New York Aquarium

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The New York Aquarium, on Coney Island, is the only aquarium in New York. Operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, its mission is to save wildlife and habitats worldwide through science, conservation action and education and to inspire people to value nature. The New York Aquarium is the oldest aquarium in the US, and it’s home to hundreds of aquatic species, living in replicas of their natural habitats.

Buy your New York Aquarium tickets including 4D movie here

Eric's Index

1 New York Aquarium Exhibits
- 1.1 Oldest American aquarium
2 Tips for Visiting the New York Aquarium
- 2.1 Practical Information
3 How to get to the New York Aquarium?
4 FAQ

New York Aquarium Exhibits

The New York Aquarium on Coney Island is a great place to visit with kids in New York. You’ll find more than 10,000 fish and other marine wildlife in 16 different habitats. For example, sea otters and penguins swim among rocks and trees from the northeastern Pacific.

One of the highlights of the New York Aquarium is Ocean Wonders: Sharks! A large aquarium and information centre devoted entirely to sharks. Especially the shark tunnel is very impressive. As you walk through this tunnel of water, all kinds of sharks and rays swim right above and beside you.

Are you visiting with little children? Then they will love the touch pool, an indoor ‘PlayQuarium’ where they can feel the animals with their own hands. Touching the crabs and marine snails is a unique experience.

Visit the Aquatheater to see the acrobatic skills of the sea lions: The animals and their trainers perform several times a day. And the New York Aquarium is AZA-accredited, which means it meets strict standards for animal care, welfare, conservation, education and safety.

Oldest American aquarium

The New York Aquarium initially opened on the 10th of December 1896, at Battery Park, Lower Manhattan, and is thus the country’s oldest continuously operating aquarium. When this original site closed in 1941, the animals were temporarily relocated to the Bronx Zoo until the new aquarium opened on Coney Island on the 6th of June 1957.

Tips for Visiting the New York Aquarium

After sustaining significant damage in Hurricane Sandy, the NY Aquarium underwent a complete renovation. This refurbished attraction is a great place for animal lovers to visit. I also have some extra tips to help you make the most of your visit.

There are volunteers available throughout the New York Aquarium. They are happy to answer any questions you may have.
As soon as you enter, check the schedule for the feeding times. It’s very entertaining, so be sure not to miss it.
Furthermore, visit the 4D theatre in the aquarium, which combines a 3D movie with extra-sensory effects. This is included with your ticket.

Eric’s Tip: “A visit to the New York Aquarium can be combined with a stroll along the boardwalk of Coney Island and a ride on some of the rollercoasters at Luna Park. Don’t forget to try the famous Nathan’s hot dog!”

Practical Information

All visitors need a date-specific ticket in advance; walk-ins are not possible. So make sure to order your New York Aquarium ticket before you go!

Location: Surf Avenue and West 8th Street, Coney Island
Opening hours: Daily 10:00 to 16:00
Accessibility: The New York Aquarium is wheelchair accessible
Children 2 and under visit for free

Buy your New York Aquarium tickets including 4D movie here

How to get to the New York Aquarium?

The easiest way to get to the New York Aquarium is by subway, as it has its own station: West 8th Street–New York Aquarium. Take lines FQ to get there. Alternatively, DN lines are quicker, and the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue station is a 10-minute walk from the aquarium on Coney Island.

FAQ

Entry to the New York Aquarium isn’t free. You need a ticket for the NY Aquarium.

If you love animals, and especially marine animals like sharks and sea lions, the New York Aquarium is worth a visit. It’s the oldest aquarium in the country, and nice to combine with other Coney Island highlights.

No, if you want to visit the aquarium, you need to book your tickets for a specific date and time online in advance. Walk-ins are not possible.

It takes approximately 2 hours to visit the New York Aquarium, so the attraction is ideal to combine with other sights on Coney Island.

Coney Island has several places worth visiting. You can walk the boardwalk, visit Luna Park, and go see the marine animals at the New York Aquarium. Book your NY Aquarium tickets in advance as walk-ins are not possible.