Adventure Aquarium
Adventure Aquarium
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Adventure Aquarium is just minutes from downtown Philadelphia on the Camden Waterfront and features one-of-a-kind exhibits with more than 15,000 aquatic species throughout two million gallons of water. The Aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos, one of only six facilities in the US to have Little Blue penguins as permanent residents and exhibits the longest Shark Bridge in the world, a unique V-shaped rope suspension bridge just inches over Shark Realm. Adventure Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is held to the absolute highest standards in animal care and exhibition.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
Features animals
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How to get there
- Aquarium • 3 min walk
- Entertainment Center • 8 min walk
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2,322 within 3 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,484 reviews
Excellent
557
Very good
602
Average
212
Poor
72
Terrible
41
mrpesce
Doylestown, PA605 contributions
Apr 2023
After living in the area for many years I decided to go and visit. I have been to many aquariums around the country and expected a similar experience. What I found was a small aquarium with nothing truly special. Their large tank and shark tunnel are nice but there isn't a lot of open areas to view the tank. As for the smaller exhibits, it was very disappointing. The building in right on the Delaware River and there isn't a single exhibit showing the ecosystem of the river, or even a local waterway. I feel that if you want to educate the public about the endangered ecosystems of the world, why not start with your own back yard?
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dorothy c
Boston, MA19 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Fantastic adventure . Loved every moment . Shark tanks were amazing also walking over the tank is priceless . A perfect afternoon . If you are looking to have lunch . Baine’s Deli outside the aquarium was delicious and fantastic staff . Made you feel like you were part of their family .
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sag123
6 contributions
Nov 2021
I have visited this aquarium several times in the past with my children, but hadn't been there for a few years. I was quite disappointed this time. They advertise all of the 'touch tanks' that they have for children, but they have changed them. First of all, the 'touch a shark' tank is very deep, so small children won't be able to reach down far enough to touch the sharks. They will tell you to visit their their other 'touch exhibits' instead. One of them was closed for the day, due to staff shortages, and another one had only two items in it. I had told my child about all the cool things she would be able to touch, but we were very disappointed.
One of them had a sign that said 'closed for 15 minutes'. We stayed in the area for about 25 minutes. A staff member finally arrived and told me that they would be closed for another 15 minutes.
The shark bridge is vey cool. The shark tunnel is amazing. The sting ray touch area is awesome. You can feed and touch stingrays, which was wonderful, but the other 'touch exhibits' were really lacking.
They tell you that you should reserve tickets online and then charged me almost $8.00 in extra fees. I also didn't like that the prices change based on the date, and even on a single date, the prices changed. The date we were going, the original price was $29.99 for adults. It kept slowly rising each day. Why??!! I didn't want to buy the tickets until the morning we were going, because with kids, you just never know if they will wake up sick. I ended up having to pay $32.99 for my adult tickets and the child ticket price rose too.
I used to love this place and always recommended it to others. This is no longer the case. I was really disappointed this time around. It was not worth the price I paid and the almost three hour drive home!
One of them had a sign that said 'closed for 15 minutes'. We stayed in the area for about 25 minutes. A staff member finally arrived and told me that they would be closed for another 15 minutes.
The shark bridge is vey cool. The shark tunnel is amazing. The sting ray touch area is awesome. You can feed and touch stingrays, which was wonderful, but the other 'touch exhibits' were really lacking.
They tell you that you should reserve tickets online and then charged me almost $8.00 in extra fees. I also didn't like that the prices change based on the date, and even on a single date, the prices changed. The date we were going, the original price was $29.99 for adults. It kept slowly rising each day. Why??!! I didn't want to buy the tickets until the morning we were going, because with kids, you just never know if they will wake up sick. I ended up having to pay $32.99 for my adult tickets and the child ticket price rose too.
I used to love this place and always recommended it to others. This is no longer the case. I was really disappointed this time around. It was not worth the price I paid and the almost three hour drive home!
Written November 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NLD
1 contribution
Apr 2022
The process to get information and book the party in the Skyline Room was frustrating. The phone is rarely answered, all the features of the party and space are not explained well. For the price of the space, the coordinators should be more available and constructive in promoting the features to close the group sale being mindful that not every potential customer has been in the space before.
We did not receive anything shark themed though that was the selected theme. We had plain blue dollar store plates, tablecloths and cups with brown fast food restaurant type napkins.
There was no table decor as we were told there would be. It was so plain and boring in design.
The pizzas were hard and dry with barely any cheese or sauce.
We were told we could have access to the space at least 15 minutes before the party to bring our cupcakes and miscellaneous party decor. We were not taken back until after the party started. Our guest had to wait to come back because of this, but our party was not extended to compensate even though I asked. In fact the attendants kept reminding us how many minutes we had left so we could start to leave.
I didn't know that any of us could have upgraded the ticket to a membership while we were there either!
No preword about the bluetooth music options...limited/outdated photos of the party space presented.
This was not the expected party experience at all.
Even worse, the staff never acknowledged our experience feedback.
We did not receive anything shark themed though that was the selected theme. We had plain blue dollar store plates, tablecloths and cups with brown fast food restaurant type napkins.
There was no table decor as we were told there would be. It was so plain and boring in design.
The pizzas were hard and dry with barely any cheese or sauce.
We were told we could have access to the space at least 15 minutes before the party to bring our cupcakes and miscellaneous party decor. We were not taken back until after the party started. Our guest had to wait to come back because of this, but our party was not extended to compensate even though I asked. In fact the attendants kept reminding us how many minutes we had left so we could start to leave.
I didn't know that any of us could have upgraded the ticket to a membership while we were there either!
No preword about the bluetooth music options...limited/outdated photos of the party space presented.
This was not the expected party experience at all.
Even worse, the staff never acknowledged our experience feedback.
Written May 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Holly S
8 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
When buying your tickets you'll notice that their calendar has a different price for every day. It doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason to it. For my husband, myself & our 5yr old it was $120 😳. We decided to do it as a special treat. You're asked to arrive a half hr before your reserved time (I'm not sure why that was as we walked right in & no one cared what time our reservation was for). There really isn't much to or that we could see. The windows into the habitats were extremely small and it was hard to see once the mobs of people cleared. The penguins were in a very small habit & looked sickly. The highlight for my son was the hippo tank (which was cringe worthy) and the gift shop. I would not recommend this as a fun, family activity. Certainly not budget friendly or animal friendly!
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marian S
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Business
The venue was pretty but the staff was the worst. They lacked communication and manners. They lied to us about hidden fees and set up our space incorrectly.
The Adventure Aquarium ruined our event. They charged us for parking when we were told it was free. They chose not to tell us that we would not be able to leave early without paying for parking. We were told about this hidden fee during the event. The staff was extremely rude. They yelled at us to get out faster and began touching our belongings. They forgot to set up our registration table on time so our check in was messed up. They did not provide enough tables even though we were told we would have enough for 300 people. We were given 10 tables (5 cocktail tables and 5 small sitting tables) and 15 chairs. They began setting up late and so our schedule was pushed back. They charged us for water even though we were told that water and soda were included. We were told there were no water fountains on site but we found two water fountains easily found by the dance floor. The food portions were much smaller than we expected and the quality of food was subpar. They told us there would be a “coat check.” Instead, they had coat racks that were not enough for the amount of guests we had and did not have enough coat hangers. We will not be hosting at the aquarium ever again. They were extremely difficult to work with and we recommend that you never work with this venue too. The only positive thing from this event was the nice pictures we got.
The Adventure Aquarium ruined our event. They charged us for parking when we were told it was free. They chose not to tell us that we would not be able to leave early without paying for parking. We were told about this hidden fee during the event. The staff was extremely rude. They yelled at us to get out faster and began touching our belongings. They forgot to set up our registration table on time so our check in was messed up. They did not provide enough tables even though we were told we would have enough for 300 people. We were given 10 tables (5 cocktail tables and 5 small sitting tables) and 15 chairs. They began setting up late and so our schedule was pushed back. They charged us for water even though we were told that water and soda were included. We were told there were no water fountains on site but we found two water fountains easily found by the dance floor. The food portions were much smaller than we expected and the quality of food was subpar. They told us there would be a “coat check.” Instead, they had coat racks that were not enough for the amount of guests we had and did not have enough coat hangers. We will not be hosting at the aquarium ever again. They were extremely difficult to work with and we recommend that you never work with this venue too. The only positive thing from this event was the nice pictures we got.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda c
5 contributions
Jun 2021
my friend and I who are seniors went thru the whole 'adventure" in 1/2 hour! Lines were so long. Total waste of money. The aquarium in riverhead ny is much less expensive, much better layout and no lines because the exhibits are spaced out. I requested a partial refund and never heard back from any representative/
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg187
New Jersey102 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
AA is a fairly small aquarium but certainly enjoyable enough. Shark tunnel was very cool and by far the highlight. Unfortunately, the hippos were not on display but I would imagine them to be the second best attraction. The other exhibits were certainly fine but nothing extraordinary or particularly exotic.
What turned me off about AA was the expense. Luckily they had a promotion going so my two kids were free. Otherwise admission for 4 would gave been more than $100! Inside also turned me off as we passed claw machines, multiple food concessions, dippin dot machines and massage chairs. Yes, massage chairs! Odd. You exit their best exhibit through a giant gift shop and along the way there were plenty of professionals willing to take your photo for a fee.
Mind you, the aquarium is no longer a non-profit; it’s a for profit venture. So the $25 stuffed shark I bought doesn’t just help maintain the penguins, it supports a corporate entity.
We did have a good time. Just be sure you have a promo code or some sort of discount coupon. I would have been pretty disappointed if I paid full price for a family of four. Oh and try and go when the weather is nice so you can stroll the promenade outside and enjoy the great river views.
What turned me off about AA was the expense. Luckily they had a promotion going so my two kids were free. Otherwise admission for 4 would gave been more than $100! Inside also turned me off as we passed claw machines, multiple food concessions, dippin dot machines and massage chairs. Yes, massage chairs! Odd. You exit their best exhibit through a giant gift shop and along the way there were plenty of professionals willing to take your photo for a fee.
Mind you, the aquarium is no longer a non-profit; it’s a for profit venture. So the $25 stuffed shark I bought doesn’t just help maintain the penguins, it supports a corporate entity.
We did have a good time. Just be sure you have a promo code or some sort of discount coupon. I would have been pretty disappointed if I paid full price for a family of four. Oh and try and go when the weather is nice so you can stroll the promenade outside and enjoy the great river views.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MD_T0urist
Atlanta, GA218 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
We have booked an animal encounter for my son’s birthday for a Friday afternoon because the Aquarium reserves the animals for birthday parties on weekends. I had taken the day off work to accommodate their schedule. A week before the encounter we got a call from Ryan saying that our encounter is postponed until at least 2 weeks later because they have a mermaid event. This guy was the least personable robot for a customer service manager one can speak to that we might as well have been talking to a recording. He blamed his boss for this, and said he was told to call us to tell us our booked encounter was not available. He was unwilling to do anything to make things work beyond essentially rebooking the event. When requested, he said that “could” tell his boss to call us back but he couldn’t guarantee anyone would actually call back. We asked to switch the encounter to the day after the call (rather than 2 weeks after the actual birthday) and he only offered 11AM without regard for school and work. They clearly don’t need business for either Adventure Aquarium or Herschend Family Entertainment if this is how they handle members who have paid for an animal encounter.
Written February 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol H
Newton, NJ125 contributions
Feb 2020
Recently we took my grandsons to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. What a fantastic place for children. The name is misleading as the exhibits include all kinds of animals. There are beautiful aquariums with exotic fish - my favorite was the large yellow tropical fish. There are terrariums with spiders, frogs, turtles and such. They even had a beautiful African Grey parrot in an aviary. The hippos were very interesting and fun to watch playing with a ball. There is a suspended bridge, completely enclosed with cargo netting over a pool of sharks. The two year old was not quite sure and it states that no child can be carried; they must walk on their own. With encouragement he did make it across. There was not enough time to see everything in one day and sadly the penguin exhibit will have to wait for another time. There are a number of areas where anyone can pet/touch starfish, stingrays, and other such ocean dwelling animals.
The one rather strange part was all of the various food courts. As soon as you enter the building there was a huge concession selling food! Every so often you ran into yet another fastfood location. Not being a fastfood aficionado I found the smell of all that grease a bit off putting There are also a number of child play areas but they really aren't necessary and certainly a distraction to the original purpose of going to the aquarium.
All in all it was quite a pleasant way to spend the day. My advise would be to arrive as close to opening time (10:00 a.m.) as possible. We only had to wait out in the bitter cold for a brief time. As we left around 2:00 the lines wound around the building with no improvement in the weather.
The one rather strange part was all of the various food courts. As soon as you enter the building there was a huge concession selling food! Every so often you ran into yet another fastfood location. Not being a fastfood aficionado I found the smell of all that grease a bit off putting There are also a number of child play areas but they really aren't necessary and certainly a distraction to the original purpose of going to the aquarium.
All in all it was quite a pleasant way to spend the day. My advise would be to arrive as close to opening time (10:00 a.m.) as possible. We only had to wait out in the bitter cold for a brief time. As we left around 2:00 the lines wound around the building with no improvement in the weather.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much is admission for children between the ages of 8 thru 15 ? Admission price for Adults ?
sylviak659
Egg Harbor City, United States16 contributions
Do they sell a photo pass or do you buy the pictures a la carte? How much do the photos cost?
MaryFindley
Springfield, VT34 contributions
I didn't see a photo pass option there. I only remember one photo,behen you first arrive.
I just purchased tickets for grandparents week, sept 8th through sept 14th. Due to flooding I can't get there this week. Will they extend my tickets?
BusdriverPhil
Bethlehem, PA937 contributions
If it was just a promotion to get grandparents involved you might be ok but call and explain your situation and I would recommend talking to the general managers and get a name.
Hi I plan to come on sunday April 7. Please tell is it open on Sundays or not. also do I need to buy ticket for my 1 year old kid. tickets are available on same day or do i need to buy prior to visit.Thanks
Dave C
Provo, United States124 contributions
Sorry I'm late getting back to you. I guess you found out that hey are open on Sunday and you can but tickets at the door. I don't know if the one-year-old needed a ticket. I hope your family had fun!
Hi I plan to come on Sunday April 7. Is aquarium open on Sunday? Do I need to buy ticket for my one your old kid? and are the tickets available on same day or I have to buy these prior to visit online?
grisby1972
Harrisburg, PA25 contributions
You child is free, I purchased my ticket online. I would do the same to avoid the lines or if they are sold out, this way you are guaranteed entry.
How much are tickets for adults and kids
gaurav s
Dallas, TX52 contributions
We got ours from our town library which sold them for about 50% off. You may want to check yours.
Adventure Aquarium (Camden) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Adventure Aquarium
- Adventure Aquarium is open:
- Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Sat - Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking Adventure Aquarium tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Adventure Aquarium tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Adventure Aquarium:
- (0.29 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront Philadelphia
- (0.70 mi) Thomas Bond House Bed & Breakfast
- (0.79 mi) Independence Park Hotel, BW Premier Collection
- (0.66 mi) Penn's View Hotel
- (0.55 mi) Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing
- Restaurants near Adventure Aquarium:
- (0.05 mi) Bain's Deli
- (0.22 mi) Victor's Pub
- (0.22 mi) Market Street Pizzeria & Italian Bistro
- (0.54 mi) Keating’s Rope & Anchor Bar + Kitchen
- (0.78 mi) Bistro Romano
- Attractions near Adventure Aquarium:
- (0.12 mi) Ulysses Wiggins Waterfront Park
- (0.12 mi) Camden Children's Garden
- (0.46 mi) Battleship New Jersey
- (0.50 mi) Patriot Harbor Lines
- (0.61 mi) WeVenture Philadelphia
Adventure Aquarium Information
Excellent Reviews | 556 |
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Very Good Reviews | 602 |
Adventure Aquarium Photos | 1,243 |