Add dates

BostonZoos & aquariums

Our most recommended Boston Zoos & aquariums

Boston: New England Aquarium Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket

1. Boston: New England Aquarium Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket

Enjoy a skip-the-line entry ticket to the New England Aquarium. Start your visit to the New England Aquarium at the charming penguin colony, before experiencing 360-degree views of the spectacular new 4-story Caribbean coral reef teeming with more animals than ever before. Take a stroll on the spiral walkway around the reef as sea turtles, sharks, moray eels, and tropical fish glide through their vibrant habitat. From sea jellies to sea dragons, you will explore the planet without leaving downtown Boston. The Aquarium is a treasure trove ready for exploration by families and ocean lovers. Your admission ticket includes entrance to the following exhibits: Amazon Rainforest Head to the Amazon rainforest without leaving Boston. The New England Aquarium’s 6 Amazon exhibits allow you to dive into the Amazon River and climb through the dense forest without getting wet or needing bug spray. Several of the exhibits feature large windows that reach nearly to the floor, providing perfect viewing opportunities for small children. Atlantic Harbor Seals The harbor seals exhibit is the only one you can actually visit before buying your Aquarium ticket. Watch the seals swim, play, and sleep, and learn more about them during a free training session. The 42,000-gallon harbor seal exhibit is located outside on the Front Plaza, to the left of the Aquarium’s front doors. The exhibit is open to the New England weather, which suits these New England creatures perfectly. Blue Planet Action Center This dynamic exhibit presents the serious challenges facing the oceans and showcases the Aquarium's global leadership in searching for solutions, through its interactive displays, interpretive presentations, and small live animal exhibits. Coral Reef Center At the top of the Giant Ocean Tank, a glass railing maximizes your view of many of the predators swimming high in the water column. You can now easily recognize creatures resting on the tank’s bottom more than 24 feet below. That exceptional viewing is enhanced by a theatrical-quality lighting system that is built into a beautiful blue reflective ceiling dome. A new exhibit gallery on the same level showcases reef biodiversity and gives visitors a closer look at a hidden world populated by unique coral reef animals. The Giant Ocean Tank The 4-story Giant Ocean Tank features a brand new coral reef, an underwater communications system, large windows, and hundreds of Caribbean reef animals, including sea turtles, stingrays, eels, and fish. At its deepest point, the exhibit goes down 26 feet, is 40 feet wide, and holds 200,000 gallons of salt water. The water is heated to between 72 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the perfect temperature range for this tropical exhibit. The exhibit is so big that it was built first and then the rest of the Aquarium was constructed around it. Gulf of Maine The Gulf of Maine stretches from Cape Cod to Canada and includes Boston Harbor and the Stellwagen Bank. The water is cold but bursting with life. As you explore exhibits ranging from shore to deep-water boulder reefs and sandy sea floors, you will encounter lobsters, cod, goosefish, and giant sea stars. The 6 Gulf of Maine exhibits cover more than half of the Aquarium’s third level. Pacific Community Reef Dive into the tropical waters of a Pacific coral reef and get to know some of the rainbow-colored fish that call it home. This 5,100-gallon exhibit houses nearly 70 different kinds of tropical reef fish. Marine Mammal Center Watch California sea lions dart through the water and limber northern fur seals lope in this beautiful open-air exhibit space. Learn about the challenges marine mammals face in the wild, and get a new perspective on these fascinating marine mammals. Penguins The Aquarium is home to more than 80 penguins who live in a bustling colony found on Level 1 surrounding the Giant Ocean Tank. The Aquarium breeds African penguins as part of a Species Survival Plan and promotes educational programs about penguins. Seadragons Every visit to the New England Aquarium should include a stop at the seadragon exhibit. There are only 2 seadragon species in the world, and this stunning exhibit displays both of them. The leafy seadragon and the weedy seadragon both use their exceptional camouflage to hide from hungry predators. Challenge yourself and see how many seadragons you can find during your visit.

Boston: Franklin Park Zoo Entry Ticket

2. Boston: Franklin Park Zoo Entry Ticket

Book your entry ticket to the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and meet hundreds of remarkable species from around the world. Explore the 72-acre zoo nestled in the historic Franklin Park. Make your way around at a leisurely pace as you go from exhibit to view remarkable species that call the zoo home. Visit exhibitions such as the Kalahari Kingdom, Giraffe Savannah, Nature’s Neighborhoods, and the Outback Trail. Stand face-to-face with western lowland gorillas at one of five glass viewing stations. Come across ring-tailed lemurs, pygmy hippos, and a giant anteater. Discover African lions, Masai giraffes, Grevy's zebras, cute red pandas, prairie dogs, kangaroos, and emus.

Stoneham, Massachusetts: Stone Zoo Entry Ticket

3. Stoneham, Massachusetts: Stone Zoo Entry Ticket

Pre-book your entrance ticket to the Stone Zoo and enjoy a day filled with meeting many of remarkable species from around the world. Explore the 26-acre zoo nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park. Make your way around at a leisurely pace as you go from exhibit to view remarkable species that call the zoo home. Visit exhibitions such as the Himalayan Highlands, Yukon Creek, and the Caribbean Coast. Marvel at the majestic snow leopards, Caribbean flamingos, macaws, scarlet ibis, and a family of bush dogs. See the white-cheeked gibbon exhibit to observe the incredibly agile, and always active, gibbon family. Discover black bears, two-toed sloths, jaguars to the cute group of North American river otters.

2 activities found
Sort by:

You might also like...

Unmissable attractions

Frequently asked questions about Boston Zoos & aquariums

What are other things to do than Zoos & aquariums that are worth visiting in Boston?

What are the best Boston Zoos & aquariums?

Which Boston Zoos & aquariums are taking additional COVID-19 precautions?

These Boston Zoos & aquariums are taking additional COVID-19 precautions:

Other Sightseeing Options in Boston

Want to discover all there is to do in Boston? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Boston

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 334 reviews

The ticket was great. But 1, you had the wrong price on your website which meant I didn’t get our tickets until I wrote to ask what was happening and a very helpful staff member, Grecia, responded. 2. The ticket was for 9:20 and the aquarium doesn’t open until 9:30. 3. Our original ticket was for 3pm and when we arrived we found out the aquarium was closing that afternoon at 4 for a private event which would have meant our visit was very shortened. The aquarium is fantastic! Elinor

Excellent aquarium with a fabulous penguin exhibit, huge tortoises and gigantic 4 story interior fish tank. Was disappointed in their mostly non existent shark exhibit.

It was AWESOME ! Would definitely go again & highly recommend for children !

A lot of stuff was out of exhibit but otherwise overall was a great time

Great time and got to walk in and not wait to purchase tickets!