New England Aquarium

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New England Aquarium

Photo: 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🦒 Zoo · Boston

3 hours · $$$ · Reservation required

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 4.0
1–3 yrs
★ 5.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 5.0
  • 🚗
    About 25 min drive
    From Newton · Parking: Blue Line to Aquarium puts you right there; by car use the Harbor Garage (aquarium discount, still about $20+)
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Lots of shade
    Rain-OK · Handles heat · Fine on cold days
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 3 hours
    Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter

You walk in to a big pool of dozens of penguins, then a four-story cylindrical Giant Ocean Tank with a spiral ramp winding up around it, Myrtle the sea turtle and sharks gliding past at your side; the touch tank upstairs lets you stroke rays, and the sea lion and seal shows outside are free. A 2-year-old can stand at the tank for an hour.

💡 Tips
Admission is steep (about $40 adults), so always buy timed tickets in advance; the discount passes at libraries such as Newton's go fast. Get in at the 9am weekend opening, as it is wall to wall after 11. Ramps the whole way, easy with a stroller. Whale watch boats run April through October (separate ticket).

What this place offers

✓penguins
✓giant tank
✓sea turtles
✓touch tank
✓sea lions
✓indoor
✓IMAX
✓restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Boston

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

🌧️
Sat 10/17
Rain · 41–62°F · 78% rain
🌤️
Sun 10/18
Partly cloudy · 40–59°F · 1% rain

Location

Boston, Massachusetts

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