Monterey Bay Aquarium Review

Great aquarium, bonus points for the jellyfish room & the Octopusses.

You have to go! Once you go here you will feel like any other Aquarium is not worth it!

I like and am very impressed this place is really good.

My little loved our first visit! Very child and family friendly! We'll definitely be going back, to see the exhibits we didn't get to!

Fantastically interesting and engrossing exhibits. Fun and exciting

Great experience for the whole family. Good mix of entertainment and learning.

Loved it ,nice walk through, time out with, or with out kids.

The highly acclaimed Monterey Bay Aquarium lives up to its high expectations. You can make it a full or half day experience depending on how long you want to spend at each exhibit.
The aquarium teaches an excellent conservation based message, and focuses on changes you can make to keep our oceans healthy.
Be sure to check the daily feeding schedule, and sign up for feeding text alerts for your visit. The Open Sea feeding was our favorite. It gave you an excellent view of schooling fishes and the fish that love to eat them. Call ahead to see what days they feed the different fish in the open sea area, as they are all on different schedules.
We had lunch at Cindy's Waterfront, the sit down restaurant that overlooks the bay. The service was very attentive and the binoculars they provide were a nice touch. We ordered their specialty bloody mary, but would skip it next time. Save room for the campfire pie, a marshmallow and chocolate dessert that is big enough to share.

It was really fun, and would be great to take the kiddos here

Crowded and expensive, but you must see this aquarium, it's worth it. It's one of the best in the world. The exhibits are educational and informative Great for kids and families. There is a gift shop and cafe. You will spend hours here, and if you want some air, just walk outside and enjoy the view, but if you leave the aquarium get your hand stamped for quick re-entry. Monterey itself is beautiful and you will enjoy the city and the restaurants they have. The bay and wildlife are right in front of you, you will see sea otters, sea lions and even whales. Gorgeous place and you should see it at least once in your lifetime. Go! Preferably on a weekday when the crowds are not as huge.

Really great place. Love all the exhibits and the view from the deck areas. Great kids area too. All the jellyfish exhibits are awesome!

It had some nice exhibits but it got really crowded making it almost impossible to see some of the exhibits. It was hard to navigate and we ended up leaving early as the crowds were too big.

Even though I'm an adult, I never get tired of coming here! There's always something new to see and learn. The exhibits are great. The seminars are so interesting and the presenters do a good job.

Always a good time and not crazy crowded although it's spring break.

Great place for couples and families alike. Just know the best time to visit is right when they open, and from about 3 to closing.

Great aquarium, but very overcrowded, even on a Friday. We had to basically fight to see fish...

Fantastic, but eye-wateringly expensive. The 28-foot-deep kelp bed aquarium is a particular delight. Tentacles exhibit could use some more octopus and squid but is terrific. Jellies are amazing. Otters are always mobbed but worth it. Shorebird exhibit is unique and wonderful. Touch the rays to give yourself a thrill. Good play area for even young toddlers to burn off steam. Five stars except for the price.

Great place to take family. Kids really loved looking at all the different fish and otters penguins. Lots to see. Just kinda pricey.

Amazing and magical place I've visited regularly for 20 years. Numerous tanks and outdoor exhibits.

This place is great. Full of fantastic memories as a kid and with them. A million things to see. Worth every penny.

Medium in size, it's joyous to see feeding the fishes. During the feeding schedule, instructor give you lots of information , educational to young kids

Huge interesting aquarium with a beautiful view toward the bay.

Great for kids and adults. Worth going to. A little steep on the price @ $50 per person, but it's well-done and they allow in-and-out, so you can break for lunch and come back.

Portrayal of Marine Life at its best. One can see the passion involved in bringing this to general public without any compromise.

Really nice place, totally worth seeing. I spend great time there but the best part was watching animals in ocean from balcony. And I have to say that the whole city is amazing. It's the most beautiful city I've seen during my travel.

Aquatic life, food, fun for the little ones. What more could a parent hope for? The small walk from the parking garage to the aquarium has multiple decent restaurants and a diverse selection of stores to shop from. It's an easy 5 star get away with the family!

Overall okay but expected much more for the price of admission. Highly Disappointed with the lack of turtles and interesting sharks. My favorite part was the coral reef fishes, jelly fish, and sea otters. I also liked their presentations, I joined the sea otter one and it was very cool to hear the story about Rosa, a rescued sea otter.

Definitely worth visiting.Knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Great place. Very educational. Informative talks in auditorium.

A large collection and plenty of exhibits (many hands on) to keep kids and adults interested. Love the otters and jellyfish in particular!

Always a wonderful experience to come here. I can't wait to go back again.

One of the greatest places to go for fishy details. I am still great friends with one of the Leapord sharks, and have been for about 3 years.

A great family outing where parents can enjoy as much as kids. The whole experience is very knowledgeable.

Expansive exhibits covering a vast collection of water wildlife. Great location right on the water. New exhibits are well done. Great choice for children of any age.

Too expensive. Spent 2 hours $50. Otherwise enjoyed it.

It's easily the best aquarium I've ever been to. The otters are the star of the place and are in a 2 story exhibit in the center on the building. They're adorable!

It's in a great location. It's right on Monterey Bay. I believe that one of the places they perform live shows is connected to the aquarium, but outside and basically in Monterey Bay.

So, why only 3 stars? Holy cow is it expensive! $50 for an adult. $30 for my 6 year old. AAA discount? Sure - if you buy it from AAA. No such discount at the point of sale.

Also, the cafeteria is undersized, overpriced chaos.

If you're going to go, don't be a dummy like me - plan ahead! Bring a lunch and eat before you get there. Go to AAA first and buy your tickets there. Then, enjoy the best aquarium in America!

Great local aquarium with very intriguing exhibits.

Always a great experience. Especially with kids. Although it has gotten rather expensive.

Kid friendly. Lots of animals to view for the adults too. Adequate seating for breaks. Helpful staff.

As amazing as the Monterey Bay aquarium is, I was slightly disappointed given the high expectations I had. You hear a lot about the place and expect something truly special and as nice and large as it is, and with as many various exhibits as they have, I was a little let down mostly due to my high expectations. Don't let this stop you from going though. If you are a fan of aquariums you will love Monterey Bay's.

I really enjoyed my time here at Monterey bay aquarium! I went on a Sunday so it was very busy but we were still able to enjoy ourselves.

CON:
The downside to it is the parking which is inevitable and it was $20.
What s lacking within the aquarium would be more signs as to where to go. I had to rely on my map to make sure I didn t miss any places but I have been in other aquariums where I don t really need a map because there are arrows to follow that serves as a guide while you walk around so you don t have to worry about the map.

PRO:
There are cool places to stop by as well near the aquarium that s within walking distance.
The displays for the creatures is amazing! There are curved glass that allows you to feel closer to the animals.
CUTE SEA OTTERS!!!

Excellent aquarium but too pricey at $50/head. Giving it 4 stars for that and also because I've already been to the Georgia Aquarium which is simply out of this world. The best attraction here for me was the Pacific Giant octopus which was surprisingly active and in show off mood today. Awesome!

Somewhat overrated. I have traveled to many aquriums. The town itself is great to visit and you must do the 17 mile drive along the Pacific Ocean, breathtaking views

Awesome place. Great for kids and adults. Beautiful sea creatures.

Great aquarium. Wasnt that busy in October on a Sunday. The text msg service is great for unscheduled events. Enjoyed the behind the scenes tour as well. Lots of very cool exhibits.

A beautiful aquarium. I love the variety of icean life they provide on exhibit and the upkeep to the facilities.

Awesome, educational and a great place to go. This isn't just for kids, but kids will LOVE it, so will the adults. You just seem to appreciate the ocean life a lot more... fyi, bring ur own snacks (it can get pricey). And use a reusable water bottle.

Overall enjoyable experience. Recommend buying tickets online before arriving so you can avoid lines.

Amazing exhibits and the volunteer docents knowledgeable in all things marine!

The most amazing aquarium I have ever been too. Been a member for just over a year and we go once a month. Become a member and enjoy the member only nights

If you're a first timer or let's say you're visiting from India then this place might be a good option.. plan your visits, open sea, sea otter feeding, penguin feeding and finally the kelp.. don't miss them.. the food here is pretty expensive, and since they have the "in and out" option you could make use of it to try the local cuisine.. remember they shutdown by 5-6 so try to be there early *..

Top notch aquarium. If you stay at a partner hotel you can get a 2-day ticket for the price of a single day ticket. I recommend getting there when they open and buying tickets ahead of time (otherwise you'll have a long line to wait in). Great exhibits, never felt overly crowded. There are plenty if great restaurants within walking distance of the aquarium.

We go here often. It's fantastic. Make sure to learn about the sustainable food programs they're involved in.

Always wonderful. Been going for so many years now. Always worth the trip.

Very nice aquarium.. We had personal tour that gave us behind the see tour.. Kids has fun with those tour.. All different section are well organized and entertaining..

Very family oriented! Loved the animals, and the view

Nice place but I cannot really recommend eating here.

Very nice aquarium. Appreciate the history. Behind the scene tours are great.

Great place to go with the kids, reasonable prices to enter and especially if you have a season pass. The stuff is awesome, super nice and very helpful. They have so many attractions so there's never a dull moment in there.

Wonderful aquarium. Learned lots. In beautiful Monterey, CA.

Extraordinary world-class facility for conservation and education

Definitely a world class aquarium. If you can get past the ticket prices of $20+ per person it has a lot to offer. This place has some of the biggest tanks in the world from the kelp forest to the outer bay. The otters are ADORABLE as always and you can get within inches of them. Plenty to do for the whole family. I would find it difficult to see everything in one day and recommend a return visit so you don't feel rushed to get everything in. There is food service inside the aquarium but given it sits on cannery row with plenty of dining finding a place to eat is not a problem if the aquariums menu does not suit your pallet.

The absolute best aquarium! I've been coming to MBA for years, and each time it gets better. Enjoy the creatures, take in their presentations, learn about our oceans, and learn how you can be sustainable! But get there early! Lines are long unless you are a member!

Very educational for the kids and hands on as well. It was pretty busy and crowded when we went. Overall a good experience.

Good place to bring children. Just warch to stroller parking s everywhere.

Just an all around great place to experience. Much more than what we imagined. 2 levels of ocean life to experience and see.

So long, and thanks for all the fish, jellies, and kelp.

Very nice exhibits. Lots of informational talks given throughout the day. Very clean.
There are a lot of volunteers in various areas of the aquarium who are quite helpful and friendly. Almost all of the employees I encountered were extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to find. Out of 7 hours at the aquarium I met only one employee who was quite unpleasant...he was a cook in the soup area of the cafe.
I would have liked to been able to read more of the signs at the exhibits but due to the placement of on average only one sign per exhibit it was difficult to even see the signs due to the amount of people crowded around each exhibit. Perhaps on a weekday the crowds aren't as large, thus the signs are easier to see. I was there on a Saturday and the aquarium was very very busy.
Overall it is a beautiful and well maintained aquarium with many interesting things to see and learn about.

Great place to learn about the ocean and its inhabitants

One of the best aquariums I've ever been to. Always very interesting to see.

Beautiful facility and exhibits, however be prepared financially. I hadn't visited in a few years and it was $130 for me, my husband and 6 year old daughter to get in. Luckily my son got in with the 3 and under for free. I would like to see more interactive exhibits, many of the exhibits are quite dark.

As a scuba diver with lots of dives in Monterey, going to the aquarium is a treat as well.
The reality of the Bay is well reflected in the exhibits.
Very knowledgeable and friendly staff, too.

Have been an aquarium member in the past when it kids were younger. Alas one passed away and the other is growing much too fast. We still visit, but not as often anymore. For children that are small it's great, but as you get older you feel that you've seen it. I suppose they can only grow so much over time. Still highly recommended.

You don't even have to like the ocean or fish to enjoy the aquarium. They are always adding new exhibits. I really enjoyed the educational focus they incuded around the trash/plastic in the ocean. They had a Baja California exhibit as well, I got to see some puffer-fish and triggers I saq while I snorkeled in Cabo this last year. Beautiful aquarium, well kept considering how many people I can imagine travel through it daily. Keep up the great work, I'll be back!