Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Reviews

There are two buildings with a nature walk connecting them. The trolls on the nature walk were the coolest part of the visit.

The aquarium is pretty cool and my littles enjoyed it. There are a lot of interactive things that require putting your hands in high touch areas, but it’s marked and there is hand sanitizer everywhere. It really was a nice aquarium and takes right at an hour to walk through. The parking was abysmal getting paid for. Don’t use the kiosks and just scan the QR code on the side.

Never knew that whales came through VA waters - thought this would be a fun thing to try ... 😀
Booked a Saturday morning trip - when we arrived the departure was delayed while they sent a team out to assess the waves(it was a little windy) so we were allowed to go poke around in the aquarium gift shop. They decided we were a go (yay!) and got folks loaded up quickly- including a pause for photo op (pictures available to purchase when you return). Not sure how many tickets they normally sell, but in COVID each trip is limited to 66 people- our boat was sold out and it felt like the right amount to be able to move around the boat and have a seat - don’t think I’d enjoy it as much if the boat were more crowded... There are indoor and outdoor seats, restrooms and a small snack bar. If going in cold weather bundle up ... we sat outside - but if you can get on the sunny side of the boat(we switched sides on the way back to stay in the sun) it’s not too bad. I also brought a blanket we ended up sitting on - bench seats outside are metal and icy cold.

The trip is guided by aquarium educators who tell you quite a bit about the marsh and the animals you see (or hope to see) and our group had an excellent enthusiastic young lady narrating. We saw birds all along the marsh and a pair of dolphins as we were passing thru the inlet - great start! We putted out past the bigger waves into the more open ocean and began our hunt ... sure enough about 20 minutes offshore a humpback whale!!! While he wasn’t huge he was active! (humpbacks are small whales to begin with when compared to a blue whale - and he was young ) He would surface with a nice spout and roll along the waves.. wish he had dove deep to really flip up his tail - or even better done a breech jump - but it was still very cool to see one in real life out in the wild!

The pilot of our boat (along with 3 others from other watching cruises) did an awesome job of staying near enough to him we were able to watch - and consistently moved the boat around a bit so no matter what side you were on you had quite a few chances to see the whale. We had a nice lengthy watch time and then headed back.
(Just in time -I do get sea-sick and knowing the potential for a windy bumpy ride I took some Dramamine that was wearing off) As we were getting back to the inlet - flying our “we saw a whale!” flag - they also spotted a harbor seal in front of the boat- but I missed it :(
Of course seeing animals in the wild is never a guarantee- and I would have been sad to have not seen a whale- but I think the team running this trip deserve a great rating even if we didn’t see the whale .. they were professional, friendly, and great educators - which after all is the point of trips like this- learn about the world around you!

It was raining out our normal time at the ocean, so we decided to head to the Aquarium. You will find plenty of fish that are native to VA. You can also learn about the historical events that have carved out the VA landscape. Educational .

Like a big Chuck E CHeese with a few fish. Not fun if your kids are over 10, largest concentration of strollers and kids running wild in Va! Little to see, 100 dollars for a family of four to walk around for an hour. Maybe go once, just to say you’ve been. Beyond that, uh, nah.

Loved seeing all the animals! It is beautiful!They take great care of the animals and are so upbeat! Saw so many smiles!

It was one of the best aquariums my family and I have been to and when you asked the staff a question about any of the animals they were very informative

The aquarium has an array of exhibits from animals to coal. Very informative and definitely worth the money to visit.

More science center for kids than aquarium. Most of the larger, main attractions were shut down for repair or renovation....but you still have to pay full price. Bit of a rip-off and not very enjoyable.
Save your money and go hang out by a pier.

we spent a couple of hours on a friday morning during the labor day weekend. There was no line for tickets. It is laid out well and flows well so you can see the marine animals from habitat to habitat. My 8 year old son loved the place and my 15 month old girl enjoyed the birds and the large shark exhibits. The fish and shark tunnels are awesome. Great place to spend a couple of hours

Just ok …. Had to pay to park which was ridiculous, and pay a lot to get in , and it only took us 45 minutes to get threw this ….. wasn’t worth the money

Fun time away from the beach. I would say it’s good but not very good. Worth the entry fee and enjoyable. Would recommend.

The aquarium was very nice, however a little crowded and pricey like all other aquariums. Before you visit either get your tickets online in advance or you can get them when you get there, but there are time slots that you have to wait to get in. When you first walk up the the aquarium you see seals in an outside enclosure which is pretty cool. Once inside there is quite an array of animals to see and some areas of learning and touch activities to do. We would have liked to do the Dolpon

My husband and I grew up in the area and actually went to the museum on a school field trip in high school. Going back as adults was even better because we had more appreciation for the exhibits...and probably more focused attention spans. The exhibits are educational and all the animals appear healthy and happy. We really loved how the museum stuck with local and native species which gave us a better idea of what is in our own backyard. They also have docents at each exhibit if you have any questions. Oddly enough, our favorite exhibit was meeting a crow named Russell...my husband and I got the joke of her (yes her) name THREE days later. (Insert rolling face palm emoji) The young lady who talked to us about Russell was very knowledgeable and informative. We can honestly say we'll never look at crows the same way again. Our only complaint was the "flow" of the museum, especially in the dark exhibits. It was kind of hard to see where you were going and I was always questioning if I missed an exhibit. Parking was a little crazy, but there is an overflow lot across the street. The museum also employs people with disabilities to do things like take tickets and help talk about the animals. The museum is expanding this year and we are excited to go back and see the new exhibits.

We went on the boat trip first. Boat trip was fun and we did see plenty of dolphins (Coastal Dolphins), but the trip could have been shorter by half the time. Actually, got a bit bored after seeing dolphin after dolphin. 45 minutes in, I had seen enough, but we still had another 45 minutes of dolphin watching to go! The aquarium was better than the last time I was here and more of the exhibits were open this time around. Some of the exhibits had us puzzled though. We saw komodo dragons, an Egyptian Cobra, hedghogs, pythons, lizards, etc. on top of the marine stuff. Not sure exactly what the land animals were doing at an Aquarium......but, OK. Probably won't go here again in the future.

A wonderful stop for the afternoon! great selection of sea life, nice large viewing areas too. Also enjoyed the outdoor walking area to see the marsh. Not too crowded, online ticketing was a bit cumbersome but doable. Fun for all ages. If I lived nearby I would definitely have a membership and be there all the time!

Very informative/educational. The museum is very well kept and clean. Staff was friendly and helpful.

This was the first time we went to a place like this without our kids. It felt a little weird at first (empty nester adjustment), but we really enjoyed the exhibits.

We visited on a Tuesday morning around opening time. The first hour was mostly young families and older couples. Then some school groups came in. What made this trip so good were the volunteers who manned all of the exhibit areas. They were very well educated on all of the exhibits and willingly answered questions. There are several places that you can touch creatures - rays and turtles. The outside area is also very nice and signs provide much information about the exhibits.

On July 1, 2021 four (4) of us visited the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach. I’ve been to many aquariums so my expectations wasn’t met at this one.

I have several complaints and the main one was the cost. There is no discount for Senior Citizens. There was no social distancing and no masks wearing. The employees didn’t appear concerned.

Some of the exhibits should have been in a Zoo instead of an aquarium. However, the small children seem to be having a blast.

I went to the aquarium on Thursday, June 4th, 2021. There was a sign that said unvaccinated people need to wear masks. No one wore masks in the aquarium. There were too many people and no social distancing. I know everyone wasn't vaccinated because there were plenty of children who definitely weren't 12 years old without masks along with their parents at the aquarium. Disappointing, especially since you had to buy tickets in advance. I assumed they had limited the crowds but I can't be sure of that.

1st time here ticket about 25.00 you need to reserve a time frame to go. A lot of the touch things were close. but its understandable. The rest was nice. Not croweded so it was a plus. I liked the place.

This is a small aquaruim measured against the best in the world, but it is high quality. The staff is exceptionally healpful. The COVID restructions were fine for me, but my wife was not comfortable around all of the young kids incapable of maintaining distancing.

Visited the aquarium after reading about it. It was nice, clean, and had nice displays. We were just quite disappointed with the size of it. It didn't take more than an hour -hour and a half to see it all. I had visited the Baltimore aquarium recently and it is huge. Just made this one a tad disappointing. It's a good place to spend an hour or so, but a bit overpriced in my opinion for the size.

We thought this would be a great rainy day activity. We were expecting it to be much bigger and take longer to walk through. The seal exhibit was under construction, so that was not available. This is probably more fun for kids as they have a lot of interactive displays. As an adult, I would have liked more animals to look at.

Very nice facility, lots of things to see and do. We enjoyed the river otters, the sharks and the seahorses. There was an excellent variety of aquatic animals to see and the center was provided lots of information and interactive learning stations. This attraction can take as long as you wish to spend.

Enjoyed this immensely and they even had a manta ray petting area. Loved the komodo dragons which were a surprise. Loved by kids thru seniors, lots of interactive exhibits, cafe (a little pricey) the walk thru aquarium pictured below was extra cool. Very clean and no funky smells. Glad we went.

If you are concerned about crowded indoor spaces, avoid the aquarium during the pandemic. April 2 was our second time at the aquarium and first time during the pandemic. Although we had a timed entry ticket and the website noted the reduced capacity, mask requirement, and social distancing, we felt really uncomfortable during our visit and wound up leaving after less than 30 minutes. We noticed several adults with no masks on or masks under their chins, and dozens of people packed into narrow corridors. We will wait until the pandemic is over to return to the aquarium (which we had previously enjoyed).

The aquarium was a great place with lots of exhibits and ocean life presented in a fun learning manner. We both loved the boat tour (separate ticket) and saw lots of dolphin up close. There are also several movies that can be purchased for a seperate price as well. We enjoyed the sea turtle movie a lot. The Aquarium makes it easy to coordinate all the activities in a fun packed day.

It costs $5 to park for this attraction. When I visited, online, timed tickets were required. It is a fine aquarium with good signage and arrows on the floor to assist in controlling foot traffic to enhance social distancing. Numerous fish are on display (sharks, rays, tarpon, etc.), turtles, snakes, a crow early in the exhibit, and horseshoe crabs late in your walk through. The sea turtle exhibit was only models and information boards. There is a gift shop.

I was quite pleased with the aquarium. I only gave it a 4 star bc the stingray area was under construction and not available and I truly thought that they had dolphins bc of the way it read online as dolphin encounter. It’s an extra fee and you go out on a boat. Otherwise very cool to see the seals outside and the hands on stuff inside. Staff was great and the gift shop was fairly priced w quality looking stuff.

So many animals. Way beyond just fish and sea life. particularly loved the Komodo dragons and the sea turtle exhibit.

Very good for what they had. Good mixture of things to look at as well as information to read and interactive displays. We’re missing some size of the exhibits that other aquariums you may have been to has. Some of the sections were one way in and one way out and it was hard to figure out the simplest way to navigate the building. Family liked the display where you could touch the stingrays the most. Would recommend to go in the morning like we did since crowds were not bad at all until we were leaving.

Very cool Aquarium with a variety of animals, with a few surprises we didn’t expect. It’s a little pricey but definitely worth it for the kids. First time seeing a Kimono Dragon up close and a few other animals we didn’t expect, that was the best part for me!

This was once a very good museum that did good work but I don't know what's going on with it now. I would advise calling first to see what is opened/closed and then decide if you think it's worth going. To be fair, it was prior to COVID that we had a membership here. My niece is in town so we thought it would be a great way to spend a Sunday. I bought tickets online, as instructed on the website.There was no mention that the south building is still undergoing renovations, so it is closed, indefinitely, along with my favorite otter exhibit and the aviary. And the final insult was that they now charge for parking. It's only $5, but after shelling out $25 a person for half of a museum, you'd think the City could waive that until it's fully back up and running. The museum is nice but not worth the money they're asking for now. For a tourist, I'm sure it'll be OK. But as a VB resident, I will wait until it gets back up to par before I go again. The quality of the exhibits is lacking.

Enjoyed the aquarium during the afternoon hours - then took the dolphin boat cruise at 4:30 pm! Aquarium was very nice and the staff did a wonderful job of creating a fun environment while dealing with the social distancing issues COVID has created. The boat tour was fabulous - narrator gave so much good information and we saw dolphins almost the entire trip! At one point there was nearly two dozen dolphins right next to the boat! Great job everyone - we had a great day!

Went there thinking this was really going to be a great place, but very disappointing. It does not even compare to The Shed Aquarium in Chicago. I really thought by the advertisement it would outshine The Shed, but couldn’t come close to even being as nice as The Shed. extremely dissatisfied. Sorry but my opinion.

The exhibits were well done with plaquards explaining them. There was the ability to connect with your cell phone. The staff are very helpful and keep thingd running smoothly.

You can and are encouraged like other exhibitions to order your tickets on line where you can select your entry time.

Had a great time here! Got lots of souvenirs to take home plus a little more knowledge about ocean life. Thank you to all workers that answered all our questions . 5 stars from this girl from the ozarks (Missouri)

My wife and I enjoyed our visit at the aquarium and the hike around the grounds. Unfortunately some of it was closed for renovation during our visit but we still enjoyed the part that was open.

A must see while in Virginia Beach. Just wonderful if you are in to Aquariums. Lots to see and do inside the building. They a a great nature walk. Don't miss it!

This was a typical aquarium experience. Some really cool, interactive areas with knowledge staff, but there could be a better traffic flow- especially with timed tickets. We didn’t get to enjoy some exhibits because there were so many people.

Lovely aquarium. $25 for ages 12+, $20 for ages 3-11.

Lots of parking in front lot, but there is a $5 fee (pay at muni-meter).

At this time, reservations are required. We were lucky enough to show up at around 12 pm on a Wednesday and get a 1 pm reservation…as we didn’t know and didn’t book in advance. Masks are NOT required throughout the aquarium.

The beginning portion of the aquarium did get very crowded as it is a narrow pathway through a few exhibits, including the glass aquarium tunnel…when you consider tons of kids and parents taking a gazillion photos, this stretch of the aquarium can get chaotic at times…even with the timed reservations.

After that area though…there is more than enough space to explore at your leisure. Lots of interesting and well-thought-out exhibits…be sure to look and read everything. There is so much to learn.

The entire aquarium is well-kept and maintained. All staff were very nice and helpful.

I highly recommend the aquarium to those of all ages.

The Aquarium is a must stop by if your in Virginia Beach! Also make sure you do the Dolphin boat ride after the museum. Very hands on, interactive. Loved the turtle and shark exhibits. Went with my 3 grands and they loved it. Got to touch the Sting Rays too. Awesome time, very affordable.

A very well organized aquarium with tons of fun stuff to see. I’ve been to several aquariums around the country and this one is currently my favorite. I feel the price is fair for what you get but mostly just the quality and layout of exhibits here are excellent. I highly recommend this place especially if you have a family with younger children.

This aquarium had very easy to follow procedures in place to keep everyone safe during COVID-19. You must wear a face covering to get in and they make sure you are keeping it on during your visit. The have a tunnel you can walk under water and see sting rays, sharks and amazing colored fish. About half way through you can see a very large tank with a huge sea turtle and sharks. The sea turtle was following little kids around when we were there, SO CUTE! There is also an outside tank where you can watch the staff feed seals. The gift shop was very well stocked and even had some items made by local artisans. This aquarium is smaller than most we had been to. It only took us about 1-2 hours to get through everything.

My first time there in a year and found the parking is no longer free. After you park you have to go to one of the kiosks where you can pay for your parking. After standing in line you must scan an icon/picture with your phone to start the payment process. I turned around and left. Too much less friendly than the free and hassle-free parking of the past.

We have tried to see the Aquarium for a few years, due to construction or whatever, it hasn’t been open while we were in the area until this year, so glad we came, the turtles were awesome!

I went to the aquarium and all the staff was amazing and very informative. There were so many beautiful animals. The sea life was amazing some hands on and some not. I was able to take some amazing photos and videos.

I plan on going back and taking all the children in the family.

Loved it. One day does not allow for a complete exploration of the interior aquarium, much less the green space trails, the boat excursion, and the adventure park. We enjoyed the inside on one day and returned the following day for the boat ride. This aquarium impressed me. The exhibits are amazing and well informed. A must visit for students and conservationists.

We had a beautiful February day to go out on the whale watch tour. It was a long cruise at 2.5 hours but totally worth it. We saw some dolphins and a humpback whale. The whale actually breached the water four times! It really put on quite a show for us. There was a small concession in the cabin with snacks and souvenirs and there are clean bathrooms on board. The crew and volunteers were eager to share their experiences and plenty of facts about the area and wildlife. We want to do this again!

Took my husband here because he had never been. He absolutely loved it! Will definitely go again with the kids and grand kids

I love going to the aquarium! Very friendly staff! Informative staff, also. They have plenty of hand sanitizing stations. It is just so peaceful to sit and watch the big aquarium.

Excellent activity. This aquarium was beautiful and had so much to experience. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful. There were hands on exhibits even little children could participate in. I’m so glad we chose to visit the aquarium

A great number and variety of hands on interactive exhibits including an in depth exhibit on sea turtles.

I loved watching the sea turtles. I could have stayed there all day. The staff at the aquarium are so knowledgeable and helpful. Ask them questions!

A great family destination for children of all ages to explore and touch marine creatures, watch amazing 3-D movies and walk the nature trails. Don't forget to take a ride on the Zip-line.

For a family of four (two young adults, and two who fell into "senior" category) it was a pretty expensive visit. Just after paying & entering, they 'offer' (very friendly folks, they encouraged, and it was hard to refuse) green-screen photos to commemorate your visit (inserting backgrounds digitally) that you get the option to purchase (more $) on your way out.
The exhibits were very nice, and no doubt expensive to maintain (hence the price of entry). Staff seemed very friendly and helpful. Didn't dare check the prices for whale trips or the food or adventure park (?).
We really enjoyed the walk along the mudflats/oyster beds. Very educational, got to watch crabs scurry all over the place, osprey hunting, egrets, and more. Then back into the AC for more indoor displays.
I learned a fair amount, too.
Good activity for a rainy or mixed day - but if it's a weekend you definitely want reservations. We did a weekday midmorning and got in without.

Two days ago my friend and I spent over 4 hours driving each direction and spent $55 especially to see the troll exhibit. The first troll (out of six) you could not even get near because he was surrounded by construction debris. Really? None of the trolls were labelled with their names or their environmental concerns (which was the point of their existence). Also, there was no information displayed anywhere about the artist. It is hard to believe a professional exhibition company assisted in this presentation. We used the leftover time to visit the two aquarium buildings which were a huge disappointment. It seemed like a large percentage of the exhibits were closed or empty for renovation or awaiting new inhabitants. We both agreed it was a lot of time and money for a small return.

The Aquarium is interesting for adults and children with well-presented exhibits of sharks, turtles, many types of fish as well as explanations of volcanoes, the causes of animals becoming extinct, fossils and much more. Well worth an hour or longer, especially with a large extension opening next week.

I honestly think this aquarium is better than the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and this one is significantly cheaper to visit as well. Lots of exhibits, both big and small that my kids and myself enjoyed seeing. Get there early if you want to find parking in the attached lot.

Recently visited the aquarium and although it was not our first time, it's always an exciting experience. I've actually been coming here since I was a teenager myself more than 30 years ago. Every time we come there is more to see and the ever-changing exhibits keep it fresh so that even if you came to visit every year on your Beach vacation it is well worth it! Make sure you give yourself several hours to go through even if you're not going to participate in any of the extra activities they offer.

The whole experience was unimpressive. Maybe I missed something but it seems like 70% of the tanks had the same type of fish?

We didn't do any of the movies since my 2 yr old wouldn't sit through it but maybe that's where all the good stuff happens?

I was disappointed to say the least but it kept my kids entertained.

Good, but not those prices “good.” Maybe after the renovations, but for now the prices are outrageous for an aquarium that you can walk through in 30-40 minutes.

We took the Atlantic Scout dolphin tour and we were not disappointed! The Captain and the wildlife expert knew exactly where the were and told us all about them when we saw them. Highly recommend!

I was very disappointed that the REQIIRED Mask policy inside the cabin was not enforced. Even some of the crew failed to wear masks inside.

They have so many things, we watched the giant screen Oceans presentation. Walked into the aquarium sharks, dolphins, tropical and local fish, turtles, lizards, snakes, kimono dragons, alligators, crabs, seahorse and jellyfish. Interactive displays, how volcanos work. We spent two hours there. One particular thing I liked were seating areas by the big fish tanks. The stingray petting area is wonderful with clean up areas nearby.

This aquarium is great. It is about 15 minutes outside of the resort area of Virginia Beach. There are lots of exhibits with otters, turtles, and other sea creatures. There is also an amazing tunnel that you can walk through and view the sea-life. This aquarium also has an extensive collection of jellyfish. It is amazing!

I thought this was going to be a world class aquarium and was sadly disappointed. So many exhibits were closed or unfinished. As a lifelong Virginia Beach resident; I expected a lot more.
For what they charge to visit and the way they advertise; I feel I wasted my time and money. I love museums and live a mile from this aquarium, but will never go back.
I have to travel to other countries or other states to see a good aquarium like the one at Atlantis resort in Nassau, Bahamas which is world class and even the Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach is many times better than this.

My grandson loves the aquarium. Alot of animals to see and you can take your time viewing all the sea life. Especially loved the sharks

Their new set-up for the virus works great - get your tickets on-line and select the time you want to visit. Access is easy and the flow works great. Also check out the gift shop for some great deals.

Great museum and wonderful staff. I especially loved the young teens giving demonstrations. My teens enjoyed everything as well. My only complaint was that the doors are heavy and awkward for use with a wheelchair. They do not open automatically so you need extra people to hold the door for you. They do have wheelchairs to use for free if needed.

Went to the beach Memorial Day weekend and it rain pretty much the whole time. I been to the aquarium many times but it never gets old. Love Sea life

As far as aquariums go, this one is a little smaller than expected, but what is there is very well done, including an underwater people tunnel where sharks and stingrays can swim over you. They also have a tank where you can pet stingrays and a large nature walk. If you want an educational boat tour, they can arrange that as well. The price is very reasonable for a facility like this.

The turtle odyssey movie was great. This is a nice 3D cinema! They have refreshments to purchase before the show.

If you like aquariums, this one will be no exception. It’s great for kids and couples alike. It’s not so big that you need to spend an entire day or several days there, but it’s large enough to explore for half a day without being exhausted at the end. They offer a military discount on admission and other purchased items, which is nice. The exhibits are well designed, everything is very clean, and it seems apparent that the marine life is taken very good care of. As a center that cares for stranded/injured/ill marine life, you know they have passion about making a positive impact on the environment. There are plenty of friendly staff walking around and stationed at the various exhibits, ready to offer tons of knowledge about the animals in their care. The exhibits are interactive and there’s plenty to learn. I love how they focus on the local waterways and the marine life that you’ll find nearby. It’s a good history/ science lesson on how the current, local ecosystem came to be. I particularly loved the sea turtles exhibit. They have some beautiful sea turtles that are fun to watch. I highly recommend!

Disappointed. Lots of space, but the displays were pretty unexciting. Not much big aquarium, more little displays. Best part of the station appeared to be the adventure ropes course, which looked awesome although we're too old to take advantage. Went to Cleveland aquarium last year, which was better.

We had a great time at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center during our stay in Virginia Beach. It’s a solid mix of aquarium exhibits and interactive science displays, and a great option for families, especially on a hot day.

The highlights for us were the sea turtles, sharks, and jellyfish, along with several other well-designed aquatic exhibits. The touch tanks and hands-on elements added a fun for kids to explore and learn.

The layout is pretty spread out, with two main buildings connected by a nature trail and boardwalk. It’s a beautiful walk, but keep that in mind if you’re visiting during hot weather or with younger children—there is a shuttle option if needed.

One thing to note: some areas felt a little crowded, especially mid-morning when school groups arrived, but staff did a great job keeping things moving and friendly.

Overall, it’s a well-run, clean, and educational experience that’s well worth a few hours. Not the largest aquarium out there, but definitely a good stop while in the Virginia Beach area.

We went to just the aquarium (no boat trip), on a cold December day. We were one of the few guests present in a limited access, modified pandemic setup. We sincerely enjoyed our experience - which included a surprising area with local birds and an eager volunteer, an outdoor waterfront boardwalk where there are clams, and saw a number of aquariums - including one for manta ray eels, one with sharks - one beautiful tank you walk through with tropical fish, and numerous smaller tanks - including snakes, turtles, tropical fish, and others. We were surprised by the quality and number of exhibits, the informed and eager staff, and the precautions taken for the pandemic. We felt very safe given how few guests were present.

The aquarium was ok, with a lot of renovations going on. The outside otter tank was also closed for cleaning. All of the displays that had video to watch looked like the videos were taken in the 1970s. On the plus side the turtle tank was amazing. It was a $9 experience wrapped in a $25 price tag

Lots of good exhibits takes an hour or two to go through. Best for little kids, though. Great way to spend a rainy afternoon.

We took a Whale and Wildlife cruise that was really fun. We saw many birds as well as a juvenile humpback whale and a few dolphins. The aquarium had several great displays to include seals at the entrance. Great fun.

Smaller than the major aquariums, but the displays are just as good and the staff is exceptionally helpful. The theme is things found (at lest occasionally) in Virginia. (I thought the Maine lobster was a strech.) I highly recommend this even without kids. Note that groups of kids find it difficult to maintain proper COVID distancing, so even though attendance is limited you need to be careful what you touch (nothing is best).

Lord of exhibits and talks to see! They have finished refurbishing and renovating most of the exhibits. The harbor seals out front start you with a fun time and it keeps up throughout. I’m a fully grown adult kid when wandering through the underwater tunnels! Admission is reasonable for what you get here and everyone left happy!

Aquarium Centers are expensive due to the high cost of maintenance, but remember that your visit helps conservation and research. Parking is free in November. Very nice and relaxing place if you spend a few minutes in front of the huge water tanks filled with marine life. The fishes (because there are more than one species) dances hypnotize one with their rhythmic movements. Much to learn about your favorite creatures. Mine are turtles/terrapins. Sharks are not my favorites but interesting to learn about their 6 senses and how their sensors work when the prey is at certain distances.

Have been to other aquariums and this one is similar. As they all are it is a great place to take children or I believe it makes a good date activity. Located not very far from the oceanfront area.

I did the Dolphin Scout Boat tour for my birthday, to treat myself... The staff there (did not know it was my birthday until near the end of the tour) was very friendly and professional. While I waited to board the boat, I decided to go into the Aquarium and get a ticket for after my tour on the boat. The Staff was very knowledgable and was able to answer questions, and I got to see MANY dolphins, and was NOT disappointed with this tour. We were close to the end of the tour, and I mentioned to Delores (who was telling us about the dolphins) that I did the tour for my birthday, she was very nice, wished me happy birthday, and in the process of docking the boat she announced Happy Birthday to me which really brought a smile to my face.

I HIGHLY recommend you check out one of the dolphin tours! Scout tour is faster, and closer to the water.

Nice visit; you can schedule to do it in about two hours unless you schedule special activities inside the aquarium.

$24 for admission - cheap, I know why. Seals outdoors in dirty water. Place not really a wow factor.

An excellent way to combine a boat ride with an indoor activity. The aquarium is especally worth a visit for families with children. There are exhibits to interest grownups and children of all ages.

Great family activity. We spent a wonderful afternoon there. The exhibits were top rate. Great variety of animals.

Ticketing is a nightmare. If you want to go, make SURE you purchase tickets online in advance. Cell service is limited and signage not clear

Taking the kids there for a quick visit was a lot of fun for them. They loved the aquarium, liked the hands on with some of the areas.

The aquarium is nothng that you already have not seen before in probably every other aquarium that you may have visited. That said, it was well-run and organized. We particularly liked the scheduling feature that kept the crowds down even on a very rainy day. Priced for families.

This was a nice aquarium with a lot of stuff to look at and learn about. Some of the exhibits were hands on and interactive which was very nice.

We barely saw dolphins. Just a few from far away. It was nice and clean and they sell drinks and snack inside. Pluss a bathroom. We saw some dolphins (maybe 4) but I guess the sound of that many boats around including ours scare them away. The staff says they are used to the sound and do not get scared. But for the price wasn't that bad. But I won't go back for this. Had better experience watching dolphins kayaking in the sunset tour.

Very nice aquarium with lovely exhibits (varied fish, turtles, frogs, snakes, Komodo dragon) with lots of learning areas. Admission a bit pricey (small discount for military personnel; no AAA discount). Touch tanks were okay. Parking currently free. There is a nice nature walk (which includes a currently closed rope course, and an open observation tower) which leads to the south building (the south building is currently closed for renovations but due to reopen mid-January 2024). A worthwhile family stop in Virginia Beach to occupy at least 2-3 hours.

Experience large fish, and everything in between. Sharks swimming right by you, sea bass and every other fish I can't remember.

The day we were there was very crowded but that didn't deter from enjoying the visit!

Definately a go to place.

I love the beautiful fish and sea creatures. It was vibrant and mysterious.
However ,if you are going to the aquarium for a little zen it will not work out for you.
It was extremely loud. And the bathrooms were smelly and crowded. ( tip- the outdoor one was much much cleaner)
It would be so cool it there was a Quiet time when people could go and just be with the fish. They are so magical the way they glide. I really needed that peace. Btw the workers are lovely about answering aqua animal questions. They were all great !!!
Also I did not know they had so much cool stuff outback of the building . Make sure you look around ! So much to do. But…. It all costs more except for the walk thru the nature part outside which is really cool

The aquarium is a great place to visit. The behind the scenes tours were especially informative. The staff was professional and knowledgeable. A membership is a must and includes free parking and discounts on tours and food. We did the sea turtle, rays, sharks, and kimono dragon tours. We would recommend all of them.

We spent the morning in the aquarium and loved every minute of it. We have visited Aquariums around the world but it was delightful to focus on creatures right here in our own back yard. Well worth the money.

At present, the Virginia Aquarium is under renovation. Don’t let the renovation project discourage you from visiting. The various marine collections, however, have been relocated to other parts of the building. The cost for a basic, one-day ticket of the Aquarium ONLY (Adult:12-61) is $24.95. Add the option of a Combo ticket (Aquarium and movie)- $29.95. The Dolphin Discoveries Boat Trip costs an additional $22.95 per person. An annual membership costs $75.00 per individual/$145for Dual/ $195 for Family. The operating costs of an aquarium must be so incredibly high. I cannot even imagine. Essentially, for a family of 4, 12-61,you are going to shell out more than $100.00 for a one-day visit. Soooooo, my advice to y’all is to start EARLY. While there is a cafe available on-site, allergen-friendly food options are NOT available. For those who are allergic to gluten, dairy, nuts, and soy, et cetera, you will have to exit the building to eat. NO outside food/beverages are allowed. When you start your visit early, be prepared to dress for the indoors AND outdoors. This is because there is an outdoor boardwalk trail and viewing area for birdwatching. Look for the people in the red shirts. They are evenly positioned throughout the building and are there to answer your questions about the exhibits. Timed talks are scheduled throughout the day. The movies vary throughout the day. Watch all if them if you are interested. A gift shop exists at the end if the tour. As the parking lot is very long, the management has thoughtfully added port-a-potties at the end of the lot. Thank you! This option is essential on those rainy and cold days where the lines to enter are 30-minutes long. Make this visitation a special treat. Enjoy.

The aquarium was under construction but it was very nice! I’ve visited the Okinawa aquarium and in comparison it was very nice! There’s lots to do and to see!

We only had time to catch a few places inside. Made it to the sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, dragon and all kinds of unique fish. Even a room where the fish was swimming above you. Wish we would have had more time to take it all in. Make sure you allow 3 hrs to enjoy all that it has to offer.

This wasn’t a thrilling way to spend our time and dollars. I felt for the money I spent it just wasn’t worth it. There are some educational features focus very much to younger children. They are valuable if you bring children. For adults who have background in Marine this is a waste of your time. We stopped by the Cafe at the end of our visit. The food and offerings were a hard pass. We left and found somewhere better to eat in Virginia Beach.

My Daughter and I came for her 10th Birthday (her choice) and I was hoping for some new attractions and different things to see. For the price is average, The exhibits are dark and some were empty. there were no new exhibits to see or experience within the building it self. Some of the exhibits were so old that they didn't work properly or at all. The tanks are still clear and clean and we loved the sea turtles and sharks. The dragon area seems so dull and lifeless and not fun at all for kids. Lots of twists and turns in the halls and it needs a bit more floor lighting for guests to follow and not trip or bump into things. I was hoping for a different experience than the last 3 times but it fell short of that. no changes. The only benefit was the gift shop, lots of new things and a bit pricey but there are some inexpensive memories you can pick up and enjoy lots of gifts for all ages. The Cafeteria was ok not a huge selection and they should change the variety. Not sure if we will come back being there is nothing more to see since the last decade we came.....I hope they can come up with something different.

Went here with the family and friends and our small children. I used to live in VA Beach and the aquarium was great... tons of open exhibits. This was very disappointing because it seemed as if half the museum was closed to either remodeling or adding exhibits but I feel like the price was still high for the limited exhibits there were. I hope they are just adding more to the museum because the price for the bang is not good.

I was literally forced to go because I cant get a refund, and my other family members had to do some stuff, I even tried to reschedule but they don't even let me reschedule or get a refund. The real interesting places were closed for renovation, I went here multiple times and it was great but this time was just not good.

It is a friendly venue with lots to see. I liked how they mixed up the exhibits so that it was never boring. It was hard to keep "social distancing" though, with so many excited children running about. I wish they offered fewer tickets per hour. The dolphin boat tour was perfect, though.

Saw many dolphins on the Atlantic Explorer Dolphin Watch, including dolphin families (mother and babies)! Aquariums' Harbor Seal exhibit is fun to watch and inside exhibits well laid out. Well worth a visit and accessible on the trolley.

We called in advance of booking and were told it would take 2 to 3 hours to tour. An adult ticket costs 24.95. We did not rush and went through the whole thing in 70 minutes, which was disappointing compared to the cost.

Very informative; there were guides situated throughout the aquarium to tell you about the animals.

Great for kids especially. Plenty of larger tanks to stop and watch for a while.

Disappointed. We came to Virginia from NY for vacation. This was the #1 place we wanted to go to. We couldn't even reserve a time slot online big enough for 4 people.

We came with family of teens. We all had a nice time during the dreary, rainy day. Parking was convenient with the scan and go, just remember your license plate number before you get to the kiosk. I felt like the exhibits were a bit small and there weren’t a lot of displays but the kids had a good time. It was packed in some areas, they did have several sanitation stations throughout the facility. We went to buy the picture they took when you first arrived and they were outrageously expensive, we passed.

We absolutely loved it. My 5 year old had so much fun, and it was very educational. Lots to see and checkout, she loved that there was hands on exhibits, a play area, and other things she could do.

Bought tickets to do the whale watching months ago. They canceled the entire trip at the last minute even though the weather was perfect. This is the second time this has happened to me. Said the next trip wasn’t for 4 more days. I guess they just canceled 4 days worth of trips for no reason. So unreliable. Don’t waste your time or effort. They didn’t even send someone to tell us the trip was canceled. We only knew because we overheard another passenger. They clearly don’t care about their customers so go elsewhere. Anywhere else...

Saw the aquarium years ago (during Christmas season with the Scuba Santa), which was good, but this trip was purely to go on one of their 2.5-hour boat tours for whale watching. We were on the boat early in their season when various whales just start showing up so there is no guarantee of a sighting -- however, saw the boat's first whale sighting of the season with a humpback whale well into the boat ride. Outstanding and happy to see it. Weather was cold outside, but great to see the whale in its natural habitat. Commentator(s) was very friendly and informative.

My wife and i found the dolphin boat tour very informative. Yes we did see dolphins including a baby. The staff was very polite and answered all our questions. Well worth the price.

So enjoyed our visit! Have been three times now and each time they have new and exciting features. Don't miss this!

This is a pretty average aquarium but overpriced for what is available. Understand that part of the museum is being reconstructed/new construction so there might be more to see normally. There are some unique exhibits associated with the Tidewater and Chesapeake Bay areas but there is nothing particularly special about the museum overall.

I want to say for outdoor pathway for the oyster reef was very pleasant. We did learn a few things but the way it was set up was so confusing. You had to keep backtracking around the new people coming in. It was small for the price. Several exhibits were closed. It was just okay.

Great place to visit! Price was $30 for adults and $25 for kids. Parking is $5 for the day. Great exhibits and so much to do for the kids. The exhibits are clean and the touch tanks are interactive. They also had an Inside Out Exhibit for the kids to play in. Mermaid Cafe has decent food and the prices aren’t that bad ($6 for half a grilled cheese) but it’s bigger portion.

Because of COVID-19, you have to buy tickets ahead of time, and for a specific time. But the exhibits are totally worth it!
The aquarium starts with trained seals in the outdoor pool, then myriad fish, sharks, lizards, frogs....all nicely laid out, with staff on hand to answer any and all questions. Get tickets and go - and try the dolphin tour too!

This is the worst aquarium ticketing experience. We arrived at 3:30pm, only to fiddle with the stupid parking payment system which never worked. It wasn’t until 20 minutes later that we discovered that you needed to buy a ticket by 3:45pm. So They did NOT allow us entry. Whoever designed the parking and ticketing flow for this aquarium was an absolute Troglodyte.

This aquarium was amazing. The parking was easy and free. The prices were decent. The different parts of the building were all amazing. I went with kids aged 10 to a couple months old and they all had a wonderful time. There was something for everyone and there is small sections of teaching and learning spots. This was fun and the kids got to do thing first hand to learn. I could literally sit for hours watching the fish and the sharks and the jelly fish.

The abundance of aquatic life as well as local reptiles was remarkable. The online ticket purchase was easy.

Fantastic staff eager to teach. Pristinely-maintained exhibits. During the pandemic, buy tickets on-line since these are timed and sell-out fast.

A nice place to be on a cold. down-pouring, windy day. Went in early and crowd was light. Lots more folks coming in when we left. Good thing tickets were advance sales only and entry spaced out. Good exhibits focused mostly on local cratures. Syurprised not to see any exhibits on Blue Crabs Basis of food for bigger fish as well as humans) or oysters (water cleaners) or a tribute to local watermen who live and manage their take from the water to sustain catches of that is in season. Good educational tool of practical water management. (AND species recovery.

A Bite of Maine serves the only fresh seafood. The fish and chips are lovely. The portions are huge. We shared room is still full. And their sauces are delicious They make all of them in house. Even the ketchup they make is unique tasty. So is the tartar sauce and a cocktail sauce. The place has a New England feel to it We also got the lobster soup. Out of this world crazy good! Rich with flavor. The place is cozy and inviting. The staff is awesome. Everybody smiles and has a good time in there both customers and associates. Friday is fish fry so we're going to go there every Friday we can.

This is a huge aquarium with very diverse types of experiences. Tanks, touch tanks, changing exhibits (this year was Cats & Dogs) interactive areas for children and adults alike.

Nothing but positives about this place. Nice variety of animals, pretty setting (there's a little outside boardwalk area that goes through the woods and along the water), and friendly staff. Just be sure to get your tickets in advance or you may not be able to get in if the time you want is sold out.

I was in Virginia Beach with my 12 year old daughter and it happened to be cloudy and a bit rainy so we went to the aquarium. It is very nice. Not too big so you can see everything at a leisurely pace. They have a few 20 minute movies which are really good for kids. They also have dolphin/whale watching boats for an extra charge. It is well worth a visit especially if it is not a good beach day.

Nice aquarium with lots to see. They had many species between two buildings that are connected by a walking path. You can drive to the second building if you prefer. Lots of staff speaking about the creatures at different exibits and several hands on tanks that you can touch stingrays, etc. Quite a bit for younger kids. They also have boat rides outside the aquarium for a different fee. We did the speed boat dophin watch which was a lot of fun and we saw many dolphins. The boat rides you have to book in advacne online as they are only run certain times of the day. Our boat was full. Overall a really nice day. They do have a small gift shop in both buildings. They also charge $5 to park

The aquarium is more than just water. There are land reptiles there also, (Komodo Dragon, Cobras, etc). A variety of fresh and salt water creatures along with models of whales, sharks, etc. The displays and narration are extremely informative.

There’s a lot good with this place, especially on a rainy day. We missed the Aquarium the first 4 visits to Virginia Beach, probably no children in tow would be the obvious answer. This time staying in Sandbridge with the whole family (16) and rain forecast one of our children suggested the Aquarium as an alternative form of entertainment and after 5 straight days of noisy rental property activities it was a nearly unanimous decision. Fortunately, they had visited the aquarium’s site and learned that reserved tickets were necessary since the Covid shutdown.

Upon arrival a number of broken automated parking machines made the whole process a lot more difficult than it needed to be. Did I mention the driving rain? Walking around the parking lot in the rain to donate my five dollars would have been a bit more tasteful if an attendant would have been present to welcome us, automation isn’t always a good thing. Next up the wait in line because they were only allowing a certain number of people inside at a time, even though we had made specific time reservations. After a wait that was longer than I had waited in a doctor’s office in the past two years we were allowed entry to a building that appeared to be nearly empty.

The displays many interactive all seemingly well designed and informative amused the children. The adults just happy their children were entertained marveled at the well-planned architecture of the modern building. Various tanks and display models thrilled the young, all under 5 years old, children. The lack of outdoor accessibility due to the rain left me wondering where the many indigenous species they talked about indoors were displayed. No dolphins, seals, manatee, no otter, no whales. Having been to a number of aquariums both in the US and abroad I really wasn’t impressed with lack of outdoor exhibits. Aquatic animals live in outdoors it was great for the kids to see the many fish up close but a more natural habitat would have been nice.

Ticket prices were a bit high for what they offered and the lack of any discounts other than residents of VB was disappointing especially considering we were chaperoning 5 of our grandchildren on the visit. The more than 2-hour visit culminated in the gift shop of course. We are more than generous with our kids but don’t need to be sucked in like some cheap amusement park. Please give the adults the option to say no when we feel the situation warrants it.

Good entertainment that needs work, gorgeous location attractive building well designed displays that were more than informative. Vaccinated and had no need for covid protection measures which weren't present anyway.

We did not go into the aquarium this day, we only went on the whale watching trip. You board the boat just off of the aquarium parking lot. We were able to spot one whale on the trip. The staff keeps you informed as to where the whale is in relation to the boat. Once we left the area of the whale, we spent a good half hour basically making circles in the ocean near the lighthouse. As it can get cold on the boat (bundle up!), once we were done trying to view whales, we would have preferred to head back to the aquarium. There is a nice seating area inside with food and drink. Would recommend the experience.

Having been to more than 30 aquariums across the country both as a visitor, and government official - I can say that the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is one of the best!

Top notch in all ways.

The staff was great. Sometimes hard to find, but great.
The food - there are two food courts, so walk pass the pretzel place.
The exhibits are great, and you'll see some animals that are very rare.
There's a lot of space, but it did get quite crowd.

One negative - it's hard to navigate.
-- if you need to use the restrooms (ie small child) then you have to walk back through all the exhibits, find your way out and find the bathrooms.
We lost our map - so that wasn't good, but still the people flow is a bit off.

Would recommend: Highly
Would re-patronize: Maybe. There's lots to do in Va Beach though

We took our 4 grandchildren ages 6 to 17 on a cloudy cool summer day. Great time wonderful fish crocs sea turtles and interactive exhibits. Highly recommend

My wife and I visited here on our trek to Virginia Beach and had a lovely time. The place is clean and had a lot of sea life to view. We really loved the sea turtles the best!! I will say it was smalller than I anticipated and it only took us about an hour to view everything. That’s with taking our time! I saw there are expanding soon which is great. They also offer boat tours to watch whales and dolphins but we didn’t get to do that because of times being changed. They offered us a full refund and we will maybe try again another visit. Overall enjoyed it. I do feel that 27 an adult is kinda pricey for such a small place but again enjoyed it.

The place is very clean and has a lot of really nice exhibits. However I was disappointed for my child to see that the seal exhibit, the otters, the stingray touch tank, and the south building were all closed and down for repairs. Tickets should be discounted because of this. Otherwise a great time.

Enjoyed the Aquarium, very manageable although alittle crowded despite having to make reservations to limit customers. We missed the extra boat trip, it looked like fun. Parking was difficult due to the need to download a parking app.

We always go to aquariums when near one. This one was just ok. It did have a lot of learning stations. The outdoor boardwalk was nice. Lots of crabs.

The conference I attended in Virginia Beach hosted an evening reception at the Aquarium. It was absolutely beautiful, I just wish we would have had more time to visit!

Very good exhibits with helpful staff, ideal for a relaxing day wandering around the Aquarium. They also have a very good nature walk outside, not to be missed.

The aquarium was very nice and the staff extremely knowledgeable! This was a terrific experience for kids and adults of all ages.

Had a great day at the aquarium.. spent the morning there then went on the Dolphin cruise and returned back for a less crowded visit in the late afternoon. Highly recommend!

This is a great place to bring the kids. The aquarium is filled with lots of interesting fish. You can even pet some. Videos are extremely educational. Great nature walking trails for being outdoors. Bring the family on a rainy day & stay the entire day & never get bored. As a local resident, I have been to the aquarium several times. You will be glad you did.

Believe they care more about how many people they can admit instead of crowd control. Bring a mask. Lines did not move throughout. Outside exhibitions not open. Cafe not open. Staff was friendly but they admitted too many people. 5 July 2021.

It is a okay place to see and gain knowledge on acqua life

Good display of fishes around and other acqua animals

Had a great time, the dolphins came out to play, which is why we went on the trip. Wish it were longer but all good things must come to an end.

My little boy had a great visit.

A few things to note-

1. You follow a path through the aquarium. It’s not like a traditional zoo or other aquariums where you roam in any order and have a map to decide what to see. You don’t stay for the whole day here. I did not realize we walked everything as my boy ran through it so quickly as he was so excited to see what was next and wanted to explore. We were barely there and came to the exit. We tried to backtrack and see something twice but was told I was not allowed to re-enter as I already left the gift shop which was considered the exit. I was referred to Dana at the Front Desk who spoke to the manager and they allowed us to go back in as a one time courtesy. Thank you Dana for allowing us to backtrack! I appreciated it as it was my error not knowing your rules and I did own up to that.

2. There is zero food for sale due to Covid. I understand why but they should at least sell water at the gift shop. I was referred to a drinking fountain but due to Covid I declined. Maybe a vending machine?

3. Parking was easy.

4. You need to pre-purchase online. Not every time slot was available so book early.

5. Should take an 90 minutes to see everything.

6. No social distancing especially by the glass. I know it’s hard. I loved how they used fish sizes to explain how far your should stand. No one listened.

7. Lots of sanitizing stations.

8. My boy loved the hands on live fish exhibit which was outside.

Nice time but could do better with Covid safety. They had so much staff which is wonderful and maybe use them to control occupancy of each area.

The aquarium was extremely crowded. We had timed tickets but the exhibition areas were shoulder to shoulder with other visitors. Several camps / groups were present today. Our family could not enjoy our visit.

My boyfriend and I enjoyed the activities and interactive learning, especially at the whale section. Definitely recommend the visit!

We went to everything we could see, since most things were closed except restaurants ( which were open during the week till 1PM).
We went to the Cape Henry lighthouse at Fort Hood, the aquarium, which was state of the art, and drove thru the Christmas lites which were called Celebrations on Lights on the boardwalk. They were beautiful.
RECOMMEND "FOUR SALES AND THE TRIP". We ate at several restaurants and ate breakfast at Pocahontas Pancakes which was featured in southern living. Big meals for the price and delicious.
We also visited The Christ Mouse store. It was beatuful.

We went during covid 19 so I get that there were restrictions. We had to choose a time which was fine but it was still super crowded not sure if they were keeping count or what the purpose of timed entry was. For the money we spent to get in it was kind of a let down.

Wonderful place for family to visit. Very clean facility with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. The exhibits are exceptional that kids would love. The periodic information sessions are great too.

You must reserve your tickets and time on line, which would have been nice to know as it was not on the website prior to us leaving Ohio, now says requested on the site.

Mask Required

I was unhappy with the fact that when entering they were very vocal about being 1 shark apart, but while inside, it was a free for all. Seemed very crowed for making reservations and during covid.

The place was clean and we did enjoy our selves, the marine life and other animals were a joy to view.

We enjoyed the aquarium, even with Covid restrictions in place right now. The Komodo Dragon and the enormous sea turtle were the highlights of our trip. We had originally booked the dolphin boat tour to go with it, but bad weather kept us from taking that tour.

This was one of our sibling trips events we didn’t have teenagers, but you didn’t have a category with just family. Love the aquarium! It was beautiful. I’ve been to larger ones since I travel quite a bit and live on the West Coast. Some of the exhibits were yet to come and because of the size of some of the areas the quarters were pretty tight. But overall this was a really nice place and I’m glad we were selected it.

My first time out in Virginia I wasn’t really interested in visiting because to me it was one of those “overdone” attractions that everyone goes to. However, this time I around what caught my eye was the Superhero Dog 3D movie and also 50% off admission for military so I decided to check it out. I was very impressed!! There were a lot of exhibits as well as interactive displays! The 3D movie was awesome! Definitely recommend stopping here for a visit!

The aquarium was ok when ranked with Camden or Baltimore. The cost to see so little was surprising. Cost of Virtual reality for a 4 minute movie was shocking! The 2nd building was a major disappointment.
The museums north east provide 4 D effects & more immersive experience with shows & performances. This was ok. The tree top adventure looked really nice & extensive.

Always awesome. The 6pm Dolphin Tour was great. Don't know if we saw many dolphins or the same ones many times. One of them was a juvenile. If we lived closer I would have a membership.

We brought our twin 2 year olds. It was an educational and "wonder" filled visit. The aquarium is a must if in the area and is perfect for families with very young children as well as older children. Lots to see! No hesitation in recommending it highly!

It was a very nice aquarium! There was plenty to look at. They did the best they could with COVID. They had ways to go around so people weren’t constantly on top of each other but it did happen and that’s not their fault. People with kids always need pictures and the kids need to stand there and point out every fish. So it’s going to happen. All in all very nice.

Visited the Aquarium for the second time. Was pleased to see that COVID had not stopped the activity of this wonderful attraction. So much to see and do. It was great to talk to some of the other visitors and find out that some of the local military families came there often to entertain their young children. The exhibits are great and the staff is very friendly and informative.

Went to the aquarium with my mother & my daughter. We had a great time. The sting rays were my favorite.

I recently visited the Aquarium with my 7 yr old grandchild & we had a great time! The fish and other sea creatures were fun to watch. There were so many things for the kids to do both inside & outside the buildings. The south building had a great play area were the kids could exam the "sick" stuffed animals. The toys each had a tag on them; when you put the animal on the exam table & pressed the color coded button you could find out what was wrong with it. The Komodo dragon has arthritis! Outside there were many play areas. All of the staff were friendly & knowledgeable. They were glad to answer all your questions which was great. There are many interactive stations in both buildings. The touch tanks in the north building were very popular. Glad we purchased the annual pass since we'll definitely go back.

It's a nice aquarium but we were charged $24.95 each (full price) when several exhibits were closed (2 were the outside exhibits...the south building exhibit and the marsh pavilion exhibit). This is just one of my pet peeves. The glass on the indoor exhibits wasn't that clean (smudges, nose prints, hand prints on the outside made it impossible to get good pictures of most of the fish).

There is also a nice 1/2 mile walk outside made up of paved trails and boardwalks taking you through the woods and to outlook posts with great views of the salt marshes. If you keep your eyes open while walking through the woods you will find some cute things.

This is a great activity for everyone. We did not visit the aquarium itself, we just took one of the boat tours for dolphin watching. We did the smaller Atlantic Scout boat tour and it was great. The dolphins were very active during the time we visited and we saw plenty and a couple came very close to our boat. The crew was great and very helpful and knowledgeable. In case you have somebody with mobility issues, I will say my mom was having problems with her knee and did have some difficulty boarding the boat even with the crew's help. It might have been easier boarding the larger boat, but getting off was much easier for her.

My 6 year old daughter enjoyed this but I agree with others that this is an average aquarium if you’ve been to others but if it’s a unique experience for you then definitely go! The Komodo dragon exhibit was our favorite part!

First of all, the restaurant is awful. The touch screens are very difficult to use, service was slow and when we got to the soda machine, low-cal options didn't work. The museum was good--far more emphasis on marine science than the collection of sea life. One section that was very good was comparing VA today to the VA it was millions of years ago. Enjoyed the experience, but don't need to go back.

Amazing, awesome what a wonderful time, we had a volunteer Doreen spend some time near us and what a pleasant experience she helped provide. Also there was a gentleman on the cruise today that said he was the quarantine person for the aquarium, he was awesome to talk to very knowledgeable and gave some great history of the aquarium and what they are doing to grow and improve

Lots of marine life to see. I did like the flow of the aquarium so you don’t have to double back in case you missed something. Staff were friendly, facilities were clean.

While it was nice it was not very crowded due to capacity restrictions there was not much to see and not may activities going on in/at the aquarium. I went with my partner and the 25.00 dollars per adult, plus the 5.00 dollars for parking was not worth the money spent. That doesn't even include the poor selection of t-shirts and sizes of any style.

You can spend a couple of hours here, enjoying the exhibits and nature trail, which are included in the base price.
The venue is split between two buildings with a short nature trail between the two.
The exhibits were well maintained, and there was wildlife to see outside.
It was a relaxing visit, and while busy, was not over crowded, even on an August weekend.

No clear directions on where to enter if tickets were pre-purchased for timed entry.
Path through the exhibits required doubling back through the Rays exhibit to get the Shark exhibit.
Two employees provided incorrect information regarding the location of the special Inside Out exhibit.

Staff was very nice. Little ones enjoyed all the marine animals. I thought maybe they would have some show or feeding time to watch.

This a nice aquarium, but small and overpriced. My daughter enjoyed petting the stingrays, and looking at sharks, but this attraction can be fully walked through in 2 hours.

Skip it. 1) tickets overpriced for what you see at $34.95 for adults, only at age 70 (not age 65!) do you qualify for senior discount (that’s just money-grabbing) and if add military discount, $23.95; parking with un-user-friendly system another $5, and then another $8 per person (no discoj ts) for 7-8 minute virtual reality goggles experience (this later experience actually was worth the cost!). Staff friendly but tanks smallish for stingrays, sharks, big fish, to just circle around in; the 3 sea lions nowhere to be seen; one otter was elsewhere in area closed off to visitors; octupus unavailable because habitat being worked on. We’re glad we went once (we live here!) though overcharged for what the experience was because at least now we won’t recommend to anyone who visits us. This was a $20 per person experience at most (with less owed hy seniors who should be classified as such at age 65, and less again for military). Very surprising and disappointing.

We did the dolphin cruise and was sickened from the oil smoke of the boat. After that we ate in their cafe where you can't pay cash. this was irritating a wee had to do online parking payment. It is not something we like to do. The aquarium itself is fairly small. Average, at best, but a few interesting exhibits. It isn't a bad place to go, but make sure to prepurchase EVERYTHING ans be aware there boat is burying oil badly.

If you have ever been to a big aquarium, Baltimore, Atlanta, etc. you in for a BIG disappointment.

If you visit the snack bar you are going to think maybe you are at the super bowl, the prices are absolutely outrageous.

Virginia Beach is a nice place, if it is raining for maybe three days straight, give it a go, but look for better entertainment elsewhere, two state parks, one north of the beach, one south of Sandbridge

Yes, paying for parking was a little complicated - mainly as I was driving a rental and had not memorized my plate number lol This aquarium provided a pleasant reprieve as a time killer before an early evening flight. I spent approximately 3 hours here and did not feel it was overcrowded at all. There was what appeared to be a school field trip and staff was kind enough to warn those coming through right behind that they may want to linger over the exhibits a little longer in order to avoid the over exuberance of the youngsters. In the few occasions my path crossed with the school group, I found them to be pleasant and respectful young ladies and gentlemen so they did not affect the quality of my visit at all. Perhaps because I am in a landlocked state, I did not think the admission price was excessive for the quality displays I enjoyed. All displays were well done in my opinion and having experience with saltwater tanks, I can only imagine the expense of maintain tanks of this size and quality. Overall, I was very pleased with my visit and will return if the opportunity ever arises.

Went here with my family. Didn’t mind the price as that is normal for an aquarium what I didn’t like was paying the full price and half of the interactive elements were broken or “being fixed” and about 1/3 of the exhibits were completely empty. In top of that all the employees were not friendly and the cafe closed an hour earlier than advertised. Seemed to me the workers didn’t care about work jobs and it was just not a great experience for the price you require us to pay. If you have half the elements not working and 1/3 of the exhibits empty the lower the price and let us know up front. Just be careful when you chose to go if at all. The only reason I have it a 2 was because there were some cool elements like the sting ray bay and the seals but overall not impressed.

The parking fee was unnecessarily complicated - everyone had to establish an account into an unknown online parking service in order to pay $5.
Many exhibits (those showing one animal) were empty with no information posted as to whereabouts. Other animated exhibits did not work.

Very informational, and lots to look at. It was not crowded when we went, so we had the luxury of taking our time. The staff offered information, and seemed very knowledgeable. I would recommend if visiting the area.

Another wonderful opportunity to get out and about, get some exercise and help to keep the Aquarium "a-float".

Expensive for what there is to see. It is a smaller aquarium. I felt the trails and second building were just there to justify the cost of admission as it took up more time. Once we got the second building. I actually would not recommend this aquarium simply because I think the admission cost would be better spent on something else to do. I think the admission should be reduced.

During COVID, a trip to the aquarium is not high on people’s list, but they did a great job staggering your times, and making everything one way so you did not encounter people in close proximity. Also, there was a to. Of hand sanitizer stations available to you. It’s a really nice place, even though we didn’t get to see all of it. If it rains in VB, you should go. My kids loved it, and I wasn’t freaked out. Win, win!

While the price appears steep. this is a wonderful museum and cruise combination. We were very pleased to have chosen it as our one big expense (besides the hotel). The Dolphin Sighting Cruise offered great views of the beach besides coming though with their promise to find dolphins. Inside the museum, there is a great variety of marine life that is very creatively displayed. The food in the dining area was better than one might expect in an eating place with no competition.

Enjoyed an afternoon stroll through the aquarium viewing the underwater exhibits. There are a variety of marine life exhibited with a concentration on the local Atlantic Ocean area. There are nice walking paths behind the aquarium, but some of the outdoor activities were closed for the winter. Great place to take the kids...both young and old!

We were in town for a day and it was cold outside , perfect time to visit Aquarium. We purchased our tickets online and had no line at the entrance, everything were set up very good inside to keep people moving . Place was clean . Sad that for some people rule of 6 feet was nothing and they kept coming and standing in front of us taking pictures . We would spend more time , usually we were visiting outdoor section and watch IMAX movie, all those activities were not available at this time. But we really enjoyed our time at the Aquarium and stuff did a great job to keep place open !

We went during Covid and the aquarium did a good job with reduced capacity, timed entry tickets to keep the crowd low and spaced out. We had a 9am entry and it almost felt like we had the place to ourselves. Most of the interactive elements, including touch tanks, were off limits for now, but our visit spanned over 90 minutes which was a pretty good timeframe. One building is closed for renovation, opening in 2021, which was a little disappointing, but the parts that are open are well-crafted exhibits with a great variety of animals and fish. I would imagine with the reopening of the second building a visit would be 2+ hours.

The facility itself is older, but kept in good shape. Lots of keepers and volunteers were on hand to answer questions. Even at the touch tank with sting rays where we could not currently touch the animals, there were volunteers to tell us about them and learn how to tell them apart.

Note there are no food options available at the facility right now, so bring snacks if needed (did not even see a soda machine). Also, due to COVID there is a one-way path through the facility so don’t rush it; there is no reentry once you finish.

We opted for the Sea Turtle Behind the Scene tour. Very informative. Wonderful way to get out of the weather.

Our family took a 90 minute dolphin cruise offered through the aquarium and it was so much fun. We saw many dolphins, even a baby. My husband and 11 year-old son also did the ropes / zipline course at the Adventure Park and had a great time! They spent half the day there and still talk about how much fun it was. Lastly, we spent an entire day walking through the aquarium taking advantage of all the hands on activities and looking at all the exhibits. We saw the behind the scenes turtle feeding and that was really fun to watch! Just amazing all they have to offer. Sea turtles, seals, sharks, sea horses, fish... the stingrays you could touch, very cool! Not just sea life either, Kimodo dragons (impressive), snakes and birds are also on exhibit. A lot of hands on opportunities to learn about the ocean and there is a very nice gift shop too! Check out the earrings in the giftshop that have snakeskin in them (shed from the snakes on site)! We will go back there again, so much fun!

It’s was full of a lot of information. You could take it all in with 2 hours of time. Add more time of you add on any of the extras. Parking is free before April.
Lots of tanks. Loggerheads, sharks, and rays were the highlights.
My son is 20 and still enjoyed it! We were from out of town and killing time before his brothers baseball games.
It is pricey though.

Family took the dolphin tour. Saw LOTS of dolphins. Sightings were identified readily. The guide had educational and informative details about the dolphins. Very enjoyable and entertaining.

We took the dolphin watching tour $28.95 for adults/$22.95 for kids. Crazy crowded so you had to nudge people to see over the side of the boat. Definitely not COVID safe.Only place you could hear the commentary was the back end of the boat. Garbled on the sides. Very hard to find and even the directions we got when we called were poor. Additional insult after paying $81 for the three, one of which was a kid, was the $5 parking. Give me a break!

Can't fault the aquarium and exhibits but on the day of the visit the cafe was without hot water and the coffee machine was broken. Dishes listed on the menu appeared to be non-available. Earlier, when parking, one ticket machine was not working and a second could not process two of the three credit cards I used. I informed one of the attendants of these shortcomings. Not a good start to our experience.

The aquarium itself is pretty lackluster. The exhibits were not very engaging and there weren't a lot of unique animals. We had to purchase tickets with a time slot ahead of time and so we assumed that they were operating at limited capacity due to covid. This was not at all the case. The aquarium was so crowded that it was impossible to maintain a 2 foot distance from others, let alone 6 feet. The staff herded us along a predetermined route while patrons crowded in front of exhibits, making it difficult to see anything. The whole thing only took about an hour and considering each adult ticket was $25 and parking was another $5, we felt like we threw our money away and probably just got covid exposure as our souvenir.

This aquarium is very clean, the staff is friendly, they have a good amount of animals and a lot of fun facts and information on each types of animals. Loved it here! Would definitely recommend doing this again with the family.

I do agree with the other reviewers that they should have discounted the ticket price due to how many exhibits were closed. But they did post the info on their website so we knew what we were getting into. I think those who were disappointed did not do their research. I knew it was a small aquarium with many closed exhibits and decided to go anyway. It was clean and we enjoyed the exhibits, especially the stingrays. My kids are too old to be excited for a touch tank anyway. We liked watching all the stingrays they had in multiple aquariums. And honestly, in a tourist town like Virginia Beach, you have to expect attractions to be expensive. I thought it was worthwhile.

Great effort in conservation of animals. Aquarium is a must see on any vacation. Turtles, sharks and fish.
Very family friendly!

Visited here on a rainy day at the beach. Lots to see and do. Lots of school groups were here so prepare for that if you go during the week

Great place. My kids loved it. Very educational but fun also. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. They were very helpful in getting my dad a wheelchair to use while we were there. Would recommend

Very large and well laid out. I would go again and highly recommended! Be sure to buy tickets based on time slot before going.

This trip was worth the stop. It was well laid out with plenty of interesting exibits. Good variety and a great value. For old and young alike!!!

This is for the boat ride only. Make sure to arrive early if you want a seat. Was there 30 minutes in advance and all seats were taken-at least on the outside. The trip is a quick one. We went just beyond the fishing pier. Did see many dolphins. Volunteers on the boat provided great educational material

Half of the exhibits closed two different buildings wayfar Park with very little in them I've been to multiple aquariums throughout the United States and for the price this one was extremely disappointing

Norfolk family took us here on a very hot day because all we wanted to enjoy was inside. Place is worth going to over and over. Crowded but all was fine. Restrooms spread out inside. Good for all ages. End the tour at their gift shop - surprise.

My family and I visited the aquarium during a long weekend in Virginia Beach and our 5 year old son loved it! We spent about 2 hours there on a Saturday morning and it wasn't too crowded. The aquarium has some great interactive displays and my son especially loved seeing the komodo dragon and the Malaysian crocodile.

Eh, It was okay. Maybe if I hadn't been to the aquarium in Toronto last year I would have been more impressed, but not really better than so so.

My granddaughter wanted to attend the behind the scenes with a Komodo Dragons event for her ninth birthday. Will, Collin and assistants did an excellent job answering questions and keeping the participants engaged. Her favorite part was watching the feeding of the dragons. If you are squeamish about reptiles feeding on rats, mice and chicks, I would not recommend attending. She learned about target training and witnessed the dragons playing with a laser. Petting one of the smaller Komodo dragons was an unexpected bonus. She loved seeing the two “babies”(six years old) and hearing about their birth. The enthusiasm of the staff helps cultivate the love of science in young people. Keep up the good work!

We are visiting family in Va Beach. Our day started out with the ever so popular question of, “what are we doing today?” After a little consideration we chose the aquarium. I went when I was younger and knew my daughters would love it! Not only were the exhibits just as awesome as I remembered , but the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. We had such a wonderful day and we made a pit stop at the cafe before leaving. The food was great and once again everyone was kind and willing to help. The aquarium was a great day 🤩 loved seeing all of the animals and seeing the joy on our little’s faces!

Wonderful place for a family of all ages! Even with crowds, it is easy to navigate. The displays and exhibits are fun, interactive, and informative. Allow yourself 3-4 hours for a good visit.

This was my son's favorite aquarium visit! We can only imagine how much better it is when fully open (no Covid restrictions).

All displays are well done. Many interactive opportunities, with hand sanitizer nearby and lots of cleaning going on.

We truly enjoyed learning about the local ecological environment.

Additional opportunities available. Boat ride (dolphins?). Zip lining (didn't realize until we left).

Lots of onsite parking. Close to the Virgina Beach strip, but feels far removed from the tourist trap options.

Make time for this, if it is your area of interest.

A fantastic learning center and beautifully organized. Staff are great and can't wait to share their knowledge about marine life!

Small aquarium for the price
Good for kids, but we would have liked to see seals, sea lions, sea horses, crocodiles, or even polar bears. Comodo dragon was cool & lots of stingrays, even that you could touch.

We walked the outside boardwalk and then went in side for the displays there. A nice selection of marine life. the tour is easy to walk and smoothly transitions from one focal point to another. Loved the under water tunnel, watching the kids watch the fish wasas fun as just watching the fish.

the aquarium was excellent and they had outside adventures, 1. nature trail, 2, river cruise.
Aquarium ha d many touch displays, good adventures

One of the most intriguing things we noticed about this aquarium, is that the staff was very knowledgeable, and eager to talk and share what they knew about each of the fish, and or reptiles. The staff made an effort to engage with you, and it seem like they truly enjoyed what they do. This made this a very enjoyable experience.

It took us a little over two hours to go through this aquarium.

I have enjoyed visiting this aquarium for a long time with my daughter. In her teens, she still enjoys the touch tanks, the underworld and the movie. It’s a great family fun time

I’ve been here with my wife in the past and it seems like the costs of the place are a bit high for the experience. Its ok, but nothing to write home about. Part of the aquarium is closed but they still charged full price.

The weather was too cool to go to an outdoor attraction, so my son asked if we could go to the Aquarium. We had a nice visit, and my son enjoyed it very much, which is really all the matters to us. They are renovating a building, so several animal exhibits were not available, like Otters, which was unfortunate, but we understood. It is smaller than I imagined, both in exhibits and size of hallways. Many people clogged up in certain areas, plus strollers, made it often hard to navigate. But it was a Sunday on a holiday weekend, so there was a large crowd. Highlights include: Komodo Dragons, Rays, Sea Turtles. However, the Cafe is a disaster. It's only open till 2:30, and the day we ate there, they were woefully behind on orders, with only one cook. It took us (3) at least half an hour to get food (pretty straight forward burgers, etc...) and they apparently forgot to even prepare the food of the couple that ordered before us. I'm not sure if it's staffing shortages, or just poor management, but maybe don't bother and get food outside of venue. That experience really marred an otherwise nice day. There is a nature trail to walk, which has nice views of water and wildlife.

A wonderful visit! The seals greet you when you first walk up. They are playful and fun to watch! Ticketing is a bit of a hassle. Definitely suggest buying before hand. The exhibits are amazing. So much to see and do. Touching a sting ray and jelly fish was awesome! We didn't realize that the second building had more to do in it and were pleasantly surprised when we walked that way. The ropes course looked awesome! It was busy but plenty of room to get around.

Excellent displays. Lots of hands on exhibits. Enjoyed the movie about the ocean. Cafe had decent food.

We enjoyed this aquarium. There are quite a lot of sea creatures to learn about. There is also a changing exhibit which happened to be about cats and dogs that was nice. We ate lunch while at the aquarium and the food was fine.

Our favorite part was an additional cost item which was the Dolphin Boat Tour. We highly recommend it.

Not worth the money! We had to pay to park, in addition to high admission costs. Theater wasn’t open and a few other exhibits were closed. Went through the entire place in 35 minutes.

The aquarium was nicely organized. You have to get tickets ahead of time. I was alittle uncomfortable that they allowed some people to not wear mask. But it is a sign outside that mandates it. But it was nice..

This was the best time the staff was so infomational the veiws were so peaceful we seen several dolphins even seen a baby dolphin like hours old was learning to bring his head out of the water to breath it was so moving to watch such great memories

Not the biggest aquarium I've ever been to but nice just the same. In fairness, a large part of the aquarium is down for major renovation, we were give money off admission as a result. The aquarium has a good amount of animals that seem to be well cared for. There is a trail that leads to an adventure park but it wasn't open when we were there. The grounds and interior is well kept and clean. There is a great deal of educational information throughout. They have a couple boat trips for dolphin and whale watching. whales more into the winter and dolphins are close to shore, we seen several from our hotel room, we didn't do the boat. It wasn't crowded when we were there so that was good, for us at least. There is a theater for presentations. cafe and gift shop. I would say this is a good place to visit, especially with kids.

This is a must see if staying near Virginia Beach! A $ 23 per person - 90 minute boat tour for viewing dolphins!! On our trip we saw over 100 dolphins - some right next to the boat — they were coming up everywhere!! Alexis the guide was very informative and also did a great job of explaining the protection laws for dolphins in the ocean. Doreen was very wonderful to speak with prior to our departure - explaining the surrounding area and habitats!

Great exhibits and the staff interacts very well with visitors. Very relaxing and educational. Well worth visiting.

This is fun for family at every age they have activities for toddlers on up. It is always clean, the staff is always great, and there are lots of sharks ,jellyfish , sting rays , sea turtles, fish and “nurseries “ for the baby creatures.

We visit every aquarium we can and this has been one of our favorites. We're in the area for the whole summer so we bought the memory and go at least once a week. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. We have never been disappointed and my children love coming.

I like the prepurchase of tickets as it allows for families to funnel through without waiting in line, too long. We wanted to see the shark exhibit first, but had to walk through a multitude of other rooms before finding the large tank with the few sharks in it. Still a great place to visit as a family, and the vivarium as a whole exhibited multiple flora and fauna for the animals housed in them.

My husband and I stopped by on a Saturday when the weather was too bad to stay outside. Apparently many families felt the same way, because there was a sizable crowd for off season. Unfortunately, several exhibits were closed for cleaning, refurbishing, or animals removed whose habitats were endangered by the storms. This was understandable due to offseason and weather. Many of the scientific exhibits were much too complicated for children, but they were enthralled by the aquarium occupants, as were we senior citizens. The natural world of Virginia, and the Chesapeake area, specifically, was well represented. This is a bit expensive for a family to visit often, but is a great way to spend half a day.

Very clean very educational!! Amazing experience the staff knowledgeable and very informative! Cait went above and beyond with us!! Highly recommend!!

My husband and I went to this aquarium on a Saturday afternoon. They have timed tickets that you get online prior to arriving at the aquarium. It was confusing upon arrival - they had a line that I was not sure what it was even for, but one of the staff told us to enter through the member door. They had signs that lead you one direction through the aquarium, which were not confusing. You are first greeted by a crow making siren noises. They had a good variety of animals including sharks, sea horses and Komodo dragons. I did not see a huge sea turtle even though they talked a lot about sea turtles. Many of the touch screens and touch items were closed or off due to Covid-19. All were wearing masks and I did not feel like it was overly crowded. They had hand sanitizer stations throughout the aquarium. One of the staff inside of the guest shop was a bit rude and sounded irritated by our questions. They had an ample amount of free parking. It took us about 1.5 hours to see the whole aquarium.

We booked this tour for a Saturday with a high of 55 which was definitely a nice treat for winter. There were several whale sightings made by people at the front of the ship. All I was ever able to see was the water shooting up from one whale and the other three members of my family didn't see anything. In fairness, we stayed inside half the time because of the kids. They were teaching most of the tour which was neat to learn a bunch of whale facts. I was still very happy with the tour anyway to learn stuff and just to sit and relax for 2 1/2 hours in the middle of the ocean. They have simple food and snacks on board. All of the staff was nice. The boat was nice. We won't go again but are very happy we did it once.

Overall the place is decent. Many displays are showing their age. There are a few nice exhibits and some great information regarding the animals contained within. We have been to many aquariums around the country. Some are underwhelming and some you want to revisit frequently. After yesterday’s visit we can say we enjoyed the place but not sure we will return. It wasn’t bad just not at all worth the $29.99 admission price.

They have taken a lot of precautions to prevent the spread of COVID, including implementing time based entry tickets (you have to book in advance to get a time slot), one way paths throughout and plenty of hand sanitiser. The exhibits were good, got to see plenty of different fish, but was a little limited and we were done within an hour.

Very nice aquarium. I think it's one of the smallest aquariums we've been to, but it had a lot of interesting facts from the area and was enjoyable to walk through. The staff was very nice and helpful. Would probably be a good place to take young children.

Was surprise we had to pay for parking - but if it's going towards the Marine Science Center we're on board with that. Would have loved to take one of the boat tours, but we were pressed for time.

While this aquarium had many varieties of species, I personally feel the adult ticket charge of $24.95 was way too much. There were also several exhibits that were closed. In addition, the website tells you to buy tickets online for timed entry to help limit the number of people at any one time. Their system is flawed as some exhibits were impassable due to the number of people.

An amazing experience for adults and children. The interactive encounter with the rays was great. It was also a great educational trip for everyone but especially kids.

We had been to the aquarium several times in the past and it has been the highlight of our trip. But not this time. We bought our timed tickets online and it was over $50 for 2 people--kind of pricey. The website said nothing about the 2nd building being closed. We were so disappointed that not only was the 2nd building closed but MANY of the exhibits had been taken down or replaced with PLASTIC animals or photographs. Many of the exhibits had no signage and looked sparse. The first room you visit with the plants looked very poorly kept, with many of the trees nearly dead and lots of just bare dirt on the ground. We walked through the whole thing in 40 minutes, which included a couple of stops to just sit and watch the fish i the larger tanks. You would think they'd lower the price if the entire facility was not open or if all the exhibits were not avaialable. They DO try to get you to pay more for boat cruises, photographs, etc, which I guess is typical for all of these types of places.

This aquarium is wonderful for children and families visiting Virginia Beach. It has great aquatic exhibits that you would expect for Ocean fish and animals, but it also has marine life in the local environments too (rivers, marsh, Chesapeake Bay, and more).

***This aquarium has many interactive & touch items for children***

The kids had LOTS of fun at this aquarium.

My wife and I decided last minute to drive to and buy tickets for the Aquarium. We were first in line and bought tickets there. Should have bought online ahead of time, but all worked out fine. Trick is get there early! We loved the exhibits. Very well done with the exception of only one sea otter.

Its a nice place to visit. Not what I expected, but the kids enjoyed it. I wish there were more larger sea animals to see.

Very well done aquarium convenient to the beach. Looking forward to the re-opening of these fond building.

I have to admit did not even know this was here and I live in Virginia. I’m glad we found out. Easy drive from our hotel down Pacific Avenue. We spend several hours here looking at the different exhibits. They have a good variety of everything and very well displayed. There are good education exhibits for older children. This is not Atlanta or Gatlinburg for its size it is a very good value for the admission price. If your in Virginia Beach, you need to go here.

Will, one of the staff, was fantastic!! He answered all our questions. He was knowledgeable and very well spoken. Our interactions with him greatly enhanced our visit. 5 stars for Will. .

The cafe is a bit pricey and the food is average. The gift shop sells alot of overpriced items that you can find at the oceanfront or in Walmart. If you want it to say Virginia Aquarium you will need to buy it at the gift shop. The safest items to buy are the books, jewelry and mugs. The displays don't change that often unless an animal crosses over to the rainbow bridge.

What a beautiful facility. We were immediately drawn in with the very friendly and engaging otters at the entrance but apart from one very friendly employee we found this attraction to not be very engaging. Employees were staged through out the facility but most were on their phones or not engaged and did not seem receptive to questions or engagement about the animals. This was disappointing after our encounter with a very nice employee working at the very beginning of the exhibit who spent a good 10 min with us talking about the crow at the entrance who can mimic sound. That was the highlight and only engagement of our day. If employees with that kind of passion worked throughout this aquarium I would have given it 5 starts and bought a membership same day.

A Well Size Aquarium with Some Cool Fish and other Marine Wildlife, Fairly Priced and a Great Place to Bring the Kids

We had a great time here on their dolphin discovery boat trip. We saw lots of dolphins that can be anywhere. Makes you want to run from one side of the boat to the other when they announce it but stay calm. Best to be on the side of the boat for 2 reasons. 1 you have some shade in the hot sun. 2 the dolphins may swim and chase along the side of the boat. Overall worth the money. They sell snacks onboard in case you need something

We had fun here. Got to see and learn about komodo dragons, seals, different fish and sea creatures. Also a cool gift shop. We got through in 90 minutes.

We saw the aquarium, which has a lot of fish in it, lol. Turtles, sharks, sea horses, jelly fish, a few snakes and lizards. Sea lions before you even go in! I recommend it.
We also did the dolphin boat trip, which was a nice 90 minute boat ride. Yes we saw dolphins, but not as many as in years past. Lots of pelicans, ospreys, and sea gulls. The crew was helpful and informative. Drinks and snacks sold on the boat. It was fun.

We enjoyed the boat ride were we saw the Virginia Beach coastline and a lot of Dolphins. The Aquarium was nice also with many interactive and educational exhibits.

Too crowded and too expensive. With timed entry, I expected it to be not completely packed. The noise level was overwhelming. Some of the animals such as the snakes and turtles did not have adequate space.

We paid nearly $80 to visit this aquarium, and it was AWFUL. Despite their "social distancing" model, it was over-crowded. My kids were unable to view half the exhibits because adults were gathering in huge groups and blocking the views. The exhibits themselves are unimpressive (I'm a huge fan of aquariums, and this was the most pathetic I've seen). They brag about their sharks and turtles, but they have about 7 sharks and one turtle! It's a waste of time, money, and effort - and even though they claim to abide by COVID rules, they're not. I'm so mad I spent all this money for a definitively lackluster experience.

We took our young kids here with another family with young kids, and we all had a great time. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The aquarium has a variety of exhibits and creatures: sea turtles, ducks, sharks, Komodo dragons, etc. It’s also got a cool boardwalk area outside along the water where you can spot a variety of critters in the wild. It’s a great place to take the family for a few hours.

So we added this stop on our trip after it was far too hot to go hike at First Landing State Park that day. I'd 100% suggest pre-buying tickets before you go. There was a huge line to get tickets when we got there but we were able to log onto the phone while in line and buy tickets which let us skip the line. It was busy inside but never felt really, really crowded. The set up was designed so you basically flowed through each exhibit into the next so you really didn't have to worry about people walking against the flow. The kids really loved the touch exhibits. There is a second building that is a little bit of a walk across a board walk that we didn't realize at first and almost missed it entirely. Don't miss the second building. It was much less busy than the first building (probably because people miss it) and had lots of hands on experiments for the kids plus and outdoor play area that looked super neat. Also on our way back to the cars it was tide change so there were all kinds of fiddler crabs you could watch coming up out of the mud all around the boardwalk. Great way to spend a hot or even rainy afternoon.

Awesome time at this aquarium. We like to visit aquariums as we travel and this did not disappoint. So much to see and the staff is very knowledgeable. I also like that there are hand cleaning stations everywhere. Very nice gift shop also. Be sure not to miss the Komodo dragons.

Visited the VIrginia Beach Aquarium while on a bus tour of Virginia Beach/Norfolk area in the beginning of October, 2019. The aquarium is well staffed with paid personnel as well as volunteers. The aquarium had the normal sea life you would expect to see plus some land animals such as a komodo dragon. The aquarium is very easy to navigate and it also has a nice relaxing nature trail to walk. Seahorses, rays, sharks, tropical fish, as well as some fresh water variety of fish. This venue has a snack bar and a theater inside the building as well.

The variety of exhibits and the amount of interactive exhibits made it worth the visit. It would be a great place to take our grandchildren.

We recently visited this aquarium with our grandsons, ages 2 and 6. They had a great time! There were hands on exhibits we had to practically drag them away from and many interesting things to see. There was hand sanitizer readily available everywhere. On the way out we passed a large glassed tank where a seal proceeded to play with the boys, charging toward them then diving down at the last minute. The boys were thrilled!

Very quality aquarium, perfect outing, but until the new building is complete your only getting half the visit at the full price. It is a handicap accessible place, but some areas need to be updated. The wheelchair got hung up on room transitions and doorways. Ànd i don't think there should be snakes in with fish tanks. Reptiles should have a completely separate space, so people can choose if they want to view them.

We have visited aquariums at many locations around the US, this one we rate as #1. You will not be disappointed, so much to see.

Excellent aquarium for all kids and adult. The exhibits are unique and fun with great learning experience

Visited for the first time . It is a very well maintained aquarium . The shark tank was not working but the rest of the aquatic life was great to see . You have to get your tickets ahead of time . A solo ticket for me was twenty-nine dollars . They also have a gift shop , a chance to have your picture taken by a photographer and a Nature Walk there .

We have always enjoyed this aquarium! The seals swimming in the front are always a crowd-pleaser. This year was a little different with the pandemic because you had to order tickets ahead of time. We waited until the day before and times were limited so I recommend looking at least 2 days ahead. I actually enjoyed the smaller crowd and felt pandemic rules were followed. They keep their tanks and facilities immaculate. A must see for anyone who loves aquariums!

This place was so disappointing. It was just small and had only a few animals. I think it has good reviews because it's one thing to do in the Virginia Beach area which didn't have many things to do. I heard all the hype and went. We couldn't believe at after just an hour and 45 minutes we were done. If you have been to Ripley Aquarium of the Smokeys in Gatlinburg TN, this will be about half that size . VB Aquarium was not nearly worth the outrageous cost of admission ($24).

I took my 11 year old son to this aquarium. We enjoyed the exhibits, movie and nature trail. In addition they have educational experiences all through the aquarium such as games, staff with animals teaching and letting kids touch the animals and interactive activities in numerous rooms. I was expecting to be finished within 2 hours. Including the movie and stopping to touch the animals and the interactive activities we were there about 4 hours. It was such a nice experience for us.

Great aquarium! Our favorite part was the entrance where the seals welcome visitors and then later bid them adieu. Although we are from Chicago, we bought a membership because It made economic sense. With a family of six and with visiting for two weeks, we knew we’d be back during the vacation. The membership also gave us discounts on souvenirs and boat trips. Money and time well spent!

the greatest thing about this place was the sea turtle exhibit. I could sit and watch them swim all day. The staff was very friendly and made everyone feel welcome. The staff also came up to you and told us some very interesting facts and amazing stories.

Aquarium was wonderful. Would recommend visiting. The exhibits were very nicely done, and the employees were very informative.

The nicest, cleanest, family friendly aquatic experience for families of very young to grandparents and all others.
So many exhibits, many with helpful staff nearby explaining what was going on.
Sharks, rays, seahorses, otters, komodo dragons, jelly fish of many types, seals, frogs of many types, alligators, turtles, large and small.
Exhibits explaining the eco system and how the Chesapeake area came to be. So educational.

We visited as soon as the aquarium opened at 9am to avoid the crowds as much as possible. We intentionally scheduled the aquarium visit on a day with rain in the forecast because the beach would be less fun. I really don't like to feel rushed when I visit a museum. Limiting the parking ($5) to 3 hours puts pressure on visitors to rush through. I was really impressed with the layout of the exhibits and the ambiance. The kids imposed a pace that was not suitable for reading labels and learning more about the exhibits, so we finished well before the parking expired. I was surprised when we reached the end though, it felt like something was missing. We took the nature walk and we got soaking wet because of a passing rain. The Marsh Pavilion (which seems to be about half the size of the main building) was apparently closed for renovation. With that knowledge, I feel like we paid for a full experience and only got 66% of it.

Its a nice, but small aquarium. Mostly basic fish types, but they are building a new area that is not open yet that is supposed to house some cooler exhibits. Nothing amazing, and at $20, not that cheap, but it was a nice distraction for a few hours.

My kids really enjoyed the aquarium, especially attempting to touch the sting rays in the water pool. I thought it could be better for the price you pay to get in, for instance it could be bigger, have dolphins with out having to pay extra for a boat tour, the part where you go through the archway aquarium tank could be longer also. This aquarium is good for families with small children. It only took us under an hour to get through it. The crowd was moderate. We went there at 12:00 noon on the day before Thanksgiving. All and all it was just ok.

Would love to tell you all about it ...but got there and they had no room for us...nothing on thier website said they have limited number and if you don't pre-order WAY in advance you are out in the cold...they dont hold any tickets aside for out of towners so locals are the only ones who would have known this....should set aside some tickets for travelers from out of town....but welll that was a disappointment.....

This is a nice attraction. Kids will love it. They have turtles and fish in large aquariums. Sharks and other sea creatures are in even larger aquariums. The displays are 99% inside, but they do have one thing outside (we did not see it thought). They do have a place where you can purchase limited food items and they have multiple bathroom facilities. Again, kids will love it.

This is a great place and very nice and clean for a family visit. We did the ocean ride to see the dolphins and it was great.

Just my husband and I and and we enjoyed ourselves. Seemed a bit pricey for just the 2 of us but was well kept and nicely laid out . Loved the sea turtles!

We recently visited Virginia Beach and spent time at the aquarium. This was a great experience. FYI: is is very popular with parents and young children.

The aquarium fits into the category of museums. They need ways to engage with visitors and develop a level of excitement. The aquarium does it very well. As I recall, it cost about $20+ admission for adults.

You would expect tanks with fish. They have that. You would expect a clear plastic tunnel,with fish swimming overhead. They have that too. They have supervised shallow tanks where kids can put their hands in and certain fish swim around them.

They have dramatic looking tanks with sharks, sting rays and giant turtles. They have Exhibits that do not focus on fish, like a cobra snake inside a glass case and those poisonous Brazilian tree frogs you hear about in murder mysteries.

This was a great experience. We had a good time.

Aquarium was not busy early in the day. Exhibits are well placed with room for multiple to view. Younger kids enjoyed it, especially the manta ray tank where you could touch them.

This is one of the first public places I went since February. Timed tix reduced number of people so not crowded, one way only paths, lots of sanitizer available, everyone wearing masks, friendly staff, lots to see

Having timed tickets for our trip made for such a pleasant experience on our visit. Made it feel nice and safe and was so great to be able to have the staff be able to tell us more about the critters we wanted to learn about. All the staff were friendly and happy to answer questions. As always, the Sting Rays were my favorites to watch, though I found myself kind of partial to the tree frogs today. Great, fun visit with friends and family.

We visit every couple of years and always find something new and interesting. Unfortunately, the museum is not at it's best right now because of Covid 19. But it's a wonderful place for kids and adults alike. Where else cqn you pet a shark or a sting-ray??

Just ok, not many fish tanks, really underwhelming compared to Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, ect. Was pretty disappointed

My family wanted to see dolphins, but alas! they were not cooperating. The reason this group gets 5 stars is because the staff aboard taught my kids so much about dolphins, the captain went further/longer in search for dolphins and the cabin inside was perfect for a bite of food and a drink. We will be back for a whale trip!

We visited the aquarium fairly early in the day, which was great as there weren’t many people around and we were able to take our time and enjoy without feeling like we were in anyone’s way. It is a small aquarium however they manage to cram plenty of animals and fish into the space that they do have. It is a little pricey but I do believe that it is worth it.

We tend to visit aquariums in each place we visit. This aquarium definitely stood out! The enclosures in this aquarium were above and beyond, there was no stone unturned when it came to detail. Location was great too, we stayed on the boardwalk and were able to walk there easily!

We had an outstanding time at the Virginia Aquarium over our holiday break. My mother and her friend were in town for a quick stop on their way from Cape Cod to Ft. Myers Beach. I knew there would be no better mid-day activity for these two beach babes than VAQ!

We began our time with a behind the scenes tour with April, seeing the inner workings of the turtle exhibit. The experience of "feeding time" brought each of a youthful sense of wonder and amazement as the turtles (and fish) met their target for the reward of dinner. After spending the better part of two hours with April and friends, we had a better understanding of the various species, their seasonal habits and the destruction of pollution and plastics on their habitat.

Two things I will take with me forever are 1. Jelly Fish are one of the most underappreciated sea creatures and 2. Small changes in our daily habits can have HUGE impacts on our ecosystems.

Thank you Virginia Aquarium for an awesome day. It was really fun to be a kid again - if only for a couple of hours.

PS. We had the honor of being greeted by Whitt on our way into the exhibits. What an enthusiastic ambassador for your facility!

We have always loved it here. We ended up doing the dolphin watch boat tour and it exceeded our expectations! They have sonar on the boat so they can track the dolphins to ensure you get to see them. They also stop the boat so you can view them. The aquarium itself is amazing, especially their new jellyfish exhibit. I HIGHLY recommend this place.

The aquarium was very clean and was filled with many interesting exhibits. They have a cafe but not much gluten free to offer.

Our kids are 13 and 15. I feel like this place is geared for more the 5-12 crowd but we had a lot of fun and learned a lot anyway.
You can see sea turtles, sharks, etc. Lots of interactive activities. It isnt really big, we were there about an hour and ran out of things to do. But we did catch them feeding the manta rays in the touch tank.
I like that it instills conservation into young kids. It is a neat place. Worth checking out.

We spend the summer in Virginia Beach, which has an excellent marine science center, so we didn’t have high hopes for this tiny aquarium. We were pleasantly surprised! The touch tank is so-so, but we arrived just in time for the presentation at the outdoor exhibit, which was cool- they feed the fish and (very exciting!) the nurse sharks, which eat dramatically. The exhibit is small, so it’s easy to see everything very close up. You can also go up the steps to view from higher up.
The ticket is good for two days, so we went back a second day and happened to catch Turkey the Tortoise out on a walk through the indoor space, so we got to give him a little shell scratch. The invasive species lecture was also very interesting- and then in the back we spent a couple of quarters to feed the fish, which went crazy enough for the food to be entertaining. The signs above the indoor tanks are screens that rotate through interesting information. The moray eel sting-rays, turtles, octopus… all very fun to see. This activity won’t take too long, but do try to catch the presentations, and it’s worth popping in a second day in case something new is happening!

Took all the grandkids while down in V Beach and have to say an enjoyable time was had by all from a 13 year old to a 2 year old. They all enjoyed seeing the sharks, seals as well all the other sea life, Getting to pet a stingray as well as a crab was a highlight for more than a few of them. My only complaint was the cafe the prices where way too steep for the quality of the food

Nice Aquarium, got a little confused on where to go once we got inside, signs in the parking lot direct you to text to pay for parking, kiosks for parking were covered, apparently there is no charge for parking during the off season so that was confusing as well. Other than that, things were nice, great displays, interesting and interactive stations. the nature walk to the second building was a little longer than we expected, glad the weather was warm, very cool adventure ropes course through that wooded area at an extra cost, but certainly look like a great activity. Trolls along the way were neat. Certainly worth the stop, have passed there many times. The Harbor seal at the entrance was a great greeting !

So much to see and learn. Lots of great activities for the kids. Also nice scenic overlook to walk through seeing the oysters, crabs, cranes and other wildlife outside. Loved that with covid they had tour guides stationed throughout the displays and animals to answer questions and share facts with you.