Maritime Aquarium Photos
You might also consider
More like Maritime Aquarium
Recommended Reviews - Maritime Aquarium
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Norwalk, CT - this is a nice daytrip from NY/NJ. The aquarium is of a manageable size, just two floors and not too big, with many interesting exhibits, animal encounters, and a kids play area on the upper level. We especially loved the shark demo in front of the dramatic shark tanks where you can watch these majestic creatures glide by, the touch tanks (sting ray and Atlantic sturgeon), and the reservoir near the entrance where a large turtle would playfully swim up and seemingly interact with the humans staring up in awe. It makes quite a first impression! Also very cool is the interactive digital display on the ground floor, where you can paint a sea animal on a computer screen and transfer it to the large screen as a 3D rendering swimming in the Long Island Sound. There's a snack bar right by the entrance which is perfect for a quick break or a pre-game feed as in the case of my child who cried hunger as soon as we stepped in. There's also a proper café upstairs - really nice, with an open and airy layout and exposed red brick, à la an industrial Brooklyn loft. We only ate fries & ice cream (ha!) so I can't tell you how the food is. Parking: there are a couple of options. The Maritime Aquarium parking garage is $2/hour with a maximum of $8 + tax. Or street parking via ParkMobile which costs $4.85 but is limited to 3 hours. The Stepping Stone Children's Museum is very close if you have bandwidth to make a full day of it (we didn't!).
This was our second visit to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, and we really enjoy coming back. It's on the smaller side, but there's still plenty to see and do. For its size, they have a great variety of touch tanks -- from jellyfish to sturgeon to stingrays -- and my son felt brave enough to touch almost everything this time and loved it. I also appreciate that there are hand-washing stations everywhere. We love the jellyfish exhibits, and the shark tank is very cool -- this visit we even got to see a diver inside answering questions. They offer short 4D movies for $8, though it may be better for older kids (my 2-year-old got a little scared). Paid parking is across the street, and overall it's an easy, fun outing for families. We've heard they offer overnight experiences too and might try that next time!
This was our first family visit to the Maritime aquarium at Norwalk. It won't be the last. There was so much to do at the aquarium, especially for kids. My daughter is only two years old and had the time of her life at the aquarium simply upon entry. The sea turtle exhibit is amazing. The giant sea turtles immediately attract everyone that walks in my daughter could've stayed there all day. There were so many exhibits in such a small space and so many interactive exhibits, whether it was feeding the Reyes, jiggling a jelly parentheses, and exhibit where you get to touch a jellyfish), watching the seals be fed and cared for, or even pretending you're a meerkat in the meerkat exhibit or you can pop your head up inside their exhibit. The price was extremely reasonable for everything that was included. I've been to quite a few aquariums in the tri-state area and this one was a great family time. It's definitely going to be a place. We head back to over and over again.
This place is not too large but there is so much to see and learn! We were able to touch the stingrays, jellyfish and the sturgeon. Spectacular. The jellyfish were memorizing to watch and we were estatic to see sea horses! They have sharks, seals, turtles and all kinds of fish to look at. There is also some land animals on the second floor and we had a good laugh watching the meerkats in action. The staff was very knowledgeable and passionate about their work and the mission of the aquarium and they are happy to answer any questions. It makes for a nice day for families with children or even adults only. Not too much walking, but enough to get some energy out. There is an elevator. There is a cafe with snacks and sandwiches, a gift shop, and water refilling stations so bring your reusable water bottle. Restrooms too and they were clean. The Imax theater is an extra cost and parking is across the street in a pay to park garage for the aquarium.
My friends convinced me to trek all the way to CT to see this hidden gem of an aquarium. We were thinking of going to Mystic for their infamous aquarium but was dreading how far it was. This aquarium was the compromise and we are so thrilled we came. My kids are young so this was more than enough. They got to touch stingrays, jelly fishes, and crabs. They don't have beluga whales like Mystic, but I'm OK with that.
This place is not just an aquarium but a a mini zoo. They have a lot of different animals to see and even touch! It is also amazing that everything is indoors so you can walk around without having to worry about the cold. Walking in we were to get the tickets easily and didnt have a problem getting in. We saw so many cool animals that we could touch. Some include jellyfish(only the tops), stingray and a really boney long fish. (I can't remember the name lol). They also had non aquatic animals like owls, bats, and sloths. The place is kept very clean as there wasnt ever the fishy aquarium smell you would normally encounter. The staff was friendly and always happy to help.
I grew up in the area and recently came back for my high school reunion. I wanted to take my kids to the aquarium where I went many times when I was their age. I've been using a service dog for almost 20 years. The staff did good asking 1 of the 2 questions allowed under federal law but I definitely encourage them to ask both. They can also say "we don't have my areas service dogs aren't allowed." I forgot to ask and had to stop someone to follow up. Some zoos and aquariums have areas dogs can't go because the animals are sensitive or there are open animal areas so if there is a map of places the dogs can't go it's good to have a map or list handy. It was great to see the changes and what had stayed the same. My kids LOVED it.
My wife and I took our daughter to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk to see the fishes. There is a parking garage across the street, and it takes about 2 hours to walk through all the exhibits. (even with a baby) There is a surprising amount of variety at this small aquarium, including sea lions, a giant pacific octopus, sharks, otters, meerkats, tortoises, bats, owls, skunks, and of course fish. There is also a 4D theater available for an additional fee, as well as touch tanks for the sturgeon, stingrays, and nurse sharks. It's a good way to entertain a kid for the afternoon. Informational for adults too.
We go to the aquarium about twice a year to visit the octopus. The low lighting makes it very calm and we are almost always there when it's later in the day and most people have gone home. The stingrays are extra cute and will approach no matter what. Overall, I enjoy being near water and near ocean animals as well. And Norwalk and the aquarium have all that and more.
My toddler and nephew had a great time at the Maritime Aquarium! There were many options to see and even touch some of the marine life. I also loved the live animals such as meerkats, foxes, monkeys and sloth! We went on a Wednesday and it was extremely busy even when they first opened. I was completely shocked I'm not sure if Wednesdays are for summer camps but it was busses and busses of them today. My daughter loved touching the sting rays and jellies. She really wanted to touch the star fish but the countless camp goers kept rushing past others in line. I would've liked the workers at this station to step in and ask them to wait their turn but instead they continued to chat with them while others who were next in line had to wait even longer. Besides the unorganized chaos of the campers, we had a nice time. My daughter and nephew's favorites were the sharks, gigantic sea turtles and fun seals. Would recommend for toddlers.
Purchasing timed entry tickets online was quick and easy. We parked in the adjacent garage. We went on a rainy Sunday and I've never seen more strollers in one place ever. Even with it being fairly busy we were able to easily approach and see each of the exhibits. The interior is laid out nicely and there is plenty of signage to follow so you see all the exhibits. There were interactive exhibits, and a nice play area for young children. There is a walkway across the street along the water with benches where it would be relaxing to sit for a bit on a nice day. I recommend a visit if you have young children.
Hey, we have 2 children under 13. To be specific, both boys, he's 7 &1/2 and the other boy is 12 - close to 13. We came here on a Wednesday, around 1 pm ish. The younger son had a free return ticket. (He had been to the aquarium a few weeks b4.) Parking was easy enough in the garage. We walked over and payed for myself and the 12 yr old. Plus we paid 7$ for all 3 of us to see a 4D movie about turtles. All In all it cost around 60$. We spent a few hours walking around the aquarium. Highlights for the kids were the SHARKS, the porcupine, the bats and the seal feeding. I would say you spend roughly around 2 to 3 hours in this place. It worth it. The movie was entertaining for the kids and I got a kick out of it... they would spray water to simulate waves and wave foam... bubbles were shot out of the ceiling to simulate underwater ocean bubbles. The 12 yr old wanted ice cream dots. They were expensive. 6.99 for a small cup of DOTS and 7.99 for a large. I told home forget it, after we ditch the Aquarium, we were going to hit an Italian restaurant for Pizza and Vanilla Gelato. Overall a decent aquarium experience. A bit expensive and I believe they are adding extensions to the building. I wonder how often they change the animal exhibits?
Run don't walk to the Maritime aquarium What an amazing and fun day today yes you should go Stay for the seal feeding which I highly recommend also pay the seven dollars to see one of the 4D films totally worth it and the kids will have an amazing time Whether you go alone on a date or you bring the kids, this is a wonderful adventure did I mention they were sharks ??
This is a great maritime center and aquarium! They have a seal show centered in the seals' health care and our show had the veterinarians there doing examinations and applying eye drops. Everyone was told the animals histories and why they were still there. One of the seals is blind and they explained how it is able to still negotiate their living space. The hands touch areas are well monitored with staff and again explanations of the different species was provided! Hand wash and dry stations were all around prior to and after touching animals. The exhibits were thoughtfully planned out and large enough for multiple person viewing. I would have like more sitting areas in some of the halls for us older folks watching independent children who wanted to hang out watching the meerkats or owls or birds. The fish tank area with the sea turtles was magnificent! The jelly fish exhibit so relaxing and zen with the background music. The new puffin exhibit is a combination of live puffins and then video presentations of their living areas in Maine! For me 2 year old granddaughter to be attentive for 4 hours was spectacular- thank you! read more
Our first time and it was lovely. We bought tickets right when the aquarium opened. All of the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend getting there right when it opens at 10 AM. There's a parking garage right across the street. read more
Drove from Cincinnati just to see the loggerhead turtle that's advertised on the website only to find out that they don't have one have paying $80 to get in. Sent email to customer service and can't even get a response. The rest of the aquarium is beautiful and the two green sea turtles are amazing! I had also not seen an active octopus until this aquarium. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Hi Tammy. Thank you for reaching out to us about your visit, we…
Norwalk, CT - this is a nice daytrip from NY/NJ. The aquarium is of a manageable size, just two floors and not too big, with many interesting exhibits, animal encounters, and a kids play area on the upper level. We especially loved the shark demo in front of the dramatic shark tanks where you can watch these majestic creatures glide by, the touch tanks (sting ray and Atlantic sturgeon), and the reservoir near the entrance where a large turtle would playfully swim up and seemingly interact with the humans staring up in awe. It makes quite a first impression! Also very cool is the interactive digital display on the ground floor, where you can paint a sea animal on a computer screen and transfer it to the large screen as a 3D rendering swimming in the Long Island Sound. There's a snack bar right by the entrance which is perfect for a quick break or a pre-game feed as in the case of my child who cried hunger as soon as we stepped in. There's also a proper café upstairs - really nice, with an open and airy layout and exposed red brick, à la an industrial Brooklyn loft. We only ate fries & ice cream (ha!) so I can't tell you how the food is. Parking: there are a couple of options. The Maritime Aquarium parking garage is $2/hour with a maximum of $8 + tax. Or street parking via ParkMobile which costs $4.85 but is limited to 3 hours. The Stepping Stone Children's Museum is very close if you have bandwidth to make a full day of it (we didn't!). read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting, Lailah! We hope to see you again soon.
This was our second visit to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, and we really enjoy coming back. It's on the smaller side, but there's still plenty to see and do. For its size, they have a great variety of touch tanks -- from jellyfish to sturgeon to stingrays -- and my son felt brave enough to touch almost everything this time and loved it. I also appreciate that there are hand-washing stations everywhere. We love the jellyfish exhibits, and the shark tank is very cool -- this visit we even got to see a diver inside answering questions. They offer short 4D movies for $8, though it may be better for older kids (my 2-year-old got a little scared). Paid parking is across the street, and overall it's an easy, fun outing for families. We've heard they offer overnight experiences too and might try that next time! read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for visiting. We appreciate and value your feedback!
This was our first family visit to the Maritime aquarium at Norwalk. It won't be the last. There was so much to do at the aquarium, especially for kids. My daughter is only two years old and had the time of her life at the aquarium simply upon entry. The sea turtle exhibit is amazing. The giant sea turtles immediately attract everyone that walks in my daughter could've stayed there all day. There were so many exhibits in such a small space and so many interactive exhibits, whether it was feeding the Reyes, jiggling a jelly parentheses, and exhibit where you get to touch a jellyfish), watching the seals be fed and cared for, or even pretending you're a meerkat in the meerkat exhibit or you can pop your head up inside their exhibit. The price was extremely reasonable for everything that was included. I've been to quite a few aquariums in the tri-state area and this one was a great family time. It's definitely going to be a place. We head back to over and over again. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting, Kevin!
This place is not too large but there is so much to see and learn! We were able to touch the stingrays, jellyfish and the sturgeon. Spectacular. The jellyfish were memorizing to watch and we were estatic to see sea horses! They have sharks, seals, turtles and all kinds of fish to look at. There is also some land animals on the second floor and we had a good laugh watching the meerkats in action. The staff was very knowledgeable and passionate about their work and the mission of the aquarium and they are happy to answer any questions. It makes for a nice day for families with children or even adults only. Not too much walking, but enough to get some energy out. There is an elevator. There is a cafe with snacks and sandwiches, a gift shop, and water refilling stations so bring your reusable water bottle. Restrooms too and they were clean. The Imax theater is an extra cost and parking is across the street in a pay to park garage for the aquarium. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting, Denise!
My friends convinced me to trek all the way to CT to see this hidden gem of an aquarium. We were thinking of going to Mystic for their infamous aquarium but was dreading how far it was. This aquarium was the compromise and we are so thrilled we came. My kids are young so this was more than enough. They got to touch stingrays, jelly fishes, and crabs. They don't have beluga whales like Mystic, but I'm OK with that. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for visiting! We hope to see you again!
2 months ago
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for reaching out, we appreciate and value your…
2 years ago
This place is not just an aquarium but a a mini zoo. They have a lot of different animals to see and even touch! It is also amazing that everything is indoors so you can walk around without having to worry about the cold. Walking in we were to get the tickets easily and didnt have a problem getting in. We saw so many cool animals that we could touch. Some include jellyfish(only the tops), stingray and a really boney long fish. (I can't remember the name lol). They also had non aquatic animals like owls, bats, and sloths. The place is kept very clean as there wasnt ever the fishy aquarium smell you would normally encounter. The staff was friendly and always happy to help. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting, Katherine! We hope to see you again soon.
1 year ago
I grew up in the area and recently came back for my high school reunion. I wanted to take my kids to the aquarium where I went many times when I was their age. I've been using a service dog for almost 20 years. The staff did good asking 1 of the 2 questions allowed under federal law but I definitely encourage them to ask both. They can also say "we don't have my areas service dogs aren't allowed." I forgot to ask and had to stop someone to follow up. Some zoos and aquariums have areas dogs can't go because the animals are sensitive or there are open animal areas so if there is a map of places the dogs can't go it's good to have a map or list handy. It was great to see the changes and what had stayed the same. My kids LOVED it. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting! We appreciate your feedback.
11 months ago
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for reaching out, we appreciate and value your…
My wife and I took our daughter to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk to see the fishes. There is a parking garage across the street, and it takes about 2 hours to walk through all the exhibits. (even with a baby) There is a surprising amount of variety at this small aquarium, including sea lions, a giant pacific octopus, sharks, otters, meerkats, tortoises, bats, owls, skunks, and of course fish. There is also a 4D theater available for an additional fee, as well as touch tanks for the sturgeon, stingrays, and nurse sharks. It's a good way to entertain a kid for the afternoon. Informational for adults too. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for visiting, Nick! We hope to see you and your family…
3 months ago
We go to the aquarium about twice a year to visit the octopus. The low lighting makes it very calm and we are almost always there when it's later in the day and most people have gone home. The stingrays are extra cute and will approach no matter what. Overall, I enjoy being near water and near ocean animals as well. And Norwalk and the aquarium have all that and more. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Semora! We hope to see you again soon!
My toddler and nephew had a great time at the Maritime Aquarium! There were many options to see and even touch some of the marine life. I also loved the live animals such as meerkats, foxes, monkeys and sloth! We went on a Wednesday and it was extremely busy even when they first opened. I was completely shocked I'm not sure if Wednesdays are for summer camps but it was busses and busses of them today. My daughter loved touching the sting rays and jellies. She really wanted to touch the star fish but the countless camp goers kept rushing past others in line. I would've liked the workers at this station to step in and ask them to wait their turn but instead they continued to chat with them while others who were next in line had to wait even longer. Besides the unorganized chaos of the campers, we had a nice time. My daughter and nephew's favorites were the sharks, gigantic sea turtles and fun seals. Would recommend for toddlers. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for visiting, Des!
6 months ago
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Pamela! We hope to see you and your family again soon!
8 months ago
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting! We hope to see you again soon.
Purchasing timed entry tickets online was quick and easy. We parked in the adjacent garage. We went on a rainy Sunday and I've never seen more strollers in one place ever. Even with it being fairly busy we were able to easily approach and see each of the exhibits. The interior is laid out nicely and there is plenty of signage to follow so you see all the exhibits. There were interactive exhibits, and a nice play area for young children. There is a walkway across the street along the water with benches where it would be relaxing to sit for a bit on a nice day. I recommend a visit if you have young children. read more
2 years ago
Hey, we have 2 children under 13. To be specific, both boys, he's 7 &1/2 and the other boy is 12 - close to 13. We came here on a Wednesday, around 1 pm ish. The younger son had a free return ticket. (He had been to the aquarium a few weeks b4.) Parking was easy enough in the garage. We walked over and payed for myself and the 12 yr old. Plus we paid 7$ for all 3 of us to see a 4D movie about turtles. All In all it cost around 60$. We spent a few hours walking around the aquarium. Highlights for the kids were the SHARKS, the porcupine, the bats and the seal feeding. I would say you spend roughly around 2 to 3 hours in this place. It worth it. The movie was entertaining for the kids and I got a kick out of it... they would spray water to simulate waves and wave foam... bubbles were shot out of the ceiling to simulate underwater ocean bubbles. The 12 yr old wanted ice cream dots. They were expensive. 6.99 for a small cup of DOTS and 7.99 for a large. I told home forget it, after we ditch the Aquarium, we were going to hit an Italian restaurant for Pizza and Vanilla Gelato. Overall a decent aquarium experience. A bit expensive and I believe they are adding extensions to the building. I wonder how often they change the animal exhibits? read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for your feedback, Eugenio. We hope you and your family can…
Run don't walk to the Maritime aquarium What an amazing and fun day today yes you should go Stay for the seal feeding which I highly recommend also pay the seven dollars to see one of the 4D films totally worth it and the kids will have an amazing time Whether you go alone on a date or you bring the kids, this is a wonderful adventure did I mention they were sharks ?? read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Ameil! We are glad you enjoyed your visit!
5 months ago
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for reaching out, Kara, we appreciate and value…
4 years ago
I'm always up for a trip to an aquarium. This was my first time ever visiting here and it was quite nice. Loved all the little creatures and the jelly fish exhibit! It was a Saturday around noon when we arrived and it was PACKED with kids (I'm thinking maybe they were all on Feb vacation)?? They had a cute gift shop, a small cafe and a sit down eatery as well. Parking was across the street in a parking garage. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thanks for visiting, Jennifer!
My family and I attended a birthday party at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk this past Saturday (2/17). We had such a great time at the Aquarium and celebrating the birthday girl. It was our first time there, and although it's a little far away, hopefully we will be back soon! The aquarium was easy to navigate to and the parking garage right next door made the stress of finding parking nice and easy. It was pretty packed, which is to be expected on a snowy Saturday afternoon. We went up to the birthday party room and checked in. It was such a nice sized room, with a screen of a live feed. We hung up our jackets and got our birthday party wristbands. The kids ran around a little while we waited for the party to begin. I didn't know that we were going to get our own personal tour of the Aquarium. Bruce and his team made the experience of touring the aquarium such a pleasant experience. As others have stated the aquarium can get pretty packed and it certainly was crowded that day so I am sure we would have had a very different experience if we had to just tour it ourselves. Bruce was super knowledgeable and really kept the kids attentions. He had so many interesting stories to tell (especially about the shark tank!) and really gave us a ton of interesting facts about each animal. We learned about Sono and all the different animals that live in the Long Island Sound. It was so cool to be able to see other animals too like porcupines, bats, and meerkats. We stopped at three different touch tanks to touch sturgeon, sting rays, and even jellyfish. Bruce made sure everyone had their dive buddies with them and that everyone was able to get a chance to see / touch all the different exhibits. I learned so many new things as well! Back up in the party room we had pizza (which was just ok) and different drink options like lemonade, fruit punch, cucumber water, etc. We sang to the birthday girl and they even let the family bring a pinata (the kind where you pull the strings to open). It was a great time and my kids had a blast. The wristband also gave us access to the aquarium until close. My kids colored different sea creatures to place in the virtual tank and made bird feeders. We were able to bypass the gift shop by telling them it was closing. haha. We hope to come back here again to try the other exhibits like the 4D theater and other cool add ons. Thank you to the Maritime Aquarium for making my kid's Saturday fun and fantastic! read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for visiting, Jessi!
3 years ago
Depressing visit. It's changed so much since my childhood. Today was awful. Wish I could get a refund. The place was packed (glad they have visitors) but it was beyond captivity. Thought it would be a fun place to revisit, I was wrong. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Hi William. Thank you so much for reaching out, we appreciate and…
Second time we go here & I love it. I came here 1st time when my children were really small and I remeber how fun it was. This time around came w my kids a bit older(20 and 15) and tho it was just as fun it was a different experiencewith them as teenager and young adult. We definitely enjoyed it today . One thing we missed from before was the butterflies and penguins. It also looked different and remodeled somewhat. I noticed a section on 2nd floor for toodlers to safely play and learn as well as a wet garden outside where little ones can play w water on a hot day. This aquarium definitely was worth the drive FYI we noticed that Residents showing their SNAP EBT card and CT ID at the door can receive Aquarium admission for just $3 per person, for up to 6 people. (No more than 2 of the 6 can be adults). The offer is valid year-round. Thats a huge discount. So take advance and enjoy read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Yeimi!
4 years ago
We had planned a trip to the Norwalk area, and it had been more than a few years since I had been to the aquarium, so I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to check it out again. We went on a Saturday, so it was really crowded, and more kids than I had seen in one place in my life! We were still able to make it to see most all of the exhibits, even with the crowd. The jellyfish had to be the highlight of the day, just as I remembered. So many different species and wonderful ways to show them off. The sharks, turtles, meerkats, and an amazing octopus are just some of the awesome things to see here! read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for visiting, Jesse! We are glad you had a great time!
Awesome aquarium, easy to navigate, helpful staff, a variety of exhibits, and several opportunities to interact with the sea life. Park across the street at the Maritime Garage, buy your tickets ahead of time, and definitely check out the 4D theater. What a fun way to spend about 2-3 hours of an afternoon! read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you! We are so glad you enjoyed your visit!
2 years ago
Toddler loved the owls and jellyfish! It's a smaller sized aquarium but definitely much cleaner and more spacious for strollers than most! Highly recommend the aquarium! read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you for visiting, Monica!
We had a great time at the aquarium for one of our many homeschool field trips with our Little. We bought our tickets online which made admission so easy. If it's a nice warm day, get there early and park on the street. The garage can get pretty packed but parking is only $6. Although, the walk from available street parking isn't too bad, plus it looks like a nice walk. We arrived a little after 10A when they opened at 10 and it was already getting packed. We were able to bypass the outdoor line, go right inside and show our tickets. The information booth was helpful. We were unable to purchase the 4D movie tickets online but Alex at the information counter hooked us up and gave us all the information we needed to make the most of the day. He was very helpful. We found out the times for the shows and were able to watch Happy Feet. It was a little scary but our kiddo pushed through. One child had to be taken out because they were getting too upset. We saw seals, sea turtles, jellyfish and all types of aquatic creatures. The jellyfish and octopus room was amazing. It was dark with lots of neon and blacklight effects. The huge jellyfish tank is mesmerizing. We were able to feed the stingrays. I was so proud of my Big Girl, reaching in to feel the stingrays. Totally fearless! They even had a meerkat exhibit with plexiglass domes so that we could see them in their element. There were a lot of interactive exhibits. We touched harmless jellyfish and at the end of our visit we helped kiddo design her own fish on a touchscreen and after she named it, it was sent out into the virtual sea, on their projection wall. It was really cool to see all these kids watching their fish and other sea creatures around their very own virtual world. Purchase your tickets online and if you're having an issue purchasing the movie tix, just purchase them at the information counter. Either way, you don't have to wait on the external line. I would definitely go back. I've read that they now have a butterfly exhibit which is amazing. Can't wait. read more
"And all the sea creatures and Mermaids" (Neil Young) Well, I didn't see any mermaids, but I sure saw a ton of sea creatures. I was most impressed by the jellyfish -stunningly beautiful and almost extraterrestrial in their appearance. There are a few tanks where you can pet a stingray, touch a jellyfish, and even interact with hundreds of butterflies that may land on you, so you have to check yourself in a mirror on the way out, lest you release one of the hitch hikers. Other memorable exhibits were the magnificent shark tank, the playful otters and sea lions, the incredibly bizarre Lion Fish, a gorgeous coral and conch exhibit, frogs and turtles, lobsters, and hundreds of different colorful fish. The grounds behind the Aquarium are gorgeous, with great views of the river. There is a big gift shop and a restaurant, but we also found food trucks outside. Definitely a Five Star attraction. read more
2 years ago
Really nice family friendly place. Plenty of cool marine life for the kiddos. Currently under construction so we were disappointed that some of the exhibits weren't open. But hopefully that means cooler stuff is soon to come. If you haven't been before I'd definitely put it on your list. However and I hope the persons in charge of the aquarium read this, we watched an older woman trip fall and almost really hurt herself at the entrance. (See pictures below) the small metal guard around their mulch infront was falling apart and poses a serious hazard to guests. Especially for the elderly and the young kiddos. I could see someone really getting hurt on this and it would be a shame if the aquarium didn't do everything they could to prevent it. If they could prove they care enough to fix this I'd gladly adjust my stars on the review. UPDATE Their team has reach out and assured that they will address the issue mentioned above. Can't wait to see the improvements on our next visit. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for reaching out, Michael, we appreciate and value…
What a great aquarium! So interactive and kid friendly. They even have a little aquarium themed play area for the littlest ones with small exhibits built into them. They really want to inspire people to learn and care about our fish friends and even have information about how to make sure you're eating sustainably caught fish. Absolutely a must go if you have small kids. (I went with adult friends and we still had an awesome time, if I'm being honest : ) read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Allana! We hope you are able to visit again soon!
2 years ago
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for reaching out, Jamiroquai, we appreciate and…
Omg omg this is a great, very well layout aquarium. From my 2 year old " baby shark" every time she saw one. The entire family enjoyed the trip and definitely will visit with more family. The place is not huge but has enough for a 2 hour or more stay. Parking is cheap and ample right across the street. Food at the Cafe is blah and expensive. Feeding the manta rays is $3 for 2 slivers of fish The 4d is great and fun. read more
1 year ago
I visited the aquarium on a Monday morning in early May and it was not busy at all. They had a number of great exhibits, including several stations where you could touch various marine animals. As an added bonus the cafe food was great too! Highly recommend. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Nicholas!
This aquarium is so lovely. The staff are super friendly and happy to answer any questions and engage with the patrons. I love seeing all the different aquatic life and animals. The otters are top tier entertainment when out and about! read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you, Estee! Glad you enjoyed your visit!
Came to visit on a very busy Saturday full of families with strollers. There is plenty to see and touch (sting rays were a blast). Lots of marine exhibits as well as some land mammals. Great for kids old enough to appreciate it. I thought the admission fee was a little high, but had a positive experience. read more
Business owner information
Brianne F.
Thank you so much for visiting! We appreciate your feedback as we…
Page 1 of 8
More info about Maritime Aquarium
10 N Water St
Norwalk, CT 06854
Directions
(203) 852-0700
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.maritimeaquarium.org
Hours
Payment methods
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
Ask the Community - Maritime Aquarium
Is this the aquarium where there's a green screen and you can see yourself disappear on the screen and where there's like a section where you can play with sand or something like that? I've been trying to find the aquarium I went to in elementary
Hi Alexa, thanks for reaching out to us! The Maritime Aquarium does have a sandbox area - but we do not recall having a green screen like you are describing. Good luck with your search!
Is there a cafeteria inside to sell food? Can we bring outside food for the kids?
Yes to both! The cafeteria is actually very reasonable priced compared to the surrounding area & has a good variety of food from soups, slices of pizza/whole pizzas, burgers, chicken tenders, salads, beverages etc. But you can also bring in all your…
Review Highlights - Maritime Aquarium
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
15 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
3 years ago
10 years ago
12 years ago
5 years ago
11 years ago
7 months ago
12 years ago
11 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
15 years ago
12 years ago
10 years ago
10 years ago
