Sight guide · Victoria · Canada
Visiting Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
A small, local aquarium on the Sidney waterfront that shows only animals from the surrounding Salish Sea — octopus, wolf eels, rockfish and anemones — with touch tanks run by enthusiastic staff.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is an aquarium in Sidney, Victoria. Allow 1–1.5 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Aquarium
- Area
- Sidney
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, rainy day and nature
- Best months
- July–September
About Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
A small, local aquarium on the Sidney waterfront that shows only animals from the surrounding Salish Sea — octopus, wolf eels, rockfish and anemones — with touch tanks run by enthusiastic staff.
Tip: Combine it with Butchart Gardens or a ferry arrival at Swartz Bay; it is a short, easy visit for young children.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Sidney, seaside town of bookshops near the airport and the Swartz Bay ferry.
Best time to visit Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- July: 22°C (72°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- August: 22°C (72°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- September: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Victoria has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen BC Parliament Buildings and Fairmont Empress and afternoon tea.
- No. 17 of the 18 sights in our Victoria things-to-do list.
- A family favourite in Victoria with kids.
If you like Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
- Whale watching from the Inner Harbour — Inner Harbour and James Bay, 3 hours
- Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park — Inner Harbour and James Bay, 2–3 hours
- Beacon Hill Park — Inner Harbour and James Bay, 1–2 hours
Staying near Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
Stay in Sidney ($$) to walk here: seaside town of bookshops near the airport and the Swartz Bay ferry. All areas to stay in Victoria.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea?
Plan 1–1.5 hours.
+Is Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea?
July–September for the most comfortable weather. Combine it with Butchart Gardens or a ferry arrival at Swartz Bay; it is a short, easy visit for young children.
+Do I need to book Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Victoria. Victoria is a gentle, easy city for families: short walking distances, a children's farm with a goat stampede, whale watching, a harbour full of boats and seaplanes, and beaches and tide pools nearby.