Monterey Bay Aquarium Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 Hr

• Monterey 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

• Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Coast Explorer From San Francisco

• Ultimate Monterey Bay, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove GoCar Tour

• 3-Hour Monterey, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove GoCar Tour

Currently, tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium cost US$65 for adults, US$50 for young people aged 5–17 and seniors over the age of 70, and children aged 4 and under can visit for free. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a very popular attraction, so it’s well worth booking your admission tickets in advance.

Yes, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is worth visiting. Considered one of the top aquariums in the United States, it’s home to hundreds of marine species. It also boasts exhibitions such as the Open Sea habitat, which occupies a vast, 1.2-million-gallon (4.5-million-liter) tank. You can also stop by the aquarium as part of a Monterey and Carmel sightseeing tour.

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. Both days offer the full range of shows and feedings, but get fewer crowds than during weekends and long-weekend days.

Give yourself 3–4 hours if you want to watch shows. If you just want to hit the highlights, give yourself about 90 minutes. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has around 200 exhibits spread across 175,000 square feet (16,250 square meters) of exhibition space.

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. However, the aquarium prohibits flash, tripods, and selfie sticks. Note that with all the glass at the aquarium, 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.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Monterey and Carmel:

• 17-Mile Drive

• Monterey Fisherman's Wharf

• Cannery Row

• Big Sur

• Hearst Castle

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Monterey and Carmel.