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Location
Best time
Arrive early or visit on weekdays to avoid long entrance lines during peak times, which visitors frequently mention as a waiting issue
Visitor tip
The jellyfish, sea turtles, and sharks are the main crowd-pleasers and best for engaging young children, making them ideal starting exhibits
Visitor tip
Explore behind-the-scenes tours and boat tours for unique experiences beyond the main exhibits, plus consider joining the membership program to access exclusive evening hours
About Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Seals, turtles, owls & Komodo dragons. Aquarium focused on Virginia marine life, past & present, with an IMAX theater, boat tour & aviary.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Aquarium
- Highlights
- Hundreds of species, loggerhead sea turtles, harbor seals, boat tours, behind-the-scenes experiences
- Special Events
- Sharks After Dark (adults 21+), Member Exclusive Hours, Earth Matters exhibit
What visitors say
The aquarium is overall well-maintained and a good outing for small children. The highlights include the jellyfish, sea turtles, and sharks, which the kids especially enjoyed. The underwater tunnel is interesting, though a bit average…
Had an Awesome time. All the sea life and animals was great. So Much information and just a great place to visit. There souvenir shop was good and had good prices. There cafe closes at 3 so make haste if you want to eat there. Wish we…
Visited for the second time recently and unfortunately I was disappointed. The 2nd building did not have either of the exhibits I didn’t get to see back in August 24’ (otters and octopus) the seals in the first building were also not…
From 16,403 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- Features an unusual combination of marine and terrestrial animals including Komodo dragons alongside Virginia marine life, creating a diverse ecosystem collection across multiple buildings
- Offers Sharks After Dark, an adults-only (21+) special event held on the first Friday of each month from 6pm-9pm, priced at $38 for non-members
- Provides interactive boat tours specifically designed to search for marine mammals and wildlife in their natural habitat, going beyond typical stationary aquarium exhibits
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