Boston Aquarium: tickets, tours, hours, etc.

There are so many options of things to see and do in Boston, and one of the main attractions is this, the New England Aquarium. If you're visiting Boston, you can't miss it. It is an unforgettable activity for the little ones and also for marine life lovers.

The Boston Aquarium is one of the most complete in the North American country. Both its temporary exhibits throughout the year and its permanent exhibits are very interesting and with contents suitable for the whole family, especially attractive for children.

There are different pricing options for tickets to the Boston Aquarium depending on the age of the visitor and the number of people in your party. The price will also depend on where you buy your ticket. As a general rule, if you buy it at the aquarium it will be more expensive than if you buy it online.

For example, the adult ticket purchased at the aquarium is priced at around 30 Euros; however, if you buy it through a package tour company the ticket price can be up to 5 Euros cheaper.

You should note that tickets to the film shown at the aquarium and the whale watching activity are paid for separately from the regular ticket.

The film costs approximately 10 euros for adults and the whale watching costs around 65 euros per person for adults. Whale watching is only available between March and November.

Children between 3 and 11 years old pay around 23 euros and children under 3 years old get in for free.

The Boston Aquarium has different types of tickets, from basic tickets to promotional packages that are significantly cheaper. These are the so-called combo tickets, which include general admission to the aquarium plus the film for around 35 euros per adult.

If you opt for the combo of general admission to the aquarium and whale watching you will pay around 85 euros per adult.

There are skip-the-line tickets for visitors who have an aquarium membership. In that case, just arrive at the gate where you will be greeted by the staff and you won't have to wait.

The cheapest subscription costs approximately 100 euros. There are different types of subscriptions for the Boston Aquarium, but buying a membership is only justified if you plan to visit the aquarium several times a year or in large groups.

For one-time visitors, there are options for queue-free aquarium visits at much more affordable prices, around 30 euros per person.

Queue-free tickets are also available for those who buy their ticket online in advance, depending on the intermediary company. Therefore, the best thing to do if you want to avoid queues and make the best use of your time is to buy your ticket online and in advance

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Tickets to the Boston Aquarium are included in the Boston CityPASS and the Go Boston Card. The passes have different prices depending on the number of days you select.

Buying one of these Boston City Passes is an excellent option to visit the main attractions saving a lot of money and also time, because some activities have a preferential entrance that allows you to skip the queues.

They also provide significant discounts on shopping, dining, transportation and other activities.

Some of the subscriptions offer guided tours. However, in my opinion, guided tours are not worth it, as the aquarium is very well organised and the visit can be done perfectly well without a guide.

In fact, many visitors prefer unguided tours because it is easier for them to organise the tour and they can spend more time on the aquarium activities that are most interesting to them, with complete independence in time management.

In addition, an unguided tour gives you the chance to spend more time interacting with the animals.

Yes, there are discounted tickets to the Boston Aquarium. If you are not a Boston CityPASS or Go Boston Card holder, which gives you free admission to the Aquarium, you can get discounted tickets if you are over 60 years old.

Discounts are also available for students and members of the armed forces. Admission to the Aquarium is free for people in wheelchairs and the visually impaired.

There is no doubt that a visit to the Aquarium should be on your list of things to do in Boston if you are travelling with children, so it is important that you are aware of the ticket prices for children.

Children get significant discounts on admission to the Boston Aquarium. Those between 3 and 11 years old will only have to pay around 20 euros, while children under 3 years old get in for free.

In case they choose to buy tickets for the film, the price for children between 3 and 11 years old will be approximately 5 euros and children under 3 years old will also get in for free.

For the whale watching activity, children under 3 years old will have free admission and children between 3 and 11 years old will only pay around 40 euros.

There are three main reasons for buying tickets online rather than at the ticket office. The first is that you can be sure of availability for the selected date.

By buying online your ticket is dated, so you can be sure that you will be able to enter on the day you have chosen.

The second reason is that by buying tickets online you can access significant discounts on ticket prices depending on the time of year.

You should also note that many of the tickets sold online have the advantage of being priority tickets so you will not have to queue to enter the aquarium.

The Boston Aquarium is one of the main attractions in the area, so queues are often long despite the efforts of the staff to make entry as smooth as possible.

Opening and closing times vary according to the time of year. From 27 May to 6 September, opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 18:00, Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00.

During the autumn and winter, opening hours change. From 7 September to 26 May, opening hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00.

The Aquarium will be closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please check online before you visit to see if there are any changes to the regular opening times or if there are any attractions that may be temporarily closed.

The time required to visit the Aquarium depends on the individual, as interests vary from person to person. As a general rule, you will need at least 2 hours for a normal visit, passing through the most interesting parts of the aquarium and without the extra activities.

I recommend you not to go with just enough time, because although two hours may be enough, time flies when you are inside enjoying the activities and interacting with the different animals.

If you decide to participate in the whale watching activities, during the season when it is possible to do so, the visit will require at least 4 hours more because you have to add transfers and navigation time.

To visit the Boston Aquarium, all times of the year are recommended, all are good. The activities inside the aquarium can be done in all seasons of the year.

If you want to visit the Boston Aquarium and do whale watching, then you should plan your visit for the months of March to November. Although there are many things to see in Boston in winter, this is not one of them.

If you are driving from the south, follow these directions to the Boston Aquarium: take I-93 North, then take exit 17 for Government Center to Quincy Market, turn left on Surface Road and continue in that direction for three blocks, turn left on Milk Street and the Aquarium will be in front of you.

For further directions to the Aquarium by car if you are travelling from the north, east or west of the city, see

For those who prefer to travel by public transport, you can use the Subway. The nearest underground stop is just 100 metres from the Aquarium on the MBTA Blue Line, and you should get off at the Boston Aquarium stop.

It is advisable to use public transport because the lines arrive very close to the aquarium and you don't have to worry about parking which can be difficult to find due to the massive influx of people in this area.

Another great option is to use one of Boston's tour buses. Just make sure that the one you choose stops near the aquarium, as with the tram tour.

There are many things to see at the Boston Aquarium, although if you're short on time you may not get to see them all. One thing you can't miss is the Coral Reef, which shows you the enormous biodiversity of this type of ecosystem that is considered a true rainforest of the sea.

See what the Boston Aquarium's Coral Reef exhibit has in store for you.

Another must-see during your visit to the Boston Aquarium is the penguin colony. This colony is home to more than 60 penguins that you can see in a habitat almost identical to what they would be in natural conditions. Don't miss the Penguin Colony exhibit.

If you like large marine animals, don't miss a visit to the Marine Mammal Centre, where you can see seals, sea lions and other species interacting with their trainers and perhaps even interact with them if the conditions are right.

Meet these friendly and intelligent animals at the Boston Aquarium's Marine Mammal Centre.

• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Being in an environment with a lot of water (there are areas where the ground can be wet), it is best to wear non-slip shoes and avoid heels or shoes that are not suitable for this type of activity.
• If you are going whale watching, bring a warm coat, even if you are visiting Boston in summer. The wind at sea is cold no matter the season.
• Buy your tickets online. This way, you can skip the line, secure your selected date, and they are much cheaper than buying them at the Aquarium's ticket office. Just print them out at home or scan them and present them at the entrance.
• If you didn't have time to buy tickets online, buy them with the Boston CityPASS to save money. They can even be free with the Boston CityPASS and Go Boston Card, depending on which option you choose. Check terms and conditions when purchasing cards.
• Try to avoid rush hour. Central hours are the busiest, so if you want to enjoy the main activities in peace and quiet, it is advisable to arrive early, close to opening time. This way you will have less competition when it comes to interacting with the aquarium animals.
• Avoid the stress of driving by using public transport- it's much more convenient than driving and you'll save money on parking.
• Remember to bring your camera, but please note that the use of flash is prohibited as it may disturb the animals.
• There are lockers available, so you can store your things there. They cost around 5 euros for a full day for the larger ones and around 5 euros for the smaller ones.
• Pack a picnic for the whole family to enjoy. Picnic tables are available in the aquarium square for use at no extra cost.