Monterey Bay Aquarium is a standout half-day aquarium for its California marine habitats, Kelp Forest, Open Sea and deep-sea exhibits; it is worth the high admission if you can give it at least three hours. It works best with advance official-site tickets and extra arrival time on summer, holiday and weekend visits.
Buy direct for your visit date
Purchase date-specific QR-code tickets only through the Aquarium’s official admission page; tickets are not timed, but busy summer, weekend and holiday dates can be crowded or sell out, and third-party resale is prohibited.
MoreAllow three to four hours
The Aquarium recommends three to four hours for a first visit, while a two-hour visit is only enough for highlights and makes the $65 adult admission poorer value.
MorePark before your entry window closes
There is no Aquarium parking lot, so use Cannery Row public garages or lots and allow at least 30 minutes to park and reach the entrance on busy summer or holiday days.
MoreUse the Main Entrance correctly
All standard ticket holders enter at Cannery Row and David Avenue with QR codes ready; members, visitors unable to queue, and same-day re-entry use lanes at that same entrance.
More| Monday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
Hours from Google; check before you go.
Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium at 886 Cannery Row in Monterey, California, opened in 1984 in and around the former Hovden sardine cannery. Created to interpret the unusually productive Monterey Bay ecosystem and inspire ocean conservation, it specializes in habitat-scale California-Pacific displays supplied partly with bay water, notably the 28-foot Kelp Forest, the 1.2-million-gallon Open Sea exhibit, and Into the Deep, its deep-sea-animal gallery. More than 70 million people had visited by the end of 2023.
This is a genuinely substantial half-day aquarium rather than a quick rainy-day diversion: its kelp-forest and open-ocean habitats make the surrounding coast more intelligible, while Into the Deep gives it a research-driven identity. It is especially worthwhile for families, first-time Monterey Bay visitors, divers, marine-life enthusiasts and anyone combining it with the coastal trail or a whale-watch trip. Skip it if you object to animal institutions, need a cheap or 60–90-minute stop, or have little interest in marine life; summer, holiday and weekend crowds can also be intense.
Before you go
No. The aquarium is at 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940, at Cannery Row and David Avenue, immediately near the Pacific Grove city line. Do not confuse it with attractions in Pacific Grove.
Buy date-specific tickets directly from the Aquarium’s official admission page before your visit, especially for summer, weekends and holidays. Tickets are not timed, so you may enter any time up to one hour before that date’s closing time. Tickets are generally available on the day, but the Aquarium recommends advance purchase.
Buy only from the Aquarium’s official ticket page: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/visit/admission-tickets/. The Aquarium says it has no legitimate third-party ticket sellers or reseller allocations, and ticket transfer or resale is prohibited. If the official date is unavailable, check the official calendar again for exchanged tickets or choose another date; do not buy marketplace, social-media, Groupon, Viator or hotel-concierge tickets.
Official general admission is US$65 for adults ages 18–69, US$50 for youth ages 5–17, US$50 for seniors 70+, and free for children 4 and under. Every visitor, including free children, needs an individual ticket/QR code. General admission tickets are non-refundable, but an unused ticket can be exchanged online for another available date until 4 p.m. Pacific Time on its booked date; a fare difference may apply.
SNAP/CalFresh EBT cardholders can receive free entry for the cardholder plus up to three additional people. Bring the valid SNAP/CalFresh card and matching photo ID to the Main Entrance; this benefit cannot be reserved online. WIC, P-EBT and SUN Bucks/Summer EBT do not qualify. Necessary caregivers assisting a visitor with a disability, and interpreters accompanying deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors, may receive complimentary entry when arranged with the Aquarium’s Concierge Team in advance.
Allow three to four hours for a satisfying first visit. A two-hour visit is only enough for highlights; allow up to five hours if you want to attend feedings, use touch pools or children’s areas, eat lunch, spend time on outdoor decks, or take a tour.