WildlifeClosed December 25

Vancouver Aquarium

#2of 10 places to visit in VancouverVancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Also known as Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre

Quick answer

Opening hours: 10:00–17:00, last entry 16:00. Entry: CA$39.95. Allow 2.5 hrs. Best time: At opening.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Iiii I I I / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Opening hours: 10:00–17:00
Entry fee: CA$39.95; Ticket from
Time needed: 2.5 hrs
Best time of day: At opening
Best months: May – Sep
Address: 845 Avison Way, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

About Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium is open in Stanley Park in 2026, and adult tickets range from about CAD 39.95 to CAD 55.20 depending on date under dynamic pricing. The aquarium opened on 15 June 1956 as Canada's first public aquarium, and it turned 70 in June 2026. It keeps no whales or dolphins on display, and exhibits centre on rescued sea otters, sharks, sloths and Pacific coast species.

Best time of day: At opening. 10:00 or after 15:30, before or after school groups.

Vancouver Aquarium timings

Vancouver Aquarium opens at 10:00 and closes at 17:00. Those hours hold on Saturday and Sunday too.

Opening hours: 10:00–17:00; Mon–Sun 10:00–17:00
Closed on: December 25

Mon–Sun	10:00–17:00

Good to know: A 2026 visitor guide lists extended summer Saturday hours to 19:00 with dates that appear to be from 2025, so verify current extended hours at the official site.

Opening hours compiled from vanaqua.org and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Vancouver Aquarium ticket price

Entry fees for Vancouver Aquarium
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	CA$39.95
Concession (student / senior)	CA$34.95
Children	CA$24.95

Vancouver Aquarium uses dynamic pricing, and 2026 adult tickets range from about CAD 39.95 to CAD 55.20 depending on date and booking time, with seniors from about CAD 34.95, children (3-12) from about CAD 24.95 and children under 3 free, per a 2026 visitor guide. The official site returned an access error when checked, so verify current prices at vanaqua.org. Sea Otter Encounter add-ons cost about CAD 130-160. As of May 2026 the aquarium accepts cashless payment only.

Prices compiled from vanaqua.org and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Vancouver Aquarium

Quiet
Moderate
Very busy

10:00 - 11:00
Opening HourBest time to go
Vancouver Aquarium is calmest at opening, with clear views of the sea otter and shark exhibits.
Quiet
11:00 - 14:00
School Group Peak
School groups and holiday families fill the galleries, and popular tanks have crowds two or three deep.
Very busy
14:00 - 15:30
Early Afternoon
Vancouver Aquarium eases slightly, though weekends stay busy.
Moderate
15:30 - 17:00
Closing Window
Vancouver Aquarium thins in the last 90 minutes, though last admission is about 16:00.
Quiet

History of Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium opened in Stanley Park on 15 June 1956 and grew into a major marine-science and rescue centre run by the Ocean Wise Conservation Association. For decades it held orcas, belugas and dolphins, and its captive-cetacean program drew sustained public protest.

Vancouver Aquarium ended its cetacean program in 2017, and the Vancouver Park Board and the federal government then restricted captivity, with a 2019 federal law banning the keeping of whales and dolphins in Canada. No cetaceans are on display today. Pandemic closures beginning in September 2020 cut ticket sales sharply, and the aquarium reopened on 16 August 2021.

Vancouver Aquarium changed ownership on 15 April 2021, when Ocean Wise transferred operations to Herschend Family Entertainment, a US family-owned company, making the aquarium a for-profit business. Ocean Wise remains a separate charity and continues rescue and rehabilitation work. Herschend has reported about CAD 10 million in upgrades, including new seawater systems, a renovated Amazon gallery and shark exhibit, and plans for the former Wild Coast area, per a December 2025 report.

Rules & etiquette at Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium has been fully cashless since May 2026, so bring a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet, since no cash is accepted at admissions or shops. Visitors should carry proof of any concession or discount category booked online.

Vancouver Aquarium does not allow hands-on contact with animals outside paid, staffed encounters. Follow posted signs at the sea otter and shark exhibits, where tapping the glass, flash photography and leaning over rails disturb animals. Strollers are permitted, and the aquarium runs monthly sensory-friendly hours, so ask about the schedule if you need quieter conditions.

Vancouver Aquarium sells premium add-ons, including a Sea Otter Encounter at roughly CAD 130-160 per person, and these require advance booking. Keep food and drink to designated areas, since exhibit spaces are sensitive to spills, and follow keeper instructions at feeding talks.

Tips for visiting Vancouver Aquarium

1
Vancouver Aquarium is quietest at opening (10:00) and after about 15:30, since school groups arrive between 11:00 and 14:00. Book online for the lowest dynamic fare, and buy tickets for the first slot of the day if your dates are flexible.
2
Vancouver Aquarium is reached by bus 19 Stanley Park from downtown for the TransLink adult 1-zone fare, CAD 2.85 with Compass from 1 July 2026. On-site parking is charged by the hour, at about CAD 4 per hour per a 2026 guide, and lots in the park fill on sunny summer days, so leave the car if you can.
3
Vancouver Aquarium pairs well with a walk on the Stanley Park Seawall. Allow two to three hours for the galleries, Amazon Rainforest and sea otter habitat, and check the day's keeper talks and any 4D theatre film times when you arrive. Exhibits and the former Wild Coast area may change during renovations, so verify what is open before you buy.

How to reach Vancouver Aquarium

The red star is Vancouver Aquarium; the numbered pins are the 8 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

845 Avison Way, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, CanadaDirections in Google Maps

From Downtown Vancouver (Burrard Station area)
4 km · 25-30 min
CAD 2.85 (TransLink adult 1-zone Compass stored value, from 1 July 2026; 2-zone CAD 4.20)
From Waterfront Station
4 km · 10-15 min
Metered taxi fare; about CAD 15-20 (estimate, verify with the operator)
From Coal Harbour
3 km · 40-50 min
Free on foot

Nearest airport

From Vancouver International Airport (YVR), about 18 km.

Nearest station

From Waterfront Station (Canada Line, Expo Line, SeaBus), about 4 km; bus 19 Stanley Park serves the aquarium entrance.

Vancouver Aquarium FAQs

Is the Vancouver Aquarium open in 2026?

Yes, Vancouver Aquarium is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 in Stanley Park, and it closes on December 25. It turned 70 in June 2026, and it is now owned by Herschend Family Entertainment.

Does the Vancouver Aquarium have dolphins or whales?

No, Vancouver Aquarium keeps no whales or dolphins on display. It ended its cetacean program in 2017, and a 2019 federal law bans keeping whales and dolphins in captivity in Canada.

How much is Vancouver Aquarium admission?

Vancouver Aquarium adult admission ranges from about CAD 39.95 to CAD 55.20 in 2026, depending on date and booking time. Children under 3 are free; verify current prices at vanaqua.org, since the official page could not be read.

Does Vancouver Aquarium accept cash?

No, Vancouver Aquarium has been fully cashless since May 2026. It accepts debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places