Add some family fun to your school vacation. Plan a visit to the Aquarium! Here are a few insider tips to help you make the most of your visit:

Buying your ticket online before your visit means you can zip inside and gaze at the Giant Ocean Tank sooner.

1. Buy your tickets online
Buying your tickets online means you can skip the line! Simply print them at home or show your e-ticket on your smartphone in the Main Lobby.

2. Avoid peak times
The middle of the day is our busiest time. If you want plenty of face time with Myrtle the green sea turtle, plan to arrive when we open a 9 a.m. or later in the afternoon after 3:00 p.m. Be sure to check the website for any last minute changes to our schedule.

3. Take public transportation

Hands-on areas like the shark and ray touch tank are popular with visitors of all ages.

Taking public transportation is the blue thing to do! The Aquarium stop on the MBTA's Blue Line is just a few steps from our Front Plaza. If you're driving, check out nearby parking options,—prices vary. Here's some more information about accessibility at the Aquarium.

4. Get even closer with our Animal Encounter programs
Perch on top of the four-story Giant Ocean Tank to feed the animals. Touch a seal. Go behind the scenes of your favorite exhibits. The New England Aquarium's immersive Animal Encounter programs take your visit to a whole new level.

Grinning iguanas crawl along the sea floor in Galapagos 3D: Nature's Wonderland

5. See the world in IMAX 
Our newest film opens Feb. 12. Get ready for a trip of a lifetime on New England's largest screen with Galapagos 3D: Nature's Wonderland! Brace for epic splashes in Humpback Whales 3D. And Secret Ocean 3D showcases the tiniest residents on the reef in enormous scale.


Still have questions, like: Can I leave and return to the Aquarium during my visit? Is photography allowed? What about food options in and around Central Wharf? Poke through our FAQs for answers to these questions and more.

After you visit, don't be strangers! When you get home or even from your phone, there are plenty of ways that you can connect with the Aquarium online. Follow our blogs for more about the Giant Ocean Tank, marine mammals, exhibits throughout the Aquarium and more. 

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