Photo: Shelley Slade
Photo: Kris Homell
Photo: Russ Duker
Downtown Aquarium
★4.3(22,278 reviews)$$Aquarium
🕑 2-3 hours for just the aquarium, or 3-4 hours if you add rides and dining👶 Best for ages 2-12. Toddlers are mesmerized by the colorful fish and gentle carousel, while elementary-aged kids love the hands-on stingray feeding and exploring the various themed exhibits. Teens may enjoy it as part of a broader Denver itinerary.🧡 Saved by 200+ families
About
Downtown Aquarium offers an impressive one million gallons of underwater exhibits where kids can get up close with marine life through interactive stingray feeding experiences. Beyond the aquatic displays, families can enjoy unique attractions like an aquatic-themed carousel and train ride, plus an on-site restaurant, making it easy to spend several hours without leaving the complex.
Highlights
- ✓Interactive stingray feeding touch tank
- ✓Aquatic-themed carousel with sea creature figures
- ✓Walk-through underwater tunnels with sharks and tropical fish swimming overhead
- ✓Shipwreck-themed train ride around the complex
- ✓Underwater restaurant dining experience with floor-to-ceiling tanks
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive right at opening (10:00 AM) on weekdays to avoid crowds and have the stingray touch tank practically to yourselves
- 2.Purchase combo tickets online in advance for aquarium admission plus rides to save money and skip the ticket line
- 3.The restaurant is designed like an underwater dining experience with a 150,000-gallon tank, so request a table near the exhibits even if you're just grabbing appetizers
- 4.Parking can be tight on weekends,use the lot on Water Street or consider taking the light rail to nearby Pepsi Center station
- 5.Don't miss the Sunken Temple exhibit with walk-through tunnels where sharks and fish swim overhead
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday) around 10:00-11:00 AM offer the smallest crowds and the most attentive animal interactions. Avoid Friday and Saturday evenings when both the aquarium and restaurant are busiest with date-night crowds and birthday parties.
What to Know
General admission tickets are required for the aquarium (ride tickets sold separately), and there's paid parking available on-site. The venue includes a full-service restaurant if you want to make it a lunch outing, and stroller access is good throughout the facility.
Seasonal Notes
Open year-round with consistent indoor exhibits, making it a perfect rainy day or hot summer escape. Holiday-themed events and special exhibits are typically offered during Halloween and the winter holiday season. Summer weekends and school breaks tend to be most crowded.
Nearby Eats
Elitch Lanes (bowling alley with kid-friendly pub food) is a short walk away, or head to nearby LoHi neighborhood (Highlands) for family favorites like Linger or Vital Root for more upscale kid-friendly dining options.
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