The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium
4
9:30 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
9:30 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.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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C$48.23
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- Karen CWinter Haven, Florida222 contributionsA Relaxing and Informative ExperienceMy 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.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten October 29, 2023
- Kim DPhoenix, Arizona199 contributionsPriceyNot 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!Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten November 8, 2023
- AK MamaFairbanks, Alaska50 contributionsCall ahead for field trip schedule!!!!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.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 11, 2023
- thehuntersfairy3 contributionsGreat visit!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!Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 14, 2023
- Becky T9 contributionsGood rainy day activityVery 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.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 22, 2023
- Katie VSaint Clair Shores, Michigan4 contributionsMust check out!Very fun for young kids and adults. Lots of exhibits and fairly well organized. The staff were kind and helpful. There were other activities for snow days, which we didn’t do because we traveled south and have snow at home lol, but we saw lots of families enjoying their experience with snow. The playground and splash pad were fun and a surprise to us when we got there. It is expensive but that’s kind of expected for a place like this these days unfortunately. Can’t wait to visit again some day! I want to try the scuba diving in the shark tank!Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten December 9, 2023
- Ontheroadtogether2126 contributionsVery nice aquarium.This aquarium is very beautiful. $40/adult on a Saturday. Large number of diverse sea life. Took us about an hour to get through, but if you have children, of course it will take you longer. Great place for kids, by the way. All the kids we saw were having a great time. They even have an outdoor play area for them. Areas for touching jellyfish, stingrays also. Very knowledgeable, friendly staff. Not sure about the food, as we did not eat there. $10 for pay by plate parking, which is very reasonable....especially for the area. Will probably be back sometime in the future when we have grandkids. Would definitely not hesitate to go back.Thank you for taking the time to leave a fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you and your family had fun connecting with the ocean. Our team works hard to create a memorable experience and it's great to know we hit the mark with your visit.Written December 26, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten December 19, 2023
- Jill BHector, Minnesota42 contributionsFun timeWe went to Busch Gardens two different days with grandchildren. The first day, the kids got on every ride with wait times of 5-15 minutes. The second time was on Presidents Day. Many popular rides were down and the wait times much longer, 30-120 minutes. We saw a few shows that were good. The animals were great to see. We had all day dining tickets and we ate our moneys worth, although disappointed you could only use them at select park restaurants, not the smaller places. Overall, the kids had a great time.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten February 24, 2024
- ChickenParm41807 contributionsNot Bad. I've been to better aquariums.Not Bad. I've been to better aquariums. $40 per adult. Discount if you are >60 years young and small Military Discount. Paid $15 to park for 3 hours, which is what you will need time wise. We went on a sunny day in the middle of the week, so hoards of kids wasn't a big problem. There were a few schools visiting, but it wasn't crazy. I've heard that weekends and rainy days are very crowded. The penguin display was very disappointing. They have a better one at the Tampa Zoo. There are NO Dolphins, certainly no whales. They had some sharks and sea turtles. Many of the displays were small and the wildlife didn't look like they were exactly "living the life". We went because we needed something to do and we have never visited before. It's okay to visit once. We won't be going back.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten April 12, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
5,844 reviews
Excellent
2,641
Very good
1,956
Average
913
Poor
221
Terrible
114
quikdog42389
Lambertville, MI44 contributions
Nov 2019
We came here after a Cruise and we had time to kill before our flight (like 8 hours). We had all our luggage from 7+ days with us and they were kind enough to allow us to park our bags while we toured the aquarium and the area. We went on a Sunday morning and the place was very busy. Lots of kids and adult with strollers the size of small cars. The display areas was crowded and in-spite of this we really took our time and the entire walk thru was maybe just over a hour, Some hands on displays for the kids (yes I did learn some things) and kids loved it. We were 3 adults so we parked ourselves at the bar afterwards and had a cocktail while we figured out what to do with the remaining time. Next to the bar is a VERY Fun looking water park for smaller kids to run thru (included in the price). I felt the admission was kind of expensive but had I had a smaller child the water park would have justified the cost.
Expensive ($28 a head), small and geared toward small kids.
AAA membership gives a small discount in admission
Expensive ($28 a head), small and geared toward small kids.
AAA membership gives a small discount in admission
Written January 15, 2020
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.
loves2travelandmore
Forest, Virginia554 contributions
Feb 2020
The Florida Aquarium at Tampa Bay is modern, interesting, and enjoyable. Parking cost six dollars. Buying a Tampa City Pass online allowed quick entry (bypassed the ticket buyer line) as well as a discounted voucher that covers the Aquarium, The Zoo at Lowry Park, Busch Gardens, and a couple of other venues. Allow 2-3 hours to visit, though more time could be spent for those truly interested.
Written February 17, 2020
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.
Retiredtraveler
Tampa, FL147 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We used a Groupon or some other discount to get in. The place appears to be small, but is deceiving. The largest attraction is the huge aquarium that is set in the middle of the structure. We actually ate there too (lunch) which wasn’t very expensive and had food the teenagers would eat. ( pizza, sandwiches, chips, etc).
All in all a very relaxing day. Parking is an extra cost - I think $6 for unlimited parking time.
I would recommend this aquarium.
All in all a very relaxing day. Parking is an extra cost - I think $6 for unlimited parking time.
I would recommend this aquarium.
Written January 13, 2020
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.
Hennac03
156 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We visited the Tampa Zoo on a Sunday. Not realizing it is literally by the cruise port, and of course it being a Sunday, we did not anticipate how busy it was going to be. With tickets and parking we ended up spending close to $100. Even on a discounted site and only to find out.. we could have gotten an even better deal because we are apart of the zoo & aquarium pass holders. We were unaware. Moving on. We walked in and there were many things to see and do but long long lines. One elevator that we could find and wait times for that as well; not ideal for the amount of strollers and handicapped waiting. The Escalators were always in use. The gift shop and the cafe area had a variety of your common items. Where we had the most fun but was not really prepared for was the splash pad for the kids. That outside area is like a resort style perk. We were blown away and thought how amazing that part was alone. Many activities and the bar area were going on there before the weather changed; because you know, Florida. Bring in a few towels or buy one for $20, and have a change of clothes and the kids could go at it for hours.
Written February 3, 2020
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.
Pat M
Parrish, FL283 contributions
Apr 2021
After COVID, the aquarium has restrictions regarding booking times, tickets purchase (online only---incluiding parking$10), social distancing, use of facing coverings, etc. We arrived at 10 AM and by the time we left, it was super busy (Thursday in April). We rather had food outside because choices at the Cafe are limited and poor in taste. The exhibitions are interesting with so much to learn and have fun with children. There is a splash pad and playground area for kids to refresh from the Florida heat. Staff are cordial and professional. Tickets prices change from week to week for example buying 8 days prior to the event, you can save few dollars but if you buy one day prior prices go up. Adults $30 & children $26. It is expensive considering you only need 2 hours or 3 hours to see the entire aquarium.
Written April 8, 2021
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.
Michele K
Bridgewater, Canada155 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We have never been to an aquarium and i was excited to go. It was crazy busy. Apparently there was a football game very close by traffic was awful to say the least no fault of the aquarium. We found it hard to locate but we are not from here so most things are hard to find. Tampa is a lot bigger than I realized, We paid $10 for parking And went to the Aquarium. It just seemed dirty to me. We did the 4 d movie and you could see that the screen was old had dirt on it etc. Not very appealing. The whole experience was underwhelming for us. Having said this people with small children seemed happy on the splash pad. If you don’t live by the sea and I do then maybe it would be more exciting to you. We wouldn’t return but it was something I wanted to do when visiting the Area and would have been disappointed if I hadn’t been able to. I also applaud that they are trying to help with education and other projects in regards to our oceans.
Written January 5, 2020
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.
Ttessa223
Strasburg, PA122 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Aquarium is on the smaller side. Pretty pricy for adults and teens. The first floor is an outdoor water attraction for small kids with a water play pad area. Entrance fee may be worth the price for a day of water play for little kids. For teens/adults, may not be worth entrance free.
BOA credit card customers get in free with BOA card on 1st Sunday of the month. If you are a BoA card holder, recommend visiting during this time for free and make any cash donation you want in the donation bin inside. If not a BoA card holder, recommend avoid visiting on this day as the aquarium is very busy. Handicap parking is far from the door. Recommend drop off of any mobility challenged folks at the door before parking.
BOA credit card customers get in free with BOA card on 1st Sunday of the month. If you are a BoA card holder, recommend visiting during this time for free and make any cash donation you want in the donation bin inside. If not a BoA card holder, recommend avoid visiting on this day as the aquarium is very busy. Handicap parking is far from the door. Recommend drop off of any mobility challenged folks at the door before parking.
Written March 6, 2022
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.
EHATS@aol.com
Fostoria, OH60 contributions
Mar 2020
The overall aquarium was great - but as far as a very nice place for handicap access is not great. I wasn't able to access a certain area that was a view of the aquarium looking down. So as long as you are able to climb up the steps you can get a 100% of all views. But since I wasn't I couldn't see what I was missing.
Written March 25, 2020
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.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,004 contributions
Jan 2020
We really like visiting aquariums, specially our kids, but this one counts into average we've been to. We were even hesitating if to visit, but having nothing else to do decided to go.
Florida Tampa aquarium is OK, nothing wow and seeing from the outside I expected to be larger. Best parts were the shark tank and penguin encounter.
TIPS: - come early, preferably at opening times to avoid crowds later,
- if doing so, you might also be lucky finding a free parking spot at the aquarium's back, in front of the American Victory musuem ship.
Florida Tampa aquarium is OK, nothing wow and seeing from the outside I expected to be larger. Best parts were the shark tank and penguin encounter.
TIPS: - come early, preferably at opening times to avoid crowds later,
- if doing so, you might also be lucky finding a free parking spot at the aquarium's back, in front of the American Victory musuem ship.
Written February 16, 2020
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.
RGC1218
Binghamton, NY98 contributions
May 2021
We have been to this aquarium several times. The price is reasonable, and buying tickets ahead of time will save you time. The displays are informative and they have a nice variety of critters. Unfortunately, they no longer have one of our favorites, the leafy sea dragons.
Written June 8, 2021
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.
Not sure, their food there was a bit expensive.
Written August 22, 2024
Hi, it all depends on when you go. Mon-Fri is $31.70/person.....Saturday is $35.45/person and Sunday is $33.95/person.
Written May 22, 2024
I want to get my grandparents tickets but one of them is over 60 and can get the discount but my grandma is 58 turning 59. Is it better to get the senior one even if she’s not over 60? Does the aquarium check for ID for the senior discount?
Written March 7, 2024
I got my senior tickets online and then just showed them the tickets. I can’t remember if I had to show proof as well.
Written March 7, 2024
It takes 3-4 hours depending on if you have kids or not , I was in wheelchair being pushed bc it was to much for me to talk the place but it was very nice
Written June 10, 2024
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.
Written April 10, 2021
Are there fake parking attendants that will try to redirect you away from the actual parking?
Written October 7, 2020
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.
Written October 13, 2020
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.
Written June 18, 2020
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