The National Aquarium in Baltimore is normally $49.95 for adults, but on Friday nights there is a well known secret - Half-Life Friday Night, when you may enter 5pm-9pm for $24.95. The line was long, and we had to pass by it to buy our tickets. Go early to have enough time to see everything including the surprise! exhibit located by the gift shop. Yes, we sadly missed the Australian exhibit with birds that might land on you. My personal favorite were the Jellyfish which were tucked off and away from the hanging jellyfish decorations. If you arrive early or are all done with the aquarium on another day, take your crew out on a paddleboat! There's two sorts - pirate ships and Loch Ness monster (my words/description, not necessarily theirs). No idea what they charge though. read more

Visited on a Sunday morning, we got there at 9:30 am and were excited that it wasn't packed as I had read in previous reviews. The aquarium is pretty big, the exhibitions were not crowded at all and we were able to pace ourselves and watch all of them without feeling rushed or crowded. The positives: - overall it was very clean - lots of fishes to see! - 2 interactive tanks for kids to touch the jellyfish and some other fish - the layout with the big fish tank in the center that can be seen from all the floors is pretty spectacular - toy store has nice items - steps for younger kids to see the tanks - beautiful views Cons - it is SOOOOO expensive - no strollers allowed - we saw mice in the tropical exhibition, I'm still a little traumatized lol. Overall it was a great day! I do wish it wasn't as expensive so we could go more ofter read more

See all

Dear reader, The National Aquarium in Baltimore is absolutely worth a visit and then, quite possibly, another. The exhibits are not merely tanks in a building. They feel theatrical, transportive, and wonderfully well curated. The shark areas were especially striking, with a dark, slightly eerie atmosphere that made the whole thing feel more dramatic in the best way. The jellyfish were another standout, with so many different varieties drifting about like tiny, glowing aristocrats of the sea. The birds and sloths in the rain forest added that extra bit of surprise and charm, making the whole visit feel even richer. The Aquarium's Upland Tropical Rain Forest does in fact feature sloths and tropical birds, while Blacktip Reef and Shark Alley anchor the shark experience. What stayed with me most, was learning about Kai, a green sea turtle. She has buoyancy issues from a prior boat-strike injury, cannot dive properly, and would not survive in the wild, so the Aquarium provides long-term care. That was genuinely touching. It added real heart to an already excellent visit. read more

Sensational aquarium that delivers a well-rounded experience, regardless of age, interest, or type of visit. Yes, you should visit! Multiple floors of exceptional exhibits at this Inner Harbor masterpiece, and it is truly manageable. Many interactive exhibits. Well-labled places. Loved the sharks, the various worldwide elements, and i could have watched the sloths for hours. Never felt crowded, despite visiting on a busy day. You'll learn a lot if you just give them your attention. Pro Tips: they offer reduced parking rates at three neighboring indoor lots, and their half-price Friday nights are an incredible deal. read more

See all

We recently visited the National Aquarium with our 6-year-old daughter, and overall, it remains a strong family outing--though not without reservations. The Positives This is undeniably a terrific place to visit with a child. You can see virtually every fish imaginable, along with dolphins and sharks. Walking through the shark tanks and watching them glide past you is impressive--and I say that as a fairly jaded 45-year-old. All of us were especially fascinated by the sloths in the Amazon rainforest enclosure when we returned later in the evening. My daughter joked that melatonin bottles should not feature a sloth, because the one we saw was actively moving from branch to branch, munching on leaves. It was a small but memorable moment. Another major plus is that this is a year-round activity. During colder months, when hiking at a state park is impractical, the aquarium offers a reliable indoor option where a family can comfortably spend several hours. Where It Falls Short The primary issue is price. At roughly $50 per adult and $40 per child, the cost is substantial and will absolutely factor into whether we return anytime soon. The last time we visited in 2021--when our daughter was just over two--we purchased a yearly membership because it made financial sense. This time, we considered the membership again, but at $185 it did not appear optimal; it would not even cover the cost of bringing our child with us. The pricing changes seem clearly designed to push revenues higher. The gift shop reinforced that impression. Even our daughter commented on how expensive everything was. When we take her to stores like Target or World Market, she is often allowed to choose an item under $6 or $7 ;). Here, I do not believe there was a single item under $10. Magnets--something my wife collects from nearly every place she visits--were priced at $12, and she forwent buying one. These prices leave little room for small, spontaneous purchases. Crowding also detracted from the experience. Several school groups arrived during our visit. The children were energetic and, in some cases, poorly supervised, which made it harder to enjoy certain exhibits at a relaxed pace. Dolphins: While I am perfectly fine with the decision to no longer hold formal dolphin shows, I was frustrated that staff could not provide even an approximate time for the dolphin feeding. We ended up waiting nearly an hour before it took place, without any clear guidance as to when it would happen. In our case, the wait was not a major problem--we had already done a lot of walking and did not mind sitting for a while. However, for visitors who are short on time but still hope to see a feeding, the lack of even a general time window is inconvenient. I understand the need to vary the schedule to keep things stimulating for the dolphins, but providing a rough range (e.g., within a certain hour block) would materially improve the visitor experience. Finally, the exhibit lineup felt somewhat thinner than I remembered from 2021. I distinctly recall seeing seahorses--possibly even witnessing one give birth to dozens of tiny seahorses--and we did not encounter them this time. My wife also remembered seeing an eel on our earlier visit, but we did not find one during this trip. Exhibits may rotate, but the overall experience felt slightly diminished even as ticket prices have risen considerably. Bottom Line The aquarium remains an engaging and educational destination, especially for families with young children. That said, at the current price point--and with what feels like a somewhat pared-down experience--it is unlikely we will return within the next year. It is good--but no longer compelling at its current price. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

This is a well designed aquarium. It has lots of areas to step on the side to rest if you need to and as the exhibits spiral upwards , there is lots to see either on the walls or the windows looking onto the harbor. Wheelchair access makes it fairly easy to maneuver around as well. We had a two yr old and the exhibits also make it easy for them to look at their height level without having to pick them up to see a tank. You are not allowed to take strollers into the aquarium, but they have a check in area at the entrance. While it seems inconvenient, it makes it easier for all patrons to explore the space. read more

See all

National Aquarium is well maintained with a wide variety of exhibits. It is physically large and you should expect to do plenty of walking. It wasn't too crowded on the day we went, but on a day with a school visit, expect it to be packed. An interesting upside/downside to the layout of the aquarium is that it's very linear. There's really only one pathway through the aquarium. It's hard to miss anything, but that also means that everyone is constantly moving and it's hard to stand still and enjoy something or to go back to something you really enjoyed. read more

We went to the National Aquarium as part of a family trip to Baltimore, and overall, it was definitely worth doing. It's crowded, as most of the reviews mention, and there's really no way around that, so I'd go in expecting a busy experience rather than thinking you're going to somehow beat the crowds. One tip that helped us: start at the top level and work your way down. That made the visit feel much more natural and kept us from overthinking where to go next. Honestly, I don't think you need to study the map too much here. It's the kind of place where you can just roam and still have a good experience. A part I'd specifically recommend is the dolphin area. You have to cross the bridge / catwalk to get there. They don't do the formal dolphin shows anymore, but there's still seating from when they used to. If you happen to be there around feeding time, you still get a fun and surprisingly entertaining dolphin experience. Good family stop, just be ready for the crowds. read more

I'm such a big kid and love aquariums. It just brings back these really fond memories of field trips or weekends with my family when I was kid! I've been to this aquarium twice. Once while I was on a work conference trip and went with some colleagues. The next time I was on a mini trip to Baltimore with my mom and took her. I enjoyed both times. I love the interactive aspect where you get to touch jelly fish! *squeal* It was so fun. I loved seeing all the different types of sea creatures and loved the labyrinth shark section as well. It was extremely fun and great for all ages! read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

It was fun to visit the aquarium since I haven't been there for a very long time. It appears it has expanded over the years. The only downfall is that there were not octopus, seals, otters, etc., but yet they had a sloth? Last time I checked a sloth wasn't sea/water related, but it was cool to see. And there are no more dolphin shows, which is ver disappointing, They had items relating to the above-mentioned animals/fish in the gift shop, but not at the aquarium. It is a bit overpriced for what is there, but it is neat if you have never been there. read more

See all

I've heard amazing reviews of this aquarium and had to check it out myself. There is SO much to see and do. I enjoyed the interactive activities like touching jellyfish, which I can imagine would be great for kids as well! My favorite exhibit was the sharks by far, but also enjoyed the rainforest as well. It does get very busy and crowded on a weekend, so if that bothers you plan to go early or on a weekday. Overall, a great outing for the whole family! read more

I love this aquarium. Since my last review I now have a membership. The membership is so much better. If you are a local & love aquariums. You can visit as much as you like. This one is so exciting. For all adults and children. I don't have any small kids but I have dual membership. They have different membership to choose from to fit your family needs. They have the dolphins which I love and sometimes depending on your timing they will perform tricks. We arrived right at feeding time and caught a nice show. I love dining at their eateries and my salmon sandwich was delicious. Non members receive a discount on parking with ticket validation but members receive a bigger discount. Just show your membership card. We paid $14 for parking. Not bad for a garage and we were there for quite sometime. Members enter through a different entrance. The four stars is for the gift shop. I always make a point to support the gift shop and with a membership you save 10 percent. Really? Come on now. With membership you should offer at least 20 percent savings. I'm just saying let's make membership pay off please. read more

See all

The National Aquarium has an event every year called Shellebration in which it is completely free however, you have to register as soon as the link comes out because it fills up really quickly. I have been going for the past 3-4 years consecutively. They have everything open including fun activities like scavenger hunts, educational stations and coloring activities. The time is typically weekday from 6-8pm in which offer 2 dates. They give out free swag like drinks, pencils and pencil cases among other things. The aquarium has interactive exhibits that is really cool and fun like touching the jellyfish and baby string rays. The dolphin show was not available #bummer. Gotta grab a few items from gift shop like candy for my daughter. Closing dance party with bubbles, characters and fun music. Great experience. The staff is really helpful throughout the aquarium. Love it. Will definitely return. read more

National Aquarium - Interactive activities - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

Just landed in Baltimore after taking a red eye flight from the west coast. Our hotel wasn't ready yet, so we decided to do some sight seeing. We randomly picked the National Aquarium and it was a great decision. This place is pretty massive. I enjoyed the knowledgeable staff along the way. There are also places to sit and rest. The kids did kind of ruin the experience as they kept tapping on glass or running around. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

See all

Wow 10/10 highly recommend! This is seriously the coolest aquarium I have ever been to. It's 5 stories inside a building, has regions from the Amazon to Australia and a separate dolphin and jelly fish exhibit. I knew very little going in and was blown away. Definitely a must see in Baltimore read more

See all

Ay ay ay. I don't know where to even start? $50 per person is highway robbery for the quality of the aquarium. The variety of animals/critters is lackluster. The whole place is a cluster. The touch exhibits are so cramped and small you can't even get in there to see or touch. Stinky and smelly everywhere. Bathrooms are a nightmare. For the amount of people they want to come here there NEEDS to be more than 3 stalls. (And more bathrooms in general) The layout is so bizarre and doesn't support the amount of traffic they're looking to have here. One escalator per floor is ridiculous. Also ITS SO DARK!!! Like the entire place is dark and so hard to see - yes I get some exhibits need dark but the whole place??? No parking is BS esp when the aquarium is an expensive disappointment and adding parking fee on top is just disrespectful. For the "national aquarium" it's a huge letdown (which I guess reflects the state of our country currently but YIKES). Absolutely do not recommend. read more

National Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My fiancé and I have been aquarium members for two years. We love going. I got to take my 60 year old father who lives in Arizona last night to the aquarium and it was absolutely magical. It was like seeing him be a kid again. Avi was such a gem, he fed the archer fish and we got to see them in action shooting water to knock crickets off a stick. Seeing my father pet a jelly fish and the joy that brought. Truly this was priceless. Watching him marvel at the sharks. We love the aquarium as is. But this just became such a special place in my heart now. read more

National Aquarium - Moon jelly petting. - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Doesn't matter how old are young you are are aquarium is the best. It's worth spending a day here.

The national aquarium is a must visit in Baltimore. It is worth the value to get a pass. Depending on the pass, you only need to visit twice to get your moneys worth. I go often with my kids and it is fun every time. Not to mention you get discounts with the membership. As for the fish and fun, the flow of the aquarium is very nice. You are guided through with an obvious route and even on crowded nights, it doesn't feel over crowded. The fish are interesting and varied around the world's oceans. The shark ally is my families personal favorite. The old dolphin show bleachers are a nice place to just sit and relax too. read more

See all

Great way to spend time with family. I don't live locally, so I'm not sure about events throughout the year. The Atlanta aquarium is better in my opinion. There are exciting exhibits and you can sit and watch the dolphins. I liked looking at the sharks. Plenty of options for parking and you can purchase snacks and beverages inside. If someone needs a wheelchair you must provide an ID which is returned to you when you return the wheelchair. Everyone in our group was over 18 and we had fun. read more

See all

Best aquarium I've ever been to! I'd been to at least eight other aquariums in the country and am always excited for the opportunity. This one really blew me away. Not only do they have many many fish and exhibits that I have not encountered elsewhere, they really put an emphasis on engaging education. This place is definitely a great time for the whole family. Not only will you get to see the big exciting stuff like sharks, turtles, and rays, but even their smaller fish are quite beautiful and the assortment never seems to end. The aquarium does an impressive job with its layout taking you through the layers of the oceanic ecosystem and there are even some areas dedicated solely to dolphins and jellyfish. I would say budget *at least* two hours to get a full experience here. I would return to Baltimore for this aquarium alone. read more

See all

Not sure what all of the hype is about. Very crowded, confusing at times as to what the flow of this place is. Cafe took forever and was nearly as expensive as the tickets! No dolphin shows anymore. Unless you have time and money to waste, I'd probably skip this. However, it is one of the only remaining attractions around this area so heck if you want, check it out. Be prepared to walk a lot and bring your patience for the crowds. read more

National Aquarium - Fish - Aquariums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I haven't been to the aquarium in a few years but had a great time on a weekday with my kids. The staff within the exhibits were friendly and engaging. My little one enjoyed touching jellys, shark alley, trying to coax the parrots in the rainforest into talking, finding a real live sloth, and seeing "Nemo." They offer a few additional experiences ...a virtual reality ride and 4D short films, both of which we paid the up charge to partake in. My youngest loved the VR and we all had a blast in the sealion 4D film. You could feel the "wind", the "splash of the waves", as well as the "bubbles" as we "dived" under the sea. They also have the dolphin area with stadium style seating though they no longer have actual "shows". It was still quite fun to watch them frolic and play above and below the water. We lucked up and they were being fed so they were quite active. read more

See all

It's a beautiful at night! We went on a Friday when it was half price, which is great, but it was packed! We were able to get through in under 1.5 hours and didn't speed by anything. read more

See all

Took advantage of the half-price Friday night offer (available after 5pm year round), for my first visit to the National Aquarium. It wasn't overly crowded, which was nice. We could easily navigate from one exhibit to the next and spend as much time enjoying all the amazing creatures as we wanted. Be sure to check out the dolphins and the jellyfish exhibit. Highly recommend a visit to this national treasure! read more

See all

Great aquarium! We visited the National Aquarium on a Saturday afternoon in February, and it was busy. We probably encountered hundreds of people over the course of our 1.5 hour visit. The aquarium is laid out in a straightforward, liner manner with plenty of clear signage. The animals span many different types of fish, jellyfish, sharks, dolphins, and rays (just to name the highlights). The exhibits have a fact or two about the each animal, and our well-designed to view the animals. I enjoyed my experience at the National Aquarium and would recommend a visit to patrons of all ages. read more

This aquarium has a national reputation for excellence that is well deserved. It also has some sensory issues that guests should be very well aware of before you go! The noise. How does anyone/thing live or work here?! If you think going first thing on a weekday morning will make for a pleasant and chill experience, you would be wrong. Instead there are zillions of school groups and the kids are living their best lives. But the open displays means the sound echoes and amplifies and it's pretty brutal if you're sensitive to high pitched screaming. It's also mostly dark with bright tanks. Basically, take a triptan first if you're prone to migraines? That said, there are SO many things to see, such excellent information distribution tools (reading, touching, pictures, tanks where you can stick your arm in water, etc). Staff are wonderful. The bathrooms are very clean if a bit snug in the stalls. There are stroller parking areas and lockers. Several food options and an excellent dolphin area. Half our group did the shark experience for extra $50 (they LOVED it) and my half lost our minds and required full sensory deprivation after we did the turtle 4D experience for $16. I'd have paid $160 to leave early but was trapped by the absolutely screaming school children and their shushing teachers. It's very exciting with the bubbles and sprays and shaking seats and I hope those kids have happy memories of that forever. For older introverts, it's torture. Too loud to hear Russell Crowe's narration, very hard to see because 3D glasses and bifocals are quite incompatible, and the kid you took will be extremely disappointed afterward. The attendant did warn us we might consider waiting until an afternoon show (maybe the school visits are over after lunch on a weekday and that's the time to visit?) and I regret not taking that advice but we'd already spent 2hrs and this was the last thing we'd planned. I imagine it's just as chaotic on weekends- it wasn't even that crowded. But very loud. It's not really the aquarium's fault it was such a hard experience for this old lady, but it was what it was, and for how much $$$ it was, I wish I'd enjoyed it significantly more. All the little kids I saw were soooo delighted, so seems like a great place for that age group! read more

We went to the aquarium early on a Friday to take advantage of Maryland mornings ($10 off tickets if you arrive before noon). This aquarium was so much fun! The building itself is very architecturally pleasing with lots of cool harbor views throughout. There are multiple floors of exhibits complete with a rainforest section, an Australian section, jellyfish area, touch tanks, and all manner of water creatures big and small. We also enjoyed watching a trainer session with the dolphins. It's so much fun watching them swim and play. I've visited a few aquariums and would say that this is probably my favorite! We spent close to three hours here wandering around to see everything so it was worth it in my opinion. Aquarium employees were also friendly and happy to answer questions about the animals. I'd highly recommend visiting if you enjoy aquariums! It did seem best to go in the morning, as the day got later there were more school groups and people so it started to get a bit crowded, so consider non-peak times for your visit. read more

See all

I've been to this aquarium a few times. Each time I come the prices gets more expensive for the same, if not less, things. Adult tickets are $50, $40 for 5-20 age range (which is a weird range to me). Basically we spent $150 (bc of tax) to be smushed together in an overcrowded facility. I don't think the aquarium cares about quality of show, just quality of money going into someone's pockets. Airflow is not a thing here, it's very stuffy and most of the parts smelled, I understand it's an aquarium but I've been to many that haven't smelled like this place. The concession areas are expensive as well, 3 waters for $25, a 16 oz water bottle, and they weren't fully stocked either. The layout is a bit confusing, for the most part it goes up but then there are access to different areas and the signs aren't much help. They also don't have their own parking but there are a couple of parking garages around within a 10-15mins walk but beware, they def do charge. Overall, I wouldn't go back. If my son wanted to go, then maybe but I'd probably talk him into doing something else. I will say they do have some animals that I hadn't seen at other aquariums, so that's a plus. I gave 3 starts only for the fact they have a variety of animals. read more

My family and I visited the national aquarium to celebrate my friends daughters 2nd birthday. There was 10 of us in total and we started the tour around 10:30 am. It was a Saturday so it was really busy and sort of a mad house. All in all, the kids really enjoyed all the exhibits and demonstrations throughout the aquarium. I would advise going during the weekday to get the most of the visit and not feel rushed. read more

See all

The main part of the aquarium is extremely immersive- very well designed! Some of the smaller exhibits are not designed as well- too many people trying to see them at once. The jelly and ray touch pools are fun. There aren't an overwhelming amount of animals which is nice. However. The animals they do have are pretty cool . They have a nice harbor view area too. The dolphin exhibit was also cute read more

See all

It's a little pricey but it's still a great experience. When you get hungry or thirsty, you pay for your hunger and/or thirst. The overall experience is very pleasant. I've been here many times in my lifetime. I have a good experience each time but this was probably the first time I came thirsty. Lol. I'd recommend eating before you come. The layout is great and involves a lot of walking. There's good information to learn and some fun educational games along the way. A very cool thing that the aquarium still has is the petting area where you can pet a horseshoe crab, jellyfish, and even a stingray. It's a wonderful experience and luckily they have an area to wash your hands afterwards. read more

See all

The best aquarium around! Been here a few times and it's always fun and exciting, the entire experience is immersive. I love the rain forest exhibit I think that's what it is called and the animal there. The path going down the spiral with the sharks is also nice. Definitely a must for those who love sea animals. read more

See all

This place is truly amazing! Starts off kinda slow as it looks like empty space and not much exhibit. But then.. there are wrap around walls of aquariums that are just breathtaking. Love the jellies exhibit. Largest puffers I've ever seen. So many different colors of dart frogs. Loved watching the dolphins training! It took us about four hours to really see everything. Parking can be a challenge but there is a lot almost across the street that is reasonably priced. read more

See all

My son and I stopped by this aquarium on our way from NY to Virginia and it was such a a good decision. Firstly, the aquarium is HUGE; it was a lot larger than we anticipated. It does have an unusual layout, and it was a little confusing at first (especially without a map). Once you make your way around it actually makes sense, and it ends up being very easy to navigate. The aquarium has a large assortment of animals, such as jellyfish, dolphins, sloths, and caiman. There's even an area where you can touch stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and jellyfish! All the staff was very friendly and helpful, giving clear directions to those in need with a warm smile. It was also very clean, and this was during the Easter vacation. There were LOTS of kids running amok, but it never felt overly crowded or disorganized. My son particularly enjoyed the section with the sharks and the birds. Note that the bird area is VERY humid. Not uncomfortably humid, but enough where you'll probably take off your sweater or jacket. I definitely want to come back, especially since we weren't able to catch any live performances. While I wouldn't make it a one stop visit all the way from NY, I would definitely consider the 4 hour drive if this were part of a weekend getaway. You should definitely check this place out, especially if youre bringing children. Adults will enjoy this place as well! read more

See all

$50! Very disappointed! Not as well as public Advertisement. Most places were very dark, it was pretty dangerous for seniors and young mom with small kids. You should have automatic lights under knees. Cafe was bad too. Our salads were expired and servers there were Not friendly at all!! The only place you need to take a look is: jellyfish But, since they use electronic display, it was very difficult to read! Definitely Nor going anymore. read more

See all

The Aquarium is really nice. But it was a bit underwhelming for the price that you pay. I expected a little more in terms of exhibits but I did enjoy stopping and reading the information that was available. They also do not do dolphin shows anymore the price of the ticket was even more shocking seeing how it only ticket for entry I would hope for it to be a little more affordable. read more

See all

I would give this aquarium 8 stars if I could, it is absolutely incredible. However, I am only giving it four stars because of the dolphin habitat. While I think it is wonderful that they are working on creating the seaside sanctuary for them near Puerto Rico, hopefully to be completed by next year. Those plans began around 2016. You can't tell me they couldn't improve their current habitat a little in these last ten years to something other than just a concrete swimming pool. I am definitely not telling people to protest and stay away, it is too amazing for that. Take your kids! So much to learn. But I am docking them a star to say hey I noticed. read more

See all

I really enjoyed the National Aquarium! It's easy to walk through and there's a really good variety of fish and frogs and jellyfish! Lovely spot to spend the afternoon. It's not cheap, but $50 at this point seems to be pretty standard for a lot of aquariums. read more

See all

Not great compared to Ripleys Aquarium in Toronto or Adventure Aquarium in Jersey. I was very excited to visit here especially after seeing the reviews, but I was severely let down. After visiting so many other aquariums and this being the "national" aquarium my expectations were high and I was let down. It's a good aquarium but not great. read more