The Downtown Aquarium is a six-acre entertainment and dining built within two historic Houston landmarks at 410 Bagby Street, downtown. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
Updated May 2026.
Quick facts: Downtown Aquarium, Houston
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 410 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002 |
| Phone | (713) 223-3474 |
| Rides (Sun–Thu) | 10:30am–8:30pm |
| Rides (Fri–Sat) | 10:30am–10:00pm |
| Restaurant (Sun–Thu) | 11:00am–8:30pm |
| Restaurant (Fri–Sat) | 11:00am–10:00pm |
| All Day Adventure Pass (adult) | $25.99 |
| Exhibit only (adult) | $16.99 |
| Children 2 and under | Free (with paid adult ticket) |
| Parking | On-site paid lot — card only |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Downtown Aquarium opening hours
The complex is open every day. Ride and exhibit hours differ from restaurant hours, and Friday–Saturday runs two hours later.
Amusement rides: Sunday–Thursday 10:30am–8:30pm; Friday–Saturday 10:30am–10:00pm.
Aquarium Restaurant: Sunday–Thursday 11:00am–8:30pm; Friday–Saturday 11:00am–10:00pm.
The Aquarium Adventure Exhibit has its own schedule, which can vary, but broadly aligns with the rides. Check the live hours on the day of your visit.
There is no charge to walk around the outdoor area or eat at the restaurant. Tickets are required only for the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, Stingray Reef, and amusement rides.
Downtown Aquarium ticket prices
Tickets can be purchased at the on-site booth or in advance.
All Day Adventure Pass
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $25.99 |
| Children (under 42 inches) | $24.99 |
| Children 2 and under | Free with adult pass |
Includes the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, Stingray Reef, Shark Voyage Train, Diving Bell Ferris Wheel, Aquatic Carousel, Lighthouse Dive, Frog Hopper, and Aqua Wheel. Midway Games and Arcade are not included.
Aquarium Adventure Exhibit only
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $16.99 |
| Seniors (65+) | $14.99 |
| Children (under 42 inches) | $14.99 |
| Children 2 and under | Free with adult ticket |
Stingray Reef
Entry $4.99; fish food $3.99; Value Pass (entry + food) $7.25.
Military discount: $2 off All Day Adventure Passes (up to four) with valid military or VA ID. Must purchase on-site at the ticket booth. Also includes 10% off retail and the restaurant.
Houston CityPASS: The Downtown Aquarium is included in Houston CityPASS, which covers five attractions at up to 51% off.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
Why book the Houston CityPASS®?
- 🚀 Space Center Houston Included: Gain guaranteed entry to Houston’s premier attraction, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center.
- 📉 Save Nearly 50%: Enjoy massive discounts on combined admission to the city’s top 5 attractions compared to buying individual tickets at the gate.
- 🎨 Personalize Your Visit: Choose four additional attractions from a top-tier list, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Downtown Aquarium, and Kemah Boardwalk.
- 📱 Instant Mobile Tickets: Skip the need for paper vouchers; receive your tickets via email and simply scan your smartphone for quick, easy entry.
- ⏱️ Nine Days of Exploration: Your pass is valid for 9 consecutive days starting from the first day of use, allowing you to experience the best of H-Town at your own pace.
How to get to the Downtown Aquarium
The aquarium is at 410 Bagby Street at Memorial Drive, off I-45. From I-45 southbound, take the McKinney Street exit and turn left on Bagby. The Diving Bell Ferris Wheel is visible from the highway.
By METRORail, the Red Line’s Downtown/Theater District station is the closest stop. Rideshare drops off on Bagby Street at the front entrance.
Five great things to do in Houston
- 🚀 Reserve your tickets – for Houston’s number one attraction, Space Center Houston.
- 🎵 Discover Houston’s hip-hop culture – on a motorised party bike.
- 🚇 Explore the largest downtown tunnel system in the US – on the Astroville Tunnel Tour.
- 🎨 On a downtown mural tour – learn about Houston’s street art scene.
- 🖼️ Immerse yourself in a spectacular interactive art installation – at Meow Wolf’s Radio Tave.
Parking at the Downtown Aquarium
One paid lot is behind the building. Card only — no cash accepted. Pay by text, QR code, or the kiosk near the building. Valet is available at the front entrance.
How long to spend at the Downtown Aquarium
Most visitors spend two to three hours. The aquarium exhibit takes 30–45 minutes; adding rides and the Stingray Reef extends a visit to a half day.
Accessibility at the Downtown Aquarium
The complex is wheelchair accessible throughout. All rides have height requirements posted at each entrance — review these before visiting with young children.
Inside the Downtown Aquarium: what to see
Aquarium Adventure Exhibit houses over 400 species across themed galleries covering ocean, freshwater, and rainforest environments, including sharks, rays, eels, sea turtles, and piranhas.
Tigers of Maharaja’s Temple features Sumatran tigers in an indoor and outdoor enclosure. The exhibit currently houses sisters Kirana and Zara and resident Apollo. Note: older guides describe white Bengal tigers — these are no longer at the site.
Stingray Reef is a touch-and-feed pool where visitors can handle Atlantic cownose rays.
Shark Voyage Train Ride is a slow-moving train through a tunnel of shark tanks — the main ride for younger children.
Aquarium Restaurant seats diners around a 150,000-gallon fish tank. Reservations are recommended; book via OpenTable or at downtownaquariumhouston.com/aquarium-restaurant.
Practical visitor tips for the Downtown Aquarium
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No charge to visit outside or dine | You can eat at the restaurant or walk the outdoor amusement area without buying exhibit tickets. |
| The All Day Pass saves money for ride users | If you plan more than two rides, the $25.99 All Day Pass offers better value than individual tickets and includes the exhibit. |
| Parking is card only | The on-site lot does not accept cash at any point. |
| Check the visitor-info page for closures | Individual exhibits close temporarily for events and maintenance. The live page at downtownaquariumhouston.com/visitor-info publishes current notices. |
Frequently asked questions about the Downtown Aquarium
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Downtown Aquarium suitable for young children? | Yes. The Stingray Reef touch pool, Shark Voyage train, carousel, and Frog Hopper are well suited to young children. Children 2 and under are free with a paid adult ticket. Check ride height requirements before visiting. |
| Do you need to book in advance? | Not required. Tickets are sold at the booth. Restaurant reservations are strongly recommended. |
| Is the aquarium open every day? | Yes, seven days a week. Rides run until 8:30pm Sunday–Thursday and until 10pm Friday–Saturday. |
| Is it included in Houston CityPASS? | Yes, alongside Space Center Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and Kemah Boardwalk or Children’s Museum of Houston. |
| Are there real tigers at the Downtown Aquarium? | Yes — Sumatran tigers, not white Bengal tigers as older guides describe. The current tigers are Kirana, Zara, and Apollo. |
Things to do near the Downtown Aquarium
Buffalo Bayou Park (along Allen Parkway, free) is a 160-acre linear park with walking trails, public art, and the Waugh Drive Bridge bat colony — around 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats that emerge at sunset. About a ten-minute drive west.
Discovery Green (1500 McKinney Street, free) is a 12-acre downtown park with a lake, outdoor stage, splash pad, and food trucks, five minutes on foot from the aquarium.
Houston Museum of Natural Science (5555 Hermann Park Drive, ticketed) is one of the most visited natural history museums in the US. About ten minutes by car.
Minute Maid Park (501 Crawford Street) is the home of the Houston Astros, a five-minute walk from the aquarium. Check mlb.com for the current schedule.
Market Square Park (301 Milam Street, free) is a landscaped downtown park with café, bar, and regular community events, five minutes on foot.
What to visit tomorrow: aquariums and wildlife attractions within two hours
Moody Gardens Aquarium (Galveston, ~50 miles, ~1 hour) is a large aquarium pyramid with sharks, penguins, touch tanks, and a stingray exhibit, alongside an IMAX and hotel resort on Galveston Island.
Houston Zoo (6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, ~15 minutes) is a 55-acre zoo with over 6,000 animals across 900 species, adjacent to Hermann Park and the Museum of Natural Science.
Kemah Boardwalk (Kemah, ~30 miles, ~30 minutes) is a waterfront entertainment complex on Galveston Bay with rides, restaurants, and midway games. Included in the Weekend Adventure Pass alongside the aquarium.
Brazos Bend State Park (Needville, ~50 miles, ~1 hour) is known for its dense alligator population and 37 miles of trails. One of the best wildlife photography sites on the Gulf Coast.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (Galveston, ~50 miles, ~1 hour) is a Gulf-facing amusement pier with rides and games, also included in the Landry’s Weekend Adventure Pass.
More Texas travel
Other Texas travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Compare Austin’s big museum experiences at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Texas Science and Natural History Museum.
- Plan your trip to the Children’s Museum Houston.
- See more wildlife at The Dallas Zoo.
- Guides to the Bryan Museum, Ocean Star Museum, Galveston Naval Museum and Galveston Railroad Museum in Galveston.
- Practical guide to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.
