The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

Positive experience: What’s great about Connecticut? It’s got that small-town feel but with big attractions. You can visit Mystic Seaport, then drive 10 minutes and be at some quiet riverbank, just relaxing.

Fantastic experience: Lovely aquarium perfect for a date or family outing. There are multiple exhibits that allow you to gently touch the sea creature! Very beautiful and educational.

Fantastic experience: Decided to go here on a whim and was sooo pleased! What a marvelous aquarium, loaded with interesting creatures and exhibits with a fully engaged staff present throughout, offering their knowledge and enthusiasm to young and old. they also have a great gift shop and coffee and sandwich shop! Scheduled times for feeding shows (such as the seals), which can be seen from a lower level or above. They also have several opportunities to pet maritime crazies such as stingrays, sturgeons and crabs! If I lived in CT, I’d get myself a membership and bring neighborhood kids with me! Tip: come at opening time; the line to get in got longer as the day progressed. Great parking lot right across the street.

Fantastic experience: Great time at the Maritime with the kids. Many types of marine life to see and interact with. We finished the tour in two hours.

Positive experience: I had a great experience with all of the exhibits. But the cafe there was the absolute disgusting rudest people I have ever dealt within my life. The prices are very high and when I asked a gentleman for a straw he told me I had to go downstairs meanwhile, he just finished giving someone else a straw in front of me. The young lady that was there walked over and gave me a straw. I will visit the exhibit again but will never go to that cafe and the food isn't that good either.

Fantastic experience: We went here on a weekend and it was best place to spend your afternoon. The aquarium is easy to navigate. We were able to see the seal feeding and touch certain type of fishes. It is a cool thing to do with your friends, family and kids. They have sharks, huge turtles, seals, jellyfish…..

Negative experience: First time in town visiting and decided to go to the aquarium, but left really angry and disappointed. I have two issues with this place… my main, biggest issue is that there is simply not enough room in the enclosures for any of the “larger” animals, with the exception of the sea lions and sharks. The otter enclosure didn’t have more than about 5 feet of water to it which was filled with fake mangrove roots, making it impossible for the otter to swim freely. Otters frequently swim and need plenty of room to exercise. The octopus was also crammed into a very small tank. Octopuses are extremely intelligent creatures and they deserve a much more enrichment-filled enclosure than the tiny space they were in. There were also 3 extremely large sea turtles (I’d guess about 60-80lbs each) that were crammed into a very small tank. My second issue (albeit, unimportant compared to the welfare of the animals) is the price. $35/per adult was atrocious, especially given the quality of the exhibits, the variety in wildlife, and the conditions the exhibits were in. Edited to add that the staff were all incredibly friendly and it did appear that they had a lot of activities for kids.

Fantastic experience: Very nice place to come. I enjoy coming here. So many fun animals and sights to see. It is definitely worth going to. I recommend.

Positive experience: This is a fantastic, family-friendly aquarium! There is a parking garage right next to the entrance with plenty of spaces. It's wheelchair-friendly, too! They have a great seal-feeding show. There is a Starbucks at the entrance. The military discount is 50% off full price for a single ticket, so that was a bit disappointing - museums usually have a better discount.

Positive experience: Parking was 6 bucks but finding the right roads to get to the parking garage ended up being frustrating as heck for an outsider. The price to enter was fair for the volume of creatures they take care of there.

Fantastic experience: This aquarium is really cool and the staff are so informative. The jellyfish room is so peaceful and you can also touch them too. They really packed a lot in here for guests and it’s cool to see. I think the price is just right, and perfect for kids. It’s stroller and wheelchair accesible. But, much like some of the other reviews, you can tell that some the animals are aging, and that’s not their fault.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful aquarium that we revisit with our kiddos. Staff and friendly and engaging. There's at least 3 active petting pools available, ranging from sturgeon to jellyfish. Good spots to rest, they have both a snack center and a cafeteria. There's also an enclosed play area.

Fantastic experience: We are members and could not hype up the aquarium more. The perfect place for a curious toddler. If you go a few hours before closing, a lot of the animals are active and the crowds are smaller.

Fantastic experience: We did the sleep over and it was so awesome!! I definitely recommend this for anyone with kids. We got to sleep right next to the seals. Definitely a one in a lifetime experience.

Fantastic experience: Favorite aquarium, great for rainy days. Located near lots of fun shopping and restaurants as well

Fantastic experience: Reasonably priced, great for the kids. Highly recommend the jellyfish room and exhibits. Plus tons of great restaurants around.

Fantastic experience: We had a great experience. We loved the touch areas especially the jellyfish. We preferred the silence until the middle schoolers ran through the playing tag amongst the exhibits.

Fantastic experience: Very nice experience, everyone is super knowledgeable. Great for a day out with small children. It isn't so big that you can't get through it before a temper tantrum 10 out of 10

Negative experience: This was the saddest aquarium I’ve ever been to. The animals were cramped in tiny spaces and looked tired and stressed out. For example the sea turtles were in the tiniest tank and they kept bumping into the sides when they were swimming around. I was also confused and concerned about why there were so many land animals in small indoor spaces - the meerkats especially looked miserable. If this is meeting animal welfare standards, I think it’s clear the standards are not high enough.

Fantastic experience: World-class!! This place was spectacular 35 years ago and remains so now in its modern incarnation. I was so impressed by the knowledge and approachability of the staff. We all learned a lot and had a great time along the way (including touching jellyfish and stingrays!!). A well-managed and cherished institution— long may it continue to thrive!

Fantastic experience: What a beautiful place. Lots of sensory activities for parents and children. Our kids loved this place. Parking was easy, lot across the street. The entry was easy access, and restrooms are at the entrance with seating areas to prep the kids for the journey ahead. There are lots of jelly fishes, sensory areas with lighting and encounters with stingrays, sharks, and other animals. Multiple levels to access through elevators, so that was nuce. Staff were educated and wonderful. They even have a play area to rest your feet, while the children play. Lots of toys and books. So enjoy.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful time at The Maritime Aquarium! It’s the perfect size—not too big, not too small—which made it very manageable with young kids. My children had a great time exploring all the exhibits, especially the fish, seals, baby crocodile, and even sharks! We bought our tickets online, which made entry super easy and hassle-free. There’s a nice kids’ play area inside, complete with stroller parking nearby, which was super convenient. Strollers are allowed throughout the aquarium, making it easy to get around with little ones. We arrived in the afternoon and had no trouble finding parking. Although we took Exit 5 to grab lunch, we noticed there were food carts just outside the aquarium, which is a great option if you want something quick and easy. There are also snacks available inside. The 4D theater was a cool experience—my kids are still a bit too young to enjoy the 4D glasses, but we loved it! I think older kids would really enjoy that part. Right next to the aquarium is a lovely waterfront area where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the view. There’s also a train bridge nearby. My little boys were thrilled to spot trains going by in the distance—it was a fun surprise for them! We spent about 2–3 hours here, which felt just right. Overall, it’s a family-friendly, easygoing place that offers both fun and learning. Highly recommended for families with young children!

Fantastic experience: Forget about Mystic Aquarium, the only CT aquarium you need to visit is the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk! I love the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk! I've visisted this place a few times with my students, however, I've been dying to get back to check it out on my own. So, my family and I visited on Memorial Day, and the place was packed! Attendants were knowledgeable, super polite and helpful, all the touch tanks were open (YAY!), and the animals were well taken care of. We were able to visit all the exhibits, learning comfortably at our own pace. Parking in the garage was super cheap (less than $5), and it's right across from the aquarium, so there's no long walk back at the end of your visit. There's a movie theater that shows 4D movies (you should definitely experience it), snack bar, a full cafe and dining area, as well as a huge gift shop. We love the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and I know you will too!

Fantastic experience: My son and my nieces had a good time. I took my son before and he enjoyed himself then. So I knew I had to go back. It offers more than the NY aquarium

Positive experience: Extensive collection of Long Island Sound fauna balanced with animals from other ecosystems. Lots of touch opportunities. Great layout if you like to wander. My favorite was the otters.

Positive experience: Nice for a rainy day, some of the animals looked sick or maybe just old. Pretty cool variety overall for a small place.

Fantastic experience: Had blast here as a last minute stop on our route and it turned out to be a nice decision. We arrived at 3 pm on a Thursday and the place was filled but not crowded. Staff were friendly and informative at each of the stations. We saw multiple touch stations here and loved being able to see the how it works areas and how we do things spots. Lots of jellyfish if you like jellyfish as they breed them. And some friendly sea turtles. Nice stop if you are in the area.

Fantastic experience: Went in without much expectations but left impressed and as a new member. While the aquarium is relatively small compared to some of the larger national ones, it definitely packs a punch far above its weight class. The sea turtle tank was the star of the show while i was also impressed by the shark tank and amount of hands on exhibits. I also liked some of the terrestrial animal exhibits and focus on the long island ecosystem. My only minor criticism is the food options there seem lacking but overall a great experience and i will be there many times over the next few months!

Fantastic experience: Fun aquarium and one of the funnest things to do in the area. I like both this and Mystic but this is generally cheaper than Mystic which is nice. It's fairly small and all indoor but still very nice, and the inclusion of non marine animals is super fun, it's basically a tiny zoo!

Fantastic experience: Can't say enough good things, our little boy is just under 2 and they had many age appropriate interactive areas. It's all inside, so an excellent go to on a rainy day or if ur trying to beat the heat.

Fantastic experience: Nice aquarium to visit, it has a lot of jelly fish varieties I personally liked the jellyfish and stingray touch experiences too. A great accommodating space for kids!

Negative experience: The aquarium is small and areas form crowds quite easily. It was nice to see the staff actively engaged with the small children.The layout of the building is unusual. Far too many empty areas. Nothing really stood out to me. I would not visit here again.

Positive experience: It's just ok. It was so insanely busy when we were there, it really ruined the experience. If you're in the area, go check it out. Lots of touch tanks for the kiddos

Fantastic experience: The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is a great spot for families and marine life lovers. With recent updates, it has awesome exhibits like a shark and ray touch pool, cool jellyfish displays, and playful harbor seals. You’ll also find monkeys, meerkats, owls, foxes, turtles, sea turtles, lionfish, and more. If you’re planning to visit often, a yearly membership is definitely worth it—it pays for itself pretty quickly! Ticket Prices as of March 2025 Adult (13+): $33.95 Child (3-12): $24.95 Senior (65+): $29.95 Under 3: Free

Fantastic experience: My family had a great time. This is the first time we were there and it was so amazing. I have to say their favorite part was to see and toch the jellyfish.

Fantastic experience: We have been meaning to go here and I'm glad we finally did. My oldest felt it was better in many ways to mystic and we are mystic fans! I liked how it started with the ocean and transitioned to the land. It was clean throughout. The touch tank options were great with sturgeon, jelly fish, days and epalaude sharks. The cafe seemed to have great options for feed and there was coffee at the entrance! It was a great time.

Fantastic experience: I really like aquariums and very much enjoyed this one. There's plenty to see here. It wasn't too crowded and we spent about 2 hours to walk through. The gift shop is really nice and there's also a cafe and snack bar if you needs some eats.

Fantastic experience: That was so cool. Especially sharks and seals.

Positive experience: A small aquarium with some fun features like a touch tank, toddler play space, and interesting exhibits. Take your time and you'll spend 1.5hrs there, rush through and it will half of that. Park in the lot for about $2/hr or on the street for a bit less. Best for younger kids

Positive experience: My family enjoyed this trip. It's not a very large place, and you're going to see smaller fish and sea creatures - not big sharks. It's important to go in with realistic expectations. There are three nice touch tanks, a jellyfish area, a toddler play area, a great 4D video experience, and many other exhibits. It doesn't have the WOW factor of other aquariums in the tri-state area (with giant shark walk through tanks), but there was plenty to see, the staff was lovely, and everyone enjoyed it.

Positive experience: It's cute. It's small. It's educational. If you're there with just adults like a date or something, it'll take roughly an hour with a 4D movie included. If you're with kids it'll take longer. And that's who the aquarium is really for. I enjoyed the sharks and the sea turtles. And the 4D movie was fun. An extra $7 for a 15min experience.

Fantastic experience: Local hidden gem! This aquarium is so well kept, and the price you pay definitely shows with how well maintained the spot is. Lots of things to see and do. Highly recommend, would def come back when in the area again. Great spot for kids or a fun date

Fantastic experience: My mother , nephew and I had such an amazing time !! The movie about the bear and squirrel was our favorite! We loved the updates to the place and the affects from the move! Thank you so much for the fun ❤️

Positive experience: It was fun but it’s a bit expensive. Two adults and one 3 year old was $90 just to get in so make sure to spend enough time to make it worth it. He did enjoy it but at the child’s pace we saw everything within an hour

Fantastic experience: Our family had an incredible time at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk! The aquarium’s thoughtful accommodations for children with autism made our visit both comfortable and enjoyable. They offer sensory-friendly mornings where lights are dimmed and sounds are lowered, creating a welcoming environment for those with sensory-processing differences.  Additionally, the availability of sensory-friendly maps helped us navigate areas best suited for our needs.  The exhibits are both educational and engaging. Our kids were thrilled by the interactive touch tanks, allowing them to gently interact with stingrays and jellyfish. The playful harbor seals were a highlight, captivating us with their antics. We also appreciated the spacious layout, which made exploring the diverse marine life exhibits comfortable for our family. Plan to spend about three hours to fully experience all the aquarium has to offer. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, as there’s plenty to see and do. The staff’s dedication to accessibility and inclusion truly sets this aquarium apart, making it a must-visit destination for families seeking an accommodating and enriching experience.

Positive experience: We love this aquarium I've been coming here for over a decade my only issue is recently the cleanliness of the aquarium has been dropping we absolutely love it just hope it doesn't become a trashy experience

Fantastic experience: Angel from the VR section was very sweet to be accommodating to us for multiple VR sessions. We enjoyed shipwreck, humpback whales, manta rays, gorilla and the sharks!! Stingray feeding was fun also. The mini octopus plush and axoltl hat from the gift shop were so cute, it was hard to resist not taking them home!!!

Fantastic experience: A stunning and impressive aquarium, perfectly suited for children. Visitors can even touch a variety of sea creatures, including jellyfish and sharks. Highly recommended for a family visit!

Positive experience: Wish I could give this place 5 but given how crowded it is on weekends (we went about a month ago), it kind of ruins the experience. My daughter is five and it was difficult for her to see anything with so many families there. Not to mention the price of admission is pretty expensive. Considered getting a membership but if it’s this crowded on weekends, it’s not worth it imo. Sad because I really enjoyed this place as a child and had hoped I could continue the tradition with my daughter.

Fantastic experience: Had a wonderful time with my family at this museum. It was our second time visiting. My girls loved the virtual reality googles and the dinosaur attractions! Easy to spend the entire day here with all the events during the day and variety of attractions.

Positive experience: I had such high expectations before visiting, but unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed. Mainly because of the fact it was so crowded, my sons are still under 5 and could enjoy only a small portion of the exhibits available. We went on Sunday afternoon.

Fantastic experience: Great displays of local fish and turtles. Also, it is very informative on local issues like marsh preservation. Guests have a chance to feed stingrays and pet them. Bring the kids.

Fantastic experience: Loved the aquarium, the kids loved it.. you can’t touch stingrays, and a few other species. It wasn’t crowded even for a Sunday.. definitely a must go with your kiddos

Fantastic experience: For a local aquarium, it checks all the boxes! The staff is very friendly and always helpful, and the facilities are always clean. My daughter really loves visiting, and I'm glad we became members!

Fantastic experience: We loved visiting for the day. The staff was so friendly and they all took the time to chat with us. My soon to be 12 year old son loved it so much he asked if we could go back for his birthday!

Fantastic experience: Wonderful aquarium! They are always updating their exhibits and keeping things fresh. Also love the focus on the local coastline / Long Island Sound. The membership pays for itself in 2 visits, so very recommended if you plan on visiting more than once a year

Fantastic experience: Very small kids friendly. Not only has sea creatures also has reptiles and other small land animals. Kid size toilet is another win! Strongly recommended join membership program, totally worth the money.

Fantastic experience: Great aquarium, lots of fun stations for kids and a whole play area for the kids.

Fantastic experience: We came here with 4 kids under 4 and had a lovely time. It is a very child-friendly aquarium with lots of things to see and touch and a nice variety of animals. Giant turtles, sharks, seals, some mammals,… We spent about 2 hours here and were exhausted at the end with happy kiddos!

Fantastic experience: So much fun, my son seven months old and my baby brother had so much fun touching and seeing many different fish.

Fantastic experience: It was an incredible experience! One of the highlights was the interactive touch tanks. it’s a must-see for ocean lovers!

Fantastic experience: This aquarium is NOT small! Don't believe in these negative reviews. I spent 3 hours here taking my time without buying food. Even if you rushed and looked at everything it would take roughly 2 hours. With that out of the way the animals seemed to be well taken care of. The staff was incredibly friendly and they answered any and all questions my party had. I've been to a few aquariums but this one is in my top 2. The 3 hour drive from NJ to CT was worth it. Will come back in the future.

Fantastic experience: I'm a senior citizen and we went to the aquarium for my birthday. I fed stingrays and touched surgeons. The staff were excellent. I'm going to become a member.

Fantastic experience: Nice play for a family friendly environment spent the day here photographing for a few hours it was nice to spend time with the wildlife and to have this place in our city it brings the importance of our environment to life.

Fantastic experience: A great place to visit with littles (though a bit crowded at times, and upstairs was way hotter than downstairs).

Fantastic experience: The entire aquarium was amazing but the knowledge Deb shared with us made my day! The staff are very knowledge and friendly. The exhibits are so beautiful and full of so many of the most amazing natural wonders of the world with a lot of thought to conservation and potential ethical issues!

Fantastic experience: Whoever said this aquarium is remotely small is sorely mistaken! We came expecting small, because of that review, but we kept stumbling on exhibits we had missed! Honestly, Mystic is small. This is a decent-sized aquarium (not quite like my Boston one, but chock full of cool exhibits, and well staffed). We got to touch a sting ray, feed a sting ray, pet a jelly fish, pet a sturgeon fish, and watch the seals perform. Everything was just so interactive and truly worth the price. NOT small!!! And the staff should be commended. Incredibly professional, and the animals seemed well-cared for.

Positive experience: Nice aquarium for small children, smaller than i expected, but overall, it was well maintained. Staff is friendly and informative.

Positive experience: I'm really not one for aquarium, but I ended up here somehow. The parking is across the street, so make sure you carry all the necessary items. Check-in was smooth. We did purchase our tickets before hand, however there was not a huge line at the ticket counter. This place was not only filled with aquatic animals, they had a whole section on land animals as well. The place was clean, and there was minimal odor. We enjoyed watching the seal show. We also enjoyed different touch tanks. We finished they day off by watching a huge turtle swim around looking for a way to escape his tank.lol. All in all, it was a nice day out. I would recommend if you want something fun and easy to do with children.

Fantastic experience: The maritime aquarium is the best ! We have such a great experience going. The membership is totally worth it if you live in the area.

Fantastic experience: Very nice aquarium. It is not big and will probably take 1-1.5 hours to go through. Theres a few areas where you can feel the fish. It had some interactive things for older kids. There’s a parking garage right next door. There’s restaurants and a mall nearby as well. We went on a Saturday morning and it was packed. There were way to many people in some areas of the place.

Fantastic experience: Amazing! Great place to go with a kids. Friendly prices and awesome choices at the gift store.

Positive experience: A ton of fun. Was a bit understaffed - bathrooms dirty and cafe long wait, no napkins, etc. The staff are friendly, well-informed and ready to share what they know. Terrific presentations. We bonded with the seals and otters and we're happy to have a lot of glass between us and the sharks!

Fantastic experience: Great aquarium. Two hours is plenty of time. The 4D show is well worth it.

Positive experience: Really like this place, though I might suggest, if you can, go on a weekday and especially when school is not out. The exhibits are amazing, especially the one which shows all the life in the Long Island Sound, though I might be a little more hesitant to swim there now. Not only aquarium exhibits, but other things as well.

Fantastic experience: Slightly crowded, but overall a great experience. Very cool animals, enclosures, and tanks. I loved seeing the shrimp.

Fantastic experience: We had a very nice time here this past weekend. The aquarium is a perfect size - it's not big enough to be overwhelming but not small enough to feel like there's not enough to see or do. Children 2 and under are free and for adults tickets are $33. At first it felt expensive but it was definitely worth it. There are lots of opportunities to touch and interact with the sea creatures. Watching the seals get fed and the massive tank with sharks inside were the highlights for me. We spent about 3 hours here with our daughter that's 3.5 and she loved it. There are a lot of good restaurants nearby so you can easily make a trip here take up an entire day.

Positive experience: Cute facility. It was nice to see that there were more than just aquatic species there. The facility had more touch tanks than other aquariums I had visited. The only thing I would say is that for the amount we paid for 3 people, our time spent there was short, and we did make a second round the facility. Also I would have figured that parking would have been included with the price of the tickets. Great for families, especially for little ones.

Fantastic experience: I was a volunteer 20 years ago and then my kids learned to walk in the long hallway. It has been a few years since I've been. Holy cow. I always thought it was one of the best aquariums. I took my grandchildren for the first time today and I was shocked at how wonderful it was. Even with the bridge construction going on it was amazing. I can't wait until everything is completed. Thank you

Positive experience: The aquarium is very small but the staff are very polite and informative. My daughter really liked the various touch stations where she could interact with creatures such as stingrays and jellyfish. We've attended for a scout overnight couple years ago as well. It was a well-organized event. I wouldn't necessarily travel to Norwalk for this aquarium, but if you're in the area, definitely stop by.

Positive experience: This place really went down hill. There used to be so much more to do. It's small, over priced and not many exhibits. However, I will say the younger teen staff that we're there doing the little exhibits we're great. They interacted wonderfully with my child. I wish they would add some new exhibits!

Fantastic experience: Loved it!!! Great size and variety of animals. Staff was very nice. I wish they provided more information about the animals at each exhibit.

Positive experience: Always enjoy a visit to the maritime aquarium. I do wish some of the animals had bigger exhibits but there is a large variety of animals for a relatively small Aquarium. It’s clear all the animals are well taken care of and the staff is present and attentive.

Fantastic experience: It was Our first time going and we can’t wait to go back! This is by far the best aquarium to visit in Connecticut! Great for all ages, the staff was very knowledgeable and happy to share information about the animals.

Positive experience: My boyfriend and I went to this aquarium this past monday, i was superrrr excited since i haven’t been to one in years, i also went to maritime when i was a child, so you can tell i couldn’t wait to go and see what’s up. firstly, we bought tickets online, you can also buy them in person at the entrance, it was a weekday and there was zero line and we just walked in and had our tickets scanned. the place overall was really empty but for an aquarium and it being a weekday, it just made sense. (i also liked it sort of being more of a personal experience because of that, we got to take our time) i loved the lion fish and so many of the animals looked happy and healthy most of which had a clean space and there are some animals you can also touch & learn about. i loved it. on the other hand, there are some animals that looked depressed, some tanks which seemed dirty if im not mistaken (lots of weird debris and sort of foggy) it just looked like some animals were more prioritized. some animals truly just shouldn’t be in captivity (i know it’s an aquarium what do you expect?) but it was truly heartbreaking seeing the sharks or turtles in the spaces that they were, big but clearly not big enough, pacing the same routes they do and it looks like they don’t get enough stimulation. these animals also have many senses which larger crowds, and being in a tank in general isn’t good for them. the jellyfish in some tanks had their tentacles tangled, which isn’t horrible they can grow them back in the span of days, but who knows how long they’ve been stuck like that honestly. by all means i do not work there or know what goes on behind the scenes, but i seriously couldn’t help but feel empathetic towards some of them. many other animals look great and happy and healthy. i do recommend if you want to go to an aquarium. it was just a little disheartening. attached below is the good photos i took :)

Fantastic experience: Easy secure parking in the parking garage. Place is Spotless clean. Went with granddaughter who is around two. She was interested and intrigued. Several interactive activities and numerous wash stations and rest rooms. Nice experience

Fantastic experience: Had a wonderful time... Really enjoyed looking at the aquatic and terrestrial exhibits. Fell in love with the Blue Lobster, incredible. Just glad I'm old enough and at a point I'm my life what I don't mind spending money. Entrance fee... Kinda high... Extra charge for 4D movies. There were two of them and each cost more... And while really cute, really short and not worth the price.

Fantastic experience: This has to be one of my favorite aquariums Iv been to. The layout inside is great. The sea lions tank is one of the coolest things Iv seen in an aquarium. The tanks are clean and animals are happy. They have a huge selection of fish and marine animals!

Fantastic experience: The Maritime Museum is a must see for anyone interested in aquatic life! I personally prefer it over Mystic and the New England Aquariums. Diverse wildlife makes it a fun family experience!

Fantastic experience: My daughter and I love visiting this aquarium! I have been a die hard fan for over three decades! From petting manta rays and sturgeon to viewing their awesome shark and jelly fish tanks, this is a must see for the entire family! They offer an amazing discount when you present a CT EBT card, which greatly helps families on a budget! Don't forget to check out their 4D movie experiences, which will make you squeal with delight! Please help support this amazing aquarium located right next to the Sono mall in downtown Norwalk!

Positive experience: It's been a long time since our last visit, and we left feeling somewhat disappointed, so much has changed. As always my son loved coloring a sea creature and watching it join the others on the big screen. Petting the stingrays was awesome ($3 to feed them). The gentleman talking about the sturgeon and then moving on to the jellyfish area was informative and more than happy to answer our plethora of questions. They have also added more animals such a meercats, a skunk and porcupine. However, there was ONE person manning the Stingray Feeding making it impossible to get her attention as she explained the same thing to each individual family. She acknowledged my son and still passed him up multiple times. The sealion "show" was not as upbeat as we remembered. Many of us didn't even realize it was over, and then the murmurs of "That's it?" Passed over the crowd. I belive most of us thought they were waiting for the people that paid to have the "experience" to exit before some sort of entertainment . This was our cue to leave the aquarium. I feel like everything was an "add-on" making a once affordable visit expensive. The gift shop even had my 10YO passing on a souvenir with its expensive price tags. I'm 1000% behind education and animal preservation, but I guess I'm still reeling from sticker shock.

Fantastic experience: They have a large variety of sea creatures. It was fun for my 3 year old son. I enjoyed touching the stingrays.

Fantastic experience: We had a great time at the aquarium. My son loves visiting and watching all the fish. The exhibits are nice !! Clean and nice for kids The turtle's and sting rays

Fantastic experience: I took my girls for the first time and it was great, it's an indoor aquarium which I like and we seen animals that we brevet seen before. My youngest was happy they have a little play area and a sandbox.

Fantastic experience: I photographed a wedding at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, and it was an incredible experience. If you're looking for a wonderful and unique wedding venue, this is it! We took photos of the couple near the shark tank, jellyfish, seals, and turtles; it was truly so amazing! The ceremony space in the cafe was perfectly naturally lit, and the reception location was spacious and provided great entertainment for guests in being set up near the seal exhibit. I highly recommend hosting your wedding here - it was an incredible experience from beginning to end!

Positive experience: Lovely aquarium, all the animals are well taken care of. I never thought I would see so many geriatric fish (the proof of great care!). The only cons I would say are that the sea turtles would benefit from a bigger tank. You can tell the expenses really go towards the aquarium so it hurts a little less when the pretzel is $9 and a cookie is $6. Entrance fee and donation of $5 came out to almost $80.

Fantastic experience: This is a cool little aquarium! I visited over the Fourth of July this year (2024) and it wasn’t busy at all. There were a couple touching tanks and a really cool seal tank. Definitely worth checking out while in the area!

Positive experience: Visited on a Sunday morning without my child (now teenager). We used to go regularly when my son was younger. Tried to get in early as we had lunch reservations in the area. This aquarium is great for families with younger kids. There is enough to see, smell and touch to keep everyone entertained for a couple of hours. We did not visit the gift shop or the cafe on this visit, but I do recall being a fan of both. The aquarium is on the smaller side, so definitely not a full day excursion. Highlights were the touch pools (rays and sturgeon), and the shark tank. I would have given this a slightly higher rating if there was the option. You can purchase tickets in advance on their website or at the entrance. There is a parking garage right across the street.

Positive experience: Not bad, pricey, very pricey, you get your typical run of the mill experience, this place feels very focused on jelly fish though, some exhibits use fake plants in place of what could easily be real, worth 1 visit

Fantastic experience: Great small aquarium. Fish, frogs. Turtles, etc. I had never seen a sturgeon. Wow, they are big. They breed the turtles and have released over 400 back into the wild. Lots of interactive exhibits for children, especially on the 2nd floor. My 25 year old and I had a lot of fun. Exhibits for weather, wind, erosion, hoovering orange ball table was fun. Coloring area 1st floor. Good for very young children to adults wheelchair accessible. Large restroom with seperate foyer for changing children. I believe they also had a feeding area on the 2nd floor. Small gift shop. Free coffee tea station as you enter. Military discount was a nice surprise. Parking was 10$ the lot is pretty large. Pay as you enter credit card only. Located directly next to the docks for boat tours with some lovely shaded areas across the street where you could picnic.