San Antonio Aquarium

Fantastic experience: We had such a great time at the San Antonio Aquarium! It’s a perfect spot for a family outing. The kids absolutely loved the hands-on experiences—being able to touch and interact with the stingrays, feed the birds, and even gently touch an octopus was unforgettable! There’s a nice variety of sea life and land animals, and the staff was super friendly and helpful, especially when it came to answering questions and guiding the animal encounters. Everything felt clean, well-kept, and family-friendly. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for an affordable, fun, and educational experience in San Antonio!

Negative experience: Would say great place but the mermaid they had today was super unprofessional, kept talking to another person while my kids were waiting to get their glitter tattoo, Mind you she was talking to a teenager about school and her own personal life. I get small talk but when my kids are waiting for the mermaid to at least acknowledge them and let them know she will get to them, she ignored they were there waiting with their tokens for their turns. Super rude Latina mermaid. I usually like the other cute light skin one who gives a good vibe and experience. mentioned to the other team member and they let me know to let her know I’m waiting My kids aren’t only standing there with the 2 tokens in hand staring at her . A joke, run by a bunch of immature kids

Positive experience: The outdoor space was nice. It’s definitely overpriced because it’s not very big and not very well maintained. Maybe it’s just because the building is old and the aquarium isn’t very well staffed. We did enjoy the stingray pool and the outdoor area. It could be a good place to take kids as they have sections with arcades and games. We saw a random guest stick his hand inside an octopus. There were no cameras or staff watching to stop him.

Fantastic experience: It was our 1st time there. It's a small place but not bad at all. It's aired condition. It also has an outdoor area, u can pet some animals, feed some animals, they have an eating area and a small child play area.

Negative experience: I recently visited and was profoundly disappointed by the conditions and treatment of the animals housed there. The experience was not only disheartening but also a glaring reminder of how some institutions prioritize profit over the well-being of their inhabitants. Firstly, the temperature for the penguins was a shocking 73 degrees. Penguins are arctic creatures, and seeing them in such a warm environment was distressing. They appeared unhealthy, with some showing signs of mange, a clear indication of neglect and poor care. Every animal I observed seemed to embody sadness, but none more so than the porcupine. It was also heart-wrenching to later learn that a porcupine had died just a year ago due to inadequate conditions. This is unacceptable for an establishment that claims to promote wildlife education and conservation. The water in the tanks was filthy and smelly, with a cloudy appearance that suggested a serious lack of maintenance. An aquarium should provide a clean, safe environment for its aquatic life, and it was evident that this was not the case here. The grounds were also unkempt, reflecting a disregard for both the animals and the visitors. The enclosures were poorly designed, offering little to no resemblance to the animals' natural habitats. They felt more like prison cells than sanctuaries. Perhaps the most tragic sight was the armadillo, who was seen running in circles, clearly stressed and deprived of the space he needs to thrive. It’s heartbreaking to witness an animal in such a state of distress, and it underscores the urgent need for reform within this facility. In conclusion, The San Antonio Aquarium left me with a heavy heart. The animals deserve better, and potential visitors should be aware of the poor conditions before supporting such an establishment. I sincerely hope that changes are made for the sake of these beautiful creatures. They should be treated with the respect and care they deserve, not left to languish in an environment that fails to meet their basic needs.

Negative experience: This place needs to be shut down. It was dirty, smelled terrible, all of the exhibits were small and unkempt. The animals looked clearly lethargic. This was honestly such a sad experience. Don’t give this place your money.

Negative experience: I've been to plenty aquariums and this would be best compared to a road side circus. Tickets were around $25/per adult and kids were $20 but it should've been $10-$15. You don't have to pay for tokens to feed the animals but the kids wanted to. These poor animals are living on your grandma's kitchen tile. It was such a sad sight and kind of shocking to see in 2025.

Negative experience: We came once a year ago and had an okay time. It definitely isn’t a true aquarium, but my kids enjoyed the animals and we had what I’d call a fair experience. We decided to return today and I will not be going back. The smell is horrific and seems to get worse as you move through the exhibits. My kids were excited to see the mermaid & Moana, but they are sitting there looking so bored and bothered by having to be there that we didn’t even try to approach them. There are a lot of extra cash grabs throughout the space and I really didn’t love that. In the future, we will go to a real aquarium where the facilities are clean, staff is kind and animals are well cared for.

Positive experience: In some ways, this place is closer to a small zoo. Overall, our family had a pretty nice time. This is a terrific place for kiddos who are into sensory things. The octopus encounter was really cool, and the very passionate "octopus handler" added a lot to the experience. They had a lemur out for interaction as well. I think my daughter rather excitedly said, " it's soo fluffy!!" At least a few times. The outside exhibit is nice and offers more opportunities for close encounters with birds and features large goldfish that might nibble on your toes while you rest on a bench. They ray tank offered another pretty unique touching experience. There were lots of smiling rays who were not afraid to come by for an interaction. Bottom line often comes down to bang for your buck. In this case, we went as part of our "Get Out Pass" which includes loads of cool things around San Antonio. As part of that pass, this was perfect. Though, I'm not sure if could or would splurge given their normal rates.

Fantastic experience: ⸻ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ San Antonio Aquarium – A Truly Engaging and Educational Experience My recent visit to the San Antonio Aquarium exceeded expectations on multiple levels, and I am pleased to share what made the experience so exceptional. To begin with, the cleanliness of the facility stood out immediately. Every exhibit area, walkway, and interactive station appeared well-maintained, creating a comfortable and sanitary environment for guests and animals alike. It’s clear that the staff takes pride in upholding a high standard of care across the entire property. Speaking of the staff — they were consistently friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted warmly, and throughout the visit, staff members were eager to answer questions, provide information about the animals, and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Their passion for wildlife and guest engagement was evident and truly appreciated. One of the most exciting additions I noticed was the introduction of baby alligators to the facility. Watching them interact in their habitat was both adorable and fascinating. It added a unique touch to the visit and highlighted the aquarium’s commitment to featuring a diverse range of species for educational purposes. Another standout feature was the new penguin exhibit, which offers guests an up-close look at these charismatic creatures in an environment that has clearly been designed with care and attention to detail. The exhibit is engaging, well-lit, and provides ample space for viewing, making it a great addition for guests of all ages. Beyond the individual exhibits, the aquarium offers incredibly immersive animal encounters that elevate the experience. From feeding stingrays and exotic birds to handling reptiles and interacting with other marine life, the hands-on opportunities create lasting impressions and encourage meaningful connections between visitors and the animals. It’s not just a walkthrough experience — it’s interactive and thoughtfully curated. Overall, the San Antonio Aquarium continues to grow and improve in meaningful ways. Whether you are a first-time visitor, a family with young children, or a returning guest like myself, there is always something new and exciting to see and do. I highly recommend this attraction to anyone seeking an educational, family-friendly experience that offers both fun and insight into the incredible world of aquatic and exotic animals.

Positive experience: As locals, we’ve been to this aquarium several times in the past 2 1/2 years and I love seeing the improvements but we’re also hoping this place gets a generous donation for some upgrades like we’re seeing with our Zoo. It hasn’t changed much in the last few years outside of maybe the penguin feature being moved and some animals being changed out for outgrowing or other reasons. My almost 4 year old enjoys it though and it gets the energy out! I would recommend buying the season pass if you’re local or plan on coming more than twice in the calendar year. Pays for itself and you get the bounce house area included. Overall cleanliness is good but entrance could use some dusting especially during downtimes and folks are just waiting for customers. The gift shop was very clean and tidy though! We ended up buying something special before heading out.

Fantastic experience: Great interactive pools for all to enjoy. Had a great time with our grandkids. Worth going and spending time with the animals.

Negative experience: The enclosures for most of the animals was too small. Animals seemed depressed. The only big enclosure was for the sting rays which was probably the most enjoyable part.only took 30 minutes to walk

Negative experience: Very sad. It's not an aquarium but more like a petting zoo... the animals are kept in small concrete areas... a lot of them looked very depressed and wouldn't take food from visitors. (NOT that I think every animal should be fed by random people anyway...)

Negative experience: This place was not great. It is more of a cash grab petting zoo than an aquarium. There is barely any information to know what animals you are looking at and if there is they are on screens that flash the information for 3 seconds. A lot of it was "touch based" and it smelled horrible. Don't waste your money

Fantastic experience: Very interesting variety of fish, reptiles, birds and other animals. Lots of hands on experiences. It even has a small arcade. It costs extra to feed animals and for the personal animal encounters but that's not really needed to enjoy your visit. Would recommend visiting on a weekday, weekends get pretty busy.

Negative experience: Not worth the money, would not recommend it at all. Some staff were very friendly others not so much. We spent a pretty penny with the assumption of being able to feed and pet some of the animals. Yes we fed one animal but others we could just pet with 2 fingers on the backs. Don't spend the money on the sloth interaction it's not at all worth it, we just got to pet its back. wish I had a better review.

Negative experience: Not worth the money unless you have kids. Tanks are way too small and dirty for the animals to be healthy. Almost all of the animals can be pets, so its like walking into an expensive pet store. Seems like money is more important than the animals. Seemed like all of the employees didn't even want to be there.

Negative experience: The sign should tell you everything you need to know. This is more of an animal torture house than an aquarium. 30$ per person over 12 and it took us maybe 35 minutes to walk through and look at all the animals. As others have mentioned the exhibits are too small, they clearly do not do any up keep or renovations. The nicest most updated area was the overpriced gift shop. Upon exiting you get ambushed by people trying to sell you timeshares.

Fantastic experience: Took my granddaughter to see the fishes lol.....ended up getting a lil zoo action too! She had a great time! Had bounce house stuff and a mini game room too. A great place for children to have fun. And even the adults who never grew up

Fantastic experience: Great place to relax! I love the environment! Has a lot more animals. Pinguins, birds, tortoises, iguanas, fish, chickens, kangaroo. I love this place. Highly recommend. I will go again

Positive experience: This is a neat place to visit. I do have to say that it is more of a nature center/petting zoo than an aquarium. They do have some really nice tanks with fun interactive opportunities, but there were way more furry critters than wet ones. It’s still a blast with some really neat animals.

Fantastic experience: Just mentioning that you can't judge a book by its cover. Drove up to it and didn't expect much from first glance. Was blown away by how awesome this place is. They encourage you to interact or touch many of the critters and sea life. Feed em, hold em pet em. Edward is a wealth of knowledge about all of the animals. Loved feeding the octopus and stingrays.

Fantastic experience: Our family visits a lot of zoos and aquariums. What we love about the San Antonio Aquarium is how interactive the exhibits are. There are dozens of opportunities to pet and feed the animals. We spent a long time at the big tank interacting with stingrays. Also, our 12 and 15 year olds enjoyed the lemur experience for a little extra money (4 tokens). Three generations on this visit, and we all had a great time.

Positive experience: A great lil aquarium and rescue place for animals..buy tokens to feed and pet animals. Has a game room and a bounce house room.

Fantastic experience: Griselda was so amazing, her energy is great as well. I had paid to come into the aquarium and once I got to the iguana jump Griselda explained to me the memberships for my family and I was sold! I will definitely be coming all year.

Positive experience: Few things surprised me like snake, turtle etc because of their size and colour. Not very big aquarium but it’s worth one visit. It has free parking and a shop to buy gifts.

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic weekend visit to the San Antonio Aquarium! It wasn’t crowded, which made it easy to explore and enjoy everything at our own pace. The environment was calm and relaxing, perfect for families or anyone looking to unwind. The animals were friendly and interactive, adding a fun and engaging touch to the experience. The staff were incredibly helpful and welcoming throughout our visit. Plus, parking was convenient and the pricing was very reasonable. Highly recommend for a fun, laid-back outing!

Negative experience: If I could set it to 0 stars I would. This place is a poor poor excuse of an “aquarium”. The poor animals are cramped into so small enclosures that it’s ridiculous, the animals were in poor condition, they looked depressed and stressed. There was even a poor armadillo that was pacing back and forth in what seemed like it was loosing its mind, a octopus in such a small enclosure even though it was half the size of the tank! For the price I was expecting better conditions $60 for me and my wife, and we breezed through the “aquarium” in about 20 minutes. Sad and frankly anger inducing experience. They should be closed, I can’t believe they allow this to be open. Don’t go!

Negative experience: We just moved to San Antonio and I was excited to go see some of the stuff they have around especially for my son. Honestly this aquarium isn't worth the $55 entry price tag for an adult and child. It is small, and while you are able to interact with the animals you have to pay for each interaction. They also have a bouncy house area and My son was checking them out, and a guy approached me and said it costs $12! Like he wanted me to go drag my son out because we didn't pay. It was our first time,couldn't we just check it out first? Lol then this man proceeded to try and hustle me to get a family membership. He was so rude. This place is a money grab. Not worth it in my opinion. I've been to many amazing aquariums that cost less.

Fantastic experience: I went with my daughter on a school field trip. She was super excited to see the animals, feed and touch them. An employee, Edward was very kind and gave us a lot of information about every animal we got to see. We were able to feed an octopus because of him, and feel her. Which for me was the best part. So thank you Edward for making our experience that much better

Negative experience: today was very upsetting. They stopped providing sodas and sugar types of food: like cotton candy, pickles, icees, and chips. jucies. Instead, we paid for water with our pizza and fries!!! I have membership, and we come for animals and cafe treats, but now it has come my intention that they are under new management who made this horrible decision. this was very upsetting for a person who has membership and comes every other weekend. what else is going change? tofu? vegan menu?

Negative experience: Do not go here, they abuse their animals. All of the animals are kept in tiny enclosures and/or concrete flooring. They have maybe 15 or more bamboo sharks all in a pool that is 2 feet tall at most, and maybe 8 feet long. I went there in 2023, but it never occurred to me to leave a review, now I am. Do not support this place. Go to the san Antonio zoo instead

Fantastic experience: This is the best. Everyone there is so kind, excited to help us learn and have a great experience. We got annual passes on our most recent visit. Shout out to Edward and Monica!

Fantastic experience: What an incredible location to connect with nature all the while being protected from the scorching heat of Texas! This is by far, our favorite amongst the Austin and Houston locations though not only because of the animal encounters, but also by the tremendous staff members running this place and making this such a hit to keep coming back to! Every visitor into san antonio has been to this location and has absolutely loved it! The staff is incredible but the highlight is Ms. Griselda over at the bounce house section! She is full of energy and enthusiasm with both adults and the little ones! Not a single dull moment or dull visit here because she’ll always have the ability to turn a frown upside down! This woman needs recognition beyond belief and every one of my guests could easily concur! After an entire year of coming here, we discovered the outdoor area ! Come here for live interactions with the animals, touching stingray and fish while you feed them, encountering both land and sea animals alike and getting to immerse yourself in an interactive experience sea world simply cannot provide. If you have kids who love to jump, be prepared to spend a few hours at the bounce house areas. They also have an arcade area as well but truth be told, this is one section that we quickly pass by. Come during the week for a quieter outing!

Fantastic experience: I really love this aquarium! It really brought out the child in me! The only thing that I was sad about is that they are not doing encounters with the capybara anymore. I love feeding the tortoise and alpaca!

Negative experience: Visited on Monday, whole place was so quiet with not many visitors with no ques. Don’t feel pressured into buying tokens at the front I would recommend walking around first to see if you wanted to encounter the animals. Alligators were swapped a few weeks ago therefore they are small babies which you aren’t really able to see in the pond and were not interested in getting fed with not a single movement. Some of the lemurs were going nuts in their cage and very vocal, this would put off anyone going into the enclosure however they did bring out a brown lemur which meant you could see him without stepping inside. Felt a little mislead on feeding the animals under one coin, this is to get food from the gumball machines to throw over the side. Good play spaces for kids if you are going with young ones. Overall I wouldn’t go back or really recommend, very sad looking animals, brought 12 tokens and left with 9 at the end, thankfully you can use them in the cafe or gift shop, however at least the staff were very nice and helpful.

Fantastic experience: Went Friday in the morning, the place was pretty empty so we got to see everything, staff was really sweet and let the baby help feed the octopus and stingrays their actual lunch food ! Plus the jump place was empty so he had a nice time having the whole place to himself.

Negative experience: Small, smelly and quite frankly disappointing. The hard push to buy tokens before even seeing anything wasn't necessary, if we had looked around first it's clearly obvious you wouldn't feel the need to buy so many tokens. Petting for tokens just felt wrong, exploiting & disturbing the animals for the ££... The staff however were very polite but robotic in their manorisms.

Negative experience: Dark, gloomy and depressing. The animals look so unhappy. Many of the enclosures are much too small. I just left feeling in a really low mood. I'm giving an extra star because the staff members were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They seem to really care and enjoy engaging with the animals and the patrons.

Fantastic experience: Very, very nice staff The guy working at the food cafe is very nice. The staff educate you while you feed the animals.

Fantastic experience: This aquarium is truly outstanding. It features a variety of rooms and activities that engage both kids and adults, making the experience enjoyable for everyone. As you explore each area, you’ll be captivated by the fascinating animals and the overall ambiance of the place. I highly recommend visiting, and I would absolutely love to return in the near future.

Fantastic experience: Small aquarium with lots of interactions with animals available where you get to feed and pet most of the animals. There's also a cool bouncy house area for the kiddos where they can play safely in an easy to watch, open floor area.

Positive experience: I was skeptical at first. The first few exhibits were unassuming, and I really thought I had wasted my money. But as you kept going through the aquarium, which is more like a maze, it got better and better. Each section had interactive exhibits that children could participate in, and that made it very exciting. They could pet the animals and feed them. There was a lot more than just fish. I can't wait to bring my grandsons back and watch their happy little faces.

Negative experience: ***THESE HIGH RATED REVIEWS SEEM VERY MISLEADING**** I'm not sure why people are giving this place more than 1 star. It does not deserve it. These animals deserve so much better than how they're being treated. It feels like a cash grab where animals are kept in small cages with no sunlight, surrounded by waste, and constant noise from crowds. This is not a proper "zoo" it's an easy way for the owners to make money. The petting areas are unsupervised, and the koi fish pond allows people to walk through the water, which is really concerning. I even saw a family with a toddler walk into the iguana enclosure because it was left unlocked. Mind you, nobody even cared when it happened. There are strange signs around saying things like “kids will become bait,” but basic safety measures aren’t even being followed. I've never seen something so upsetting. I regret visiting, and I hope real change happens for the sake of the animals. They deserve far better.

Negative experience: This is WORST “aquarium” I’ve been to. Do NOT waste your time or money. I have many issues here. The price was listed as 24.95 online and when we paid at the location, that jumped to 31$. When I asked what add on there was to increase it I was told there was a 3.8% fee for card payments. Ok, I get that but 3.8% of 24.95 is under a dollar. Don’t buy the tokens…they’re three dollars….per token. And it gets you a gumball sized amount of fish food per token. And if you don’t use them you can use them at the gift shop…but they’re only worth 2$ a piece. Another thing, the employees were nice. And by employees, I mean the ONE gentleman who was kind enough to help us with one of the three broken token machines we had to deal with. Every other employee we came across seemed to avoid people and watched us struggle. We wanted to know information about how my niece could pet the penguins(6 tokens) and we had to go FIND this gentleman bc the woman right next to the penguins was avoiding eye contact at all cost. Lastly and most importantly, THIS IS NOT AN AQUARIUM! I think we saw 10 fish total. Empty tanks on empty tanks. We saw more birds, kangaroos, lemurs, other NOT fish than we did fish. We managed to see about two stingrays and a shark. This place is a money grab and a bad one at that. I will never go here again. And I will strongly encourage anyone else to skip this one too. The aquarium in the mall was significantly better when we went last year. Cheaper too. Go there :)

Negative experience: If your toddler is looking forward to seeing lots of fish and having a blast because she loves fish...this is not the "aquarium" for it. Yes they do have fish but they are definitely more of a zoo. And be sure to use all the tokens because there are no refunds for any left over. You can use them in a gift shop but what the attendant at the desk told me is that you pay $3 for one token but its only worth $2 in the gift shop. And if you aren't gonna use them yourself or in the gift shop you can just give the tokens away to whoever you see standing around. We would not have come had we known it was more zoo than aquarium.

Fantastic experience: This is not just an aquarium is a place where you can have interaction with different animals. You can feed, interact and pet them. If you come to San Antonio this is a most.

Positive experience: We have had a season pass for a few years now. My son loves to come and feed the alligators, the birds and stingrays. As a member he loves to jump in their play area. They have gotten rid of the icee and ice cream machines. The icee refill options were a real treat for kids when they came. The reason they gave was to be healthier. Hmmm but they replaced it with beer and other alcoholic beverages in the kid area. Not too pleased with that decision and my son was really disappointed. It’s unfortunate.

Fantastic experience: From humble beginnings, this place has grown into a first-class mini-zoo. Penguins, lemurs, sloths, tropical birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many species of marine life. If you've never been, go experience it. If you haven't been in years, you'll be amazed at its evolution.

Positive experience: Tickets: price is kinda deceiving because they charge service charge so the price of the ticket was more than what the website says. Interaction: its quite cool to be able to pet and feed the animals but the tokens are a little pricey. Animals: some did look exhausted… and some were hiding. Overall, different type of animals to see and interact with. Area: its like the whole place is suffering from ADHD. Its kinda all over there place. The arcade area… bouncy house… were in areas where it just didnt make sense. It was just random. They need to do some upgrades… feel the place is outdated. Smell: it wasn’t a stench but there was a smell, but it wasn’t unbearable. I may revisit when my toddler gets a little older….we weren’t able to engage much as we want bc 3 school buses full of kids showed up… lol

Fantastic experience: Loved it, there was a lot to do. The petting of the animals was cool. You have to pay extra for some of the things to pet them but the fish and rays are free to touch. There is food machines where you put in the coins and the food dispenses but they broke and our coins got stuck but the lady was so nice she came back and gave us coins back. Overall a great experience, I definitely recommend.

Positive experience: This is a great place to bring the kiddos , they have lots of hands on features like petting the animals and koi fish , turtles and reptiles , although the only dislike that I have about the place is the staff is not very friendly. The front staff is nice but once you get into the back again they are not very friendly.

Positive experience: Good place to go if you are looking for a local experience that is outside of downtown. It can get crowded during the middle to later part of the day, so plan in advance. The staff were nice, and the assortment of animals were great to see. Will be back for another great experience.

Fantastic experience: This aquarium is our second favorite that we have visited in the State thus far. We purchased our tickets online through a website called Tripster and received a great package deal that included admission to both the aquarium and the zoo. The building itself appears small, but its interior is truly remarkable. At the main entrance, where we presented our ticket vouchers, we were given the option to purchase tokens for use inside the aquarium. These tokens can be used to feed the animals and access some of the rooms where the animals reside. Unfortunately, we didn't have the funds to purchase any, but we hope to do so in the future. We met some friendly staff who talked to us about the animals, which included not only aquatic life. There were also mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. One of our favorite exhibits was the stingray pool. Visitors were allowed to pet the stingrays, and we were able to watch as they were fed their evening meal. We also had the opportunity to walk through a backyard area of the aquarium, where peacocks, doves, ducks, and other birds were allowed to roam freely. We got to stand right next to a male peacock as he spread his tail feathers! There was also a remarkable bounce house and ball pit portion of the aquarium dedicated to young children, and there were plenty of sinks and soap dispensers for cleaning one's hands after petting the fish and other animals. Overall, this aquarium was a fantastic addition to our weekend getaway itinerary. We will be returning soon!

Positive experience: My 3 year old Granddaughter had a great time. She really loved the duck outside! She cried when we left. Lol! The first time we visited a couple years back, it was much better. This time we went on a Monday, it was very slow and they announced early closure. Some of the tanks were unkempt, and the place is really run down. For the price, the San Antonio Aquarium should be in much better shape. For savings on tickets, I purchased our tickets through a third party and we received quite a deal. It cost more to purchase tickets on their official website. The tokens for animal food are expensive, and you don't get much food. This place could use a serious makeover! The staff are very friendly and helpful though.

Negative experience: First off the animal enclosures are too small, you can definitely see the animals stressed and depressed especially the "petting zoo" they have outside. Some reviews say the workers are nice, but I wouldn't know because we barely saw any and it seemed like they were avoiding people. For what you pay for it's not worth it instead of a big bouncy house area how about you give the animals more space. Lastly you have timeshare scammers ambush you as you leave via the overpriced gift shop what a joke overall worst aquarium needs to be investigated asap.

Fantastic experience: San Antonio Aquarium: An Unforgettable Experience for Families & Homeschooling Parents If you’re looking for an incredible, hands-on experience that’s both fun and educational, the San Antonio Aquarium is absolutely worth every penny! Whether you’re a parent looking for an exciting day out with your kids or a homeschooling family searching for an immersive learning opportunity, this place has something for everyone. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a world of wonder—vibrant marine life, interactive exhibits, and opportunities to get up close with some of the most fascinating creatures. Unlike many traditional aquariums where you just observe from behind glass, the San Antonio Aquarium encourages interaction. Kids can actually touch and feed stingrays, interact with exotic birds, and even get hands-on with reptiles! It’s an experience that brings learning to life in the most exciting way. For homeschooling parents, this is an absolute goldmine. The aquarium offers countless educational opportunities—children can learn about marine ecosystems, conservation, and animal behavior all while experiencing it firsthand. Seeing a shark or an octopus up close makes lessons on marine biology so much more engaging than just reading about them in a textbook. The interactive tide pools and knowledgeable staff provide even more chances for kids to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the aquatic world. And it’s not just about sea life! The aquarium also has an incredible selection of birds, reptiles, and even some mammals, making it a well-rounded experience that covers multiple areas of science and wildlife education. Seeing your child’s face light up as they feed a tropical bird or watch a giant turtle swim by is truly priceless. A Few Helpful Tips Before You Go: • The aquarium does have some traditional animal smells in certain areas. If you’re pregnant or sensitive to smells, I’d recommend waiting until after pregnancy to visit so you can fully enjoy the experience. • Since many of the exhibits are interactive (especially the touch tanks), you might get a little wet! Be sure to wear clothes and shoes that are okay to get damp. • Take your time—there’s so much to see and do, and it’s worth exploring every part of the aquarium! What really makes the San Antonio Aquarium stand out is its affordability and the amount of hands-on activities included in the visit. Unlike many attractions where you feel like you’re constantly being upcharged, here you actually get to experience so much without breaking the bank. Plus, the staff is wonderful—friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to engage with kids and answer their curious questions. Whether you’re a local or just visiting San Antonio, this is a must-see destination for families. It’s more than just an aquarium—it’s an adventure, a classroom, and an unforgettable experience all rolled into one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely worth it!

Positive experience: It wasn't much of an aquarium. It had some sea creatures but not enough to be an aquarium. It was more like an exotic pet store that you couldn't purchase the animals at. The only cool thing is getting to touch the animals.....as long as you paid to do so. On top of the price of admission you have to buy tokens to feed or touch most of the exhibits. It definitely is going to hit your wallet if you wanna truly experience it. Especially if you have a family. We paid and although we had some good moments, finding a worker to actually assist you with the exhibit was a job itself. Most of them were hiding in the closet/room up front talking. We had to have cashiers radio them and then it still took several radio calls to finally get them out, two of the females had attitudes the whole time. You also don't get to feed every exhibit like it says some tokens only get you entrance to pet the animals. Only reason I am giving it three stars was cause of one worker I believe her name was Courtney, she had a lemur with her. She was so kind and polite and patient with my autistic nephew. She made him feel comfortable enough to step out of his comfort zone a little.

Fantastic experience: So cute loved it so many animals to interact with you can even feed them

Fantastic experience: It takes about 1-2 top. Is fun. Buy some food, and you will have a fun time. My child loves give food to birds. Jumping house to spend some energy, and you are all set. No more than 2 hrs I would say, but a good place to buy the membership if you live around. Kids love the animals and the jumping house. Def a stop.

Negative experience: Do not come to this place unless you come right when it opens. If I could give this place 0 stars I would. We showed up at 4 pm and they close at 6 pm. The staff said “we close in 2 hours are you sure you want to continue” we said yes? What kind of question is that? You are open for 2 more hours?. Every place we spent “tokens” at to do animal experiences, the staff all seemed annoyed that we were. Like we were an inconvenience to be there to them. We spent $160 here to be treated like trash. The posted hours are closing at 6, if you don’t want anyone to come past 4 pm then maybe post that on your signage. I work for a large hotel resort in San Antonio where people ask for recommendations of where to go to everyday. I will never recommend this establishment. In fact I will tell them to steer clear and save their money.

Fantastic experience: It was a great place to take my daughter to educate her and to have fun!

Negative experience: absolutely do not come here - these animals are used as money grabs and are not placed into proper enclosures. the owners of this aquarium would rather space be taken up by bouncy houses, an arcade, and a ball pit rather than giving their animals proper enclosures. it is absolutely disgusting to see the enclosures these animals are living in. the most upsetting part about my visit was the sea turtles enclosure. sea turtles are not meant to only swim and be submerged in water their entire life. there is absolutely nowhere for this turtle to take a break from swimming. the poor babies under seems to be messed up and is a reason why the poor thing cannot swim beyond the very surface of the water in the enclosure. you can very much tell the people who own this place do not actually care about the animals they have shoved into these enclosures as a simple marine biology or zoology class could tell you this or even a visit to an actual zoo that is based off of conservation and rehabilitation. tldr: do not visit this absolutely inhuman and disgusting building that pretends to be an aquarium. these animals are very obviously depressed and used.

Fantastic experience: This is our second visit here. We have been to this and the Houston locations. Their interactive aquariums are just AMAZING. So much to do and it's more than just sea animals. Snakes, tortoises, birds, cats, lizards, etc. And you can touch and feed them. Someone trying to sell me tickets to Sea Life said that he heard it's better than the San Antonio Aquarium. He OBVIOUSLY has not been to the San Antonio Aquarium himself. The Aquarium is much more interactive and many more exciting things to do and see as well as bounce houses and a giant ball pit.

Positive experience: I really don't know how to explain it or what kind of a place I thought aquariums would look like. When I was a kid I thought they would look a themey of the look of an exotic place with stones and all... almost like the concept of a zoo. I dunno. Don't get me wrong it's a lil bigger than the one from Austin,Tx... only because it has an arcade and play bounce. Less fishes and more animals u can pet.

Fantastic experience: Took longer than an hour to view the aquarium. We enjoyed ourselves and the staff there is VERY friendly and knowledgeable. We'll be back.

Negative experience: Believe the reviews. This is an old car dealership turned weird petting zoom/aquarium. Most animals weren’t open to be petted nor fed. We were hoping to feed capybaras but they only have one and you couldn’t feed it. Another review said it: smells, animals are in tiny enclosures. Don’t waste your time.

Fantastic experience: One of the best aquariums I’ve ever visited. The best part was that it is interactive so you are allowed to gently touch the animals and birds with 2 fingers which was a first for me and family. Kids had a great time and so did everyone. Very friendly staff. Highly recommended!

Positive experience: We came during winter break and it was awesome. We just went in, at first the area seems small and very few animals. Overall it was very nice, there is a trampoline park, they have all sorts of animals, it was not packed like the others. Some animals where hard to see because there was objects in the way. This is a very fun aquarium, it has from ducks to kangaroos.

Fantastic experience: A fantastic location for the entire family. My girlfriend and I visited for spring break and it was some of the most fun I have had with an interactive animal experience in this area. The employees were delighted to share their expertise with us and each section of the place was very clean. Overall a fantastic time was had by all and I hope to return someday soon for the full outdoor animal experience!

Positive experience: The San Antonio Aquarium is a solid family-friendly destination, especially for little ones who love interactive experiences. While the aquarium itself isn’t the most glamorous, it offers plenty of hands-on activities that keep young kids engaged. One of the highlights for my children was the mini petting zoo, where they had the chance to interact with and feed some of the animals. It was also surprising to see the variety of creatures beyond marine life—there were reptiles, birds, and even other land animals, which added an unexpected but fun twist to the visit. That said, the smell inside was quite overbearing, which detracted from the experience. If you’re sensitive to strong odors, it might be a bit overwhelming. At the end of the visit, the kids enjoyed the jump park, which gave them a chance to burn off some energy before heading home. While this addition felt a little out of place for an aquarium, it was a hit with the little ones. Overall, if you’re looking for a high-end, polished aquarium, this might not be the place. But if you want an affordable, interactive experience that your kids will love, it’s worth a visit.

Fantastic experience: Honestly had an amazing time with my 2 year old. So many different things to do. We spent 4.5 hours here. It's costly and not as big as the zoo but if you really immerse yourself you can have so much fun. We got 15 tokens which was a lil too many for a 2 year old.

Positive experience: We had a fun experience here. There were only a few animals though. Kids had a great time at the stingray tank. Was surprised that it had a large arcade in the middle of the facility and the prices for tokens to feed animals are high. Would recommend but if this is your first time to San Antonio, probably try something else first.

Fantastic experience: Despite it being spring break for the kiddos, it wasn’t badly packed. The areas are nicely kept and the animals seem happy. I enjoyed the stingray area the most. You can hand feed many animals which is amazing.

Fantastic experience: The place was cooler than I expected. You can interact with a lot of animals. Edward was really the one that made our trip though. He kept asking us if we were enjoying ourselves and told us all kinds of things about the animals. We ended up getting the season passes and plan on going back quite a bit.

Fantastic experience: I was thoroughly impressed with every single staff member we ran into today. At one point while standing in line to pay for my kids’ snacks, my phone died and I was planning on using my Apple Pay. 2 employees really helped me out and lent me a charger for my phone. Remember to bring your own socks if you plan on letting your kids jump at the bounce house. Will be back again soon

Positive experience: There's a lot I can say about the experience (which always an overall positive) but it can pretty much be summed up in the expressions of all the employees. All of them were super helpful, and attentive so no complains about performance. But I just couldn't help but feel that half of the people working that day weren't super enthused about being present. As someone who loves animals and is currently studying in Zoology, this raises concerns about wether it's the spring break rush or the condition of the animals that's keeping staff in a not so great mood. It's also worth noting that the establishment is rather small compared to other aquariums in the state yet there is a great variety of animals in exhibition. I hope this isn't indicative of overcrowding as sufficient space is always important for the well-being of any creature on Earth. But all the animals seemed content so maybe I'm just overthinking this?

Positive experience: Had a great time I had not been to the aquarium in a few years. I was not disappointed. There was a red eyed duck there, and boy he would charge at you and fight you. He was very entertaining because of course it did not hurt his attitude was hilarious though I think he ruled and was very territorial, which is understandable had a great time, though it was comfortable well kept areas nice and clean plenty to look at and the staff was very helpful

Fantastic experience: Ist day of Spring Break, took the grandkids and they loved it

Positive experience: Okay. I’ve been to many aquariums in my day, and all of them have carried an expected smell, but I was not prepared for the horrific smell that greeted us upon entry at the SA Aquarium. Unfortunately that smell sort of set the tone. Once you get deeper into the aquarium, you will see some really interesting animals, but that’s only if you can withstand the smell for that long. One of the highlights was getting to interact with the octopus! It was amazing the strength of those tentacles! Overall, there is a lot of neat sea life and animals to see, and the encounters were pretty cool. The staff was very kind and made the experience enjoyable as they were eager to educate and share the Interactions .

Fantastic experience: Went to the aquarium for my sons 1st birthday. We had only enough for admission. The place was clean staff was very friendly to us as well as the animals. To top it off, at the stingrays we ended up meeting the owner. He saw us with our son looking at the stingrays and the other people feeding them. Without hesitation he came by and gave us some extra cups. We had a blast feeding them our son was super stoked. The owner came by again one last time gave us some more food for other exhibits and another admission for another day. Definitely got blessed this day and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you sir you made my sons day without even knowing it's his birthday

Positive experience: Cool little place variety of mammals, reptiles, birds , and aquatic life. Older building, can see its age in and around the complex, don’t let this stop you and the kids. This place is a nice little gem to visit and explore. Plenty of room to navigate, play area for kids, gift shop, snacks , game room. You can easily speed a couple hours or more there. Staff was friendly. Plenty of parking.

Fantastic experience: Every child deserves this learning experience! The only place I know where your 3 yr old can pet a stingray (they love it!)

Fantastic experience: This was so much fun with my family. There are lots of exhibits, the place is pretty clean (there's only so much you can do) and there are so many interactive opportunities. I'll be back with my kiddos for sure.

Negative experience: I had high expectations for this place, but calling it an "aquarium" is highly misleading. It felt more like an unregulated petting zoo where visitors could handle animals with little to no supervision. There was no clear focus on education, conservation, or ethical animal care—just a constant push to exploit the animals for profit. Most enclosures were far too small, and many animals appeared to be in distress, showing a clear disregard for proper husbandry. It was genuinely heartbreaking to witness. And this isn’t just a personal opinion—this facility has a history of controversy. The owners, the Covino family, have been investigated in multiple states for illegal wildlife trafficking and animal mistreatment. The experience was further soured by their ticketing system. Instead of a straightforward admission fee, visitors had to purchase "ticket coins" to participate in various "feeding experiences." Some of these had strict schedules—which would have been fine—except that advanced booking was required, and no one bothered to inform guests until they had already bought tokens at the front desk. It was an obvious cash grab, designed to squeeze as much money as possible from visitors. If you're looking for an ethical, educational aquarium experience, this is not the place. The animals deserve better, and so do paying customers. I strongly recommend avoiding this facility and visiting the San Antonio Zoo instead.

Fantastic experience: If you're ever in San Antonio... please please do yourself a favor and go to this place its amazing! Everything from fish, reptiles, animals of different kinds... and two of my absolute favorite things to do is the area where you go into these big cages and feed these lil parrots... adorable... then the big aquarium tank where you can feed the sting rays by hand - you'll love it!!

Positive experience: What a cool place! If you’re lucky enough to run into Edward talk to him! He knows everything about the aquatic animals and he made sure we got to see the octopus. We were able to pet her and she grabbed my finger with her tentacles. It was so cool. Edward let us feed her and gave us so many cool facts. Will definitely be back. Only complaint is the sloth experience was pretty expensive and it was not worth the cost. You just get to see the sloth hanging in the corner of the room. Cute but not worth the price. Still recommend a visit! Very cool things to see.

Fantastic experience: Overall, great fun for a family interested in animals. Only addendum is that tickets are expectedly costly, and to feed animals, which is a big attratction you need to buy tokens and those are pricey, this is ststated on the website so it's not a surprise but good to plan for in a budget. Same goes for seeing some animals in person, call ahead or pay ahead. Also the only food allowed is what is sold there at their cafe, though they do have an outdoor picnic area for you to eat your own food you bring if you step out. Re entry is easy with proof of receipt 8/10 for a family with a toddler

Fantastic experience: Credit where credit is due, this is not necessarily an adult date kind of place, but I think it is perfect for a family excursion with younger kids! There was a good variety of animals for the size, with a combination of land and water creatures, and a lot of interactive exhibits! Maybe a little small for the price of adults, but again, good for families, which is probably the intention. We still enjoyed ourselves a lot!

Fantastic experience: My kids always love coming to this place, interactive with the animals and kids always have a great time

Fantastic experience: It is more than an aquarium! You get to see a lot of varieties of animals. Perfect to visit any day, because you don't get affected by the elements. Totally recommend it. Big shout out to Eric the manager, who helped us with an issue with our tickets. Friendly staff and very welcoming environment.

Fantastic experience: I really enjoyed my time here. I thought it was only going to be aquatic animals, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were other types of animals there too. There were lemurs, iguanas, porcupines, kangaroos, penguins, peacocks and much much more.

Negative experience: I had a good time here when I first went, but now I regret ever giving this place money. The animals are very cute and there are a lot of them, which keeps you from thinking about how cramped the facility is, how you're allowed to touch and harass pretty much everything, and the fact that a lot of the animals look stressed out and miserable. It's basically a sad petting zoo that's focused on making money over taking good care of their animals. Anyone thinking about going here/taking their family or kids should go to the San Antonio Zoo instead, it much nicer and they don't keep their capybaras on concrete flooring.

Positive experience: This facility is a lot bigger than our initial thoughts. The front desk employee was patient and sweet. She recommended better ways to purchase tickets to save us money and get us a good deal. We ended up buying memberships instead of tickets! Thank you, I wish I got her name. When we got inside, we were nervous thinking the small room was all. Rest assured, it’s a lot more than you think! There is a bounce room with 5 different bounce houses. My kids spent more than an hour in here alone. We had to literally drag them out. All the employees we spoke with/interacted with were so sweet and helpful. One machine got our token stuck and the employee helped us immediately by providing us with the food and more for the inconvenience. It was really sweet of her. Be careful not to stand tooooop close to the coy fish. My 2 year old got completely soaked when one fish got spooked by another visitor and made a huge splash! All in all, it was a wonderful visit and we highly recommend!!

Positive experience: Enjoyed the aquarium and all the animals. I love that you can interact with so many of them. The only suggestion I would make is to have more signs with what is in the enclosure and so on like the Austin location has.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful visit! My kids definitely enjoyed their time at the Aquarium. Highly recommend going later in the day. Wasn't crowded or crazy but the animals were still very animated and very much awake. Shout out to Jason who helped us at the front desk. He was very polite and informative. Appreciate the awesome customer service!

Fantastic experience: My guys had alot of fun. My grandson really like feed the stingrays. Great place to experience for them learning about the animals and getting to touch and feed them.

Positive experience: The price was a little steep for what it was. I think it would have been better if they didn't nickle and dime you for all the interactions. It was a cute little place though! Plenty to do and touch. If you don't buy any of the tokens it takes around an hour. If you buy the tokens it'll just depend on what you spend it on. Great for littler kiddos learning to be gentle and what animals feel like.

Positive experience: A great place for kids but my husband I enjoyed it as well. We went on a Sunday morning right when they opened and you could tell the staff hadn’t yet recouped from their busy Saturday, but they were friendly and knew what they were doing. I’ve never seen such happy and friendly animals, even the sting rays and a fish(!) wanted to be pet. The building itself was a bit old, a little new paint and some remodeling (the toilets whistled for example) as well as better attention to some human areas would be nice. The animal areas were very clean though. I also don’t care for paying $25 -30 per adult and having to buy tokens on top of that for feeding the animals, petting the more exotic ones and going into the ball pit and bouncy house. That really adds up! They looked incredible thought. Still I had a great time and would love to take a ton of children here if I were rich. Oh also, you can have your picture taken with a mermaid and I would appreciate her wearing a full shirt although I think the idea itself is fun. Little girls don’t need to think they have to show cleavage to be a mermaid.