The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Florida Aquarium is an educational and fun-filled wonderland, home to thousands of animals and plants. Kids will especially enjoy the stingray petting area or the SeaTREK, where they’ll have to wear a wetsuit to walk among the underwater inhabitants and explore coral caves. It’s an immersive learning journey for the whole family. If you’re visiting on a hot day, pack your swimsuit for a splashing good time at the outdoor water play zone.
Skip the line by booking your tickets online or, even better, become a member to enjoy unlimited visits and other privileges.
– Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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See what travellers are saying
- Penny WBrodhead, Wisconsin137 contributionsRelaxing while educationalThere was no single highlight to my visit. I loved the whole experience. I feel the entrance price is good. For a bit more you can go aboard the Victory ship or take the dolphin cruise. There is a restaurant and a splash pad area for the kids. The Dome aka Wetlands is interesting too. The aquarium even has touch tanks! The large tank with the sharks, rays, sea turtle and more has benches that you can just stop, sit and relax, watching sea life glide gracefully by. I am so glad I finally visited the Florida Aquarium in TampaVisited November 2022Travelled soloWritten December 4, 2022
- Jeremy S3 contributionsThe Best ......amazing range of creatures in an amazing buildingThis was right by our hotel so not to be missed. It is quite pricey, but the building has been cleverly designed and flows around the many pools and exhibitions. Don't miss out on the roof top - see the divers getting ready to feed the fish and lovely views of the bay.Visited December 2022Written December 25, 2022
- Caribbean S140 contributionsExcellent!This was one of the best aquariums we’ve been to. So much marine life to see. We bought City Passes and I’m so glad the aquarium was included. Totally worth it! The employees were friendly.Visited December 2022Travelled with familyWritten January 6, 2023
- Cyndi P12 contributionsgreat place to spend a couple of hoursWe had a few hours to use before our flight and after getting off the cruise boat right next door. We only had to wait an hour before it opened.. we were able to store our luggage in a locked room while we toured the Aquarium. There was a cute display or river otters that swam in their area. This Aquarium is small but worth a visit. recommend. Easy to get an Uber to the airport right outside.Visited January 2023Written February 8, 2023
- Judy M29 contributionsTwo hours of entertainmentGreat place and most informative. Took lots of pix. Laid out well. I miss the dolphins and whales from Chicago Shedd aquarium. On Sat. Park in Ybor public parking for $1/hour and take FREE trolley to almost the front entrance of Aquarium.Visited February 2023Written February 11, 2023
- montanapescadoAlbuquerque, New Mexico1,184 contributionsVery good, but I was expecting moreGiven the reputation (and the price), I expected a larger and more aesthetically appealing aquarium. There were definitely some high spots, but not enough to make this a 5 star aquarium. I did appreciate the areas that emphasized local aquatic life.Visited February 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten February 21, 2023
- wannah101 contributionsDon’t arrive after 3pmI was skeptical about the other reviews but they were right. It’s overpriced for the size. They do have more areas that you can touch the animals than at other places I’ve been but that’s about the only plus. I also noticed they do not give discounted rates if you arrive late and they absolutely kick you out at 5. So don’t buy that 4:30 ticket that they sell you at full price.Visited March 2023Travelled with familyWritten March 13, 2023
- Laura C12 contributionsReally enjoyed the vist!Cute aquarium - there were lots of people the day we went, but we still felt that we could take our time, look at all the birds, animals and fish. Took about 1.5 hours to get through it and see everything. Nicely done exhibits. My 13 year old daughter enjoyed it!Visited March 2023Written March 22, 2023
- Daryl DSan Diego, California309 contributionsCool Florida crittersInteresting time waster at the Port of Tampa. We idled here waiting for our cruise to start and enjoyed our time here. The wetlands exhibit on the 2nd floor is the best part for sure! The African penguin enclosure leaves much to be desired.Visited March 2023Written March 24, 2023
- Mark DLakeland, Florida54 contributionsWonderful Day!!We recently moved to the Tampa area and became members of the Florida Aquarium. Being members, you get your tickets online and skip the lines. The exhibits are amazing and set in very natural environments. You can lose yourself in looking at the animals. Much more than just fish. Take your time when visiting and you will not be disappointed. Also highly recommend also getting tickets for the Dolphin Excursion. Such a relaxing ride with knowledgeable commentary from a docent of the Aquarium.Visited January 2023Written April 10, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
5,757 reviews
Excellent
2,590
Very good
1,939
Average
901
Poor
218
Terrible
109
NapiliR
Tampa, FL274 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Friends
Very disappointing! Very expensive for what we saw. Compared to the Maui Ocean Center, the Atlanta Aquarium, and the Monterey Aquarium, this is a very small aquarium that lacks focus. It's supposed to be wheelchair accessible and technically it is, but it was difficult to maneuver. Some of the docents were knowledgeable, but some were not. The displays were dirty and small, and I felt very sad for the animals in them. The signs lacked basic information such as from where the birds and rays had been obtained for the exhibits. The aquarium had been decorated for Christmas, but the decorations had no theme and were quite tacky. They also made it even harder to maneuver. A word of warning, do not prepay for parking. It would have been much less expensive had we just paid when we parked.
Written November 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky T
8 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
Very well organized and lots to see. Favorites were sharks, sea turtles, river otters but much more. Touching tanks were nice for rays and jellies. Penguin exhibit very small. Food pretty good but pricey. Have to pay for parking. Tickets expensive but good rainy day activity. Prices better if you buy day before.
Written November 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thehuntersfairy
3 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Family
This place is such a gem, my daughters and myself had such a wonderful visit here. The stellar staff at ROOST hotel (easy walk to the aquarium) suggested we visit during our time in Tampa and even organized our visit. Tristin greeted us and and made sure our visit was off to a good start! The facility is really so well done and the exhibits are beautiful. It was a rainy day, so it was rather busy with visitors and school trips, but it never felt too crowded or crazy. We ended up having a wonderful lunch in the cafe and I was impressed with the food quality. Definitely not the typical fast food type stuff you find in most places like this. We had such a great time we decided to "adopt" a lemur. We willl definitely come back!
Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stevens P
Bartow, FL1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
A wonderful time being with my wife and revisiting an area that we met in 23 years ago... She is my best friend! 💯
Written November 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AK Mama
Fairbanks, AK22 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
The aquarium itself was wonderful if you go through without feral, obnoxious children running wild. The children there on a field trip from Sunlake Academy were the rudest, loudest, worst behaved children I’ve ever seen on a field trip. I cannot believe they were allowed to be there acting the way they were. I cannot count how many times a child ran up next to us and just screamed. Even my 7 year old was amazed that there wasn’t anyone keeping an eye on them. I strongly encourage you to call ahead. The outdoor playground and splash pad was a great place to hide while they were there because they weren’t allowed to be there. Once they were gone we were able to spend time in each area without being screamed at and run into, it was very enjoyable. The large tank viewing area was a great place to just sit and watch and the attendant was wonderful about answering my son’s questions. The food is overpriced, but the customer service was great. I didn’t take the time to get a refund that I was due because we would have been late getting to the airport. I hadn’t expected to have to go through twice to see the aquarium in peace.
Written November 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valerie H
7 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
It was awesome. There is a lot of interesting animals to see and they are all very well cared for. It is definitely suitable for children as they have several interactive areas for kids to get to know and interact with various creatures both land and aquatic.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim D
Phoenix, AZ171 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Not bad but not amazing. Very pricey as others have mentioned. Several hands on opportunities. Staff was very informative and passionate about the sea creatures. The Madagascar exhibit seemed odd to be part of the Florida Wetlands but I enjoyed the lemurs very much. Also beware of bird droppings from above. The cafeteria food was very good surprisingly. We spent 3 hours here because the couple we were with studied everything!
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler741873
5 contributions
I’m writing this review while currently on the cruise. Husband and I are pretty bored. Big boat, slow moving, looking at the shipyards. Our narrator has said maybe 6 sentences so far, been on the boat 30 minutes. She’s not interested in her job at all.
Find an independent company for a dolphin sighting cruise! This is not worth it and I’m not sure what this is other than a slooooow boring boat ride to view Tampa Bay
If there was a way to get off we would
Find an independent company for a dolphin sighting cruise! This is not worth it and I’m not sure what this is other than a slooooow boring boat ride to view Tampa Bay
If there was a way to get off we would
Written November 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rien
Den Bosch, The Netherlands397 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
Beautiful building and catering and merchandise. But for animals is pretty cramped basins, the ticket price is way, way to high. In an hour we had seen everything.
Written November 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen C
Winter Haven, FL162 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
My husband and I had a wonderful time at this aquarium. We enjoyed going through each attraction and seeing all the interesting inhabitants. In the Wetlands, we enjoyed the otters and the aviary with birds who were able to fly free. We were able to get up close and personal to many of the birds and fish. In Journey to Madagascar, Shorelines and Coral Reefs, we experienced lemurs, turtles, spiny lobsters, eels, sharks and fish of the reefs. There were many interactive adventures as well. We got to touch stingrays and jellies. Many of these fish and sea creatures were something we had never seen before. Their colors and special features were so unique. Our stay at the aquarium was about 2 1/2 hours and the time flew by. The staff were friendly and helpful. It was a fantastic day of fun and learning for both adults and the school children who were there on a field trip that day as well.
Written October 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any military discounts or senior discounts available?
ab_and_blakes_mom
Glen Allen, AL38 contributions
I’m not sure on admission, I think it will be posted on their website. But when I went recently they gave me a military discount when we bought food in the little cafe.
Samantha M
Boise, ID1 contribution
Are there fake parking attendants that will try to redirect you away from the actual parking?
DnL_T
St. Augustine, FL25 contributions
I'm not sure they are fake, but if you happen to go past the Aquarium parking lot, there are people with flags at the roundabout attempting to direct you to their parking garages. It does say aquarium parking on their signs, although I doubt they are affiliated with the aquarium itself. The Aquarium parking lot is $10 for non members. I don't know what the parking garages charge.
Hennac03
163 contributions
I believe the parking across the street is anywhere from $10-20 since many park there since it is literally where the cruise ships dock.
How much is it to park in the parking garage across the street?
Lisa B
Texas1,240 contributions
It was reasonable. I believe it was $7. It’s based on the time you are there; similar to an airport parking garage; it’s time stamped.
OrlandoGal22
Orlando, FL624 contributions
Does the parking lot for the aquarium block exiting at a certain time? We're going to go to both the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay History Center on the same day - doing the aquarium first. If we park in the aquarium parking lot but don't get back to the car until *after* 5 p.m. (i.e. if we eat dinner at the TBHC's Columbia Restaurant), will we still be able to exit the lot? OR will the car be stuck there?
wannah
101 contributions
Currently you pay $10 flat fee until 11:59pm. Credit cards only. Pay by tag #
Soy de PR , mi esposo es veterano retirado, hay descuentos para el y la familia?
Jemienah W
48 contributions
Yes but not much of one.
Do. You have to have your I D to get in the Florida Aquarium
quikdog42389
Lambertville, MI48 contributions
No, MY AAA card got me a discount on admission however
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Claim your listingTHE FLORIDA AQUARIUM - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Florida Aquarium
- The Florida Aquarium admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost C$43.95, while a popular guided tour starts around C$10.95 per person.
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience The Florida Aquarium:
- Skip the Line: The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay Ticket (From C$43.95)
- Tampa Bay CityPASS (From C$190.55)
- Tampa's ZooQuarium Admission (From C$110.97)
- Guided Tampa Sightseeing Tour in a Deluxe Street Legal Golf Cart (From C$67.17)
- Tampa Riverwalk a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour (From C$10.95)
- Hotels near The Florida Aquarium:
- (0.49 km) ROOST Tampa
- (0.65 km) Hampton Inn Tampa Downtown Channel District
- (0.96 km) Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center
- (1.24 km) The Westin Tampa Waterside
- (0.67 km) Home2 Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Channel District
- Restaurants near The Florida Aquarium:
- (0.18 km) Battery
- (0.30 km) Fabrica Woodfired Pizza
- (0.55 km) Market At EDITION
- (0.24 km) Flock and Stock
- (0.27 km) Splitsville Southern & Social
- Attractions near The Florida Aquarium:
- (0.13 km) SS American Victory Mariners' Memorial and Museum Ship
- (0.27 km) Sparkman Wharf
- (0.24 km) Splitsville
- (0.24 km) The Entourage Tours
- (0.24 km) LIT Premium Cigar Lounge