Worth the visit! We have been to a bunch of aquariums, and were members of Monterey at one point. While this is on the smaller side, it did not disappoint! The exhibits were really well done and being able to walk around the outside and see the views of Seattle, that was spectacular. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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Cool Aquarium at the waterfront. It's part of Seattle City Pass. You need to pick a time slot to enter. We were lucky to participate the octopus info session. Violet the octopus was energetic when the dropped some toys in. There was a 360° Underwater Dome to see the fishes from below. It also had hands-on experiences with star fishes and coral life. It's a good spot for family or even just adults. We have been to many aquariums. Seattle Aquarium is not the biggest but it does offer many exploring opportunities for kids. read more

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This Aquarium is not so large. There's not any of the big sea fishes that some of other full fledged aquariums have. During our visit we saw the interactive sessions with octopus, otter and seal. Most of them are kept at this location temporarily and eventually released into their natural habitat. The underwater dome was a really cool spot. Probably the best feature of the place IMO. The overlook deck has a beautiful view of the ocean and mountain range (on a sunny day). The gift shop has lots of plush dolls, apparels and souvenir items. Our tickets were part of CityPass so couldn't really tell the price. But compared with many other aquariums we have been, this one was slightly less exciting. read more

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Definitely a smaller aquarium in comparison to others I've been to which was a little surprising. They have a great almost full room for touching sea creatures which was fun and educational. This was my first time at this aquarium visiting from Minnesota. The staff here were exceptionally friendly and informative about different species. We witnessed a live feeding in one of their bigger tanks with tons of fish. Worth a visit if you're in Seattle and to support the local sea life! Conservation is so important for our world, much love to the Seattle Aquarium! read more

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Let me tell you something about the Seattle Aquarium. When I first got the Seattle CityPASS and saw the aquarium on the list, I thought, "Alright... this is probably for the kids." You know how aquariums are sometimes little fish, little tanks, little kids pressing their noses on the glass. But then you walk into this place sitting right on the edge of Elliott Bay and suddenly you realize... oh no, this ain't the kiddie pool. This aquarium opened back in 1977, and it's grown into one of the best marine exhibits in the Pacific Northwest. It's split into multiple buildings part of it literally sitting out on the pier so you're walking between indoor tanks and outdoor habitats while the ocean breeze is hitting you in the face. Now the stars of the show? The sea otters. Man, those little guys swim around like they're late for work but still stopping to show off. They flip, they spin, they float on their backs like they're on vacation. Meanwhile inside, you've got these massive floor-to-ceiling tanks where fish from the Puget Sound ecosystem glide around like they're in a slow-motion movie. One of the coolest features is the giant Window on Washington Waters, a 120,000-gallon tank that recreates the underwater world of the Northwest. You stand there watching sharks, salmon, and rockfish drift past and suddenly you're thinking, "Wait a minute... maybe the fish are the ones watching us." And here's the thing: the Seattle Aquarium pulls in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and it's easy to see why. It's educational without being boring, fun without being cheesy, and it's right in the middle of Seattle's waterfront action. You come for the fish, stay for the otters, and leave realizing you had way more fun than you expected. So if you're in Seattle and somebody says, "You wanna go to the aquarium?" don't act all cool like you're too grown for it. Go inside. Watch the otters. Stare at the giant tanks. Because sometimes the best surprise in the city... is underwater. read more

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The Seattle Aquarium is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. You should know that there are two primary areas (the main building and the newer building). The day I came, there was a line wrapping around the building to get in, but it was orderly and went by quickly. One of the first exhibits when you walk in are the touching pools (which are cool in their own right) but the folks working them are extremely knowledgeable about all the little critters in the pools. My favorites from the aquarium: the octopus, the sea otters, and the sting ray in the new building. All in all, an educational, informative, and entertaining experience! read more

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Visiting for a wedding and decided to stay an extra day to explore the area. As I was looking for things to do, we saw the aquarium and it was also recommended by family. The purchase includes access to three different buildings. It was really nice to visit a couple of buildings, then take a break to grab food at pike place and return for the third building. The aquarium itself had a great diversity of animals. Everything from jellyfish, octopus, sea otters and various fish. Compared to other aquariums I've been to in the past this one was pretty big. If you're looking to do something in Seattle and are undecided this is a good spot to spend a couple of hours. (We spent about 3 hours total between all the buildings though you could probably see everything a little quicker) read more

I visited using CityPASS. Overall, I think the aquarium admission cost is more expensive than it should be for what's offered across the two buildings. The newer building is very nice and modern. I especially loved the jellyfish nursery, the baby jellyfish were so cute! I also liked the otters in the original building, and I also enjoyed the touch pool since there were so many different sea creatures to interact with. That said, the older building could definitely use some renovations. Some of the tanks looked dirty and in need of cleaning. I also felt a bit sad for a few of the animals, as some tanks seemed small. Overall, it's a decent aquarium, but there's room for improvement. read more

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It is about 4.25 stars. I think the aquarium did not make good use of space on the second building. I feel there is many space not utilized. But their first building that next to bay is well utilized. We like this aquarium due to many schedules talk about the fish. I learn a lot of the fish that is local in the Seattle. I also like the touch pool. I was able to touch sea urchins that the need try to close on your fingers. The sea lion program is good. I was able to see their play with the trainer. The visit takes 2.5 hours to complete. read more

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Such a great experience! Most staff was SUPER friendly and seem to enjoy their job. One of them, who was attending one of the big fish tanks, even answered my joke question "which of these guys are edible?" lol I've never been to an aquarium and I was stoked to see all the amazing animals: octopus, otters, sea lions, and sharks were my all time favorite. But also it was a cool experience to try and touch some sea creatures. They have a cafe area and also 2 gift shops! Their otter plushies are the best ones you can get around the area!! read more

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Came using the CityPASS and had a great experience. Perfect place for taking the kids. They have a decently big touch pool and play area for the kids. Even thought we sped through some of it, the exhibits were a feast for the eyes. I think this is what modern aquariums are going to look more like. It felt more immersive and you could see a variety of sea and sea adjacent creatures hanging together in natural seeming habitats. I have been to old aquariums with tons of smaller exhibits, but those get old fast and everyone is crammed around small windows trying to see different creatures that are mostly hiding. read more

Some experiences just transcend age. I know aquariums area generally packed full of kids and geared towards kids, but seriously, if you can't remember the last time you've been to one of these places, please go. They are full of people eager to give out fantastic information on wildlife conservation education, advocacy, rehabbing wildlife, and being kind to our environment. The staff were all pleasant and professional even though we were late for our scheduled reservation. We walked through at our leisure and enjoyed viewing the exhibits and having the opportunity to pet some of the marine life. read more

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Located on the water in Seattle this is a really nice aquarium. They have three buildings filled with viewing options and are well organized and well staffed. I realize trying to run an aquarium like this is a HUGE MONEY SUCK, but they need to do something to try to make visits MORE AFFORDABLE! Paid almost $46 a person to go inside plus parking in downtown Seattle. You can purchase a yearly membership for twice that amount but this isn't a place you would want to go to more than once a year (unless you have small children). The fish were cool....but not $46 cool. read more

Seattle Aquarium - Outside - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So we came here to check out the sites and although this place a huge...... honestly as an adult it was kind of boring but this would be a fantastic place to bring your kids! There's just sooo much to look at that kids would enjoy. However I was hoping to see a better variety or animals but I guess if we are only looking at animals that would be in the area I get it. Probably wouldn't do this again unless I brought my daughter. But even then she's 11 and would probably get bored easily. read more

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The pricing for entry seemed pricey to me. There were a handful of attractions that were closed or under construction, which I feel should have been disclosed before I paid for such a high entry fee. Walking throughout the aquarium was disappointing. I recommend you ask what attractions/areas are closed for any reason before purchasing your tickets. read more

I came here on a date with my boyfriend and we had such a blast checking out all the animals, interacting with the cool exhibits, and learning more about nature!! Both of us are nature lovers and spent a few hours at the aquarium totally enraptured by the animals. I love how the exhibits are built to let you get super close to the animals and observe them. The sea otters were my favourite and it was so cute to see the total joy on my boyfriend's face when they got up close to the glass. There were so many cool interactive exhibits too! We loved seeing all the educational games and displays to make the aquarium interesting for kids. Being able to touch some of the fish was also really cool. I love how many open tanks they have and all the staff were really friendly and educational. Whenever we had a question about an animal, the staff were patient, even for the silly ones. I can't wait to come back to the aquarium soon! I had such a blast and I loved all the animals. read more

Compared to other aquariums, I was disappointed by this one given the admission price. I booked online the same day, but it wasn't cheaper and I could bypass the line. I liked the touch tanks where I could touch sea stars and urchins. There is a handwash area. I came when they opened and found it to be a little busy in this area, but then the other areas weren't crowded. I made my way through the first building, and then walked outside to the other. I was expecting it be a bit larger, and I spent just over an hour at the aquarium. I am glad I went as I met another tourist and we chatted and spent time together exploring other places in Seattle! read more

Quite a lot to see. There are two buildings to go through that are close to each other. There's exhibits to touch the coral. I do wish there were more otters to see. Overall still very enjoyable. read more

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As a first-time visitor, this place met all my expectations of an aquarium. The staff are extremely kind and welcoming which made the experience even better. We even participated on a scavenger hunt! The prize was a well-deserved Tom Nook pin which made my Animal Crossing Museum collector heart full. There is also an area designated for touching some sea critters. I am proud to say I've now touched a real-live sea urchin.  Definitely check out this aquarium and try their scavenger hunt, it really made everything so much more fun. read more

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This review is specifically about the water bottle purchased Seattle Aquarium gift shop to commemorate our visit there. The aquarium is great. So much so, we loaded up on items from the gift shop. The design on this $33 water is really beautiful. But the quality is so low it is beyond disappointing. The design began flaking off almost immediately. It never went in hot water or the dishwasher and has not been handled roughly. It's just a cheap, horrible product guaranteed to disappoint. The quality of the exhibits is high. The volunteer docents were knowledgeable and wonderful. Sadly, our primary token for remembering the experience only makes us disappointed. read more

The aquarium is conveniently located downtown by Pike Place. There are several buildings, but we had little ones (2 and 4 years old) with us, and they only lasted long enough to explore the main building. There were plenty of marine life to keep us busy. The kids really enjoyed the hands-on area where they can touch star fish and sea anemone. The tall tank was also quite impressive. Once our 4-year-old saw a shark swimming around in there, he didn't want to leave. There's also an outdoor area where you can see sea otters. There were plenty of guides around to answer questions. Coming from the Bay Area where we're spoiled by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this seems small by comparison. But it still provides a nice experience especially for little kids. read more

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The aquarium is overall great. However it is pretty pricy, about $50/adult. It took us 2 hours for both aquarium locations. It was underwhelming and I was expecting way more than what was available. The first floor has a big, tall tank and a few little view holes. There is a big seating area as well. The second floor is bright with a lower tank to see colorful creatures. As you walk to the back, there are two more tanks. The other older location has outdoor creatures and an area to touch creatures. read more

Seattle Aquarium - 2nd floor tank - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came to check it out after being newly built and seriously it's MASSIVE! If you're ever looking for a fun cute date I would definitely come here and if you have little ones with you too! If you get your tickets online there's an option to say you're a resident and you get a couple of discounts so make sure to utilize that! I love that they take your picture as soon as you head in and I think we paid less than $20 to print it out and you can select how big or small you want it! Definitely wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking around a lot! Super fun place to go and will go again sometime soon. read more

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This was an educational and beautiful experience. They had touching tanks, an underwater dome, and tanks that you could see under and above water. The area itself was clean and it really felt like everyone loved their job. The service was so friendly with answers and stories to every question. The animals felt cared for, straying far away from that sad feeling some aquariums have. They also provided an outdoor deck to take good pier pictures and plenty of gift shops. I loved! read more

Seattle Aquarium - Outside Pier View - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The aquarium is spacious but I do feel like there is more that can be improved. The fishes/animals in there were fun to observe, although I do think it is really pricey for what is to offer. My partner & I got done with it within an hour. I feel like this is much more for the kids to enjoy and for the adults it could be underwhelming. I do like the new side of the aquarium though. It was really nice and more to observe. But the first part of the aquarium was disappointing to me. I wouldn't return unless I have kids. read more

We had to make advanced reservations for a timed entry at 10 a.m. Sunday visit in May through CityPASS. They only have a 5-minute entry window, so I recommend being on time. We walked to the pier and aquarium from our Airbnb, but the parking looked very limited and expensive. They have three buildings, one of which is the Ocean Pavilion, the newest and nicest. There is also one beautiful large tank and several other smaller ones with excellent written or audio descriptions provided. The second building had several touch tanks that the kids were enjoying. The third building featured sea lion viewing and presentations, birds, and other forest wildlife. All three buildings had timed exhibits and presentations, and it took us about two hours to complete them. I recommend coming when it first opens because it gets busy and crowded by noon. My older son and I enjoyed it, but we probably would not return since we've seen it. read more

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I have always loved it here. When I was a teenager, I was a member and went every week. After years of not going, I finally got to check out the new space! I was happy to find that the old building is fully in tact and true to its original glory, with the exception of the back tanks being replaced with a VR experience. I didn't try the VR. The new building is STUNNING and a beautiful complement to the original space. It is vast and fills you with wonder from the moment you walk in. It was fun to stand under the massive tank and wait for the shark to swim by. I will say, if you are a local, wait to go on a weekday. It was pretty crowded on a Sunday afternoon and we had to wait in long lines to enter each location. I would imagine mid day on a weekday is much more peaceful. read more

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One bucket list goal of mine is to visit every zoo and aquarium. This was one I was needing to visit. I thought it was nice and they have 3 separate exhibits to view. There aren't too many different aquatic animals to see but they have some interesting ones that I've never seen before. I'd definitely recommend going if you like aquariums. They have the typical things like the petting areas and they have a cool jellyfish exhibit and the area where they birth jellyfish. read more

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Love the new additions to the aquarium! So much to see and learn, loved the attention to detail with the new exhibits Great for all ages. read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I certainly think you get your money worth with how big the aquarium is but I felt a little let down seeing how run down the place looked. Could use a little TLC but I enjoyed my time and the areas that allowed you to touch the sea creatures! read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The Seattle aquarium was in dire need of a makeover and I think the new ocean pavilion was just what was missing there. We have been visiting for years... I love the otters, sea lions, and the touch pools were fun for the kiddos. It however needed something more. The new ocean pavilion is modern, colorful, and has all kinds of beautiful sea species. I definitely recommend a visit if in Seattle, especially with kids. It doesn't compare to aquariums like Monterey Bay, but is a nice addition to the city. read more

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very expensive for four people (2 adults/2children) $190, but i heard the new building/exhibits opened last year or so. make sense your paying for the updates. my children did enjoy it so it is worth a visit. we spend 1 1/2 hours. what was nice also is the ocean theme playground outside, but watch the kids climbing up the tower. (alot would get up and get stuck or scared to go down slide). lyft/uber is right outside the area too. lots of places for lunch walking distance. location wise gave it extra star. read more

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I give it 3 stars. It seems over priced. An I just feel bad for the seals an the sea lion for having a small enclosure even the otters. It's a little depressing. I went since we are not from Seattle orginally I feel like it should an enclosure but to see things in its natural habitat. Somethings maybe were. But this is obviously personal opinion. If you like it you like it. But my option. read more

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I had so much fun visiting the Seattle aquarium solo! I spent about 1.5 hours there. I used the City Pass to get tickets. I went to the new pavilion building that just opened first. There was a giant tank with tons of fish and everything was very modern. There were 2 levels, with the large tank in the middle as the focal point. It was so fun to watch the manta rays swim past and look at their smiling faces underneath. You have to exit the building and walk across the street to access the other 2 buildings. The first one was a bit underwhelming, with the only interesting thing being the touch tanks in the middle. However, the second building which housed the mammals was my favorite! The seals and otters were adorable and very active while I was there. I also loved how there were placards to describe each animal's name and backstories. I went on a Monday afternoon so the aquarium was not very busy and there was plenty of space for me to get up close to the animals. read more

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Pricey for what is offered. However, I really loved their new exhibit. It was well designed and I loved seeing all of the fish! Personally not that into the tablets showcasing the fish. I'd rather have a full ptinted display of the animals than mess with a screen. read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My partner and I met up with our friend and his cousin while we were intown and the aquarium was the place for us. I loved our time here. The Seattle Aquarium is located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront. While there wasn't a ton of fish compared to other aquariums I have been too, the inside/outside areas of the aquarium made it a great experience and the animals were a great representation of the PNW. The salmon run was really neat, and the inside domes provided an immersive experience watching the fish. I also enjoyed watching the penguins and sea lions. There were also birds which I thought was a great addition (not only fish). Overall, it was a good visit! The aquarium and the beautiful waterfront location made it a memorable experience especially seeing the wildlife in and around the peer. Highly recommend checking it out if you're in Seattle and you can even grab a bit at Ivar's after your visit and feed the seagulls. That was what we did. For tickets and info, check out https://www.seattleaquarium.org. read more

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The Seattle Aquarium is one of my favorite attractions in Downtown Seattle. Although a bit on the smaller side, you can still meet a wide variety of aquatic animals here. They have countless fresh and saltwater fish, penguins, invertebrates, and so much more. The displays are organized and spaced out very well, so it never feels too crowded as you move through the aquarium. During busy times, it is recommended to buy tickets ahead of time as spots are limited in each entry time. read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Not bad but not great. Certainly not worth the high admission price in my opinion. I've been to many aquariums and many have that one main huge tank that has a mind boggling amount of impressive sea creatures. Here there are actually two main tanks, one in each building. They weren't too impressive compared to what I've seen in other aquariums. I love seeing jellyfish but this one had only one jellyfish exhibit. The aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska has more jellyfish than here. I don't like having it in two separate buildings. (Make sure to keep your receipt handy for entry into the second building). But guess no choice due to amount of space. I wasn't too impressed with the smaller exhibits. Two were empty. Their sea birds aviary areas were tiny and sad looking to me. I was underwhelmed, especially with it being right by Puget Sound. Not worth a second visit IMO. read more

Let's first start by saying that the Aquarium was not on my list to visit, however, I am so glad that I went as I was pleasantly surprised. We decided to include the Seattle Aquarium as one of the five options for the Seattle CityPass. Due to that, the Aquarium experience was essentially $25, which isn't a bad deal. We should have started our exploring in the newer building as it gives more "wow" than the original building. But, either way, we got there. We saw so many beautiful fishes, lobsters, plus many more animals along with a cool looking shark. Then, we got to see the seals swimming and flipping around along with the jelly fishes doing their thing. Overall, it was a joyous, kid like experience that brought a big smile to my face. read more

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We had so much fun visiting this aquarium. Love the ease of purchasing tickets on your phone to cut the lines. The three buildings are amazing full of beautiful sea life and lots of learning for the kids. It is pricey but I feel it's a good experience when visiting or taking the kids. Our favorite was the building with the huge aquarium. You can probably sit for hours watching the sea life circle around and think so cool to watch the sharks swim past while going close to the glass. There are individual exhibits scattered throughout featuring various sea life such as jellyfish. The interactive pools were fun and we could touch the sea anemone and starfish. There were sinks to wash up after the exploration. Near these pools there was a huge cylinder like aquarium housing a super large octopus - that was so cool to watch. Another area held animals that were semi aquatic such as the sea lions, seals and turtles. Also cool as you get so close to these animals. The location of the aquarium is next to pike's place market. Parking is not cheap. This place is definitely worth a visit! Sept read more

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