The experience was packed with penguins, sea turtles, seals and other marine life including starfish, an electric eel, poison dart frogs, and a South American sea nettle The only reasons I didn't give it 5 starts were: 1. As a popular tourist destination/attraction, entry times could be staggered to allow for overflow. I ended up getting over stimulated and had to leave before seeing all the exhibits 2. The exit was confusing to navigate as you don't exit the same way you entered read more

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We finally did adult night at the Aquarium and it was great. They had several different talks about the penguins, sea lions and the touch tank. They served food and beverages the entire time. The talks were probably the best part. We had a chance to learn all about the penguin couples - including the love triangle and the one penguin who won't choose one female partner. We also got to learn about all the ways sea lions experience enrichment. All in all, a very fun night! read more

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As I've gotten older, I've definitely become more critical and cynical, and that may play a part in this review; nonetheless, I didn't like the New England Aquarium. First, I went on a charter bus, and they stamped our hand. Re-entry was allowed, but my stamp faded within minutes so I wasn't even able to test it, so I can see how that would be a problem if others did that option. Second, the theatre/movie presentation is in a different building on the property. It was a nice day when I went, but I can see that being a major pain in the you know what if it was raining or windy or whatnot. Third, the building is spiral-shaped and goes up, and pretty much only up. So there isn't much room for crowd flow, viewing windows get crowded and it can be a bit of a wait to be able to see things. It was very busy when I went, and people were constantly bumping into each other and having to wait for walking paths to clear up. And there isn't that much to see here either. Penguins, Seals, and fish, but nothing substantial, nothing at least to support the price. It's pretty much one big tank going up from top to bottom, a dozen or so small tanks, and the seals/penguins. Lastly, there wasn't much information about what was in the tanks. There was also a setup for a seal show, but no information on showtimes.nt Overall, it was a big disappointment. Of the three aquariums I've been to, I'd put them in 3rd behind the Mystic Aquarium and the one at the Amazing Dream Complex in New Jersey. read more

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I had a great time at this aquarium! It had some of the coolest reef displays that I have seen in a public aquarium. There are species you don't see very often that aren't all flashy and bright. There was one very low in the main tank that I have only see once in an aquarium. It wasn't even shown on the species list. Some reef geek just got it in there somehow. LOL Cold water reef tank is probably the coolest single aquarium I have seen in a long time. It was full of extremely cool shit I have never seen before! SO MUCH AWESOMENESS! The octopus display is right next to it and their octopus is quite active and flirtatious. The big spiral show tank was ok. It had fake rock and fake coral. Some of the fish were neat. Coral tanks are where it's at!! Very impressed! '26 -41 read more

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Wow! This was one of the best aquariums I've been to, and I would totally go back again next visit. My husband brought me, knowing how much I love aquariums, and was so excited for me to experience this gem. It was a huge space, tons to see, lots of variety, and just so fun. I loved the experience and recommended for anyone, whether you have kids or not. read more

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What a terrible aquarium experience! We traveled mid-week to Boston for our daughter's bday and it was soooooo crowded that we couldn't see much or enjoy. Booooooooooooo read more

OMG, these penguins are so cute but so stinky... bless those wonderful caretakers they have in the conservationist that make us aware of what their plate is to keep their diet regulated and try to introduce more of them into the population. All the knowledge gain in this sequence was wonderful and it is a nice place to take a stroll around great place to spend a few hours and learn and see all the different places this place has to offer. It was a nice afternoon spent thank you. read more

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Amazing aquarium! My toddler son loved it. I visited here a long time ago on a school trip and it was very awesome to be able to bring my wife and our son. read more

Bigger aquarium than I expected. Short drive from our hotel. There is an area where you can see sea lions right away when you head to main entrance. My son was so excited. I booked on Viator a day before so admission was smooth & easy with just QR code on my phone. Aquarium has a big exhibit for penguin, they are just so cute. A huge giant tank that you can go on different levels to have a closer look. I was pretty happy as certain creatures I haven't see at all. There is bench on each level so you can take a quick break. We spent a good 2 hours there. The stingray & the shark area near bathroom area were not so impressed. Other than that, it is a great visit & a must go for little one. read more

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We really enjoyed this aquarium! My girls took lots of pictures of so many living creatures! The staff were friendly and kind.

Bought tickets for a Friday at 11:20 am. There were lots of field trips and families with kids which is to be expected. We have been to quite a few aquariums and this one was smaller than most of the others we have been to. The penguin exhibits were adorable but we were disappointed that there were no sharks or dolphins. The tank in the center with the fish was clean and well stocked with fish. They also had a very nice looking octopus. It's a good distraction for about an hour but I recommend going later in the day to avoid the field trips. read more

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I'm not quite sure why there are so many low ratings for this aquarium. While I do agree that this place isn't flashy and it's a bit small, what it lacks in wow, it makes up for in personal experiences and in-depth knowledge. We were lucky enough to stumble upon almost all of the interactive presentations and they were absolutely incredible. We watched the turtles and fish get fed at the top of the big aquarium in the middle of the building. Myrtle the Turtle was an absolute unit and menace while hungry. The person presenting this answered all the questions the crowd had. We watched the penguins get fed and I got to meet the love of my life, Roast Beef. I found out a lot of information on him. He's amazing and well worth the visit. The only interaction I didn't get to see was the sea lions and I was sad, but we had a boat reservation and had to leave right before it started. We made up for it by sitting with them and watching Farley be a menace to the ladies. He's amazing. Before you even enter the aquarium (even before you have to buy tickets) you can check out the gorgeous seals (which we also got to see being fed as we were leaving.) read more

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A lot better than the one we have Arizona... it did feel a little claustrophobic at some point bc there was so many people in there but overall it was neat.. Right by the pier so it was nice read more

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I'm always amazed at how beautiful the creatures of the sea are. Every time I visit Boston I always make a stop to the aquarium, sometimes it's a little crowded but it's worth it. My favorite attractions always the jelly fish, and the tank right beside the beautiful great pacific octopus. read more

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Came with my wife on a Friday morning. Not as busy as past visits, where you can see nothing given the crowds. We had a library pass so half price tickets. Overall, the wharf area was really busy, nice weather, sunny and cool. Staff and volunteers everywhere. Need more seating snd other aquariums restrict strollers, which is difficult to manage in aisles with lots of kids. Did not visit the cafe, but the store had overpriced souvenirs and kids crying for something. We walked back to the Coast Guard Station where we parked. Hanover street was partially closed due to some festival. read more

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I do like this aquarium, and I think it's in a perfect location. Especially in boston and we were staying at the hotel right across the street. I do think the price is pretty expensive for going in. My son really enjoyed it but the problem is it's really hard to do the touch tank, because there's so many people. I really enjoyed the penguins and seeing the big tank.But I definitely think it could be better. I think the seals outside are super cute But it feels like it needs a good cleaning especially the tanks. read more

The New England Aquarium is nice and one of the only real aquarium options in Massachusetts. That said, if you've been to other aquariums around the country, there are definitely better ones--especially in Connecticut and California. New England feels a little behind compared to those, but it's still a good spot if it's your main local option. read more

Place is very fun! Place is clean inside as well!! There is a sea lion exhibit (my favorite), some at the front where the ticket station is, and some inside. There are fish, some sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and penguins!! Fish are all around the place upstairs (on every level), Sharks are on the 2nd and 3rd floor! Stingrays are all upstairs as well! And penguins are 1st floor (near main entrance). If you are traveling like I did I would recommend going here because it's fun and awesome to hang out with friends/family. read more

Wow! What an awesome aquarium! We saw the biggest collection of penguins ever. They have a really nice scavenger hunt sheet that we filled out during our journey throughout the aquarium. Some highlights include the rheotaxis exhibit where you can change the current inside and the fish will move against the current, the giant ocean tank of course, and the sealion/seal show. We were there for about four hours and we caught the seal show, sealion show, penguin feeding, giant ocean tank, and the dart frog meeting. The layout is a spiral which makes it easy to see everything. I enjoyed the electric eel a lot cuz they have a little gauge of how much electricity it produces, which was very interesting. The sealion show is a must see... the sea lions are so great at their tricks! read more

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Fairly small but nice aquarium to visit, and you can easily spend a couple hours here. Various exhibits and animals to see, including penguins, sea lions, and even a shark & ray touch tank! Military/veterans discount saved us quite a bit off the regular admission price of $39/adult. I recommend visiting early (when they open at 0900) to avoid the crowds, as it quickly got busy and uncomfortably hot. read more

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It was a fun experience for the kids. It was super crowded when we went on Saturday midday in late summer. I didn't mind the crowds, as I was expecting it. However, I was a bit caught off guard at how LOUD it was!! Wow! My ears were numb by the time we left. Most of the exhibits were accessible for all, which was nice for the kids. Our favorite was the penguins, which can be viewed from a few floors. I liked looking down because you could see how they were enjoying the sprinklers. The entry was easy, if you pre purchased tickets. The gift shop was fun - a lot of options for the kids. Some branded items and other generic stuffies. It's tricky though...once you exit into the gift shop, you can't re-enter through those doors. I would recommend visiting if you haven't. I'm not sure I would come back, unless the family wanted to. read more

Truly cute animals! More for kids, but a must if you are an adult who loves sea animals! Not the biggest fan, but understand the significance of the aquarium! Came to spend time with family! read more

New England Aquarium - Penguin Exhibit on Floor 1 - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a small aquarium with limited things to see. Mainly a lot of fish along with seals, penguins, & a couple large sea turtles. It is "disappointing" relative to the fact that it borders the coastline & is located in such a big city. However, we enjoyed our time here. There's probably more to read than to actually see, but if you're someone that enjoys taking time to read & learn, then this is still worth the trip. Side note, avoid peak hours. It gets absolutely packed. We came on a Sunday afternoon & it was shoulder to shoulder & I wouldn't visit at that time again. The 3D Dolphin movie was cool & we enjoyed that. read more

New England Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The aquarium is compact with a lot to see. With multiple penguin exhibits and one large circular tank, along with many smaller ones in walls it's a good place to take the whole family for a few hours. read more

New England Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Today we went to the New England Aquarium in Boston located down on the historical waterfront! It was a complete NIGHTMARE getting to the Aquarium! The City Parking Garage literally "ROBS" you!! LITERALLY!!! I PAID $46 FOR 2 HRS! I'm so thankful I didn't stay parked there and walk around the waterfront. I would have had to take out a loan!! The Aquarium charges AN ARM & LEG ADMISSION FEE...they should offer to validate your parking for a deep discount or even FREE! COME ON GUYS!!! The Aquarium was okay! I had to pay $115 for 3 adults and the baby was free! The Aquarium was nice loved the Penguins, Seals and Octopus! But and I say BUT Loudly, it's not that big we saw it all at a crowded compacity in about 1.5 hrs. The fee doesn't match the time span! The gift shop was nice! Decent prices! I thought $14 for a magnet a little nutty!! So I passed but I did get the baby a stuffed Shark since at 17 months she sang Baby Shark Song all through the Aquarium!!! I would recommend but I do want to warn you it's over-priced and parking is SKYHIGH!!!!! BE WARE!!! read more

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I haven't been to the New England Aquarium since I was a kid and I remember back then it feeling massive. Sitting right on the edge of the ocean in Boston, the New England Aquarium draws people from all over the world. I went on a Saturday afternoon where admission was free as part of a promotion for residents of the town of Salem in September 2025. Once inside, it wasn't as large as I remembered but still had the massive multi-story tank with every fish and sea creature you could imagine. It is still mesmerizing to see the schools of fish swimming in circles, followed by the giant manta rays and gargantuan sea turtle. Their live shows are fun as well but I didn't partake. If I had paid for my ticket, I would have. There were hundreds of kids running around inside, sometimes making it hard to walk, but as one of those kids back in the day, I don't have any room to complain. Overall it was nice to check out the New England Aquarium again but I don't think I need to return any time soon. read more

Tickets are a bit overpriced at the normal rate for what they have to offer here in my opinion. But there are options for discounts that are worth looking into! All the staff we encountered were extremely friendly, helpful and informative. I have to agree that there aren't as many animals as you would expect for the location of the aquarium being in Boston. But the ones they do have seem really well taken care of and the staff are all so knowledgeable on them. My favorite part of this aquarium is the spiral staircase up to the top being around an extremely large cylindrical fish tank. You can even look down into it once you get to the top. In order to really take your time and enjoy everything I would totally recommend coming on a weekday during school season. It was the least crowded I've ever seen the place. There is no parking on site you will need to utilize one of the surrounding parking garages which average around 44$ for afew hours. read more

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We met up with friends that lived in the area while on vacation. The aquarium is fine but with having the Shedd Aquarium so nearby home, the New England one just didn't quite measure up. We did love the penguins and the Myrtle the Turtle. The octopus, a master of disguise, was a huge draw but so hard to find in the tank. Once we did find him, he was so scrunched up against the window of the tank, I felt bad for him. The lower level of the aquarium is a science of shark display. For some reason I was actually expecting a shark tank down there so that was not disappointing. They did have small tank with some sort of baby shark fish. We skipped over the touch and pet kids area. Another neat feature is the seal lions display. You can actually view them without going into the aquarium. When you do enter the aquarium, there is an outdoor pool for them too. Our friends had a discounted pass from their library so I highly recommend looking into that. It brought the prices to half of what they should have been and made the experience worth it. Full price would have felt a bit much. read more

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Decided to do a spontaneous visit to the aquarium while in Boston with my boyfriend. I was a little disappointed as I thought there would be more animals to see. I was also disappointed to know they don't allow any beverages (besides water) so I had to down my beverage before entering. What I really enjoyed was the interactive portion where you could touch a few stingrays and small sharks. The exhibit with the penguins were really cute too. They're so close to people but unable to reach the audiences. At the top, you can see the circular aquarium that holds several sea creatures and their oldest turtle. It was a fun experience but probably just a one time thing for me. read more

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Me and my boyfriend went today for New Year's Eve (my Christmas present to him) general admission, $39 each). We absolutely loved it here! (first time here by ourselves in years so we basically don't remember coming here) We saw the seals, (Farley is my boyfriend's favorite), pet a stingray/Manta ray? in the touch tanks (so cute- we've never pet a stingray/manta ray? before- loved the fact that the animals were (and I quote a crew member) "able to choose whether or not they want to be pet" (love this aquarium is cruelty-free) I loved the Dory fish, angelfish, neon tetra, and the seahorses- also the blue poison dart frog. And the penguins?? LOVED the penguins- so cute. There was water misters in the tanks for the penguins to just sit in/under and we thought that was nice for them. We noticed the crew members doing a lot of cleaning- we thought it was very good- happy that the animals are being taken care of. Also thought that it would be a cool job to be able to scuba dive with fish to clean their tanks- the people working here should be very fortunate that they get to work with all these amazing animals. My boyfriend is disabled, so walking is kinda hard, so we are glad there was a lot of room to walk around everywhere and there was accessible ramps and the walkways were big enough- also loved the benches around everywhere- we had no trouble finding somewhere to sit :) also, whatever the benches are made out of was comfy. At the cafe, it was $46 for: big serving portion of fries and 3 chicken tenders, (tbh we both tried the fries and didn't like them (not cooked enough and not enough salt- we didn't say anything cause didn't want to be a bother- but not a big deal) we LOVED the chicken tenders, I got Mac and cheese (with with small ramekin cup of goldfish (I crumbled them up onto the Mac and cheese) (AMAZING)- best Mac and cheese ever- and coffee- best coffee I've ever had to be quite honest- omg!! Also got mozzarella sticks and we shared- they were so crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle- so good- the marinara sauce could use a little work though, it tasted different, but good try! I also thought it was kinda of ironic that the cafe serves "Clam Chowder" at an aquarium I don't like that, and I think it should be taken off the menu. But, I loved that they had lunch trays! (which I liked cause I was homeschooled growing up) and u put everything from the different stations onto your tray, and someone can either help u cash out, or u go to a weigh station that figures out what is on the tray- but the weighing station kept thinking the goldfish crackers were a cottage cheese cup and then we couldn't figure it out so someone helped us within like literal 2 seconds so let me just say that the crew members were all on top of things which was awesome- we were impressed. We went 10 am-2 pm and ate lunch around 11- the cafe wasn't too busy so it was chill. Oh we also saw the electric eels- we both loved the display where it says how much energy humans have versus the eels. We both have trouble with being in large crowds due to sensory processing problems and hearing issues, so it was a bit overwhelming with the amount of people in the building) but we will DEFINITELY be back again we loved this place!! Parking turned out to be $46 Tbh that shocked the daylights out of us (The parking garage next door) (but good to know for next time!) read more

New England Aquarium - New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The penguins were very cute! Tickets are $39, which is cheaper than other aquariums I have visited. However, the viewing spaces are very crowded and difficult to see. Very easy to walk through everything within an hour. I was a little disappointed with how small this aquarium was, given that it borders an ocean. Be aware that it'll be difficult to push a stroller through the crowds of people. read more

New England Aquarium - Visitor map - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The New England Aquarium is a non for profit organization located at the Boston harbor. The aquarium requires around 60 to 90 minutes for a normal visit. You have a huge aquarium in the middle of the building that dominates the main building. Some of the species exhibited include harbor and northern fur seals, as well California sea lions. We also saw some African and southern rockhopper and some adorable penguins. There was also a grand octopuses and some weedy seadragons. The surrounding tanks included thousands of saltwater and freshwater fishes of diverse colors. Overall this is a worthwhile visit. But the entry price of $37 per person is on the steep side. read more

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Very crowded. My family and I were at Disney just after Christmas and this was worse. Could not see the exhibits, hard to move throughout the facility. This would not be so bad except they have limits on entry that would theoretically seem to be aimed at making the experience less of a mob scene. I suspect that they are not even paying attention to fire codes. That place catches fire, we all die. read more

Killing time here on a chilly, rainy day, we decided to check this place out before heading to the airport. It took us only about 40 min to see the whole aquarium and it was $37 a person. I can't believe they charge so much for such an underwhelming aquarium. I wouldn't necessarily recommend read more

New England Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Tickets seemed a little spendy, but well worth the cost. I absolutely loved the layout of this aquarium it was fun to work your way up each level then return via spiral down the large center piece aquarium that spans the 4 floors. The tanks had a good population and were clean. My exhibit favorite was the African penguins read more

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Small aquarium, lots of penguins, two sea lions and lots of other fish. This aquarium, in my opinion, was small but nice to visit. If you are an adult you could probably get through it in about an hour, if you have small children you could spend at least two hours there. read more

Somehow, despite growing up in New England, I had never been to the aquarium in Boston! We had heard from many people that it was underwhelming compared to the Museum of Science; the former was more about observation, the latter offered more interaction... but we LOVE all things ocean, and really wanted a slower day of just wandering around exhibits. The New England Aquarium is a nonprofit research and conservation organization that has protected and cared for marine animals for over 50 years. When we visited it was $34 per person; despite visiting on a weekday, it was SLAMMED with school groups. If you're coming, the best hours are for sure are a weekday between 2 and 4pm, because the kids have all left to go back to their classrooms! Admittedly, seeing the playful harbor seals outside of the museum (for free) was one of the best parts. But I think this place is all about what YOU make it. We took our time looking at every single tank reading about what we were viewing, we spent time watching the penguins during their feeding (they were also actively laying eggs while we were there!), we spent time watching the sea turtles during their feeding (and learned that you're not a messy eater, you're just spreading the nutrients around for others!), and we spent a lonnnnnnnnng time patiently petting the stingrays (only when they wanted to be touched, of course!). Another highlight was seeing the Giant Pacific Octopus -- though I wish they had a much bigger space. Would I come back? Probably not. But I think the work they're doing for local (and global) oceanic conservation is tremendously important, and I'm glad I got to finally check it out! read more

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Gotta love the aquarium! I can't say it's my favorite but I always love walking through and enjoy seeing all the wonderful exhibits! Plus, walking around the tank is just so fun! I wish there was more to enjoy as an adult! It's sadly a bit boring now and it's a shame their major exhibit is the penguins. They're cute and all but, looking at 40 penguins do nothing isn't really worth it. Plus it's just so expensive now. I remember tickets being $20 when I was younger.i read more

New England Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice aquarium at the Seaport. Loved the seals and the turtles. It's a good place for a couple hours. Really enjoyed the salt water tank and the tank in the middle with the ramps around it. Great place for viewing the turtles. We enjoyed our visit. read more

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This was sooooo worth it! Even more worth it with my partner's military discount. It was just us two on a date and I enjoyed every second of it. I love that it is open-air. Totally different from California's aquariums. I love the idea and concept of the entire aquarium. Favorite: octopus, turtle, mini star fishes, penguins & seals read more

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