Seattle Aquarium

The Seattle Aquarium sits right on the downtown waterfront at Pier 59, showcasing the marine life of the cold, rich waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest. Highlights include the Window on Washington Waters (a huge tank recreating the local coast), playful sea otters and harbor seals, a tide-pool touch zone, and the Underwater Dome, a 360-degree glass room surrounded by local fish. A major new Ocean Pavilion expansion has added large tropical habitats too.

It's a compact, well-run, family-friendly attraction, easy to combine with the adjacent Pike Place Market and the waterfront's other sights. The focus on local Pacific Northwest species gives it a distinct sense of place, and the otters are a perennial favourite.

Don't miss

• Window on Washington Waters coastal tank
• Sea otters and harbor seals
• The Underwater Dome viewing room
• Tide-pool touch zones
• The Ocean Pavilion's tropical habitats

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Seattle Aquarium

Cheapest way inSEA LIFE Aquarium Minnesota Admission Ticket at Mall of America4.1★ · 179 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$28 per personSee dates →Most bookedBeneath The Streets Underground History Tour4.7★ · 8,736 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$32 per personSee dates →Top ratedWelcome to Seattle Walking Tour5★ · 208 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$49 per personSee dates →

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How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• Book timed tickets online, it's cheaper and busy slots sell out.
• It focuses on local Pacific Northwest species, the otters are the star.
• Combine it with Pike Place Market right above on the waterfront.
• Check feeding and diver-talk times when you arrive.

A bit of history

Opened in 1977 on the Seattle waterfront, the aquarium has long focused on the marine life and conservation of Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest. It expanded significantly with the Ocean Pavilion, broadening its habitats and exhibits.