TULIPMANIA, THE ICONIC FLORAL FESTIVAL AT PIER 39, HAS RETURNED!
Starting now through the beginning of April, more than 20,000 blooming tulips and other seasonal garden favorites will turn PIER 39 into a colorful floral wonderland! This comprehensive display features over 50 different tulip varieties aesthetically arranged in groups throughout The PIER’s Entrance Plaza, Upper and Lower Levels.
Enjoy the flowers’ beauty and learn facts about these magnificent tulips by taking the free, self-guided tour any time during TULIPMANIA. Self-guided tours can be taken by downloading the brochure below on your mobile device, or by picking up a brochure at The California Welcome Center and from some on-site Directories throughout The PIER. Listen to the audio tour below along side your brochure to maximize your experience.
The PIER 39 Landscaping Team planted the tulips in stages. By doing so, the blooms typically will last through the beginning of April (weather dependent) with color schemes and varietals changing as the weeks go by.
As you immerse yourself in tulip Insta-heaven, be sure to share your photos on social media using #TULIPMANIA!
TAKE THE SELF-GUIDED TOUR
Welcome to PIER 39’s TULIPMANIA Self-Guided Audio Tour! For this year’s festival you will be walked through both levels of The PIER to view over 50 varietals of tulips, narcissus, hyacinths and more – totaling over 20,000 blooms, making it the largest tulip display in Northern California!
The name TULIPMANIA comes from a footnote in Netherland’s history, when the market value of tulip bulbs grew wildly during the early 1600s and prized bulbs could cost up to 10x the annual salary of a skilled craftsman – thus causing a TULIPMANIA!
To get started with your tour, head to the TULIPMANIA Start sign next to the Sea Lion statue near the Blue & Gold Fleet Ticket Booth.
Your tour starts at the TULIPMANIA Start sign next to the “Guardians of the Gate”, more commonly referred to as “The Sea Lion Statue”, adjacent to the Blue & Gold Fleet ticket booth. Located here are three planted beds featuring 7 different varietals of blue and yellow tulips and hyacinths to celebrate our Blue & Gold Fleet boats. Also, take note of the Crab Topiary planted with succulents towering over the vibrant tulip beds.
Walk to the Sea Lion Topiary located in Pier 39’s Entrance Plaza: you have now entered Zone 1.
Showcasing eye-catching, classic colors such as timeless Red Impression tulips and gorgeous yellow Pomponette tulips with their distinct round bloom shape – Zone 1 highlights the bright elegance of TULIPMANIA history.
Fun Fact! Pier 39 plants early, mid-season, and late blooming tulips so that our displays can be enjoyed for around 6 weeks. As the varieties come and go, the look of each display continues to evolve with different color palettes as the weeks pass.
Venture up the stairs to the 1st Bridge on Level 2 between Fog Harbor Fish House, Lids, and the Aquarium of the Bay Gift Shop. Welcome to Zone 2, also known as the Sports Zone!
These blooms are spreading Bay Area team spirit featuring coordinating colors for the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, the Golden State Warriors and Valkyries, San Jose Sharks and Earthquakes, and the A’s Baseball Team!
Fun Fact! There are between 80 and 100 tulip bulbs in each barrel, creating a full and lively display.
Continue to the 2nd Bridge on Level 2 between Taco Cantina and The Spice & Tea Exchange to enter Zone 3.
Stroll through the Golden Gate Zone to immerse yourself in a display of tulips reflecting the vivid color of San Francisco’s beloved Golden Gate Bridge. From the warm glow of aptly named Orange Juice tulips to the striking Ballerina and dynamic Lorenzo Orange blooms, these flowers perfectly mimic San Francisco’s most iconic bridge.
Walk to the 3rd Bridge on Level 2 adjacent to Swiss Louis Restaurant where you will find Zone 4 to step back in time to the hippie zone!
The kaleidoscope of colors blooming here will transport you to San Francisco’s Summer of Love. Featuring 9 different varietals of blooms with a mix from wildflowers and fringed tulips – this zone is totally groovy!
Fun Fact! Tulips are sun-seekers and sway their heads for the best angle for sunlight, making tulips a symbol of adjustment and aspiration.
Continue on the 2nd Floor to the planter barrels located near Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria to reach Zone 5.
You are now entering our colorful Carousel Zone featuring Breeder’s Mixture tulips which bloom in a variety of colors such as yellow, pink, purple, and orange. You may also notice that these colors complement our Carousel painted with stunning San Francisco iconography perfectly.
Fun Fact! Different tulip colors carry distinct meanings. Yellow blooms represent joy, white blooms stand for forgiveness, purple blooms represent royalty, and red blooms symbolize love.
Head back downstairs to the courtyard near Pier Market Restaurant and arrive in Zone 6.
Take note of the barrels, planter beds, and raised boxes all around this area featuring a variety of blooms from pastel hyacinths to breathtaking Princess Irene tulips. The beauty and bright colors of 10 different floral varietals are displayed here as an ode to San Francisco’s famous group of Victorian houses, the Painted Ladies.
This completes our self-guided audio walking tour of Pier 39’s 2025 Tulipmania.
If you took photos throughout the tour, don’t forget to post them with #TULIPMANIA on social media! Our 2025 florals are estimated to bloom through April, so come back to see what changes in each zone as new varietals pop up.
Thank you so much for participating and we hope you have enjoyed seeing our flower displays and a beautiful day at The PIER!
DOWNLOAD THE SELF-GUIDED TOUR PDF
For all the zones in one audio file, listen to the complete tour below!
Music Credit: Uplifting Acoustic Melodies – Universfield via Free Music Archive. CC BY-SA license
