Zoo & aquarium · Boston
New England Aquarium: free entry days, tickets & hours
Central Wharf aquarium built around a four-story Giant Ocean Tank, with penguins, a shark and ray touch tank, sea turtles and an IMAX-style theater.
Independent guide, not the official New England Aquarium website. Official links are under Sources.
New England Aquarium is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: children 2 and under; visitors using wheelchairs and visitors with visual impairments; Boston Public Library coupon: free admission for up to four people on the coupon date; Massachusetts Teachers Association and Boston Teachers Union members (cardholder only); and more below.
- Otherwise: adult Aquarium admission (standard pricing) — $39.95.
- Passes from BPS or the City of Boston must be registered in advance.
Calendar
Free days at New England Aquarium
For Boston-resident students and their guests
- SUN1NOVSunday, 1 November 2026 · in 4 days
- SUN8NOVSunday, 8 November 2026 · in 11 days
- SUN6DECSunday, 6 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SUN13DECSunday, 13 December 2026 · in 7 weeks
Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Boston Public Library coupon: free admission for up to four people on the coupon date: Book a timed slot online with the coupon to guarantee entry.
- Boston Family Days: free for Boston-resident students (K-12, Boston Pre-K) plus two guests, 1st and 2nd Sundays (through Dec 2026): Passes from BPS or the City of Boston must be registered in advance.
- Boston library card? Reserve a free coupon at any BPL branch. It covers up to four people.
- Massachusetts EBT/WIC cardholders pay $5 a person (up to four). That's a discount, not free.
- Military and veterans get $10 off, not free entry.
- Weekends often sell out, so book a timed ticket online.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forFree for children 2 and under | children under 3 | — | No |
| Free forFree for visitors using wheelchairs and visitors with visual impairments | wheelchair users | Applies to wheelchair users and to visitors with visual impairments. | No |
| Free forBoston Public Library coupon: free admission for up to four people on the coupon date | Boston Public Library cardholders | Needs an active physical BPL card. Reserve the coupon at a BPL branch and bring the printed coupon (no screenshots). Valid only on the date printed. Not for movie combos or groups. | Yes |
| Free forFree for Massachusetts Teachers Association and Boston Teachers Union members (cardholder only) | teachers | Show the current academic-year MTA or BTU card at the ticket booth. Not valid for movies or whale watches. | No |
| Free dayBoston Family Days: free for Boston-resident students (K-12, Boston Pre-K) plus two guests, 1st and 2nd Sundays (through Dec 2026) | Boston-resident students and their guests | Show the Boston Family Days pass at the Box Office. Aquarium admission only. Entry not guaranteed if the building is at capacity. | Yes |
Official prices
New England Aquarium ticket prices
| Adult Aquarium admission (standard pricing) — Child 3-11 $30.95, senior 60+ $37.95, under 3 free. New England residents get $5 off (blackout dates on summer weekends and holidays). Aquarium + movie combo $44.95 adult. | $39.95 |
| Aquarium admission + movie (adult, standard pricing) — Adds a film in the Simons Theatre. | $44.95 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult aquarium admission (standard pricing)). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: New England Aquarium
Timed-entry ticketBoston: New England Aquarium Entry + Optional Simons Theatre★★★★☆ 4.4 · 815 reviewsfrom $39
Timed-entry ticketNew England Aquarium: Entry Ticket★★★★★ 4.5 · 541 reviewsfrom $37.05
Ticket & extrasNew England Aquarium Whale Watching from Downtown Boston★★★★★ 4.7 · 422 reviewsfrom $85.58
Timed-entry ticketNew England Aquarium Tickets★★★★★ 4.7 · 85 reviewsfrom $39.69
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:00–17:00 |
| Wed | 09:00–17:00 |
| Thu | 09:00–17:00 |
| Fri | 09:00–17:00 |
| Sat | 09:00–18:00 |
| Sun | 09:00–18:00 |
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; weekends 9am-6pm (current hours shown on the official site). Timed entry.
1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
New England Aquarium: common questions
Is New England Aquarium free?
New England Aquarium has no free entry for everyone. Also free: children 2 and under; visitors using wheelchairs and visitors with visual impairments; Boston Public Library coupon: free admission for up to four people on the coupon date; Massachusetts Teachers Association and Boston Teachers Union members (cardholder only); and more below. Otherwise the official ticket costs $39.95.
When are the free days at New England Aquarium for Boston-resident students and their guests?
Upcoming free dates for Boston-resident students and their guests: Sun 1 Nov, Sun 8 Nov, Sun 6 Dec and Sun 13 Dec. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to New England Aquarium?
Children under 3. Wheelchair users — applies to wheelchair users and to visitors with visual impairments.. Boston Public Library cardholders — needs an active physical BPL card. Reserve the coupon at a BPL branch and bring the printed coupon (no screenshots). Valid only on the date printed. Not for movie combos or groups.. Teachers — show the current academic-year MTA or BTU card at the ticket booth. Not valid for movies or whale watches..
Do I need to book for free entry to New England Aquarium?
Book a timed slot online with the coupon to guarantee entry.
How much is a ticket to New England Aquarium?
Adult Aquarium admission (standard pricing) costs $39.95 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about New England Aquarium
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Sources
Where this comes from
- neaq.org/visit/offers-and-discounts/ · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
- neaq.org/visit/tickets/ · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.