The New England Aquarium is one of Boston’s premier attractions, set on Central Wharf on the downtown waterfront. Its centerpiece is the four-story Giant Ocean Tank, a vast cylindrical Caribbean coral reef exhibit encircled by a spiraling walkway, home to sea turtles, sharks, rays, and hundreds of tropical fish. Visitors also encounter playful Atlantic harbor seals and fur seals, a popular penguin colony, and hands-on touch tanks featuring rays and small sharks.
A major center for marine science and ocean conservation, the Aquarium also operates an IMAX theater and seasonal whale watch cruises that depart from the adjacent wharf into Massachusetts Bay. Because admission prices, hours, timed-entry rules, and whale watch seasons change, buy tickets and confirm details on the official site before visiting. Its waterfront location places it within easy reach of Faneuil Hall, the North End, and the Greenway, and the Blue Line stops essentially at the door.
Good to know
- Centerpiece is the four-story Giant Ocean Tank with a spiraling walkway
- Features include harbor seals, a penguin colony, and touch tanks
- Operates an IMAX theater and seasonal whale watch cruises from the adjacent wharf
- Admission, hours, and whale watch seasons change, so buy tickets and confirm on the official site
Getting there
- Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
- Neighborhood: Downtown Waterfront, Boston
- Nearest T: Aquarium (Blue Line), about 100 yards away