Sight guide · Baltimore · United States
Visiting National Aquarium
Spread over two piers on the Inner Harbor, the aquarium's exhibits include Blacktip Reef with sharks and a green sea turtle, a rooftop Upland Tropical Rain Forest under a glass pyramid, the Australia gallery with a waterfall and a large jellyfish gallery.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Matthew Binebrink, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
National Aquarium is an aquarium in Inner Harbor, Baltimore. Allow 3 hours; it is expensive. Timed-entry tickets are sold online and weekend slots can sell out in summer.
Key facts
- Type
- Aquarium
- Area
- Inner Harbor
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Recommended
- Good for
- kids, rainy day and nature
- Best months
- May and September–October
About National Aquarium
Spread over two piers on the Inner Harbor, the aquarium's exhibits include Blacktip Reef with sharks and a green sea turtle, a rooftop Upland Tropical Rain Forest under a glass pyramid, the Australia gallery with a waterfall and a large jellyfish gallery. A walkway spirals up through tanks representing different habitats.
Tip: Visit on a weekday afternoon after school groups leave, and do the rainforest first before it gets warm and crowded.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3 hours.
- Cost: Expensive.
- Book ahead: Timed-entry tickets are sold online and weekend slots can sell out in summer.
- Where: Inner Harbor, waterfront promenade with the aquarium, historic ships and big chain hotels.
Best time to visit National Aquarium
National Aquarium is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- September: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Baltimore has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Baltimore itinerary visits National Aquarium on day 1, together with Historic Ships in Baltimore, Port Discovery Children's Museum and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
- No. 1 of the 18 sights in our Baltimore things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- A family favourite in Baltimore with kids.
Near National Aquarium
Also in Inner Harbor, so you can walk between them:
- Historic Ships in Baltimore — 2–3 hours, mid-priced
- Port Discovery Children's Museum — 2–3 hours, mid-priced
- Maryland Science Center — 2–3 hours, mid-priced
If you like National Aquarium
- B&O Railroad Museum — Southwest Baltimore, 2–3 hours
Staying near National Aquarium
Stay in Inner Harbor ($$$) to walk here: waterfront promenade with the aquarium, historic ships and big chain hotels. All areas to stay in Baltimore.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at National Aquarium?
Plan 3 hours. With Historic Ships in Baltimore nearby, it fits a half-day in Inner Harbor.
+Is National Aquarium free?
No, it is expensive. Booking ahead is advised.
+When is the best time to visit National Aquarium?
May and September–October for the most comfortable weather. Visit on a weekday afternoon after school groups leave, and do the rainforest first before it gets warm and crowded.
+Do I need to book National Aquarium in advance?
Timed-entry tickets are sold online and weekend slots can sell out in summer.
+Is National Aquarium good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Baltimore. Baltimore's Inner Harbor is built for families, with the aquarium, the science centre, Port Discovery and historic ships all within a short walk.