Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Rating
Family of 4
$95-$130.
Duration
3-4 hours
Best Ages
All ages
About
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is Virginia Beach's premier indoor attraction, combining world-class marine exhibits with an outdoor nature preserve and adventure boat programs. Located on General Booth Boulevard, about 15 minutes south of the oceanfront, it provides a full day of marine education and exploration for families.
The aquarium's indoor galleries house hundreds of species in thoughtfully designed habitats. The Owens Ocean Hall features a massive tank with sand tiger sharks, loggerhead sea turtles, and cobia swimming in a recreated Atlantic Ocean environment. The Chesapeake Bay gallery explores the bay's unique ecosystem with touch tanks, live otter exhibits, and hands-on learning stations.
The Red Sea gallery offers a vibrant tropical reef display.
The outdoor Marsh Pavilion and nature trail extend the experience into the surrounding salt marsh ecosystem. Boardwalks wind through tidal marshes where visitors can spot great blue herons, osprey, diamondback terrapins, and fiddler crabs in their natural habitat. The trail is well-maintained and provides a peaceful complement to the indoor exhibits.
The aquarium operates seasonal adventure boat programs, including dolphin-watching cruises (spring through fall) and whale-watching excursions (winter). These programs take families into the open ocean for real wildlife encounters — bottlenose dolphins are regularly sighted on the cruises, and humpback whales visit Virginia Beach waters from December through March. The boat trips require separate tickets and advance reservations.
The on-site IMAX theater shows rotating nature documentaries on a screen six stories tall. Recent films have covered ocean depths, coral reefs, and polar regions. The theater is an excellent rainy-day option and pairs well with the aquarium visit for a full day of marine science immersion.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Nursing / Changing
true
Kid Meals
true
Setting
Indoor & Outdoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings; rainy days (when oceanfront families head indoors)
Wait Times
Minimal on weekdays; 10-20 minutes at touch tanks on busy weekends
Nearby Food
On-site café. Nearby: Rockafeller's Restaurant (seafood, 5-min), Taste Unlimited (sandwiches), Sandbridge restaurants (15-min south). Multiple casual dining options along General Booth Boulevard.
Why Kids Love It
The Virginia Aquarium combines indoor marine exhibits with outdoor nature trails in a way that makes it feel less like a traditional aquarium and more like a full day of ocean exploration. The shark and ray exhibit lets kids press their faces against the glass as sand tiger sharks glide past, and the touch tank invites hands-on encounters with horseshoe crabs, stingrays, and sea stars.
The outdoor marsh trail and nature preserve connect the aquarium to the surrounding coastal ecosystem, with boardwalks through salt marshes where kids can spot real herons, egrets, and turtles in their natural habitat. It's a beautiful bridge between the curated indoor exhibits and the wild environment just outside.
The aquarium's boat trip programs — including seasonal whale-watching excursions and dolphin-watching cruises — take families out on the water for encounters with marine life in their natural habitat. Seeing a pod of bottlenose dolphins from the deck of a boat, or spotting a humpback whale breaching in winter, creates memories that far outlast any tank exhibit.
Pro Tips from Parents
- The Owens Ocean Hall with sharks and sea turtles is the crown jewel — don't rush through it.
- Walk the outdoor nature trail — it's included, rarely crowded, and offers real wildlife sightings.
- The seasonal whale-watching and dolphin cruises are separate tickets but worth the splurge.
- The IMAX theater shows nature films on a massive screen — great rainy day add-on.
- The aquarium offers behind-the-scenes encounters and animal feedings — check the daily schedule.
What to Bring
- comfortable walking shoes
- light jacket (AC indoors)
- camera
- sunscreen for outdoor trail
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$95-$130.
Adult admission ~$28 x2 = $56.
Child (3-11) ~$23 x2 = $46.
Total: ~$102.
IMAX add-on: ~$8/person x4 = $32.
Combo: ~$134.
Tips to Save
- Skip IMAX on first visit if budget-tight — the aquarium alone fills 3 hours.
- Members get unlimited visits.
- The outdoor nature trail and marsh overlook are included.
- Check for AAA and military discounts (VB has a large military community).
Hours & Contact
Hours
- friday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- monday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- sunday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- tuesday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- saturday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- thursday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- wednesday
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
