The Florida Aquarium opened in downtown Tampa’s Channel District on March 31, 1995, and has since grown into one of the region’s premier marine attractions. Spanning roughly 250,000 square feet along the waterfront, the aquarium houses more than 671 species and nearly 20,000 aquatic and terrestrial animals, from Florida native fish to leafy sea dragons imported from Australia. It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM (extended to 6 PM in June and July), with the only annual closures falling on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Beyond its exhibits, the Florida Aquarium is internationally recognized for marine science, most notably as the first facility in the world to successfully spawn threatened elkhorn coral in a controlled lab setting in September 2022. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, it welcomes more than one million guests annually and has continued to expand its exhibits and conservation programs in the years since.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Opened: March 31, 1995
- Hours: Daily, 9 AM-5 PM (9 AM-6 PM in June-July); closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Size: About 250,000 square feet
- Largest tank: 500,000 gallons (Coral Reef Gallery)
- Species: More than 671 species, nearly 20,000 animals
- Annual visitors: Over 1 million
- Famous for: First-ever controlled spawning of threatened elkhorn coral (2022)
Hours and Planning Your Visit
The Florida Aquarium is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM for most of the year, with hours extended to 9 AM-6 PM during June and July. The facility closes only twice annually, on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Because hours can shift around public holidays, school breaks, and special events, visitors are encouraged to confirm the schedule on the aquarium’s official website or by phone before planning a trip. The aquarium sits at 701 Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa’s Channel District, within walking distance of the Tampa Riverwalk and Amalie Arena.
Exhibits and Animal Encounters
The aquarium’s centerpiece is the Coral Reef Gallery, a 500,000-gallon saltwater tank home to sand tiger sharks and a vibrant reef community. The Heart of the Sea exhibit, opened in 2018, holds 100,000 gallons and features southern stingrays, groupers, tarpon, bonnethead sharks, and sea turtles. Outdoors, the two-acre Explore A Shore water play area gives younger visitors a hands-on complement to the indoor galleries, while the Dragons Down Under exhibit showcases delicate leafy sea dragons.
A Leader in Coral Conservation
The Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation in Apollo Beach has become a national leader in coral research. After two years of replicating precise seasonal, solar, and lunar conditions, its scientists achieved the world’s first successful spawning of elkhorn coral outside the ocean in 2022, producing thousands of coral offspring for reef restoration efforts. The aquarium has since partnered with the IUCN Species Survival Commission to launch a global Center for Species Survival focused on coral, reinforcing Tampa’s role in Caribbean reef recovery.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
The Florida Aquarium FAQs
What are the Florida Aquarium’s hours?
The aquarium is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, extended to 9 AM-6 PM in June and July, with closures on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How many species live at the Florida Aquarium?
The aquarium is home to more than 671 species and nearly 20,000 aquatic and terrestrial animals.
What is the Florida Aquarium known for besides its exhibits?
It is internationally recognized for marine science, including being the first facility in the world to successfully spawn threatened elkhorn coral in a controlled environment, in September 2022.
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Photo: Kurtkaiser / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.