The Florida Aquarium

This place was really fun. We parked close by and parking was $10. We used a City Pass here which was quick and simple with the City Pass app. We spent roughly 2 hours at the aquarium. It had a really neat layout with a lot to explore. There lots more here than just fish, there are reptiles, birds and penguins. Would be cool to see a better, more permanent display for the penguins but they seemed fairly happy.

We had a great time. Plenty to see and do. From touching jellyfish to the other interactive exhibits, it was definitely worth the price. It was quite crowded, but spacious enough that we didn't feel squeezed in. Lots of different species of animals and something for everyone. Parking can be difficult but ample paid parking in a garage across the street.

This was our first visit to Tampa and I decided to give my mom this birthday present. I took her to see the city around and of course went to the Aquarium. It was a great experience especially where the birds were located, just roaming and flying around. It was very relaxing ! It is a self-guided tour but there are plenty of staff around to help. The site is very clean, organized, and you cannot be lost because there are clear directions throughout the aquarium. The experience with the rays, with the jelly fish, really interesting! Just one recommendation, don't go after 3pm if you want to get the whole experience because it will take you 2hr at least if you want to enjoy it in a calm pace .

A terrific anytime attraction, but really good for rainy days. There is so much to see here in a small space. Such a dedicated group of people caring for the animals and teaching visitors in a fun way. There are live mangrove trees, free flying birds, cownose rays, sharks, African penguins, lemurs, corals, river otters, thousands of fish, octopus, axolotl, and so many other interesting animals. There's a cruise in the Bay, and a really cool sea trek where you dive with sharks and rays and a turtle but keep your head dry.

A very nice aquarium. They’re adding some new exhibits in 2024/2025. Lots to see! I would definitely suggest you wear comfortable shoes. You’re probably going to be in there for 1-2 hours just looking at every exhibit.

Planned a trip up to Tampa to check out this aquarium and it was absolutely wonderful.

We entered the lobby and there was a staff member by the map who answered all our questions.

While we were in the lobby, they brought four African penguins through the lobby on a little show and tell. It was delightful. The waddled through and were so curious! One of the days many highlights.

I really enjoyed the pace of the exhibits; they were spaced perfectly for us to leisurely stroll through and stop when we wanted to investigate something further. Another thing I really appreciated was how the exhibits flowed into one another. I never had to look at a map and we saw everything. It took us about 4 hours (2 adults, no kids). We finished with lunch from the cafe, which was also great!

Something I noticed - there were always lots of staff around, helping with just about everything and answering questions, which was great.

Overall it was a wonderful experience. Definitely recommend.

This place was so cool!! It was my first real aquarium to visit but wow! 🤩 There was no waiting throughout. Not super pricey. There was so many different interactive booths which was really awesome. I would love to visit again if I get the chance!!!

The staff is very friendly and consistently open to answering questions about the animals. There’s plenty of spaces to sit and rest if needed. They do have a new exhibit which is really interactive but some parts are already glitchy. One of my favorite features is being able to view inside the otter cubby hole and if you’re lucky seeing an otter sleeping and being generally cute and cozy.

My wife and I try to visit any aquarium we are near. This aquarium is by far the best aquarium we've been to so far. We thought the $40 price tag was a bit steep, but it's worth every penny. The staff was beyond friendly and knowledgeable. We witnessed some feedings. Several interactive exhibits, including "pokers cove" as we call it, where you get to touch starfish, sea anemones, and rays. Ash near the rays was so friendly and knowledgeable on the ray exhibit. The open-air marsh exhibit was awesome. Get right up close to some beautiful water fowl and birds. The jelly tank was also amazing, touching some moon jellies.

By far, the best aquarium we've been to.

The only thing I wish for is more exhibits showing a range of where things live and maybe a fun fact instead of just the names, but regardless, well marked displays of each animal.

This aquarium a MUST! It was wonderful from start to finish and is SO much more than an aquarium. We enjoyed not only the aquatic life but also many birds, lemurs, penguins and more. There is also a playground and splash pad right next to a bar/ restaurant for the adults to enjoy a beverage. The staff was extremely informative and answered so many questions! I would recommend this to anyone of any age. Amazing !!!!

Great for families. Its not that big compared to other aquariums but its a fun time and has birds, lemurs, and crocodiles. There's a place to touch stingrays and jellyfish. You can get food and drinks. There's a splash pad that us off in the winter but still lots of fun for the kids to play in as there's a kinds of toys to play on plus a playground right next to the splash pad.

Love this place so much to see and learn and amazing staff and amazing diving experience that you'll remember for life and you don't need a scuba certification and you breathe freely with nothing in your mouth just a oxygen fed helmet that keeps all the water out. And a super friendly turtle bigger then you

We stopped in to the The Florida Aquarium while visiting the downtown Tampa area. Definitely recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, the line to purchase tickets was very long and we were able to walk right in since we had purchased our tickets online. The Aquarium was huge, it didn't seem that big from the outside. They had several areas where you can touch sea creatures like jelly fish, star fish, sea urchins and sting rays. The aquarium was very informative. My family really enjoyed it and we would recommend for people of all ages.

A lovely aquarium with lots of interactive experiences for all ages! The aquarium staff and security were all very friendly along with being informative and helpful! The Florida Aquarium made for a wonderfully fun day out with the family! I highly recommend purchasing the Tampa City Pass! The aquarium is one of several locations you can choose to visit with the pass and it made entering the aquarium so much faster and easier.

The Florida Aquarium is beautiful. There is such a wide variety of wildlife that we don't get to see at a lot of other aquariums. Make sure you see the otters while you're there, they like to do backflips under water and propel themselves across the water... it's so adorable. The atmosphere is relaxing and the interior is very modern. The staff is extraordinarily nice. The only downside is parking, you need to walk about 5 minutes from the car but all-in-all it's really not that bad. Wait times to get inside aren't longer than 10 minutes either. This is a great place for kids, family, and friends. I highly recommend you take a visit and enjoy your day!

I love this place. Each tank has a gorgeous display of sea creatures. Very clean. Fish look very healthy. I loved the penguin add on experience. I will never forget how adorable they are. The women who taught us about the penguins were fantastic. You can tell they really love their animals. The boat ride is a little pricey and mostly you see the industrial canal. We did see dolphins riding the bow waves of a big ship coming in which was cool. Watching the sharks get fed was really interesting. The food at the cafe was really good. Definitely try the Korean steak and noodle bowl. I also thought the soak pad for the kids was a great idea. The garden eels are my favorite to watch. This place is expensive but I do feel it is worth it.

Had a great experience. We needed to kill some time after our cruise and this was a good option. If you are unfamiliar with sea life and love watching cute animals I would recommend! I was worried about costs and if it’d be worth it. I say it’s worth it! We spent about 2 1/2 hours here. Good for kids or adults!

Such a great experience!! Went by myself and enjoyed so much of nature. 10/10 experience. Parking was about $10 and admission was $35, more if you’d like to go on a boat tour.
I spent a couple of hours here going through all of the exhibits though I could’ve stayed the whole day with the tours and everything.

The aquarium is decorated for Christmas and it looks great! Lots of photo ops. We have passes so we have been several times. I recommend buying tickets online if you go during a busy time. We have the family plus membership which I love because I can bring out of town guests for free! We have a family of 4 but this membership allows you to get in a total of 6 people. The primary pass holder has to be present and show their ID. Be sure to schedule a movie time at the 4D theatre. It’s only about 15 mins but runs every 30 mins. My kids are 5 and 8 and they love it! There are great photo ops in front of the large tanks in the Coral Reef exhibit as well.

The aquarium offers a wide variety of aquatic animals, from mesmerizing jellyfish to playful otters, and even majestic sharks. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly, making our visit both educational and enjoyable.

The facility was clean, well-maintained, and family friendly.