National Aquarium
4.6(31,169)4.6 out of 5 stars, 31169 reviews Baltimore, MD
About National Aquarium
The National Aquarium offers a unique blend of interactive marine experiences, educational shows, and diverse exhibits, making it a top choice for family outings. The opportunity to touch jellyfish and stingrays, along with engaging 4D shows, sets it apart from other aquariums.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Family outings during vacationsWeekend getawaysEducational trips for childrenToddlers (3+ years) enjoyed the 4D showsChildren (5-12 years) engaged with interactive exhibits and educational shows
Why families love it
- Touching live jellyfish and stingrays
- 4D sea lion and shark-themed shows
- Diverse exhibits including a rainforest and dolphin area
- Educational 'Secret Animal' show
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Interactive touch exhibits
Insider tips
- Arrive early to avoid crowds
- Consider purchasing tickets in advance for discounts
- Use the free stroller storage area
- Check for showtimes to catch educational presentations
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak hours (late morning to early afternoon)
- Going without a map as the layout can be confusing
- Some exhibits can be crowded and tight
- Parking validation issues reported
- Limited variety in the gift shop
- Crowds
- Aquarium fills up quickly, especially during school vacations; best to visit early
- Value
- Tickets are $40 each with potential discounts available online or through partner hotels. Parking can cost up to $30 if not validated, but discounts are available for early arrivals. The experience offers good value with multiple interactive and educational opportunities.
- Food
- Food options are available on-site, but portions are large; consider sharing meals
- Accessibility
- Free stroller storage available; no strollers allowed inside exhibits
- Safety
- Friendly staff available to assist and provide directions
What parents say
"The National Aquarium in Baltimore is by far one of the best aquariums I’ve visited in the U.S. There’s so much to explore that you can easily spend 3 to 4 hours here with your family. The first building spans five floors of exhibits, with a stunning rainforest on the top floor. The second building features mesmerizing jellyfish displays and a dolphin area. Although the dolphin shows weren’t available during our visit, it was still a joy to watch them play up close—especially for kids! We were amazed by the variety of jellyfish and had a unique opportunity to touch jellyfish and stingrays—an"
a week ago
"I have been to a few aquariums in the past. This one was phenomenal. Lots of education for all ages, lots of varieties of sea life and non-sale Life. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I looked up on Google for parking. I read the Market Street garage was an approved parking lot. If you got there before 9:00 you would get a discount rate of $12. It mentioned do not get the parking sticker validated at the aquarium because it would make the discount null and void. We arrived at 8:37 a.m. When we left the aquarium we asked if I wanted our parking sticker validated. I explained to the k"
2 weeks ago
"Took the family during our spring break. We arrived as soon as they opened. The Aquarium filled up quickly. Some of the exhibits were a tight fit. There are escalators everywhere for the trip going upward. There are exhibits that you can actually touch like jelly fish. The gift shop did not have a lot of variety in my opinion. If you’re ever in the area it’s worth a look. We finished the walk through in about 2 hours. It’s in a nice location as well."
2 weeks ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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