Reviews of National Aquarium (Museum)

Eugenia M

Awesome experience! So many different exhibits to see and explore. There was a 4D interactive show about whales that we all enjoyed. Seeing the various fish and other animals was also a great experience. The Aquarium has something that's sure to capture the interest of everyone in your family! I highly recommend visiting the Aquarium at the Baltimore Inner Harbor!!

Jenna Jimenez

We came here during spring break and I absolutely loved it! This is a huge aquarium that provides a variety of marine life. I'd definitely love to go back!

Katshot

We've been visiting the aquarium ever since it opened. It's the best attraction in Baltimore by far. It's the only reason I would go to Baltimore personally. Unfortunately, that's the main problem with visiting the aquarium and Inner Harbor as a whole. The area is dumpy. Homeless and just plain sketchy people all over. Also, the labor pool is pretty bad because pretty much everywhere you go in Inner Harbor you run into employees of very low calibre. In the aquarium, this is obvious only in the cafe. Otherwise, employees in the aquarium seem both friendly and well trained. Regarding the exhibits in the aquarium, they must have recently reorganized the place because we were just there a year or so ago and it's totally different now. Very nice layout. Very kid friendly so you don't have to constantly pick up little ones so they can see.

Fish

Really nice aquarium. Very easy to navigate, beautifully built, lots to see (including non-marine animals as well), and very educational. Would definitely recommend for the whole family.

Drako Blue

Gorgeous aquarium, definitely my favourite I have ever been to. If you're in Baltimore this is a must-see in my opinion. It's well worth the price tag.

Sree A

This is a absolute must visit aquarium of you're interested in ocean fishes, sharks and turtle. There is multi level display of several species on next to their natural habitats. A wonderful educational trip.

Rebecca Beutler-Prater

Love to see all the animals. A fantastic place to bring the whole family! Safe educational and hands on environments. Staff are very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. We love this place!!!!!!

HILARY CAMPBELL

Absolutely had the most wonderful time in the aquarium delving into the various ecosystems and reading the displays. Even though the aquarium is working in some displays, there’s still a lot to see. Will be back!!!!!

Roman Rabinovich

Nice aquarium, similar to one in Mertle Beach. We were there on a weekend, it was packed and extremely hot inside, thought we'd pass out. The dolphin show would have been great to see but we didn't see any signs for show times, so when we finally made it to the pavilion, the last show had passed, which was 4 hrs before closing time... Don't miss out.

Eva Osborn

Air conditioned. Perfect for a hot humid summer day visit to Baltimore. We enjoyed the exhibits. Parking is within a short walking distance. Spot hero helps reduce parking costs, but some reduction is available by getting parking validated at the museum if you just drove into a lot.

Ash Kay

Absolutely loved it. Admission price is reasonable. Sharks and swordfish display is even superior to Atlanta's aquarium. Jellyfish display is amazing too. They also have dolphin show a few times every day included in the ticket price. They have a petting section that you can touch stingrays and jellyfish (they don't sting, obviously!).

John Greenwall

Its expensive, but its a fantastic aquarium with a dolphin show, sharks, jellyfish, a rain forest and other exhibits right on the Inner Harbor. The 4D theater is also lots of fun. Food options are not great in the aquarium but you can exit, eat at a neighborhood place, and then reenter same-day.

Shandra O'bryant

This aquarium is beautiful and worth the wait. When we arrived the line was long but a 30 min wait was not that bad. Afterwards we walked the pier, grabbed a bite to eat, shopped and grabbed a couple of free scooters to sight see!! Loved the visit and we will be back!

C. Anderson

Great experience! Tons of things to see and do. The dolphin exhibit was awesome. I loved seeing the stingrays. You must see my favorite, Calypso, the tortoise. The touch exhibit was nice too. An overall great experience.

Sara Harman

I love the Aquarium but WAY TOO CROWDED. You can't enjoy the awesome exhibits and animals with ALL THE PEOPLE. Sell fewer tickets please!!!! I beg you. Parents need to try and teach their kids not to scream...please use quieter voices so other people can enjoy and learn.

Amanda Diehl

This place was so cool! Tons of exhibits with all kinds of animals. My favorite was the puffin exhibit, you get to see the birds swimming under water!

Afrin Anwar

It's a nice place to take family and kids. Lots of dishes and different underwater species. I do feel they should add bathrooms to every level. I had to go from one level to the other and found a big line. And also add drinking water fountains. Staffs were friendly.

Tarataffy

Great place to bring the kids and stay all day. I have been three times now and every time has been awesome. The dolphins are great. There is so much to see and the staff is super smart and answer any question you have. We will definitely go again.

Thai Gwyn

My favorite aquarium! Lots to see and it’s a beautiful place and very clean. Been here many times. Great for kids. ♥️♥️♥️

Jennifer L. M.

The National Aquarium was the highlight of my visit to Maryland, hands down. I spent way longer than I expected to inside and I really enjoyed every bit of it. I highly recommend anybody who hasn't been go check it out and enjoy all of the beautiful exhibits. The staff members I spoke to were so pleasant and nice- you could tell they truly enjoyed their jobs and were knowledgeable about all of the animals there. The only thing I didn't get to do while there was enjoy one of the IMAX showings. Maybe next time!

Ryan Sy

My first visit to this place was great. There was a bunch of different exhibits and areas that you can explore. Along with the great atmosphere there was a bunch of friendly staff along the way as well. Our party of eight was constantly looking around and seeing great things. We were able to catch all the museum in one day. I recommend going to certain areas at certain times because sometimes they get extremely busy. A little planning ahead will go along way.

Tyrin Darrius

Totally enjoyed my experience at the National Aquarium. The many, different aquatic animals were amazing to watch. The icing on the cake was the 4D Shark Experience! Exhilarating and fun.

H S

Good place for adults as well as for kids. Learn a lot about various aspects of marine life. Different variety of fish. Australia pavilion was nice. Another 5 story building with different kind of fish is amazing. It was very informative coming from top floor to ground floor. It was amazing to see different kind of marine animals as you go from top floor to ground floor. One thing that I think that can improve is the experience in 4D theater. More action and more detailed information about the animal that is featured in film. Overall, I had good time with family. Good food, limited vegetarian options. Excellent customer service by the staff of aquarium. Thank you for that.

Satish Kumar

This is an awesome aquarium. Loved the dolphins show. There are around five floors and it's a very big aquarium. So many things you can learn about the ocean animals. Octopus were missing when we went but they were going keep them. Children will love this place. Only thing is that they could reduce the price a little. Overall it's worth visiting.

Jose C Almonte

Wow! We signed up for a family season pass after our first visit. This is the BEST aquarium in the country period! The dolphin tank was our kids favorite- they could sit there for hours!

Tim Grieb

The aquarium is one of the nicest attractions in Baltimore. They are a little smaller than others across the country and some of their exhibits seem small or outdated, but in general a good place to take the kids on a hot summer day. Shop around for parking though, none on site.

Erica Deretz

Fantastic aquarium! We could have easily spent the whole day here. They don’t allow strollers but have a place where you can check yours when you arrive.

Casey Miller

A great place to visit with the family. My daughter loves the whole place but her favorites are Calypso the turtle, the puffins, and the entire shark exhibit. She also loves being able to touch the jellyfish and horseshoe crabs. We are usually able to see everything in about 2 hours, but if it weren't for nap time we could stay there all day.

Abigail Eileen

Beautiful aquarium and one of the best I've ever been to across the country! It's very clean and has amazing exhibits of a variety of fish from around the world, even sharks, turtles, dolphins, and stingrays. It's a little expensive but totally worth it!!

Julie Reyes

Great place for the family! Prices are worth it !! It’s huge! The staff are friendly and informative! Do recommend for the whole family! Don’t miss out on the dolphins!!!

Thao Huynh

What a wonderful, beautiful place to spend time at. I love everything about it and the deal on Friday is great. Everyone was super helpful and we saw everything before closing. I can't wait to come back.

Alexandria Williams

I can even begin to describe how awesome this aquarium is! It's huge! It is fun for all ages. It was so big we didn't have time to go all of the way through all of the exhibits. The ones we did see like the shark tanks were incredible. A must see for absolutely anyone!

Chris Leisring

One of the best aquariums I have ever visited. Definitely planning a repeat visit to spend more time reading the displays. Exhibits are well explained and designed. Tanks looked well cared for. Building felt like I was free to browse at my own pace. Only a few areas felt a bit crowded.

Rayette Toles-Abdullah

One of my best places in the world. The dolphin exhibit is awesome. The kids love spending the day and the hands on exhibits

praveen sunny

Nice collection of fishes and reptiles. Well maintained but it's 60 dollars if you are not from Maryland. You get 20 dollars discount if you are from Maryland.

Leonid Timashev

Tough call giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. The aquarium is really great: there is a lot to see, the exhibits are nice, lots of different animals. The black tip reef is really beautiful, Calypso the sea turtle is a huge draw, and the jellyfish are very intriguing. The three flippered turtles in the gift shop are adorable. I spent about 5 hours in the aquarium to see everything. The admission price is pretty reasonable. The staff are also very friendly and they stand at a few of the exhibits and answer questions and discuss the animals. Unfortunately the aquarium is INCREDIBLY crowded (I went on a Saturday). It's like a NY subway car. Prepare to be jostled by adults, trip over kids, and to wait 5 minutes to get a peek at the octopus. I also did a behind the scenes tour and I wish it had focused more on animals rather than water maintenance or coral growing. I was able to see the mantis shrimp which was otherwise hiding, as well as the moray eel (because the guide knew their favorite spots). I also wish there were more off the beaten path animals such as snails, nautilus, octopus, crabs, shrimp, cuttlefish, etc. The aquarium is heavily skewed towards turtles and tropical fish. Overall still a great day!

John Gasparine

One of the best aquariums I've ever been to and it's still getting better! The main shark/ray exhibit is still as good as ever. Calypso, a massive three-finned sea turtle is still there after all these years. The octopus and cuttlefish are mesmerizing to watch. Super cool that the "touch and feel" exhibit now includes moon jellies... And for that matter, the jellyfish exhibit is altogether amazing. The food seems to have recently been upgraded too. The main cafe is a futuristic chic, and clean white/blue decor. The food choices are solid. As a bonus, they have craft beer and wine and Dippin-Dots ice cream! My mom recently picked up a membership which makes total sense if you live in the area. The membership covers your admission for the year (obviously) but also includes numerous discounts on anything you'd buy while there... Including half priced parking!

Bill Godshalk

Great place to spend the day but go around 3:30 and see the 4PM show at 4D theater. Well worth the low cost. Tremendous walk thru venue without to see and do.

Audrey LeVault

What a great place to observe and learn. The layout is well organized, beautiful, and is labeled well. The times of events are clear and the experts are knowledgeable.

Tess L

not as exciting as i thought it would be. but the dolphin feeding was cool. and i saw some cool animals.

Rex Barrong

Spent 7 hours in the aquarium. It was awesome. One of the best. Saw 3 dolphin shows. The Amazon and shark displays were great. The only thing to bring to their attention is the 4d dolphin movie should be better explained. For 3-4 year olds, it is scary with the water and spook effects. Lots of young kids crying in the movie, as they got sprayed with water.

Jerrold Banks

Perfect place to take your family. Very educational and fun. All types of fish, turtles; and sharks. Amazing scenery for a lot of pictures. I had a ball.

AF

Awesome array of sea creatures to view. The main area to watch fish is quite amazing! Could watch it for hours! There are big and small fish in there also turtles! Loved the dolphins. They also have a jellyfish exhibit. I wish ticket prices were more affordable.

Chris Reynolds

Such a great place! See ocean animals you will most likely never encounter up close. Love the selection and the rainforest.

Austen Hesler

It's always a fun experience. Most of the staff is friendly and helpful and the path through is easily navigated. Be aware of you plan to bring a stroller, it needs to be checked in and left at the entrance. The kids always love it and enjoy all the fish and animals especially the sharks and the dolphins. While it is an aquarium, they do have some birds, reptiles, and sloths which create a diverse experience.

Jerry Buist

First time my wife and I visited this aquarium and we loved the whole experience. There is a living rain forest at the top of the aquarium which we spent a lot of time at trying to find the Sloth but he was hiding some where in the trees. The Marine life they have on exhibit was more than worth the price of admission. Visit this aquarium again absolutely.

L F

National Aquarium is Amazing! We started off with a Dolphin talk, then a chat about a Python, saw tons of poison dart frogs and sharks. My kids also loved the puffins and electric eels. Expensive, but super cool. If you park at one of the aquarium sponsored parking garages, they will validate for some $ off.

Aaron Cheek

One of the top ten aquariums in the country. Did a behind the scenes your for the first time and it was great. The lady who was our guide was very knowledgeable and patient. The tour was just the right length. Clean tanks and nice diversity.

Steve Quinzi

Beautifully designed with a large selection of exhibits, the National Aquarium is a great destination for everyone. Be sure to come early as the Aquarium will get busy, fortunately the streamlined design of the exhibits and pools keeps the flow of traffic moving allowing everyone to experience the attractions.

Jamie Goad

Awesome aquarium. We became members and were able to skip lots of waiting time by using the member entrance. Even though it was busy it flowed fairly well.

Holli Browder

Terrible experience today at the aquarium. I wanted to pickup a gift at the aquarium for my kids. But I was told I needed an escort to get to gift shop and that they couldn’t take me that I should try back in a few hours. Really a few hours?? Obviously this was a terrible design flaw but even worse is the terrible customer service. They have to be losing money since no one can get to the gift shop. Guy at the door was extremely rude. September 22 at 12:15pm.

Laticia Burgos

It was very crowded, took my three year old for her first time and very rude adults would jump in front of her every time a window would get clear. People would stand in front of the windows for more then a few minutes making it hard for anyone else to enjoy the animals. I wish they had a 12 and under room for parent with smaller children it would make the 80 dollars a bit more worth it.

Allison

So much fun! The staff was friendly and helpful, also so very knowledgeable about the animals. There were plenty of different animals to see, too. It was a great experience.

David Pittman

The exhibits are excellent. I especially liked "Jellies Invasion". However, the cafe is unsatisfactory. I recommend eating anywhere else. Get your hand stamped on your way out so you can return after your meal or snack.

Swaathi Rao

It's quite nice and fun for kids and adults alike. The 4D Shark movie was pretty awesome too! Overall, would take a couple of hours, to walk around and enjoy the place in leisure.

Wendy Stuck

This is an amazing aquarium. We loved the way it was organized. We appreciated how it has updated itself since 1985. We enjoyed the variety of display and educational styles. I respect the changes regarding the dolphin area-- education over entertainment. I love the cafeteria's trash/compost/recycle system. Our lunch was fresh and flavorful. Thank you for offering patches for sale. We wish there was a lapel pin. Excellent service from arrival through departure.

jeffery usher

This place is great. You can for 2 and half hours get a lot out of it. However, I stayed for 4hours I wanted to get my full full money worth of fun. The staff is super nice and friendly. You can touch jellyfish and stingrays. I really like shark ally and I enjoyed the 15 min 4D movies they have. The shark movie had more excitement but I enjoy the dolphin movie 2 it was nice and had a pleasant pace. Overall, it is good place to check. Just look for discounts and group deals. Bring food and drinks to eat. The concession stand is not great but they have places for you to sit and eat.

Kathy Stempel

The giant Pacific octopus named Killian was definitely the highlight for me. Amazing!!

Tito Wilder

The aquarium was wonderful! I haven't been there since I was a kid. It is not cheap, but thankfully my mom wanted treat my wife and I and our 3.5 year old son. He had a blast! He kept on wanting to move forward, but at so many places he would squeal with delight and shriek and ooh and aah over things. We were there for I think at least four hours, and I think he will definitely remember our trip. It seemed to make a deep good impression on him.

Gurpreet Singh Tandon

I must say it is definitely worth the time spent here...Lots of species of sea creatures...The best part is Shark 4D movie (extra $5) and dolphin exhibit - trust me you and your children will love this. You can enjoy boat ride with family.

Khawaila Muhammad

Really beautiful aquarium that instills in its visitors the need to conserve and protect. There was a variety of species to observe and we really enjoyed the Dolphin tour that we took. The tour really gave us an in depth look at the dolphins and the care that that the aquarium provides for them. The displays are gorgeous and have accompanying infographics that tell you more about the particular species that are available for viewing. The only detractor comment that I have for this place is the cafe. I do not know what was going on, but the service was incredibly slow and it would have been better to just walk across the street and reenter after getting a bite to eat. Other than that it was WELL worth the visit. The giant turtle swam away with my heart ❤❤

Clair Clair Sky

Nice aquarium. Good size but some of the exhibits do need some maintenance. A good way to spend an afternoon.

Krystle Peart

We had an awesome time at Aquarium Fever Night! The aquarium was closed to government officials and there families for an after hours experience. We got to see so many different things including dolphins, sharks, fish, turtles and so much more. 4D theater as well! They provided food and drinks including beer & wine! And it was free!! I got to touch a jellyfish boy was I scared at first.

Sneha H S

An amazing water world. Went up the exhibits on one side, and walked down the ramp of the ocean world across 5 floors. The latter was a fantastic experience of the ocean. The humid, tropical rain forest on the roof was realistic. The 4-D shows on Dolphins and Sharks were very informative. There was a significant crowd as we entered, but we were able to move quickly. 3 hours including lunch at the cafe. Good vegetarian lunch options.

Alfonso V

Went on labor day weekend with the kids, it was not crowded at all and line for tickets was short. Plenty to see and lots of amazing animals I had never seen before. The Dolphin show was great but make sure you show up well in advance of show time to secure seats as they are first come basis. Food choices are great and plenty of awesome choices outside as well.

Pete Florez

Great exhibits. There were some interactive exhibits where you can touch the sea life. There are some employees present who can answer questions and give some in depth knowledge about some of the exhibits. Visited in July and while the lower level was nice and cool the temperature rose significantly as you made your way to the upper levels. Fix the disparity in temperature and it's a worthwhile visit, especially for small kids

Jeanette Beaudry

An amazing aquarium filled with lots of cool sea creatures. We especially love the shark alley where you can watch the sharks swimming all around you, the dolphin area, and the big pools where you look down on all of the sea creatures swimming past. I personally also live the area where you can touch the jellyfish although my kids aren't as interested. The prices are quite high but worth visiting once.

Dania Ramirez

The National Aquarium is fun and educational for all ages. It is so much fun seeing all the different aquatic creatures!! My favorite was the jellyfish exhibition but you can also find sharks and turtles and so much more. There is a children’s interactive section and a dolphin show free of charge. We bought our tickets online and saved ourselves waiting in line. There’s a lot to see so it’s worth the money.

Joe Phan

Great way to spend a rainy day. Great exhibits and staff. Wayfinding through the exhibits is easy, and there is a particular flow that you need to follow. The interior is fairly dark at times, but that is so the animals can be comfortable. That said, our toddler was scared of the low lighting and we had to skip a few exhibits. The rainforest exhibit at the top was great. Buying a membership seems worth the money since it's unlimited visits for a whole year. If you bring extra people, their admissions is discounted if you go to the the members area to purchase the tickets.

Christine F

I have been wanting to go for YEARS and I never did because of this or that but I finally was like I'm going and nothing is stopping. I took my Mom and daughter and the three of us had a blast and can't wait to go back. I didn't think it could be a whole day thing so I just got us evening tickets and I which I would have known better. The fish were all active and where you could see them, the staff were helpful, and it wasn't as hard to get to as I thought it might be. I gave already started talking and trying to make plans to go back!

Steve B

Aquarium itself gets 5 stars. Loved it, spent some good time there, saw lots. The cost on the other hand was crazy. $40 per adult. The AAA discount is only available AT AAA, not on site. It was good, it was fun, but will not be returning our next trip to Baltimore due to costs.

Peter Griffith

One of the best aquariums anywhere. It’s very clear that their mission prioritizes education over mere entertainment. That’s a good thing!

Rachel Iverson

Great aquarium, love the different exhibits. The volunteers were very friendly and added so much to the exhibits! The aquarium had a great variety of animals. All the exhibits were extremely clean and obviously well cared for! I loved the jelly fish and the frogs the best. Both the Australian and Amazon walk through were gorgeous.

J Marinelli

This was my first visit to the aquarium. A friend of mine invited me to a vip event and we were able to leisurely tour the aquarium. I loved it!! My favorite areas were the dolphins and the sharks and the hands on area where the stingrays were located. The setting is such that you can take your time and see many of the exhibits. The staff are very knowledgeable and open and friendly. Overall a great experience.

kale severson

Loved it but it is right up my alley. It's a calming and educational experience. The experience took around a hour and half. Bring your camera and take lots of pictures. I only took one because I took mostly videos. Price is a bit high...

Marlo Mi Yumas

The aquarium itself is pretty good, lots of exhibits and interesting creatures to see, though at some of the exhibits I didn't see information about the animals that were there. However, what made this place three stars for me was the pricing. Since when is a child over 11 years old an adult?!? And $40 for an adult ticket? Way to guarantee visitors come once and never return. Their pricing scheme is absurd.

Mrs. Money

My kids and I have been wanting to go to the aquarium for about 4 years now. And we finally did! And to be honest, it wasn't as great as I expected it to be. The only good thing about it really was the sharks. There were plenty of different types of sharks. The dolphins looked sad and clearly wanted to go back inside the whole time. The jellyfish room smelled like the monkey house at the zoo. The worst part was that there were so many people that you can easily get pick-pocketed. It didn't happen to me, but that's all I thought about the whole time with all the people bumping into me the whole time. It felt like we were all one one big school trip (even though we we not.) After taking lots of pictures of Everything I was more than ready to go. Shaking my head in disappointment.

Courtney Lemon

Well worth the money!!! This aquarium is a bit pricey and I was skeptical. But my family and i were only in Baltimore a short time and we figured we check it out. DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! My 5 yr old had a blast! This place is HUGE and offers so much. From feedings, to divers, interactive exhibits, stingrays and jellyfish you can touch, to the dolphin show. This place is just jam packed with fun for literally the whole family. We will definitely be return customers. There is so much to see and do. We spent at least 4 hrs here and still didn't spend enough time looking around! Also, the food here wasn't ridiculously over priced. And there are cheap eats very close to aquarium and parking garages. Overall I definitely recommend!

John Fornshell

The National Aquarium is a well structured experience. The exhibits are very well done and the general experience is very positive. The dolphin show was exceptional in its quality.

Sam WongBal

Dolphins!! Also an octopus, eels, jellyfish, sharks, and a ton of other sea life including a sea turtle. Food & drink very overpriced and place is a bit crowded but well worth your time and money. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and at certain times you can witness dolphin tricks. Lots of viewing areas with many varied species swimming around. Also some things we didn't expect, like puffins, snakes, and an open-air rainforest exhibit with tropical birds and a sloth. Would visit again.

Ian Livensparger

The aquarium is awesome. It's like the zoo, but it's ALL fish/aquatic animals. Man, it is insane. It would be fun to go there tripping but you should have someone who's not tripping go with you to keep you out of trouble, and guide you through the place without getting lost! Anyway, they have everything except full-size Whales, which, they belong in the real ocean anyway. The dolphins are incredible. The jellyfish were awesome, the manatees were really cool and so were all the turtles and that Octopus! There was a really big catfish too I remember. All the sharks were cool too of course.

Kirk Rose Jr

Very nice aquarium. Large attraction with a lot to see. Can be busy as times, but other than that it's well worth the visit.

Jason Richard

It's a great aquarium. It is set up in a way that keeps the flow of people going. It is however not built for strollers, and they are not allowed unless for medical reasons. So consider this prior to planning your visit. They do have an easy and painless place to check strollers once you are inside the facility

Patrick McGettigan

This is one of my favorite places ever to go to and explore. This aquarium is filled with beautiful exhibits and a wide range of sea creatures (and some other animals) all with great staff at a great price. They have so many events going on as well so there’s something for everyone. The staff also seems to really care about all of the animals and are always so invested at helping injured sea animals that are found around the area. If I’m ever in the area, I will always make a stop at the National Aquarium.

Aree Pearlman

Its so amazing! Its really the best aquarium in the country. Try to go off season and of hours to get the best experience.

L Y N N

We loved our visit to the national aquarium in Baltimore. My son is obsessed with sharks and this was a good way to make him happy. Three aquarium is big with different water creatures on display. It was cool how they recreated realistic looking habitats for the creatures. We got to see at least 4 different species of sharks and watched a live dolphin show. The aquarium is well organized and since we visited on a weekend we got 3hrs free parking less than a mile away. The walk allowed us a view of the city and the inner harbour.

Irfan Syed

We have wonderful Time during visit of National Aquarium. It was not crowded on Sunday and you have plenty of time to make photos and videos of sea creature. The food inside the cafeteria is not good and it’s pricey. Restaurant are outside and it’s delicious. In short we have fun time in Aquarium.

Tom Wieder

This is a great place to down a couple of hours with your kids, or in our case grandkids. The layout is organized and thoughtful. You can enjoy just slowly walking through or digging into the array of ecosystems displayed. Loved the jellyfish area and circular shark tank.

Sid Vasey

If you are in or around Baltimore...check it out! This is our second time and it didn't disappoint. Multiple exhibits, you can go at your own pace. Family friendly and staff are pleasant. I love their jellyfish exhibit, so interesting to watch. Definitely worth a visit!

Sarah Petri

Lots of easy to see animals. Big tanks. Hands-on touching pools were small and fun, with hand-washing stations! Dolphin tricks and feeding were fun to see. Really love the jellyfish exhibit, plus food and easy bathroom access. The only issue we had was aquarium staff told me to go to lady near exit to get parking validated, which was listed on her stand. She told me to do it at the garage, which is impossible at a kiosk, so I had to pay full price.

Beth Pettis

Visiting the National Aquarium was really the best part of our family vacation to the Washington DC area! So glad we decided to see this attraction. The aquarium is huge(3 connected buildings) with so much to see. The jellyfish exhibit was really awesome and unique. And of course we all loved the dolphins! The 4-D theater was an absolutely amazing experience! We enjoyed it so much that we ended up purchasing tickets for the alternate show. If you are planning to visit the Aquarium, it's definitely worth the cost to purchase the tickets for this show! It's an unforgettable experience!

Chad Gray

Awesome place for a family trip. The dolphin show was awesome. You can touch live jelly fish, horseshoe crabs, and stingrays. There are sharks, alligators, frogs, snakes, turtles, crabs, spiders, birds, hundreds of different fish I'm sure I'm forgetting some. It's an action filled day. They have a cafe and gift shops. Plan the entire day here so you don't miss anything.

Madeline Jackson

Really a wonderful aquarium. Loved watching the keeper talk on the puffins. They have a great schedule of different events throughout the day that keeps you busy and entertained. The dolphin talk was great too. We came down for the day and were there for 4 hours. You need about 3.5 to get through everything. If you like to read every sign and information panel allow for closer to 4-5 hours.

Paul Cortez

We hit the aquarium maybe 1-2x/yr and we have a blast. We only go at opening during the week and are usually on the street back home by 1239 so I can’t speak to the crowds. Great exhibits; plenty to do in the nearby vicinity too.

Dan E

My first time at the aquarium and I'm blown away at the quality of the facility. The animals appear very well cared for. The food is expensive, but it's worth every penny. The burgers are restaurant quality. My kids had a wonderful time. I'd suggest not bringing babies as you can't use a stroller, but toddlers and up would do well, especially since most of the displays have a ledge for shorter kids to stand on. I can't wait to go back. The staff are extremely knowledgeable.

Stephen Gombas

A wonderful variety of attractions with some excellent enclosure design. I enjoyed the $5 discount for attending con in town. The dolphin demonstration was great! Hope to come back some day to see what's changed.

Joe Lightcap

Get in early to avoid the crowd. The path is a little confusing but manageable. I got my family through in just over 2 hours and that is a quick walk through without stopping for food along the way. Oh they don't allow strollers in the aquarium but they have a free check-in for them... This is the only free service except for the map that you can pick up on the way in. It was a great stop on our trip around the Chesapeake.

RICHMOND ASANTE MR DIY

I love everything thing but their dolphin show. We waited 50 minutes for the show, only to be lectured on how they care for the dolphins. It was a great lecture but I expected more. I had high Hope's.

Maxim Gimelshteyn

The best Aquarium in the nation (hands down). It was a bit pricey, but worth the expense to give our kids a chance to see some very impressive exhibitions up close and personal. I would recommend this to anyone but a must for children.

R Grant

Great place for kids to learn more about sea creatures and marine biology. I wouldn't recommend a weekend visit, but if you can go on a weekday, the crowds are tolerable and exhibits excellent. If you are a member, the member only nights are awesome- just a recommendation to eat before you go in.

Dunya Stahlecker

This is by far the best aquarium I have been too. How ever crowded staff maintain a fun and friendly environment. This aquarium is beautiful. I cant wait to go back. I drove 2.5 hours and would do it again.

Peter Somma

Pretty steep price (40) for what is alot of fish tanks... I give it 4 assuming this would be a much better place if it were not so crowded the day I went... Try off hours will be much better... Nothing like getting bumped in the dark by a stranger...

Austin Kasper

Really fantastic variety of environments. Connected and coherent message of conservation throughout. Huge spaces makes even a bussy day feel calm.

Mariana Segovia

Such a beautiful place to go with family and friends. Their half price night made it all the rave. It was such an amazing experience to go during night hours.

Aracelis Torres

What a wonderful aquarium! Well kept! My family enjoyed watching the fish and learning about marine life. Even when it was packed, we were able to take pictures and walk around safely. It can be pricey for a big family, however, the experience is amazing. We saw it in full in 3 hrs. If you add the movies and dolphin show, will take you one more hr.

Balachandar Thangavel

Best aquarium I ever visited... my son totally enjoyed the dolphin show..... sad they are moving the dolphins soon to new place .... other water species are awesome

Erin Loraditch

Super packed during half price afternoons. Aduh. It is beautiful though. And worth it. You will want to take your time so maybe pay full price for slower crowds? I will next time undoubtedly.

Sean Gargan

Not my favorite aquarium ever but still a fun trip. A lot of the displays were pretty small meaning it was really annoying to get a good look since it was a crowded day. The large reef tank that you walk into right at the start was by far my favorite very easy to just sit and watch since it's so big.

Cynthia Albanese

No strollers? Are you kidding me! Was hoping on visiting here with my family but trying to get around with an infant, toddler and a child with disabilities without a stroller sounds like a nightmare...no thanks. Update: We bit the bullet and went and so glad we did. They let us bring the stroller in for the child with disabilities and the infant w loved being in a carrier. The Aquarium is lots of fun and beautiful. The kids loved it!

Jessica Lynn Huggett

Nice aquarium but be prepared, you cannot bring strollers into the aquarium. They will provide you with carriers for little ones if you ask.

Jennifer Baker

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is brilliantly laid out, and contains a nice variety of beautifully designed exhibits, everything from a shark section to a rainforest area at the top of the building. Traffic flow and acoustics are good, despite the large number of schoolchildren who were in the building the day I visited. Some of the areas can be a little dark, but, by and large, the exhibits are easy to view and quite accessible no matter how large the crowds. Baltimore is fortunate to host such a national treasure as the National Aquarium.

Eladdieyo Robinson

80 dollars and no main attractions. No sea turtles, puffers, penguins, or anything "national aquarium" worthy... dolphin show is lackluster at best. My kids wanted to see beautiful colorful fish and sea creatures. This used to be the spot to see such wonders. Now you get some coral reef sharks, 3 sting rays, and some pacific coast jellyfish. In the NATIONAL AQUARIUM? You should be able to find exclusive sea creatures from all over the country at least if not the entire world. It will need new attractions for me to spend my money there again. Oh and $80 was for me and a 4 year old. My other 2 didnt even come. I see why.

Tarai Quattlebaum

So much fun. My son turned 2 yrs. old and with 5 floors and the Amazon to go through we had a blast

Kevin Tremblay

Everything was awesome. The gift shop needed more clothes that said National Aquarium “Baltimore” most people from out of the area don’t know where the Aquarium is! We bought a lot clothing elsewhere because it said “Baltimore “

Nick Harris

Sea creatures are Awesome. I am a fish out of water. Tranquil, calm, ambiance, colors art are all very soothing. A place for family, friends, dates and a walk with yourself. Staff were friendly and informative. Smiles from many. The jelly Fish exhibit is my favorite. Beautiful but Dangerous

Jordan Kaplan

World class aquarium! The ocean habitats and their residents (not just fish) were beautifully done with ample signage and explanations of the residents. The Rain Forest exhibit is also spectacular in its own right. Kids love this place but ALL will love to visit, support and join this marvelous treasure of Baltimore.

Sam

Good aquarium. Many shark varieties, dolphins, random fish types. Even has a "rain forest" area with birds and plant life on the "roof". A little pricey though, and the touch tanks need more sting rays.

Crystal Knight

I've never been to an aquarium that went up in levels like this one. Very unique. I also liked the openness of the center tank, again an unusual experience and nice touch. They had some creatures here that I have not seen in other aquariums before.

Bryan Stone

We had a great day at the aquarium for my son's 2nd birthday. A few positive things: 1. Obviously the exhibits, they were all great and some interactive. The people working there were very friendly and helpful. 2. On a Tuesday afternoon it really wasn't very crowded. 3. It was very clean. 4. They had several shows, but we didn't do any of them. The tickets for adults were $39.95 each but under 3 years old is free. The only negative thing I can really say is that they don't allow strollers in nor do they rent strollers. They do rent the baby backpack thing but I think that is more for babies. They said that he would have fun running around, which was true, but we spent half the time holding him to keep him nearby. So overall I give it 4 stars, would be 5 if strollers were allowed. We will be back in a couple years when he's a little older.

Bonnie Penic

Very nice and clean. I have been to bigger aquariums so didnt feel for the price we paid for a ticket was worth it. Staff was friendly . Very clean. We went at 6:15 on a Saturday night in August. Not crowded at all. Would give 5 stars if I thought was worth the money we spent.

Faye Gealach

Beautiful aquarium, absolutely huge and great selection of marine life. The rainforest and Australia exhibits are awesome to walk through (you're in the same room as the birds!) However, yes it is extremely expensive. I understand why, I can imagine the cost to keep that place running and it goes to a good cause, but it was still $74.90 with using a military discount just for two people, not including what we had to pay for parking. This will definitely limit people coming, but they do offer cheaper pricing after 5, unfortunately this place is much more enjoyable without it being crowded, even better if you can avoid the school trips (pro tip: they're gone by 1:30) My partner and I actually had to leave and come back because the teenagers and their rowdiness and language didn't pair well with the tranquility of the aquarium. If you want a serene, quiet experience, avoid the crowded times. Overall, beautiful place, takes about 4 hours if you take your time, great they allow same day re-entry also! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff!

Jonathan Wells

The National Aquarium itself is awesome, unfortunately due to high patron activities it was hard to view/enjoy all of the exhibits/activities for the ticket costs. As a whole the children enjoyed themselves.

Tiffany Liu

A wonderful aquarium in Baltimore's inner harbor. The layout of the aquarium is really nice and kind of guides you through. Dolphins, sharks, puffins, frogs, mantis shrimp, jellyfish, and many species of fish! There is also a tropical rainforest section where there are birds and monkeys!

Lori Cheffar

Really enjoyed this trip..gotta say loved the openness and also the different levels. My little one liked finding something to look at around every corner. Exploring the harbor was relaxing, glad we made it down for the experience. Would recommend

April Wagner

If you end up at the Inner Harbor for a day trip make sure you check this Aquarium out. It's a great place and the assortment of critters is delightful. I was able to come when they had the jelly fish exhibit and I have been there to see the sea horse exhibit as well. Both were purely magical. Sometimes they have events where they hire bands, they had a band Pirates for Sail there before and it was a blast.

Lorinda Ravo

We've been going to this aquarium for many, many years.... even were members for several years. We were in Baltimore for one afternoon/ evening, so decided to revisit and we weren't disappointed. The displays are well kept, staff is knowledgeable and outgoing. The aquarium is clean and inviting. We saw patrons from little kids to senior citizens and all looked interested and engaged. Entry cost is reasonable for what you see. Be sure to visit the rainforest section on the very top floor!

A M

Phenomenal aquarium with lots of exhibits to see! From colorful cute fish to sharks to even sloths, this place is wonderful. It could have been better if they had cuttlefish but it seems that exhibit was closed for the day. Lots of people but not overwhelmingly so as the aquarium and spaces are large enough to accommodate. Highly recommend!

Heart

Great aquarium with plenty to see and do. A lot of good exhibits. When I came there was a dolphin show which was very entertaining. The prices are about what I would expect for the area. Staff were friendly. Location is great. Parking is a bit of an issue but there are a few garages within walking distance.

Jarrod Batts

This aquarium is top notch! Exhibit routes are well planned and there's always something exciting to see! The rain forest exhibit at the top of fantastic... The walk down "through" the fish tank was unbelievable, seeing all the creatures at their different depths until you get to the shark tank which was amazing. Lastly, the dolphins, incredible. They have shows throughout the day which aren't really shows at all. You get to watch them learn with their trainers and the staff are masters of their art. Cost of admission is high, but once you see the product you'll understand why. WORTH IT!

C00kii0

Getting to the parking garage was a little confusing but once you're parked and ready it's great. The lady that stamped our hands also validated our parking before we started exploring. Great place to bring kids! So many vibrant exhibits and fish decent gift shop and food is well worth the price. It'll seem expensive but overall I didn't spend to much money for two people.

Amy Logsdon

Visited on a Monday with no crowds and room to explore all the exhibits without feeling too cramped. The staff was very friendly and we had encounters with a variety of wild life, even getting to touch live jelly fish. The only down fall is no strollers allowed.

Richard Stone

This is a definite must visit especially if your not a Baltimore native. The National Aquarium is probably one of the best tourist attractions in Baltimore and won't disappoint. Besides that proceeds go so many great programs including the conservation and cleanup of our very own Chesapeake Bay!

Melissa Post

Neat exhibits and bigger than initially thought. Loved the rainforest part and the dolphins. However, they do not allow strollers. So if you have a little one, make sure he/she can walk long distance before paying the high cost of the entrance fee. We did not realize this prior to buying our tickets and might have reconsidered since our toddler can't walk for hours on end. Overall I'd go again but not until my son is much older.

christian pritchett

fun for kids, just not very long. took about 2 hours for everything. and in expensive also

Chris Gibson

Absolutely amazing!! They have many wonderful exhibits and bits of information. It is set up in a way that both children and adults can have fun and learn.

Gawain Fraites

Awesome attraction. The exhibitions are great. The staff courteous and helpful. Would encourage anyone to go check it out. And take it all in

Alex Henricks

This aquarium is great! The layout is awesome and there are tons of exhibits to interact with. I really liked the massive pool in the middle of the aquarium which you can view from all levels of the aquarium (there are six). There are massive sting rays, sharks, turtles, angel fish and other fish swimming in the central pool. The smaller exhibits on the various levels are very informative with beautiful fish. They also have a rainforest exhibit and some sloths on the top level. Plan on spending a few hours. One thing to note is they don’t allow strollers. If you have one they’ll check it for you and give you a backpack to carry your infant in for free. I would highly recommend this place. It’s money well spent.

Mama Cass

I have an awesome day every time I go. They are very welcoming and answer any questions you might have. I wish it was even bigger with more of everything. Love the boardwalk it’s on. National Aquarium is near everything parking, food, drink. It’s a great day if you planning on going. Get the yearly pass after a couple of visits it pays for itself plus its all year.

Mira Meltzer

Awesome!! Don't miss this experience. You can pet jellyfish, watch huge electric eels and even go to the middle of a tropical rainforest.

Jessica G

So much fun! The layout is a little different than what I'm used to but not bad at all. If you're intending to have the aquarium validate your parking for a discount make sure you enter the exact address of the garage you're intending to park at (available on the aquarium website). Apparently there are multiple garages with the same name.

Thoma Riviegravere

This is my first time at an aquarium and wow! This place was incredible. Well mapped out, you literally can’t get lost. Tons of aquatic life and even a shark exhibit which was amazing to experience. I can’t say enough good things about this place! Great for kids and adults. Takes a while to get through and enjoy everything. The only downfall for me personally was the dolphin tank.. it was dirty and small for the dolphins, hurt my heart a little but I’d still give this place 5 stars hands down!

Gyllian Nelson

The National Aquarium exceeded all expectations! My original plan was to visit the zoo, but it down-poured so I opted for the Aquarium instead, and I’m so happy I went! The exhibits are exciting, beautiful and so engaging! Have you ever touched a moon jelly jellyfish? I have now, because of this Aquarium, and you can too! There are six floors, all with ramps, escalators and elevators so everyone can enjoy! On the first floor is a large open-lid tank with tons of depths, and the building circles you around upstairs, so that at any point, you can look into the first floor tank (excepting the highest up). On the last, and highest, floor is an entire “jungle” exhibit with monkeys, birds and plenty of flora! Their highest floor brings you back down to the first floor with a shark exhibit that gets darker in lighting the further down you go, and that was an amazing experience to see them in both bright and dim/black lighting! The National Aquarium has a long y’all connected to another part of its building, and the hall is lined with glass, overlooking the harbor which is quite a sight to see! In the other building are all their show rooms, so grab a pamphlet when you enter to catch their dolphin show! It was so cute to see all the tricks they did, and always amazing to be reminded of how intelligent they are! If I could rate this place properly, it’d be infinity/5 stars! I would go again, and I highly recommend this place to everyone!

Amy Roberts

Decent aquarium. I think it's a little over-priced because there's not a lot of hands on experiences. Also, the dolphin show is less than exciting to watch.

M Harris

Baltimore Aquarium, also known as the National Aquarium, was a fun day. Watched a short 4D movie where we could feel the spray of water. The sound was fantastic. I went there primarily to see the Atlantic Puffins. I live in Texas and have only seen pictures of them. I imagined them to be about the size of a small goose because of their large chests, but they're actually little guys. Their chests are so big because of how powerful and fast they swim under water! They dive right in after small fish and crustaceans. They don't fly much; maybe 15-20 feet. Their bodies are too heavy. Mosty they hop around. But they're like little torpedoes under water. I don't know how much longer the puffins will be there, but try to see them if you can. There are several narrated shows. They're worth the visit!

R. F.

Pros: Kid friendly. Ample. There's many exhibits and lots to see. You can touch a few creatures (jellyfish), there's many levels. There's a natural flow to the whole thing which keeps it moving. Cons: I went on Saturday and non-member price was $40. The rainforest on the top is nice, but not much to see. The Australian exhibit was good. You must park your stroller at the front so don't load up too much as you can't have it with you. No one main large exhibit like the Atlanta aquarium. Other thoughts: I didn't eat there so I can't speak to food pricing. I didn't visit the gift shop either.

Nadir Dalal

Become a member if you can. Pays for itself in 2-3 trips (easy if you have kids) and cuts the pressure to see everything every trip. Also get ~1/2 off parking at nearby parking garage. Pro tips - generally warm inside and it is easy to lose track of little ones on the darker floors so dress bright!

Ejura Okpanachi

So much to see. Stunning visuals. Very impressive structure and arrangement. Beautiful, rich and colourful aquarium with equally beautiful aquatic creatures of all shapes, form, sizes and color. You are transported into an entirely new world as you've never seen or imagined. It's definitely worth visiting.

Brian Noll

Really enjoyed the "Behind the Scenes" tour. You could ask questions. Got to see unique sea creatures. Everyone on staff was extremely friendly and helpful. [Should have had more time, though. I want to go back]

Travis Rosado

Brought my 2 (almost 3) year old and 10 month old to the aquarium. They had a great time and loved looking at everything. My now 3 year old is still talking about the giant turtle and sharks a month later!

Kirstyn Hutchinson

Having a membership as a local is great. My kids are older teens and love the aquarium just as much We don't feel like we need to see everything every time, so we can skip the crowded parts for another day if we go on a crowded day. Love the black tip sharks, the reef, and the rays. We also love seeing the exhibit on what is in our local waterways, as well as the touch pool and the jellyfish. Clean and well maintained. Everyone was friendly and informative. Great visit.

Erica Caesar

Accessible design. Wonderful exhibits and educational programs. Do yourself a favor and go! You will not be disappointed.

Matt Sly

We have visited often, but such an amazing aquarium. Great for the whole family. You can explore what the water life is in Maryland, from fresh to sea water. Huge exhibits let you walk among sharks, chances to touch sea creatures, and so much more. Give yourself plenty of time to explore, at least 3 hours! You will not be disappointed.

Kevin Girten Jr.

The aquarium was awesome! If you're going with a lot of kids or people it can get pricey but overall the experience was lovely. Most of the staff was very helpful (even when we had to exit for a fire alarm) and friendly. The dolphin show was cool to watch and the dolphin staff was very interactive.

Kathy Au

Went in the summer with a baby, too hot inside and way too crowded to enjoy seeing sea life. Bathrooms need to be upgraded. Will try again during cooler months, maybe less crowded.

Andrew Pelletier

What a great aquarium! So much to see and a real love rain Forest. Loved the open concept and seeing the water the whole time. Such a pretty place. Can get very busy and it's kinda pricey. It is worth the admission, they have more than other aquarium do.

Kelly Mosmiller

My family and I loved the Baltimore Aquarium! There were so many different kinds of fish and other marine life to see, we spent hours there. The puffins were adorable! The employees were all so friendly and informative. The dolphin training session was so great, it was definitely my favorite part of the day. I highly recommend taking a trip to the Aquarium.

Haily

Super cool, but wow the price is crazy expensive even with the discounted tickets. With a family of 9, not sure we'll be back till a few more years with our baby. Large, spacious but no touch pool? Expect more for such a large, expensive aquarium.

Cama Wilson

The National Aquarium is an awesome facility. The staff are super friendly. People are positioned at almost each exhibit to answer questions and provide additional information about the exhibits. The atmosphere was inviting. Audio was also a benefit to the overall feel of the exhibits. I purchased a membership so added perks are included such as discounted food, parking, and more. Overall, I highly recommend the National Aquarium. I plan to return so that my family can experience the Australian exhibit.