Aquarium Entry, Optional Simons Theatre

Visit the New England Aquarium in Boston with an entry ticket valid for 1 day. An optional Simons Theatre add-on is available with this ticket.

Overview

The Giant Ocean Tank sits at the heart of this visit: a four-story coral reef holding 200,000 gallons of warm saltwater, with a spiral walkway that lets you circle the whole ecosystem from top to bottom. Sea turtles, stingrays, moray eels and hundreds of reef fish live inside it, and more than 50 penguins surround the base on Level 1. The ticket is skip-the-line, so entry moves quickly once you arrive at Central Wharf.

Beyond the main tank the route branches into a series of galleries. The Atlantic Harbor Seals occupy an open-air pool on the Front Plaza, California sea lions dart around the Marine Mammal Center, and the Yawkey Coral Reef Center shows the smaller reef species, including dwarf seahorses and garden eels, that the big tank cannot display. An Indo-Pacific reef exhibit and an Amazon section with piranhas and anacondas round out the animal count, which the Aquarium puts at over 800 marine animals.

There is one real choice to make when booking. The basic ticket covers the Aquarium only, while the combo adds a film at the Simons Theatre on a five-story screen. With the combo you pick your film and showtime on the day, at the will-call window, from the current lineup, which includes Call of the Dolphins 3D, Shark Kingdom and Secrets of the Sea. The ticket is valid for one day, and families with children appear often among the visitors who enjoy it.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arrive at Central WharfMake your own way to 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. Transportation is not included.
2. Skip-the-line entryEnter the New England Aquarium without waiting in the general ticket line.
3. Penguin colonyStart on Level 1, where more than 50 penguins live around the base of the Giant Ocean Tank. The Aquarium breeds African penguins here as part of a Species Survival Plan.
4. Giant Ocean TankWalk the spiral ramp for 360-degree views of the four-story Caribbean coral reef, home to sea turtles, stingrays, eels and fish.
5. Harbor seals and sea lionsSee two seal families in the open-air Front Plaza exhibit and catch free training sessions during the day. California sea lions swim in the open-air Marine Mammal Center.
6. Smaller exhibitsVisit the Yawkey Coral Reef Center for dwarf seahorses and garden eels, the floor-to-ceiling Indo-Pacific Coral Reef, and the Amazon Rainforest display with piranhas and anacondas.
7. Optional Simons Theatre filmCombo ticket holders choose a film and showtime on the day at the will-call window. Current films run about 45 minutes each.

What To Expect From The Tour

The ticket covers one day at the Aquarium, with transportation left to you, so a little planning goes a long way.

• Pace and layout. You set the rhythm, and the ticket is valid for the day. One reviewer called it the biggest aquarium they had ever visited, so plan your route around the exhibits that matter most to you.
• Talks and training. Free seal training sessions run throughout the day, and the review summary notes engaging staff. One reviewer said the sea lion training was a real hit with their grandsons.
• Combo timing. If you add the Simons Theatre, pick your film and showtime at the will-call window on the day. One traveller noted that getting into the theatre was simple, just a matter of showing the ticket.
• Weather. Some exhibits, including the seals and sea lions, are open-air, so dress for the outside air as well as the indoor galleries. One family still had an amazing visit on a rainy Saturday.
• Accessibility. A reviewer travelling with two children with disabilities said a wheelchair was provided free of charge and the whole venue was wheelchair friendly.
• Food and transport. Food and drinks are not included, and neither is transportation. Plan to eat before or after, and budget for getting to and from Central Wharf.

Common issues. Crowding comes up repeatedly in feedback, with some visitors suggesting the Aquarium should control capacity more tightly. One reviewer was disappointed not to find sharks, so check current exhibits if a specific animal is the reason for the visit. Children aged 2 and under enter free but still need a timed entry ticket, which is easy to overlook. Transportation and food are not covered by the ticket.

Common Questions