Much of what makes Seattle a beautiful lure of a city is its magnificent surroundings. The city is located on Puget Sound, an estuary in the Salish Sea that is home to a variety of fish, seabirds and marine mammals. The striking Olympic Mountain range acts as the backdrop to a city filled with unique people. Much like its natural wonders, Seattle attracts millions of visitors every year. No space in Seattle celebrates marine life more than the Seattle Aquarium. The aquarium's well-designed campus introduces guests to fascinating marine life and illustrates how conservation efforts will allow such incredibly diverse ecosystems to thrive.
Seattle Aquarium tickets
As with any famous Seattle attraction, your best bet to avoid long ticket lines is to purchase your tickets ahead of time online. You may also learn about Seattle Aquarium discount prices offered in Seattle CityPASS ticket options.
Discounts
The Aquarium website offers information on available discounts. In addition, CityPASS® tickets are a package deal of the best Seattle attractions at a bundled price, saving you up to 49% over regular admission prices. Admission to the Seattle Aquarium is included with your Seattle CityPASS® tickets.
Seattle Aquarium Hours
The Seattle Aquarium is open daily, 9:30am–6pm. Last entry is at 5pm to make sure you have time to enjoy the habitats. See their website for special hours.
Aquarium Campus
The Seattle Aquarium campus is made up of three buildings: Piers 59 and 60, directly over the waters of Elliott Bay, and the new Ocean Pavilion—now open! Together, these buildings tell a powerful story about Earth's connected waters—from Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, all the way to the other side of the world.
Ocean Pavilion
The new jewel of the sparkling Seattle waterfront is the Ocean Pavilion. Opened in 2024, this one-of-a-kind building transports guests from the Pacific Northwest to the warm, bright and vibrant underwater world of the Coral Triangle—a region in the Indo-Pacific so rich in biodiversity that it's been called “the Amazon of the ocean”! Here, you'll come face to face with 3,500 animals and plants: sharks, rays, schooling fish, mangrove trees, over 40 species of coral and so much more. Be sure to check out the gift shop during your visit.
Pier 59
Pier 59 is a designated City of Seattle landmark and testament to the central waterfront's rich and varied history. If you plan to visit with a young child, make sure to check out Caring Cove, where children can play at being aquarists and veterinarians by giving a checkup to stuffed animals. Plus, no visit to the Seattle Aquarium is complete without stops at the café and a second gift shop, which are housed within Pier 59 as well.
Pier 60
Pier 60 houses some of the Seattle Aquarium's most beloved habitats, including marine mammals, Birds & Shores and the Underwater Dome. Plan to stay for a while as you get to know these charming sea otters, river otters, harbor seals and fur seals—and learn how each species is unique!
Highlights
No two Seattle Aquarium habitats are quite the same, and in the same visit you'll encounter both tropical reefs and the rocky outer coast of Washington. Education and conservation are major themes for the Seattle Aquarium. Staff and dedicated volunteers are readily available to answer questions. Hands-on activities and habitats bring the thrill of the ocean to your fingertips. There are even feedings and training sessions throughout the day. Reviews have praised the Aquarium's ability to both educate and entertain. The Seattle Aquarium has over a dozen unique and fascinating animal habitats, but here are a few standouts:
The Reef
Experience an underwater canyon that arcs overhead! The multiple viewpoints of this spectacular, multi-story habitat—the Ocean Pavilion's largest—offer opportunities to view a thriving reef community from above, across and below. Watch majestic rays glide through the water and see schools of brightly-colored fish swimming as one.
Marine Mammals
The marine mammals habitat features Puget Sound's loveable otters and harbor seals. Children and parents love this area, where you can choose to see the animals from an underwater perspective or from above. Check out the Seattle Aquarium's website for a schedule of daily talks in this area. While you're here, learn about the Seattle Aquarium's long history with marine mammal care and research.
Underwater Dome
Step into the one-of-a-kind undersea dome with a 360-degree view into a 400,000-gallon habitat, filled with hundreds of fascinating Puget Sound fish! In the Underwater Dome, you'll experience a beautiful, ever-changing snapshot of life in Puget Sound—no scuba gear required. See brightly colored deep-water rockfish, schools of silvery salmon and more!
Birds & Shores
Where there are fish, there are seabirds! This beautiful open-air habitat highlights the rough and rocky shorelines of Puget Sound, and the many species of sometimes reclusive birds that can be found there. Watch tufted puffins and rhinoceros auklets make their dazzling dives. See common murres and black oystercatchers up close. In addition to birds, this habitat also houses rockfish, sea anemones, sea stars, sea urchins and others.
Life on the Edge
Life on the Edge is your chance to get up close and personal with the many fascinating creatures that dwell in the tide pools of Washington state's outer coast and inland sea. Get a “hug” from a sea urchin. Follow the scuttling steps of a hermit crab. Staff and volunteers are always nearby. Make sure to use the handwashing station before and after dipping your hands in this habitat.
Window on Washington Waters
Dive into Washington's coastal waters and experience the 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters habitat. The water surges rhythmically, causing kelp blades to gently sway while multitudes of fish—salmon, rockfish, sculpins, wolf eels and more—swim in and out of large rock formations, which also serve as homes for anemones, sea stars, sea urchins and corals. Depending on the time and day of your visit, you may also see a diver in the water or a puppet show.
Accessibility Guide
The Seattle Aquarium offers accessibility aids for a variety of needs, from wheelchairs to private lactation areas to sensory bags. For full details on the accessibility offerings available, please visit the Seattle Aquarium's website.
One highlight of the webpage is the social story visual guide, which will help families and groups prepare for their visit to the Seattle Aquarium. This may be especially useful for visitors with autism, sensory sensitivities or younger audiences. Look through it before your visit, or print it out to bring with you.
Tips and Tricks for a Better Visit
Staff and volunteers are available to answer questions, so take advantage of the opportunity! The Seattle Aquarium also conducts their own research on marine life.
The marine mammals habitat is partially located outside on the waterfront, right above Puget Sound. If you're visiting in the fall or winter, dress warmly and prepare for some of that famous Seattle rain.
The Seattle Aquarium Café is an excellent place to stop and eat if you're feeling hungry. The balcony has a beautiful view of Elliott Bay. If you go on a weekday during the school year you might share the space with a school group. Thousands of students visit each year!
Seattle Aquarium Parking
Because the Seattle Aquarium is located in the heart of the downtown Seattle waterfront, parking and transportation can be tricky. For convenience, try booking affordable parking in advance using SpotHero. The Seattle Aquarium has a unique SpotHero link on its website which can save you up to off drive-up rates at nearby lots and garages. For a climate-friendly option, try one of the many bus and Light Rail routes that take you within a 15-minute walk of the Aquarium.
Visit the Seattle Aquarium's Directions and Parking webpage for more information.
Nearby Lodging
To get the most out of your stay in Seattle, we recommend finding lodging near Seattle's top attractions like the Seattle Aquarium. Use this map to find the right lodging for you:
Booking.comHeader Image Courtesy of Seattle Aquarium