Monterey Bay Aquarium Tours and Tickets

As with most family-friendly attractions, it’s best to visit Monterey Bay Aquarium during the school week rather than on weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are both good days to visit the aquarium, with the full range of shows and feedings but fewer crowds than during weekends and long-weekend days.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts almost 200 exhibits spread across 175,000 square feet (16,250 square meters) of exhibition space, as well as regular shows and feedings. Allow 3–4 hours to see all the exhibits, longer if you want to watch shows, or hit the highlights in about 90 minutes.

Yes. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a pickup and drop-off zone, but no parking of its own. Parking is in lots and garages or at street meters, so guests always have to pay. Visitors with disabilities can park for free at metered parking provided they have an appropriate placard or license plate.

Yes. Monterey Bay Aquarium tickets are for full days, not specific time slots, but you still need to buy them in advance. You can only buy tickets online and you need a digital or printed ticket for every visitor, even young children. Aquarium members can enter without a reservation.

Yes. You can take pictures for your own personal purposes during your visit, but you can’t use flash or equipment like tripods or selfie sticks—and with all that glass, shooting high-quality images can be hard. Professional photographers will need written permission from the aquarium’s public relations department.

No, most travelers cannot bring their own food into the Monterey Bay Aquarium. If you’re planning a picnic and don’t have a car, eat before you visit. However, guests with medical conditions that require access to food are welcome to bring food, while there are refill stations for reusable water bottles.