A Must-See in Downtown Tampa: The Beautiful Florida Aquarium
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The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa, a world renowned space, is home to more than 20,000 beautiful sea creatures. This is on my list of recommended air conditioned activities when it is just too hot and humid to do much else (so basically the entire summer season). Although I love the Bay’s wonderful park system and beaches, oftentimes, it is just miserable to be out exploring for too long. This is when indoor attractions come in handy (fortunately, there are many to enjoy throughout the metro). Best of all, this aquarium is located on the Riverwalk, a 2 mile trail connecting the city’s top attractions.
This is a really interesting place where you will get to enjoy glimpses of both common and unique sea life including: tiger sharks, massive sea turtles, stingray, jellyfish, seahorses, leafy dragons, lionfish, upside down jellyfish, and more. In my opinion, it is much better than the more popular Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
The Wetlands
The Wetlands Trail is a beautiful nature path where you will find: alligators, pythons, otters, and all different types of birds.
As you stroll along, you will pass beautiful cypress swamps and mangrove forests. This is a great place to take a leisurely stroll (that is if you visit on a slower weekday!). While I recommend checking out the natural side of Florida via a local park (John Chestnut is my favorite), this trail is also a great way to learn more about the local ecosystem.
A few of the exotic colorful birds you will see while walking this trail.
The gators didn’t impress me much as I see them at parks and even my apartment complex all the time, but I am sure tourists will be impressed.
Journey to Madagascar
In this outdoor exhibit, you will get an up close view of lemurs, geckos, and chameleons. Here you will also find a gorgeous Indian Coral Reef. Lemurs are just too cute aren’t they?!
This Indian coral reef is so gorgeous and colorful.
One of the more unique exhibits features a 300 pound Grouper Goliath. The fish can easily be mistaken for a statue as it rarely moves. Update: Sadly, the Goliath passed away in 2020 at the age of 30!
I was able to capture this unique picture of a Green Moray with its’ mouth open. Green Morays are part of the eel family. Even though the eel appears green, it is actually brown. The combination of the yellow tinted mucus covering its’ body and the background color gives it the trademark green color.
The Coral Reef Tank
The highlight of the aquarium is a 500,000 gallon Coral Reef tank filled with over 100 species, including sand tiger sharks and green sea turtles. There is a seating area to sit back and relax as you watch all the beautiful fish swim before your eyes. I enjoy simply sitting here for a while and watching these magnificent sea creatures in action.
A green sea turtle. The aquarium has been involved in conservation efforts to protect the endangered sea turtle population since 1999.
Of course, the most exciting part of this exhibit is seeing the sharks. The aquarium is home to numerous species including: sand tiger, bonnethead, bull, and hammerheads. It’s fun to watch them in action from a safe space (not while swimming in the Gulf!).
A diver cleaning out the tank! This would be a pretty cool experience and scary at the same time!
A brief tour through some of the more colorful tanks. I especially love the Lionfish tank. Did you know that the spines on these cool looking fish are venomous and that they are unsafe to eat?
Most of the daily shows take place near this coral reef exhibit. During one of our visits, we had the pleasure of seeing the Penguin Promenade. It was a neat experience to see the penguins up close – check it out if you visit falls during a show. Also be sure to check the daily schedule of feedings and other encounters (a map will be given to you upon check in).
All the tanks are very colorful and attractive. I especially loved the Seahorse and Leafy Dragons tanks. They are absolutely beautiful creatures. Seahorses are found in shallow tropical waters, while leafy dragons are found in Australia. Both beautiful creatures get their name from their dragon like resemblance.
On a side note, I recently saw a seahorse up close while swimming at Indian Rocks Beach on the Gulf. This is really rare and super exciting. There was a major storm coming into the area and there were big waves coming in so I don’t know if it pushed this creature closer to shore. A manatee also came within a few feet of us which was pretty scary as I thought it was a shark at first glance.
Bright Jellyfish tanks are so mesmerizing. I would love one of these in my office! On a side note, it is not fun to get stung by a jellyfish. It actually hurts really bad for hours afterward. Contrary to popular urban legend, peeing on a jellyfish sting can actually make matters worse according to this Cleveland Clinic article.
And here’s something you do not see everyday – an upside down jellyfish tank. I’ve been to quite a few aquariums in recent years and this is the first time I’ve seen this species, so pretty cool.
Everybody loves seeing the clown fish tank thanks to the movie “Finding Nemo.”
You can buy tickets to a special stingray feeding experience where you will enjoy an up close look and learn more about the species. It’s runs $30 which is a bit pricey, but might be worth the splurge if you are looking for something unique to do. For everyone else, you can enjoy some nice views from the massive tank.
A unique tank filled with translucent fish
Check out this strange looking fish! It really blends in quite well with the rocks.
A fascinating fish that buries itself in the sand! Some species of fish like the stargazer bury themselves in the sand to hide from predators.
4D show – Entrance to this show is included with your admission. The show is about 15-20 minutes long. During our visit, they were airing an Ice Age themed show (subject to change), which was cheesy, but fun for the kids with the unique special effects.
Special Experiences
In addition to the exhibits mentioned above, you can also check out the numerous hand on experiences available featuring: stingray, starfish, and horseshoe crabs.
- For an extra fee, you can purchase special additions. Here’s a listing of the various options available.
- Backstage Penguin Encounter – A 30 minute experience where you will get to pet penguins and observe them in a close setting.
- Dolphin Cruise – A 75 minute cruise with plenty of opportunities for sightings.
- Stingray Feeding – A tour providing additional information on stingrays with the opportunity to hand feed one yourself.
- Swimming with the Fishes – Swim with the fishes in the Coral Reef Gallery.
- Diving with the Sharks – Certified scuba divers can swim with the sharks in the Coral Reef Gallery.
- Behind the Scenes Tour – See what happens after hours in the aquarium, including food preparation and feedings. You will also get to observe areas traditionally closed to the public.
Is it worth the hefty admission fee?
Personally, I feel like admission is a bit overpriced, particularly if you do not have kids. Much of the aquarium is catered towards kids. The extra kid friendly activities (splash pad, 4d show) will likely please families. If you are really interested in sea life, it is probably worth a visit. Keep in mind that pretty much every business in this vacation area overcharges, so you will be paying a hefty tag at most other attractions as well.
Although it is not the best aquarium I have visited, it is definitely worthy of a visit if you are looking for something fun to do inside. It’s a great place to take an hour out of your day to leisurely stroll around observing the beautiful natural plants and animals of the sea.
We were lucky enough to visit a few times for free courtesy of Bank of America’s Museums on Us program. Unfortunately, they are no longer a participant which is not a surprise considering the crowd levels. I am glad we got to explore in depth before this promotion ended. As of 2025, you can still get into the Tampa Museum of Art for free the first full weekend of each month if you are a cardholder.
Tips for a great visit
If you live in the region, definitely purchase a membership. It will pay for itself in just a few visits.
Visit on a weekday for fewer crowds and a more relaxing experience. There are several rocking chairs and seats set up to relax and enjoy the tanks, however, on the insanely crowded weekends in can be hard to walk around, let alone relax.
Check Groupon, Living Social, and Amazon Local for deals. You can save as much as 50% by using these sites. Or pick up a brochure with a coupon for $3 off each admission (available in the Visitors Center).
Plan your visit around special shows and encounters. Seeing one of these lively, informative shows will make your visit a much more memorable experience. Plus, it will justify the steep admission price.
Purchase tickets online to save a few bucks.
Consider purchasing a CityPass as you will save money on 4 other top rated Bay attractions.
Location, Hours & Pricing Information
The Aquarium is located at 701 Channelside Dr. Ticket prices vary based on day of week, weather, and holidays and prices vary from $30-40. Check the website for special combo tickets.
Hours are 7 days a week from 9:30am-5:00pm
Valet parking starts at $20. I recommend finding metered parking and walking. Rates are much cheaper unless you are planning to stay for several hours.
