This article explores the Top 10 Aquariums in NYC
New York City is a bustling metropolis known for its skyscrapers and vibrant culture. It is also home to a wide array of aquatic attractions.
The city’s aquariums allow visitors to explore the fascinating world beneath the waves. This article delves into the best aquariums in NYC and offers a unique perspective of the aquatic wildlife that one can expect to see and experience when visiting these aquariums.
New York Aquarium
The New York Aquarium has a Google Rating of 4.2 stars with 17,000 reviews.
Situated in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in NYC. As a public aquarium and part of the Wildlife Conversation Society, the establishment has engaged and educated people since 1896. Their aquarium park includes many marine exhibits showcasing the vast variability of aquatic life forms worldwide.
Of course, one of the most exciting exhibits of the New York Aquarium would have to be its Ocean Wonders: Sharks! State-of-the-art, it features a giant shark tank where one can get up close and personal with the predators. The new exhibit consists of underwater tunnels that provide the perspective that one is walking on the bottom of the ocean while sharks and other marine Life swim over their heads.
The New York Aquarium offers discounted off-peak entrance fees of $29.95 for adults, $27.95 for seniors, and $25.95 for children aged 3-12, with free admission for children under 2. During peak times, prices are slightly higher at $32.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors, and $27.95 for children.
New York City Aquarium Address: 602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
New York Aquarium Numbers: +1 718-265-3474
Long Island Aquarium
The Aquarium has a Google rating of 4.4 stars with over 5,000 reviews.
Being one of the NYC aquariums means that any marine habitat enthusiast must visit the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. It has many aquatic habitats, from the tropical coral reefs to local Long Island ecosystems and freshwater and saltwater creatures.
One of the significant in-house attractions of the Long Island Aquarium is its 120,000-gallon shark tank, featuring a host of species ranging from Sand Tiger Sharks to Nurse Sharks. Equally unique are the sea lion exhibits with an actual “Sea Lion Coliseum” that offers a view into the activities of some of the most charismatic marine mammals.
This Aquarium charges a fee for tickets that are $27 per person for non-members. Members are also given a 10% discount, and a visitor is eligible for a 3.5% discount on cash payments.
Long Island Aquarium Address: 431 E Main St, Riverhead, NY 11901
Long Island Aquarium Numbers: +1 631-208-9200
Ocean Wonder: Sharks!
It has a Google rating of 4.7 stars with over 600 reviews.
An extraordinary exhibit here is Ocean Wonders: Sharks! At the New York Aquarium. While not independent, this exhibit is outstanding and is considered one of the best aquariums in NYC. Imparting the crucial role sharks play in marine environments to its visitors; the ultra-modern facility hopes to dispel attachments of general misunderstanding to these creatures. It boasts a 57,000-gallon shark tank with such species as the blue shark, sand tiger shark, sandbar shark, and nurse shark—all native to New York’s waters. Touch screens and educational programming are used to help unlock the magic of the most misunderstood predators and their critical role in the health of the oceans.
Ocean Wonders: Sharks! Address: 602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Ocean Wonders: Sharks! Phone number: +1 718-265-3474
Sea Life Aquarium at American Dream
It has a Google Rating of 4.1 stars with 1,700 reviews.
On the other side of the Hudson River in East Rutherford is the Sea Life Aquarium at American Dream, one of the more recent additions to the local aquatic scene. This ultramodern establishment gives visitors an interactive tour across different marine habitats, from the tropical waters of the Caribbean to the icy realms of the Arctic.
What makes Sea Life outstanding among others in competitive markets is its fascinating points of view: an underwater tunnel, inside which one can have a 360-degree view and an aquarium touch tank with some tender sea creatures one may take into one’s hands. You will find sea stars and horseshoe crabs here.
Informative talks and feeding demonstrations are held throughout the day. Their main aim is sustainability and marine conservation, which makes it one of the best aquariums in NYC.
Sea Life Aquarium Address: Upper Level, 1 American Dream Wy Suite A, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Sea Life Aquarium Numbers: +1 551-234-6382
Staten Island Zoo Aquarium
The Aquarium has a Google Rating of 4.5 stars and over 2,000 reviews.
Though Staten Island Zoo is recognized majorly for its substantial collection of terrestrial animals, it has an attractive small aquarium section. It provides visitors an opportunity to view fish, amphibians, and reptiles in very well-thought-out exhibits. The Staten Island Zoo Aquarium contains a vital freshwater aquarium that hosts exotic fish from all over the world. Aquatic species, such as turtles and alligators, occupy a section within the reptile wing of the zoo that gives a comprehensive overview of land- and water-borne wildlife.
The entrance fees to the zoo aquarium are $10.00 for adults 15 to 64 years old, $7.00 for seniors 60 and over, $6.00 for children between the ages of 3 and 14, free for members, and free for children below the age of 2 and members.
Staten Island Zoo Aquarium Address: 614 Broadway, Staten Island, NY 10310,
Staten Island Zoo Aquarium numbers: +1 718-442-3101
Queens Zoo Aquarium
It boasts a rating of 4.5 stars with almost 6,000 reviews.
Though small, the Queens Zoo Aquarium, part of the Wildlife Conservation Society, represents most of its species from New York State. It thus opens up an opportunity to learn about aquatic wildlife outside your home.
It hosts aquariums that hold fish species from the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, and other local waterways. While it would not be like any other aquarium with such welcome staples as large shark tanks or underwater tunnels, Queens Zoo Aquarium meets the purpose of being a window to the public on education for local conservation efforts and protection of the local aquatic ecosystems.
The entrance fee to the Queens Zoo Aquarium is $9.95 for adults who are 12 to 64 years old, $7.95 for seniors who are over the age of 65, $6.95 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, and free for children below the age of 2.
Queens Zoo Aquarium Address: 53-51 111th St, Corona, NY 11368
Queens Zoo Aquarium Numbers: +1 718-271-1500
Central Park Zoo Aquarium
This Aquarium has a Google Rating of 4.4 stars and 23,000 reviews
Situated in the heart of Manhattan, the Central Park Zoo’s aquarium section provides a refreshing aquatic experience amidst the city’s concrete jungle. The Tropic Zone exhibit houses a variety of tropical fish, while the Polar Circle showcases cold-water species like penguins.
Although smaller in scale than other aquariums on this list, the Central Park Zoo Aquarium offers a well-curated selection of marine Life. Its central location makes it an easily accessible option for tourists and locals.
The Aquarium charges $19.95 for adults who are 13 to 64 years old, $16.95 for seniors over the age of 65, $14.95 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, and free for children below the age of 2.
Central Park Zoo Address: East 64th Street, 5th Avenue, New York City, NY 10021
Central Park Zoo Numbers: (212) 439-6500
Other Aquariums Nearby
- Marine Education Center
- Mystic Aquarium
- The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Frequently Asked Questions About Aquariums in NYC
Q: What is the largest Aquarium in NYC?
A: The largest Aquarium in NYC is the New York Aquarium, which spans 14 acres.
Q: What is the best time to visit NYC aquariums?
A: The best times to visit NYC aquariums are early mornings and weekdays, as they are relatively less crowded.
Q. What is the New York Aquarium known for?
The Aquarium is home to sharks, rays, sea otters, octopus, jellyfish and more.