Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
4.5
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, TN, is literally teeming with life - over 10,000 exotic sea creatures in 350 individual species. There are more fish in this aquarium than there are people living in the entire town of Gatlinburg!
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • sonya M
    West Palm Beach, Florida87 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A day with the fish
    It's a little bit pricey but we grouped other Ripley's activities with our tickets. We had a good time at the aquarium. It took us about 2 hours to complete the aquarium. We fed the stingrays and got on the glass bottom boat. They had a mermaid show which we enjoyed.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 30, 2023
  • Adela L
    Bristol, Tennessee77 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Love the shark tunnel
    I love the Aquarium. The glass boat ride was very short, but our guide was knowledgeable and gave us lots of interesting facts about the fish there. The shark tunnel is possibly my favorite part. Definitely recommend visiting!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 20, 2024
  • mello
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice aquarium.
    Very nice venue with a lot of different animals to view. Easy to spend a lot of time here and get a nice experience for the price. Loved the walkthrough aquarium tunnel. I wouldn't recommend getting the Ripley's package deals because the Aquarium really is the best Ripley's feature in Gatlinburg.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 23, 2024
  • boxturtle
    20 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great little aquarium. Penguins are a must see!
    Great little aquarium. They have a moving walkway for a large portion of the tank viewing which helps keep people moving. The penguins were my favorite! It was very crowded but that is the reality of Gatlinburg attractions. Parking in the parking garage was easy-thankfully it wasn’t full when we got there. The gift store has a huge assortment of merchandise.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 28, 2024
  • Sarah L
    Midwest City, Oklahoma72 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome Host
    We did the overnight sleepover with the Sharks! We got a behind the scenes tour. We got to touch a jellyfish, iguana, shark and a penguin. Our overnight host was amazing. I believe her name was Faith. She brought out Moana the penguin and we had so much fun. We got to explore the whole aquarium before bedtime in the shark tunnel.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 1, 2024
  • skopi
    Cincinnati, Ohio160 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Better than expected
    Expected it to be cheesy but was a pretty solid aquarium. Wall through the big tanks was nice. The conveyor along the tanks was interesting to keep you moving. Kids enjoyed trying to touch the rays bit they weed unsuccessful. Touching jellies was closed however. I wish there were more penguins.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 3, 2024
  • One Dollar Shoes
    London, United Kingdom9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    MUST READ DO NOT SKIP!!
    This is the best establishment I have every visited. Absolutely exquisite. I stepped through the door and was immediately taken aback at the sheer excellence that radiated from the staff members who rushed around empty handed. We were served very quickly which is what I like. I never like to enjoy my meals I just inhale them. This was the best meal I have ever had. The fish was a bit raw and some of the visitors looked at me weirdly when I reached into the tank but it was self serve so I don’t know what the problem was. All in all the best place I have ever been.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written April 9, 2024
  • Voyage30143425965
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A night to remember with my partner.
    We had an extraordinary dinner tonight! Galbitang our favourite soup has been served well. Also, the mouthwatering wagyu rib eye! Many thanks to Geneva, Ivan and Chef Kenneth for giving an excellent service.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 24, 2024
  • Angelize1999
    Finger Lakes, New York526 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must go
    We had a great visit to the aquarium. Nothing better to do on a rainy day! Exhibits were great. Had a few schools there the day we went so it could get a bit busy on some spots but was not horrible. My son especially loved the stingrays. Ripleys have the best aquariums!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 10, 2024
  • CluxroyPlevin1
    Deerfield Beach, Florida23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice Aquarium. Recommended
    I though this was the highpoint of the trip to the Smokies. There are many tanks with a wide verity of marine life. Our ticket was combined with other Ripley's venues so there was better value than a single venue. Highly recommended.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 11, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles15,145 reviews
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10,017
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3,676
Average
1,144
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Todd and Teresa C
Canton, GA65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021
We always have a great time at Riipley's Aquarium. Even though it is small, they do a great job of presenting the animals. It is very pricey compared to even bigger aquariums, so I recommend some kind of combo ticket to justify the price. Overall, the family enjoyed it.
Written February 20, 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.

EWWhite
53 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2020 • Couples
My husband is a big aquarium fan so we splurged a little on the tickets to visit the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. The aquarium was well laid out and very informative. Technology throughout the building gave both visual and audio Information about the species included in each exhibit. While there were many good exhibits, one made the price of admission totally worth it! The star of this aquarium is a massive tank full of sharks, rays, turtles, & multiple kinds of fish. Because of the layout of the aquarium itself and the expansive tunnel system within it, visitors are able to view the tank from multiple vantage points above, beside, & underneath the water! A moving walkway through the spacious under-tank tunnels keeps traffic flowing and gives multiple perspectives on life within the tank. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting multiple incredible aquariums across the country, but I’ve never experienced anything quite like this. Everyone I saw, from very old to very young, were enthralled by the encounters available at this aquarium. I’m glad we paid the price...our experience was definitely worth it!
Written May 31, 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.

Joe
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
My wife and I are both educators so we received a very generous discount which we appreciated. We brought our toddler and she, we, loved every single moment. The aquarium had so much to offer and every bit of that visit was educational. What I admired the most was the dedication of the staff going around with sanitizing/cleaning materials wiping down handrails, and common touch points. The staff were accommodating, courtesy and professional. The aquarium was extremely well kept. The only downside is the long line to get out of the parking garage. Other than that, i would highly recommend visiting.
Written March 16, 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.

Rebecca W
Lexington, KY153 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2020 • Family
Enter this really clean nicely kept aquarium and you are met right away with a skeletal system of a type of turtle. After that its on to the fish! Decent amount of displays (tanks). It isn't the "biggest " aquarium I've ever been to, but it is very nice. This was during the unpleasant days (covid 19), so most all of the experience and hands on areas as well as the Cafe, were all closed. On that, I can't review it the way I would like. However, that being said...the amount of sharks was amazing, the animals all looked healthy and clean tanks. The penguins were adorable, didn't have that "funk" smell that you get as you walk by the penguins tank. There was a food cart in the interactive area. It felt slightly over priced, $3.00 drink wasn't the worst price I've ever spent, and it dose go to the aquarium, so ehh...
All in all, loved it. Probably will go again but not for a while, only because there is SO MUCH to do in and around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Written June 4, 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.

TheTravelingBoyMama
144 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
For what we paid for the tickets, we were kind of disappointed that this aquarium didn’t offer more. We’ve been to much smaller aquariums that have offered A LOT more than this one. It would keep small children entertained since there isn’t a lot and you move through it pretty quickly. They had an employee taking your pictures once you entered the building, and that really backed up the line. I’d love to see them move that to another place. The employee taking pictures got really unhappy when people tried to skip her taking pictures. The shark exhibit was our favorite with the moving floor to see the animals swimming above you.
Written June 16, 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.

acca
Naples, FL413 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Visited the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. The facility was good, but not as impressive as other aquariums. The entry price was high, more expensive than the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Read the COVID information on their website and we were encouraged as we entered and heard the general manager announcement about wearing masks and making sure to push them into place.

Spent about 30 minutes and left. There was little social distancing and too many guests were not wearing masks at all or had them on their chin or neck. Spoke with staff and they said there was nothing they could do, ran into a management team member on the way out and made him aware.

The team there should be doing more to influence behavior. Perhaps characters or staff walking around and gently urging spacing or mask wearing. Additionally, there were few dispensers in sight for sanitizing. By contrast we stopped by the Honey store, across the street, as a group of people ran in from the storm, the manager said please stop, please get those masks on if you are coming in here and all complied.

The following day we went to the Atlanta aquarium and it was great experience. Timed entry, 100% compliance with mask wearing, spacing and plenty of sanitization stations available. Additionally, the facility is larger and more fun, and less expensive as well. Everyone has a choice in this pandemic to participate or not however, when management publicizes their plan and creates expectation there should be some level of delivering on that commitment.
Written August 11, 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.

Mary F
Lancaster, PA49 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We ended up missing out on a 25% discount and paid full price $34 to get in. A little steep for about 1-1/2 hours. The tunnel under the shark lagoon is amazing. And the penguins are great. The rest is small tank displays, not exceptional.
Written February 22, 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.

livinnazoo
Jacksonville, FL90 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
This aquarium would be okay if you have children but for two adults, it was not that great. It was extremely crowded inside and clearly what we Floridians call a tourist trap. The cost of tickets is high and they offer this glass bottom boat experience that is an additional cost. The boat is just a small boat that is in the pool where the sharks are and not remotely worth the additional cost. They had a “penguin parade” and walked a few penguins through the aquarium- it took longer waiting for them than it did to see the two walking and one or two in wagons. The aquarium itself is pretty small and not like a large aquarium. The coolest part was the motorized sidewalk going under the water. All in all, it was an okay experience but I don’t recommend it unless you have small children.
Written May 19, 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.

Great_Beer_Now
Houston, TX5,275 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a popular vacation destination. There is a wide range of things to do and if your time is limited, you will have to narrow down the choices. One attraction that I have visited multiple times over the years and still enjoy is Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

This large aquatic attraction is a good one for people of any age. Kids will love observing all the different fish, sharks, sting rays, etc but adults will love it, too. The aquarium has several interactive activities where you can get to know the different sea creatures on a more intimate level and even touch them, if you want.

When you enter Aquarium of the Smokies, you will be directed toward the starting point. You just follow the pathway and it will lead you through the entire aquarium, floor by floor. The journey ends in the gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs to take home and keep the memories alive.

It would be difficult to choose a favorite part of this attraction. The tunnels are certainly cool. You can stand on the slow moving sidewalk and view the different fishes overhead, or if you want to move along a little faster, you can walk through the tunnels. The sting ray tank is also fun and one surprise is the boat ride and opportunity to touch penguins. This is a newer feature and lots of fun, but keep in mind that it does carry an extra charge.

Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies has parking out back, in the parking garage. It’s convenient and the price to park isn’t too bad. It’s a fun place for kids and adults alike and I rank this aquarium as one of my favorite activities in Gatlinburg and one of the few that I continue to do every time I visit.
Written March 19, 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.

Vanessa F
Jasper, GA9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Hubby and I ent and had a blast! There was a lot to see. Food was a little overpriced but that’s normal of any attraction but the pictures were super well priced and the gift shop had a ton of cute affordable options. We got our tickets with the Dolly Parton stampede and it was worth every penny ❤️
Written February 18, 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.

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