National Aquarium

We visited the aquarium in December of 2025. I would say overall the experience was pleasant and I enjoyed seeing the different sea life that they had. However the price point of the tickets didn’t match the quality that I was expecting. I’m from Texas and we have decent ones here in the state and the ticket prices are around $30, where as here it was $100 just for me and my husband. Thankfully our daughter is under 2 so we didn’t have to pay for her, but that’s a high price point for what we experienced. We won’t be going back but maybe if they lower those prices we would.

The Baltimore National Aquarium is a MUST-visit in Maryland! 🐠🌊 Located in the heart of Inner Harbor, this place is packed with awesome exhibits like the Shark Alley, Rainforest, and an amazing outdoor harbor view. Get up close with marine life, touch stingrays, and don't miss the daily animal encounters. Touch tanks, shark feeding demos, and hands-on activities make learning fun for all ages. The aquarium focuses on protecting marine ecosystems and educates visitors on sustainability. Recommended for summer camps to school field trips, they offer engaging educational programs. Perfect for families, couples, or solo adventurers – there's something for everyone. Tickets are around $50 No parking on site but there are parking lots close by.

Great aquarium. Aquariums are all similar - with displays and experience. They did all that was possible to make the experience unique and special. A little bit pricier end in terms of aquarium entrance but I think it is well worth it. One of the best aquarium I have been to in the United States

We had an amazing time at the National Aquarium today. Our 5-year-old absolutely loved it—especially all the pink fish and sea creatures. (We have no less than qty 10 pictures of a pink star fish.) Seeing how excited she was made the whole trip worth it. Mom and Dad had just as much fun. The jellyfish exhibit was seriously cool, and we even got to feel one - non stinging kind ;). The sharks were awesome to - at least 10 different types in one tank. The 4D theater was a one-of-a-kind experience. The sudden spray of water across my face was surprising and perfectly matched the moment the turtle slipped into the ocean, and the gusts of air during the incoming hurricane genuinely felt like a storm rolling in. And one of my favorite little moments was watching a clownfish swimming through an anemone. Just one of those things that sticks with you. Overall, such a great family experience. Highly recommend if you’re visiting Baltimore.

Going to the National Aquarium is always a treat! This is an iconic place in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and has many immersive areas all in one roof. I recommend making reservations in advance and entry is quick. The exhibits themselves are incredible! There’s a large variety of animals and there’s four separate areas: the Coral Reef, Amazon Rainforest, Australia Exhibit, and a separate building that can be accessed by crosswalk. There’s also a lot of educational value as you go through it. Overall, would definitely recommend for anyone going to Baltimore.

The Aquarium is a favorite pass time for the family. I have been visiting it since the late 90’s. Love spending time with my little one here so much so that we drive almost 2hrs to visit. The membership is worth it and the location is super ideal for families to visit other awesome places nearby. Couldn’t give it 5 stars because the Tropical Rainforest is rundown and sad and that is so unfortunate because it was one of the coolest features this Aquarium had.

It’s a great place to visit with a toddler. We went on a Friday evening for the half-price deal(booked for 5pm slot in online) and were able to explore the entire aquarium in about 2–3 hours. They have live touch exhibits with jellyfish, horseshoe crabs, and stingrays. There are plenty of shark species to see, but we were a bit disappointed that there were no dolphin shows. I booked parking through one of the aquarium’s partner sites—it was $18 and only a 3–4 minute walk away.

Had a mommy son day and it was just what was needed! Everything was clean and in order, not too many people on a school day so it was nice. Not too many lines, the staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. My 8 year old stated it was his best day in forever ❤️ Thanks! I bought the membership and its already paid off but I can see him having us there a LOT!

To whom it may concern, I'm visiting from Colorado and wanted to do something while visiting. So we decided to go to the National Aquarium to see the dolphins show. 10/14/2024 @ 3pm ticket number A529361004000/A529360004000. Once inside, we looked at all the reptiles, fish and were ready to go see the dolphins show. We get there, and it says closed for maintenance. Now we so disappointed, because when we bought the tickets they should have told us that the dolphins show is canceled for maintenance then we would of did something else instead of paying $49.95 person to not see the main attraction which was the dolphins what we came for. They should have given us a discount on the tickets since the show didn't happen.

A must visit if you're in Baltimore. It's right by the waterfront so it's easy to access by walk. On Friday evenings, it's 50% off admission which is around $25 per person. When you first enter, they'll take your photo as a little fun keepsake that you can access via QR code. As you walk around, it'll slowly guide you to the next floor with escalators. About 5 levels? I like the open concept because you can be one any of the floors and still look down and see/ hear the presenter talking on stage on the main floor. My favorite part from the aquarium were the jellyfishes and shark alley. Honestly you could spend the whole day here. There's so much to see, and in my opinion, better than the Seattle Aquarium! The only downside is I wished the wetlands stayed opened a little later. They have a nice gift shop and these machines that press coins for cute little souvenirs with pictures of animals labeled "National Aquarium." Everyone was so nice. The Australian exhibit was about to close the but the guy was kind enough to let us in before he closed it.

Wayyyyy too crowded on a Friday night. Literally swarms of coughing people and screaming children everywhere, I could hardly get a glimpse of any of the fish in the first two exhibits so I was forced to skip them. It was so frustrating how the place is laid out and how many people they are letting in at once. Nothing we saw was even that special to merit the regular $50 hefty price tag. The only exhibit that was remotely cool was the jellies invasion, but other than that I don't think this place is worth the price or time. The National Zoo in DC (free BY THE WAY) has sooooo much cooler things to see. Also the red headed and bearded white lady who checks tickets in front is so rude for no reason.

I felt like... this aquarium was very overhyped. I feel like it didn't have a lot of things and way over priced. $50??? No thank you. The highlight is definitely the jellyfishes. They have several different types and well displayed. Free coat check. I left my luggage with them while I explored

Last minute visit and we had a great time! It's a little pricey but I feel like it's worth it just because of the sloths alone - they're not caged! In the rainforest section, the birds and the sloths roam free and look so so cute! We were able to touch the jellyfish which was an awesome experience. The staff was constantly cleaning the area where people eat so it was decent. The location is amazing, wouldn't mind going again.

We stopped here on a Saturday morning and the place was packed! It was hard to see the exhibits due to so many people. For $50 dollar a person I think it was way overpriced. There wasn't that much to see and then if you wanted to see any of the additional shows you had to pay extra. It does seem like a big area but with not much to look at. Overall I would skip if I was in the area.

I really enjoyed my time at the national aquarium. It's a bit pricey but I found out (a little too late for me) that you can pay half price after 5pm. I definitely had the time and would have done that given the opportunity and recommend if you're on a tighter budget. The aquarium is huge and honestly more than just an aquarium. They had birds as well and even a sloth! The workers were so friendly. I talked to several and had some great interactions. I took my time and spent about 3 hours here. You could definitely spend more or less though depending on your needs. I got there closer to when it opened and it was really nice and quiet/very enjoyable. Around 1030 or so though it got very chaotic with field trips. Overall great experience!

Not as pleasant as last visit. Too many stair steps and the dolphins were inactive, but it is still a great visit. We took the entire family this time, six adults and three little girls. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the visit and we were all entertained. I was bummed when the exit from the rain forest was closed and we all had to descend four flights to gain our exit. And far too many stair steps to enter the jellyfish invasion. Staff was friendly and informative. Sunday morning visit was not too crowded.

Went here yesterday with my mom, baby and nephew. Everything was cool...but the move was HORRIBLE ! It was a total of 5 mice around the exhibits that almost killed it! For $50 a person! Not worth it

I think this aquarium is really nice! I've only to one other one in Ohio but I like how this one highlights on sharks and allows you to touch the jellies & horseshoe crabs. It's nice having interactive things to do! Also I enjoyed the jellies exhibit, rainforest, & the outdoor wetlands area that just opened. A but pricey but all in all a good time for the family!

Amazing aquarium. I like how interactive it is for all ages and sizes. You get to gently pet jellyfish and horseshoe crabs! The two stingrays they have are very shy. I saw so many different aquatic species. My favorite were the different types of sharks and the aquarium makes you feel like you're in an exhibit surrounded by water all around. It's super cool. Great fun. Pretty expensive but if you get a membership you just gotta go at least twice to make it worth it. A guest of a member pays 10 dollars less. Aside from fish, I saw frogs and snakes, birds, sloths, and an octopus. There's a baby sloth that looks like a fuzz all. So many big fish and well kept displays. Would go back again! Ps there's also dippin dots

Ok now they've lost a star due to not having a dolphin show or exhibit or anything just the arena you can get into and sit and cool off lol or eat lunch lol and maybe see the dolphins from afar. The 4d experience was very cool. We saw the octopus 5 minute movie. Loved it. This aquarium is the perfect size not too small not too much walking. The do validate parking not sure of the cost. We're local and we come all the time. I'm looking forward to trying one of the adult nights they offer.

$50 per person is ridiculous! Experience was good but not great. For that price, it should be longer than a 60-90 minute walk through. You have to pay an extra 20+ to see the cool things. Our ticket was timed but it was utterly packed and difficult to see everything. There are some interactive parts though which I thought was very cool. The jellyfish and dolphins are majorly hidden but totally a must see so don't forget to walk over the bridge to check them out. Glad I can say I've seen it and I would recommend it to check out, but probably wont go back.

Great visit! I hadn't been here in 20+ years, so I was excited to bring the kids here for their first visit. Our favorites: jellyfish and horseshoe crab touch tanks, underwater observation windows for the sharks, and the open water tank with the zebra sharks, rays, and other gorgeous fish. We also gathered for a secret animal ambassador talk, and got to meet a box turtle. That doesn't sound super exciting, but it was great to learn so much about one animal. We were disappointed that we couldn't see too much of the dolphins. But overall, the kids had a blast and raced around enjoying themselves.

We came to Baltimore to visit the aquarium from Austin, and we were not disappointed. My teenager is obsessed with marine biology so we had to come for a spring break visit. We were most impressed by the staff members who work here. They were so friendly, kind, and open to answering questions. They were also all so knowledgeable. My teen asked some really tricky scientific questions and every time, the staff found an answer or just knew the fish enough to answer. The black tip tank is stunning and impossible to describe in sufficient terms. It was simply awesome. We did the behind the scenes shark tour and thought it was well worth the extra money to add this on. I will mention.m that the 4D shark movie was a little bit scary for the younger kids and might be better to skip if your kids are under 10. The animals were very happy and well cared for. It was just so nice and we spent hours wandering. The jellyfish sculpture and exhibit and positively breathtaking.

The National Aquarium is located in Baltimore, Maryland. I remember going there on a school trip years ago. Wow! It hasn't changed in all these years! I feel the admission is a little high. Adults - $49.95 (21-69) Youths - $39.95 (5-20) Children under 4, free Seniors - $39.95 (70 & over) You can become a member, so check the website. Even though I feel it's overpriced, there is a lot to see. I really enjoyed the hugh sharks and the different species of fish. Also, the Rain Forest. It is very humid when you go in, so you can say goodbye to that cute hairdo! I would recommend some comfortable walking shoes because you will be one your feet walking for at least 2 hours. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't so crowded. We went on a Saturday afternoon, which is a very busy time. So if you decide to go, a weekday would be the best time. Near the end of the visit, I ran into the Dolphin exhibit. I enjoyed that very much. There is stadium seating and air conditioning in the Dolphin exhibit. Parking is not far from the aquarium, just be prepared to pay! I think this is a nice place to take your children. A good experience for them to see nature up close.

There really isn't another aquarium like this in the US. I make an effort to come here whenever I'm in Baltimore. The diversity of fish and wildlife is really spectacular. The aquarium still has timed entry tickets and I recommend choosing a time later in the day when there are less school groups.

I went with some friends to a members-only aquarium night. Had a great time, the staff was warm and welcoming and eager to teach us about the exhibits. I highly recommend becoming an aquarium member for access to these fun events.

I've been to a lot of aquariums with my husband and we both agree... this was just okay. First of all, aquariums are always expensive but wow! We paid $99 for 2. I have never paid that much in my life for an aquarium. Two guys who went before us to pay walked away once they heard "99". They have a huge cafeteria with tons of options. This is definitely a plus. We didn't get anything but it was great to see. The aquarium is a good size and the plus for me was being able to touch the jellyfish. I was never able to do that anywhere else. They have a lot of plaques with educational stuff - films, slides, etc which is fine but I prefer to see real fish and they do not have enough fish. They had sharks, they had fish, but compared to other places... everything felt the same. All the fish felt the same, with no variety. I, unfortunately, did not see the dolphins which was disappointing but that was my own fault. I didn't look at the map until I was leaving nor did I ever see any signs for it so I did miss that but saw everything else. Overall, it was just okay - nothing more nothing less. I wouldn't be back or recommend... there is MUCH better aquariums out there for less. I take a lot of photos wherever I go.. I only took 6 pictures at this place. For me, that's enough said.

Took a side trip from DC to Baltimore, which was about an hour away. We visited the National Aquarium which is situated in National Harbor. We parked across the street at LAZ Inner Harbor parking garage, and paid a discounted rate of $8 (just make sure to validate before you leave the Aquarium). The Aquarium is much bigger than it looks from the outside. You go through Escalators to the top, with each floor offering a variety of fishes, and a touch pond (I touched a jellyfish)! We enjoyed the shark tank area and learning about the different sharks at the Aquarium. On the other side of the building is the dolphin tank, there are no shows. And a Jellyfish experience. Overall a fun activity to do. We were there for about 2 hours. I'd give 5 stars, but $50/person was a stretch. You can buy your tickets online. Happy Journeys

I am from NY tristate area and have been to a few aquariums around there. Our experience at the national aquarium was absolutely amazing and would sad it's the best one I've been to yet! Went with my parents and children and we all had an amazing experience. If you are ever in Baltimore you have to visit!

It was a nice time visiting the Baltimore National Aquarium a second time. The first I had been a kid on an adventure and I was curious if the place would hold up to my calloused middle aged eyes. It did! The aquarium uses their space very effectively to show many different biomes from Australia to the Atlantic, and displays animals in really creative ways. Shark Alley, where's you descend the levels of a reef until coming face to face with sharks at level swimming around you along walls of plexiglass is a sight to behold. Definitely worth a visit I if you find yourself in Baltimore.

Since I have been to the aquarium it's been the same ole thing. But now they have more 4D movies which I thought was the best part. And they also have VR movies we did the whale movies it was that great of an experience. At the cafe I got a pretzel and some rainbow sherbet dots. Its always nice to go the aquarium. It's family friendly and very enjoyable.

New places to experience are never a bad thing. However being from out of state i expected a little more. I could have gone to my local aquarium if I wanted to see pretty much every fish you can find anywhere else. Nothing really unique about this place other than you get to touch a jelly fish in murky water that gives your hand some nasty grimy feeling until you go to wash it off (if there's soap). I'd recommend for people with small children because it's something to keep them entertained but other than that save your money and go elsewhere as the amount you pay to go in is not justified. Staff is also great and friendly. Also that picture you first take before entering should be included.

Very nice aquarium, lots of fish to see. The squeeze is big and pleasant to walk by the fish tanks. I recommend this place for a good time.

This review is only for the Aquarium Cafe. I just spent an obscene amount of money on the most horrible lunch. My kids don't eat meat and there was almost nothing for them to order. They wouldn't make grilled cheese sandwiches, even though they serve cheeseburgers because "we wouldn't know how to charge that." The roll that came with my wet and terrible salad had mold on it. I took it to the cooks and they took it back without an apology or an offer for anything else. Unfortunately they don't allow any outside food so I'm not sure what any halal, kosher or vegetarian can eat here.

I went with family members who had never been ( I hadn't been in over a decade). It was crowded ( not unexpected) and the exhibits were decent and dated. There were no exhibits that wowed me but I was glad the kids were intrigued. I suggest going during an anticipated down season when holiday and summer crowds aren't a major factor.

amazing aquarium !!!do not let the price deter you from going. it's worth every penny. allow yourself at least 3 hours - i wish i had more time, i was under the impression 2 hours would be enough time and it wasn't. beautiful displays.

Always a treat when visiting Inner Harbor. Try to come here once a year, at the children's request. Shark and jellyfish exhibit are the kid's favorite. Recommend to buy tickets online and choose specific entry time, as buying tickets at the booth may push entry time to an hour or so.

It was difficult to find the entrance into the aquarium. Had to follow others in the hopes they were moving the right direction. Once inside, we had difficulty navigating through the various exhibits. There was no organized way to ensure that we covered all the exhibits. It was a guessing game at times too determine if we finished looking through the aquarium. We nearly left without saying a large portion of it. The exhibits were interesting. We enjoyed our time walking through the various scenes. Some sections could have used a guide to point out certain aspects of the exhibit like the animals, plants and fish. The dolphin area did not have any display that indicated when the next show would appear. Besides the negatives, are overall experience was positive and we enjoyed viewing it all.

Great activity for both kids & adults! Get tickets in advance, utilize the 2 parking lots within walking distance, you'll need to park your stroller if you have one, wheelchairs are available, then it's go time! The aquarium is so easy to navigate, since one floor leads to the next etc...and definitely helps you not get lost or confused. My toddler loved all the sea animals & us adults were equally fascinated. The dolphin sanctuary was unfortunately the only underwhelming part. They don't do dolphin shows and the space looks abandoned. The 2 dolphins in there were nice to see if you were lucky enough to catch a glimpse. If we're ever in the area, we'd return!

What a time I had so much fun and so much joy walking through the aquarium. When we walked in not much direction and this sweet older lady name starting with a c gave us the perfect run down of where to go and what to expect ! Her service was literally the best we had our entire time from getting our tickets to closing time. She told us not to miss the jellyfishes and as you can see it was out favorite part ! Amazing experience

Beautiful aquarium with so much to see. The lighting is gorgeous, the layout. Biggest aquarium I've seen with the main building, indoor bridge that goes over the bay to the dolphin building, outside there is a water feature they are still working on that you can see out the window of the bridge. Rainforest area at the top of the main building. A very cool shark tank. I'm sure there is more I didn't get to see, I'll definitely go back. Great gift shop, nice food area not to mention tons of restaurants in the surrounding area on the bay.

a must see in Baltimore! The aquarium is so fun for all ages- they have rotating attractions, regular talks and friendly staff stationed to ask questions as they come up. They also offer two different snack areas as well as a fun gift shop. It's easy to navigate as well. I would aim to go on during school hours if possible because it definitely attracts a large number of kids.

For $50 this is absolutely not worth it. It was so overcrowded I could barely see any of the exhibits. 90% of the aquarium is in the dark and there is no guided lighting. There are no dolphin shows, but more heartbreaking is the tiny tank that 6 dolphins are kept in. They cannot even access half the tank due to "repairs." The exhibits for the state turtle, octopus and seahorses were all missing.

The National Aquarium is one of Baltimore's top tourist destinations for many reasons - it appeals to all ages, its exhibits are fun and interactive, and it showcases a wide variety of marine life under one roof. I visited on a weekend afternoon, so the aquarium was fairly crowded with families and couples (the aquarium seemed to be a popular date destination). Despite the aquarium's popularity, the layout of the exhibits was thoughtfully planned to avoid crowding. Upon entering the exhibit, guests circle their way around each level to observe aquariums that spotlight marine life across various regions (Atlantic vs. Pacific, river habitat vs. ocean habitat) and types of marine life (e.g., sharks, frogs, and even birds!). There were even interactive exhibits where guests could (safely) pet jellyfish and horseshoe crabs. My favorite exhibit was the rainforest on the roof, which allowed guests to walk among tropical birds and lush greenery. While I can't picture myself as a regular visitor to the aquarium, I found my first visit to be very informative and enjoyable, and I took away a greater appreciation for the diversity of regional marine life.

I thought this was a fairly nice aquarium. I was in town for a conference and the organizers told us they had half-price tickets during certain times on Fridays, but when I went to buy the ticket that option wasn't available. I called and it turned out they weren't offering the half-price option that night due to a private event there. I ended up paying $50 plus fees for my ticket. It took us maybe 45 minutes to walk through and see everything. It wasn't crowded while we were there, which was nice. It's pretty dark so you can see into the tanks, so it has a nice relaxing vibe. There was some cool music playing in the jellyfish exhibit area that lent to the overall atmosphere--it was probably my favorite part.

This place was so great but very expensive, it was $99 for two adult tickets. We spent about 3 hours here just perusing all the tanks and enjoying the captions. You can buy tickets online or in person at their outside ticketing booth. Inside the navigation was somewhat confusing upon arrival, but once you find where you're going, it's a rather linear experience. They have this gorgeous tank that you start at with some rare sharks and fish that were fun to watch for a bit. Then it's just up and up from there, checking out tanks and learning about the animals. They have interactive kid stations and you can pet some moon jellies! Totally safe, and a definite highlight of the trip. They've also got a dolphin zone that I wish we had visited FIRST. They don't advertise the show times too well, so the dolphins were the last thing we saw. The sign said there were no more shows for the day (it was about 4 pm) but we sat and watched them anyway, mostly because my feet hurt and the dolphins are my husband's favorite. BUT we got lucky and some trainers came out and started feeding and doing tricks! It was so cool and neat to laugh and enjoy. They take great care of the dolphins and are expanding their sanctuary soon. They've also got this eerie jellyfish exhibit that was unsettling in their devastation of environments, but cool to see a few swimming around in there. Exiting was of course by passing the gift shop. I would recommend it but it will be a few years before I'd want to go back. I think I saw it all and it was rather crowded so I'll be good for a while. Go check it out if you haven't for the first time!

I've lived in Baltimore for almost a decade without ever making it to the aquarium until last night. I took advantage of half price Fridays after 5:00 p.m, which made the tickets almost affordable. I'm so glad I finally went. The first attraction is a giant pool filled with sharks, stingrays, and a dozen different kinds of fish that you observe from a series of platforms. Honestly, if this had been the entire museum, I would have been satisfied. However, they also had a mildly terrifying jellyfish exhibit, and a recreation of the Australian wilderness with a waterfall, exotic birds, and many, many turtles. We skipped the dolphin show, because we have watched Blackfish too many times to feel good about that sort of performance. The gift shop was almost entirely geared towards children, with a few adult t-shirts and coffee mugs. And, if you need a snack, it's less than a 10 minute walk to Little Italy.

We have been to the aquarium numerous times over the decades. We first went when we had a young child and took him. He really enjoyed it. Now, our son has a child of his own. We took our son and his family, which includes a 2 1/2 year old, to the aquarium today. It was just as fantastic of an experience as it has been every time before. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. The exhibits are fun and engaging. Our grandson really loved seeing all of the brightly colored fish, and he really enjoyed the special jellyfish exhibit. Of course, no visit would be complete without a trip to the gift shop. Because we envision taking our family several more times, we purchased a membership. The membership is a fantastic deal! Not only does it provide a cost effective means of visiting multiple times throughout the year, but you get a discount in the gift shop and other special advantages. Your membership or admission to the aquarium goes to support the fantastic work that they do. This is a wonderful way to spend a day and learn something, while having fun!

best aquarium i've been to! a lot of beautiful fish and other aquatic/semi aquatic animals to look at. great views of the harbor, lots of exhibits and multiple viewing areas for the big ones so everyone gets a chance to look. it's also surrounded by tons of places to shop and eat, really good place to spend a day.

For $50 a ticket, I vacillated whether or not to go. My first attempt didn't work out because they were no longer selling tickets even though I had called earlier before coming here to check their hours, and what they said over the phone and website didn't match the reality, and no one was at the ticket booth. Oh well. But the next day, I was in the area and attempted again, and I'm so glad I did! I somehow assumed this would not compare to aquariums like the ones in Monterey and Long Beach (mostly because they lacked coordination with their ticket selling hours), but wow - just wow! This place stands on its own. My favorite was getting to gently touch the moon jelly fish while learning from the staff more about them. After I thought one thing was the highlight, another aquarium section and then another continued to impress me, including the rays, sharks, and caimans. This was well worth the $50. Though I did come on a weekday afternoon so it was not busy and not filled with children so I was able to move along with peace and ease. I'd come again on a non-busy end-of-the day work day if time allows again.

Very nice aquarium, but a bit dated. The exhibits have had very little variation over the years, and much of the concrete structure of the black tip reef area can be opened up with glass to the public. Still a fun experience, especially for kids to touch jellyfishes and rays. The food was interesting. We had a standard cheese pizza which was quite crispy, but was awesome when doused with a lot of old bay hot sauce. We also had the island bowl which had barely cooked rice.

$50 for an adult ticket Reserve your parking (garage) online. I paid $18 to park at Harbor East (Power Plant) via the Aquarium website. This covered for all day parking actually, even though I was only there a little over 2 hours Perfect rainy day outting Haven't been in over a decade so the aquarium looks really different there are no longer Dolphin shows but you can still view them at the top of the water or bottom Alot of different fish, smaller sharks, birds, etc.

We recently took a family trip to check out the aquarium as we heard it was really nice. Well everything that we hear was true. This is a great aquarium with lots to do and see. The shark exhibit was amazing and this was the first aquarium that we had been to where you can touch jellyfish. Each section is design really well to capture your attention. We had our daughters (8 and 11) and 2 of their cousins (5 & 10) and they all really liked the exhibits. There was even a rain forest section with tropical birds, turtles and a sloth. This aquarium is on par with the Monterey Bay Aquarium which we had been to many times when we lived in Northern California. Be prepared that it's a very large museum and you will do a lot of walking. The day we went, school was out for a long weekend so it was crowded and we were only able to explore one of the two buildings before the kids got tired and hungry. If you live in the area I would recommend getting a membership which pays for itself in 2 visits, you can enter anytime (vs. the tickets that are timed entry), plus its tax deductible,

Aside from the dolphin exhibit, every exhibit was fully decked out, enjoyable, clean, and with clear explanations easy for anyone to understand. I liked seeing the land animals like birds and reptiles, along with the fish and ocean life. I liked being able to see fish from above, next to, and from below them. It gives me different perspectives and understandings about how they hunt, swim, and just how graceful they are. Their movement is very impressive. And the jellyfish invasion was, also, very enjoyable to see. I look forward to their floating wetlands they are building and I hope their dolphin exhibit becomes better worked out.

On a previous trip to Baltimore, I really wanted to visit the aquarium and did not get the chance, so I made a special trip with our toddler to check out the scene. Upon arrival we stood in line for about 15 minutes and then proceeded in. Strollers are not allowed unless a parent is handicap, so be prepared to check the stroller and carry your toddler or infant. However if you have an injury of any sort, they are super accommodating and nobody gives you a hard time about keeping your stroller. There's a lot of walking, if you need the stroller or if it will make your experience better, advocate for keeping it! Overall, an aquarium is an aquarium. This one is large and lots of walking. It reminded us a lot of the one in Boston, MA. The dolphin area was previously used for entertainment and shows but now just houses the dolphins in these pools. Each section was fun, and informational but really crowded which took away from the experience. Fun to see once, but I would not make the drive from DC again solely for this aquarium. Next time we will find a family friendly activity that is closer to DC.

This place is great. Get to see the fishes. My sister and her son bring me over here. You get to touch the jelly fishes. I would say only good for one time only. If I go there so many time I would be bored.

The last time I was at the National Aquarium was over 30 years ago. Only a few things have changed since then, including the admission price. It feels like the layout has been restructured. Unfortunately, there were no shows around the dolphin tank, it was simply a place to relax in cooler air and watch the dolphins swim around from above and below the water level. The upper levels continue to have numerous smaller tanks with unique sea creatures. But among all of these amazing creatures, my favorites were the puffins, who had their own special tank! It's almost as if they know you're there and they put on a show for you, they're such clowns in the water. A lot more space is now devoted to food and drink and multimedia, which is expected these days. I wish the did a better job of mapping out the layout for you, because it was somewhat difficult to find various displays, even with the use of your phone. When we bought tickets online, it made a reference to "90 minutes." We were there for over two hours, and we felt that is the minimum time you need to see and experience everything.