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New England Aquarium

1 Central Wharf · Boston, MA

Why you should go…

The centerpiece here is unforgettable: a four-story, 200,000-gallon Caribbean reef tank you spiral around from top to bottom, eye-to-eye with sharks, rays, and Myrtle the green sea turtle. Add a colony of comical penguins, a hands-on touch tank, and whale watch cruises departing from the same wharf. It is the anchor of Boston's downtown waterfront for good reason.

  • #aquarium
  • #penguins
  • #waterfront
  • #kids
  • #marine life

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to New England Aquarium, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Local Gem

    Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park

    Under $25

    Ferry from Long Wharf to Civil War-era Fort Warren on Georges Island or Spectacle Island's beaches and skyline-view trails. Ferries run mid-May to October.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    CityView Trolley Tours

    $25–$50

    A hop-on hop-off trolley loop past Boston's Freedom Trail sites, the North End, and the harborfront.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Quirky Fun

    Ghosts & Gravestones Tour

    $25–$50

    A nighttime trolley of the doomed through Boston's darker side, centuries-old burying grounds, ghost tales and true crime.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

    $25–$50

    Board a full-scale tea ship, hurl tea into the harbor, and relive the night that sparked a revolution.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family favorite

    Franklin Park Zoo

    $25–$50

    Zoo New England's 72-acre flagship in Olmsted's Franklin Park, gorillas, lions, and giraffes just a few miles from downtown Boston.

    4.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Witch Pix

    $25–$50

    A costume photo studio in Salem offering witch-themed portrait sessions with historic backdrops.

    14 mi awayMore like this