Experience the best of Seattle Aquarium

Loved by over 55 million guests worldwide

Slide 1 of 8, Visitors observing marine life in a large tank at Seattle Aquarium.

Seattle Aquarium entrance with visitors walking on the rooftop pathway.

Visitors observing marine life in the underwater dome at Seattle Aquarium.

Children observing a shark in the large tank at Seattle Aquarium.

Sea otter floating on its back at Seattle Aquarium.

Guitarfish swimming among coral at Seattle Aquarium.

Stingray swimming in a tank at Seattle Aquarium.

Seattle Aquarium Tickets

1 hr

Discover Northwest marine life at Seattle Aquarium with one ticket covering the full campus, ideal for families and ocean fans on a short city visit.
Reserve a specific date and time, arrive at the time shown, then present your QR code at the aquarium entrance to head straight into the exhibits.
Enjoy access to exhibits across Pier 59, Pier 60, and the Ocean Pavilion, with indoor and outdoor spaces, a 360° underwater dome, and staff on hand.
Get hands-on at touch pools where you can safely feel sea stars, urchins, and other tide pool animals, a highlight for curious kids and adults alike.
Wander through immersive exhibits featuring sea otters, octopuses, jellyfish, tropical reef species, and marine animals from the Pacific Northwest.

More details

Discover Northwest marine life at Seattle Aquarium with one ticket covering the full campus, ideal for families and ocean fans on a short city visit.
Reserve a specific date and time, arrive at the time shown, then present your QR code at the aquarium entrance to head straight into the exhibits.
Enjoy access to exhibits across Pier 59, Pier 60, and the Ocean Pavilion, with indoor and outdoor spaces, a 360° underwater dome, and staff on hand.
Get hands-on at touch pools where you can safely feel sea stars, urchins, and other tide pool animals, a highlight for curious kids and adults alike.
Wander through immersive exhibits featuring sea otters, octopuses, jellyfish, tropical reef species, and marine animals from the Pacific Northwest.

from

$51.44

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Buy timed-entry tickets online for weekends, holidays, and rainy days. Research suggests this can save about 5–20 minutes on busy days by skipping the on-site ticket-purchase line, though you still need to clear security and timed-entry checks.

Choose an opening-time or later-afternoon slot if your schedule is flexible. Visitor reports in the research show the heaviest entry waits around midday on weekends and holidays, while weekday mornings are often lighter.

Compare a standard timed ticket with Seattle CityPASS if you plan several major attractions. The pass includes one-time aquarium admission plus 4 other experiences and is valid for 9 days from first use.

Check what your ticket actually covers. Standard timed admission includes regular exhibits and daily talks or feedings during standard hours, but not special events, member-only events, transportation, parking, food, or souvenirs.

If you expect repeat visits, compare membership with single tickets. Membership includes unlimited general admission for 12 months plus discounts and some member events, so it suits locals better than one-time visitors.

Public ticket information describes the visit as self-guided with scheduled staff talks and demonstrations. An audio guide is not listed in the researched ticket options, so plan around the daily talk and feeding schedule for added interpretation.

Review change and refund terms before you finalize a timed ticket. The research notes visitor confusion around missed entry windows, schedule changes, and sick children, so flexibility matters if your plans are uncertain.

If you are driving, plan parking separately before booking your time slot. The aquarium does not emphasize dedicated on-site parking and instead directs visitors to nearby paid garages and lots, where rates can rise during peak waterfront events.

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About Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium stands out for its Pacific Northwest and Salish Sea focus rather than a mainly tropical lineup. On Pier 59, the visit combines Puget Sound touch pools, Window on Washington Waters, and exhibits on local fishes, seabirds, otters, and seals with a smaller Pacific Coral Reef section. That regional lens makes it especially useful for understanding marine life tied directly to Seattle’s waterfront.

Address1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101, USA

Also known asSeattle Aquarium

Year opened1977

Visitors per year850000

Expected wait time - Standard0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

Seattle Aquarium opened in 1977 on Pier 59 and has been part of Seattle’s central waterfront redevelopment since then.

The aquarium is operated by a non-profit organization in partnership with the City of Seattle, with a mission centered on inspiring marine conservation.

Because the facility includes indoor and semi-outdoor sections on a pier over Elliott Bay, some areas can feel cooler than inland indoor attractions.

The Ocean Pavilion expansion is being built to highlight Pacific coral reef ecosystems and strengthen links between the waterfront and downtown.

The aquarium’s education programs serve thousands of students annually, which is why school groups are a regular part of the weekday crowd.

Why visit Seattle Aquarium?

Hands-On Tidepool Encounters at Life on the Edge

Life on the Edge recreates rocky intertidal habitats from Puget Sound and is one of the aquarium’s most interactive stops. Staff supervise gentle touch experiences with sea stars, anemones, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, and other tide-pool invertebrates, which makes it especially strong for children and first-time visitors.

Diver Talks in Window on Washington Waters

Window on Washington Waters presents a rocky reef habitat from Washington’s outer coast behind a huge viewing window. Scheduled diver talks let a scuba diver speak with visitors by microphone while surrounded by local fish such as rockfish, turning a large tank into one of the aquarium’s clearest teaching moments.

Above-and-Below Views of Sea and River Otters

The marine mammal habitats let you watch sea otters and North American river otters from both surface and underwater viewpoints. Their feedings and keeper talks are some of the busiest moments of the day, and the two exhibits make it easy to compare different behaviors and habitats in one visit.

Pacific Coral Reef Contrast to Local Waters

The Pacific Coral Reef exhibit shifts the visit from cool Northwest habitats to tropical Pacific ecosystems. Colorful reef fish, corals, and invertebrates give the aquarium a different visual rhythm and provide a clear contrast with the darker Puget Sound and Washington coast displays.

Regional Salish Sea and Puget Sound Focus

Many galleries focus on local waters instead of treating Seattle as a stop within a mostly tropical aquarium. Exhibits on Puget Sound and the greater Salish Sea connect the animals in the tanks to the marine environment outside on Elliott Bay and to the aquarium’s conservation work in the region.

Plan your visit

Main Entrance at Pier 59

Located at 1483 Alaskan Way on the water side of Pier 59, this is the Seattle Aquarium’s main public entrance and is marked by Seattle Aquarium signage. All general admission visitors, online ticket holders, members, and most groups enter here unless given separate group instructions. Timed tickets are scanned at the entry point inside the main doors, while on-site purchasers use the ticketing counters. Bag checks take place near the entrance, so advance tickets skip the purchase line but not security. Waits are usually shorter at opening and on weekdays, and longer around midday on weekends, holidays, and rainy days. Accessible routes use ramps and elevators.