moments as you and others create music on the stairs.
Check out nearby attractions like the sea lions at Pier 39 after visiting the Musical Stairs.

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Other nearby places you may find interesting

The closest places of the same kind, if this one is not quite what you had in mind.

San Francisco Carousel at Pier 39

Oakland Zoo

Filbert Steps

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

East Bay Monument

Explore Musical Stairs on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Musical Stairs, mapped for you.

Getting There

Walking

From anywhere on Pier 39, the Musical Stairs are easily accessible by foot. They are located near the San Francisco Keychain Store and We Be Knives, leading up to Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze on the upper level of Pier 39.
Public Transport

From the Embarcadero BART station, transfer to the Muni F-Line streetcar towards Fisherman's Wharf. Get off at the Fisherman's Wharf stop. Alternatively, take Muni bus 30-Stockton towards the Wharf and get off at Bay & Taylor. Walk towards the waterfront to find the Musical Stairs. A one-way Muni fare is approximately $3.
Driving

If driving, head towards Fisherman's Wharf. From the Bay Bridge, take I-80 W towards San Francisco, then follow signs for Embarcadero. Merge onto Embarcadero and continue to Bay Street, turning left. Follow Bay Street to Fisherman's Wharf and look for parking options. Public parking garages are available, with costs ranging from $10-$20 for a few hours. Parking at the PIER 39 Garage is also an option. Street parking rates vary from $1 to $7 per hour, depending on the neighborhood.

Discover more about Musical Stairs

The Musical Stairs, an interactive art exhibit, can be found at Pier 39, a bustling tourist destination in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Created by artist Remo Saraceni, who also designed the floor piano featured in the movie *Big*, the Musical Stairs transform an ordinary staircase into a giant, playable piano.Each step is painted to resemble piano keys, and as visitors ascend or descend, sensors trigger musical notes, turning the climb into a whimsical musical experience. The atmosphere is often filled with laughter and spontaneous tunes as people of all ages experiment with the instrument. The stairs lead to the upper level of Pier 39, near Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze.The Musical Stairs were installed on Pier 39 in June 2013 and have since become a popular attraction, embodying San Francisco's innovative and artistic spirit. The interactive exhibit encourages physical activity and builds social connections, offering a unique and memorable experience for tourists and locals alike.