Title: Love for Marine Life Coupled with Mixed Experiences I'm a long-time family member of the New York Aquarium, visiting at least once a year for many years like a ritual. While I appreciate the work the Aquarium is doing in marine conservation, my recent visit on June 25, 2023, left me with some mixed feelings. Over the years, the Aquarium has evolved, sometimes for the better. However, recently, the visitor experience has started to falter. The Aquarium was home to an impressive collection of marine life, including dolphins and whales, but these have been moved to other facilities. While the aquarium staff claimed that they were concerned about the animals' well-being in captivity, I can't help but wonder if this was more of a cost-saving measure. The construction of the new Sharks Exhibit disrupted the visitors' experience for four years. Despite the disturbance, the resulting exhibit and the panoramic view from the cafeteria rooftop provided a unique, refreshing perspective of Coney Island. Sadly, this experience was cut short without any explanation when the rooftop was closed to the public. The Aquarium seems to justify a continual rise in admission and membership fees by citing the costs of their ongoing projects, conservation efforts, and operational expenses. As patrons, we were willing to contribute but didn't expect a decline in the services provided. Once a highlight of the Aquarium, live marine shows have been drastically reduced in frequency and duration. The mermaid storytellers and live music performances that were a delight for children have vanished. The sea lions and dolphins' showtime has been cut from a half-hour to just 10 minutes, shortchanging young visitors of a valuable educational experience. Despite these criticisms, I must give credit where it's due. The Aquarium is undoubtedly doing crucial work in the field of marine conservation. The research on sharks, whales, and sea turtles and their breeding programs for endangered species is commendable. The educational outreach programs are vital in raising awareness among adults and children about marine life conservation. Their advocacy work in policy-making circles is also praiseworthy. Their commitment to preserving sea life is evident through their specific projects, such as protecting the Hudson Canyon habitat, monitoring the Bronx River's ecosystem, and reducing ghost nets. Ultimately, despite the less-than-stellar visitor experience lately, I am compelled to rate the NY Aquarium three stars instead of two. This extra star recognizes the Aquarium's contributions to marine conservation, which often go unseen. They are significantly impacting endangered species, reducing pollution, and raising awareness of marine conservation's importance. I still encourage families to visit the NY Aquarium. It remains a unique New York City attraction with a mission we can all get behind. However, I implore the management to focus on improving visitor services and experience without compromising their commendable work in marine conservation.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Let me preface this review by saying that I'm from Georgia. I love aquariums, but I'm definitely spoiled, as ours is basically known for being one of the best and biggest in the country. When I mentioned to a friend from New York that we were going to the New York Aquarium, he scoffed, and told me I could really just skip it. But I love aquariums! So I added it to our itinerary anyway. He was right; I could've skipped it. The people working there were kind, it was a pretty clean place, and I like that there's a little food court and that some of the exhibits are outdoors. We used our Sightseeing Pass and got inside easily. They even had a glass tunnel, which was cool, even if it was smaller than most I've seen (and maybe a third of the size of the Georgia Aquarium's). I didn't have a terrible time; it's just that it was very forgettable. It's small, there aren't that many creatures (by number or by type - I was particularly sad that I didn't see any seahorses), and even with leisurely walking through every exhibit, taking a lot of photos, and visiting the restroom, my husband and I were leaving in 45 minutes. It would probably be different if we had kids, since it seemed like there was a sort of play area, but we don't. I do think this place could be a nice outing for people with kids, as it seems set up for children in a lot of places. It was just a bit lackluster for a date, especially with our prior experiences at larger, more impressive aquariums. We went on a Saturday, a little over an hour before closing time (during the final sea lion show, though we didn't realize that's where everyone was, at the time), and the place was deserted. I actually recommend that time, because you can see whatever you want at your own pace and get some pretty incredible photos. I thought we wouldn't have enough time to see everything at first, but I quickly realized I was wrong. Other considerations: •The only bathrooms I saw were down stairs. •Most of the foods offered at the little food court were burgers, pizza, and other items my husband can't have (gluten allergy/Celiac Disease), and we were disappointed that there weren't any prepackaged foods available for purchase, because that could have eased allergy concerns. •The hours here are super weird! They close a lot earlier than I would've expected, so be sure you check times before you go. •Look into times when admission is free!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Visiting the New York Aquarium was the most disappointing NYC experience I've ever had. From the parking to the facilities to the animals, everything was a letdown. To start- parking was a nightmare. The lot was crammed full and they still took my money and sent me in to fend for myself against several other aquarium-goers in the hopes that we'd be lucky enough to be positioned right by someone leaving at the right moment. If you go, allocate at least 20 minutes for circling the parking lot and 10 minutes for brawling with another angry, sweaty dad for a spot. The aquarium itself was dirty, smelly and understaffed. Half of the tanks had so much algae on them you didn't know if there was a single fish in there. The "Conservation Hall" was a cramped, dark, disgusting-smelling maze of small, unimpressive exhibits that was a pleasure to leave. The "Sharks" exhibit was mostly random fish with a few smaller sharks and then there was one tank with roughly 3-4 medium blacktip reef sharks. The "Spineless" exhibit proudly touting an Octopus as its logo featured not a single octopus, rather a bunch of jellyfish and a few crabs and lobsters. If I wanted to see those I would have gone to my local fish market. It was a 50/50 coin flip if a touch screen with animal information was going to work. The outdoor exhibits (sea lions and penguins) featured a bunch of sad animals swimming around in black filthy water. The only thing we actually thought was cool was the Sturgeon tank featuring a lone massive sturgeon in yet again disgusting water that we could barely see through. Another important note is that this aquarium is heavily aimed at children, which is fine, but is not properly advertised. Be prepared for thousands of screaming children and exhibits aimed toward them. Overall between parking and tickets it is going to be about $50/person and that's not including anything from their overpriced cafe, gift shop, etc. What a horrific experience, do better NY Aquarium.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$31+

Pros: Excellent educational amusement for kids and adults alike. Fun playground indoors, sea lion show. Overhead shark and aquarium tanks w sting rays are amaazzing! Beautiful anemones and coral reefs. I really miss the Belugas and dolphins they had decades ago. The price is steep, but considering all of the upgrades and manpower to keep this place going, it seems a reasonable splurge. They added an aquarium and souped up gift shop. Some companies have comp. tickets, also family memebrship w central park zoo seems a good deal. Go visit coney island, the boardwalk and get a Nathan's hot dog and gelato and see Luna Park. NYC history. Parking was 20$. CONS: My only pet peeve was no strollers in exhibits. No Bueno for families with twins or multiple young toddler age kids. One parent has to wait w kids outside in heat while another family member takes a 2 or 3rd child inside or one has to carry 1 or 2 infants/toddlers inside. This is basically anti-family and anti-big families. Babies and toddlers nap and sleep. Forcing them to stay outside in 80 degree heat is not ideal either. Lack of more animals for touch tanks as many other aquariums have. Parking was advertised as 20$ which seemed like a steal, but 40 from 10 to 4pm. Overall cheaper than Manhattan, but still pricey.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

I recently visited the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn and wanted to share my experience. Firstly, I have to admit that the parking fees were quite steep, which was a bit disappointing. Additionally, the overall size of the park was relatively small compared to what I expected. However, considering the limited options in Brooklyn, it was still a welcome attraction for marine enthusiasts and families looking for a local experience. Although the aquarium may not rival larger ones like the renowned Monterey Aquarium in California, it still managed to offer a decent variety of aquatic life and exhibits. The exhibits were well-maintained and provided educational information about the diverse marine species. I particularly enjoyed the interactive elements, such as touch tanks and feeding demonstrations, which added an extra layer of engagement. Despite its size limitations, the New York Aquarium is still an enjoyable place to spend a few hours exploring and learning about marine life. It serves as a valuable educational resource within the community, and the dedicated staff members were knowledgeable and passionate about their work. If you're in Brooklyn and looking for a marine-themed outing, the New York Aquarium can provide a worthwhile experience, even though it may not match the scale of larger aquariums.

The NY aquarium in Brooklyn is right next to Coney Island Board Walk. I found it to be a beautiful place with lots of cool and interesting sea creatures. My kids and I enjoyed it. There's a tunnel like hallway with sea life fully surrounding you. There are jellyfish, cuttlefish, sharks, crabs, sea lions and more. I found this aquarium to be superior to the one on Long Island in Riverhead in regards to indoor facilities. There were lots of educational materials easily displayed next to each exhibit and plenty of creatures to see. I did not give 5 stars because: 1. The kid play zone was very lacking. Not much to do inside and uninspired. I think there was an opportunity to do so many fun and creative things in this space but its boring and not very interactive. A few small structures, one mini slide for toddler age, a small area to touch crabs ect but most of the stuff in here missed the mark on fun or even informative. 2. The sea lion show was very simple and very short. We waited in line longer than the actual show. 3. The penguins are far away and you cant really gain any appreciation for them at that distance. All in all it was a nice place and I'd go again.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

My husband and I are senior citizens so we paid the price between $27.95 to $29.95. I don't remember because it was a while ago from the time I'm posting this. $27.95 is non-peak hours and $29.95 is for peak hours. I don't know when peak hours occur. I didn't find that on the website. Adults who are not seniors pay $29.95 for non-peak hours, and $32.95 for peak hours. It's not necessarily important to buy the tickets in advance online except if you expect it to be very crowded at the time you expect to arrive, as with peak hours. We enjoyed it very much and it was very entertaining and exciting. I went in alone so the sea lion show and it was exciting. The regular exhibits, including the sharks are always very worthwhile exhibits to attend. We did see the 10 minutes 4D show upon exiting the park, and I can say that every part of our day was very enjoyable.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$21–30

I was at the aquarium from about 2:15 to 4:45 so there was lots to see. While this is the smallest aquarium that I've visited, there was not any less fun. The fish tunnel and large glass wall were very cool. However, the outside exhibits were my favorite. The sea lions and penguins were so adorable. There is also an area where you can see them under water! Unfortunately, there are still no otters. While other aquariums have more fish, the most spectacular thing I've seen at an aquarium was the sea lion show at the New York Aquarium. Shouts out to Townsend! He is so talented. I also was lucky enough to see the penguins during feeding time. I've never seen so many penguins before. I left the aquarium with lots of special memories and I know that I will return one day to visit the penguins again. I hope to see the otters!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

One of the worst experiences of my life! I was informed beforehand that the sea lions were not in exhibition, so I asked if the other animals were available - especially the sea otters. I was informed everything else was working as usual. Well, it was not. Neither the otters, nor the giant octopus, jellyfish or observatory were available. And some of the other exhibitions had such dirty displays I could not see the animals. I requested my refund based on the lack of exhibitions and it has been a month of resquests for info so they can give me my money back. If you decide to go I recommend you triple check to see if the animal you want to see is available. The website DOES NOT give you the complete information and the staff does not seem to know or be able to help with anything (I have asked multiple questions and they could answer none of them)
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Lots to see here. The shark exhibit is great. The sea lion show was very entertaining. As for the Cafe. The prices are high, which is expected. One of the soda fountain machines were out of order. Both of the ketchup dispensers were empty. The receipt has an order number on it, but they were giving out pagers and telling people that the number on the pager is the one that will be called when your order is ready. However, when the orders were ready, they were calling out the number on the receipt. I'm not sure why they gave out the pagers if the number on them were irrelevant and they didn't even signal when the order was ready. **EDIT ** The underwater viewing for the sea lions is a great option. Unfortunately, all of the panes of glass are so scuffed up and dirty, it's sometimes hard to get a good view or take clear pictures unless the animals are right against the window.

The aquarium has updated it's exhibits since Sandy and now has several of them available: spineless (jellyfish and such), the sharks (where they swim above you while you walk through a large tunnel), sea lion show in an aquatheater, playquarium (favorite of the children with a small playground, and a touch pool where they can pet a crab or two), sea cliffs (with penguins, sea lions, otters). It looks pretty world class on par with Monterey Bay Aquarium in CA, albeit a much smaller version. Food, however, is expensive, but you can bring your own and eat at the tables outside the Cafe. Tickets to get in are expensive too, but what isn't nowadays. We had a membership, which i highly recommend. It pays for itself very quickly (in 2 visits in our case) and $$ goes towards the good cause too.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

I would recommend the New York Aquarium to families, couples, and even to go alone. They have a beautiful selection of sea life on display. I would definitely recommend the California sea lion show, the show is probably 20 minutes to a 1/2 hour but certainly teaches all about the animals and how to treat our oceans. The New York Aquarium is very clean and they are big on recycling trash. All the workers are very helpful and kind. We went through all exhibits and saw all sea animals and shows in about 2 1/2 hours. Afterwords, we took a walk down the boardwalk at Coney Island which is located right behind the aquarium. I would also recommend looking into the membership it is worth it and you get discounts throughout the parks. Again, I would recommend The New York Aquarium.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Yes

Don't go on the free days...way too crowded to be really enjoyable. It's big and seems nice...but one large exhibit was under construction or something like that and for some reason the touch pool was closed...seems strange since it's likely one of the aquariums busiest days of the week. There was also no staff members in sight outside of the shop keepers and custodians near closing...that doesn't make sense to me because what if something had an issue and needed assistance? Many of the animals outside (seals and such) were asleep so..not very exciting or interesting. It's difficult to rate it accurately, 3 stars for potential because maybe it really is great and I simply didn't have a great experience ‍♀️

It was pretty mid honestly. I would not say it's worth a $30 dollar ticket. Even if you're bored, it's just not the place to be. It wasn't dirty and staff weren't rude, but it was pretty boring. Some stuff was fun to see like the sharks, and they did have one cute activity. But overall there were hardly any visitors, the place was pretty bare, and not much to see or do besides sharks and seal really. Fun to go once, not again. No real food/dining options eat before you go! Good place for kids. I'd reccomend checking out the board walk or Coney Island just down the block.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

It never gets old coming here again and again. I’ve at least been here 10 times by now and have witness how they rebuilt and reconstructed it to how it looks today - with sharks, jelly fishes and aqua theater. The sea lion show is only 7 min long but it’s worth coming to see it at least ones in a life time. It’s amazing how smart they are. Cafeteria is on a pricey side but it’s expected like at any attraction in New York. There a gift shop with good choice of toys and souvenirs. We love the colorful fish and penguins of course too :)
Visited on
Public holiday
Wait time
10–30 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

We loved it. Came here with my 3 month old baby girl, husband and my in laws. Had a great time even though it was hot. But we enjoyed it. From the fishes to the 5pm seal live show. Totally worth $30ish per person. Baby girl went in for free. It’s easier to have a carrier then a stroller for sure since you have to park your stroller in most places inside the aquarium. The bathroom was also very clean. Also beware no food and drinks allowed. But overall I had a great time and it’s better then how it used to be. the eugenio family approved.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

Beautiful experience,we like it but to ne honest you have to go earlier in the morning,we went past weekend around 2 pm. My advice if you go on Sundays,you have to go right when they open cause otherwise later is so busy,and we had to wait like 30 in the car until they let us inside their parking lot. And parking there is a bit expensive(for approximately 3 hours we paid almost 20$... I mean we already paid tickets,at least they should give parking free. Aquarium was nice,they have a variety of sea fishes,sharks,nettles,penguins etc
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
30–60 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

Incredibly beautiful place that's a must visit while in New York. Children and adults can get lost in the wonder of underwater life while visiting here. There's so much to learn. The staff is kind and attentive and they will answer any questions. The place is free on Wednesdays (with prior reservation) but the $29+ ticket is definitely worth it. They've done an amazing job restoring it after the damage of hurricane Sandy. New York City is lucky to have an aquarium like this. BTW. DON'T MISS THE SEA LION SHOW
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

not a bad aquarium by any means but for the price that you're paying its extremely underwhelming. apparently its free on wednesdays (check their website) and you'd be better off doing that than biting the $30 ticket bullet. the best thing by far is the shark tunnel section, i was in awe over how pretty and clean it was but again, it was very short lived because its just so small. honestly just save your money and spend it on the amusement park right next to it, not a lot going on here compared to other aquariums
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Nice place to spend a day with the kids. Seal show was a bit short, but engaging. Show is outdoors, and unfortunately no shade. It's not the biggest aquarium, but it's about as much as young kids can handle. It's a little far for some people, but it was fine for us because the kids slept in the car on the way back. Definitely go earlier in the day, it was filling up when we left around noon. I can't comment on whether I would have paid full price because we got a deal through our work, which was nice.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

The aquarium is an overall good experience. The day I went was not too crowded. There were quite a few things to look at and experience. The inside sections were very warm, which is not ideal on a very hot day. The food and drinks were pretty pricey but not surprising for the Coney Island area. I came with the intent on seeing the sea turtles but no luck. I wish there were a few more sea animals. However, it is a smaller aquarium. Staff were friendly and attentive.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

Absolute best experience with the animals we saw. The seals were great, the sharks were fantastic, and everything was clean and well done. 2 complaints: 1. quite a few exhibits were empty with no explanation. Didn't mind the areas closed off for renovation or for safety of the animals, just confused with the ones where the exhibit had plants but no fish/animals and no explanation why 2. many of the doors were extremely inaccessible with a wheelchair, adding a push button or even just lowering the bump in would greatly increase the accessibility of the location

We took my 3yo son and 1 yo daughter here. If your child is obsessed with sea animals and sea creatures you will not be disappointed. I understand it was newly renovated so I do not know what it looked like prior, but it was quite enjoyable, clean, and the exhibits were just lovely. I know it can be very busy and we went on a sunday early afternoon on a 90 degree day to enjoy Coney Island- and it was quite peaceful in comparison to the boardwalk The sharks exhibit was really amazing and worth the trip. I would recommend for a nice family afternoon outing.

I wish it was more affordable so I could bring my daughter more often. I feel for the price being so costly it didn't have enough attractions to keep us busy. We really took our time with everything and with the seal show. It takes about 2.5 hours tops. If you add in snack/lunch time maybe 3 hours TOPS. I feel if I were to make it a big fun family trip for price it should have kept us there for 4 hours. Great place though!
Visited on
Public holiday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

The ladies at the shark tank providing information about the sharks were fantastic. I loved their exhibit. I wad eager to see Lucy, their only sea turtle but she was shy that day. I'd recommend coming in the warmer months however my son enjoyed seeing the penguins and lively sea lions. The kids play centre was a thoughtful inclusion and we'd like to come back to see the otters. We caught the subway F all the way from Manhattan.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

Good experience for living in the city and taking a trip train down to Coney Island , the exhibit has shark seal and spineless fish 4D theater features, and a 15 min seal show to impress the kids with good resources to learn from the trainers . The only** con** we didn't get entrance to the shark show check ahead of time for private parties booking out the public was let down however pickles the seal stole the day ! Don't forget to visit down below exhibit that you can see life for the animals and experience there daily life to view

Clean and well kept, the glass tube was so clean, it looked and felt like a 3-D experience, there were divers in tanks doing routine cleaning that shows their dedication to the marine life and habitat. We walked through, stopping to look at all exhibits, but were left expecting there to be more, we were done with in 45 minutes. The live show was cancelled due to weather.... It's Expensive for the length of time we were there and the limited content. Worth the visit but expected more for the $$$ as compared to other aquariums I've visited....

Very cool place! I like that in America they know how to make museums, aquariums and other educational institutions really attractive to people of all ages. Though small, but very interesting aquarium. Quite a lot of fish species, unusual aquariums and pleasant staff allow you to really enjoy your visit. Periodically, various shows are held with the participation of dolphins, seals, walruses, penguins and others. They have themed weeks dedicated to individual species. It's nice to see that the staff really cares about their wards.

The New York Aquarium is a very nice place to visit. The exhibits are informative and eye-catching. Make sure to see the sea lion show at the aqua theater. There are live feedings to watch as well. The trainers are very professional and will answer questions when asked. An interactive play area for the kids is vibrant and fun. The tunnel in the shark exhibit is amazing. Well worth the trip.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

My parents really enjoyed this place. We had great time. They have sea lion show. It was great. And they have a shark tank tunnel. That is very cool. And also they have 4D show. That includes to the general ticket. Only difficulty was parking. Aquarium has paid parking. I think it’s $18 for 3 hours. But the day we went it was full. We had to drive more than 30 min to find a place to drive. So make sure you go early to find a parking place. Specially in summer time.

Great experience!!! The best aquarium I’ve ever been too. Your able to get up close and person with all of the aquatic animals. The aquarium itself is so beautiful and the employees are extremely kind and caring. The food court is a bit price but the food is delicious. Many public bathrooms spread out throughout the aquarium. And the sea lion show spreads a good message about pollution well also making and interesting and quit hilarious performance

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. You can see all the exhibits in about two hours (including time for a snack at the cafe). Staff are friendly and helpful. They clearly are working on the infrastructure and exhibits, but what is open is really well done. Great for families with kids. Lots of kid-centered exhibits and activities.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

It’s a wonderful place for kids I visit there on a Sunday it was super crowded If you are planing to go take photos, visit there on a weekday morning. There are cafeterias and clean washrooms inside And a small play area for kids. Buy tickets in advance Or you have a ticket counter or a kiosk outside There’s a gift shop as well
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

I won't compare this Aquarium to another place, and I know they had been renovated for many times and took years to improve the place. Kids love it anyway and that is the most important thing I care about. Another aquarium, you need to drive there but New York Aquarium, you can just go easy taking a subway or bus and it is right here in Cloney Island!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Not sure

A bit small, but still worth seeing. Variety of different types of sea life- shark aquarium, penguins, touching aquarium (you may feel what crab's shell feels like), lots of different fishes. Nice show with sea lion and seal, 4D cinema and sea restaurant. Great way to spend 2-3 hours. And the place is of course kids friendly.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$31+

Very nice and well kept aquarium. There is parking available, but you gotta pay of course lol. I liked visiting this aquarium; however, keep in mind that it’s pretty small and you could probably walk the entire place in 1 hour, so don’t plan to spend the entire day, there are other things to do around the aquarium where you could spend some time though.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

They reopened a new attraction worth the wait. They have shows featuring the seals and sea lions. You have to make a reservation on their website in order to get in. They do have a pay what you wish day which is on Wednesday's book you have to book for that the previous Monday. There are a lot of interactive activities for hands-on learning for kids, and if you are a big kid, tons of fascinating matine animals to explore and learn about.

Loved it, enjoyed it. The exhibits were amusing and on the same time educational. I'm not an American. Visiting the aquarium was one of the things on my mum's bucket list. She passed away so I decided to visit in memory of her. Speaking on behalf of my mum as well I know she would have enjoyed the experience as well.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

A great place to bring kids of all ages. Great spaces especially if you have small children and need to not lose them. This was my first time here since they finished the construction and it was really nice. The aqua show was fun and brief, just enough for a 2 year old but it made my 7 year old excited. Bathrooms were clean and abundant, we didn't have to exit any exhibits to find one and the changing areas were available and clean.

Great! I enjoyed my time there with family and friends. Wonderful Sea life and the sea lion and seal show was fantastic. Wheelchair Accessible to get in the building but what they call an accessible bathrooms are not. The stall was too small for me to turn around in my wheelchair. The other accessible toilet was broken. Therefore the bathrooms are not really wheelchair accessible. My friends had to help me in and out of the stall.

This venue is great, I was expecting corals to be more colorful as we can see in the hobby but it had a natural look. Staff aren't present much to inform the crowd on what is in front of them. The seal show is great and the trainer does an amazing job. PURCHASE YOUR TICKET ONLINE IT'S CHEAPER AND NO WAIT.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

The aquarium itself is so beautiful and the employees are extremely kind and caring. The food court is a bit price but the food is delicious. This is one of the best aquariums I've ever seen, We had a phenomenal experience seeing and interacting with the different animals. Great aquarium. Always crowded though. The bathrooms are clean Many public bathrooms spread out throughout the aquarium which is a must with kids haha

First school trip there and it was worth it. It was cold, so they weren't many people there. It's completely different with so few people around. The live seal show was so much fun for the kids. We saw the penguins and sharks. The otter exhibit was closed. They had a fun interactive area for the kids to play. I would definitely go back again on a warmer day. Also the food at the Cafe was very good but a little pricey.

Really nice aquarium that is very educational with a focus on conservation efforts. I really approve of a lot of the work they're doing as well as the efforts being made to be a sustainable aquarium. They have lots to see and several live shows with sea lions throughout the day.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

This is a surreal experience ✨... Beautiful place for a family outing ❤ There is a quest for the children to participate in, where at the end if completing the quest they will receive a prize ...Food is very expensive so bring your snacks!...Also the sea-lions are ready to entertain you and there is a 3d movie theater! By the way! The large overhead/ room size aquarium is simply AMAZING!

Great for smaller, younger kids 100% Parking is a bit expensive at $18. I recommend the membership with parking if you're local and enjoy going to the zoos and aquarium. It has paid itself off when we had it. Shark exhibit & jellyfish with indoor play structure are great. It is a small aquarium, 2 hours is perfect if you're moving quickly. 2-3 hours there with lunch and the shows is ideal.

Really nice aquarium. It is possible to get there by Subway. It is located near beach. Really nice fishes and other water animals there. We enjoyed a sea lion show. You can get free admission every Wednesday. One con is that it was really overcrowded. I recommend it tho!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

I would recommend you to come at 9:30 or before 11 AM because after 11 AM everyone starts coming. The Aquarium itself isn't that large but it has awesome animals to see like seals, otters, sharks, crabs and many more for you to see! And it even has a 4d movie theater.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

This was one kind of experience. I initially hesitated to go thinking it might not be interesting, but it was worth it. I wish I had a chance to watch the sea lion show, which was cancelled due to maintenance. It wasn't mentioned when booking the tickets on the website. That was a disappointment. Also the 4D show wasn't that great. Overall the aquarium was great and worth the cost.

One of our all time favorite places to visit in NYC! It may be on the smaller side, but it packs a lot of fun and hands on activities for kids, wildlife aficionados and aquatic fans. Great location by the beach, in the heart of Coney Island.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Ticket type
WCS Conservation Membership

Visited the NY Aquarium and it was quite empty which was great because we took our time visiting the exhibits. The highlight was the playquarium center which finally opened. There are different activities and interactive play areas inside the center. Also different animal exhibits which was nice. They have a touch tank too but it was closed. Their 4D show was entertaining.

I have not been there since I was little. Went back this year with my brother. We had a great time. Those pictures are from two of there bathroom doors. So cool. The Aquarium Cafe was also great. The food there is amazing. Best western burger ever.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

It was alright for a free trip, not really worth the $30 ticket price. Kind of small, but decent selection of fish. Sharks were alright, seal show was good, but short, like 10 minutes. All in all, a trip here is like a 2-hour event to see everything.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

Great fun even just as adults! Went on a Saturday morning, around 10-ish. People started streaming in at that time so plan accordingly. The aquarium has several exhibits anyone will surely enjoy such as Sharks and Spineless! Don't leave the aquarium without spending time in their Aquatheater where talented and smart sea lions entertain and educate audiences.

I along with my man and children enjoyed the aquarium. It was clean (outside of the glass ppl touched) and the guest enjoyed every bit of it. We were fascinated by the jelly fish and the shark tunnel. Seeing all the fish and how well they’re taken care of meant a lot to my family and I. We were most happy seeing Nemo & Dori (lol) I will definitely return.

Mixed feelings. Large selection but multiple diseased animals. I saw 3 fish that had injuries and even a dead fish. Most of these were in the first entrance building. The other buildings seemed to be well maintained. Overall I was amazed with how large the place was and the variety of the stock, but it did make me sad to see the animals in the first room.

Such an amazing experience, if I had to choose it would be the sea lion show or the jelly fishes. Theirs roughly 6 exhibit buildings, fish,sharks,Jelly fishes, etc… but it really was a fun place to visit even as a New York resident.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

I could come here 1 thousand times and never get bored. This place is absolutely amazing. It's big enough to spend your day enjoying the animals, reading and learning about nature. This is my 1st Must-See option when I have visitors from other countries. Perfect place for kids, friends, family, and yourself. There is no way you will be disappointed.

The Sharks are the main reason to go. What's there is great but it is somewhat quick especially if there is no show. Early in the morning is very somber and relaxing be careful if there is a school trip the kids can ruin it.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

It's a great experience. This is a great place to bring children to play. There are many kinds of fish in it. The children had a lot of fun playing in it and learned a lot of knowledge. They saw a lot of fish that they hadn't seen before. It is very recommended to have children Families go here and trust me you will have a great experience!

Basically great. Highly recommended. Great experience for kids and adults of all ages. Just had one issue. That from about 4pm more and more parts of the aquarium start closing. So it's not really entirely open till 5pm
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

I thought it was okay. Definitely overpriced in my opinion. There wasn't much to see, and there weren't really any experiences that I saw. I think Riverhead is a much better aquarium. I probably wouldn't go back.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

A nice aquarium with very informative displays and exhibits. We seen all the exhibits in less than 2 hours. Read most of the juicy information. Fast entry and it wasn’t crowded during our weekday visit.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

This place is AMAZING. I heard they had revamped it so I had to check it out and boy it did not disappoint. So many displays packed into a small space. I suggest you go during fall when it’s not too hot to catch the seals and sea lions show. The caretakers are very good handlers and obviously care a lot about the animals.

Cute, clean, calm aquarium great for kids. A free 10-ish min sea lion show with an environmentalist spin. You can see the whole place in a couple hours. There is a decent but expensive cafeteria.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
10–30 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Perfect place to visit to bond with my godchild ! It ended up being more for me since my inner child was happy. The sea lion show made our experience that much more memorable and special.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Its not great but decent, good sized aquarium located next to coney island. Parking lot is pretty big. Went saturday afternoon and there was still space available. It is still great place to take your kids to spend some quality time. I will be definitely visiting again.
Visited on
Weekend

Amazing an pleasant experience! If you are nearby, make sure to visit New York Aquarium and spend some great time meeting various different species of fish and mammals!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$6–10

We had an amazing day. The crowds were not too much. No wait to get in since we had tickets. No need to look for parking because they have a lot on site and it wasn’t too expensive. Everyone was friendly.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Great aquarium to come to. I enjoyed going with my partner and seeing all the exhibits. Lots of different aquatic animals and lots of facts. Also I really love how they prioritize informing visitors on things like climate change and plastic use!! Help save the earth always …

Nice aquarium for kids. It has fun activities for kids like a sea lion show, touch tank, and a shark exhibit. Tickets are kinda pricey and so is parking.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

The entire aquarium can be viewed in about two hours, including the time to watch the seal show～ Shark tunnel is my favorite photo spot! Cool place!!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Excellent exhibition of aquatic life and display. Great viewing and some live events. Reasonable cost for entry. Also has membership rate plan.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Worth the effort to find the entrance. Very nice displays and lots if activity in all the tanks. Creatures seemed to be happy in their habitats.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$31+

My niece really enjoyed this place. We had great time, we went on Wednesday it was a lot of people. But I’m so surprised because I did check their website, didn’t has a sea lion show after 4pm, It was awesome. And they have a shark tank tunnel, that is very cool.

Great way to spend half a day with your family, enjoying breathtaking views and learning new things on the way! Carefully designed space, filled with interactive content. On top of it, it feels good knowing that a portion of the ticket price goes to good causes.

It's really not that big and there aren't alot of attractions to see and it's a tad on the expensive side but my son enjoyed so that's that.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$31+

$65 for two adults and purchased the tickets online. Didn't see any turtles, but it is a nice aquarium. Food truck in the premises.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

Pros- Decent shark exhibit and seal show Cons- Dirty seal and penguin aquarium and no large animals like dolphins and whales
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Very nice location, beautiful animals, great staff, and so many SMILES! A good getaway to connect with the outside world.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

The exhibits were beautiful and informative. It was not too crowded at the time of my visit. And it's walking distance away from Coney Island, the beach and several restaurants, so it's easy to make a great outing day for the entire family.

Fun place to be. They opened shark section which is amazing. Everywhere is clean, bathroom in every corner(so you don’t have to walk away to use one), outside cafeteria is nice too. Definitely good place to come with kids and have some fun.

We went on a cool rainy day. Even though we missed out on the shows the exhibits were great. I think that the lack of people (because of the rain) made it much more enjoyable. The shark exhibit was excellent. Very informative and beautiful.

Great educational and fun place, is just a little pricey if you consider family size, $tickets +$$$$$$food
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Beautiful place to visit. There are a lot of fish varieties, including sharks and sea lions, rays, crabs, jellyfish.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Took my grandkids. They enjoyed it. It was ok, but the food was ridiculously priced. The sea lion show seemed short.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+

We enjoyed a great day at the NY Aquarium. It was February, but the temperature got to a high in the 50s and we were able to enjoy the outdoor exhibits as well as the sea lion show. It was also fun to walk along the boardwalk afterward.

I don't know why people are saying the park is not being taken care of. My experience was amazing, nothing to complain (besides annoying children screaming and punching the glasses, but that's their mother's fault, not the park's).

Some areas were closed and the schedule said there was a show at 3.30pm which was cancelled without any explanation. Shark area and 4D theater were amazing but other than that, it lacks quality, and some areas were a bit dirty

Whale Aquarium and Seal Show was most attractive. 3* for pricy admission inside was worth 5*.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$31+

The experience itself was fun and educational but it’s rather small and not many activities.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

I love this aquarium, especially the shark section. It is perfect to visit with children for some entertainment, and it is also very educational. There are some cafeterias and the gift shop sells beautiful things.

A great aquarium to visit. Lots of visuals to teach you about fish in the exhibits.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

This is a must visit in terms of enjoying the current selection and historical significance. I also happened to be here on a rainy day n had a cup of coffee with rain water added. Amazing experience

A beautiful place for meet ocean animals and sharing with them ❤️ I love it.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

The awesome learning center. But in terms of aquarium, there are too few fishes and also the tanks are quite small. Best to get your child on holiday but not for travelling as aquarium-lover adults

This is a fantastic spot for a day out with the family! Visit Coney Island and then enjoy a spectacular show with the sea lions. They put on a world class show here! We had a blast. …

I’ve been to a lot of aquariums all around the world, this is one of the best one ✌️
Visited on
Weekday
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$21–30

It was very disappointing, no dolphins, etc. I used to take my son years ago & it was so nice. The only nice part was the play area for young kids. Unfortunately my niece is too old for it.

Nice place, had a good time! Educational for kids! The show is great
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$31+