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New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, NY

Photo: Epicgenius, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

New York Aquarium

602 Surf Avenue · Brooklyn, NY

Why you should go…

Run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the New York Aquarium opened in 1896 at Castle Garden in Manhattan and moved to Coney Island in 1957. Its 14 acres hold 266 species across exhibits such as Ocean Wonders: Sharks!, Sea Cliffs, Conservation Hall and Spineless. You can also visit the Aquatheater and see the original Bathysphere, the deep-sea submersible used on 1930s dives.

  • #aquarium
  • #sharks
  • #coney island
  • #family activities

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 York Aquarium, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Luna Park

    $25–$50

    Ride the landmark Cyclone wooden coaster, the Thunderbolt and other rides and games beside the Coney Island boardwalk.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Eat & Drink
    Iconic

    Nathan's Famous

    Under $25

    Order hot dogs and crinkle-cut fries at the original 1916 stand on Surf Avenue, steps from the Coney Island boardwalk and beach.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Coney Island

    Free

    Stroll a 2.7-mile oceanfront boardwalk, ride the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel, and eat a hot dog at the original Nathan's.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Free

    Prospect Park

    Free

    Roam Olmsted and Vaux's Brooklyn park, from the 90-acre Long Meadow to a wooded ravine and the 60-acre Prospect Lake.

    6.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Brooklyn Botanic Garden

    Under $25

    Stroll 52 acres of themed gardens, from a Japanese hill-and-pond garden to a bonsai museum and conservatory.

    6.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

    Under $25

    Historic 83-acre arts campus on Staten Island with botanical gardens, museums and a contemporary art center.

    8.1 mi awayMore like this