New England Aquarium Tour Guides

What can you see inside New England Aquarium?

The New England Aquarium sits on Central Wharf at the edge of Boston Harbor, a brutalist concrete building from 1969 that contains one of the most celebrated marine exhibits on the Atlantic coast. The centerpiece is the Giant Ocean Tank, a 200,000-gallon cylindrical reef habitat that rises four stories through the building's core, home to over 1,000 animals including green sea turtles, moray eels, barracuda, and several species of shark that circle endlessly past the spiraling ramp visitors ascend around the tank. The effect is mesmerizing: at each level the ecosystem shifts, from the sandy bottom where southern stingrays rest to the open-water apex where blacktip reef sharks patrol. Divers enter the tank several times daily to feed the animals and answer questions broadcast through underwater speakers, bringing visitors face-to-face with marine life through a thin curve of acrylic. Beyond the central tank, the aquarium houses themed galleries that cover ecosystems from the Amazon rainforest, where piranhas and anacondas lurk beneath a canopy of live tropical plants, to the frigid waters of the Gulf of Maine, represented by a hands-on tidepool touch tank where visitors can gently handle sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and sea urchins under staff supervision. The Atlantic harbor seal exhibit flanks the main entrance, and watching the colony's acrobatic swimming from the outdoor observation deck is free even without admission. The aquarium also operates New England's premier whale watching program: high-speed catamarans depart from the adjoining dock for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where humpback, fin, and minke whales feed from April through October. The combination of indoor exhibits and open-ocean encounters makes the New England Aquarium a rare institution that connects landlocked visitors with the living ocean that shaped Boston's entire history as a maritime city.

Collections Highlights

The Giant Ocean Tank is the collection's crown jewel — a 200,000-gallon cylindrical Caribbean coral reef rising four stories through the building's core, historically home to Myrtle the green sea turtle, the aquarium's most beloved resident who lived here for over four decades. Spiral the ramp to catch sand tiger sharks, moray eels, barracuda, and southern stingrays layered at every depth. Do not miss the Amazon rainforest gallery, a humid biome of piranhas, poison dart frogs, anacondas, and free-flying tropical birds, or the African penguin colony near the entrance, where over 80 birds inhabit a rocky island exhibit and are known individually by keepers. The Edge of the Sea touch tank recreates a Gulf of Maine tidepool where visitors handle live sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and sea urchins under staff guidance. Seek out the jellyfish gallery, where backlit moon jellies drift in hypnotic columns, and the shark and ray touch tank on the West Wing. Outside, the Atlantic harbor seal exhibit flanks the main entrance and is free to view from the plaza without admission. Behind the exhibits, the aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life anchors one of the Atlantic coast's most active marine rescue programs, rehabilitating cold-stunned sea turtles and stranded seals each year — the conservation science that gives the whole collection its purpose.

Guided Tours

The aquarium offers several guided experiences that reveal what self-guided visitors miss. The Behind-the-Scenes Tour ($75, roughly 90 minutes) takes small groups above the Giant Ocean Tank to the open-topped viewing platform, through the food-preparation galley, and into the animal care areas, where staff explain the veterinary work behind treating rescued sea turtles and seals. Throughout the day, divers enter the Giant Ocean Tank for feeding presentations, narrating live through underwater speakers and answering questions about the reef's inhabitants — a free, informal tour that transforms spectacle into science. Naturalist-guided whale watching trips depart the adjoining dock April through October; onboard educators from the aquarium's research team help spot and identify individual humpback whales at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary by their tail-fluke patterns and explain feeding behaviors like bubble-net hunting. For families, staff-led touch-tank sessions at the Edge of the Sea exhibit turn a quick look into a hands-on lesson about Gulf of Maine tidepool life. Members and school groups can book specialized tours covering the aquarium's rescue and conservation work, including its role in shaping federal marine policy. Arrive early and check the posted daily schedule at the entrance, since dive presentations and feedings run at fixed times and the most popular tours sell out on summer weekends and school vacation weeks.

When to Visit

Aquarium hours: Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, weekends and holidays 9 AM to 6 PM; extended summer hours (late June through Labor Day) until 6 PM daily. Whale watching: Departures from April through October, typically 10 AM and 2 PM; trips last approximately 3-4 hours round trip to Stellwagen Bank. Best for smaller crowds: Tuesday or Wednesday mornings during the school year; the aquarium is busiest on rainy weekends and school vacation weeks. Feeding times: Giant Ocean Tank dive presentations occur several times daily; check the posted schedule on arrival to plan your visit around these highlights. IMAX Theatre: The Simons Theatre next door screens ocean-themed films throughout the day; screenings run independently from aquarium hours

Admission and Costs

Aquarium admission: $34 adults, $25 children ages 3-11, free under 3; online tickets are $2 less and allow timed entry to avoid lines. Whale watching: $63 adults, $43 children ages 3-11; can be combined with aquarium admission for a discounted package. IMAX Theatre: $13 adults, $11 children; combo tickets with the aquarium available. Harbor seal deck: Free to view from the outdoor plaza without an aquarium ticket. Behind-the-scenes tour: $75 per person for a 90-minute experience including the medical center, food preparation, and above-tank viewing platforms not open to the general public

Tips for Visitors

🐋 Giant Ocean Tank: Spiral up four stories around the 200,000-gallon Caribbean reef, watching sharks, sea turtles, and rays glide past at every level; the top-floor viewing platform lets you look straight down into the open water. 🐧 Penguin colony: The African penguin exhibit near the entrance houses over 80 penguins in a rocky island habitat; watch for the daily feeding and the personalities that keepers know by name. ★ Touch tank: The Edge of the Sea tidepool exhibit lets visitors handle sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and sea urchins under staff guidance, a tactile highlight especially for children. 🐳 Whale watching: The high-speed catamaran reaches Stellwagen Bank in under an hour; humpback whales breach, bubble-net feed, and slap their tails within camera range from April through October. 🐾 Harbor seals: The outdoor seal colony is visible for free from the plaza; their playful swimming and sun-basking provide reliable entertainment before or after your visit. 🌊 Amazon rainforest gallery: A humid, plant-filled gallery with piranhas, poison dart frogs, and a free-flying tropical bird aviary that transports you from the New England coast to the tropics

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ideal time to visit the New England Aquarium?

The aquarium's indoor exhibits are excellent year-round, but visiting from April through October lets you combine the aquarium with whale watching excursions departing from the adjacent Central Wharf, with peak whale sightings typically from June through September. Weekday mornings during the school year bring the smallest crowds at the Giant Ocean Tank. The outdoor seal exhibit on the harbour deck is most enjoyable in warmer weather when lingering along the waterfront is pleasant.

When can visitors attend events at New England Aquarium?

Aquarium hours: Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, weekends and holidays 9 AM to 6 PM; extended summer hours (late June through Labor Day) until 6 PM daily.

What do tickets cost at New England Aquarium?

Aquarium admission: $34 adults, $25 children ages 3-11, free under 3; online tickets are $2 less and allow timed entry to avoid lines.

What are the main highlights at New England Aquarium?

The Giant Ocean Tank spirals up four stories around a 200,000-gallon Caribbean reef with sharks, sea turtles, and rays at every level. Whale watching departs from the adjoining dock April through October.

🖼️ New England Aquarium