Attraction
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston's encyclopaedic art museum on Huntington Avenue in the Fenway, with collections ranging from ancient Nubia and Japan to American art and late evening opening on…
New England Aquarium
A waterfront aquarium on Central Wharf built around the cylindrical Giant Ocean Tank, with a penguin colony, a marine mammal centre and a giant-screen 3D theatre.
At a glance
- Type
- Aquarium
- Area
- Waterfront, Boston, United States
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- neaq.org
Good to know
- Giant Ocean Tank
- Penguin colony
- Marine Mammal Center
- 3D theatre
- Whale watch combination tickets
Why we recommend it
The New England Aquarium opened on Central Wharf in 1969, and its centrepiece, the Giant Ocean Tank, followed in 1970. The tank is a cylinder holding 200,000 US gallons of water and recreating a Caribbean coral reef, and a spiral walkway winds around it so you see the reef from top to bottom. Its best-known resident is Myrtle, a green sea turtle.
The penguin colony is home to African penguins and southern rockhopper penguins, and the aquarists feed them daily. Daily presentations take place at the top of the Giant Ocean Tank and in the Marine Mammal Center, and staff at the information desk can tell you the day's times, which are subject to change. The Atlantic harbour seals are temporarily off exhibit while their habitat is improved. The Simons Theatre on the same wharf, opened in 2001 and refitted in 2020 with a digital projection system for 2D and 3D films, seats 378 and shows nature documentaries on what the aquarium calls the biggest movie screen in New England.
The aquarium is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can cover the aquarium alone, a Simons Theatre film, a whale watch cruise, or a combination. Book ahead, as weekends and holidays often sell out. Allow two to three hours for the aquarium, more if you add a film, and a half day if you combine it with a whale watch. If you do add a whale watch, bring warm layers, as it is usually cooler on the water than in the city.
It is one of the easiest choices in Boston for families, and as an indoor attraction it also works well on a rainy day. As a general tip, weekday mornings outside school holidays tend to be the calmest time to visit. Check the presentation times at the information desk when you arrive and plan your route around the feeding you most want to see.
The nearest public transport stop is Aquarium station, and the aquarium's website has directions and parking recommendations. The aquarium is on the downtown waterfront, so it combines easily with Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the other Freedom Trail sites in the old city centre.
New England Aquarium FAQs
When is the aquarium open?
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
What is the Giant Ocean Tank?
A 200,000-gallon cylindrical tank recreating a Caribbean coral reef, viewed from a spiral walkway.
Which penguins live there?
African penguins and southern rockhopper penguins.
Should you book in advance?
Yes. Weekends and holidays often sell out, so book ahead online.
Can you combine the aquarium with a whale watch?
Yes. Tickets can combine aquarium admission with a Simons Theatre film, a whale watch or both.
Are the harbour seals on view?
The Atlantic harbour seals are temporarily off exhibit while their habitat is improved.
How long should you allow?
Two to three hours for the aquarium, more with a film or whale watch.
How do you get there?
The nearest public transport stop is Aquarium station.