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The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, FL

Photo: James E. Scholz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

The Florida Aquarium

701 Channelside Dr · Tampa, FL

Why you should go…

The Florida Aquarium opened in 1995 in downtown Tampa and holds more than 7,000 aquatic animals and plants. Its layout follows a drop of water from a Florida freshwater spring out to the open Gulf, moving through Wetlands of Florida to the Coral Reefs habitat, the largest in the building. You also find loggerhead sea turtles in Heart of the Sea, moon jellies in Moon Bay, and Stingray Beach. Add-on experiences include a Wild Dolphin Cruise aboard a 72-foot catamaran.

  • #aquarium
  • #coral reef
  • #sea turtles
  • #family activities
  • #downtown tampa

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

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Ybor City

    Free

    Stroll 7th Avenue in Tampa's historic Latin Quarter for cigar shops, hand rollers, free-roaming chickens and the Columbia Restaurant.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

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    ZooTampa at Lowry Park

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    Meet manatees, elephants, giraffes and rhinos across a 63-acre zoo that also runs a hospital for injured manatees.

    5.0 mi awayMore like this

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    Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

    $50+

    Ride coasters like Iron Gwazi and SheiKra, then see giraffes and zebras on the Serengeti Plain.

    6.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
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    The Dalí Museum

    $25–$50

    See Salvador Dalí's paintings and drawings in a waterfront museum entered beside a 75-foot glass spiral.

    17 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Clearwater Marine Aquarium

    $25–$50

    See rescued dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and sea lions at a working marine animal hospital.

    23 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Clearwater Beach

    Free

    Spread out on 2.5 miles of white Gulf sand, then join the nightly sunset gathering of performers at Pier 60.

    23 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor