1 / 2The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
📍 Norwalk, NY
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk holds 6,800+ animals in Long Island Sound exhibits from salt marshes to deep ocean.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children aged 18 months and up who want an indoor, all-weather aquarium experience with strong touch tank access. The manageable size means you can cover everything in 3 hours without exhausting young children.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →7,351 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
John Chiappetta
8 months ago
“My wife and I took our one and half year old daughter to the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium yesterday and had a blast. It was great to see all the animals. Our daughter loved the meerkats, otters and the sloth. Lots of things to do there and plenty of other families doing the same as us which was showing our daughter all the amazing animals. I particularly liked the giant sea turtles and so did my wife. I grabbed a pretzel on the way out and it was so good. We also bought our daughter a meerkat plushie and she loves it. I highly recommend you check this place out if you are visiting Norwalk or in the nearby area. Five out of five stars.”
Noneofyour Buisness
8 months ago
“My favorite aquarium in new england (because they have sharks!). Can easily spend 3 hours seeing everything, and have knowledgeable staff who can answer any questions you may have. Good jellyfish collection. Unless you're going with children, highly recommended going at a time when k-12 school is in session - markedly quieter and more enjoyable.”
Denise A.
10 months ago
“This place is not too large but there is so much to see and learn! We were able to touch the stingrays, jellyfish and the sturgeon. Spectacular. The jellyfish were memorizing to watch and we were estatic they have sea horses! There are sharks, seals, turtles and all kinds of fish to look at. There is also some land animals on the second floor and we had a good laugh watching the meerkats in action. The staff was very knowledgeable and passionate about their work and the mission of the aquarium and they are happy to answer any questions. It makes for a nice day for families with children or even adults only. Not too much walking, but enough to get some energy out. There is a elevator. There is a cafe with snacks and sandwiches, a gift shop, and water refilling stations so bring your reusable water bottle. Restrooms too and they were clean. The Imax theater is an extra cost and parking is across the street in a pay to park garage for the aquarium.”
💬 What parents mention
Overview
The Maritime Aquarium focuses on Long Island Sound ecosystems, moving visitors from shallow salt marshes to deep shark habitats. Pinniped Cove features seals; the main shark tank holds 110,000 gallons. Touch tanks let visitors handle stingrays, jellyfish, and sturgeon. Sea horses, meerkats, otters, and a sloth add variety. The 4D theater is an add-on beyond standard admission. Fully indoors - a strong advantage for unpredictable New England weather. Paid parking is across the street in a garage.






