Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium
4
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The heartbeat of hands-on marine experience and preservation education in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Aquarium offers fun, exciting ways to discover more about the amazing Puget Sound that surrounds you! Join us in our mission: Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Pike Place Market
How to get there
- University St • 7 min walk
- Westlake Hub • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,943 within 3 miles
Attractions
753 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- BlovesfoodBensalem, Pennsylvania655 contributionsSo much to learn and seeWe are from the East Coast and found this museum to be more informative than the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. We learned so much about the local species, saw an octopus, and experienced displays that were new and exciting for us. We spent two hours at the Aquarium. Went on a Monday and tickets were approximately $39. Great activity for couples, families, and solo visitors.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 6, 2024
- Dianne H42 contributionsSea life experienceOne of the best aquariums I have ever visited. Lots of school children on the day I visited. Well laid out with wonderful sea life. The outside areas were awesome too. Loved the seal pool.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 20, 2024
- Krisztina W17 contributionsThe local wildlife exhibit made it worthwhileInitial impression was a letdown as the first parts of the exhibit were in need of some upkeep and TLC, not to mention that I was surrounded by a large group of your children. The adults accompanying the children weren’t a whole lot better, they seemed to think the whole place belonged to them only. So I walked through the southern pacific exhibits rather quickly and made my way to the second building where local wildlife could be seen. Even though I have visited the Aquarium many years ago, this part was worth coming back for. I learned a lot about life in the bay and the sound both above and underwater. I got to admire some seals and sea otters which made me smile and made my day. Thank you to the animals and their caretakers for letting me enjoy a bit of wild company in Seattle.Visited June 2024Traveled soloWritten June 1, 2024
- SchalkeholikerHaltern am See, Germany104 contributionsMediocre, but too expensiveThe aquarium was basically OK, but nothing special. Some stations were quite interesting, but in the end I found it much too expensive for what I experienced. Unfortunately, the well-known picture of the underwater dome is not as clean as it appears, but rather cloudy and covered in algae.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 4, 2024
- Kari R191 contributionsSea Otters, Octopi and more!This was a very nice way to spend a Seattle afternoon. Great for families and kiddos. Good (and informative) displays and a good variety of marine wildlife and birds. We were lucky enough to get there right before the sea otters were fed. Totally worth waiting a bit for! This attraction is a little on the spender side for what it is and how long you will be there compared to some other Seattle attractions.Visited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten June 17, 2024
- Gurke_11Berlin, Germany21 contributionsVery old ageingQuite small aquarium, few animals, these are housed in very small pools/aquariums. Touch aquariums occupy a large space where you can touch sea anemones etc. I don't think it's that great for the animals. The staff are very dedicated and explain a lot.Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 27, 2024
- ULe198 contributionsDisappointing AquariumI had somewhat high hopes for this place. For the price of $44 and yes I booked tickets day of, it definitely was not worth it. The enclosures for the otters(river and sea) were so tiny. Same for the sea lions and harbor seals. Made me sad. I think for kids this is a great experience. For adults, not worth it.Visited July 2024Traveled soloWritten July 4, 2024
- Cristy71198Pikeville, Kentucky131 contributionsSeattle Aquarium ExperienceThis is not like a Ripley’s aquarium, and if you walk in and just walk out, I think you will miss the opportunity to see its value. My daughter absolutely loved it and will be a senior this year! They are so many educational opportunities. You have to slow down read the signs, search for all the different things posted on the signs. If it is crowded just take your time and wait! So much to learn and see about the area. To appreciate this is the kind of aquarium you definitely need to have the right mindset and we loved it!Visited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 8, 2024
- eMBark TravelersWashington47 contributionsGreat Aquarium Centered on Local Fish & AnimalsWe really enjoyed the outdoor areas with the local animals and birds. It was fun to see them up close. The indoor Hawaiian and coral reed tanks were great to walk through and the touch tanks were also a fun experience. Depending on when you go, you can watch the salmon ladder or see the current growth stages of the new salmon before they are released back into the Sound.Visited May 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 14, 2024
- Amanda C3 contributionsCool and quickMuch better aquarium now. The marine mammals exhibit was neat as well as the wave tank. It was much smaller than I thought. I was nervous about time but we got through very fast- so a little hi fun places for the vastnessVisited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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
4.0
4,378 reviews
Excellent
1,534
Very good
1,579
Average
969
Poor
221
Terrible
75
Tandy
United States37 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
I’ve been to several aquariums. This one for the ticket price of over $40 per person is not worth the price. Because we had timed tickets, we thought it wouldn’t be as crowded. The crowds made it nearly impossible to see the exhibits. We had to pass by several exhibits because we couldn’t get close enough to see in, but that meant we went through the lower portion within 30 minutes! So, we went back through again but still too crowded. Went to the upper, newer section and that too was crowded. Maybe there for 1:15 ($80 for basically an hour)? I assume during the week when less crowded it would be more enjoyable but for those who have been to Monterey or Atlanta aquariums the Seattle aquarium is very disappointing. The pricing is more on weekend.
Written October 23, 2024
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.
VanEsq12
Dallas, TX4,224 contributions
Sep 2024 • Friends
I have been going to this aquarium for over 40 years. Although there have been some minor changes, for the most part it is the same, and exactly what one might expect. This week, a brand new pavilion opened, and although it is attached to the aquarium, it's primary role is sealife breeding, rehabilitation, education and care. There are fish to see here, most significantly a tank about as tall and wide as an IMAX screen, but the main exhibits are in the original structure. Children will love it. There are plenty of fish, sharks, rays and jellies to look at. There is a beautiful octopus that loves to eat crab legs. There are sea lions, sea otters, river otters and more. There are touch tanks where you can touch a sea urchin, starfish and sea anemone. But on the whole, this aquarium feels old and outdated. And for right at $50 per person, a visit here is an investment. To be quite honest, once you've been to the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium in Missouri, or the Georgia Aquarium, the bar is set so high, few others, including this facility, can compete. If you need a rainy day activity, or have children who love fish, it may be worth a visit. But for adults, your money may be better spent elsewhere. HINT: No food/drink allowed. HINT: Five minute walk from Pike Place Market.
Written September 26, 2024
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.
TravelingOYEster
Palm Beach, FL407 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We liked our time at the aquarium. The prices however are absolutely insane. It prices locals out of the park - and as a visitor, I was extremely surprised at the entrance price. We liked the touch tank and seals the best. If you don’t mind spending $$$ for an hour (maybe 1.5 hrs) of your time, then worth it. It was also extremely crowded - so if you don’t love crowds double check to see what time is least crowded.
Written October 20, 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.
Mustang X
Dallas, NC87 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is not a great aquarium. It’s small with limited animals. It was hot in the building and had a strange odor. It was $40 a person and took about 90 minutes to go through. Seattle is very expensive but this is not worth spending your hard earned money on. They are doing a big expansion. Let’s hope it will improve the experience.
Written August 17, 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.
Donata L
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Family
We were so disappointed. The new addition was a total let down. It looks like they just want people to come in and give them money to do their research. The old building is a bit run down with some exhibits, or aquariums are shut down . There were dying fish in one of the big tanks which I guess is life but not what we came to see. The staff was very rude if you make a mistake and go the wrong way, and the entry is confusing with the new building. Its definitely not worth that huge price tag.
Written October 20, 2024
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.
Ken (haileythegolden)
Edmonton, Canada3,448 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
We visited the new addition. It was extremely Underwhelming. The new building consisted of 2 floors of exhibits. We had our grandchildren and went through in 30 minutes. The new tank encompasses 2 floors of fish. It costs us $135 for 2 seniors and 2 children.
Written November 27, 2024
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.
Robin D
5 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
This has to be the worst aquarium I’ve ever been to. They be building a new one but they should tell you first. You can see some fish and coral a few sea otters and harbor seals, through dirty glass. For $51.00 it’s a total rip-off. When you walk in they take your picture and then try to charge you $30.00 for a copy. They say you can download a copy for free but it has copyright protection on it. Don’t waste your time or money.
Written August 7, 2024
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.
Christopher S
Hayden, ID19 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
Absolutely Not for kids over 6; very small and expensive for very limited sea life. Lots of posters and lots of open empty space. Nothing bigger than a salmon and an otter. Pt Defiance Zoo and Aquarium’s has two aquariums bigger than this place and more variety and bigger tanks… plus you get the entire zoo too and it is cheaper.
Hands down the most disappointing attraction in the Seattle area in my 3 weeks visiting the area.. and the most expensive. My recommendation is to run not walk from this place unless you maybe have a city pass and already are doing everything else on that pass… we looped the entire place twice in less than an hour.. hoping we missed something.. but no..it really was this disappointing.
Hands down the most disappointing attraction in the Seattle area in my 3 weeks visiting the area.. and the most expensive. My recommendation is to run not walk from this place unless you maybe have a city pass and already are doing everything else on that pass… we looped the entire place twice in less than an hour.. hoping we missed something.. but no..it really was this disappointing.
Written December 24, 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.
Lauren C
New Jersey168 contributions
Sep 2024 • Solo
They have some great exhibits here, love the focus on the local wildlife. I was able to see a sea otter feeding which was really cute and informative! I enjoyed seeing the octopus and the seals as well. However I did not find this worth $40+ for a single ticket.
Written September 25, 2024
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.
Adelie B
United States103 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Extremely small and very expensive for what you get. The exhibits were tiny and you could barely see anything amidst the crowds. We paid $90 for 2 tickets and were done with the entire experience in 20mins. The Vancouver BC aquarium was leaps and bounds better. Hope this aquarium does a huge revamp soon because it’s sorely needed!
Written December 24, 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.
Is admission free for the last hour? I feel like I read that somewhere.
Written July 27, 2019
About 1.5-2 hours I would say :)
Written August 6, 2017
I have also visited the Shedd Aquarium...twice...and think the one in Seattle is very good, and competes with Chicago. I'm sorry you did not like it. Did you get to see the octopus being fed, or the sea lions?
Written June 16, 2016
No we didn't see either of the ones you mentioned but we have been to several aquariums in the states and this one was our least liked . We still enjoyed it but we were expecting so much more especially in a big City like Seattle!
Written June 17, 2016
The aquarium encompasses two huge buildings. Did you not go next door and see the otters, seals, sea lions, and the birds?
Written June 16, 2016
yes we did, I particular like the sea lions, otters and certain birds are my favorite, like eagles, and owls, and a few others. No matter where I go I try to explore new aquariums or zoos or safari parks.
Written June 19, 2016
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