![New England Aquarium, Boston](/img/gd_attr/18984.jpg)
New England Aquarium, Boston
Nestled strategically along Boston's picturesque waterfront, the New England Aquarium has been a welcoming beacon for millions of visitors since its inauguration in 1969. It's not just an educational institution; it's a place where curiosity about marine life thrives. The building's exterior, a blend of glass and steel, mimics the texture of fish scales, setting the stage for a unique experience. Outdoors, seals provide lively aquatic performances in an expansive tank, while inside the main facility, over 30,000 creatures representing 800 distinct species inhabit simulated aquatic environments.
Whether you visit on a frigid New England winter day or during the height of summer, the aquarium promises a memorable experience. Every year, over a million visitors flock here to marvel at the magnificent four-story Giant Ocean Tank, once hailed as the world's largest circular ocean tank. This extraordinary exhibit replicates a Caribbean coral reef and houses a multitude of fish, captivating visitors of all ages. Winding ramps surrounding the tank offer various vantage points, leading to the top level, where the Yawkey Coral Reef Center provides an up-close look at reef-dwelling creatures that might otherwise escape notice. Don't miss the daily feeding sessions, lasting nearly an hour, which plunge divers 24 feet into the tank.
Venturing beyond, in the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center, partially open to the outdoors, you can witness the playful antics of northern fur seals and sea lions while relishing scenic views of Boston Harbor. Alternatively, you can come face to fin with various shark and ray species at the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank, the East Coast's largest of its kind.
Enhance your visit by heading to the aquarium's IMAX theater, where 3-D films transport you on virtual journeys from the ocean's depths to the far reaches of outer space.
Why You Should Visit:
Excellent destination for an up-close and personal encounter with a diverse array of fish and sea creatures.
One of its standout features is the unique layout, as well as the flexibility to come and go throughout the day, giving you the option to dine at other nearby establishments.
Tip:
Arrive early and consider pre-ordering your tickets to beat the crowds both inside and outside the aquarium.
Upon entering, head to the right, take the elevator to the top, and then work your way down, as this allows you to escape the crowds.
If you're short on time, you can focus on specific highlights, such as the harbor seals in the outdoor tank, which you can view for free.
After exploring the aquatic wonders, you can also unwind on the boardwalk out back, where you can watch planes landing and taking off from Logan Airport
Whether you visit on a frigid New England winter day or during the height of summer, the aquarium promises a memorable experience. Every year, over a million visitors flock here to marvel at the magnificent four-story Giant Ocean Tank, once hailed as the world's largest circular ocean tank. This extraordinary exhibit replicates a Caribbean coral reef and houses a multitude of fish, captivating visitors of all ages. Winding ramps surrounding the tank offer various vantage points, leading to the top level, where the Yawkey Coral Reef Center provides an up-close look at reef-dwelling creatures that might otherwise escape notice. Don't miss the daily feeding sessions, lasting nearly an hour, which plunge divers 24 feet into the tank.
Venturing beyond, in the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center, partially open to the outdoors, you can witness the playful antics of northern fur seals and sea lions while relishing scenic views of Boston Harbor. Alternatively, you can come face to fin with various shark and ray species at the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank, the East Coast's largest of its kind.
Enhance your visit by heading to the aquarium's IMAX theater, where 3-D films transport you on virtual journeys from the ocean's depths to the far reaches of outer space.
Why You Should Visit:
Excellent destination for an up-close and personal encounter with a diverse array of fish and sea creatures.
One of its standout features is the unique layout, as well as the flexibility to come and go throughout the day, giving you the option to dine at other nearby establishments.
Tip:
Arrive early and consider pre-ordering your tickets to beat the crowds both inside and outside the aquarium.
Upon entering, head to the right, take the elevator to the top, and then work your way down, as this allows you to escape the crowds.
If you're short on time, you can focus on specific highlights, such as the harbor seals in the outdoor tank, which you can view for free.
After exploring the aquatic wonders, you can also unwind on the boardwalk out back, where you can watch planes landing and taking off from Logan Airport
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boston. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
New England Aquarium on Map
Sight Name: New England Aquarium
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Boston, Massachusetts
Create Your Own Walk in Boston
Creating your own self-guided walk in Boston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Boston Introduction Walking Tour
The capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and it had played a key role in the country's struggle for independence. Founded in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England, it witnessed many events of the American Revolution, including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
North End Food Tour
Boston’s North End is famous primarily for its Italian food. By far not as big as New York's Little Italy, this one-square-mile waterfront community is the oldest in the city, and is packed to the brim with a cornucopia of Italian eateries – restaurants, cafes, espresso bars, pizza and sandwich shops – lined next to each other within just a few short blocks to ensure visitors both a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Beacon Hill Historic Houses Tour
Boston’s historic neighborhood of Beacon Hill is quite a charm! One can spend hours here, admiring the elegant uniformity and restraint of the architecture; at times, perhaps, imagining people from the past in their horse-drawn carriages. Federal-style and Victorian row houses, narrow streets lit by antique gas lanterns, brick sidewalks and lavender-hued windows adorn the area, which is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Bunker Hill Walking Tour
Bunker Hill, sitting on the bank of the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, is a historic site that holds great significance in American history. At its heart stands the Bunker Hill Monument, a towering obelisk commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill, a pivotal event in the American Revolutionary War.
The battle took place on June 17, 1775, when American patriots faced off against British... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The battle took place on June 17, 1775, when American patriots faced off against British... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Harvard University Walking Tour
The United States’ oldest institution of higher education (and, of course, among the most prestigious), Harvard was established in 1636. Reverend John Harvard, who bequeathed his entire library and half of his estate, is the University’s namesake. Presidents, billionaires and Rhodes Scholars are only some of the illustrious graduates; in fact, Harvard has more Nobel Prize-winning alumni,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
North End Walking Tour
The North End was the city's first neighborhood, and one that has been key to its fortunes, having become a hub of commercial, social and intellectual activity by the 1750s. Later known as Boston's Little Italy, it has been home to Italian immigrants through much of the 20th century, and still retains a certain Mediterranean flavor in its many restaurants, cafés, and specialty shops. In... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Boston's Marblehead Eateries
With such a diverse variety of dining cuisines and styles, the little town of Marblehead has something to satisfy every budget and culinary palate. You won't find any neon here, none is allowed in town and there are no fast food or drive-thrus establishments either. Most are quaint and...