Photo of Downtown Aquarium in Texas
Aquariums

Downtown Aquarium

πŸ“ Theater District, TX

β˜…4.1(24,641 Google reviews)πŸ’°$36πŸ‘ΆAll ages

Unique combo of marine exhibits, amusement rides, and exotic animals including tigers. Features over 400 species, stingray touching, shark tunnel train ride, and on-site restaurant.

βœ“ Great for kidsβœ“ Smaller than expectedβœ“ Unique tiger exhibitβœ“ Good rides included
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β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…Featured review by Melissa Ann Howell Schier

This was our first time visiting the aquarium and the four of us really enjoyed everything. The beautiful fish, many varieties and colors, eels, sharks, stingrays and the incredible tigers. All the rides were fun, well maintained... The kids love the ferris wheel, the train, the carousel and especially petting the stingrays.. the animal show and tell also very interesting. I caught the kids two stuffies, thirty five dollars.Nice quality and then ate lunch at the restaurant which was delicious. I had the coconut shrimp, and the kids ordered the upgraded cups with the shark and the tiger, which they really enjoyed drinking out of. Everything was clean and well maintained.And the prices are very reasonable and parking was plentiful. Two big thumbs up.

πŸ† Family Action Verdict

Best for families with kids who want more than just an aquarium - the rides, stingray touching, and tigers create a unique experience. However, expect to pay premium prices and don't come expecting a large traditional aquarium. Perfect for a special outing but may disappoint those seeking extensive marine exhibits.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

πŸ’‘Parking costs extra ($15 on-site, $3-4 nearby with short walk)
⏰Children are charged by height, not age - 6-year-olds may need adult tickets
🎟️Visit the restaurant upstairs to see the best tank display
πŸš—Go during off-peak times like Sunday evenings to avoid crowds

πŸ’¬ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews β†’
4.1
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24,641 Google reviews

Smaller aquarium than expected80%
Great combination of rides and marine life80%
Kids love touching stingrays60%
Expensive admission pricing60%
Unique tiger exhibit60%
Clean and well-maintained40%
M

Melissa Ann Howell Schier

a month ago

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β€œThis was our first time visiting the aquarium and the four of us really enjoyed everything. The beautiful fish, many varieties and colors, eels, sharks, stingrays and the incredible tigers. All the rides were fun, well maintained... The kids love the ferris wheel, the train, the carousel and especially petting the stingrays.. the animal show and tell also very interesting. I caught the kids two stuffies, thirty five dollars.Nice quality and then ate lunch at the restaurant which was delicious. I had the coconut shrimp, and the kids ordered the upgraded cups with the shark and the tiger, which they really enjoyed drinking out of. Everything was clean and well maintained.And the prices are very reasonable and parking was plentiful. Two big thumbs up.”

S

Sedona Harker

2 months ago

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β€œI had an amazing time at the Downtown Aquarium. Never have I been to an aquarium that has a restaurant, stingray exhibit, rides, shark tunnels, and a tiger!! It was absolutely beautiful and I had the best experience. I totally would go back just to redo everything. The only downside is that the aquarium is on the smaller side, however I think everything else makes it worth the price!! Can’t wait to come back.”

J

Jaye Jo

a month ago

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β€œWe visited on a Sunday night so it wasn't crowded which was great for us. The aquarium is extremely small, so take your time and walk through because the self tour will be over before you know it. For the Lion's Den it was only one lion and we felt bad for him because he was alone in that space ☹️. Other than that it was a cute little date night outing plus we had a chance to touch the sting rays which was a a fun experience. The rides were fun and we were happy the ticket prices included all the rides but bear in mind that parking is a separate fee. We paid around $15 in the aquarium's parking lot. The ferris wheel was not working that night but we enjoyed all the other rides available. The staff was friendly and the space was clean and beautifully decorated.”

M

Michael Scott

a month ago

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β€œI've been to several aquariums🐠🐑 in different parts of the world.🌏 This one was nice. Very clean water. Obviously older, but updated πŸ˜ƒand in a more difficult, unusual location. 😬 They have $15 on-site parking for a convenience, but if you are able, or without a family, you can get nearby parking πŸ…ΏοΈ for $3-$4 and walk a couple of blocks.πŸšΆπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ The nicest tank here is up in the restaurant.🍽️ So be sure to venture up to see it. πŸ‘€There's also a bar 🍻 up there with a happy hour. Happy hour might be necessary if you end up there during traffic time because that would not be a good time to leave. πŸ˜‘ This is a better place for kids than it is for adults. This is also my first aquarium with an amusement park which is kind of odd. But even more odd than that, this is the first aquarium where you don't get to see the sharks🦈 unless you pay additional 🧐 But there's tigers here!🐯 So That's probably even better than sharks. πŸ˜‰β€

Reviews from Google

Overview

Downtown Aquarium Houston combines marine exhibits with amusement rides and unusual attractions. The Adventure Exhibit features over 400 species including sharks, stingrays you can touch and feed, and tigers at Maharaja's Temple. Additional attractions include the Shark Voyage train ride through a shark tunnel, midway games, and an underwater-themed restaurant with a large aquarium tank.

πŸ• Opening Hours

Monday10:00 – 20:30
Tuesday10:00 – 20:30
Wednesday10:00 – 20:30
Thursday10:00 – 20:30
Friday10:00 – 20:30
Saturday10:00 – 22:00
Sunday10:00 – 22:00

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