Seattle Aquarium
Seattle, United States
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a public aquarium in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront. It opened in 1977 and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Accommodations near Seattle Aquarium
Green Tortoise Hostel Seattle
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Nearby Tours & activities
Opening times
| Monday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
Guests' reviews
This is an amazing place for toddlers and up - but I have to say take the kids. There is so much to see and do, lots and lots for kids to look at especially if you're willing to hoist them up to see inside the aquarium viewing windows. Taking kids gives adults a fresh view of, say, an octopus and how they eat, how many arms and suction cups and did you know they regenerate arms? There is a cafe on the top floor, books in little nooks that you won't find but the kids will. Well worth the entry fee.
I took my 15mo and he loved it. We watched a dive show, heard an octopus presentation and got to touch a starfish and a sea cucumber. He really loved the tide pools and seeing the water rush in with the current. It was very toddler friendly and he was happy to be running around independently. We had lunch at their cafe which was also kid friendly.
Visited the aquarium with my younger sister and she loved it! Her favorite part (aside from the cute plushies in the gift shop) was getting to touch the sea urchins and seeing the sea otters and seals. Although it was much smaller than I'd expected, we still spent a good four hours here, and there are quite a number of interesting exhibits including an octopus and a jellyfish arch. The underwater dome is an interesting idea as well, to see the surrounding fish of the area. The daily feedings are nice - watching the sea otters eat was quite adorable and we probably spent the most time doing that. If you're not incredibly interested in marine life though, this might be a short visit.
Such a beautiful location out on the water! The outdoor parts of the aquarium make it so much more fun. You can't miss the octopuses or the touch tanks. It's a bit smaller than we expected, but still had a great time. Wonderful, engaging staff as well. Super kid friendly too; as it should be!
Unique from all other aquariums nationally. Exhibits include scuba divers in tanks that can talk and answer questions from the patrons as they feed fish. Also have indoor tide pools where starfish and urchins can be touched. The museum is as lovely as it is educational. Checkout the moon jelly fish arch and the tanks that feature pounding waves!
My 2 year old loved watching the seals getting fed. The octopus tank is fun and interactive. My favorite section is the otters. The touch tank is well done. We really enjoyed our experience! If you plan on going more than once in a year, you should consider getting a membership.
Seattle aquarium is the place if you want kids to have a fascinating time watching the collection of aquatic animals and fish. The center is well laid out and informative. The wardens are very helpful. The tanks are well maintained and the variety of marine life on display was outstanding. I found myself spending at least 3-5 mins per display. To top it all, the sea otters and sea lions are fun to watch. Absolutely a must see if you are fascinated by colourful marine life that you would hardly get to see elsewhere. Especially if you have kids.
Took my little brother here and he enjoyed every minute! Fish are fun but the real draw is the mammals. The otters and seals are the most fun and really worth going for feeding time if you can swing it. Didn't see posted times for feeding but the information folks were very helpful so they could certainly assist you.
Small but very enjoyable aquarium located within walking distance of the market. The large mammals and many birds were definitely a great surprise that impressed me. Be sure to take your time and venture through everything, including the underground dome! I loved the otters and sea lions! I definitely recommend going here!
Very clean areas. Diverse exhibits. Liked the native Puget Sound exhibit; it's important for locals to know the amazing life that lives near them. Recommend getting the City Pass... aside from being cost- efficient, it really helps upon admission as there is a speedy line just for City Pass and ticket holders.
It is a great place to bring kids. We, as adults enjoyed this place as well. The collection is good. They have large number of fishes, jellyfish, anemone, seal, otter and other aquatic creatures. Don’t miss the exit that takes you to the other side where you can see the birds, seals from outside. It is fun to watch the seals play with each other. They have a touch and feel area which is great especially for kids. Well maintained and friendly staff.
Excellent! Combine with Pike Place for full-family-fun date! We took our tween to the aquarium and were lucky enough to catch the sea otter feeding time, a diver in the welcome-tank and a diver feeding in the domed-tank! It was perfect to spend a few hours exploring exhibits then walk the hill-climb to Pike Place Market for lunch then return to finish the afternoon at the aquarium. We felt like we'd seen a lot, our tween was pooped and we still got out of town before traffic was too unimaginable. I also though this helped us maximize the value of our tickets. The staff is so friendly and eager to educate. Exhibits are perfect for all ages, too! Easily a 5-star value!
If you're in Seattle and looking for something to do the aquarium is fun. They have a nice area for some hands on with anemones, starfish, and sea cucumbers plus everything ranging the from eels to otters to birds. A lot of the water used in the aquarium is pumped straight from Puget Sound to ensure it's the right environment for the local fish. Make sure you check out the river otters too, they are adorable.
Love this aquarium. I buy a yearly pass so we can take our grandchildren. Hands-On fun for the little ones, beautiful Waterfront setting, lots of fun for the family. Cafe upstairs has delicious food choices. Hands-On Toddler Time upstairs certain times and days. Gift shop.
Love this aquarium. I buy a yearly pass so we can take our grandchildren. They have daily times that they feed the seals and the fish. Fun to listen to the caretakers talk about the seals and even see them brushing the seals teeth! A diver can be seen feeding the fish in the amazing viewing dome, where you are completely surrounded by water with amazing views of the fish. Hands-On fun for the little ones, beautiful waterfront setting, lots of fun for the family. Cafe upstairs has delicious food choices. There is also outdoor seating with a great view. There is also a gift shop. Enjoy 10% off at the cafe and gift shop if you have an Aquarium membership. $2.00 off discount for Seniors 65+, persons with disabilities and active military. Open daily 9:30am- 5pm.
This place is always great! My whole family has so much fun every time we visit we end up staying the entire day! The staff is awesome! They all seem just as excited to teach about the creatures as the kids are to learn about them! The touch tanks are always a huge hit with my family... We spend the majority of our time there.
We loved the sea otters!! This aquarium is great for their variety of mammals and they have indoor and outdoor attractions. I loved being right on the water and the view. And I loved that they don't make their seals perform 💜💜💜 it's a small aquarium but the other aquariums in our completely land locked area of the country can't compare.
Love this place!!! It’s smaller than other aquariums around the country but high quality!! We go here several times a year! FYI they take the prime card which makes it a better price! The staff is so nice and helpful! We love everything about this place!
Impressive aquarium! I didn't know much about the Seattle Aquarium and wasn't excited about going. I'm glad I did. The first presentation off the lobby was a surprise. A woman in a diving suit in a large fish tank was speaking to the audience over the PA, trading off with another presenter in the room with us. Technically difficult, and somehow they made it look easy. She fed fish and talked about why two of the larger fish only have one eye. Lots of other exhibits. I was especially interested to see the Sea Otters. Well worth it!
Wonderful place to visit for everyone even toddlers. Don't miss the good food and reasonable prices in the cafeteria upstairs. For locals, a family membership is a bargain especially during a rainy winter. Trained volunteers add a family friendly and educational atmosphere. A giant step forward in helping us all protect and respect our marine environment.
This place is amazing. I learn more and more every time I go! The volunteers are very knowledgeable and helpful & always friendly. Their resident octopus put on an awesome show for us during his feeding, dancing around the tank and flexing his tentacles! It was incredible. Even the food in the aquarium cafe was good. Highly recommend this destination to natives & visitors alike.
Lively , clean venue. Very active area. Well laid out. The scuba diver demonstrations were fun for all. Giant 🐙! Cute sea otters! The white jellyfish be tank was ethereal! Large variety of local and tropical fish well cared for in clean, salt water tanks. Nice offerings in the gift shop. Good location for exploring other attractions along the waterfront.
A Seattle must do. It’s on the small side as far as other aquariums go, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in content and quality. I love that this aquarium focuses a lot on local and Pacific Northwest wildlife. They have a great mix of fish, seals, otters and other aquatic life. The seal and otter habitats seem well maintained and a good size. The fact the aquarium is right on the water front adds to the uniqueness! Definitely worth checking out!
Love this aquarium. I buy a yearly pass so we can take our grandchildren. They have daily times that they feed the seals and the fish. Fun to listen to the caretakers talk about the seals and even see them brushing the seals teeth! A diver can be seen feeding the fish in the amazing viewing dome, where you are completely surrounded by water with amazing views of the fish. Hands-On fun for the little ones, beautiful waterfront setting, lots of fun for the family. Cafe upstairs has delicious food choices. There is also outdoor seating with a great view. There is also a gift shop. Enjoy 10% off at the cafe and gift shop if you have an Aquarium membership. $2.00 off discount for Seniors 65+, persons with disabilities and active military. Open daily 9:30am- 5pm.
Fun place for the family. Great staff discussions (like feeding the seals or feeding the octopus). Touch tanks are great for all ages. Large dome room to see large fish is fun experience too. Has stroller parking. A great aquarium in general, depending on what you are used to-- wonderful compared to most but of course pales against Monterrey Bay Aquarium (which all will do).
This was a very fun place to visit. There are lots of exhibits. My favorite things that I saw were the octopus, penguins, and the otters. The otters were very playful and were doing lots of things. There was a good bit of activity which was nice, because sometimes when you go to a aquarium/zoo the animals aren’t up to much, that was not the case when I went here though. If you are visiting Seattle I would really recommend spending a morning in the fish market and then walking over to the aquarium.
This is a fun place to experience. It's a great stop when out enjoying the Pier area. So many different species to see and lots of information on habitats, preservation, etc. Actually getting to see and touch the beautiful creatures living in the waters locally made the experience that much more special. Gorgeous and educational.
