Vancouver Aquarium
49°18′ N 123°08′ WAquarium$41.951.5 hours
The Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park suits families on a wet day, with rescued sea otters and sea lions outdoors and the Dragons reptile exhibit inside through January 2027, and the trade-off is price, at $41.95 to $57.95 plus tax for an adult in October 2026.
Photo Ferdinand Stöhr fellowferdi · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 and others, credited in the gallery
Access
Mobility scooters are allowed inside. Wagons, jogging strollers, push-cars and ride-on scooters aren't, because the galleries are narrow. A visitor with a disability who buys a full-price ticket online can bring a support person free.
Herschend Enterprises has run the Vancouver Aquarium since spring 2021, when Ocean Wise handed it over after a hard year of COVID-19. Herschend gives Ocean Wise 1% of its gross profits each year for conservation and education work. Entry is by timed ticket and the price moves with the day, so booking early locks in the lowest fare. Once you're through the door you can stay all day, and the Aquarium says most guests spend 90 minutes to two hours.
Dragons has been extended through January 2027 and comes with general admission. It puts the Gila monster, the red tegu and the Kimberley rock monitor in cave-style habitats, and the animal care team gives a dragon presentation every day. The 4-D film is included as well, on a first-come basis. The Fin-tastic Fall Festival fills the calendar to 31 October, and the hours after 12 November 2026 hadn't been posted when we checked, so look at the calendar before a Christmas visit.
The Aquarium went cashless in May 2026. Cards and phone wallets work everywhere, and cash-to-card kiosks in the Gift Shop and the Courtyard Café turn bills into a prepaid card. Free lockers in the Lower Teck Connections gallery hold carry-on bags on a first-come basis. EasyPark runs the parking, which isn't part of the ticket.
Worth knowing
- Buy online for your date, because prices vary by day and the plan-ahead fare is the lowest you'll see.
- Toddlers under 3 get in free and need no ticket.
- A Stanley Park day pass from any meter in the park covers the Aquarium lots too, so you can drive on to Prospect Point afterwards.
- To get back to Canada Place, walk 6 minutes to Stanley Park Loop and ride the 19 for 10 minutes to Pender at Burrard on TransLink's September 2026 timetable. A 7-minute walk takes you down to the harbour from there.
Quick answers about Vancouver Aquarium
How much are Vancouver Aquarium tickets?
An adult ticket (ages 13 to 64) at the Vancouver Aquarium cost $41.95 to $57.95 plus tax in October 2026, depending on the date. Children aged 3 to 12 paid from $26.45 and seniors from $36.95 on the cheapest dates, and toddlers under 3 go free.
How long do you need at the Vancouver Aquarium?
Most guests spend 90 minutes to two hours at the Vancouver Aquarium. There is no time limit once you enter at your ticketed time.
Can you pay cash at the Vancouver Aquarium?
No. The Vancouver Aquarium has taken only electronic payments since May 2026, and its cash-to-card kiosks load cash onto a prepaid card.
Is parking included with Vancouver Aquarium tickets?
No. EasyPark runs parking in Stanley Park and charges separately, and a day pass works at any meter in the park.
What are the opening hours of Vancouver Aquarium?
Vancouver Aquarium keeps these hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–17:00.
When is the best time to visit Vancouver Aquarium?
Vancouver Aquarium: Book the first slot of the day, since you can stay until closing once you're in.
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In the journal and guides
Read more about Vancouver Aquarium
Guide · 9 min read
What can you do from Canada Place before all-aboard?
With two hours, stay on foot along the waterfront and in Gastown. Lonsdale Quay across the SeaBus fits in three, and the free park shuttle to the Capilano Suspension Bridge needs four.
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What can you do on a rainy day in North Vancouver and Vancouver?
Ride the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and a wet morning at the Polygon Gallery and MONOVA costs an adult $15 and a donation, with the Food Hall open until 9 pm.
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Where should you take kids in North Vancouver and Vancouver?
A family of four paid $213.80 plus GST at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in 2026, so start with Lynn Canyon's free bridge if your kids walk on their own.