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    Seattle Aquarium

    3.5 (1.5k reviews)
    Open 9:30 am - 6:00 pm

    Seattle Aquarium Photos

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    Michael K.

    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!

    Kenny C.

    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.

    Julia S.

    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!

    Anna W.

    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.

    Feeding time
    Boon C.

    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.

    Ariadna S.

    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!!

    Kristina B.

    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.

    Outside
    Paul M.

    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.

    Angela J.

    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.

    Sunny C.

    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.

    Nemo
    Jen S.

    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.

    Entrance
    Lily S.

    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.

    2nd floor tank
    Vic A.

    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.

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    Seattle Aquarium Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Seattle Aquarium

    How long does it take to see entire aquarium?

    It depends on what you do and if you have kids with you. Some kids love spending a lot of time at the tide pools or at the sea otter, etc. areas. I would say 1 hour for a faster visit and 2 hours for a slower visit. The most recent time I went with… Read more

    How much is it to get in?

    Tickets ranges from $24.95-$30.95 depending on which day of the week you go. You can also get a city pass for $109 which will allow you to go to a total of 5 attractions such as the space needle, the aquarium, etc. Groupon sometimes have coupon… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Seattle Aquarium

    Tip: if you have a city pass, you get a free digital print of your photo with the sea otter background.

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    Argosy Cruises - Seattle - 3rd floor viewing deck

    Argosy Cruises - Seattle

    4.2(913 reviews)
    0.2 miWaterfront

    We took the Harbor Cruise as part of our City Pass package, thinking it would be a good use of time…read moreand a fun way to see Seattle from a different perspective. We ended up really enjoying the tour and would highly recommend to visitors. This would especially be a great thing to add to your itinerary if you're only in the city for a short time, as you get to see a lot of landmarks in a short time. You also get to hear about the city's history and key industries. The ride overall is pretty smooth, and my husband, who gets motion sickness, was totally fine. The boat when docked can experience a little more motion, however, so your mileage may vary. We also found it easy to get seats with good views, and the guides were easy to hear anywhere on the boat. The crew were friendly and engaging, and Angelo and the other staff were very kind to us when my husband and I mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary.

    We reserved our spots for 4pm via CityPass tickets. People started lining up 20-25 minutes prior to…read moregrab the seats at the top of the deck. The check-in and onboarding process was super easy. The ship promptly left dock at designated time. The top deck had open view. The second level had enclosed area with glass window views. Also both ends were open to guests as well. From start to end, the staff member did an amazing job of narrating many aspects of the views from the deck. A lot of it was about the downtown Seattle buildings, Space Needle, buildings and parks by the shore, the sea ports and many other cool facts along the way. I throughly enjoyed the hour long tour. The weather was also fantastic to take stunning pictures of the downtown, the mountains and the port. They also had a bar in second level where they served alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, pop corn and some small snacks. Prices were decent for it being a tourist activity. We liked both popcorn and the strawberry lemonade.

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    Argosy Cruises - Seattle - Going on a cruise.

    Going on a cruise.

    Argosy Cruises - Seattle - Space needle

    Space needle

    Argosy Cruises - Seattle

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    Aquarium Co-Op - Fancy goldfish

    Aquarium Co-Op

    4.5(225 reviews)
    11.9 mi

    I had an absolutely fantastic experience at the Aquarium Co-Op store in Edmonds on my first visit!…read moreAs a brand-new fish mom, I came in with a lot of questions, and Jeff went above and beyond to help me. He was incredibly patient, took the time to explain everything in a way that was easy to understand, and gave thoughtful recommendations that were perfect for a newbie like me. What really stood out was that he didn't just tell me what to do -- he actually demonstrated how to properly clean the bottom of the tank, which gave me so much more confidence going home. I never felt rushed or talked down to, just genuinely supported. The selection of fish, live plants and accessories are incredible! The fish look happy and active, and I now have a few favorites to come back for once I get a bigger tank. If you're new to fishkeeping or even if you're experienced and want great advice, this is the place to go. Huge thanks to Jeff and the Aquarium Co-Op team for such outstanding service. I'll definitely be back!

    My fish all died of Ick. It is a contagious illness, I got all my fish from you…read more I will not be buying my replacement fish from you. I am sad about this as your place is huge and inviting, and your pumps are great, I can't risk another die off like this. I didn't come in and tell you in person as I dislike confrontation. Please be more careful in the future. I had tetras minnows and two plecos in a 38 gallon tank.

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    Aquarium Co-Op
    Aquarium Co-Op - Rock and driftwood

    Rock and driftwood

    Aquarium Co-Op - Murphy the puffer

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    Murphy the puffer

    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Macchia Forest exhibit

    Chihuly Garden and Glass

    4.6(3.3k reviews)
    1.0 miLower Queen Anne

    A must visit in Seattle- Stunning blown glass exhibit!…read more If you'd like a vibrant artsy experience in Seattle, drop by here to see Dale Chihuly's masterpieces. The museum houses his exquisite and intricate blown glass with a myriad of colors and designs. There is also an outdoor exhibit with several blown glass art entwined in the garden and the space needle towering overhead as a nice backdrop for photos. Glass blowing demos are shown, which is pretty interesting to see the soup to nuts creation of a glass blown bottle or vase. The tickets are a little expensive (~ $40) but worth for those who are passionate about the arts!

    This is a stunning museum and exhibition center, located right next to the Space Needle. Our…read moretickets were part of the CityPass and we reserved our entry time few minutes before walking into the building. The check-in process was super quick. The first few halls were displaying artworks made out of glass. There were so many different sizes and shapes of colorful glass sculptures. It was so stunning, each photo seemed like a perfect shot for my phone's wallpaper. The hallway continues to a glass ceiling hall of the building with some more glass artwork. There was a cafe located in this area. Outside the building was a beautiful garden, with walkway all around. They were also doing a demo of making colorful vases from scratch using glass mold from furnace. On the other side was the entrance to the second building that had a theater playing a short movie about creating these glass art pieces. The exit was next to the theater that led to the gift shop. The gift shop was fascinating here. There were so products and artwork representing the glass sculptures inside the center. There were also many other souvenir items like stickers, magnets, apparels, cups, mugs, hats, books, stationery and so many more. We bought couple of magnets from here. Prices were decent. Staff members were really friendly here, both inside the exhibition and at the gift shop.

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    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Sealife Room exhibit

    Glass artwork in the Sealife Room exhibit

    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Macchia Forest exhibit

    Glass artwork in the Macchia Forest exhibit

    Chihuly Garden and Glass - Glass artwork in the Sealife Room exhibit

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    Glass artwork in the Sealife Room exhibit

    Seattle Aquarium - aquariums - Updated May 2026

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