Reviews of Monterey Bay Aquarium (Museum)

Miss L

Definitely in my top 5 favorite places on Earth. If I went into everything I loved it would be a dissertation. My first memory was from when I was 10-years old. It was so deep and lasting that it very literally was a material factor in the formation of my world view.

ashley stidham

Went today for the opening day. It was amazing. Reservations were not easy to get because of capacity limits but it is worth planning a day. Staff was friendly like always. And the one-way routes were the perfect idea. Most things were open. Limited touch pools for the Littles but still interactive enough. It was a treat to not have to fight with others for the space to admire all the tanks.

Howie Liu

We visited the aquarium after Christmas. Despite having to buy tickets online for a particular time slot entry, it was wayyy overcrowded. The line into the building went around near the end of the block. Inside, there's NO social distancing. It was shoulder to shoulder with strangers if you wanted to see something. It was busier than a fish market. I have no doubt during my visit there I stood next to someone who's vaccinated, boosted, asymptomatic positive for Omicron, just by the sheer number of people there. Visitors beware.

JO Cordero

Stunning animals and very knowledgeable docents! A great place to visit with family, go on a date, or hang with friends! $9 for a pretzel is too much though... C'mon. Lol

Leilani-Z

Great exhibits! Lots of different areas, very educational, and interactive. Seeing the tanks from above, and learning how they support the captive kelp forest was all very interesting to me. We didn't have any children with us, but it was great seeing how excited all the kids around us were; they all seemed to be enjoying the many interactive activities. Check out their website to get lots of sneak peeks on their various live webcams.

Elizabeth Solley

My favorite aquarium. Make reservations if you can. My kids really enjoyed our visit. It is such a great aquarium.

Cataleya Arriaga

The place is clean and staff members are well organized. No one knows what social distance (it includes visitors and staff members) is but everyone had mask on. The place is full of fun things for children and a learning experiences for adults. bathrooms are clean. I recommended 100%, bring water. If you arrive very early in the morning you can park near the aquarium for $20 for the entire day.

Carly

Wonderful aquarium!! The price is definitely worth going to see it once. I wouldn’t go back again, though. We wanted to see the ocean sunfish really badly, and they didn’t have it available to the public which was a huge bummer. We spent about 4 hours there (2 adults, no children). Very interactive, educational exhibits. For those concerned with how many people are there - we went there on a weekday immediately when they opened at 10 am and honestly it wasn’t that busy. Weekends and afternoons are certainly going to be busier.

Ryan Pearcy

This is one of the best aquariums in the US and our family has seen many of them. I love the fact that the bay water is clean enough to cycle through most of the the exhibits!

Antonio Giorgi

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a modern wonder of the world! They have an astounding variety of salt and fresh water marine life in spacious, otherworldly tanks. The most impressive of which has to be the deep ocean tank. It is massive and full of hammerhead sharks, tuna, and dolphin fish, just to name a few. It's a spectacle to behold. There are a slew of educational and interactive exhibits to keep curious minds stimulated, two gift shops, and (I'm told) food as well. For a family day trip, it's the perfect place to go. You have to experience yourself to believe.

Teneln Johnson

Had a great time with the family.my young daughter enjoyed the whole thing. Her first time being here I was here in the 4th grade but don't remember much. The Aquarium was beautiful and the people were so nice.

Jason Johnson

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is amazing! It's cool to look at all the sea life and to learn about the sea creatures. It's always a great time there.

Laura Gumbrecht

ok I just had one of the best days of my life, and I have monterey bay aquarium to thank for that!! first off, the marine life they house is phenomenal (obviously)! secondly, the facility is incredible; not extremely modernized, but superbly functional. personally, i find that its less-flashy aesthetic really allows the creatures/specimens to be the focus. they provide a good amount of digestible information that sates children and adults. it’s immersive and hands-on, equal parts educational and fun. i was continuously impressed by the staff; they were all warmly enthusiastic and knowledgeable. it seemed like they were genuinely excited to be at work and help enrich visitors’ experiences! ex. my bf and i were looking at installations in the outdoor area when an employee came up and was like “wanna see something kinda cool?” then pointed out a nesting seagull, asked if we enjoying ourselves, and kept on walking. attentive but not invasive. the overall experience is very curated, yet “organic”. especially when you step out and see the kelp you just touched, an otter swimming on its back just after getting to watch them dive underwater… AND a seal! it brings the mysterious ocean world to the visitor!! simply fantastic. if one would have to come up with a con, it was extremely full, but with good reason!! tangentially, IF YOU’RE NURSING: when I went to the bathroom I saw this pathetic bench with a plaque that read “Visit our nursing lounge…”. turns out, they have an entire private area dedicated to nursing with bottle warmers and rocking chairs. YAY! so if you’re with baby, check it out — and let me know it is!

nilesh shinde

Amazing experience. The open sea and jelly fish section is therapeutic. Gives you peace of mind. My daughter loved it.

Mystery Queen Hernandez

Overly crowded. As my pictures will show. If you don't mind that then this is the place for you. Over all it was pretty great. Lots of beautiful and creepy things to see & touch. All the employees there are really nice and you can tell they absolutely love their job.

Jacki V

I love this aquarium. The exhibits are really nice and the animals seem well cared for. My kids love it and all of the staff have been very kind. I liked that they enforced people keeping their masks on if that is the policy. It's a bit crowded but worth it.

bashfulpanda lover

Got engaged here!!! So beautiful and the staff was amazing!

Nora Eliason

Lots of old and cool structures. Very cool aquarium and its short too. So it's not that long. I love the sting rays where you can touch them!!! Enjoy!

Evan Scop

Awesome time as always. I came at 330 due to my group needing a later start so we weren't as leisurely as we wanted, but we did see most of the animals and got some shopping done. I think I discovered that the octopuses like to come out in the afternoon. I've never seen them so active when coming in the morning.

Mau Patel

We heard about Monterey Bay Aquarium from many friends and family to make sure not to miss it - believe me this was really a different aquarium to visit atleast once. Our family enjoyed each exhibit that's in this aquarium. I do agree that price wise the tickets are costly, but I think it was worth it for first visit. Parking was hard to find (do street and paid parking). You need max 3 hours to see everything. Knowing we checked in at 2PM the ticket checking guy showed us how to get around the aquarium + which was a huge plus. So we will visit again (may be after 5 years)!

Jewell Tomas

Best aquarium to go to! Very fascinating and informative. Also has beautiful views of the ocean.

Aubrey Bear

Amazing faculty and staff at the aquarium. It’s always a joy to come in to see all the creatures in the aquarium and being able to see how happy all the animals are in a protected environment being adored by many people. Amazing and clean aquarium for sure and was amazed at how everyone was not disobeying the protocol and listened to instructions from the staff. Only reason I’m giving a 4 star is because the cafe doesn’t have many options for kiddos who are very picky on what to eat especially for someone who has a sibling with autism. However I love this aquarium and will continue to go to this aquarium.

Allen-Paul Templet

Incredible facility. At this time tickets must be purchased in advance. Nearby parking $15 all day. If you think you'll visit twice in a year by the membership!

Terry King

I love aquariums and this was certainly a nice one! Not as many exhibits as others I've been to, but the staff was great and who doesn't love otters?

Nathan Krishnamurthy

Great place to visit! Been to lot of aquariums but this is one of the best! Loved the variety and huge collection of fishes! Saw so many sea life creatures which I have never seen before! Had been with my family with kids and we all really had good time and enjoyed the visit. Would definitely visit again and recommend for others:)

P.

Busy but educational. It's pretty awesome, for sure. I like my 10% off at their gift shop. The restaurant has tasty food, but it's too expensive. On 2nd consideration, after 2 meals there lately, the food was actually excellent! Worth the high prices, really, for me. The photo ops are incredible. I took so many & moving pictures too. Got some Xmas gifts too: 10% off! When I used to live in Monterey, I went on average once a week for years. Sitting upstairs in the ocean exhibit room where the mola mola & sea turtle swim, in the dark, with that ocean music soundtrack, you can meditate & fully relax even with others around. That room is mostly quiet. I like watching the feeding of the different animals & aquatic life & enjoy the movies. The kelp forest exhibit is a wonderful way to show us what it looks like right outside in the ocean/bay. I like the estuary close up of the cute sea birds. The penguin exhibit is fun. The octopus is beautiful. PLEASE REMEMBER: NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY in certain areas. I had a nice time today, but it was too busy with too many families with little kids. 8/3/19: Finally, 10% off in the cafe with my membership! Saves me the sales tax $! Lana, the cafe manager, is very intelligent & comprehensive, re: the cafe's conservation achievements. Have a chat with her. You will learn. When I renewed my membership, they gave me a cute plushy toy, worth $20. They sell the same product in their shop. Subtract the $20 from the yearly memebership fee, in your mind. It reduces the annual memebership dues by $20. Nice. 12/19/21: I renewed my membership & received a new free plushy & an extra month. The Aquarium was enjoyable today.

Nick Bortz

For having been here several times already, going here never gets old! Even though the majority of the exhibits on display are permanently in the museum, the curiosity and amazement that you feel when walking through them never stops! The only thing that I didn't like about my most recent visit was that one of my favorite exhibits (the stingray petting pool) was temporarily closed. Other than that, I had a wonderful time there.

Ray Yuvi

My son and I had a great time! It was his first time and he loved it. Since I went to school at UCSC, I was fortunate enough to go a few times but it's been close to 20 years since I've last gone. There was a situation I had lost my glasses in a case during the visit(fell out of my backpack removing and stuffing items in at the end). I realized I had lost it and was still in the area. Came back after closing time (about 20 minutes) and was lucky to flag down a worker(had blonde hair) and she opened the door. I asked her if anyone turned in a glasses case with a pair of glasses. And if the person who turned it in is reading this... THANK YOU! back to the story.... And she went inside to check with her colleagues and they tracked it down! Thank you to the nice young lady (could not see her name tag) and to Timothy and Eric of the security team for bringing out. I was able to drive back to the hotel safely. And the behind the scenes tour is so worth it! Make sure you try and book it as soon as you get in. It's a bargain for the behind the scenes you get and all the information. Thanks Clint for the awesome tour! ????????

MInot Robotics

Don't worry about the long lines...once you get in it is not busy and plenty of room to see everything. Way worth the money.

Diana Turner

A wonderful Aquarium that focuses not only on the care of their animals and plants but also education and the value of saving our oceans and the creatures that live in and near the ocean. I love the exhibit about plastic waste. The otters are a delight and the jellyfish are mesmerizing.

Liang Tang

Too many people. Parking fee is 20$ per day.

Jordan Roberts

One of the best places me and my family visited on our family vacation to California it’s a must see destination we’re all amazed of this place there’s something for everyone.

Praneet Raj

This was our first time at this aquarium. This is definitely a lot smaller than Long Beach, Atlanta, Chicago and other ones I have seen. But I was impressed by the awesome species I haven’t seen in other aquariums. Please check out some of the cool pictures. I will be uploading a lot of videos as well.

Brandi “McBooty” W

One of my favorite places as a kid when I lived in California and wanted my child to experience it. Fantastic still. Lots of old exhibits from back in my day and lots of new ones. Very interactive for the kids. A tad pricey but for a good cause. Very educational and the staff/volunteers are very knowledgeable, engaging and pleasant. Had a wonderful time and hope to continue visiting for decades to come!

Danielle Johnson

The aquarium was a fairly decent aquarium but the amount of people was too much to enjoy anything. Have to push your way through or fight just to see a fish is ridiculous. And it's the middle of the week. We were underwhelmed, it's hard to enjoy something with so many people.

Rustin Mirsafavi

Fantastic aquarium with many different species. Jellies, deep sea and sea otters were my favorite.

Starr

It was so cool to be here again and see everything. Going as an adult is a lot different than going as a kid but it was a still good experience. As the other reviews said it does get very crowded and it is hard to see the exhibits. People were using flash in some places and hogging the view windows. Some people would get really close and almost trap you in corners. Just keep that in mind when you go, be respectful to others and the animals!! The ocean is so important, it feels good to support a place that actively makes a difference.

Robyn Christine

Fantastic aquarium! All of the staff and volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable. The exhibits are spacious and provide great views of the animals. I loved the outdoor areas with spotting scope and binoculars to see animals outside. It was quite crowded when I went today, but the staff did wonderfully keeping everything clean. The otters were my favorite.

Anthony Mcqueen

Love the Aquarium i dont mind spending more because it benefits the animals. The people here nice and very welcoming. Yes we will be coming back again. Also its really special when all the kids see the Blue Tang aka Dory from finding Nemo.

Alison Goldsworthy

There is so much about the aquarium we wanted to like but we couldn’t get a chance to see it. The place was PACKED - several people deep around many of the exhibits. And whilst they are checking vaccine status at the door, they really really need to limit numbers a lot more. A member of our party needed a negative test to travel so we ended up leaving very quickly. While the website gives the impression they are limiting numbers due to covid, it sure doesn’t feel like it.

william grendel

Amazing place to take the family or your friends! Got engaged here and the setting was perfect. Where else can you day drink, get decent food, and see the closest thing to magic that exists on our earth?

Justin Lee

Life long visitor of this magical ethical amazing place. Have been here several times and will continue. The highlight was a little over a decade ago seeing the Great White shark in captivity. This is without question one of the greatest aquarium/ living museums 8n the WORLD! 5 stars is not enough!

Megan

Smaller than I expected. You can see everything in under 3 hours. The volunteers are lovely people and very knowledgeable, I just wish they weren't quite so pushy. Sometimes you just want to watch the fish. There are 4 octopi here - very cool! The jellyfish exhibit is the best I've seen.

Di Chang

Highly recommend the jelly fish section and the kelp forest section ✨ Also the sea otter feeding was so cute and delightful

Mike

Would be 5 stars but it smelled sooooo bad!!!! Major sewage leak or something. The whole wing of the aquarium upstairs and downstairs was God awful. Even through a mask. The aquarium was great, very family friendly, awesome stuff for the kids to do, kept the little one entertained all day! Will definitely be back. And cannery row and montery are a fun trip!

Jonathan Sparks

Pretty awesome aquarium, but even with the vaccine mandate it is extremely busy. We skipped so many exhibits with our young children because of the amount of people pressed up against the glass. We couldn't even let our children participate in touching rays, because the pool was swarmed with adults who never seemed to move. Definitely a great aquarium, but for the price, I would suggest to go somewhere else. You don't really even get to experience most of it.

George Kokai

I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in an overnight stay here with my son. What an amazing time that was, and I highly recommend it. First off, the aquarium is a must see for Californian residents and travelers alike. It is stunning, well maintained, well "stocked" with an impressive variety of sea creatures, and well staffed with considerate and knowledgeable employees. I could stand/sit and watch some of the features like the jellyfish, or their kelp forest for hours. My favorite this past visit was the octopus, which was constantly in motion and absolutely mesmerizing! Other smaller and less flashy exhibits are also mesmerizing...you can stare at some of them for half an hour and keep finding new and interesting things to observe. This place is a true pleasure to visit. During the days/holidays/weekends, it gets busy, which can be hard, especially with young children, but still worthwhile. But if you get the opportunity to spend the night, do it. It's not packed, and you can see whatever you want! Plus, the view is pretty kick butt!!!

Lucas Livingstone

Sea lovers if all ages would enjoy the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We bought an annual family membership and glad we did because they showed a new exhibit last time we went and will be opening up a Deep Sea exhibit in a few months.

Neko Chan

This is an amazing aquarium! So much wildlife to see and you can get some fantastic photos too if you're a little patient. Crowded earlier in the day but thins out mid afternoon. You might get lucky and see the animals/fish being fed, that was fun! Lots of exhibits with so much sea life. Otters, penguins, jellyfish, hammerhead sharks, green turtles, rays, shellfish and all sorts of fish. The anemones and aquatic plants are cool too. It's a beautiful and very interesting place.

Andrew Woodruff

This is a fun aquarium! They currently require (for those over 11 or 12, I think) that you are vaccinated, or that you present a negative COVID test, in order to be able to enter the aquarium. It isn't as big as some I've been to, but it's fun, and they have great exhibits. The jelly fish are especially cool. They have some fun interactive exhibits that our daughter loved. I think the tickets are a bit expensive, though.

Craig Casey

Had not been to the aquarium in over 20 years. This facility is impressive and truly amazing. The aquarium tanks are incredibly large with a huge array of fish. Lots of signage in several languages help identify what you're looking at. All of the staff I encountered were extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. The aquarium is almost 40 years old now but still looks brand new and is exceptionally clean. Everyone should visit this place, young and old, and plan on spending at least 4 hours to take in all that is there.

RAJ P SHAH

Place is beyond words A unique place and so nicely maintained. Volunteers are very knowledgeable and courteous

Heather Brewer

The food was way over priced and cold but the rest of the experience was pretty cool.

Chinmay H

Excellent place to spend with kids or for anyone who enjoys watching fishes.

Mollie Powell

Beautiful variety of fish and good eco-friendly messaging. There are some uuge, very impressive tanks. I loved that it’s right on the bay with wildlife observation decks and staff to help you spot wildlife. Despite requiring reservations, the aquarium was extremely crowded to the point where it was hard to see the exhibits. They require masks, but due to the crowding I’d skip it if you’re worried about COVID at all. Overall we spent about 1.5 hours here, probably would have stayed longer if it was less crowded.

Melissa P

The Location was amazing and the facility was very well structured and easy to get around!

Sergio Ochoa

We (my family and I) love the aquarium. It's always a pleasure to visit, we wish we could visit more but the prices are somewhat out of the ordinary to visit more frequently. In the times we are living, it was surprising to see that many people inside. Proof of vaccination is asked at the entrance, which we loved! Going back to my previous line; we were surprised to see so many people inside the aquarium and just like in many other places, once inside, many people removed their face coverings and no one tells them anything.

Lucen Li

Worth a detour to the aquarium. The unique location integrates perfectly with the open sea, with beautiful views to the Pacific from the outdoor deck. Easy to navigate, the movie presented in the theater located on the first floor tells tourists more stories behind the scenes.

David Gleason

Fun for the family. Very crowded even with COVID-19 restrictions. It takes the whole day to see this place so plan ahead. We were there 1130 to 5 and barely saw all of the exhibits. Bring a snack and water bottle to enjoy on the outdoor observation decks. There is a cafe with limited food options. Cheapest item on the posted menu was a hotdog for $10.50.

Hirraed Vaughn

Brought my colorblind fiance here to wear his new color- tinting glasses. There was so much he's never seen before in color- his favorites being jellyfish and tropical fish. Many exhibits and lots of variety. Cute shops, though pricey. Great date spot or family trip.

Liisa Delgado

Appointments needed, but totally worth it...wear comfy shoes...lol

Chief Tonga (Chief_Tonga)

The place was jam packed. Felt good to have a normal day with people all around. Fishes were the main thing my kids and I came to the aquarium. The biggest fish we saw was the Goliath Grouper. Definitely appreciated that monster through the glass. The Otters were pretty cool as well. This place is located by some other cool businesses as well. Ill add some photos

Chris Honig

I love the Monterey Bay Aquarium it is totally amazing every time I go. I think the older I get the more I appreciate it. So many cool things to look at. Everybody needs to go here at least once in their life it's one of the best aquariums in the states.

Charles Gierman

The wife and daughter took me to Monterey Bay Aquarium for my 60th B-day. I love Monterey and none of us have been to the aquarium. It was amazing. I could not believe all they had there, I would strongly suggest going there. If you have a like for the ocean or not it is well worth it. The sea otters and the huge aquariums. It was absolutely in love with it. I would love to go back when the bring in there next display.

Nikki Hyodo

We were in awe of the aquarium and the variety of sea life exhibits there are. It was also interactive. Worth the price of admission. I remember going to this aquarium decades ago as a child. Monterey Bay aquarium now looks upgraded with eye-opening fish, jellyfish, octopus, penguin and many other sea creatures.

Deborah De Vivo

Observing covid guidelines, we had an assigned appointment to enter. The two story kelp bed tank had all sorts of sharks and fish in it. Tons of other special areas as well.

Van Kierstead

A little over 2 hours from San Francisco. Worth every mile and minute. Worth the price of admission and then some. Awesome experience. Not overly preachy about conservation...enough to get the point across (we're doing better, we can all do more). When you go, expect a few jaw drops. If you're in to people watching, watch the children's eyes as they experience this alien world on display.

Sam

This place is very cute! I love aquariums a d was finally able to make it up to the Monterey Bay, and it was well worth it! All the exhibits were amazing and all the animals and fish were so so cool to see!

Garth Epling

Best Aquarium on the west coast. Well organized, good COVID protocol, amazing exhibits. Well worth the price of admission

Jeremy Pearcey

TL;DR - it's big, it's beautiful, and you will never visit another aquarium like it. Go now! This aquarium is absolutely STUNNING. They greet you right out of the gate with "The Ocean's Edge." A towering 30' aquarium that allows you to see the ocean's movement of kelp, creatures, and the occasional person. As you continue your journey, you will see cephalopod's in motion, thousands of tiny jellyfish, thousand pound tunas, and a host of other species. What truly makes this place special, though, is the lengths they've gone to include human psychology in their exhibits. As a psychologist, I see how each area has been carefully crafted to give YOU, the temporary aquarist, as close a view of the ocean world untampered, as possible. You are not just looking at fish in exhibits, you become part of the exhibit. They've framed it in such a way that you will lose track of time and two hours later, be in awe that there is still more to see. So, venture to this aquarium and you will not be disappointed. Even if you don't like fish or aquariums, this will lull you into loving of the ocean's depths. There is truly something for everyone.

Garie Pamintuan

I see now how big this aquarium really is. It's a very nice aquarium. Great to take the kids as well. Lots of exhibits and information displayed as well.

Saveena Wadhera

It's one of the most entertaining place to be. One can find variety of fishes. To my utter surprise, these guys have put Sharks as well. Which is a real treat to the eyes. Apart from that Oters are there to melt your heart ❤ . What i like the most about the Aquarium is that they will even educate you about all the beings they have put in the Aquarium. If you are lucky, you even get to touch few fishes. Apart fom that there are resturants to give you freshly cooked food. There are proper sitting area in every corner of the Aquarium (just in case if you feel tired.) its a perfect place for a day out and wholesome experience.

Joselin Espinoza

It's a wonderful aquarium. I would recommend you to come during the week because, it's super crowded during the weekends. The parking lot is not far from the aquarium, it's $20.

Isidoro Barranco

The aquarium was super big and didn't have enough time to explore it all. The aquarium closes at 5 and they mean 5. They start to kick you out and show you the door. The gift shop closed at5 too. We didn't get to buy anything for the kids. I was very bummed about that. There's no physical maps and the online version is very inconvenient and it tooks a while to download. There's a lot of cool things to see and the kids love the place but it can be better.

Meagan Jardine Downs

The price tag seems hefty, but it is a beautiful facility, and bigger than it seems! We were there for 3 hours, and I still didn't feel ready to leave. The presenters are charismatic and funny, as well as knowledgeable about the animals. I loved the otters and the penguins the most, but the sardines were also oddly mesmerizing. I definitely would recommend spending an afternoon here! Especially if it's rainy and a perfect day to be indoors like it was for us.

Tonya Gill

The rainforest here alone is enough to get me to come here because it is that amazing but bonus if you also get the aquarium, planetarium and natural history too! One price, nothing extra to pay. There is a Curiosity Grove for kids 5 and under to play at. They have blocks, puzzles, treehouse and more where little ones can have so much fun! This place is so educational and fun for anyone!

Ariel Belmont

Simply, very beautiful... It's incredible how they made an aquarium out of a factory. The place is spacious enough to have the chance to see the fish. Some of the tanks are gorgeous and you would get lost in such beauty... Totally recommended. There are attractions for kids too

Albert Chow

We took our 9 month old here as his first big trip. Currently they require you to reserve your tickets in advance along with selecting your entry time to stagger the amount of people in the aquarium. Once inside you can stay for as long as you want. There is no re-entry if you leave the aquarium and no outside food except those for toddlers and infants. The food at the cafeteria is decent and not too overpriced. Love that they require everyone to wear masks still (post-June15) as most of their guests are unvaccinated children. Our son enjoyed most of the exhibits but we think he might of been overwhelmed by the amount of noise and people at the aquarium. Can't wait to take him back once he's a little older and can fully appreciate all the exhibits!

Jazmin Marie

Enjoyed walking around the Monterey Bay Aquarium and snapping some photos. This place is gorgeous. You can spend about two hours here, maybe more if you’re planning on having a meal. Definitely worth visiting at least once. Admission price is pretty steep, it’s about $50 per adult. Children’s admission is about $35+. That's a hefty price without food or parking included.

Soo_J Yang

It was very good to show fishes for my baby. She sang non-stop baby shark with dancing and very much enjoyed it. There were placed sanitizer each spot. Required mask on. So we fell safe.

Latchezar Betev

This is one of the best marine attractions I've ever visited. Truly impressive aquariums with lights to enhance the life within. Ample explanations and guidance. The otters attract huge crowds. Great experience for all ages.

Swetha Chellappa

Phenomenal aquarium! Beautiful facility ???? very educational!

Shane Harper

One of the best if not thee best aquarium I've ever been to. So many amazing exhibits and displayed in a way that you get a super up close view of everything

Karina Martinez

Took my daughter for her 10th birthday and SHE LOVED IT!! She loves aquariums and this one was far the best one! The aquarium had something for every age group. She enjoyed the auditorium 15min films (we watched Deep Sea Animals, White Sharks and Luna: Sea Otter Story) and the touching of the sea stars but her favorite thing was the feeding of the sea otters. We ate in the cafeteria and it was great, the servers were always at your attention. All the employees were very attentive and friendly. The bathrooms were clean. The aquarium was a great experience (they even provided my daughter with a birthday button). We will definitely come again soon!!

Pirozhock S Kotom

The great family place. What is unique about, they have the bay right next to their walls, so you can watch marine mammals in the aquarium and right next to it the animals in the wilderness. The kelp forest is amazing beyond any words! Never thought that the seaweed could be so gorgeous! My favorite thing is the huge ball of sardines circling around. I’ve been to many aquariums around the world, including the biggest ones, but never seen the ball of sardines next to small and middle size of sharks! That was so unusual!

Wendy Brodnick

Such a lovely evening event! The docents were very helpful and friendly!

Edward Meinhardt

What a wonderful aquarium 3 floors of awesome exhibits. Otters, Penguins, and even adolescent hammer heads. Definitely a spot to stop on your way up or down the coast.

Adrienne T

Know that it will be incredibly crowded no matter what day/time you go with little to no covid 19 procedures other than having people wear masks and some hand sanitizer stations. I won’t be going back any time soon. However, really enjoyed the jellyfish exhibit and deep ocean viewing area.

RaeRae Hayes

One of the best aquariums I've ever visited. The employees were very knowledgeable and super friendly, happy to answer all of my questions. The exhibits are fantastic, I love the kelp forest, I'd never seen an exhibit like it at any other aquarium I've visited before. There were lots of people there, but it didn't feel overcrowded, I like the layout, enough room for everyone to see all the fish without feeling claustrophobic. I'm very glad I decided to visit. I will say that the price of a ticket shocked me a little, but it was worth it!

Gabrielle Bates

The Aquarium is busy just like it used to be. It's best to buy your tickets in advance. Currently, they ask that you wear a mask while visiting. It gets crowded but the crowds moved in a timely manner. Expect to spend a minimum of 2 hours here.

D.J. McQuade

Amazing place! We had so much fun. Recommend you try to go during the week to avoid the crowds.

Arianna Guerrero

We went myself, husband and our 2 kids. The aquarium was overcrowded. Tickets should be limited! Unable to enjoy sites because of other people shoving through. It just felt rushed!!

Kim

I've been to a dozen aquariums, but Monterey Bay blew me away with their open sea and tentacles exhibits. Don't miss seeing a 15,000-strong school of fish eat during the open seas feeding. Tanks were well maintained and staff knowledgeable. I prefer having fewer non-animal displays (e.g. art, interactive, digital displays), but there were still plenty of live species. I recommend arriving at opening hours to have time to see the whole aquarium before the mass of children ruin it.

Tim Craig

Always a good time. They've also had good protocols around covid for the last year or so. Otters are a huge hit for everyone, every time we go. :)

Rosemari Martinez

Simply breath taking views of sea life! I would recommend seeing it during the week so you can explore it at your complete leisure and relax.

Andrew Graves

Absolutely fantastic aquarium experience! It's a massive place with absolutely tons to look at and explore. We spent 3 hours here but you could have easily passed the whole day enjoying all the life on display. The cafe was also AWESOME. I got some seafood tacos and they were genuinely some of the best I've had. I drove all the way up from LA for a day to visit and I would gladly do it again!

Lena Van

A stunning ocean view and the main attraction at Monterey Bay! Price of admission is relatively high compared to other aquariums in CA but this aquarium is top tier! I made a trip out of it to see a mola mola, a giant boney fish that is difficult to keep in captivity; they didn't currently have one on display, the one they had was rehabilitated and released back to the bay quite recently. Now that is a true hallmark of an organization that truly cares about education and conservation! All the volunteers and employees are super kind and knowledgeable, they're always willing to answer questions! Because of the ongoing pandemic, reservations in advance are required. I observed a few parties who were late to their reservation time were still allowed admittance (an 11:00AM party was allowed to enter at 2:00PM). There is no time limit within the aquarium, I spent 4 hours there without any issues. That being said, it is still relatively crowded. Which is great! Non-profit educational organizations such as this deserve to get a ton of business! Wait at an exhibit long enough and the crowds eventually fade away. Is it worth the trip to visit this particular aquarium? Yes! At least once in your life!

ARMANDO ALMARAZ

Went on 8/9/2021 and honestly wish I saved my money and waited. The aquarium was beautiful but there was no room to even move. Strollers and kids everywhere. Definitely felt unsafe and wouldn't advise anyone that's worried about any virus to come. Yes there is hand sanitizer stations throughout but didn't make it less congested. Save your money and wait.

Michael Johns

I love this aquarium. There are a couple in California but if you want to visit a legit one, this is the place to be. There are immersion experiences that help you to imagine where these creatures live and what their habitat looks like. The informational pieces at the exhibits are very educational and a great learning experience for all ages. Each exhibit allows you to get up close with most of the creatures. Super cool! I took my 10month old son and he loved every bit. There were a couple moments when he was a little scared because it was just super different and that was when the large fish swam by at the Open Sea tank. One of our favorites is the Sea Otters. Love watching them swim around and play. Splash Zone and Penguins is a very cool experience as well. Penguins are fun to watch wobble around and kids love seeing them swim around so up close. There is a decent sized food court with the normal American fare items. A little of something for everyone. I'll end by saying the aquarium definitely is a little expensive however it's an experience you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

Blair Bush

An AMAZING aquarium, the ONLY thing that gave me pause was the size. Everyone had told me this aquarium is their favorite, but I am used to the Baltimore Aquarium, which is substantially larger. Again, it is a STELLAR aquarium, and I highly recommend it.

Brian Bray

Great family fun. My two daughters (ages 4 & 9) both had an awesome time. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff.

yung-chin Chen

The ticket and the parking are expensive but it is worth it. I haven’t visited the aquarium for a few years. Some areas are still the same and impressive but I do notice some improvement. During COVID 19 period, you need to buy tickets from the website ahead of time. And you need to bring ID and proof of vaccination. There are a lot of people even though they restrict the number of people. It will take about 2 hours for the entire tour.

J Bo

Not as great as i remember from years ago. But our highlight of the day was watching the adorable otters get fed/trained. You can also watch wild otters and sea lions outside of the aquarium if you look closely!

Nate Ulsh

Great experience, especially if you have kids. Parking is a pain but worth it as there is much to do at Monterey Bay.

Noor

Beautiful aquarium . Just love the underwater life collection. And also very helpful details written on the side of each ???? ???? .must visit place with kids

Harish Paluru

Some how feel is very over rated. Max it may take 2 hours to see entire aquarium. It's small.. ticket cost is too high. Otherwise its good. Kids enjoyed. Very clean exhibits. Nice play area. Very good precautionary measures.

j robin estrella

love it here! thank you for the "ottervator". it'll take wheelchair, walker & tiny tots in mom's arms up to see the otters. simple, effective. bought tons of SWAG for the grandtot. she even named our otters (Timothy & Emmett). great geocache here too (virtual, out front). bucket list item down. gotta say that the staff here is so friendly & helpful, it was such a relief. Disneyland could take a few lessons in guest care from you guys. appreciate everyone here.

Rebecca Maciag

I Adore this place. The exhibits are beautifully crafted and you can tell there is so much thought put into the interactive sections for kids. Hands down my favorites were always the jellyfish. The way the lighting was set up just made them pop in contrast in the water. They have plenty of scheduled events. Great for kids and adults. It's the best aquarium I've been to thus far. If I ever get the chance to go back over to that side of the country, I'll be heading back there again to see what new things they've added.

Grace Angel

This aquarium is a wonderful experience for all ages. Fantastic oceanfront location plus stunning sea life from sea otters to octopus! It manages to entertain and educate at the same time. Spend the day here, you won’t regret it!

Benjamin Soper

Worth a visit any time of the year. Bringing binoculars is a good idea too. From the outdoor patio you can see all kinds of wild life.

viraj pandit

Visited the aquarium over the weekend. It was very crowded. Enjoyed the mission of the aquarium regarding conservation and saving the marine life. The videos were inspiring. The exhibit felt a little dis organized. The wave model was fun. Been to multiple aquariums across country and this was descent compared to others.

Chris Gay

Really a great family stop. The exhibits are well done, lots to see and learn. The staff is friendly and helpful. And of course, Star Trek The Voyage Home was filmed here, if you're a fan. We did the behind the scenes tour, which was okay. This was during Covid, so some of the normal tour was excluded. Hopefully they will be able to start the full tour when we are through this. A new exhibit is opening soon, should be a really cool one. Looking forward to coming back to see it.

Vanessa Prudhume

Coming from Fresno California it was a beautiful experience! To see the aquarium was open again made me very happy. Definitely looking forward to coming back very soon!

Sandra C.

It was my 1st time here I've been wanting to come visit this aquarium for years finally got the chance to go sense it was about 4 and a 1/2 hours away from me it was well worth it they closed at 8:00 p.m. the day I visited they had live music and they were also serving alcohol with food inside as well aquarium was awesome they had all types of fish some I have never seen before the cool thing about it was also that the actual Bay or ocean is actually part of the aquarium itself that's pretty neat they had animals there that they released back into the Bay after they are of age I highly recommend that you come and visit the aquarium and bring her children they will absolutely love it they have a floor that's especially for the children to play and see fish can wait to come back and visit again

Kevin Shen

Top 3 favorite aquariums in the world, and I've been to over 30 of them. This one is smaller than my other two, Kenting Taiwan and Okinawa Japan, but the amazing work Monterey Aquarium does for ocean conservation cannot be understated. Plus, the sea otters are so dang cute!! Head a bit north to Moss Landing to see some of these adorables in the wild!

Christina Luah

Lovely aquarium, easy fun for all ages. Spend an hour or a few, various exhibits to keep the family entertained. Highly recommend using the clear vaccination record if you have it, much faster/shorter line for entry. Otherwise I suggest you get there earlier on a Saturday. Staff are all very friendly. No parking on site but cannery row parking is reasonably close.

Javier Carbajal Ramirez

4.5 Stars. This is one of the best Aquariums we've been to. They have a Kelp Forest that welcomes you when you enter. Their "Deep Sea" exhibition is the best, though this time I felt it needed more animals, for instance we missed the Sundial Fish, or at least we couldn't find it. The big glass wall and the blue water, along with the darkness and the comforting sounds in the exhibition makes it one of the best places to relax and just let your mind go and relax. In 1 word it is "Peaceful". The exhibition made out of plastic is also a great spot, it makes you think about our consumption and perhaps motivates you to take action. The Splash Zone and Touch pools are Ok, nornally you will find a lot of kids here and rightfully so, this areas are for them but you can still enjoy touching the Sting Rays or Crabs. The Otters are fun to watch, they are almost always active and they are rightfully called "The Puppies of the Sea", because they are darn cute. They also have a couple of souvenir stores inside, a restaurant, an auditorium and decks overseeing the city and the sea as well as other smaller areas that I don't recall their names. My actual rating is 4.5 because I wish it was bigger or had more variety of sea animals, but the experience is close to 5 than 4. Due to Covid, there are no tickets at the entrance, you have to purchase them online and when you go there you have to bring your vaccination card otherwise you cannot go in.

Naomi VanDoren

Wonderful visit with family. Really enjoyed the exhibits. Highly recommended for a day trip down from San Francisco Bay Area.

Dan Greene

I've been to aquariums around the world this place is nice but nothing special and for the price, I just thought there would be more.

Kavin Velmurugan

So much to learn and see! It has beautiful animals, a bunch of creatures I had never heard of. The people who were working did not hesitate to share their experiences and what they knew. Would recommend to anyone who is coming to Monterey.

Hannah Rohrbacher

Loved the sea otter exhibit and the coastal bird exhibits the most. Overall the aquarium is informative, exciting, and fun. But there is a sadness to the exhibits as well. The interpretative signs for the penguins talk about how the jump and play but not a single one was moving around or joyful. The sea otters and deep sea tanks seemed very small even though they are quite big. I’m very thankful for the work the aquarium does for sea otter preservation but we left feeling mixed emotions. Glad we went but also kinda sad as we left.

Diane Barker

It was so phenomenal! A lot to see and interact with. Definitely coming back for years to come.

Clara Posadas

First time back since Covid. Our reservation time was at noon and we had an easy time going through the entrance. The aquarium was not to crowded at this time. We had to wait a minute or two at most exhibits. We had lunch around 12:30 pm in the cafe. You pre order food before going in and get a pager to let you know when it it ready. You order on a touch screen and there is staff to help you if you are having problems. It was easy for us, but a few people trouble figuring it out. Lunch was good. The hand dipped chicken tenders were excellent and 2 pieces was more than enough for my grandson and I. We left around 2pm. Overall we had a wonderful day.

Silvia Ordonez

Love love this place! From the gift shop to the exhibition you definitely get your moneys worth. Admission is 50 dollars and if you decide to eat at the aquarium it’s going to be about another 50. Masks are required and proof of vaccination or negative test is also required upon entering. Parking is 20 dollars.

Satseuc Astromech

It costs 50$ to get in and you have to find parking meters or a lot to park. There’s a long line outside but it’s only a few minutes until you get in. The aquarium is gigantic and there’s a lot of different species of fish. There is impressive tanks of different sizes. My favorite is the otter tank and the open ocean. There is two gift shops and a restaurant. There is a spots to stand outside for the fresh ocean air.

Alexandre Calvi

The most beautiful aquarium in the world, staff was incredible warmth and helpful.

Neck Bone

The Jellies are worth the price of admission ALONE!!! ???????????? And then, the MASSIVE SEA TURTLE was an exquisite surprise!! Two gift shops, one more grown up than the other for instance there are coffee table setting pieces for sale in this one. Plenty of seating to stop and admire the natural wonders of the ocean. See and feel tanks for all ages. We got to touch stingrays and sharks. So cool. And then a starfish was stuck on my finger. ???????? I highly recommend the membership pass to beat the crowds and get a slight headstart on the strollers and lunch rush families. Will return.

Patrick A. Hall

Fantastic. Plan on spending 3 or 4 hours here.

Fiona Costello

Hands down the most magical aquarium we have ever visited. The ticket reserves you a spot to enter during a pre-specified time frame - this minimized waiting time to enter and I think reduced big crowds of people. Don’t miss the information booth to get a map and advice from the amazing volunteers. The exhibits are breathtaking and so well thought out. Some of the highlights: the kelp Forest looked like an alien planet, the jellyfish exhibit, the OCTOPUS!!, there are multiple outdoor areas that allow you to venture out and even explore a giant tide pool while getting a great view of Monterey Bay. There was also a volunteer with binoculars in one of these outdoor areas - she showed us where to find a group of 12 otters who were playing around in the kelp. How cool! It’s such a great aquarium and perfect for visitors of all ages!

William Boyer

Love this place! The Otters, the Jellies, Kelp Forest and Open Ocean are the best. Get there as early as you can, like first in line. It gets crowded. Take the kids to the interactive kids parts. Don't be surprised if the penguins get a little frisky .. they don't care if you watch! Just a wonderful place. Buy tickets online and in advance. Bring masks! Proof of vaccination.

lisa lamb

Clean, inviting and full of beautiful employees ready to help, chat or guide you throughout the visit. One thing I did notice, the Killer Whales and dolphins hanging from ceilings were quite dusty. ???? Long day was all worth it, we drove 2+ hours to spend a few hours enjoying ourselves very much. Surprised how crowded it was on a Wed early afternoon, but it wasn't too bad. The exhibits are informative and the Main Aquarium was a delight.

Tony Pan

It was a transformative experience. I don't know much about the ocean but I felt the connection during my visit to this aquarium. The exhibits here are not only beautiful but also educational.

Harper

One of my favorite aquariums! They have a large variety of creatures to see! I love attending the otter feeding times! Staff are kind and love answering questions. There's also a ray pool to pet manta rays which I definitely recommend. I highly recommend this spot.

Jacqueline Martinez

I'm happy to have revisited this aquarium. It's a great place to bring the family! All the sea animals were nice to see :)

Rebecca Lillo

This place really is special. I've been here many times and it never gets old. There's so much to see and learn here and in such a beautiful location!

JESSE JAMES CRISCIONE

This place is amazingly cool. The line goes extremely fast. All the team member love being there and it shows. The outside spot to the ocean is relaxing and a incredible view. Its packed so you really have to pace yourself. Get the map. Each room was fun and the view of the mammals was intense. This is kid friendly. A lot of restrooms. Big food court. Its $50.00 a person , however well worth it. We will come back with a better plan next time. Its Huge and you will get lost. You need patience in this place. The penguins, otters and the Jelly Fish were the best. I highly recommend this place to all. Its best to pay for parking then doing the metter parking. Cannery row is out side and a good walk.

Sneha Binani

The $50 entry is totally worth it. They have varieties of sea animal. There are places where you can touch different kinds of sea animals. The guides help you with any question related to the sea animal, aquarium or ongoing lessons. You can easily spend 3-4 hours here if you check out the entire place. Penguins, sharks and sea otters were the highlight for me.

Yana Carpenter

Always one of our favorite places to visit. We have been here at least 5 or 6 times. We even had a sleep over in front of the deep ocean tank as part of a school field trip - it was amazing - we had most of the aquarium open to our group after hours. The jellies are always fun to watch, they are memorizing and I could get lost in the Jelly room for hours. A few years ago we went and they had a beautiful seahorse exhibit. They also has a baby White shark in the deep ocean tank, he has since been released and I hear doing great in the actual ocean. From the sea otters, to the touch pools, to the open viewing area outside. It's a beautiful day to spend with family or all by yourself. I love to walk through alone and really be able to capture all the little things going on - not always easy to do when your with a group. The last time the family went we did just that - all went our separate ways and had designated meeting times / spots so we could all enjoy at our leisure. Photos attached :) Thank you Monterey Bay Aquarium for always being on point.

J.Alfredo Avila

Great place, Love it, we had an amazing experience there highly recommend this place, bring the family, and buy tickets online, is no ticket booth, we watched few people been pull out of the line because they tought they can get ticket at the aquarium. Big mistake. Food is excellent as well.

Joanna G

As always an amazing, relaxing and invigorating experience. I have come for 20yrs and this was my first trip as an adult unaccompanied by at least 4 children. It was lovely, educational and peaceful. A beautiful day chilly breezes, with warm sun and waves to watch from the decks.

Andrew Allen

I have always heard of it and had an opportunity to go! Really awesome for the family!

Diane Costulas

This is one of the best aquariums I have been to. Some of the tanks were so large that you could see them from the upstairs and downstairs levels. This made it easier when in busier areas. Multiple view points within the same area. Bathrooms were very clean throughout the building and the staff was very friendly. Still being in the middle of COVID, they are selling tickets for certain times. This is nice in theory, however if you buy a ticket for 11:00 you could potentially walk around all day. This doesn’t really help to limit the number of people that are actually inside if they are not ushering groups out after a given amount of time. There were some areas that were very densely populated during our visit but staff were good about enforcing masking polices outside of photo ops. We purchased at 3:30 ticket and the facility closed at 5:00. It was difficult to see everything in the given time and then the gift shop also closed at the same time. I’d recommend closing the gift shop 30 minutes later than the decks of the aquarium. I live out of the state and you lost a sale on merchandise. The online selection was subpar compared to what I saw through the locked windows of the shop. Would recommend buying an early ticket so you are not feeing rushed to see everything.

Michael Isaac

Great day spend at the Monterey Aquarium! The kids had a blast. Spent about 2 1/2 hours here over the weekend. Lots to see and very fun. Huge fish and great exhibits. Didn’t see too many sharks but that’s ok. Both of my children loved every minute. “More more more” the whole time. Would definitely recommend to anyone and will for sure be back!

Ning Hao

The aquarium is large and the design is quite unique. Visitors can visit in exactly the order they want to visit. The species is rich, the explanation is detailed, and I have seen many fishes that I haven't seen. The facilities are convenient and the overall is great!

Jade Koide

Visit once a decade, definitely worth checking out, albeit pricey. No Sunfish this last time. I wish they had more detailed descriptions of the animals - most things were quite elementary and sometimes, as an adult, I just want more information -- habitat, life cycle, effects of climate change, etc. Can't beat the jellyfish hall, though.

Stephanie Corona Leblond

My family and I love this place. We have a membership and go almost every weekend. It never gets old! We always see and learn something new. Highly recommend for anyone, especially families. It's a great activity on a foggy or cloudy day, although the lighting and views in the aquarium are spectacular on sunny days.

Annice

Five stars! Not to be missed! Get yourself passes for as early in the day as possible. Ours were for 10am and the place was already packed. If you are stressed or nervous about covid, this is NOT the place for you. I know the aquarium staff are doing their best to keep everyone safe. It’s just that their facility is simply not designed to suit social distancing amongst the amount of people admitted. Monterey as a general area seems to be understaffed right now too - we did see and hear employees explaining the sea life in 2 exhibits, but not once did I see a staff member sanitize surfaces. This to me was a big issue, since parents were letting their kids lick the aquarium glass in each exhibit (not kidding!) The jelly & tentacles exhibits were my favorite. Be sure to head outside to escape the crowds and take in the view! I made it through the entire museum (including the gift shop) in just over 3 hours.

Dineen Anderson

It was the Perfect day at Monterey and the Aquarium is not to be missed. Feeding otter time was so much fun.

Nambi S V

Have been several times. Good family time and kids love it

Taha Peker

Lots of fun and lots of things to learn at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Mary Treinen

Arguably the best aquarium in the world. Absolutely recommend to all. Get there as early as you can to avoid crowds where possible!

Desiree Marquez

Loved the animals but it's kind of a shell shocker to go from 6 feet to packed like sardines. We booked online and though capacity would be reduced but the crowds were bigger then ever. Took 30 minutes to find a parking then 15 minutes to walk the mile were we were lucky to find that one parking. Then when we got there litteraly all we saw most the day was the back of people's heads. Really wanted to see the eels so had to be agressive to get a chance. Wouldn't go again..Had to force myself to suffer for that hour because it was so expensive to just walk out.

Holly Micuda

I've been looking forward to visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium for many years and wasn't disappointed! So many fish and sea creatures that I haven't seen in other aquariums. It's amazing how many people volunteer their time to share information about the ocean and its inhabitants. They have done an amazing job integrating information about conservation into the exhibits and counseling the public on making informed consumption choices to protect the environment. Definitely sign up for the text alerts to catch a few extra opportunities to see unique things during your visit. I would highly recommend eating before and after your visit because the food is VERY expensive. Also if you're celebrating anything, stop by the information desk for a small gift! It's a cute added touch that made the day just a bit more special.

Amogh Prabhu

A must see in Monterey for all ages. Jellyfish area is excellent so are the outdoor seals

Sneha Mirajkar

Wow.. what an experience it's like world apart clean view of the ocean and splash zone and the amazing aquatic life

Deb Mta

Beautiful exhibits. So much to see, I only got half way through. Very handicapped friendly and kid friendly exhibits. Some hands on for the kids. Parking is a distance away, there is a disability drop off right by the aquarium though. The parking garage is $20. Which is reasonable for a tourist area and garage parking. Closes at 5 pm so get there early.

Fabricio Breeze Olsson

As an adult with ADHD I was REALLY missing my regular trips to the aquarium during the 2020+ pandemic. I LOVE being a member and go as often as I can. This is a good, happy, calming, soothing place. AND there is a LOT to do and see and touch, explore and contemplate. Inside, outside, rain or shine the impressive man-made displays compliment the beauty-FULL natural settings of the Monterey Bay; simply glorious. In one trip, I’ll seek out tinny hidden critters, gaze upon obscure gelatinous blobs and stare into the eye of a ginormous beast of the deep! A short walk thru or a long meditative meander. There is something for every mood.

Andy S (Andy)

Way too crowded (so much for restrictions by ticket times). Barely got to see exhibits and no-one checking masking. Was hoping for a much more enjoyable and immersive experience given reviews. In and out in less than 1 hr. Save your money and come back next year when less crowded as sea life are worth seeing.

Erick .Arias

Great as always!!! Hoping for a return of the Ocean Sunfish! The volunteer Steve was great help on updating me on future exhibits and wrapping the day up nicely :)

Albrino Fernando

The Monterey Bay Aquarium a simply such a wonderful place to go. They have an incredibly large diversity of the creatures that I’ll have you looking at them for hours and hours. All the different sections help break down the monumentally large selection of things to look at. It’s so much to take in but it’s so enjoyable. This is one destination you can not skip out on while you’re around in Monterey.

momo

Monterey Bag aquarium is a really neat experience if you love learning about the ocean, marine life and more. The Kelp forest and Jellyfish exhibit we're wonderful. However, it's best to pay a visit on a weekday morning as the crowds can be absolutely horrendous. Please don't tap on the glass to get the sea critters to pay attention to you. It's not very nice. Parking is also a challenge if you get there late. It's either street parking or figuring out the parking garage situation. Some meters allow up to 2-4 hours.

Tim Rob_______

Yup well to me a place to bring the young kids with. It was ok but not worth 49 dollars a piece. Kids I would spend that they would enjoy. Would not recommend as couple sorry... Find better things to do. Like 17 mile drive for 10.50

Maddy Quine

The aquarium was amazing. There was a line to get in but it moved quickly. The food was great and they handled the crowed well. There was a lot to look at and there were sea otters in view from the balcony.

Ruby Sketchley

Always a treat. Such a relaxing and feel good place to visit. Do NOT skip the Jellies! Be patient with the crowds and enjoy the excitement of the children.

Paul Lee

Have loved this place since I was a kid. Visited recently - they were very serious about their health screening which made me feel safe. I went in the morning a little before the aquarium opened if and there was hardly any line. The large tanks are amazing. Some of the animals can be shy so a little patience can be rewarding. Gift stores are pricey.

Arend Barneveld

A lovely experience in Monterey. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, the animals seem happy, and the different sections are very informative. A very enjoyable day for my wife and I.

Steven Birkinbine

Beautiful, educational, and easily covered in a whole day. Absolutely loved this place and plan on coming back in the future.

Wynne Chase

Awesome!!! Definitely recommend visiting. The jellyfish are remarkable.

GeralynK Rangel

Exceeded my expectations! So many fun & educational exhibits. A family must see!

Ryant Takai

Absolutely love this place. So many exhibits of aquatic life, educational and informative tours. Our daughter loved it as well. Service was friendly, above and beyond. We didn't print our tickets and they accommodated us with no complications by directing us to the right area and taking care of us. Would love to come back.

Robert Grier

Two seconds about getting in. They need to make it a little more obvious online when buying tickets that you must produce a vaccine card or negative test. Once inside the stupidity of all that fades away. Very large, attractive and laid out nicely. Plenty of staff to answer questions. Exhibits were well marked. Plenty of sea creatures to view and learn about. There was a touching area that you could reach in and gently touch some of the creatures. To me, the best part was an indoor, no cage birds exhibit. They were just sitting and running around on a contrived beach. Very nice! There is a restaurant inside and of course, touristy shop for the previously unknown but now badly needed stuffed otter toy and coffee cup!

David R Chen

Wasn't expecting much, but they really do have some exhibits that we've never seen before - especially the jelly's and the school of sardines. Also great to see that they really take great care of their "residents" so despite the pricey ticket, it's well worth supporting this non profit.

Katie Lee

This aquarium is the best!! I would dare say the best in the US. Their exhibits are absolutely amazing and I’m absolutely in awe every time I come here. Just make sure you reserve tickets beforehand! If you are a bit late with reserving tickets, a good tip is to consistently check throughout the day cause tickets open up as people are exchanging them for different times/dates. That’s how we got tickets the day before going. I would try to get at least 2 hours for your trip to this aquarium if you want to be leisurely looking at the exhibits and the store.

Beth Burdick

Love the aquarium! Volunteers are helpful and friendly. Recommend weekdays now, as school field trips have not completely started up again. Not crowded on Wed am for us.

Patience Luran

I really can’t even say if it was a nice aquarium or not because the crowds were so insanely large that we couldn’t even get up to the glass to see anything or even walk without touching people. So disappointed, we literally stayed for maybe 20 minutes before it was just too much to handle. They should really limit the amount of people to actually make it an enjoyable experience.

louis Moran

This place is great! Our kids love the aquarium. We became members to be able to visit several times in a year. It is easy to say we saw it all, but we are always finding things we did not see before like the octopus. I really recommend it.

Zahra Ali

Expensive!! $50 for One Adult admission!!! I am giving it 3 stars because it’s good but not worth $50. The short movies at auditorium are a good watch. The main thing to see is Hammerhead Shark. Sea otters, jellyfish, and kelp is something to see.

Brisa Villanueva

GO VISIT!!! Omg loved it all, you get to touch the sting ray, no stinger so no worries, but my God love this aquarium, will definitely go again!!!

Jesus Prudente Barajas

Reasonably priced aquarium with plenty of exhibits and marine animals to see. Could easily spend the entire day here with all there is. Love this place and all the animals here.

Samiya Akhtar

The sea creature collection is totally amazing and the staff so great at answering questions. And the cutest otters! However, no social distancing during COVID it was pretty crowded inside and there’s no capacity limits.

Kriti Mishra

They are taking good precautions for COVID due to requirements of proof of vaccination and masks. They have over 1500 volunteers. The shows were very informative and enjoyable. I just didn't feel the layout of exhibits was too organized, maybe comparing it to other aquariums. Perhaps because they have tried to keep them connected to the bay to maintain a semi natural habitat. Overall it's worth a visit.

Chee Yong Lim

Excellent collection of marine wildlife. The 3 storey kelp tank and the 90 feet tuna aquarium is amazing. Definitely worth the ticket price!

Angelica Garza

Not too many people first thing in the morning, we went thru everything in 3 hours. Friendly staff & clean...

Conrad Koster

Even with these weird time this place is always amazing. My kids couldn't wait to go from display to display. Wasn't crowded with all the restriction, and I will be coming back soon

John-Andrew Zacharakis

Arguably one the biggest and best aquariums/research facilities out there, Monterey Bay Aquarium does not disappoint and the displays are absolutely beautiful. Very informative too, you learn a lot here and you can great views to the bay. Great to come back here after all these years!

Randi Keith

It was a little crowded for us (the kiddo is a pre-covid crowd hater), but we expected that. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. They were checking vaccine cards and covid results before you even got in the door, which was great. It's changed a lot since I was a kid. I never did find the giant sunfish (if they still have it). The stingrays were all sleeping so we didn't get to touch them. Next time we'll get there a little earlier.

Nieka Richard

The exhibits were beautiful! We loved seeing the tall and naturally realistic aquariums. My favorite display was the jelly fish aquariums for sure. 3 stars because I felt bad for the stingrays that were in the touch pools. They seemed to have been hiding away from the hundreds of excited kids. Most of the aquarium activities were for children. It was so crowded too. The lines were wrapped around the building. To get closer looks at the exhibits, people were practically shoving each other. I recommend going to support wildlife, but go during an off-peak time & don’t let your kids touch the animals.

Jill Lutz

One of the best Aquariums in the country. Very informative and entertaining. I would absolutely recommend if you are in the area.

Katie Brailsford

Super awesome staff that offered me a wheelchair when I came in on my crutches to celebrate my 3rd year anniversary with my boyfriend! Thanks to their offer and amazing service, I was able to enjoy the aquarium without wearing myself out! Super wheelchair/stroller friendly with multiple elevators. Beautiful exhibits and 2 huuuuge tanks! Lots of kids running around and very family friendly!

In the Story

An absolutely beautiful facility! There are many sea creatures to observe and learn about with great scenery and organization. They take measures to both inform and enact preservation of aquatic life as well. As a non member, however, paying $50 a person was not exactly ideal. They close relatively early at 5:00 PM, so depending on when you get there, it can be hard to get your bang for the buck.

Rachael Vuich

We are from the Midwest and planned our entire vacation around visiting the aquarium; it did not disappoint! There were so many breathtaking exhibits, and we did get to see a hammerhead shark! The playground area is small, but captivating for little ones and a nice break from the walking. The stingrays were shy, so we didn't get to pet them, but I appreciated that the animals were respected and allowed their space. They have a gorgeous "sun room" type area that is screened in and has beautiful sea birds roaming free. That was probably my favorite part, besides the sharks :) Their "open ocean" concept is a beautiful way to showcase the awesomeness of the true sea; fish and ocean animals swam together among their kelp forest and deep water exhibit and took our breath away! I also have to mention how delicious and diverse the food is; nothing like traditional museum/zoo food. We had the Caesar salad, chicken salad sandwich, and some pastries. They even made my son a bowl of plain white rice (he's a weird one, haha). We will absolutely be back the next time we are in San Fran!

Nathan Germelman

This aquarium is exceptional and 100% wheelchair accessible. The staff is AMAZING...their covid 19 precautions and cleaning is top notch. When you go, I hope you get to meet Tyrone. He is absolutely delightful!

Kevin Potter

It's a bit smaller on the inside than appears from the outside. Ticket prices were definitely not worth the content but what I did see was alright. Not good or bad - just okay

Crystal Jimenez Singh

Honestly it was my first time going today .. and it wasn't really that great there wasn't alot of things open ... I expected more I just wasn't for me I guess and I love everything about ocean life... but I saw everything that was open I personally didn't care for it but everyone has their own opinion... but the cutest thing was the sting rays they are so cute ...

Rob

Utterly amazing!! I doubted whether it would be worth driving from San Francisco and was very pleasantly surprised! Monterrey itself is gorgeous but the aquarium is SO well done! It's a bit expensive but knowing what you get and that it goes towards a good cause really makes it worth it.

snoe

I absolutely love the exhibits and it's quite well ran. The only downside was that there were so many people and not a lot of social distancing

Walker Holdeman

Absolutely stunning! If you’re thinking of coming here do it. The aquariums are stunning and the staff is friendly and informative. Definitely check out the birds and the Cephalopod exhibit those are a must see! I could have easily spent all day in there so plan accordingly!

Ryan Stafford

The template for all other Aquariums. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is incredible. You simply won't find a better looking and functional aquarium. Absolutely nothing was broken or damaged. The exhibits are incredible and you will spend an entire day here taking pictures. If you attempt to read everything then you may need to return tomorrow. The view is gorgeous and worthy of many pictures and videos. The food is also amazing here. Everything looks so delicious, but I had to get the Sourdough bread bowl filled with clam chowder. I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed with your visit. Remember hotels may have a discount code, so get your tickets from the hotel and save money. There are crowds here and that means the tall people and the early people will have the best pictures. Bring a selfie stick and extra batteries.

Amanda Jo

I could not believe How active the octopus was today!! I love this Aquarium. It is super special and always a fun visit! Highly recommend! A must see in Monterey!

Carly in California

Breathtaking and vital, the Monterey bay aquarium has the tough job of helping preserve and protect the ocean and the creatures that live in it. Super fun and informative experience for adults and kids alike. Tons of tours and shows, so take advantage of the visit and follow the itinerary for the day!

Cebolla Mendez

Amazing experience just pick up days that are not vacation or summer days when it's packed during these covid times

John Bunt

Superb aquarium, the best I've been to. You can easily spend all day here. Lots of great hands on areas and shows. We did the scuba diving for kids and had a blast. The jellyfish were amazing. Nice dinners and lots of shops to buy stuff.

Melissa W.

Absolutely stunning! Everyone can enjoy this amazing place! Only time in your life you will be up close with so many types of jellyfish. It's wonderful!

Lodino Eliana

It's a fantastic place, hard to see everything in one day, too bad I couldn't recover all the photos, because the sardine tank is amazing! Living waters are surreal! Anyway, you need to visit!

Amanda K.

The best Aquarium I have been to. You will not be disappointed. Spent several hours here. Enjoyed a nice lunch of chicken tenders and fries.

Michelle Reyes

Huge aquarium with a lot to see. Expect to spend several hours here to fully enjoy. The otter feeding is something kids and adults will love the outdoor viewing is simply stunning.

Ëe Guest

A really great time can be spent here. From three hours to all day. So much beautiful nature to enjoy. Well worth the $50 per person. As of January 2022, vaccination was required to get in. I was not to sure if a recent negative test would be allowed. Be sure to figure that out before showing up.

Ramiro Lopez

Great fun at the aquarium!!! We went back the following weekend because we so much fun the first time.

Renee Francesca

So we been here many times pre-covid but this review is when the Aquarium opened up again. First the process of buying tickets were easy peasy. I signed in and they gave me a ticket line and then I was notified through my email my turn was coming up. Granted i bought tickets the first day they opened up buying tickets so the process was longer. Getting in wasnt a hassle either. Just had to line up 15 mins before your entrance time and they scanned the tickets. It was busy, not too overwhelming with people and we went at 2pm. My kids loved it. Of course the most crowded areas are the octopus and jellyfish. No problems navigating the Aquarium with a stroller. Hmm if i recall there wasnt any exhibits closed. The restaurant is closed tho and they have a small cafe to order. But you cant drink inside the Aquarium. My bf attempted to buy coffee but he had to buy a reusable mug (that was plain white) and would have to take it outside to drink. So just keep that in mind. But overall nice and calm experience but it also my depend on days and times you go.

Katya Fuentes

3hours of family fun! The sea creatures look well taken care of/healthy and the tanks clean and easy to see into.

Travis J

Just shut up and get tickets.

Devang Mistry

The place is a must visit, its by far the best aquarium I have been to in US. There is just so much to see so I would recommend going in early and be there for good 2-3 hours to explore everything. Jelly fish and sea otters are my favs from the visit. The aquarium store has good collection of items like key chains, memorabilia magnets etc, do check it out. I went there on a weekday (Wednesday) and crowd inside was just unbelievable, there is no cap on the number of people allowed inside. Even though all of us are fully vaccinated and wore masks all the time during our visit, we all felt very unsafe. I just can’t imagine how crowded this place would get in the weekends!

Justin Dodson

It was the first time my girlfriend had ever been here and the first time I'd been there in over 15 years. Tourist trap prices for souvenirs, but that's to be expected. They have such a wide variety of sea life there. My only disappointment is that they didn't have the enormous starfish this time around. This is by far my favorite aquarium. Can't wait to go back.

Juhi Tadkod

Beautiful Aquarium. Must visit for kids that love sea life. Very clean. Kid friendly. Masks mandatory. Vaccine mandatory. Please book tickets online before going. Cafe food available. Beautiful sitting are outside.

Rina Singh

It was a ok experience for us just because the place was way overcrowded. The place requires you to purchase tickets in advance and reserve a time for your visit but with all honesty its just a show that they are following state regulations for covid. They also suggest to keep a 6feet distant from everyone but no one was following that rule. They did emphasize on the mask which people followed through. I didn't expect the place to be sooo crowded. Other than that it was an okay visit.

Alicia Ann Green

I am always mesmerized by videos of sea life, yet my expectations were pretty low and the price seemed steep. After spending three hours roaming around, I was in heaven! As an added bonus, I was able to apply the cost of my ticket to a yearlong membership!!! This is my new happy place. I can’t wait to go back ????????????????????????

Jorge Carrillo

Great place. The most beautiful aquarium Ive been.

Serah K

It was my first time to see sharks.I really enjoyed the trip also when you visit monterey make sure you go whale watching.

Stephanie Flaniken

My happy place. I love being a volunteer here. There is so much to appreciate- the volunteer community, the staff, the aquarium's commitment to conserving the ocean, and to equity, diversity, and inclusion on its staff and in the visiting public. I'm so grateful to the Packard family for this legacy project. It's beautiful to boot.

Kyle Lawson

We absolutely love the Monterey bay aquarium! We come here for the kids but we all have fun! Very family and kid friendly. This has now become our family tradition as members we love to visit often at least before covid, and we can't wait to get back. There is always something for everyone here, kids and parents alike.

P O

Love this aquarium! I went there as a child and now I take my own kids. We enjoy all the exhibits. The staff is very helpful and very informative. Parking is a bit annoying though. Also the location is great because there many shops and restaurants.

Ileana Canada

Excellent aquarium full of wonderful sea life to see. The kids really enjoyed it. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area.

Yufeng Liu

They are only taking online ticket reservations, so please plan ahead. They let you in about 30min in advance to your booking. There are parking lots near the aquarium and street parking with meters, I would plan to take 15-20 minutes to get parking and walk to the aquarium. Really awesome exhibit for all sorts of fish and marine life. I particularly enjoyed the extensive jellyfish exhibit, the sea otters, and the (albeit small) amazing cuttlefish exhibits.

Christopher Bartulo

Went during Valentine's weekend so the aquarium was very, very busy. Even being as busy as they were, we still get in relatively quickly and were able to see what we wanted. I was also still able to get clear pictures of the exhibits. For the covid conscious, the mask mandates were enforced very well. The cafe food was great and a convinient option, not that expensive and had a decent amount of options. Looking forward to going back when its not an extremely busy weekend.

Kevin O'Brien

Having lived in Chicago my entire life, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from another aquarium. I wouldn’t call this a full blown aquarium, but more of a kids educational space relating to the ocean and all it has to offer. The setting was really cool as it was built into an old canning warehouse. It clearly didn’t look like an aquarium when you walked in and around the facility. There are plenty of small aquariums that highlight specific species, however most of the fish are small. When I go to an aquarium I expect to see maybe a few sharks and larger species may be even a few mammals. A large part of the section that appeared to have whales, is mostly artwork and educational kiosks. All in all, it felt mostly like a children’s museum with a few aquariums around. The facility was well-maintained and when we went it was fairly crowded. If you’ve got little kids, great place to go. As an adult, I probably would’ve opted out for a local winery instead.

Grace Fong

Pricey but worth it. The exhibits are great, and there are lots of opportunities for feedings. We watched the otters play and a penguin build a nest for his mate. The kelp forest is unique, and the deep ocean tank is huge! Can spend a full day here. Quite soothing despite children. Behind-the-scenes tour was educational and informative - worth every penny!

Gerald Holt

Excellent aquarium! Buy tickets well in advance to pick your entry time. Another tip is to buy a family membership to get an entry time 30 minutes before the first non-member entry start time. The tanks are well constructed and huge. When you arrive ask for a feeding schedule and be there when the animals are fed for a more interesting experience. During COVID the feeding schedules are not available to avoid crowds in at a display. Must see: The Open Sea is amazing especially during feeding time when the Sardine ball at the bottom of the tank slowly rise to the surface to get food, During the rise sharks, sea turtles, and Dolphin Fish are swimming through the ball. Wow. Must see: Kelp Forest where giant kelp sway with the man-made simulated ocean surge. The rest of the aquarium is fantastic and has something for everyone.

Della Redaja

Great way to spend an afternoon and if you have Littles, they have so many interactive exhibits!

Fiona

Great place for families, and those interested in marine life. Not much new for seasoned scuba divers. Many interactive games for kids. Great views of the bay. High price ($50 usd) makes you feel like walking really slow, make the most of it, but could be seen in 2 hours. Kids could be entertained all day. Cafeteria was clean, with many healthy food options. Many of the enclosures feel too small (in my opinion) for the creatures contained. Specifically the penguin, eel, octopus, and turtles. Still a high quality facility.

Bradley Hanada

Always an amazing experience, here. The Kelp Forrest, Otter exhibit, Open Sea, & touch pools are amazing, but the new Tentacles exhibit is my very favorite. Can't wait for Into the Deep to open next March!

Robb Thomas

Great Place, great people but unfortunately need work on their covid safety measures... Crowds like these with several people with masks around their necks and no regulation forced us to leave with 3 children under 10, one being special needs. The advertised 25% capacity was not the case and the reason we thought it would be low risk. It was the most crowded I'd ever seen it. Reported all to management who appeared to appreciate the feedback. Lets hope improvements can be made for everyone's safety so all can continue to enjoy this amazing place.

shawn latorre

Amazing exhibits for adults and kids alike. Parents please discuss the plastics exhibit with your children. Ask them if they will help cut down on the amount of plastics you use as a family. A plus for the entire family!

Chris Nault

Amazing place - plenty of safety precautions and very light crowd on weekdays

amar krishna

Amazing sea life. A must go for everyone. Been there couple of times and it’s stunning every single time.

Sanyuja Desai

It's not huge. That's why you can spend time and experience each exhibit and not feel rushed. I love that it was quick yet spectacular. I enjoyed the jelly fish and otters.

Ashley B

Was extremely crowded which was concerning. It's really great that they have a comfortable nursing room for mothers. It was also great that there was no disposable plastic in the food court! Way to step up

Hailey P

Had a great time here. Could have spent all days watching the otters. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a lot to see and do. Hands down a great way to spend the day in Monterey!

Kala Nagu

It’s a decent aquarium, however the price of ticket does not justify the exhibit.

Joseph Gray

So exceeded our already high expectations! What an amazing & informative place. Somehow we seem to end up at all the places where there was something extra going on - like the trout being fed, or divers feeding in-tank. The multi-colored tropical fish, the constantly moving mackerel, octopus playing hide and seek, amazing displays of jellyfish. We spent almost the whole day enthralled - didn’t expect to. Nice add on - don’t miss the short behind the scenes video regarding how the aquarium operates.

Michael Holden MBE

We really enjoyed our visit here. Great exhibits both inside and observations of marine life outside. Great place to spend an afternoon.

Ryan Shaw

This place is well worth the cost. The exhibits are amazing and the thought put into the information is excellent. The staff and volunteers were all courteous and excited. Plan to spend at least a few hours here just soaking (get the pun?) it all in!

John Slipe

I have been to a few aquariums and always enjoy my time, but this one was similar to Atlanta as one of the breathtaking world renowned type of aquarium. I found it really interesting that it focused on local wildlife, and the exhibits had a lot of information to read and learn about which I'm a fan of. We spent 3 hours there in total and it was just enough time to kind of briskly get through the entire place. I definitely could have spent a little bit more time and sit and relax and watch some of the exhibits but I did not feel rushed. It was COVID style with a few pre-determined routes but I almost felt most organized this way, staff was very friendly too. Had to get a membership to get in while we were there, so hope to make use of it and come back sometime!

charlie olson

The best aquarium ever. The open ocean exhibit is unique and beautiful. I have always been a huge fan of Monterey bay aquarium and their research, so glad it lived up to the hype. May drive from Denver again just for the aquarium.

Pamela Godbold

It is an amazing aquarium, lots to see and things to do. Depending on how old one is, it is not always worth the price for the time spent there. The timed entry for certain number of tickets is functional and keeps crowds down.

GS Grewal

Was a good experience, could've been so much better if they had dolphins

kevin cousins

You like fishes? They got fishes, and otters and rays you can touch and sea birds and jelly fish and gift shops. Exhibits that wind inside and out. An unbelievable peek at the secret life beneath the waves. Endlessly fascinating exhibits with helpful volunteers. A must stop while visiting Monterey for all ages.

Brad Hodges II

Way over crowded and the guests are extremely rude. Taking selfies and videos with flash on the entire time make for a difficult time to enjoy the exhibits when they're in small windows to see everything. I probably spent a total of twenty minutes inside the aquarium before I decided to leave. After being cussed out by a guest and told to "wait my turn" when I was looking for my wife when we got seperated is uncalled for especially in a place with lots of little kids, bathrooms were dirty and saw guests not wash their hands, then being shoved out of the way for more selfies and videos with flash on was my breaking point. Keep in mind all the workers were extremely friendly but as for the people they were rude. I never leave bad reviews on Google but I will not come back here. I had six family members fly over from Va that were extremely excited about this and they left a little after I did. My wife, mother in law, and nephews followed them out shortly after. The seven year old loved it everyone else left and enjoyed walking down Cannery Row way more.

Ruby Lee

Well-organized with many different species. The sea otters and the open sea area are must-see spots. Highly recommend you to buy annual member pass if you live nearby; the aquarium is an excellent place to walk around during the weekends.

Darren Crawford

Always great experience. Like watching them in their natural habitat.

christian marin

Very colonial vibe, beautiful, well maintained romantic, and relaxing make sure to bring your camera with a full charged battery

Rena Yadada

Compared to other aquariums, this one has less cool underwater creatures, such as turtles, starfish, seahorses.. but it does have some sea otters and penguins. The price was okay for the views. It took 2 hours to see everything. Bonus is, it's right by the beach and tourist type souvenir and food shops. Also you will most likely have to pay for parking.

Vasisht Raghavendra

Excellent Aquarium and feels more like Oceanarium. All the exhibits are eye popping. There is a lot of information available for those interested in understanding these animals. The best is the sardine school that goes around the kelp. You can easily spend half a day here if you want to patiently read everything and see all the exhibits. There is also an outdoor deck looking at the ocean where you can do bird watching.

Jennifer Biggerstaff

A must see experience! Been coming here since childhood and it doesn’t get old.

Brianna Jacobsen

This aquarium was really cool and very informative. All of the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. There are even chances to peak behind the scenes and see how the aquarium works. I don't have kids, but it seemed very accessible for parents with small children in strollers.

Gwen C

This was my first trip here as an adult, I'd only been once or maybe twice growing up, but I couldn't remember much other than that I'd loved it. This time around, it was a delightful experience and definitely lived up to my memories! They made changes to accommodate the extra safety needed during the pandemic. Most of the other visitors still navigated through the aquarium however they wanted to despite the paths we were meant to follow, but my friend and I still felt safe because of the other protocols (requiring masks and appointments, lots of hand sanitizer stations).

Julianna Mancini

I have loved the aquarium since I was a kid. Now that I have my own kid I'm excited to share something with her that I loved so much growing up. We purchased an annual membership so my husband and I can take our infant daughter who gets to visit for free. We felt very safe taking her to the aquarium because of the vaccine and testing requirements that they have for entry, as well as the mask requirement for during your visit. The aquarium did not disappoint our daughter was completely enthralled by all the beautiful sea creatures. We are so excited to be able to share this with her and teach her about the ocean and conservation as she grows.

Vanessa Recio

Definitely one of the best aquariums I have ever been to! In elementary school we would go on field trips here and it was always an amazing time! Now as an adult I love going with my son. He loves to stare at the fish and loves the kid zone. If you are in the area this is one of the places to stop at. You won’t be disappointed!

Chad Moore

I've been to a lot of aquariums across the USA and this is easily the best one. So much to do and see we spent like 3 hours here.

Loan Chung

My family and I had a great experience here. Not only are the exhibits great, there are ample space between them so you don't have to constantly crowd around to see something. Frequent feeding events that are a blast to watch, ESPECIALLY THE OTTERS. The outer balconies has plenty of monoculars for viewing wildlife including...more otters. Not only do they preach against the use of plastic but they practice it! Their gift shop and cafeteria are all single-use plastic free and low waste. The food here are delicious meals rather than unhealthy and greasy cafeteria food. What a wonderful place of entertainment AND education.

Cynthia Mag

So much to see! Pros: the exhibits are fascinating and and educational. There are a lot of activities for the kids. The cafes are open and gift shops. We all enjoyed the fact that you can go outdoors and sit and watch the ocean. There are many levels to the aquarium. Cons: appointments make no difference. The aquarium is elbow to elbow. It was so crowded it was difficult to see all the exhibits. My kids were frustrated because they couldn't see some exhibits, people were crammed like sardines (pun intended). The lighting is very low in some areas so keep your kiddos close. Also food and drinks are at airport prices. No outside food or drinks; however, there are water bottle refill stations. Overall it's a great place to visit, it's important to visit. The pros outweigh the cons. Ocean education is so crucial.

yusuf kago

What a great experience. I will definitely come back here, this place is amazing place to visit. All stuffs and people around you inside are nice……

Ernesto Lopez

Beautiful, with plenty to explore. Masks are required inside which I appreciate and everything was fascinating to view. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend but make sure you try and park in the parking garage a couple blocks out. Hard to get any closer spots.

Jessica Du

Still pretty crowded even under COVID, and all tickets must be purchased online before entering. It’s a good place to visit, a lot of sea creatures to see and many kinds of jelly fish!! If you visit Monterey, you should definitely come to the Aquarium! During summer, they have free Trolly which is very convenient????We spent 3 hours in the Aquarium.

tj m

The Jellyfish exhibit was our FAVORITE but it was WAY TOO CROWDED on a Wednesday. People were on top of each other & some were not wearing masks. The line to get in moved fast & the staff was friendly. I would suggest parking a little down the beach for free & walking unless you want to pay the $20 parking.

Ryan “Slate Elephant” Hill

Honestly, it was an incredible experience. So much to see and learn. So much cool merch. Just all around a great experience for people of all ages. Anyone who comes out to Monterey should visit the aquarium. To top it off, there's so many incredible views of the bay.

Gary Ash

A beautiful place that transcends the importance of our connection to the deep oceans and the life that shares the waters with us. The children who are lucky enough to come to this sanctuary will grow up in a better position of experience and appreciation of our furry and fin friends. I guarantee those kids will bring their kids back here. ????

Joe Neuburger

What a great place to take the kids! So many exhibits and super educational! The Sea Otters are a must see, but really, all the creatures here get their moments to shine! You have to buy tickets ahead of time. You must wear a mask. There are plenty of city run parking decks nearby for you to park.

Gabriela Sanchez

Its a great way to learn and be in contact with nature. They offer many ways to watch and learn and grow conscious about the environment including a theater with films with plenty of information. I had an amazing time learning about a whole world under water that we still do not know a lot about but depends greatly on our every day actions such as trash disposal. I definitely recommend it!

Lindseyx pham

This place is so beautiful!!!! I think it’s one of my favorite aquarium now. Besides a fact that it was too crowded. You now meed to do a reservation online to schedule your time to get in!

Amanda Pecoraro

A bit crowded with the timed tickets. However, the exhibits were great. Loved the Sea Otters they are so cute ❤️

Stephanie Dinopoop

It was a lot more crowded than I anticipated, but place was great and the staff. Everyone was required to wear masks and as usual people used them loosely. So if you are still scared of COVID and are taking precautions, I would not recommend going to the aquarium just yet.

Molly Hayes

Very disappointed… I would never go back if things don’t change. There were so many crowds of people that my small child could never even get close enough to see anything. It was also hazardous with people running into each other due to such tight crowds. We went on a Saturday in February so not even during an special vacation. To pay over $100 for entry and not even have a moment to stand and look at a tank without being pushed out of the way by crowds of people was sad. I can’t even tell you if the aquarium itself was nice or not because all I could really see were the backs of peoples heads. Don’t waste your money.

Robert Wiley

Been coming here for over 20 years and now that I get to take my own kids here, I can say it's just as incredible as my very first experience as a child. The exhibits are engaging and spectacular, and the workers/volunteers are on point. I can't wait to keep using my season pass to go back again and enjoy the salty breeze of Monterey Bay and the incredible Aquarium in Cannery Row.

Girish Chandran

The visit to the aquarium is worth it, every time you visit. This time was special as I was spending a daddy daughter day special visit on my birthday. ???? The weekend crowd required a 15 minute wait in the queue which moved at a reasonable pace. There is a faster queue if you have the vaccine details uploaded to the Clear App. Once inside, it's a wonderful world of marine life. The jelly fish exhibits are mesmerizing and don't forget to visit the penguins and the otters. The shows in the auditorium are short, informative and entertaining.

Jacob Reich

Monterey Bay Aquarium was an amazing experience where we got to see so many types of fish and animals and they had interactive underwater exhibits and more!

Jordan Pata

Love Love Love Monterey Bay Aquarium! We had a blast seeing the animals. Super busy when we went.

Harry Lui

Plenty of sea animals to see, food was excellent, the view was unparalleled. A little on the expensive side, but definitely worth visiting!

Kate Sonawane

Nice staff. Everyone wore masks. Efficient ticketing process. This aside, the aquarium was absurdly crowded. I am not one to be typically claustrophobic, but this was stressful. These crowds would even be annoying if Covid weren’t here for perspective. 4/5 of my family is vaccinated, and we were still uncomfortable and on edge at the aquarium. There were also no animals in the open ocean type exhibits. The aquarium didn’t feel super clean and wasn’t as AMAZING as it was hyped up to be. Similar selection to fish in an aquarium in NC- I would not consider it to be one of the best in the country. Until the aquarium limits the crowds, I would NOT recommend. Not worth price either!!!

Reza Heidari

I am a big fan of nature and seeing the wild. I have been in lots of aquariums and zoos. This aquarium is worth to see.

ashita vijay

It exceeded our expectations! ⚠️the last entry is at 3.30.. but if you want to stay longer you need to take the earlier tickets. The aquarium closes at 5.

Sam Sachs

Overall a great aquarium at an even greater location right along the Monterey Bay. There are plenty of fish, birds and mammals to keep you occupied for a few hours. There are also plenty of animal feedings and educational films to add on to the experience. Ticket prices are high but they have student, military and Senior discounts to help lower the cost. There is no on site parking, so you'll have to find a parking lot in town. Also, it gets insanely crowded on the weekend, if possible try and visit during a week day.

Rebecca Graves (Bex)

Came from STL specifically to visit the aquarium and it did not disappoint! They have a large variety, and I enjoyed it so much!

M S

Advertising sucks‼️ Have signs all over for testing covid,????????☠???? wouldn't test anyone,"only guests" -there, not doing my business there no more, very liberal run ✊????????????facility, will spread the word. Yeah...lol???????? REALLY ????⚕⁉️⁉️

Karla Velasquez

It is a very interesting place to visit with the family.

Oliver

Aquarium might just not be my wife's and my jam. Overall we were a little disappointed for what you pay for. We appreciated the penguins, the octopus, Jellyfishes, and some other water animals. You can touch stingrays, have a few outdoor areas and while we didn't have anything from the cafe, it seemed to have a decent selection. People with kids do have a good opportunity to show them live animals, take a tour (17$ additionally) and a well sized kids section for further education and fun.

Prateek Hegde

It's really beautiful place to visit. Parking is biggest worry here. After taking 50$ per person entry fee, Parking should have been complementary. Nearby parking is 20$ flat fee. If you could park bit further and walk a mile you have few option.

Karteek Pradyumna Bulusu

Excellent place and definitely recommend everyone to visit the aquarium. It's very clean and well maintained. Display is fantastic and number of fishes and sea mammal you see is unreal. Something kids would love to go to. Recommend going before 2 pm to spend maximum time there.

Melanie Kaur

Great place to take the kids for a few hours and explore. Online reservation are required, you need to wear a mask and proof of vaccine or negative COVID test. It was still pretty crowded with online time reservations but its pretty big and lots to see. The staff is ALL super nice and helpful! The food is a little pricey but not too bad for what you get. The penguin area looked a little depressing but the fish look to have a decent size tank to swim in ????????

Vikram Singh Rawat

Reached there on a Saturday. Clear skies, brisk weather, neat town were the pluses. On the downside expected a lot more in the aquarium... Anyways the efforts by the aquarium authorities are to be appreciated. Quiet place for the birds is really beautiful. A day is not enough to cover all aspects, scuba diving is worthwhile but need to do in quiet open waters.

Another Google User

Very well organized, managed and lay-out of the museum. Overall great experience for family or kids. Even though they have some exotic fishes to see but still feel there was a lot that was missing. I still recommend.

Jack of all trades, master of some

I'm greatful for the work this organization does for the creatures. I'm giving it 3 stars because this is the first and very last place I will show my vaccination records to enter. I drove here from Washington state and didnt want to upset my wife by making a scene but really?!? The rebuttal may be that they are keeping people safe- well that's what the masks are for!! Restaurants that people eat at with no mask don't ask for vaccination records. And then- The staff takes your license/records and verifies each letter like you're being written a traffic ticket. I'm ashamed that this is where I finally surrendered my pride for father Biden's will.

Justin Bayoneto

There’s a reason why the line can get so long to this aquarium, it’s 100% worth the cost. Some of the exhibits are truly mind blowing in that you feel so immersed into the marine life in a way that you can’t anywhere else. Definitely try to plan going on a weekday, if possible even later in the day (1 pm or later). Realistically you’ll only need 1-2 hours (more if you stay for the free film screenings) but at least you’ll avoid the crowds and have more space to yourself.

Mike Knief

My first time going here. I was just amazed! Take the wife, The kids, or just yourself!

Jiaqi Zhang

We bought 2 tickets. During the ticket scanning, one worked and another didn’t. The staff kept us waiting for a long time trying to find when another one was scanned, even though they can verify I DID purchase 2 tickets. The aquarium is well-designed, and I super love it. BUT this experience is NOT good.

Stephany Ogata

The otters were cute and they have a lot of educational things. There are also a lot of staff around to ask questions about the exhibits. The price was just a bit high for the size of the aquarium but it is really nice and well staffed

Marilyn Serna-Sambath

It would have been a great weekend only if they limit people capacity. It was really packed that everyone is bumping into each other.

Sophie Slade

Our family lives the Monterey Bay aquarium, and any time we visit California we try to squeeze in a visit. Tickets are pricey, and crowds are heavy, but with their wide variety of sea life, it more than makes up for it.

Deana Cantu

My first time for me and family being here and i have to say i was not disappointed loved every part of it the fish were beautiful and loved the staff really friendly will definitely be going back highly recommend this place and not to bad of a price for admission.

Keith Lynch

Outstanding aquarium. The diversity of sea life was a great experience. I recommend that you either get there early or later in the afternoon as it tends to get pretty crowded. I was most impressed with the sea pickles.

Dakota Bailey

I have a assistance dog I know the ADA by hand and know how dogs are supposed to act while the aquarium is great I wouldn’t recommend brining your assistance dog as they like to let pets and ESAs in, my dog was attacked 3 times in one day and when I brought it to an employee they refused to acknowledge the issue

Martin Ngo

There’s no way to leave a review for this place that does it justice. It’s absolutely serene. Watching the underwater wildlife really transports. As a child, I loved the sea otter exhibit…. And who doesn’t. It’s so nice to keep coming back to see this place so amazing. Kind weird, but somehow one of the things I think about after leaving is the music they play. It somehow compliments the viewing experience so well. It’s more than just a place to see ocean wildlife, it’s a total experience that is unparalleled. We get the family season pass because for us… two visits and we’ve gotten more than our moneys worth. We actually live 400 miles away and make it out that way at least twice a year to visit this beautiful area.

Aaron Kangiser

I love the aquarium. It is well taken care of and the staff is courteous and nice. I recommend going on a weekday, the weekends themselves are way overpacked. It is worth taking a day off of work during the week to go so you can actually get up close and see the exhibits. The parking is atrocious as well, especially on the weekend. I can't stress this enough, go Monday through Friday.

Satya Narayana

You go to a totally different world. Unique collection of exotic deep sea species. Courteous Staff explain in every counter. Live shows every 15 mins is the icing on the cake. Clean and open sea relaxed me

James Blaz

Always amazing place to visit with the family. Lots to see and explore. Worth the price of admission for everything you get.

Patrick Kelly

The most fun you'll have learning. Everything is so well done including the cafe where you won't find much sea food to choose from. I recommend booking a behind the scenes tour.

Scott Barnett

Monterey Bay Aquarium is an awesome places to explore all the beauty Mother Nature has for us under the sea.

Angel Rios

Great place for families. Lots of things to see and do. Open sea exhibit by far was our favorite.

Donna Kipphorn

This is an excellent place to visit. We visited on the east 11/13/21 and the museum was packed with everyone wearing masks after demonstrating evidence of vaccination. A staff member said the staff was up to 60% capacity and they were nice, helpful and informative. There is so much care for the oceans and animals in them. We were so lucky to see all the wildlife and especially the jellies! I’m glad they are also demonstrating the issues with pollution. Thank you to the aquarium!

Christopher Roman

Definitely a must visit if you are in the area. This place is massive and you should plan on 2 to 3 hours if you want to see everything. Don't miss the open sea feeding at 11 and the kelp forest feeding at 1130, plus the sea otter feedings! It's especially family friendly, as there are plenty of activities aimed at kids. Almost to a fault - as an adult, I was hoping to learn just a little more from the plaques next to each tank. Timed entry for now - buy tickets in advance and plan on arriving around your entry slot. There is no designated aquarium parking so find a lot or street parking a few blocks away and walk over. We did not have a line to get in when we visited on a Sunday in December.

Lavender Henna

Loved our trip to Monterrey bay Aquarium. We got free passes from our friend who works in Santa Cruz. We took our kids for Underwater Explorers program (ages 8-13yo). My girls loved the experience. They were thrilled and had fun. They went to into tide pool with trainers which is on the back of aquarium. Cafeteria was super expensive. Kids got free hot cocoa card with their explorer program. We got coffee(not very hot) and super small size cup with double the price. It was okay. The staff was very helpful, kind, and polite. I was impressed with the detailed program they crafted for kids. Definitely recommend going there. It's quite expensive.

Rohit

Time and money well spent! It was a delight to see all different kinds of aquatic life. The tentacles exhibit was a bit disappointing since it was mostly art but overall a great experience!

Red Riddinghood

Fun for all ages! Just be patient to see some of the exhibits since it can become crowded. Other than that great experience. Staff was available throughout for any questions, and lots of sanitizing stations.

Chanki Jo

Great place with variety of species. They made everything look like a real ocean rather than artificial fish tanks.

Elizabeth McClellan

I visited this past holiday weekend and I think this is a great place. I ate at the cafe and the staff was amazing at sanitizing between each guest. I mainly wanted to write a review to praise them cause they were on top of keeping the cafe eating area clean.

Duy Anh Tran

We were recommended to go here as a detour from out trip to Anaheim. As adults, we enjoyed it just as much as the kids. It’s great for all ages. Be ready to spend a lot of time here…you will want to!

Rajasekar Murugesan

Very big aquarium and we didn’t find sufficient time to cover the whole place. If we reach by 10 in the morning we can cover the whole place with some shows.

Stephen Shaddox

$50 admission for an adult ticket. That price already sets a high expectation. Definitely dont deliver. Spent maybe an hour and a half there. Lousy variety of sea life. Too short. 1/4 of the whole aquarium was geared towards kids. Building was nice. And a couple of the very large tanks were nice but thats about it. Even the gift shops were boring. Save you’re money just look at pics online and go on a whale watching tour or something.

Mi Mo

I've wanted to come here since I was a little boy. Super bummed.. There's so much more to say but I'll keep it short. The practices and policies upheld by staff in the name of covid were beyond anything reasonable or logical. It felt like I was in the movie idiocracy. I wish I'd have seen this place 20-30 years ago.

Mike Lorenzo

The aquarium is a great place to take the family. We met up with friends for my daughter's birthday. They gave her a birthday pin that had her name on it so that people working would acknowledge her birthday. That made her feel extra special all day.

Emily Kubat

Love this aquarium! Jellyfish exhibit is so cool! Staff was great and gave lots of info. Was super busy as we were there over Christmas break.

Adriana Villalpando

A lot to see and experience. Line outside good by really fast since all tickets are prepaid for. Only problem too many people. Could not get the full experience one should get as too many people waiting to see the exhibits.

Andy Smith

Still one of my favorites. The last time I was here was 20 years ago. Its a great aquarium, but still has a lot of empty space they could fill with more fish tanks. The center of attraction is obviously the shark tank. Its a great place to take the family as a day trip.

Mandiee Leaver

A beautiful aquarium. My daughter loves it. We had a beautiful time. A great birthday present for my kid. I’m a little concerned someone else brought their obviously sick under five years old kid there. I wish the staff had rapid tests and could test people coughing or at least ask them what’s up. It would make the experience worry free. Also the kid coughing was NOT wearing a mask. They sure were quick to say “no strollers” but not enforcing mask requirements.

Carrie Wright

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is amazing! We have been visiting for years and it never disappoints. We've been to many aquariums and this one seems like the Gold standard. The lines can get long to enter, so I would not suggest delaying until the afternoon to try to get in, but it is worth the trip and wait. If possible, allow for at least 3 hours for your visit. Also, try to attend the various feedings as the staff are quite knowledgeable and share great information!

Lupita P.v.

Great place for family trips. It's really relaxing g amazing and fun all in one. I recommend being there for at least 2hrs in order to actually enjoy it and make it worth your money. I also recommend going g to the second floor first especially if you will be there for less than 2hrs. The left side of the aquarium in general is probably the best part on both floors.

Margarita Valdez

Great! Had to have my daughter get tested; just maybe 20 feet away or so. Had to wait around 20 minutes. Make sure you put your card instead of money if you're going to park on the street. For the wait, testing/COVID card, and getting in line again so to go into the aquarium.

Monica Wonderly

Enjoyed seeing all the aquatic animals. Very informative. Fun for adults and children.

Nick Croker

One of the coolest places to visit in the US, hands down. The staff and volunteers are all super nice and knowledgeable. The aquarium does a lot of great environmental work.

Riti Kakker

Beautiful aquarium with amazing creatures to watch. Do keep 3-4 hours at hand to see the whole thing. On weekends there is a long line to just enter the aquarium so keep that in mind.

S S

Love visiting. Very nice and peaceful place. Love the fact that the take everyone's health seriously and people have to show proof of vaccine or negative test and have to wear masks. Also very well maintained and good design and aesthetics. Visited multiple times and would mind more visits, great place to take kids and get them interested in nature and care for it.

Tarzan Boy

Disappointed since large section taken out and under construction. NO MORE SEAHORSES!!! ???? They did bring back pond for people to touch underwater plant and creatures. Also not crowded since pandemic. Pretty slow and normal stuff.

R A

Great place. Worth to visit few times a year. Kids always have so much fun.

Sam Huynh

One of my family's favorite places to visit. Been members for over 10 years. The surrounding areas have plenty of places to eat. Love the jelly fish exhibit.

Sam Fredman

This is a great aquarium for people with kids—there’s tons of really cool play structures and educational exhibits. The history and the use of the bay are also very interesting. However, it felt like a huge price tag for a couple of hours for a couple of adults without kids. There are a couple cool exhibits but not as impressive as other aquariums I’ve been to!

Board P

Not COVID safe! They allow too many people in a small area. Furthermore beautiful fish tanks (after you pushed yourself through the crowds to get in front of the glass). Really impressive jellyfish and stunning seaweed forest impression). Also good place for toddlers (if forgetting about COVID restrictions)

Pete Mather

Fantastic!!!! Its nice to see the aquarium was maintained throughout the pandemic. It was a wonderful experience for the whole family. My daughter is still going on about touching the crabs, seeing the sharks, penguins, and otters. The cannery exhibit is a nice splash of history, and the ocean cleanup exhibits are touching. You could easily spend a whole 8 hour day here.

J L

Monterey Bay Aquarium mastered the art of presenting marine life as a thing of beauty. The tanks are lit in the way that turns jellyfish, crabs and other sea creatures into living art. Come see for yourself, gaze, admire and be humbled by the diversity of the universe.

Brad Gordon

A must see. Great exhibits. Well laid out with lots to see.

Chuefong Mouanoutoua

Joined up as members. Great fun for the kids. Didn't feel fully opened in terms of exhibits and programs yet. Will definitely come back. Worth supporting the effort. Excellent staff and worthy cause.

NE

Never got in and as you know the tickets are non-refundable. I pre-purchased tickets for a 2:30 entry and the line was over 1,000 people deep. The line was wrapped around the building and didn’t even come close to the front door by closing. Support your love of fish and sea creatures elsewhere.

Kaihley Reiner

An amazing aquarium, very large and well laid out with many sections devoted to different sea creatures. It was fun to walk and explore the various exhibits and each one had interesting information about what you were looking at and things you might not know about that sea creature. It truly was a fascinating and wonderful experience and we stayed there for many hours enjoying it all. There are many areas for children to learn and interact. All of the kids we saw were having a great time. You'll find several areas you can walk outside in the back of aquarium where the ocean tides are coming in and the view is fantastic. They provide a small area where the water comes in and goes over this semicircular window that you can stand under and experience an ocean tide literally wash over you...it's awesome!! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and can answer your aquatic questions. They offer various informative shows that run about 20 minutes long. It is a definite must see when visiting the Monterey area you will be glad you did ????????????????????????

Mir Islam

Great place for kids and adults alike. There were quite a few people there since it was 4th of July weekend. Go early by 11 and you should find plenty of parking close by. Kids loved the stingray,.various sharks and other species. They also have penguins which were nice addition. We did not try the cafe but in case you want to spend whole day you can replenish onsite.

D Buck

With timed tickets for COVID, I expected thinner crowds - although it was still not super crowded. I liked the free access to sea-looking telescopes and the variety of exhibits available. Favorites were the (active) octopus, the jellyfish, and the touch tide-pool creatures areas.

Shaleen Miller

Absolutely stunning aquarium. The exhibits are incredible and diverse. Spacious enough to accommodate the crowds (which are huge). The Kelp Forest, Open Ocean, Tentacles, and Jellyfish displays were my favorites. I really can't wait to go back. Some downsides: Tickets must be purchased in advanced, and entrances are timed every half hour, you can't just walk in. We didn't know this ahead of time, but that's really on me for not checking beforehand. The aquarium is in a fun touristy place in Monterey, so we had plenty of stuff to do while waiting for our entrance time. Also, the price! $50 for an adult ticket - ouch!! But I would go again, so I can't detract from the rating.

Cori Elwood

Took my dad and my grandmother and had a great time. They've really built the aquarium up from what I remember and it's absolutely wonderful. They have free wheelchairs for guests that need it, which was a lifesaver for my grandma. I wish I could go all the time!

Laurel Cocilo

Worth getting a membership for sure. Go on a week day if possible because otherwise it's VERY crowded...even with timed entry it didn't seem less busy. You can bring a stroller but the elevator situation is SO Slow we ended up wasting lots of time waiting for a lift.

Lukas Balun

This place is amazing. I took my wife and all foreign guests here. Everyone from enjoy to adults will love it. Come during weekday for relaxing time, weekends have great shows but very very crowded. We went Saturday holiday weekend and even with the crowd my wife wasn't bothered. Definitely a must go.

Kristen

One of my favorite aquariums. Social distancing is definitely not happening here (and the crowds of people standing shoulder to shoulder, multiple people deep) which is concerning and the only negative part of my most recent experience here.

Kika N Jr G

Had a great time with the family. My two year old loved it!!! It was a bit too crowded to fully enjoy it. Alot of people stay in the way for a while, instead of looking a bit and moving along. Will hopefully be back again.

Rosewynde Silverthorne

Beautiful well cared for aquarium. The otters and the jellyfish are family favorites. Worth paying for a membership and supporting it as well as having a place to regularly visit and enjoy the sealife.

JDF

Very nice museum. Check out the tentacles exhibit. I also liked the sea otters. Monterey Bay Aquarium is worth the trip! The cafeteria is expensive, but has a lot of tables. The penguins were fun to watch. The cuttlefish were interesting as well.

T. P.

Fantastic Aquarium with a truly immersive experience through their multiple exhibits. Place was very clean with features that everyone in the family will enjoy.

Denise Lorenzen

Great place to explore the marine life found in and around the Pacific Ocean. Allow for about 3 hours at least to see thw place thoroughly. My husband and I had to rush through it, but still really enjoyed it. We don't have kids, but saw a lot of families with kids who appeared to enjoy themselves. The aquarium also had a lot of hands on kid friendly activities. And there's a restaurant inside

Jo Tyrell

They said it was limited entry by appt every half hour. It was the most crowded I've seen since it opened in 1984. I've been a pass member most of those yrs. Members entrance was closed and it was a steady stream of people going in with not that many coming out. Why they don't have a one way system set up like zoo's is crazy. Hard to see a lot of the exhibits, what you can see is always incredible.

Kayla Koerting

It’s a REALLY cool place, don’t get me wrong. But, wow are the reservations poorly managed. We bought the tickets and paid for parking, just to show up to a line over a quarter mile long. So much for a nice relaxing day. We were hoping to have a visit to the aquarium. Instead, we paid almost $150 (2 tickets, $20 parking, $10 donation) just to cut our losses and enjoy our day elsewhere. Don’t come on the weekend. If you do, pack sunscreen and prepare for it to take your whole day. (Photo for reference, with the red arrow being the entrance. Not pictured: the three switchbacks in the line.)

elizabeth moorestone

Reservation was at 11. Staff started to let us in at 1045. MASKS ARE REQUIRED. Beautiful. No cash accepted, be ready with a card to pay for anything inside; they still had the feeding show, and touch pool which was nice. We had a fun time !

Jeff Vercelli

For $50 (adult price), it's worth checking out at least once. We ended up spending about two hours there. You can go outside and look through telescopes at the ocean, which is the picture you see below of the sea otter through the scope.

Pete Mash

AVOID. Way overpriced- a total and utter rip off. We have 4 kids so entry comes to $240; plus grandparents and au-pair, we’re talking a total of $390 for a day out. Almost $400 for a day out. There are many other things we would enjoy doing as a family for almost $400. I also feel that the aquarium is not that good either. I was left feeling “is that it?”. Not that educational and the kids were pretty bored.

Joshua Smith

It's smaller than we expected but still delighted by all the exhibits. If we lived nearby, we would definitely get the family pass and come often. It really was awesome!

Virginie Rollin

Great exhibits and amazing location. We loved the indoor/outdoor experience. No parking on site, you need to use a parking garage or street parking.

Nicole Daguiar

It's a little packed wish there was less people so we could see things better

Kathryn McNeill

Soooo crowded. Thought they were limiting capacity but that is not true. Crazy crowded. Cool aquarium but stuffed with people. Good mask wearing. Nice that their open again. Love the touch tanks and the pacific octopus.

Bruce Secor

I'm from Indiana, here visiting family & this is an absolutely wonderful, fantastic aquarium! I believe they have more jellyfish here than I've ever seen in my whole life combined! What a great place to visit.

Brian Conway

One of the best aquarium experiences I have had! Worth every penny of admission. We spent about 4 hours here and had a wonderful time. So much to see and so much to learn. We will definitely be back. I highly recommend visiting this aquarium with the family.

Captain Andrews

I posted a picture of what I saw on my visit to the Monterey Aquarium, people’s backs. It was super crowded. I’m sure masks are still required because you are packed in like sardines. I read so much about the aquarium and was so excited about today’s visit but was very disappointed. Ironically, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is far superior. If you were only visiting Monterey once, skip the aquarium.

Thi Tuyet Anh Tran

Omg.. The Aquarium had a lot of people even though my family went there last Monday. However, We still loved this place. The sea otters looked so cute.

Bill Fisher

The aquarium is awesome. So much different marine life to see, the employees are very informative, good mix of education and interactive exhibits for the kids.

Jason Wilcox

I liked the aquarium very nice. But from all that I heard, I was expecting more. I mean this aquarium doesn't have an underwater tunnel, which for me is a big deal.

B

It's an aquarium with adorable marine life so pretty great unless you don't like animals being put on display. I thought some of the areas for the wildlife were a bit small, the sea birds and sea otters enclosures. The sea birds kept flying into the glass and just didn't appear to have sufficient space, it was kinda sad. Adorable place to visit. I don't believe the aquarium has its own parking so make sure to arrive early to find parking. FYI, they don't have cetaceans here.

Patrick Conlan

Lots for people of all ages. Sea otters, penguins, octopuses and jellyfish. And of course lots of fish! Wrapped in eco-friendliness.

Jennifer Brown

It was amazing. Nice people. You do have to show ID and vaccination status to enter after you purchase the tickets online.

Chris E

We visited here with our granddaughter. It was a Tuesday and was pretty busy. There was a long line to get in. However, the line moved quickly and the staff was very efficient checking visitors tickets and vaccination cards. Lots of tanks to observe all the sea life. Some opportunities to touch corral or other small creatures. The small rays were being very shy during our visit. We had a good time. It took us a couple hours to wander through.

Desiree Freitas

I DO NOT appreciate the lack of social distancing protocol, temperature checks, or limiting number of guests inside. This is a super spreader situation. Shame on this establishment for putting profits above public health.

Mike Dodge

Always an AWESOME experience. Went with my wife and kids from Washington with our two year old grandson. He watches the live feed on tv from Washington. So when he got to see it all up close was MAGICAL. If you have never been, I would bucket list it for sure.

Christopher Yokota

Great aquarium to visit with family and friends.

Alfredo arguello

Very nice aquarium with lots of exhibits. It takes about 75 minutes to enjoy it all.

J Dub

The aquarium is a must see for anyone with school age children!! The place is amazing... Sea life on full display!! Now, the cafeteria in the aquarium does not get high praises.. The food is extremely over priced and that's one thing.. But, the temperature of the plates waiting to be served is not monitored .. My wife got a big chicken plate and was literally sick to her stomach 30 minutes after eating it... She took no less than 5 trips to the bathroom in less than 4 hours... WOW...

Maya C

Always a good visit, super nice staff, exhibits are as natural and earth friendly as possible. Went 3 times in a matter of two weeks for about 1-2 hours each time. Went through repeats of course but still had an exhibit or two that were not as deeply explored. Have to buy tickets and wait in line, but it goes pretty quick.

Antonio Falcon

Wonderful place to visit. Even though you have to buy your tickets online and there is a limit number of them, it was pretty packed when we went. They need a sun fish again. The size of one is incredible! The deep sea exhibit is great awesome and oddly relaxing.

Martha D

This is the perfect place for kids between 3 and 12. It is great for all others too, but the younger crowd really enjoy it. The displays have something of interest for all ages. Unfortunately, the feedings are not scheduled for certain times as they were in the past. Maybe after COVID is over, that will change. Especially the penguins, respond to feeding time as a happy occasion. They are so entertaining it's worth the wait. The only problem is it is so big the kids get tired. If you plan to visit for at least 2 days it's worth purchasing a family membership. Well worth the cost!!