Tennessee Aquarium Reviews

The aquarium is in two buildings so don’t lose your ticket. Right now there are timed entries, but you can go back in either building as many times as you want for the rest of the day. I started in the river one. As you enter you take an escalator or elevator) all the way to the top and then the tour route gradually bring you down. First are the river otters. Then a series of huge tanks with many local and world river life. Then I went to the ocean building. Alain you go up 2 escalators to the top where there are lemurs, a touch pool and a butterfly garden. Then the gradual descent begins with many ocean creatures. Very well done.

The Tennessee Aquarium is impressive in structure and design. There are two separated buildings, one dedicated to rivers and the other to oceans. Even though there were many people visiting the day we were there we had plenty of room and time to see and explore each building. Nice surprises were discovering animals and plants which added to the experience. The butterfly room is exceptional with many varieties of butterflies.
When you enter one of the aquarium buildings you are directed to the top floor. As you explore the exhibits you wind your way to the lower level and exit. It makes for a nice traffic flow.
These aquariums are some of the best we've been to and I would be delighted to visit them again.

The Ocean side was pretty brief compared to River side. Kids enjoyed it! As for me, felt way to crowded, and like herded cattle. Parking was INSANE. Took over a hour to get a parking spot, and had to pay $9 to park for 3 hours. Also try to avoid super overpriced Souvenir shop, that you MUST exit from...Smart move on thier part, right!

Great experience even while construction and maintenance were being performed. Very friendly staff. Would recommend this to anyone.

The aquarium is a great place to bring your family for a visit on vacation. My only concern about the area was the parking. We had to search for a parking space because they were all filled up. The Aquarium was well organized and clean. My favorite part would be the penguins. The penguins were sleeping when we stopped by but who doesn't love a penguin??? The restrooms were clean. The gift shops were the usual type of gift shop ( over priced gifts) The gift shop didn't have any otter items except for a cup and the gift bag you had to purchase at the end of your check out. If you don't like to use escalators you can ride in an elevator. The giant windows allowed you to see the Tennessee River and that was a great part of the trip too!! Make sure you keep your tickets!!! The aquarium is dived into two buildings and you must show your tickets at each entrance

Engaging and educational. Would have been better seen split over two days so that the crowds wouldn’t be as big. Strongly suggest getting there at opening because by afternoon, it was crowded. Parking is an easy walk and the grounds are nice.

We've been Aquarum members since the beginning and have visited more times than I can count. Took the kids this year and i was very sad to hear that Kaitlyn no longer works there :( she was probably the best employee this aquarium has ever had! My son remembered her from the last time we came. She helped him over come his fears of touching a stingray. We got to the touch tank and he asked if she still worked there and the lady said no. Overall I still love this aquarium and I’m sure we’ll be back!!

For the visually impaired, it is very dark inside. It was presented well with good documentation of what you were viewing. There was one side with aquatic wildlife found in rivers and streams and the other side with those found in oceans. There were ramps and hand rails throughout. Some cute photo ops were staged throughout. It’s located across the street from the TN river, which has a beautiful walking area as well.

This place is clean ,efficent,informative, and above all fun and amazing.ttaveled 2 hrs in opposite direction of home and would have drove double that. Amazing displ as y of animals

This was a beautiful aquarium with many exhibits. However, at $40 a person, it's unlikely many can afford to take a family or visit more than once. That doesn't even count the cost of parking which is another $10 or so, and that is if you can find a space.

I'm not a big aquarium person. I do like to take in major attractions. This is Chattanooga's #1 tourist attraction. . I like the idea of starting high and walking down, both the fresh and salt water buildings have this feature. Lots of interesting exhibits to look at. Very serious on masks, can't even take them off to take a picture. Very serious about the environment. If i read the signs too much I would hate to even think about driving back and possibly adding the the trials of the endangered animals. I would just stay home. When the visit was over and I looked at my pictures, I realized that there were many enjoyable times in here.

We’ve visited a few aquariums in our time but I never expected to be so impressed with one as I was this one. Especially worth noting was the River Journey building. What a wonderful exhibition. Fresh water and river creatures abound! Such an important and interesting cross section of our ecosystem. Each exhibit was so clear! Rarely do you get to observe these creatures In the water due to the inherent murkiness of their watery homes. Please make visiting a priority.

We went with the grandkids 6 and 8 and there is plenty of interactive things to do besides look at all the neat fish and animals. They were very careful at the butterfly garden getting mad at out of control children that were not respectful to the butterflies. But other than that they had a fabulous time. We visited both sides the fresh water and salt water. They learned all about otters and even bought a stuffed one for home. Had lots of neat photo ops that we did and then we also bought a package that was digital and had lots of backgrounds. Will go again!

The ocean aquarium was the best! Make sure you get your tickets online so they don’t book up on you!

Great day trip for anyone. We loved both River Journey and Ocean Journey. We loved getting to touch a fish and stingray. Very educational and easy wheelchair accessible.

I would recommend going on a Tuesday, wed, or Thursday when it's less crowded.... you'll enjoy yourself more....
I also wish they gave the Penguins a much bigger area to romp and play.....

An incredible experience! There are two buildings: one for Ocean and one for River animals. While the animals and exhibits are phenomenal, it's some of the kid-friendly touches that I appreciated most. There are accessible access signs, doors, and elevators for strollers and wheelchairs. There are benches throughout to sit down and feed baby as needed. In between the Ocean and River buildings, there is a man-made stream with rocks that kids can play in. The whole experience just felt immersive and thoughtful.

Love the way they have this set up. Nice plaza, cool exhibits, even a few interactive ones where you can touch the animals. We love aquariums and really enjoyed our visit.

Lived in Chattanooga for 20 years and this was my first time going. It was amazing! Very nice and clean. Everyone was so polite. I wanna give a special shoutout to Kaitlyn, she helped us in the butterfly garden, my oldest didnt want to touch one but Kaitlyn helped my youngest over come her fear and hold one. My oldest was more excited to see the sharks than anything. 10/10 would definitely go again.

Yesterday (Oct 27, 2023) was a scheduled Halloween even for which we took our 5 yr old. The initial venue was nice and well decorated and fun. However, at 3:30 the staff started ushering people (we are members) out due to a 4:00 event. We had started to the ocean side and there the staff was with a large caldron of candy. They told us that the ocean side was closed as they had to get ready for the sold out Halloween event (closed before 4 pm). Our child asked for a piece of candy and was denied as they said this was for the kids that had paid for the event and therefore could not spare even one piece of candy. She was the only child there, not like a group of children were standing waiting to get a piece of candy... Of course our 5 year old did not understand and the staff member was certainly out of her scope of professional behavior.

Needless to say, we were really disappointed and felt that the situation was greatly mishandled. To deny a child one piece of penny candy is ridiculous.

Perhaps greater care should be taken at events like this to be certain that no child walks away disappointed and denied a piece of candy...
Very disappointed in the Aquarium and staff at the October 27, 2003 event.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Dodd (grandmother)

This aquarium is an attraction that is not to be missed. Take the elevator up and start at the top and walk down the winding ramp down. There are two buildings and unless I misunderstood, all of the animals and fish are from the Chattanooga area. Do not plan to take less then 3 hours and preferably allow four. That will allow you to have a bite of foo to break up your adventure.

The butterflies! So many fluttering all around and landing everywhere, including on the guests! There are chrysalises in various stages, too.
We got to touch stingrays and sturgeons, and see all kinds of turtles, sharks, fish, alligators, snakes, and more. Plus you can leave and come back so we went to Burger Republic for lunch (Yum!) and then did the River exhibit.

The design of the Aquarium made it so easy to navigate the whole site. Starting at the top it was easy to stroll all the way down. Displays were very well explained and visible. Our choice between the two buildings was the fresh water site. Both were well laid out well.

Staff was super friendly, very clean!!! We will definitely be bring our children back with us next time.

Spent the afternoon here with my husband, our two daughters (15 & 11) my father & step mother. Everyone had an awesome time and saw exhibits we do not get to see at home (visiting from out of state). The ‘please touch’ exhibits with the sting rays & sharks were a huge hit. Very cool to see them up close like that. And be able to touch them.The tanks were full with plenty fish to see and beautiful vibrant colors. Before we knew it we had spent 5 hours wandering around with plenty to see and do. Great way to spend quality time with family.

My BFF and I visited this museum yesterday. We tried to visit the day before when we first arrived in Chattanooga but didn't realize there was no public parking at the aquarium itself. We enjoyed the fact they had the two separate buildings. One for fresh water and one for salt water. We had visited several other aquariums on our trip and this one was the best by far.
My only complaint was the butterfly attraction had only a few butterflies. Everyone in the area was searching for them and couldn't find more. Even though I enjoyed the fresh water giants a lot, my favorite attraction was the sea nettles. I was completely in awe of them.
There are some attractions between the buildings that the kids seemed to really enjoy. I would highly recommend a visit to the aquarium if you're in the area.

Great for kids and adults alike. Get the Imax/Aquarium package its well worth it. The Aquarium is huge and consists of two or more buildings. The Imax is kitty corner to the entire venue. Close to places to eat too. Enjoy!

Amazing Aquarium. Very well laid out. Upon arrival you take an escalator to the top floor and work your way down thru all the exhibits. This keeps you from missing anything! Friendly staff and well worth the time to visit! Highly recommended.

The recommended time of a couple hours might be too short for some people to really be able to leisurely see and read everything especially if it is crowded in some areas. Also be prepared for lots of walking - there are benches for sitting in several areas but both of the buildings start at the top by escalator or elevator and you walk down ramps as you follow the exhibits and the water's journey. It is very interesting and educational if you read the signage and try to locate the different species and beautiful if you just like looking at all of the wildlife.

Parking was easy. The aquarium is well kept and clean. Plenty of exhibits to see. The layout of the place is cool. Tanks are clean. Lots of unique fish to see. Highly recommend the place! Bonus…there is another aquarium on the property, in a separate building, to see as well with a butterfly garden, lemurs and penguins so don’t leave without seeing it as well!

I have been to many different aquariums, and the layout of this one is unique as you travel to the different levels and floors. I enjoyed this one because of areas of seating just to sit and watch the fish and there are areas to enjoy the surrounding view of the city and river.

There are two different buildings river and ocean. For anyone who lives in the tristate area most of what’s in the river building you can see in the rivers. The ocean building is neat but the places is definitely not worth the money compared to other aquariums!

This is a beautiful aquarium. Very well done and easy to navigate. The way it was designed you are walking on ramps (nice for children as well as seniors, especially those with mobility issues), and the ramps themselves take you deeper and deeper to experience different depths of water and what sea life exists at those depths. It was dark like a theater which caused attention to remain on the sea life itself. Everything was beautiful, clean and memorable. Also, the giftshops were offering many quality items and outside there was a nice area for sitting and enjoying the riverside location. We plan to go again on our next trip!

2 different buildings with all sorties of cool things to see. Great for kids, and groups. Make sure you have plenty of time to view them. I enjoyed the ocean museum much more then the river aquarium, but still the river one was neat.

Third time coming to this aquarium and it's still great! The people are nice, the location is fantastic, and the exhibits are very much worth the price of admission. You get your tickets little ways across the street, walk into the ocean building, then the river journey building. I love how the museum is split into two major sections. It makes for a one-of-a-kind experience. Highly recommend.

Phenomenal settings. Impressed that the "touch pool" was closely supervised. Fun photo ops if you look for them.

Such a cool Aquarium. We spent a lot of time in both, but the Ocean is our hands down favorite. Very clean, well laid out and the exhibits are amazing. A must see if you are in Chattanooga!

We took our grandkids there and they loved it! Would definitely put this on the list to see! You won't be disappointed!

This has to be one of the best aquariums in the states. The separation of aquarium journeys (river and ocean) makes for so much to explore, and you can enjoy a bit of splashing in the splash sculpture between. The flow of both aquariums is flawless and the aesthetic of both, beautiful! All of the employees seemed a bit tired and grumpy, but I wasn’t there to see them, so that was okay! Be sure to arrive in your one hour window allotment, someone ahead of me found themselves in a difficult situation (with an unhelpful employee) for not doing so. Overall- Highly recommend! Spend the money!

Nice two building aquarium! We took our time and spent 2.5hr in each.

Kids walk/play in the water installation between the two buildings.

Family and I went to the Tennessee Aquarium during fall break. It was extremely crowded. Unfortunately due to the massive amount of people we didn’t get to view as much as we would have liked. Too many children banging on the glass of the exhibition’s. On the upside, the museum is very clean and the fish and other animals are very well cared for.

Love going to the aquarium and watching all the various animals. The little colorful frogs are one favorite. The river otters, penguins (5 are nesting!) , lemurs, are all great additions to the huge tanks of fish. The touch pools are back - you can touch a ray. Looking forward to the return of the butterfly room. Lots of places to just sit and watch what floats by. It's also such a great setting, right on the river, and the large outdoor area is part of the magic.

One of the best aquariums we have been to. Loved that you get both the ocean creatures and the river experience. This is a two building aquarium. Lots of hands on things to touch and feel. My grandkids loved the "bubbles" that they could go up into to be right in the tanks. Lot of large tanks with amazing fish. Lots of picture places along the way. You go to the top floor first and work your way down seeing exhibits along the way. Nice paths to walk on. They have two gift shops and no food is allowed in the aquarium.
There is a pay parking lot by the aquarium, it can be pricey by the hour. Just a few blocks away you can find cheaper parking.

There was not a lot to see in the ocean building. There was more to see in the river building but we are from East Tennessee so we can see that stuff most of the time. No drinks/food I could find besides the vendors outside who were out of everything.

This aquarium to top notch. Even though it was during the day and school children were there, it never felt crowded. There are plenty of places to sit. The tanks are clean. All the staff we interacted with are friendly.

This place was very crowded as it was cold outside. It was a very nice aquarium though! I might go back on a less busy day so I could see better.

Great aquarium. Very family friendly. Excellent layout to walk through at tour leisure. Plenty of viewing areas. Very informative.

This is one of the best aquariums. It does not look large for the outside but you start at the top and work your way down 4-5 levels, in 2 buildings. It is beautifully arranged and educational.

The Tennessee Aquarium is large but not overwhelming, and easy to visit: you go to the top of the "river" aquarium and walk all the way down through it past exhibits and onto the second "ocean" aquarium and do the same thing. I have been to a lot of aquariums and you see the same things at all of them: petting tanks for rays, penguins, a huge tank with sharks, glowing jellyfish etc. I'm interested in what's special or different. At the Tennessee Aquarium, I'd say it's the many different turtle species. The Madagascar lemurs and sturgeons were also highlights.

This aquarium does get jammed with school groups and families, which diminishes the experience, even though they limit ticket sales to reduce the crowds. I'd highly advise arriving when it opens at 9 am so you can see most of it before the groups and families arrive.

This was a very nice aquarium, a little on the smaller side but still fun. The fountains and wading pools are a cool touch. If you have never been to an aquarium this one could wow you, but I’ve been to a few including the aquarium in Atlanta which is huge in comparison to this one. Still a nice an aquarium. Great views of the river front and plenty to do. Lots of place to stop and sit down and rest. Nice way to escape the heat.

One of the best aquariums we’ve ever been to. Love the fact that there are two buildings (River and Ocean) included. The Butterfly exhibit was a fav with our group as well.

We had a great time! Even the teenagers were impressed! Parking is plentiful and not too expensive. Really a must-see if you are in the area and enjoy this kind of thing at all.

Great time! Clean and informative. Loved the turtle exhibit. Small crowds wear a mask enjoy! Buy something in the gift shop to help support them and all the animals.

Very nice aquarium! It wasn’t my favorite as I have seen better ones but I still enjoyed this one. Was hoping to see some sharks but did not…darn.

Very well organized and presented aquarium model. It's much, much better than the Georgia Aquarium. The spiraling ramps and direction exhibit tour is well thought out.

The fresh water and ocean exhibits are in separate buildings and equally impressive.

While there, take a short tour of the Medal of Honor Museum.

We throughly enjoyed the Christmas special of Polar Express at the IMAX. They had snacks for everyone as well as giving away some prizes. Definitely worth the trip to experience

Amazing experience for both lake and ocean but could get more fun for all ages good gift shop close to holes and has food truck outside

This aquarium is really amazing. Would definitely recommend adding this one to your vacation. You get to experience two different buildings on visit.

2 buildings, ocean and then river
Alot to look at very interesting pricing was little high, but you will spend about 2 to 3 hours between the 2 buildings.
It was busy but still was able to see everything

We enjoyed our visit! Big place with River and ocean animals. All the interactive exhibits were closed due to covid. Kind of a bummer but we expected it. I personally enjoyed the Atlanta aquarium better but definitely worth the trip!

We took part of the Deeper Dive experience. It was well worth it! The aquarium would have been a quick trip otherwise. We enjoyed learning a lot about what the aquarium does as well as learning more about the animals. Nice visit!

Chattanooga made a very good program for kids, adults and events. This is an easy place to take small and large groups. We only had a few hours here while visiting, but there was plenty to see in the two well-developed building.

Place was slammed for a Wednesday so parking took us…20 minutes of driving around downtown to find a lot that wasn’t full. It’s not expensive(14.50 for the whole day) and the phone app is easy. I felt the river museum out classed the aquarium. Love the set up, you start at the top and walk down the whole museum…excellent idea! We got there at noon and closed the place. We paid for the IMAX blue whale show. I don’t know what wizardry Tennessee does with their popcorn but it awesome! Blue whale show is informative, not super liberal, and we enjoyed it. You have to get tickets, for all 3 (IMAX River exibit and aquarium) at the building across from the aquarium, my wife kept saying I think we get tickets over there nah I know what I’m doing then we get to the ticket guy at the aquarium and he’s you get tickets over there. Eat the crow ya big dummy…listen to your wife!! Its worth the visit

We caught the last showing of 430 pm and had plenty of time to do the entire aquarium. It stays open until 730pm to allow those to walk through without feeling rushed. Definitely recommend for families. Ticket prices are a bit steep, but that won't stop us and really is our only negative aspect.

**Tennessee Aquarium**
Visited the Tennessee Aquarium today with my family, and it was an incredible experience! The exhibits were well-designed, and we learned so much about marine life. The River Journey exhibit was fascinating, showcasing freshwater habitats from around the world. My favorite part was watching the turtles and penguins—they were adorable! I highly recommend the Tennessee Aquarium to families, nature lovers, and anyone interested in marine life. It’s a must-see attraction in Chattanooga!"

My family and I really enjoyed the aquarium. the staff was very polite and the place was well organized. it was easy to navigate the facility and find the presentations. This is by far the most complex and well run aquarium in the world and you can tell that the employees and operation really cares about what they are doing. My favorite was the large tank with the sharks and larger fish. The stingray exhibit was also very impressive. it is located downtown by the river in a beautiful location.

My friend and I really enjoyed this. The Rivers section is the best by far (the Ocean section is kind of short but still cool). We learned so much and saw amazing fish (some are HUGE!), the cutest otters, various other amphibians, reptiles, etc. They currently have displays of river trash/pollution/litter that have been made into sculptures (otter, jellyfish, etc.). While cool to look at, the point is KEEP OUR WATERS CLEAN!!! Be prepared to stay at least 2 hours, maybe 3. And be prepared for a LOT of walking! A must-do for visitors to Chattanooga.

I brought my 5 yr old grandson to visit the aquarium because he loves fish. my grandson cannot speak and he gets loud at times trying to speak. In the butterfly enclosure an employee was speaking about the enclosure and my grandson hollered and the employee looked at him, when my grandson hollered again the employee said something needs to be done about him. My daughter told him that my grandson couldn't speak and the employee ignored her. When your dealing with the public you need to be taught how to handle situations. You don't have a clue what a person is going through or what disabilities a person may have. The employee's comment was unacceptable and I will never visit again. My daughter was hurt over his comment. I will never visit the aquarium again ! This place needs to have training on how to handle situations.

For us, one of the most beautiful and elaborately designed aquariums we have visited worldwide. The habitats are perfectly imitated and the biodiversity amazing. Absolute recommendation!

This is a very overpriced exhibit of a bunch of fish and a few other things. We went to the Zoo in the morning and it was GREAT. Will give it 5 stars and it was half the price of this place. Also I noticed that most of the big exhibits were donated by people or companies so the price should be much much lower since not much cost involved other than upkeep. I'd rather spend my money on a deep sea fishing boat trying to catch some of these big fish rather than see them in tanks obviously bored at looking at humans looking at them.

Always nice to good here, easy walking and able to view without feeling rushed, crowded on Saturdays, if able go during weekday. It is a very interesting and fun to do.

The aquarium is so well laid out. It never feels crowded and is fun for all ages. All kinds of creatures great and small. Something for everyone.

Very nice aquarium with different buildings and imax theater. While we were there they had several school groups visiting and made it loud and hard to get around. We did enjoy it but the cost to get in is on the high side.

Solo adventure at the aquarium. I bought a ticket online and selected the wrong date but they were able to fix the issue in no time. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get through the exhibits (with a group or kids could take longer). This was my First time in the butterfly exhibit.

Beautiful aquarium! It's worth the visit even if it's a bit of a drive. Definitely plenty to see and explore. I highly recommend it.

This was our second visit to the aquarium. The first time we spent all our time exploring the River Journey. This time we explored the Ocean Journey.

One of the first things we encountered was the penguin exhibit. I never knew there were so many different species of penguins. The signage was very good and educational.

If your time is limited, I would suggest you spend more of it in the River Journey building because it is unique. The Ocean Journey does not excite like other aquariums, for example the one in Atlanta.

The aquarium is pretty pricey and I didn't think it was that eye catching. It was pretty boring. I have been to several aquariums in the past and this was not one of my favorites. The best part was watching the penguins.

Amazing, a must-see if you are in the area. The museum is divided in two buildings, one for sea water and the other one for fresh water.

Currently visits are timed and tickets must be pre-purchased online. My recommendation is to try to get tickets for entry before 3pm, because it takes a bit more than 2 hours to visit all the museum (and it closes at 5pm).

We enjoyed visiting the aquarium. It was educational and fun to see the different species of ocean life.

Had a fabulous time visiting! There are a total of two buildings - one dedicated to fresh water and one dedicated to the oceans. Both are great! The layout is unique and the exhibits are exceptionally well done. We also purchased the IMAX add-on. Watched a movie about blue whales - very interesting and engaging.

It has probably been 10+ years since I visited the aquarium, but recently my wife and I brought our 2 yr old son. He had a great time. I really like how they have various levels, ramps, and viewing locations to see the same large tank. I think that is a lot better viewing for everyone than somewhere like Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium where it seems like everyone is trying to look from the same level and room. We will return in the future when our son is a little older.

This was a fun stop for our family on our way to the Smoky Mountains. My children especially enjoyed the interactive exhibits (touch pool and butterfly garden). The Ocean exhibit was a little bland to me and the gift shop in this building had a lot to be desired. I had hoped to find a cute/pretty ornament for our Christmas tree marking a place we visited this year, but unfortunately the only ornaments I could find were lemurs (and not cute at that). Not really the type of ornament I was looking for to mark an aquarium visit. My personal favorite visit was the freshwater "monsters"/"giants". If I had not seen them with my own eyes, I would have a hard time believing they existed!

Our whole family enjoyed it. We got to see butterflies, sharks, sea turtles, all sorts of pretty fish. We went to one building went to eat then went back to other building. There isn’t a snack/food place except in gift shop at end and outside in plaza.

Very nicely done. Clean and guest friendly. Beautiful, interesting exhibits!!! Children and adults can enjoy!! Recommend highly!!

It had been 25 years since I'd been to the Aquarium! My husband and I really enjoyed bot the TN River and Ocean displays. We actually learned a lot and really enjoyed the beautiful displays and tanks. We took our time and were in and out in just about 2 hours, which was perfect. The price is a little high, but actually you can't see all that is there anywhere else that we know of. We'v been to the aquarium in Gatlinburg and I would put this one over the one in Gatlinburg, although they are similar.

If I could give less than a 1 for a review, I would. My sister and I visited for a girls' day, and we were both underwhelmed! With the exception of the shark tank, the other exhibits were incredibly small. We've both been to other aquariums and agreed this one is overpriced and lacks in its dazzle. Drive a few more hours to Atlanta or Gatlinburg to see a far better aquarium.

This was our first family gathering in about 17 months (due to COVID-19) and we wanted an experience that would be fun for the adults and kids in the group. Everyone found plenty to enjoy and the youngsters (ages 6 and 3) were never bored. We have visited quite a few aquariums around the country, but hadn't been here for about 15 years or so, so it was fun to return. Make sure that you also visit the Ocean Journey building for additional exhibits and a touch tank with rays and sharks surrounded by an enclosure containing lemurs.

Beautiful aquarium and we enjoyed the nicely laid out exhibits. We attended one of the IMAX features - Antarctica- and it was a bit of a snooze. Some of the exhibits were closed when we were there, but you can still spend a few hours here.

I love how well organized this aquarium is by having alternating levels. It creates a smooth transition through the aquarium. There’s so much to look at and learn about, very clean, friendly and helpful personnel, fun activities for the kids. Great way to spend a couple hours when visiting Chattanooga.

Really enjoyed how everything was layed out, allowing you to browse through the various exhibits then returning to the multi-floor tanks, some of which are 3 to 4 stories high. Of the aquariums we've visited across the country this is one of, if not the best.

Last time we visited the place was packed...not such much now that Covid protocols are in place. We had a great visit and the place looked great

This place was fabulous! There are two main buildings: one for fresh water environments and the other for salt water. The most amazing this was what WASN’T there….a smell of any kind! No fishy odors…super clean…very well kept.

Prepare to walk around for a bit. There seem to be endless corridors adorned with tanks, displays, environmental features, and endless stunning views. Everywhere you look, there is something amazing to see. Plan to spend some time. It will soothe your soul!

Great informative, interactive, and wonderful aquarium experience. One of the new areas (to us) called the butterfly exhibit was really awesome as well. And the bathroom facilities were immaculate. Overall, it was the best experience of our trip to Chattanooga.

So much to see! This has a beautiful mix of local and ocean animals. The multi-level tank is a sight to see. Great for all ages.

A decent aquarium experience. The building set up is good with escalators to the top floor and then ramps down to each level. It is very dark in the exhibits which is great to see the specimens but not so great if you don't navigate well in the dark. The buildings are divided into a freshwater aquarium and a saltwater aquarium. The freshwater aquarium is very good with lots of local fauna. The saltwater aquarium is primarily a very large multi-story tank with other smaller displays around it. Good display of jellyfish but otherwise a pretty limited selection of saltwater life. If you have not been to a major aquarium, this is a very good introduction. If you have been to aquariums in major cities, this will not "wow" you. However, given the limited number of interesting things to do in Chattanooga, this is definitely one to put on your list. I agree with other comments about the tickets being pricey. I did appreciate the special exhibits on the damage plastics are doing to our environment.

Great place was set up good ride to the top floor an easy walk down.
Set up was great.
Nice size tanks.
Easy parking.
Friendly staff

Overcast and drizzly days make for a great to do something inside, like visiting the aquarium. The last time we were here was 2011. The area around the aquarium has certainly changed. We bought our tickets o line. Pay attention because they have timed entries. Lots of families were here.

We very much enjoyed both the river nd the ocean wings..a bit noisy due to a sheer multitude of kids

Great fresh water exhibit but the salt water exhibit could be just a bit better. All n all. Had a great time!!! Staff for helping people were all friendly too. Good for the family or if u like checking out dish. Just good stuff!

We spent the morning of 3/29 at the Aquarium. We purchased tickets online a week ahead of our visit and had them held at will call. It was a super easy process to get your tickets there the day of. There were quite a few people visiting the day we were there but I felt like the timed entrances and limited tickets being sold allowed everyone to enjoy their experience. I didn’t feel rushed or crowded. I didn’t see one person not wearing a mask. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. I would plan for at least 2 hours to really enjoy all the exhibits; maybe 3 if you want to read all signs and placards at each stand. I think the river experience side was WAY better than the ocean side but we enjoyed each building. Employees were kind and professional. Highly recommend!

A great Aquarium. Two large buildings. One for ocean one for river. Lots of fish of different types. Penguins, turtles. Mighty cat fish and sturgeon. Food in the area. A very nice walking area outside.

We really enjoyed the aquarium. I liked the design and set up of the River side and it had a ton in it. It was very well done. The ocean side wasn't as good and had a lot less which isn't too surprising. Overall, it is a very nice aquarium!

We took our “adopted “ church grandson . He had been there before and loved it . 2 different buildings , the rivers was cool , rivers from different countries . Between the buildings , they had penguins, butterfly house , fish petting . It was great and I’m not an aquarium person !!

This was the last stop on our anniversary weekend. It was pretty awesome, and neither aquarium was crowded. The staff and door greeters were super friendly.

This is the second time I have visited this aquarium and much like the time before, this was such a ball!! We took our time and played throughout the space. A must-do in the area!

A must do if you are in Chattanooga! Love this aquarium it’s beautiful! Friendly staff even the ones behind glass! Just wish they had beverage machines somewhere

Prepare to be amazed at every turn. Just an awesome experience. Especially loved the butterfly room where they flitter right by you. Well designed for people of all physical abilities and ages. Breathtaking exhibits. Lots of places to stop and rest. Some interactive exhibits, 2 separate buildings: ocean and river. We had time for just one & chose ocean. A tip is to check tickets online. You can see if tickets are limited to gauge if busy time and choose less crowded if you prefer. Beautiful, uplifting, peaceful experience.

Our family had a wonderful time here. They were excellent with the tour! As soon as we arrived we were greeted with friendly smiles.

The Tennessee Aquarium is perhaps one of the top destinations in Chattanooga. It is a great balance of both local and foreign exhibits that help visitors gain a fuller understanding of not only what life exists in the water but also our role in preserving it.

Tickets are timed so buy ahead to secure the time you want. I would recommend around 10:00. That way, if you drive there, you will have plenty of available parking on those busy weekend days. They were turning away people who were trying to enter early but didn't say anything about those entering after their time slots.

There are two buildings: Ocean and Rivers. We started with Rivers and I think that was the better option. The downside with the buildings is that it takes you straight up to the top. From there, you are almost in this Ikea-like style of being forced to follow a pattern of flow. Meaning if you wanted to go back and see the otters (the first exhibit in the Rivers building, you have to do a lot of backtracking or go all the way to the end and then try to reenter. The flipside to this is that if you don't do it this way, you end up with a Shedd-like clogging at the popular areas with people coming from all directions. It's a tough call which system is better but given the construction of the building, I think it is the best way you can do it. Just be prepared if you want to go back and see if the otters woke up.

Both buildings surround one massive tank. I liked going to the river section first because the fish in their main tank are huge but aren't as recognizable as the sharks and sea turtle in the Oceans building. As you walk around the building you'll see smaller tanks and ecosystems that flank the big tank. You'll see a section dedicated to otters, alligators, and turtles then go to the Volga tank and see sturgeons there. Then you'll walk a little further and see some piranha from the Amazon. There are two "hands-on" sections. In the Rivers section there are Sturgeon while the Oceans section has Leopard Sharks, Stingrays, and a curious little Horseshoe Crab. There are enough hand-washing stations around when you're ready to move on.

The gift shop at the end of the Rivers section was closed so be ready to use the Oceans shop. There are plenty of places to sit and rest but expect to spend about 3-4 hours if you want to see everything. Masks were not required but I could see wanting to wear one especially if your time slot is sold out.

On the whole, if you like aquariums, this is a great one to visit. The prices are a little more on the steep side but if animals are your family's go to destination, it will be worth it.

Great way to spend around 3 to 4 hours with the river walk so close there is so much to do in this area just to rest and regroup.

Our favorite part was the otters. They were just adorable. Everyone was very friendly, and we can't wait to go back.

We'd never been to a big aquarium like this before so we were eager to try it out. We enjoyed the river part for the most part - very well done building and really enjoyed the concept of following the rivers down to the Tennesee River but as my 8 year old said halfway throuh "I'm getting kind of tired of fish". The ocean building was way more fun and really made us feel we got the most for our VERY EXPENSIVE tickets. Loved seeing the sharks, jellies, king crabs, etc. The animals must have felt very amorous that day - lots of mating pairs including the snakes. It was great but I don't see dropping over $100 bucks every time I'm in town.

We only had one day here and the aquarium was on our list. Easy walk from the hotel. Nice venues, clean. Of course on a Friday there were many people and lots of strollers/wagons. Kind of a shame as in my opinion kids under about 3 or 4 are clueless. Managed to get a few nice photos. Only issue was the gift shop: about 2-3 doz high schl kids descended on it and they were unsupervised and a few very rude (line cutting, handling a lot of stuff). I wonder how much shop lifting occurs! Overall we enjoyed the visit. Gatlinburg aquarium is much nicer but also 2x cost. This one was very nice for the size. I would go back!

This is a must see in Chattanooga. Two buildings both beautifully done. It will take you at least 4 hours to go thru both buildings and really enjoy the displays. Also enjoy the area around the Aquarium.

Came here on the recommendation of friends and was not disappointed. Aquarium is split up into 2 different buildings with a common area between. Each building is designed to highlight the animals and features of the particular environment. You will be able to see animals native both to the Chattanooga area as well as various regions around the world. The aquarium has several areas for kids (and adults) to to touch fish. Staff are also set up around the building with hands-on activities and to answer questions.

We had a pleasant experience at the aquarium. Like most tourist attractions, be prepared for crowds. We went in 2020 - so there were obviously delays to follow COVID procedures and guidelines. I felt it might have been priced a little too high, but with that said, it's about average compared to most tourist attractions. There are restaurants and places available to get drinks very close by which is nice if you have a young family.

Super nice aquarium, there was a lot to see, lots of animals, lots of interactive parts. Friendly staff, nice bathrooms. I would definitely come back the next time I visit. Nice views outside of the aquarium too.

There is an abundance of various Freshwater and sea creatures. The location was very nice, surrounded by many restaurants and nice atmosphere in downtown Chattanooga. There are two parking lots close by. I chose to pay for all day so that I could visit the area, not just the aquarium. They have a 3-D IMAX theater a couple of blocks away that had some pretty good movies with 3-D viewing. I bought the combo ticket.

Fantastic aquarium and we really enjoyed it. Certainly a must visit if in Chattanooga but a reason by itself to indeed visit this very nice city with lots to do! And the aquarium is near the top of that list! And it’s a long list! Both the fresh water and the ocean one are equally entertaining! Definitely do both. You won’t be disappointed!
Can you tell I highly recommend!

This was a large aquarium with 2 separate buildings. One building was salt water and other was fresh water. They had a beautiful butterfly garden as well with 100's of butterflies. It was alot of walking but well worth it. We would go again next time we are in the area

We arrived between 4 and 5 o'clock (their last group for getting in). There are two separate buildings, so make sure to check which building closes first (the staff were nice enough to let us know even without asking). The exhibits were phenomenal. The first building housed the Madagascar area, butterflies, penguins, sharks, and more. The second building housed river/freshwater species. It was perfect for around 2 hours. Pay-to-park is right in front of the area, and they have some nice outdoor areas for kids to play and roam in front and around the buildings.

We thoroughly enjoyed this aquarium during our visit. My family has been here before a few times. This was our first time seeing the new addition. It was not too busy, so that made it all the more enjoyable.

So many different environments to explore and learn about. Low lighting and the quiet enhance the experience. Take your time and read about each environment.

Parking close by, wheelchair ♿ available for free. Rocking chairs on one floor, overlooking the city and river. Staff were all professional and friendly. A nice gift shop. Rates are a bit high. Very clean.

Highly recommend!

Of the couple of Aquariums i've been to, the Tennessee Aquarium is very nice and worth the trip. Early morning is the best time to go.

Our motorcoach was late so we only had 45 mins to get through both buildings...but my friend and I did it. So much to see and explore - we were sad we only had the limited time. Definitely worth going to and next time we will take our time and also visit the gift shop. Really nice views of the river.

While the aquarium itself is a highlight of a trip to Chattanooga, I was particularly impressed by the docent volunteer who had a hands on excercise to teach children about our planet's water resource.  I would have liked to have seen twenty more of her.  Visitors too often just look and don't take the time to read and understand the messages being communicated by the various exhibits.  Debbie using a simple example communicated to a child audience the importance of our planet's water resource.  Can more teaching be done in other areas of the aquarium?

Took over an hour to order tickets online, kept getting kicked out and the curser kept spinning and wouldn't advance to complete payment. When I went to pick up my tickets at "Will Call," I had to stand in the long line of people buying tickets, not a "Will Call" line. Then they couldn't see on their computer that I'd purchased tickets, although I had proof on my cell. They finally printed tickets for me. Both buildings were great, glad we went! Would definitely pay EXTRA to go on an adults only day.

It was educational and fun for the grandkids. They are 7,5,2 . They enjoyed going from place to place and looking at all the cool animals. The only negative I would say is alot of it was very dark when you were walking from place to place which made it kind of difficult. But that was the main thing and wish the parking lot was bigger so we wouldn't have had to pay to park in garage across the street

As a lover of aquariums this one is one of the nicest Good selection of fish and turtles each ramp will take you different levels but the large tanks are seen on each level. Clean and easy to move through. It is a one time visit do to high cost. But I would recommend to all

The Tennessee Aquarium is excellent. The price of admission is quite high at $35 a person, so you should consider whether you are someone who would enjoy a slow trip through an aquarium. If you are a zoo/aquarium/museum kind of person, then you must stop here on a visit to Chattanooga. Both buildings (the ocean and freshwater buildings) are formidable aquariums in their own right, but the ticket gets you into both. Freshwater animals are not always as visually striking as the saltwater ones, but the aquarium did a fantastic job of creating true-to-life exhibits to show off some of the freshwater diversity present in Tennessee and beyond. Many of the exhibits were truly impressive.

Way too expensive!! I get that its expensive to operate an aquarium that size but $40 for one adult and $33 for each kid??? To take my kids through with my wife cost me hundreds of dollars so this was just a one time event and all I could think about was how much money it just cost me. I will not be coming back to the aquarium again.

The museum is very clean and pretty. My two elementary school kids loved it. The sting ray petting area was a highlight. The butterfly garden exhibit was unfortunately closed on our day. The aquarium never felt very crowded with people all bunched together which is nice in these Covid times! The gift shop is really nice as well. We bought IMAX tickets as well and I wasn't sure if they were going to be in the same building or not. I was a little nervous about the time difference I selected in my tickets. The IMAX is actually another building across the parking lot. I would plan for 2 hours in the aquarium and then do the IMAX afterward.

This aquarium continues to be great. The setup is very immersive. There is rarely dead space between exhibits and all the educational information is really interesting. This is a much better experience than the Georgia Aquarium.

This is a great aquarium. My son is a teenager. He loved sharks and whales as a little kid and loves fishing now. He's seen pretty much everything in the aquarium in other locations, but still enjoyed how the route flowed. The river side is better than the ocean side.

Give yourself a couple of hours. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was busy but not so bad that we felt rushed or crowded.

It was$70 for two people (with military discount). If my son didn't enjoy fishing, I'm not sure it works be worth it for us

Very nice aquarium. We preferred the freshwater aquarium section since it had more exhibits and I personally liked the exhibit designs for the freshwater section quite a bit. The saltwater aquarium (they are in two separate buildings) has a very small butterfly garden at the top section, which is very nice, but it does have fewer exhibits. There was a section of the saltwater aquarium that was closed off for renovations and so that’s probably why it felt much smaller. We didn’t see much by way of food (there was a food truck with snacks/hot dogs), but there’s a bunch of good restaurants across the street from the aquarium. There were many people circling and circling trying to get parking in front, but across from the imax theatre is a parking garage. I don’t think it saved any money, but it saved a headache. We went on a weekday when it was less crowded.

We came to Chattanooga for my daughter's 16th birthday, she surprised the group with an outing to the aquarium. We really enjoy the way this aquarium is set up. The lay out is awesome! The exhibits are very cool, great place to visit! We especially enjoyed the octopus and alligators!!

Love the Tennessee Aquarium!! Love how the acquarium has its on individual themes that are focused on in their own individual buildings. We watched the IMAX theatre movie Ocean in 3D, and we all learned alot!! Everything in walking distance of each other and right off the water

Came to the aquarium as part of our family trip, and it did not disappoint! Our boys loved seeing all of the different wildlife, and we enjoyed learning about the conservation efforts. I always love when a place partners with an organization for accessibility, and the aquarium partners with Kulture City to provide sensory items for people who need them. Came in clutch for us as one of my kids is on the autism spectrum. Will definitely visit again!

Loved that it was broken into the river and ocean buildings. You were able to walk through both buildings at your own pace. They had a lot to see, and it was a very clean environment. I paid extra for the IMAX experience, which was a basic IMAX theater but still enjoyable. 10 out of 10 would recommend it on a rainy day or even a sunny day. The ocean building is not as big as I imagined, but still exciting. It took roughly 2 hours to do both buildings and then add 45min if you watch an IMAX program. Make sure you see the times of the showings ahead of time if you want to see an IMAX program.

Pretty much same thing at all of them. Really wanted to see the otters but they weren't out. Penguins were nice. I definitely would try a different aquarium

This is one of my favorite places to visit when visiting Chattanooga. I love how it is laid out - you can see the animals from almost any angle on each level. Reading about the habitats and getting to see underwater always excites me! A MUST SEE when visiting Chattanooga.

Great place, if you ever in Tennessee do not miss it. I wish we had equally awsome aquarium in NYC. The exhibits are wonderful, the 3 stories tanks where you can observe vast number of fish not only from US waters but from around the world as well are just breathtaking. The bonus to the experiance are butterflies and great staff. It’s amazing how one person can make your whole day. Caitlin was very helpful at the sturgeon tank and talked us through it, she talked to me as a person rather than just someone that worked there and was just doing their job. We got to the ocean side and ended up meeting other great staff who was super nice, Its a place you must see! I hope to come back soon!

This is my family’s favorite aquarium. We’ve been to several aquariums across the country, but this is our go-to and we always prioritize it when we’re in Chattanooga. It has a nice variety of exhibits, it is very easy to get to, and the linear layout makes it super easy to navigate.

Good...but not worth the $35 ticket per person. I loved the facility, but it is pricey for what you see/get.

We visited the Chattanooga Aquarium it was okay. One building we went to there was water gathering in the lower level by the gift shop. It was a little scary considering the entire building was a tank. It was also dark.

I live in Atlanta and this aquarium is different from the Georgia Aquarium. The Tennessee Aquarium stresses education more than the big wow effect the Georgia Aquarium goes for. Also, the Tennessee Aquarium doesn't have dolphin or sea lion shows. However, I like the Tennessee one better since it's more low key. Yes, there are lots of people in the Tennessee Aquarium, but it's not the huge mob scene the way the Georgia one can be.

This aquarium is the best we have been to. It is laid out very well and flows very nicely. It allows everyone to go at their own pace and have enough space without being overcrowded

Such a great time at the aquarium. Beautifully designed and all the fish/animals were awesome. We watched the otters for a very long time and didn’t want to leave them. Kids had a great time. Definitely would recommend to anyone in the area.

I & my husband 1st time to ever visit this place & oh, just wow!! I felt like a kid just gazing at this huge fish & such. The butterfly room was mesmerizing! We had both enjoyed it. We are planning on returning at some point. So much to do & explore!! The price is well worth it. Check out Tennessee Aquaruim Chattanooga site. They will show you the price & times. Where we had parked. Was only a few steps to the aquaruim. If your planning a day there. I would pay over 5 hours for $14. It is worth it! Just need to do some research.

We love this aquarium! There are two buildings, one building houses the freshwater aquarium and the other building houses the saltwater aquarium. The exhibits were very well done and visitor traffic pattern very well laid out with visitors directed to ride escalators to the top of each building first and guided through the building downward through each floor towards the exit. I often feel overwhelmed when visiting traditional large aquariums and I felt this aquarium was the perfect size presenting information well in a good format with very well-done exhibits and displays. There was an area in each building for touching some of the sea animals. On top of the saltwater building was an amazing butterfly garden. Admission was pricey but well worth it. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door and are timed entry. Took us about 2 1/2 hours to see. When visiting the aquarium, don’t forget to enjoy the outsides of the buildings with streams for children to play in. Along the side towards the back of the saltwater building is rushing water down a a long series of steps into a pool at the Tennessee River. Best aquarium I’ve ever been to!

With Covid restrictions still in place several of the hands on experiences were closed. We still enjoyed the fish and the stingray exhibit. I bought our tickets ahead of time but still felt areas were packed with people. Overall, it was a fun experience. Not sure that I would spend that much money again but it was a fun one time experience.

fun and educational. enjoyed the self-paced learning experience. recommend visiting IMAX theatre as well. the ability to purchase aquarium tickets at IMAX is super convenient.

I love aquariums and have seen some really good ones like the Monterey Bay Aquarium since I live in California. But I must say the Tennessee Aquarium didn’t disappoint. But I have to say we went through the River portion first and it is hands down my favorite of the 2. It was such a beautifully put together aquarium. It was also a beautiful building from the outside. I would highly recommend checking out if your are in the Chattanooga area.

Half a day visit, hands on exhibits really added value for the kids. Very clean, good variety. Would be a bit better is there was more interaction with staff and a more educational angle. Highly recommended.

This is one of the best aquariums I have ever been to! The facility is clean and the animals well cared for. It was much larger with more animals and exhibits than I expected. I highly recommend the add-on "Deeper Dives" tour, where you can go behind the scenes before the aquarium opens for the day.

If you enjoy aquariums this is a must see location. The freshwater building is amazing! I will say the saltwater building is nice but cannot compare so if you only have time for one side make sure it is the freshwater and take your time going through as all the tanks are a little different.

This place was wonderful. All workers kind and friendly. Flow of pedestrians was smooth, never felt crowded. Best variety of animals and do educational.

What a great aquarium. The 2 buildings are separated by a courtyard, the River and the ocean. The kids got to pet stingrays and loved the butterfly exhibit. Great learning experience with special attention to the litter in the ocean.

A very nice aquarium and worth seeing, but I felt that the cost was a little high. I'd still recommend it if you are in the area.

My first Tennessee Aquarium visit…and it won’t be my last. Loved how the flow goes from river/inland life to the ocean…sensory overload is a good description. My favorites were the frogs, penguins, and jellyfish. You can easily spend 4+ hours in here exploring the thousands of exhibits and interactive displays.

Excellent way to spend a HOT or rainy day
The Aquarium is in two separate buildings for ocean and river. we especially liked the river as they take rain drop journey from stream to river to ocean. Very well done, interesting and informative
Enjoyed the day with our 9 year old granddaughter and daughter. Three generations engaged and leaned!

Our family of 20 took over three hours to thoroughly enjoy both buildings. We enjoyed the hands-0n displays and many exhibits. The staff members were very interactive and helpful throughout. I highly recommend.

This was my husband's choice on our trip. And it was a great choice except that we had to get our money back since the imax theater was closed and it wasent posted online when ordering tickets. Anyway I think this was the best aquarium. 2 buildings to go through with loads of interesting facts, and animals.

Since my daughter loves aquariums we have visited many in multiple locations but I have to say this one had some of the most unique offerings I have ever seen. I would definitely recommend starting in the "River" building as recommended by the lady at the ticket counter. A definite worth see.

What a fun aquarium. It consists of two buildings representing ocean and lake/river environments. There are a few hands-on activities and lots of information on the animals, ecosystems, and how to save nature.

*You need to pre-purchase tickets for a time slot. Don't just show up and expect to pay at the door.
* If was still stupid crowded and I can't figure out how us buying a time slot mattered??? People came and went as they pleased.
* The food court outside is a hot mess. You should avoid it at all costs. Unmotivated, tortured workers, praying for death at the counter, waited 20 minutes for 2 hotdogs. A kids chicken nugget meal was 8 bucks.
* Aquarium is separated info a freshwater and saltwater building. Gift shop in the ocean building was garbage. Buy your gifts in the freshwater building.
* It's well decorated with many types of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Sting ray petting tank was open. A few other exhibits were closed.
* Great jellyfish exhibit
* Had considerably more turtles than most aquariums, should you have a turtle lover.
* Bonus points for penguins and otters

I was not expecting much but was surprised how much I enjoyed it. We have been to many aquariums and this is one of my top favorites. It is split up into 2 parts. Ocean building and River building, where you can take a break between the 2 building for lunch.

10 across the board it’s was nice very enjoyable I would go again my friends enjoyed themSelf everything was walking distance

Loved the timed entry!
We took the earliest which was 9am and were out by 11:30. We got to see things that later arrivals might miss such as the feeding of mice to the snakes and divers cleaning the tanks.
The aquarium was not a disappointment and we can’t wait to go back for a second visit through it.

Took two of our Grand Girls to Chattanooga and they wanted to see the aquarium. They had a blast and it was crowded ( we went on a Thursday). We visited both the River Story and the Ocean and it took about 5 hours. Be prepared to drop some money but it is so worth it. Clean and easy to navigate. There is plenty of parking all around the aquarium and it’s not expensive. It’s a must see!

We enjoyed our visit to the Tennessee Aquarium. We will return, & recommend this aquarium to others. Lots of fresh & salt water fish & other animals to see. We also enjoyed the butterfly garden there.

We had such a blast today! There is such a variety in animal life and the atmosphere is open. The fact that they have two different buildings for exhibits and entry gives a great opportunity to pop over the the IMAX theater in between exhibits and catch a bite to eat before the next one. We spent almost 3 hours between the two buildings.

This aquarium was one for the largest I have been to. Very clean and spacious. The exhibits were amazing. My family really enjoyed both the ocean and the river buildings. Many amazing fish and wild life. My son is 7 and hard to keep him interested in things but he stayed engaged the whole time. Definitely a must see stop for a family vacation

Best aquarium we’ve ever visited! Great space, COVID protocols, and amazing educational focus. And, memberships are tax deductible!

Thoroughly enjoyed this aquarium. The lay out is great and enhances the experience. River part was terrific as you learned a great deal about river species and inhabitants.

Oh wow I do t even know where to start! The river journey is just mesmerizing! We live about 30 minutes from the ga aquarium but we had never seen anything like the set up at the Tennessee aquarium it’s for sure worth the stop! The ocean journey isn’t that good but the river journey is so worth it! But in the ocean side there is some cool stuff like the Penguins and butterfly garden!

Superb displays, easy access, and great fish. Lots of room to see the displays. Really enjoyed all the turtles.

The aquarium was timed entry and spread over 2 buildings plus the Imax is a 3rd building. The paid parking areas are all over the area. The aquarium compares very favorably with other aquariums. We liked it better than the Atlanta Aquarium.

We really enjoyed this aquarium. I would have given it 4* but $40 per adult is steep! And that doesn’t even include the IMAX. We started in the pavilion with the butterflies, lemurs and penguins and spent about an hour plus here as we like to watch the animals. I liked the fact that the penguins had their names posted for their colored armbands. The other pavilion gives a nod to many other major bodies of water but focuses heavily on the huge numbers of local fish - I learned that there are more here than in any other temperate area. Defiantly worth a visit if you can spare the money.

Outstanding aquarium, I really liked that it was in two separate buildings. One for the ocean and one for the river (freshwater). The displays were very well maintained and clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful. All were great representatives for Tennessee. I have been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta which both were good but I would rank the Tennessee Aquarium just as great as the two leading aquariums in the nation. Spent a very joyful day there. Thanks to all the staff that made this happen.

Well worth a visit, excellent aquariums and butterfly experience.Perfect for all ages.Best aquariums I’ve visited and I’ve seen several worldwide

Did both buildings, astonished by the variety and quantity of information and species. Easy to get around within both buildings, and the walkway/bridge between both is a favorite family gathering spot. Its attention to conservation (e.g. the Turtle Nursery) is admirable.

We loved going here! The aquarium is separated into two buildings (freshwater and saltwater). We had bought tickets before and had no problem going in around our time. The exhibits were clearly labeled and informative, and had some interactive exhibits. The sting ray petting tank was open which was cool to experience.

The Tennessee Aquarium was very good but had no salt water fish-----only fresh water, river fish. The Georgia Aquarium was far superior to the Tennessee Aquarium however it was still worth visiting.

We went here for our youngest second birthday 11 years ago, this year we went back so she could actually enjoy it and it’s changed a little. The overall aquarium is still amazing. However they don’t allow drinks inside so it’s hard to stay hydrated on hot days and the gift shops do not have plastic bags, only bags to purchase, which makes buying for a large family kinda hard. While I understand the reasons I’m just personally not a fan of those two policies. Either way it’s a fun time.

We enjoyed the aquarium, but it wasn't our favorite attraction in Chattanooga. Rock City was.... But,there are some nice displays and it is easy to navigate. You start at the top and work your way down and the signs are well posted. There was one doror for wheelchair access that wasn't clearly marked that caused us some confusion, but otherwise it was good. My favorite was the ocean building....It takes 1-2 hours for each building or more if you stop a lot. Pucketts is a nearby restaurant and has FABULOPUS food and service.

My husband and I love aquariums so we had to check this place out on our trip to Chattanooga. My tip? If you’re going first thing, start off in the Ocean building. Everyone else usually starts in the River building. We had the ocean building entirely to ourselves plus one other family. It was great! And that was on a Saturday.

These exhibits are so cool! The experience becomes immersive as you wind through and explore the giants. The flow is logical and well planned. One top floor was my favorite with the lemurs moving about and ray touch tank. I was amazed how many hands-on things were happening even in the height of a pandemic. They also do an awesome job with their signage and videos and behind the scenes peeks to highlight the conservation work achieved. The Imax movies are worth the extra cost, but you do have to walk to the other side of the block. And the location downtown is pretty clutch, not far from restaurants or the art district.

It’s ok. I kinda feel like if you’ve seen one aquarium, you’ve seen them all. There’s nothing spectacular about this one that really stands out from any others. A bit overpriced. The octopus is fun to watch though. The otters are popular, so if that’s not something you see often, it’s a fun exhibit. Great location, lots of food options close by and convenient public parking with small fee.

My daughter and I came to Chattanooga for a few days, and this was one of our first choices for things to do.
We got there mid-morning and taking our time, moving down the walkways, we probably spent almost 4 hours between the 2 exhibits. It's as beautiful as I remember from other times; we were there at the same time a group of school-aged kids were and because no one was on a schedule, we didn't feel like they were keeping us from enjoying the experience.
One disappoint was that we couldn't pet the sturgeon, which was a fun part from our last visit (many years ago), but we were able to pet stingrays, which was a great experience.
I'd encourage anyone to visit- make sure you wear shoes made for walking, take your time and give all the little 'extra' exhibits your attention- at 28, my daughter still enjoyed climbing 'inside' one of the tanks and having her picture made with the fish on display.

The huge shark and turtles were worth the visit alone. The exhibit is extensive so be prepared to enjoy a long day with a lunch break.

We are fairly active seniors, with minor mobility issues, but this is a very easy walk. There is no Senior Citizen Discount, so the tickets are a little pricey for what you get.

We've frequented the GA aquarium many times and this one is so much better. The layout is so nice and the break between buildings allowed us to grab a snack and a bite to eat. Great experience!

To say disappointed is an understatement. So very underwhelming. First, the price of this aquarium compared to other bigger and better aquariums is outrageous. $69 for two people. It’s separated into two areas, River and Ocean. The ocean was some penguins in a tiny enclosure, and a few sharks. There was one large tank and a lot of view points of that tank. The River journey was a lot better however, still terrible. The otters were in a small enclosure, and they looked depressed. Otters are supposed to be happy little creatures. We felt like the price and the amount of exhibits/fish was not worth the 45 mins of time we wasted. I could have walked back and forth outside and had just as much fun.

In my opinion this is the best aquarium in Tennessee. There's 2 different buildings to explore. Lots of hands-on activities and things to see and do.

Always love the Tennessee Aquarium, something for everyone. We live in Georgia and prefer to travel to this Aquarium compared to the one in Atlanta. So much variety here and really well layed out.

Wonderful visit with my family! The aquarium is very accessible and even includes an adult changing table. We can't wait to return. The turtle nursery was a family favorite.

This is a lovely aquarium. It doesn’t take forever to walk through the space, and doesn’t feel too short either. Great exhibits and friendly staff.

Really not worth the money. A lot of the same things over and over, fish and turtles. A couple interactive areas for the kids but not great. Mostly just petting things. And no big animals/attractions to make it special.

Aquarium is okay. Aquariums can be found in many cities and they are all good, but I prefer to enjoy the landscape and sceneries. Having been to TN, why waste time indoors?

We visited from the Atlanta area and while we have our own acclaimed aquarium downtown ATL, our family has to confess that we love the Chattanooga Aquarium more because of the layout and you never really feel like all the other visitors are right on top of you. Great collection of aquatic life and more. Highly recommend.

My husband and I frequently visit aquariums when we travel. This one was one of our favorites! The aquarium is very well done and flows very well. One building is dedicated to rivers and one to oceans. I thought the one dedicated to the rivers would be boring since you don’t have the variety of colors but I was wrong. It was very interesting and we saw a lot of things we hadn’t seen before. We got there before it got too busy but since we spent a lot of time there, it was busy when we left. We spent about 3 hours going through both buildings.

Great way to spend a few hours on one of our vacation days, 8/4/21. Lots of walking and looking at the lemurs, penguins, fish, sharks, stingrays, frogs, alligators, etc. The only thing closed was the butterfly Exhibit.

It was a nicely done aquarium in 2 sections River and Ocean. Informative and interesting. There are a couple of spots where you can climb under the fish tank and come up in the center of the tank. That was fun

We have been before but still enjoyed. Pandemic precaution handled well. Of course you can do somethings due to that but still worth it. Would recommend gaining at 9 am when less crowded and parking easier. Pics below of baby starfish and jellyfish.

My favorite part of the aquarium is the butterfly garden! I could spend all day in there. So many different types of butterflies! They also have a touch pool with different types of rays. There is an easy to follow path through both the river building and the ocean building. Both buildings also have art pieces made of recycled trash! They are so interesting to see. The tickets are expensive but we spent hours here and there's a wonderful restaurant nearby and the river! Great location, great animals, and pretty architecture. A must-do!

We visited the Chattanooga Aquarium in Feb. 2024 on a Wednesday. It wasn't busy and we were able to walk around without being rushed. The buildings were clean and the employees we encountered were very friendly and knowledgeable. The displays and enclosures were very animal friendly and true to their environments. I bet it looks really nice in the summer when the outside fountains are on. Visit this place, you won't be disappointed!

The River side and Ocean side were awesome! Each side takes about 1 hour. Pricey but if you make a day out of it, there are places to eat outside if you pack a lunch the parking lot is not far. There is also a water area outside where kids can cool off.

It was nice lots to see here whether you like fish of the area, jelly fish or petting rays they have it here. I did not do five stars as I did not like the set up of various buildings if you purchase imax too you have to cross the street to it. You really don’t know all the places to go that you paid for on your ticket if your not from here and never been. Also trying to find parking is a nightmare when you don’t know if a lot is full or how much or how much time you will get in a lot with no people manning the lots you tend to drive through many full lots before finding one with an opening. And the aquarium making you pay for time slots I think is crazy too. You order online for say 1pm and spend an hour locating parking to be after 1 arriving the door. I would have liked more organization and smoother process.

This is the best aquarium I've been to! I love how they have it all in one direction so you can't miss out on seeing anything. Very organized! The aquarium is separated into 2 separate buildings...River journey and ocean journey. We were told to start in river journey which we did and it was honestly my favorite of the two. They take your picture upon entering and you can buy it at the end of your journey...they have different packages to choose from. The gift shop at river journey was under construction when we were there but luckily the one at ocean journey was open so we were able to get a souvenir. There is so much to see at this aquarium that I would allow no less than 3 hours to see everything!

They are currently doing timed entry reservations so keep in mind you will have to find paid parking near the aquarium and walk over...allow yourself time for this. It was a bit crowded when we were there so pack your patience as well. Overall we had an amazing time and will definitely visit again in the future.

There’s a reason why this is the #1 attraction in Chattanooga. Very well laid out. Start at the top and go down. Lots of interactive activities for kids. Exhibits flowed well. Emphasis on the environment. Timed tickets worked well by keeping crowds limited. Spent about 1-1/2 hours.

The architecture alone should let you know how good this place is! Our kids easily could have spent 6 hours here with all of the splash pad areas outside too. Very stroller friendly and so many cool animals to see!

We got there at 10:30am and enjoyed the ocean side but were a little thrown off by the Lemur exhibit when we first walked in. The penguin exhibit was our 5 year olds favorite part. He liked being able to match the color of their tag to their name. The penguins were really active when we were there. Watching the divers in the tank with the sharks was cool. The divers were nice and they even had a Q&A session. It felt like the ocean side had more
Interactive parts. The river side felt like it took a lot longer to get through but felt really repetitive. The otters were cute but were not out much. We think it was the time of day. The fish tanks on this side felt repetitive and our 5 year old got board easily. Overall it’s a cool place to see if you have kids who like animals.

Wonderful family friendly aquarium. Took a ton of photos. I recommend seeing a 3D IMAX movie too. We saw the Ocean Animals movie.

The aquarium is world-class. It spans two buildings, and it took us most of the day to see everything we wanted to see. My niece loved it, but it's definitely not just for children.

So much to see, they have a fresh water and a salt water exhibit. Both exhibits are fantastic. The set up allows for a good flow of people so it doesn’t feel crowded. They have a butterfly exhibit and a few hands on exhibits. Lost of stuff for the kids to touch and explore.

Saturday morning we got to experience the Deeper Dives guided tour prior to the aquarium opening and it was well worth every penny. We had an incredible guide, Hannah, who was clearly passionate and extensively knowledgeable.

This is a why nicer aquarium than the one in Atlanta Georgia where I’m from. It is definitely older but the set up and experience of it is way more interesting than Atlanta is. It’s roomy and quiet me my wife and son never felt crowded or cramped up.

We absolutely loved the aquarium! It’s spacious and clean and so fun. My 9 month old looked around and was happy before taking a nap in her stroller and my 2.5 yo did one building for about and hour and a half then we left took a nap and finished the 2nd building after nap!

Most amazing aquarium experience.great food available..very interesting gift shop.there was a great vibe there with buses of school kids thst were so excited and well behaved..we spent 6 1/2 hrs here,had two meals,bought 2 bags of gifts at the shop..will.have to bring the grandkids when we come back

Excellent aquarium right on the Tennessee river. The aquarium is spread out in a few buildings around a courtyard. It was nice to get some outdoor play time while going from building to building. The butterfly garden is a nice touch.

Such a beautiful Aquarium! The tanks were so beautiful and clean that I felt like I was in them with the fish!! The fresh water aquarium was so unique I had no idea of the crazy fish that live in the fresh water! It was a bit pricey, but overall a very nice experience.

My husband and I have been to other aquariums but, this by far is our favorite. So much to look at and learn about. We enjoyed that the aquarium allowed us to experience fresh water animals in one building and salt water animals in another building.

We went on a Wednesday around 4:30-5 and it wasn’t too busy. Easy pace and could take our time at the exhibits.

If we lived here, we would definitely be getting season passes!

I always love visiting here. I lost count how many times I’ve been over the years but I hadn’t been in about 8 years or so. It was still so nice to visit and I always want to Come back. It was a but crowded being in a holiday weekend but it wasn’t overly crowded like a couple other places we went. Definitely worth checking out when in the area!

Best aquarium ever. Loved the two separate Tennessee River and the Oceans venue each in their own building. Every display area was well done and remarkably realistic. Especially loved the river otter and penguin exhibits, as well as the massive multistory fish tanks in the Oceans display. Be sure you budget enough time to enjoy everything this 5 star venue has to offer. Wear comfortable walking shoes, as each of the two museum buildings has 4 floors of displays, so you will walk further than you might think.

we visited the aquarium on a cold Saturday morning at around 9 AM. We spent about 2.5 hours. They have 2 buildings - one is based on rivers and the other is based on oceans. Fabulous array of animals. My 4 year old daughter and 11 year old son had a fantastic time. lots of ocean / river animals, great facts and very well laid out aquarium. Its not very huge but quite well designed.

This is a terrific attraction on Chattanoogas waterfront. There are two distinct sections to it. In my opinion, this is one of the nicest aquariums I’ve seen.

Plan to spend an afternoon because it’s quite extensive. So much to see and learn about.
They even have a butterfly garden.
The staff is super helpful and friendly.

Chattanooga has a nice waterfront, and a lot of good restaurant options when you’re done your aquarium tour.

Great stop and perfect retreat from the heat. Had lots to see and interactive displays. Only thing that could make it any better is if it had a conveyor belt under the tanks. Overall still awesome and very enjoyable for the kids.

This is one of the first aquariums I've ever visited to put a spotlight on the amount of trash in our oceans. Entire pieces of art are crafted out of items found in the ocean. It's both fascinating and horrifying. The sea animal variety was smaller than expected, but with the all- inclusive ticket, visitors have access to multiple attractions, including an IMAX movie.

We loved this Aquarium. I went by myself once. Then brought the whole family on vacation!!!! So many fantastic tanks, LOTS to do. Will visit on our next trip...

We were very disappointed in the aquarium. It just wasn't worth the money that we paid. Nothing spectacular.

A world class facility! Especially enjoyed the Turtles of the World exhibit, which included a nursery for critically endangered species. The special "Washed Ashore" exhibit was very effective. There was a short video with a professional fisherman explaining every time he goes out, he tries to pick up at least 1 piece of trash that isn't his. Something fairly easy to do, yet it will make a difference - I plan to follow his advice. Loved this aquarium!

If we travel close enough to this aquarium we are sure to stop . We love aquariums and have been to so many but this is the very best one hands down !!!

Absolutely gorgeous aquarium! Beautiful creatures and exhibits so well presented. I'd love to go back!

This was such a fun place, we went twice in one week (we were staying in Knoxville)! My husband and I visited on a Sunday and took our grandkids back the next Wednesday. They are toddlers and loved the interactive tanks of fish. We were all amazed by the Giant Pacific Octopus...

Timed entry, so everything is well-organized. Lots of nearby parking. Plan extra time to let the kids play in the water features outdoors.

Consists of two aquariums; a River Journey and an Ocean Journey. Easy to do both in a single visit.

Went on a rainy day while in town. The aquarium was Very clean, easy to go at our own pase, and loved all the animals.
Our favorites to watch were the otters!

The Tennessee Aquarium never disappoints! Both buildings are informative, interesting and fun for all ages. The otters and butterflies are my favorites, but there is something interesting and fun for everyone. It is easy to navigate from parking to the entrance, and the actual buildings are also easy to navigate for people of all ages. It is stroller and wheelchair friendly. Always a great place to visit!

We were staying in Nashville and went to Chattanooga to this aquarium, and it was simply amazing and our friend that has always wanted to be at an aquarium really enjoyed herself

All of the fish aquariums. Amazing day. Loved seeing everything. My grandson got ro see it for the first time the biggest fish he'd ever seen.

A nice surprise to find this cool museum. Laid out so that everyone starts on the top level and loops around and down thru the other levels. Keeps the crowds spread out nicely. Great exhibits with a lot of attention to protection of waterways, wetlands and habitat. Only had time to tour the river building - there is a separate, but adjacent building for oceans. Maybe next time!

Let me begin by saying I am from the Chattanooga area and that this aquarium is supposed to be or considered to be more educational, than entertaining. However, this was the not the case for my visit. I will say that this aquarium is split into two different buildings and actually the outside of the building was more impressive to me than the inside. We started our journey with the river side building. I will alert you that it is very, very dark inside (great escape from the heat). We took the escalators all the way to the top and wondered the path back down. There were plenty of fish to look at (the otters must have been napping). As we followed the path down, there was only one person out talking about what we were seeing. She was not super engaging, as a matter of fact my nieces walked right by her, before I told them she was there to talk about the fish they were looking at.
Secondly, they had a touch area (you could touch a sturgeon), the person watching over that area, was not telling anything about them, rather, she said "use 2 fingers and glide them across the top of the fish, make sure and wash your hands after". That was all she said, no explanation about the fish or when I said their bodies were hard like armor, she didn't even acknowledge why this was.
After being disappointed with this building, we made our way to the other one. In this building was the ocean life, lemurs, butterfly garden, stingray touch and penguins. Let me start by saying that the stingray touch was about the same as the other building, no explanation about them. We saw the lemurs, but no one there to talk about them. It would have also been nice to know that we did not have to go through the butterfly garden to continue on the journey. You can bypass this area (especially if you or children are scared of insects). We followed our path on down to the penguins (which was the highlight of our trip). They were funny and fascinating and one swam right up to the glass and it seemed almost to be playing with my nieces. They loved this part. We actually spent a long time watching them. Then we wondered on the rest of the journey, yes you see a few sharks, nothing impressive, but they are there along with some other ocean life. Again, no one out talking about what we were seeing, no real photo ops, and actually inside was so dark, that a camera didn't really do well.

I have been to a few other aquariums within a couple hours drive of here and I would rate this one a 5 out of 10. Would I discourage you if you are visiting the area from going here, no. However, I personally would not pay the price to go back again. Being this close to a much larger aquarium that actually had interactions would be my choice to go to again.

The environment for all the creatures was amazing! The thought and detail in making this home for the species housed there took me over the top. I also was really impressed on how they got their messaging across recycling trash (bottle caps, flip flop soles, etc) and how trash harms water and wildlife. A wonderful experience for all ages!

Always love the Aquarium! We loved how they have salt water side and then a fresh water side. The butterfly exhibit was also fun!

This was our second visit to the aquarium, which is well-designed and contains numerous interesting species of fish, snakes, turtles, penguins, river otters and other aquatic life. The aquarium is located in a great area of Chattanooga with several nice hotels and restaurants closeby.

We visited on a Tuesday and were only part-way thru our visit, having just completed the river section before heading to the ocean exhibits, but were already frustrated by at least two school field trip groups (I’m guessing they were between 5th and 7th grade) that were very loud and disruptive, making our experience much less enjoyable than what we recalled from our first visit. The kids were loud, disrespectful and generally damaged our experience. The chaperones weren’t much better than the kids and made no attempt to quiet them or have them walk in any order. I was bumped into three times - once fairly aggressively- with no “excuse me,” or apology.

I started to approach Guest Services but frankly didn’t expect them to improve the situation since several aquarium employees (volunteers?) had clearly seen the kids’ behavior and done nothing. We just tried to stay ahead of these groups, see what we could peacefully, and leave.

For the sake of other guests, I really hope the aquarium will tell kids’ adult group leaders they need to demonstrate respectful behavior or they’ll be asked to leave.

The river experience was a highlight in this 2 building aquarium. Nice layouts where you start at the top and work your way down the ramps which makes it feel less crowded. The river giants were our favorite. 2 gifts shops, one in each building. Adding on an Imax show is well worth it.

Too many people! With tickets at a specific time it should have been less crowded. No one was checking time and there was no social distancing. Very disappointed and won’t come back.

There are two buildings to tour. At first I thought it was expensive for a family of three, however, once we were inside and saw the quality of care they provide to their animals, it was well worth it! We had a great experience and definitely recommend it to all ages!

The River side was interesting and we toured it first. By the time we moved on to the Ocean side, it seemed every child in Chattanooga had shown up and it was loud and crowded. So much for their timed entries.

Very clean, $15 bucks for parking very close. Nice area around the place. Two buildings one for river and one for ocean. Some nice turtles.

We bought tickets for a designated time slot. All patrons were required to wear masks, which is great. However, even though a weekday and time slotted tickets, it was crowded and no one seems to understand what 6 feet means. Of course, this is patrons not the aquarium itself.
Mostly of the aquarium is a huge tank that you view from three different floors. Sort of keep seeing same fish. Smaller exhibits are pretty good and did enjoy the river exhibit that shows how the water begins that creates the TN river. The penguins are adorable and there are quite a few. It is a lot of walking, about 2 hours, but there are benches throughout where you can rest. Be sure to bring your water bottle, as you can not buy any and they do have water filling stations.

This place is amazing and huge. Staff is very friendly and helpful. We spent at least 3 hours there (over a half an hour at the touch tank with my 10 year old). It is a "must see" attraction if you're in Chattanooga.

We enjoyed visiting this aquarium. It's fairly small and has two separate buildings- one for freshwater and one for saltwater. The employees were very nice and helpful and it's laid out well for the space. $35 per adult is pretty expensive considering the aquarium in ATL is huge, amazing and only $5 more per ticket.

The aquarium was amazing and cleverly designed. Too bad we had to try and navigate thru bratty kids jumping on exhibitions and running amok while their lazy zoned out parents were oblivious.

Parents-we didn’t choose to have your kids, you did. So invest enough time in them to teach them how to act in public or keep them tucked at home with their PlayStation .

Awesome aquarium! The layout is well designed and the attractions are superb! Well worth the price of admission!

Beautiful!!!

Absolutely great exhibits, fascinating creatures and really loved the extra info that the staff is happy to tell you about!

I would suggest taking a lunch break between the two buildings though if possible. It’s a lot to look at and also a lot of walking! Definitely worth the visit and wish we could have spent more time there!!!

The aquarium was nice and well kept, there was plenty to see between the two buildings (fresh water and salt water). The one directional flow was nice and kept traffic moving at an appropriate pace without the feeling of competing to see the same exhibits.

I did wish that someone had mentioned that there are many fountains and small splash pad type areas outside around the aquarium! My kids would have enjoyed those on such a hot day. Bring some suits for after or some dry clothes to change into for the ride home!

We came at Christmas and were very disappointed. We opted for your aquarium over the Georgia aquarium being right between both in north GA. You had no sharks or saltwater at all for that matter and the Imax tickets we bought were no good because we couldn't stay till the afternoon to watch. Not sure why there were no saltwater animals? All of this was very disappointing and nothing on your site even mentioned these issues. The imax schedule was long and diverse on your site but in reality there was only one showing late in the day we couldn't stay for. Thankfully our granddaughter doesn't know the difference so she couldn't be disappointed but we were, especially after paying what we did to see a lot of animals we could go to local bodies of water and see. Suffice it to say we will not be back, Georgia will be our destination moving forward.

Russell Stumpf

I wouldn't go on a holiday weekend, it was very crowded, but a very nice aquarium. Would definitely take other family members there.

My wife, two daughers (20 and 17) and I visited the aquarium on July 5th. We had already done quite a few outdoor activities on this trip, and the thought of air conditioning and other positive reviews led us to try this out.

The day we chose to attend, there was an arts fair happening on the grounds outside the aquarium. This made parking extremely challenging, and we ended up parking on the street about 1/2 mile away from the facility. The major downside to this was that street parking is limited to two hours, and you are NOT allowed to "add time" beyond the two hours; you have to physically move your car to a new spot. I was unsure if only having two hours was going to cause us to rush through the aquarium, and it probably did expedite certain segments of our visit so if you can get parking for longer than two hours, three hours would have been much more comfortable.

There are two different buildings, and it turns out we started our visit in the "wrong" one. As a matter of fact, it doesn't matter which building you visit first, and our doing it "incorrectly" did not in any way take away from the experience.

Both buildings are well done and feature things that are typical to nicer aquariums. There were also more "land" based animals than often appear. My wife was quite fond of their expansive turtle exhibit (she likes turtles a lot).

There is nothing I would point out as being spectacularly great or unusual about this particular facility, but it is well done and a good activity for a hot afternoon. If you only have one or two days in Chattanooga, I personally would say this is something you could skip, but if you are an animal lover and/or it is a hot day, this is a good albeit somewhat pricey destination.

Beautiful Aquarium. The only downside is that many parents let their kids run wild and make it hard to see and enjoy some of the great exhibits. I say that as the parent of 6 whose now grown children visited here, years ago, with my wife and I.

The Aquarium should consider having an hour in the morning or at the end of the day where it is just for people over 16 - even if they charge more - it would be worth it to many.

We have been to a number of aquariums and this one is definitely one of the best! Timed entry kept crowds to a minimum, the tanks are huge and we got to watch the penguins being fed. Lots of jellyfish. The lemurs were fun to watch and we saw a few species of fish we hadn’t seen before. Signage could’ve been clearer as to where to go in but minor complaint. Inexpensive meter parking nearby.

The river aquarium was amazing. The ocean aquarium was good but not as good as the river. Enjoyed them both and would visit again. A little shocked in the gift shop when I was asked if I wanted to buy a $4 bag to take my goodies home. No other bag available.

A nice aquarium, definitely better for families with little kids. As someone from FL, it was a bit underwhelming in the saltwater area. That being said the River area was great!

This aquarium has two separate buildings with walkways starting on the 4th levels and working down to the ground levels with tanks and displays holding numerous species of wildlife. Highlights were the penguins, the butterflies and the many species of fish, turtles, etc.

Very well designed and I learned a lot. It is great for people of all ages. Glad we included this in the things we did on our week vacation in Chattanooga area.

We haven’t been to the aquarium in 20 years since our youngest was five. We enjoyed it immensely. Especially the new ocean building. Employees were helpful. Great place to go with family. Especially those with younger children.

Everyone in the family, loved it , the children all loved it very informative spend too much time they are looking around with all the exhibits

I haven't been to the aquarium in over 15 years. Mostly the same. Great for kids. I guess my outlook has changed. Some of the exhibits seemed small and I ended up feeling bad for the wildlife. I didn't like the display that showed what plastic and trash do to the rivers and streams because the aquarium actually had living fish in there with the junk. I guess it was to prove a point, but it looks cruel to the poor creatures that are spending what life they have in this display.

As a family of 5 kids ages 3-14, we all really enjoyed the Aquarium. It was actually cheaper for our family to purchase the yearly membership than to buy one day tickets for everyone. We decided to upgrade to the deluxe so that the IMAX is included, and it’s totally worth it.

Great little Aquarium for adults, early teens and younger. Staff is very attentive, attentive and knowledgeable.

Check out the magical butterfly area!!!!

The ticket office can be confusing, and we went on a Saturday and it was extremely busy. Try to find a time that is less busy so you can really take the time to spend quality time with the little's.

The Aquarium is clean, hand sanitizers and sinks everywhere which is great, especially after touching the marine life!

The Tennessee Aquarium has two enormous buildings, one about rivers and the other about oceans. We took the wise suggestion of the ticket seller and started at the river building. The ocean building is more spectacular, featuring penguins, lemurs and turtles. Just a first rate, fun, educational experience. Don't miss it!

This is a truly excellent aquarium - the best I've been to, and that includes Charleston, Baltimore (although very long time ago), Atlanta.
Kudos to the guy who was trying very hard to point out the baby fish fry in the Cichlid exhibit. I enjoyed talking to him briefly, but he was almost invisible in the crush of toddlers and small kids running amok.
My biggest negative point - and it was a huge problem - they allow people with strollers making the whole place impassable with strollers. These are full sized, sometimes even double wide strollers. There is seldom actually a kid in the stroller, the kid is being carried. They use the stroller to carry all their crap instead. I was really surprised at the number of really too young children (under 2yo and babies) - I guess these parents don't care about all the viruses spread by other children. The only parents I saw with a reasonable stroller were a European couple who had a collapsible stroller that they held (not much larger than a folded umbrella when collapsed.)
This makes the experience very unpleasant, and quite honestly if there is not a documented medical need, non-collapsible strollers should not be not allowed in.

Visited the aquarium with the grandchildren and we had a wonderful time. Started with the Freshwater building and then made our way to the ocean building. We spent 3-4 hrs. there and certainly not enough time to see everything. There were so many fascinating things to see. The kids also loved the “touch” tanks where they could touch a sturgeon and later during the visit it was stingrays. Will certainly visit again, if for nothing else, to see what I missed the first time! :) A lot of walking so be ready for that.

Really impressive aquarium, something I would expect to see in a much larger city. The large fish, the sharks - amazing to see. The atmosphere with dimmed lighting as you wind your way through the exhibits was very peaceful and enjoyable.

The entire setup was extremely well thought out, lots to see, but it didn't feel like too much walking, especially as we sat outside enjoying the weather for a break in between the 2 buildings.

Lovely to see, all of our ages enjoyed it, from 2 - 82.

Although a little expensive, this place has two big buildings. It was busy, but you could barely tell because of how they spread it all out. The views of the Tennessee river were great as well. I only wish they gave a little more push to salt water as well but overall a good aquarium

SUCH A GOOD FAMILY DAY. My teenagers did not want to leave. We did the Feeding Frenzy Backstage Tour and the staff was excellent. They explained the entire process to us before allowing us to feed the smaller fish in the largest tank. Everyone was so friendly and enthusiastic. A volunteer educated us on the sting rays at the petting pool, and let us know when the penguin feeding would happen. The turtle nursery was a great surprise, and made my son's day.

It can be tricky to entertain two 15 year olds, but this was a grand slam for us. We arrived at 12:30 and stayed till close

The Tennessee Aquarium is an amazing experience in terms of value, collection, presentation and layout, as well as the surrounding area. If you live in Atlanta, drive two hours north on 75, easily park and fall in love with the Tennessee Aquarium, and enjoy walking around scenic and charming downtown Chattanooga by the river.

Tennessee Aquarium ($29 per person online, NO MASK REQUIRED, 130k sq. ft., more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species)

The aquarium is non-profit, funded by Lyndhurst Foundation, designed by University of Tennessee's urban design program and Cambridge Seven Associates, which had previously designed the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the New England Aquarium in Boston. It includes two separate buildings for fresh and salt water exhibits, and the presentation feels like a science museum to keep the emphasis on what’s in the tank. The atmosphere created by the lighting and ambient music surrounding the displays is subtle and unobtrusive - it’s gorgeous. The entire structure is carefully designed to be naturalistic and afford optimal viewing. The collection is extensive, and though it’s smaller by square footage, it feels greater than the Georgia collection and actually features more species. The flow of people is well managed by design. Substantial variety of jellyfish and ocean life, wide range of freshwater life including reptiles and amphibians, a butterfly house and lemurs.

This aquarium is split into two buildings one featuring salt and the other fresh water. I liked how educational it was for the youngsters. Also the fresh water building featured an extensive amount of info on the Tenn river so locals go check that out. If you have been to other large aquariums you will still love it because you love aquariums but you may want to pass these up and go for a healthy walk over the market street bridge and then go to the park and take a ride on the beautiful carousel

we went with our family here, it was my first time,been to atlanta one,this one was really nice they make take a time to come so its not crowded so they make it peaceful not being rushed

Have been to several other aquariums (Shedd, Georgia Aquarium, and the National Aquarium) and this aquarium was just as nice as any of these. Loved the layout and the ease of seeing the animals even though the aquarium was fairly crowded during a Spring Break week.

Visited Shedd last summer and this was such a better experience. Entry was a smooth experience (unlike the chaotic Shedd entrance) and the exhibits didn’t seem as overcrowded. Maybe they don’t have as many fish or exhibits as at Shedd but I didn’t leave feeling stressed out and exhausted either.

Most of the tanks are large, which keeps people moving and spread out. Kind of a different layout, with two separate buildings that are not connected to each other. After seeing the exhibits in one building, you walk over and enter the other building. Worked out fine for us because the weather was good. Might be not so nice on a bad weather day.
The building on the right houses the ocean fish and the building on the left specializes in freshwater fish.

Also different is there is no cafe or food for purchase inside. There is a food court in another building across from the aquarium buildings that had indifferent and slow service. Not sure if this food court is affiliated with the aquarium or not.

Not cheap to visit for a family of four (cost about $130 with two kids and adults). That doesn’t include the parking, which is $9 for three hours and $12 for five hours in a couple of surface lots. There are also parking garages nearby.

Tickets should be purchased in advance and online. Early times in the day usually sell out. Since it only should take a maximum of three hours to see everything, I recommend buying a timed ticket for around 2 PM. Place starts clearing out after 3 and going in the morning seems guaranteed to run into the biggest crowds.

It is divided into River Journey (freshwater aquarium) and Ocean Journey (saltwater aquarium). The freshwater aquarium, which is the highlight of this aquarium, was the largest in the world when it was built.
In addition, River Journey exhibits are themed around the river flowing from the high places of the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. This makes it very interesting to be able to observe each biological theme.
In addition, freshwater creatures from various regions around the world are also exhibited.

If you live or are visiting North Georgia, visit the Tennessee Aquarium instead of battling traffic and parking in Atlanta to view the Georgia Aquarium.
There is a variety of aquatic and marine life that is very well presented with nice informational placards.
It will take about two to three hours to view everything. Check the aquarium’s website for the feeding schedule!

This place is huge! Had a great time looking and reading about all the different creatures. My 9 year old niece had a blast. This was her second time visiting.

It is one of the best fresh water aquariums. The newer salt water aquarium was good but needs more exhibits. We also got the IMAX package. The IMAX 3D movie was great. The total package was a little pricey but not too bad. We spent about 3.5 hours for the visit.

This is one of the best aquariums that I have visited. We had to reserve a time slot. My children are 1,2 & 4. They had a ball! They ran off so much energy. This is a must if you are visiting Chattanooga and have not already been.

We came to the aquarium primarily to see the butterfly exhibit. We were charged full price for three people and entered only to find out that the butterfly exhibit was closed and had apparently been closed for a significant period of time. This is one of the major exhibits at this aquarium and in our opinion is about 1/3 of the experience of visiting. When 1/3 of your major exhibit area is not available to the public there should be some warning and or notification prior to ticket purchase. We were very disappointed.

We have been to the aquarium a couple of times before when our kids were small, but we wanted to take them back and support the aquarium as they recover from being closed during pandemic. Our kids are now 13 and 19 and they loved it. It such a great place to go as a family, always something for each person to like. Staff were very friendly and helpful. It is very accessible for my wife's mobility scooter. Being able to walk through at your own pace is wonderful. We are so glad we went and hope to come back again someday.

Really enjoyed our visit here (family of 2 adults and 11 year old child). Loads to see and an educational experience as well. Very well laid out with the river journey being in a separate building to the main aquarium, made it a spacious aquarium. Worth booking in advance as we turned up to buy tickets on the door and couldn’t get admission for another hour. Not a major issue but just something to be aware of if you are planning a visit.

Really cool aquarium! Def worth the price. A few interactive exhibits that most aquariums would charge extra for. I don’t have kids but the kids there seemed to be having a blast. Areas of Multi levels with multi views of the gigantic tanks. Admission gets you to experience both buildings (the River experience and then the Ocean experience). Since I was solo, I was making pretty quick pace and didn’t stop too often and it still took me about 2 hours to walk through both buildings. So plan accordingly if you have little ones to make the most of the price of your experience!

There are two aquariums (one price) to visit. The River aquarium is my favorite because it’s unique and who doesn’t love sea otters. The Ocean aquarium is also good - this is where the butterflies are - but doesn’t really compare to the other ocean aquariums in Florida and California. There is a touch pool for each side and interactive exhibits. Overall a fun and educational visit.

A lot of it is one big aquarium that you see multiple views based on whatever level you are on.
It was neat, however I have been to some that I feel have more.

While in Chattanooga for the "Head of the Hooch", I decided to take a look around the aquarium while I waited for my race. It was a really nice aquarium, and all the animals were adorable (I especially loved the river otters and penguins). From the butterfly room there was even a nice view of the river. Supposedly this establishment is a non-profit, so that's a plus for me. However, I do wish that the animals had more space to roam about, which is the only thing I have to complain about.

Wonderful aquarium. Saw unique animals. Wish the butterfly garden was open. I hear it it amazing ! Hopefully next visit

A bit pricey for what you actually get. The aquarium is set up in two different buildings, River and Ocean. Most water tanks are from top to bottom of building, so you basically see everything in that tank at first pass, but you wind up going by the same thing multiple times. It did have monkeys, butterflies, lizards, snakes and a lot of turtles.

This is one of the better aquariums we have visited. It is designed very well. You work you’re at from the top down. Only disappointing thing was a few of the exhibits were closed - like the butterfly exhibit.

We had a blast at the aquarium. The touch tanks and staff were amazing. The scuba divers in the tanks were so friendly they interacted with the kids.

We had a great visiting the aquarium! We were there for my sons 11th birthday. It was not crowded and all the workers were friendly!

My entire family thought the TN Aquarium was only ok, but admittedly we are spoiled by the much larger, historical, and nicer Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. We enjoyed the unique layout of the River area and the river giants housed in that area, as well as the jellies and the large tank with sharks, giant sea turtle, and other creatures in the Ocean area. Because much of what you’re seeing are the same aquaria from different vantage points, we were able to get through this relatively quickly in just over an hour. For the price of admission, it isn’t worth it. Had the entry fees been priced commensurate with the size and quality of the aquarium, I would have rated this more stars, as value would have been there for the dollar. The building itself is beautiful from the outside and we really enjoyed the outside park around the buildings.

First, we paid for the aquarium and movie. The woman pointed left and told us to walk 2 blocks to the theater. Had she pointed straight ahead, we would have found it. We missed it!

Next, she told us both aquarium buildings were open til 7:00. We toured one, went to try to find the movie...ended up having dinner. We arrived at the 2nd building at 5:06....that one closed at 5:00.

This was very expensive for what we got. Left the area this morning....no chance to have them make it right. Ugh!

Pretty neat, lots to see. Ocean exhibit was my favorite. Also a River exhibit. Gift shop is a little expensive though.

Enjoyable experience for a family. I didn't realize it is so much bigger than it was years ago, there is a fresh water and a salt water building now so plan accordingly.