I really enjoyed my visit to the Seattle Aquarium. It is nestled on the pier and you have a panoramic view of the city scape and the ferris wheel. The aquarium offers tide pools where you can interact with the sea life. There are many spaces to observe sea creatures, but keep in mind that the aquarium is housed inside two separate buildings that are adjacent to one another. If you went into one side and did not know there is another part with more sea life, you would really miss the entire experience. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the aquarium, and I recommend it as part of your to-do list when you visit Seattle. read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had a great time visiting the aquarium! The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions, which made the experience even better. It was very family-friendly, and our kids had a blast exploring all the exhibits. My only real complaint was the price. While we enjoyed our visit, it felt a bit overpriced for what was offered. After seeing everything once, I don't think it's something we'd do again. That said, if you're in the area and have the opportunity, I would still recommend visiting at least once. It's a fun outing for families, especially if you have young children. read more

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After walking the pike place market two times we decided to wander down to the pier and Check out the Seattle aquarium!! we tend to explore the aquariums in the major cities we visit. We were happy with the price point overall about $50 a person, no first responder rates though. The entrance ticket allows you to go into the main Seattle aquarium building the ocean pavilion and two other piers. Our favorite exhibit ever was the otter exhibit and the sea lion exhibit!!! honorable mention to the indo-pacific leopard shark!!! Really cute merch in their gift shop too! read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We visited the Seattle Aquarium as one of the attractions included with the C3 City Pass. While we enjoyed our visit, we were honestly surprised by how small the aquarium was compared to what we expected. The highlights for us were definitely the sea otters, river otters, and the giant Pacific octopus. We could have spent hours watching the otters play, and the octopus exhibit was fascinating. The touch pool was also a lot of fun and provided a great hands-on sensory experience, especially for kids. The aquarium is conveniently located just a short walk from Pike Place Market and offers beautiful views overlooking the bay, making it an easy stop while exploring the waterfront area. Overall, it felt a bit underwhelming in terms of size and exhibits, but it was still an enjoyable experience. It's a great place for families with younger children, a relaxing stroll on a rainy day, or a couple of hours of low-key sightseeing. If you're looking for a massive aquarium experience, you may find it somewhat limited, but it's a pleasant way to spend a chill afternoon on the Seattle waterfront. read more

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The Seattle Aquarium is a great stop for groups with young kids visiting Seattle. We enjoyed our visit, but I think there are better ways to spend your entertainment dollars. Our family includes two adults, a five-year-old, and a 2 year old. Admission to the Seattle Aquarium was $140 for the four of us. This does include their main building as well as a newer building with some ocean exhibits. The main building contains mostly exhibits focused on the sea life of the Puget Sound and the Northern Pacific. The newer building has a focus on tropical reefs, thoygh its much lighter in actual sea life than the main building. Each building has a gift shop, too. five-year-old We spent about two hours exploring the property. We didn't rush, but we didn't stop and read every exhibit sign either. The exhibits are very cool, and we enjoyed our time there. Our kids enjoyed many aspects, especially some of the massive tanks they have in both the main building and the new building. We're talking wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling tanks. Always cool, especially for a little kid. Overall, this was a cool experience and worth checking out if you're in the area and you have the time, but I wouldn't consider this a "must-visit" in Seattle compared to some other aquariums, especially for the price. read more

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

This is a lovely aquarium. We really wanted to see Puffins, and they have such cute ones. We learned they even have a bonded female pair because of the cute theme they have going on for pride month. I loved all of the displays and habitats. It's not very big, but it was worth it with our city pass. 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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Was really excited to check this place out, especially with it being on the water/pier. The layout is odd and spread out, and just didn't feel like there was a lot to it. The best part was probably the seals and the otters. Wanted to like it but compared to other aquariums I've visited it was very lackluster. read more

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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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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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Seattle needs to do better for its marine life. The new building doesn't offer anything new. The old buildings are so dated and sad it's hardly worth the effort. The tiny tanks for seals, otters and octopus are criminal. The price is ridiculous. We live here and won't be back. And won't bring guests either. read more

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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It was fun to go as someone who's been to a lot of aquariums. For the price though, so not worth it. The first two buildings are very small and so dated. The newest building is nice just incomplete. Nice people working here though. They have pretty much the same fish throughout the entire space, not much variety. 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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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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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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I stopped by on a whim and was glad I came. Reminded me a lot of the Monterey Bay aquarium back home. There's a little something for everybody there. Lots of displays with fish, starfish, even an octopus. There's even little tide pools. The very first thing when I walked in with a giant class aquarium with a guy had a scuba suit feeding some of the fish. He had the audience bedazzled and bewildered. It was really cute seeing an audience so engaged with the fish feeding. My favorite were the otters. There were a bunch of fun playing around together in their little home. They look so happy and healthy. Wonderful place, definitely geared towards kids. But adults can find some entertaining exhibits, shade, places to sit, and good views of the pungent sound, and Seattle wheel. 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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This was cool. There's a tank over the entrance of the building with fish and sharks swimming above us! There are 2 buildings of tanks and an outside section with an aviary and otters. They show you how jellyfish grow, there are touchtanks, and a lot of kid friendly exhibits. I'm still in shock with the giant tanks, stingrays, sharks, and schools of fish swimming around. It didn't feel like there were a lot of animal exhibits compared to other aquariums that we've been to before. read more

Seattle Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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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This aquarium has the original area with touch pools, jelly fish tanks and an outdoor area with sea lions, seals etc. These areas are fun to sit and observe. The outdoor area is the best and I really enjoyed watching the seals get fed. We walked to the new section with a separate entrance. The new area is well done with huge tanks, high tech screen etc. The employees and docents are phenomenal too. It's $50 for an adult for regular admission if not going on a discounted day or special pass which is pricey but obviously the upkeep and animal costs are expensive. There were multiple school groups visiting and there was a buzz of activity at the aquarium. I'll be back because there is plenty to experience and every day is different at the aquarium. read more

Totally worth a visit!!!! It is on the pricey side a bit, but really what isn't these days. At least your money is going towards something positive. The octopus was SO cool! Sea lions were hilarious! So many awesome fish to see. Definitely put it on your list if you will be in Seattle, we're glad we did! read more

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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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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

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

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

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

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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Total Ripoff!!! This is the first aquarium that I've been to where you have to make a reservation in a time slot. No other West Coast aquarium does this. It makes no sense. Especially when the aquarium was mostly empty during the weekend. The price is outrageous! $50 for adults. It only takes 30 to 45 minutes to see the aquarium. Monterey Bay Aquarium is $65. However, it's big enough and awesome enough to spend the day there. As opposed to Seattle Aquarium, it's mostly green sea anemones. With very few other exhibits and interpretations. I have been to almost all of the aquariums on the West Cost. I have seen both good and bad. The exhibits area are bad if not cruel. They are tiny. Especially for the sea pinions and puffins. Makes me wonder who is running this joint? Save your money and don't even bother going. read more

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

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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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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The aquarium was enjoyable and had many different sections to explore. I especially liked finding the little Pikmin figures scattered throughout the exhibits. My only criticism is that I wish some of the tanks and spaces were larger for the bigger marine animals. read more

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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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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