Visitor Frequently Asked Questions

Our less-visited times are in the fall and winter months other than during holidays. At other times of the year, you’ll find fewer visitors between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. During the peak summer months, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days to visit.

Wheelchairs are available free for use during an aquarium visit; ask at the information desk inside the main entrance. The aquarium is fully accessible to the disabled, and limited parking for the disabled is offered on-site, on a first-come, first-served basis. Call (831) 648-4840 for disabled parking information.

Most of our exhibit videos are captioned, and assisted-listening devices for the hard of hearing are available at the information desk. Special tours can be arranged with two weeks advance notice. You can arrange a special tour by calling the reservation center at (831) 647-6886.

We do not offer AAA or reciprocal zoo/aquarium discounts, but from time to time we offer special promotions and coupons. Check the web site for current information.

An average visit to the aquarium lasts 2 to 3 hours, but you can easily spend the whole day here and still have more to see! Be sure to check our Aquarium Exhibits section before you come to preview some of the highlights.

Visitor information cards are available at the information desk in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. Many staff and volunteers speak other languages. Look for special nametags that indicate what languages they speak.

There are lockers for personal use located on Hovden Way, just past the Member’s Entrance. Each locker costs 50 cents and will only accept quarters.

Only working dogs (guide dogs for the blind, service dogs for people with disabilities) or working dogs in training are permitted at the aquarium. Pet-sitting services are available within walking distance of the aquarium. Call the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau at (831)657-6400 for recommendations.

During your visit, you're welcome to take photos and video for your personal use only. Commercial photography is allowed only with prior written permission from our Public Relations department. For your safety and the safety of other visitors, we prohibit the use of tripods and monopods in the aquarium.

Flash photography can hurt some animals—like sea dragons, octopuses and others. Before you click the shutter, please look for signs asking you not to flash the animals. You'll find professional photo postcards of many of our animals in our gift and bookstores. Learn more.

For the health and safety of our guests and animals, smoking is only allowed on the third floor outside deck across from the top of the Kelp Forest exhibit. Smoking is not permitted on any other outside deck, inside the aquarium or in the cafe.

Strollers are permitted throughout the aquarium, except in our aviary and on the mezzanine of our Sea otter exhibit. We ask that you be considerate of other visitors as they're navigating dark galleries to see the exhibits.

The coastal areas of Monterey County usually enjoy temperatures averaging 57°F year-round. It is a good idea to dress in layers as temperature and wind conditions may vary throughout the day and it can get cool, even during the summer.

If you have prepaid or complimentary tickets, you may enter at the ticket holder entrance on Hovden Way. Please print your prepaid tickets at home.

These items are available in our Gift & Bookstore, as well as a full selection of merchandise including natural history books, aquarium logo clothing, educational toys and much more. We do not currently have an online store or merchandise catalog, but you can reach our merchandising staff by phone (877-665-2665 toll-free in U.S.) or email.

The aquarium provides an on-site picnic area for guests, located behind the Education Building. Individual guests may also use the aquarium’s outside amphitheatre at the Great Tide Pool. Please note that no food or drink may be consumed inside the aquarium, and seating in the Portola Restaurant ad Café is reserved for restaurant patrons. There are a number of great picnic sites within walking distance from the aquarium as well, including Lover’s Point, Washington Park, and San Carlos Beach.

Wireless internet is now available at the Aquarium free of charge. You can browse the internet with your Wi-Fi enabled cell phones, PDAs or MP3 players. For more information, please stop by our information desk.