Reviews of Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (Fish Shop)

Erin Shafferman

We have always loved this aquarium! We love stopping and taking time to watch the fish in the various tanks! The 3D Oceans movie was awesome!

Carol Schwartz

Very fun place to go for a family outing! Many interesting and informative exhibits for both adults and children, as well as several hands-on opportunities for kids and their curiosity! Definitely a fun trip for everyone!!

Chris Hodge

My second time here and really had fun. So much to see and taking half the day to enjoy it and see all of the different sea life that is out there is quite an sight to see. Friendly and knowledgeable staff too. Haven't checked out the movies offered yet nor the boat ride which will be next time.

Joyce Poole

Loved the walking paths. If your not used to going around in the building can be confusing. Over all very nice

SloppyFox Ken

We've been coming to the aquarium for years now. Some things change but for us it was exciting to see how things progress. Well, this year they fail to tell you that the second building is closed until you give them the full admission (normally for 2 buildings). The building is expected to reopen in 2021. They claimed they changed some things. Well some things were "coming soon". So.e things were moved. Look.... I'm all for paying to keep the hope that my money goes to the animals. But paying full price for half the attraction? Nah. Let me know when the whole thing opens back up. I think my wife was more disappointed than I was.

James Rouse

We enjoyed it so much that we became members. Informative exhibits and friendly staff. Plenty of very lively animals making the visit enjoyable. The nature trail also provides extra value for the admission fee and provides you even more of an idea of how much preservation they contribute to.

Elexus Hyde

I'm rather disappointed. Roughly $20 a ticket.. just didn't seem worth it. It's an interactive place which is great and it is fairly clean. I expected a longer aqua arch/tunnel and I think the Sea Turtles should be in a bigger tank and in the main Shark tank there are only 3 species of Sharks. Also it was complicated to navigate; we almost missed two whole exhibits and walked back to go through them. It isn't well mapped out and when you're done you pop right into the gift shop. Just comes off as a money trap honestly. I don't understand how it has such great reviews. I was not impressed.

Erin Brandt

A lot of the exhibits with animals seem very, very small, to the point where I was a little concerned for some animals. There are probably just as many educational play activities as exhibits, which is fine for kids, but for adults it's not as entertaining. The website specifically said that guests are still able to visit the river otters during renovation, which is the whole reason we visited - otters are my favorite - but this was not true as the otters were not viewable and will not be until renovations are completed in 2021. Cafe staff were unfriendly and rude, and the cafe prices were extremely high considering food quality (over twenty dollars for one gross hot dog on a stale bun and one cheeseburger combo). Overall, even with the discount, the admission prices seem high for what you end up experiencing.

Drew Croy

Not worth the money. Has some very nice exhibits but it's not worth 26 dollars a person. World class zoos are half the cost with twice the content. The outdoor challenge course was comprehensive and an additional cost. The 3D movies are nice and also an additional cost. Boat ride, yep, additional cost. To do everything for 2 people you're looking at a couple hundred dollars.

Michelle Peterson

Had a wonderful visit with my husband and toddler today. The exhibits were fun and interactive. The staff were friendly and helpful. The parking was convenient. The restroom facilities were clean and easily accessible. We could have stayed for many more hours reading, learning, and exploring together. We arrived at 2:30pm; there was not a line and it was almost empty.

Donna Ingle

Great place to visit with you and your family. Inside and outside of the aquarium. The fish tunnel and tanks are the best part.

Beverly Moore

Fun for the whole family. Pretty busy so you may want to check online there peak attendance to avoid crowds. Plan at least 3-4 hours to enjoy it all.

Samlp Leclp

Not bad overall. Comparing to the Vancouver , Boston and Quebec City that I have seen before, I find this one very small and have less things to see. But I enjoyed still my visit. The staff there is very friendly and I think with a family , passing the time outside the beach can be a good idea.

Lou

Staff was very friendly and helpful. Prices are great for an aquarium. I went on their boat ride with my family, it lasted an hour and a half and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dolphins! They offer military discounts too!

Emily L

Nice aquarium. There are several unique exhibits, one of our favorites being the sea turtles. We also loved the touch-pool with the stingrays and horseshoe crabs. Very educational as well. We went ahead an purchased a membership, so we can go back all year!

Anna Coupons

This aquarium is by far one of the most AWESOME places/aquariums that my family has visited! First allow me to state, that we WILL be returning. I really enjoyed shipwreck exhibit! My kids really loved the turtles and shark exhibit. Also, there is a nature trail that leads to a park, so please wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Great place!!

Dave Mitchell

Went with a private tour for tour and dinner in front of the shark tank. The exhibits are all OK but a little dark for me. The catered dinner was prime rib, all you can eat and was very well done and handled by a great wait staff.

Savann Dredden

Very nice aquarium. Good family place to go for just a casual day out Their displays are very interesting which will keep you wanting to see what is next. It does have plenty to explore. We enjoyed it as a family.

Mikayla Blumer

I always enjoy visiting new aquariums when I go on vacation so I had to check out the Virginia Aquarium. The parking lot is huge and very easy to find parking, the inside of the aquarium is clean and very easy to follow from exhibit to exhibit. I only spent about 1-1.5 hours at the aquarium and I definitely could’ve spent more time here. They have a couple exhibits closed so they took $5 off admission price which was generous. Lots of interactive exhibits for kids and families. They have a pool where you can touch stingray, although this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a stingray pool, it is definitely the largest so more people can experience it rather than having to wait for a spot to open up or being squished in between people. The gift shop has items for everyone, it took me a while to choose something.

Mike Henson

We were unimpressed considering the cost of the tickets. Nice aesthetic throughout and friendly staff, but this aquarium relies quite heavily on inanimate exhibits and information stands over diversity of living animals. To be fair, I love sea horses, and they have about 7 of them in one 20-gallon tank. The cat and dog room seems like a waste of valuable space, let alone being anathema to an aquarium. While I understand the logic behind this exhibit, and it’s well done, I might boldly suggest that they fill this room with, I don’t know, some fish. My kids enjoyed running through the dog obstacle pickets, but afterwards asked me why there were no fish in this big room. Haha, kids are silly: fish? This is an aquarium, honey, go read more about the dogs and cats. The nature walk is nice, lots of crabs and...smaller crabs, but should you feel discouraged about the lack of wildlife in the nature walk, at least you have the soothing bustle of the highway just feet away on the other side of the fence. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is literally half the admission price, and while it’s smaller, it somehow has more aquatic animals, more expansive touch tanks, and a layout that doesn’t lend itself so well to congestion. The Baltimore aquarium costs more, but it’s the ultimate experience; you can make a whole day out of it. I suppose I expected this aquarium to fall somewhere between the two; however, it instead sits squarely in its own category: all the price of an upscale aquarium but with the marine equivalent of an upscale pet store.

Emily jackson

They had great exhibits and fun interactive learning experiences. The second building was closed on our visit for remodeling but many of the animals were moved into the first building. The employees were friendly and offered a lot of interesting facts for the animals they were stationed at.

Manuel Maddox

We have had a great time each time we've visited. The exhibits are great...also, there are typically well informed folks there that can share additional information about the animals with you.

Briana Fuentes

We love to visit the harbor seals out front. Its free and my kids love it. They even do training sessions sometimes. The inside is a bit expensive but enjoyable. The aquarium tunnel and shark tank are pretty awesome. We like to go every once in awhile. Coming from chicago area, we just wish they had more.

Joe Crabtree

The Aquarium is a great family experience. I would recommend avoiding the peak summer tourist season. That said, it is still very enjoyable with the crowds. Check the website to time your visit around feeding times!

Madison H

I’ve been twice and it is normally a very fun time but I don’t recommend going when there are large crowds. Sucks the fun right out of your family trip and will easily get stressful. Other than that it’s a good aquarium with lots to see.

Brooke Kemph

Love this place! We’ve been coming here for the past 2 years and we can’t wait to come back again! Anna on this past Sunday was so knowledgeable about sharks and has changed me and my husbands outlook all together!!! Save the sharks 2k19!!!

Marcia Doublin

Awesome and amazing a great place for family. A little pricey but discounts for military and other available. I wish we had done the dolphin boat ride. Idk what I missed out on. I would recommend to do it if available at time of visit. Next time I am definitely.

Joel Evans

Great spot for the family. Snack bar and cafe on site (menu pics attached). Kids love the smash penny machine. The machine next to it: a buck gives you not only 4 quarters but 2 shiny pennies. Spent about 4 hours here.

Glenn E

Nice little aquarium, not like Shedd in Chicago but still very nice. Had a good time. Took the boat trip up Virginia Beach, had to turn back early due to a strong storm. Would have been fun if the seas would have cooperated.

Gabby

Very cool experience. Good for all ages especially the dolphin tour. I saw tons of dolphins and nice food accommodations as well!

Nicole Dillon

Lots of fun here. Parts of the aquarium bottleneck so be prepared to wait in line to see what's in the tank. Can be difficult to navigate with a stroller. My 2 year old loved it. The sea turtles and seals were a highlight. It was pricey for the time we spent there. Only takes about an hour to go through. We skipped a couple of interactive exhibits with no fish tanks more suited towards older children.

jonathon hounsell

The aquarium is such a nice place to go to and see marine life! My family loves the fish and wildlife open to the public! There are a lot animals and is easily accessible to handicap personnel. Great place for kids of all ages and adults.

carla deyoe

I love this place! I just wish I could go more often. There are so turtles, skates, a few small sharks, and so much more. Make you wonder how much more you could see. I would definitely recommend this. If you live in the area, get the membership. It's worth it.

Brian Pettit

The exhibits are very well thought out, well illuminated and most are accessabble to a 3 year old. Many places for the grandpa to sit for a moment. I found the outdoor walk very peaceful, entertaining and educational. I understand they believe that shows of trained dolphins doing tricks is not healthy, but this belief needs to be more fully addressed in the advertising.We were disappointed. The price is too high for the 2 hour visit. We would not return. We go to the zoo regularly and always see something new. Our annual zoo membership did not allow for a discount.

Kate Edrich

Always a neat place to visit. It is rather expensive like most things in va beach, but so worth a visit. Take your time and enjoy the animals that have given there freedom to entertain us. Oh and the otters dont forget them at the other end.

Samantha Bush

The aquarium is nice. But I paid $45 for myself and nephew (under 5) and couldn’t see a thing the entire time. Between his attention span and the wall of babyless strollers all over the entire place he didn’t see anything unless I picked him up. And we couldn’t stand for long before another heard of strollers came pushing you along. I would only ever visit on off-season. Never again will I waste my money Oh and half of the empty tanks tell you “coming soon”.

Shawn -

Animals are well taken care of, plus the caretakers really know a lot and love to share. The price isn't bad, well worth the trip.

Robert W

The kids love coming here. There’s always something new on display so it’s never boring

Nishma Santiago

Fun place for the whole family! We had a lot of fun here. Theres are so many underwater creatures to see and learn about you definitely need the full day if your going to do everything. The dolphin boat ride was over an hr and a half long but totally worth it. We were able to see turtles, fishes, and lots of dolphins.

Khylia Powell

The two star is specifically for the boat ride that was held at 3:00pm today and here’s why: It started when the weather and waves began to get unsteady for the boat itself and most of the passengers in the front of the boat were getting splashed which was no big deal. Once the next wave came in, the fun exciting adventure turned almost into the titanic. The captain told us that we were going to turn around and set sail back to the docks because of the weather. What I thought was going to be a smooth ride home turned into damn fast and furious with a big boat. We were speeding through the water and many people were getting slammed into the sides and most were struggling to get through the door. One family with a child almost went over because of the insane jump of the boat in midair after going over a wave. My relatives were screaming at the captain to slow down because of an incident with an elderly woman who bursted into tears when she banged her head against the boat and ended up slipping trying to get inside. There was no organized plan on what to do and many people were terrified, crying, and sea sick. But what really puts the icing on the cake is the response from the captain. The captain put it bluntly that it was funny watching everyone in chaos when the waves came and everyone was scrambling to get inside. I find this highly inappropriate and the captain needs to be evaluated immediately. Other than that, the refund was acceptable.

Angela Mastrovito

We have been to quite a few aquariums. I would say this is adequate with need for improvement. Some of the walking path is dimly lit with hazardous projections. I wouldn't consider the first half wheelchair accessible. Some of the interactive sites did not properly work. All these concerns were addressed during our visit. All comments were well received.

michael deuring

A lot of fun for the whole family. Highly recommend doing the dolphin ride. We got to see a lot of dolphins close to the boat. The staff was very knowledgeable and nice. The boat also has restrooms and snacks available on the boat.

Angela Pulella

I have visited this aquarium once before. It is very well kept, very clean, and a great way to spend the day. We loved the outdoor walking area that shows the natural environment one would find in Virginia Beach. There are crabs, snakes, a pretty boardwalk over the water, and many birds. There was a huge selections of fish and sea life here. The tanks are well maintained, and there is a lot of sea life to admire. The shark tank is awesome, as well as the area with the sea turtles, reptiles, and jellyfish. There is a food court (they have beer!!) and a movie theater area. While we were there, they had a dog and cat expo set up, which contained games, information, videos, etc about many breeds of dogs and cats. The aquarium is minutes away from the strip of hotels in VB and is definitely a place I would recommend for families as well as anyone at all who wants to see some cool fish.

Jennifer Kickey

Went there today with my husband and daughters (ages 7 and 4). We were greeted by a friendly person at the desk...after that it all went down hill. There were multiple field trips there, which would have been fine if these schools were told not to run around, push people and yell and scream through the exhibits (this was just one of the schools). As a teacher myself, this is not what should happen out of school walls, but the staff of the aquarium did nothing. The next nightmare came when we went to the 3D movie that we purchased tickets for about 2 hours before the show. The staff neglected to tell us that this was the showing that a very large school purchased tickets for. As we waited on line we again witnessed behavior that should not have been...again the staff did nothing. We contemplated not going to the show but didn’t want to disappoint our girls. Well...throughout the entire show we had to listen to them talk and fool around. After the show we walked through the gift shop where we were greeted by the people selling the picture they take of us when we walked in...25$ for a single picture?! I bought a package deal at bush gardens yesterday for a few dollars more...what a ripoff! Honestly everything was a rip off...especially since there was no control within the walls of the aquarium.

Jonathan Steel

Very nice establishment with a variety of activities. Prices are a bit high... especially when half the place is closed for construction. When everything is up and running, it’s a decent attraction for the area.

Matthew Wright

It was a nice aquarium. We especially enjoyed the shark exhibit and the komodo dragons. The line was very long though and it moved pretty slow to start through the exhibits.

Darleen Schommer

Very interesting and great for the kids. My only complaint was the cost. With 6 adults and 4 kids, the average family can't afford to go there. Being on vacation Grandma ( that's me) had saved in order to be to do a few things.

Yess

Staff and volunteers are wonderful! They interact with you and are able to explain the knowledge in dept. The gentleman with the sting Ray's and the ladies with the horseshoe crabs are very informative and nice! The lady in the jewelry part of the gift shop has so much patience! The young man with the afro who takes the tickets is also patient! Made out vacation extremely exciting!

Joseph Mastin

I been here a few times and I must say it’s one of the best aquariums I have been too. They have a ton of things to do here and see. Pair that up with the Dolphin tours you can easily spend half or the whole day here before you know it. I’d definitely look into the tours when you get here it’s a must do

Patricia Odonnell

So many beautiful things to see! Sea turtles Sharks and schools of brilliantly colored fish and even a Komodo dragon close up.What an awesome place to visit

Visla Eraclaire

A lovely way to spend a day inside and cool with the family. Friendly staff and fun exhibits always make my son smile.

Pam White

Allways stop by when we come in town. Good place to take the lil one during the hot part of the day.

Maranda Cote

The aquarium was okay at best. The staff were really friendly, but the exhibits were small and crowded. I was really excited after reading so many great reviews, but I wouldnt say this is anything beyond average. It took about 2 hours to go through the entire aquarium, and that seemed disappointing for the price

Michael A Berry

Any time you can bring your grade school kid and watch them learn and discover on their own is a win. The Virginia Aquarium maintains an excellent and organized collection of marine life in a maze of Aquariums and Habitats. The volunteers and staff are knowledgeable and friendly.

Sanjay Gangal

They don't have a lot of marine life. Many aquariums are better. Do this as a last resort. Kid liked the seals out front the most.

Pádraig-Eóin Dalrymple

Real cool. Hopefully you can be convinced that evolution and climate change is real. If not you don't deserve to see these beautiful animals.

Sue Carey

Great place to spend a couple of hours with or without children. Lots to learn and see. Helpful staff. Just check what the hours of the cafe are if you planning on eating there.

Wendy C

Fair aquarium. I love aquariums and have gone to many. This one was good. Worth the trip. Not my favorite. Still worth going. Great sea turtle exhibit. The under water exhibits were wonderful.

Nouman A

Awesome place and very friendly staff. Parking is super easy unlike most other places parking is as easy as a grocery store and free. Cost is very reasonable and very kid friendly.

Owen Hall

Great exhibits and the staff were super nice. The animals were well taken care of and they were active. I enjoyed going here and I would go back

Patricia Lange-Otsuka

Enjoyed this, allot about 90 to 120 minutes, more if you choose to purchase 2D movie pass which are around 50 minutes each. Can touch a manta ray, many interactive exhibits.

Katrina Sandy

It was a Beautiful drive! Would have been nice to see some ocean life. Boat ride was smooth on the way out, bumpy on the way back, but not too bad. We all really enjoyed it.

Randy Nocks

Wished we were closer. One of the best aquariums we've ever visited. And the dolphin excursion was fabulous!

Olga Horine

This is the best Aquarium I've ever visited. The outdoor areas were amazing. I only visited a few hours one day, but there were so many things we didn't even do while we were there. Definitely worth it!!

kristin shelby

Amazing exhibits at a low price, with free parking. better than any aquarium we have been to. friendly staff!

Robert Rogers

This is a great place for everyone. My nephew loves coming here. Really cool that we have a place like this in Hampton Roads.

Matt Houston

We've been to several aquariums around the US and this was one of our favorites. It has plenty to see for the little ones and plenty of educational pieces for adults. We spent half the day there and ended with taking the dolphin tour boat ride.

Mikie and Carl

A very nice aquarium easy to find with lots of parking. The staff was very friendly and quite knowledgeable. A lot of Hands-On things for the kids. A really nice gift shop also.

Taylor H

My husband and I had a very great time here. The tickets are a little pricey, but it was well worth it. Everything is clean, the animals look well cared for, the enviornment there is very nice. You get to pet sting rays in a touch pool. There are cute seals outside that blow bubbles. Pictures are way too expensive, as are most things in the gift shop.

reynalyn mogatas

Visiting from Canada. Loved seeing the animals! It was crowded when we went but we still enjoyed ourselves. Washrooms could use more cleanliness.

Ashley Swenson

Our family loves this place! Even with one building closed for quite some time, it still has enough to keep busy.

S D

Good solid Aquarium for the price. I'm going to give 5 here. The Baltimore aquarium Shark exhibit and overall experience is better. But your paying nearly double to see it. So for VA beach what u see And value the overall package is good. Oh u can touch the sting rays. Can't touch anything in Baltimore. Well done

Stacey Martin

Loved all the little explanations of everything. They had interactive things that were even neat for all ages too. Loved the volunteers who were happy to help you spot the birds or teach you about the turtles and such. You can even touch the stingrays too!! They have a really neat walking path with a tree top area that looked amazing (it was closed when we went)!!

Sabrina Gnos

I have went 4 times. I always take new people. My daughter loved it for her 1 year birthday. Lots of touch and feel activities. They have a cafe to get food and drinks. I was a bit disappointed the otter exhibit was closed this time but still very much worthwhile. The gift shop has EVERYTHING! The prices are also very good. It was easy to spend 250$. But i got baby toys, 6 photos of me my daughter and my mom, a hoodie,tshirt combo, earrings perfume and so much more.

Rick Adkins

It's a good aquarium for this area with a lot of interactive displays and educational nooks. they also have various movies playing all day and a nice outdoor Marsh walking trail.

Steve Mccarty

Had a great time on the aquarium dolphin watching boat. Loads of fun and very informative.

Phillip Witmer

Best aquarium ever!!! Great exhibits and gift shop... And not too pricey

Lauren Dwyer

I love the Marine Science Museum. I've been coming since I was a child, and now I take my kids, and they love it every time. It's a wonderful aquarium, and I love that it's focused on conservation rather than tourism

Renee Helsel

Two sections were closed off today so I can't give Full review, but everything else was still very fun and a great learning experience! I had never been to an aquarium before and as a first time visitor I'm extremely pleased. They also took $5 off the price of a ticket for the inconvenience.

gsibertjr

Ok. Very nice facility, a great and knowledgeable staff. Nice displays and children loved it. Just seemed a bit pricey and I bought discounted tickets. We did not watch one of the 3D movies.

Eric Ziegler

We always enjoy a visit to the aquarium when we are in town. And if we can squeeze it in, the high ropes course is definitely worth it. The best I high ropes course I have visited They are not directly related to aquarium but are snack dab in the middle so worth the mention.

Jessica Ritchey

Love this place we go every time weare on vacation and they always have really cool things this August they had shark zone and it was so cool

Jennifer Hall

I enjoyed the visit. It could be a funding problem but I feel like there could be more for the animals to do in some of the enclosures. They all seemed pretty inactive and bored. Also, I didn't notice much going on with handling. Overall, I do recommend a visit.

Donnell Lyons

The Virginia aquarium was a good experience that offer all aquatic life from fish, turtles, lizards, seals and dolphins. It is a good place for children to learn about all sea creatures. I was a little under in the lack of size, I was expected more variety, but good experience.

Loot Looters

Overall I would say the visit was an excellent one. And everything you would expect out of an aquarium. The outdoor nature area with something under utilize by many of the visitors who walked right past the crab breeding grounds as well as many of the outside Outlets to bird-watch. Watching the herons catch and eat fish was amazing.

Blaine Armstrong

Very nice and clean staff was very friendly and knowledgeable lots of educational things to read and experience

Edward Oates

Awesome Aquarium and great for a 2 to 3 hour day trip! Plenty of animals to see and the outside boardwalk is greayt exercise! The coral reef display and one other were shut down but they gave us 5 bucks off ticket price! Great business!

Joshua Ray Ogletree

Great aquarium. Decent selection of animals. I’ve been to many aquariums in my travel, and this one has some really cool exhibits I haven’t seen elsewhere, and some “eh” exhibits. It seemed like they had a decent number of closed exhibits, which was kind of disappointing. The employees were mostly nice and helpful. Can’t wait for the second building to open and bring in more animals. I went expecting to buy a membership, but decided to wait and see what happens.

Daniel Betancourt

More of a family place, great for kids. I didn't much to keep adults interested as most of the collection seem pretty basic to me. The komodo dragon was pretty cool though. Priced a little high for the size of the aquarium I think.

Cait Schadewald

Overall I had a wonderful experience. I did find the aquarium itself to be on the smaller side. With that being said the employees were kind and knowledgeable. The best part was the dolphin watching boat tour!

Martin Rieman

Coming here every year for a while now. They always have something new. And the kids love the ceiling to floor aquariums. They love the submarine on the shark tank a little too much.

Chris Murphy

Small aquarium and 2 attractions were closed. However. The stuff they did have was decent, and they gave us $5 off each ticket for their attractions being under construction. Overall overpriced for how small this aquarium is though.

Denise Porter

I’m a New Yorker who looooves Virginia. My son enjoyed every moment at the aquarium. I liked the selection of animals. We spent more time than I expected. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. It was a pleasant experience

Hunter Roberts

The staff was super friendly and helpful. The boat tour we took was amazing!! We got to see the dolphins and other animals and it was very factual. We will definitely go back.

Nicole Stiles

We really love the Aquarium and bought a membership. It's a place I can go walking around for exercise with interesting things to look at. With the membership, I'm able to just walk in and not worry about paying. My baby loves the sea turtles. They always come to greet her. My friend and I love to sit in front of the shark tank and chit chat while watching the fish swim around. It closes at everyday to allow special events to occur in the evenings. We haven't had the opportunity to join any of those events yet, but I plan on doing so soon. There's even an outside area to walk around that's really relaxing. The adventure park is located there. A great obstacle course for those who enjoy the activity.

Russell Dudley

Really great educational aquatic experience for all ages. Balancing spectacle with knowledge and stewardship, they presented everything g really well. Great option if you’re looking to kill a few hours.

Matthew V

Love this place, tons to see and do. Gift shop prices are pretty good as well.

Laura Slaughter

Even though one of the buildings was closed for renovation, we thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium. The assortment of educational items available for everyone to 'play' with were set up for all ages to enjoy. Each huge tank had placards so you could identify all the species. We plan to return once the second building reopens and the otters, my favorite, are back.

Shandi Huerena

Very cute but not as big as I expected. There wasn't a ton of exhibits and there was a lot of exhibits under construction. The animals seemed well taken care of and healthy and all their tanks were clean so that is a huge plus!! Just wish there was more to it.

Rachel Rachel

I typically really enjoy aquariums but I’m not sure this one is worth the $25 it costs for entry. There aren’t enough fish, jellyfish, birds, animals in this building to make this worth the price you pay. They need to make this aquarium more interactive and a little more fun (not just for kids, but adults, too)! I likely won’t be back here.

Patrick Mehfoud

Hadent been in maybe 15 years. Its a great place to bring the kids to explore the ocean and Virginia's marine history. Kids absolutely loved touching the rays. Shark feeding was a hit to. Great rainy day at the beach place also.

Lucas Kowalski

Neat place to spend some time. Could of had more there and be better organized but the kids had fun and that’s what counts

Ashis Roy

Love this place and return there whenever I get a chance. It's not only the aquarium but also the cruise ship trip to the ocean for dolphins watch and a big collection of 3D theater makes this place awesome.

Sam

Great aquarium! Really enjoyed it. However one party got injured and unfortunately staff here did very little to help. Took us to the office where they received us by saying “oh boy” in a sarcastic manner. All they had to offer was a bandaid. That was their entire first aid kit and assistance. That was pretty disappointing.

Nathan Tucker

Very informative and educational. There are not alot of sharks and I feel like you get more for your money at the Aquarium in Pigeonforge, TN. Otherwise, this was a good experience for me and my family.

Kassie Bohannon

Had a great time here. We made it through in about 2 hours, taking our time through the Cats and Dogs pop-up exhibit and walking a little way on the trail outside. Huge bay for ray petting, and also an area to touch crabs. Nice balance of educational displays with exhibits. Loved the seals out front. Sea turtles and sharks were also very good. Gift shop could stand some expanding, but I got a reasonably priced sweatshirt that is very comfortable.

Amit Patkar

It is a decent aquarium with a walk under the sharks and a close encounter via a dome with some komodo dragons being the highlights but it is not very large and a little expensive for what it is. It has a lot of informative statues, models, videos and those sort of things, far more than other aquariums I've been to so it might be more fun for older, more inquisitive kids. The cafe food was bad - fries were too oily, pizza was not cooked through and burger was dry.

M Z

Overall a very good aquarium. It was not busy when visiting in the shoulder season which made seeing the exhibits efficient and interesting since you could see. Parking was also easy this way. There are a few hands on areas for children which is good. Overall a good variety of live species exhibits and static educational exhibits, some dated however. 4.5 stars overall.

Jo Kuykendall

This is a must visit for young and old alike. The ziplunea between the two centers are fun. A great day will be had by all

Cortney Bowers

Was way to crowded. Not sure how you could regulate the population but I felt rushed through because of the crowed. I felt like I had to stay ahead of the crowd to be able to enjoy a small window of looking at the fish.

Jen c

We visited the aquarium on a Saturday for the first time with great expectations. I must say, however, that given the price point I was somewhat disappointed. Just not a lot of bang for your buck. We were told when purchasing our tickets that there was an octopus exhibit, but we never saw it. I would say if you're staying near the aquarium take advantage of the all day pass so that you can go back if you prefer later in the day.

Eric Huie

Fun day at the Aquarium. It was nice to get a 10% veteran discount. It's a good way to spend a few hours on a very hot day

Kenneth Chap

Fun and amazing! Learn about nature here! Staff are very nice and we got to see a lot of cool animals! I would come back here again to try their adventure course!

LVI Siren IVL

Good place, I would wait until they finished construction until you go. Otherwise, it can be very loud. Good for families and older children between the ages of 9 to 13.

Cassi Quiggle

Good place to spend the day in VA Beach if the weather isn't the best. The staff is knowledgeable and courteous. You can tell these animals are a passion and not just a paycheck. The outdoor nature walks were an added bonus!

Katelyn Caltagirone

So I'm a fan of aquariums, and I really enjoyed the arch they had where you can walk through the hallway and a variety of fish and small sharks would swim above you. That was pretty cool. While I was impressed with their turtle exhibit and their efforts to keep the ocean clean, their shark exhibit was lacking. There were only a few of them and they were quite small. I enjoyed that a lot of their exhibits focused on the creatures right in the Chesapeake Bay. Keeping it local. Overall I had a fun time, just wish the place had a little more to offer.

L Garnes

Neat place for kids. The nature trail is awesome and one of the best zip lines I've seen... the aquarium is a bit disappointing in way of the number of exhibits. Didn't see many sharks. It is a cool place but a bit over priced. The gift shop has nice items for purchase. It is still a cool place to hang out. We don't have small children so it wasn't as interesting for us.

Ethan wood

What a fun place! This is a really nice aquarium. Interactive and good for all ages. Very informative and insightful to the local area. Fun place to get out of the sun for a bit or on a rainy day.

Trez Silverwolf

Great time for family, adventurous adults and inquisitive kids. It was pleasant to see knowledgeable staff of varying ages. The exhibits were fun and the animals were amazing.

Kelso Quan

One of the smaller aquarium s I've been to. Notheless, there's touching exhibits: Ray's and horseshoe crabs. The displays with sharks and turtles is theruaptic! Nice little place to spend 2.5 hours at. Crowded, but not super crowded on a Friday afternoon.

Trail Rider Mikie B

Interesting and fun interactive place. Very family friendly. Was hoping to see larger live exhibits for the bigger residences. Kids enjoyed, worth the

Rachael Retter

We got a membership last year and we love it. We live in Williamsburg but we drive down a lot just to hang out and pet the sting ray. My kids love bringing sketch books to the shark area and just drawing the animals. Love this place.

michelle savage

We hadn't been to the Virginia Beach Aquarium in about 10 years. It was great then and has gotten even better. This year my mom and my grandson joined us. It's a great place all ages. My only complaint was it wasn't as handicap friendly as it should have been. The doors weren't automated and was a bit of a struggle. Overall, great experience.

Mary McCoy

Had a great time today with ADP! I have not been here in 17 years. I enjoyed it.

Ian Brent

Such a wonderful place for anyone curious about the ocean. Excellent assortment of exhibits and knowledgeable staff and volunteers whose passion is recognizable in every interaction. Exhibits were clean and the animals were incredibly well-cared-for, all the way down to the occasional thunder/lightning effects in the Malaysian Tomistoma enclosure. Truly one of the best aquariums I've been to.

Matt McCrory

I've been coming here for over 30 years, and now I can bring my son too. He loves the aquarium and loves coming to see all the animals and exhibits. Such a great place, a staple of Virginia Beach.

Mustafa Othman

Costumer service is great. The staff is extremely nice and easily approachable. The Aquarium is great. My wife and I toured the place in approximately an hour. There's not a whole lot to see in this place. We also went on a boat trip, which was nice. One advise, BRING A COAT. The boat trip gets SUPER could, even during summer time. If you have kids, this place can be really fun for them.

Wendy Dillon

My family and I love the Virginia Aquarium! We have bought yearly passes for many years now! There is a great outdoor nature trail! The Aquarium itself is wonderful!

onpreeyatheunicorn

It was a cute little place to stop by with the family! Not too big or too small. I had a lovely time. Also very educational and the staff was nice.

Sophia Taylor

My family and I enjoyed the aquarium. Once way to get out of the heat. We learned a lot about the marine life of the Chesapeake and Virginia. One of my favorite is learning it was created by a meteor. Kids loved petting the eating rays. There's was something for everyone to enjoy and learn about!

Zach Miller

Great aquarium, loved the imax too. Its layout is alittle confusing but overall worth the money. Good spot to take kids.

Larry Oldham

Our grandchildren loved it. So did the adults. Too much to see in one trip unless you have an extra five hours to spare.

mia wolf

A great mix of animals and learning stations. The submarine is really cool. Would definitely go back. Plenty of sharks. You can pet stingrays and horseshoe crabs.

Luke Schomberg

Eh. In terms of aquariums, this maybe is middle of the road. For being in an area so rich in maritime history and culture, this museum did very little for me. Many exhibits were “coming soon” or “under construction,” although I did get a kick out of the “Pardon our bubbles” signs. This made the flow of the entire exhibit space very disjointed. They offered a $5 discount because of the missing exhibits; but it was still a letdown. In terms of actual living creature exhibits, this aquarium is severely lacking compared to the competition. They supplement this with what I refer to as “hard exhibits,” meaning lots of hands-on sliding bars and light-up buttons that do different things to try and educate you. It all just felt more like a children’s museum than an actual aquarium. Being so close to Baltimore and the National Aquarium, I assume they didn’t want to try and “go big” to compete. But the space for this aquarium more than allows for tons more space. There were so many unnecessarily extensive hallways that were void of much more than the occasion poster that maaaybe provided a tidbit of information. We actually debated on purchasing a membership; boy am I glad we dodged that bullet! If it’s raining and you’re bored, come visit! If it’s a nice day, I’m sorry, but there are so many better things to do in Coastal Virginia than this. And that’s coming from a guy that LOVES aquariums.

scott morse

Great aquarium to visit and for our children. They love the fish. There is always alot to do and see and learn.

Debra Oster

The grandchildren greatly enjoyed the aquarium. They always have areas closed off for 'expansion'. Be sure to watch the Navy jets from the back deck. You will hear them all over VA Beach.

Kelley Dieffenbach

My boyfriend and I have mixed feelings about our visit here. The staff was knowledgeable, we liked what few animals we saw, and this place would be great for children because of all the hands on exhibits. We LOVED the dolphin boat excursion. That was what made the visit and money spent worthwhile. On the other hand, we were disappointed by the lack of actual animals. It also got very busy as the day went on.

rebbecca schaffer

Perfect place take your kids and help them appreciate our part in caring for our Ocean animals