Downtown Aquarium

Reviews

• JC

  Judy Chavez

  Mar 12, 2026
  4.0
  The only reason I’m giving it four stars is because I went there with my son on a field trip. I was late😱 so I didn’t get to meet with the class so I went to the ticket area and the first person I got was not very knowledgeable. When I was asking a question he would mute his mic and talk to the people inside or let them answer my question and kinda made it seem like he was laughing at me for asking. The second guy I got maybe a supervisor (not sure) was not kind at all and if it was not for the field trip I would have just left. I’m glad I stayed though because the inside atmosphere was very different and it was beautiful with all the amazing animals! The face painting lady and the Starbucks lady were so polite!
• LC

  Loren de la Cruz

  Mar 6, 2026
  1.0
  I left the Denver Aquarium feeling pretty unsettled. On the surface, it’s clearly designed to entertain kids and families, and many children seemed excited by the exhibits. However, as an adult paying attention to the animals and the environments they’re kept in, I struggled with what I saw. The experience starts with the stingray petting area, which immediately raised concerns for me. While it’s marketed as interactive and educational, it felt more like the animals were being handled continuously for entertainment rather than respected in a way that prioritizes their wellbeing. As we moved through the exhibits, I kept noticing enclosures that seemed small, over-populated, and/or not very enriching for the animals. The moment that really stuck with me was toward the end when we saw the tiger (why is this tiger even at an aquarium?!). The enclosure felt far, far too small for such a large, powerful animal, and the tiger appeared visibly distressed and pacing (clearly not being protected from sensory overload). It honestly made me feel nauseous walking out. I understand that places like this are meant to provide family entertainment and spark interest in wildlife, but experiences like this should also model what humane animal care looks like. It was way more geared towards the former than the latter. I left wishing there was more emphasis on animal welfare and more appropriate environments for the animals themselves. If you're visiting purely for a kid-friendly outing, your children will likely be entertained. But if you’re someone who pays close attention to animal welfare and want to teach your kid that incredibly important aspect of what it means to be on this earth, this may be a difficult place to enjoy.
• JM

  Joanne Marie

  Mar 3, 2026
  1.0
  Please don’t support this business! If I could give it zero stars, I would. Seeing the tigers in this aquarium was so upsetting. They don’t belong there! It is a terrible and completely unnatural environment for these beautiful animals. They have no outdoor space, and you can tell that they’re stressed. Just horrible! There are sanctuaries ready and willing to take them in. Let them live out their lives in peace and dignity. I would never return to this aquarium and will continue to tell others what’s going on there. Check out all the other reviews on Yelp, Reddit, etc. regarding these poor animals’ situation. Even former employees of the aquarium describe the poor conditions. Notice the copy/paste responses by the business to these negative reviews. If you have a compassionate heart, please don’t patronize this business until they re-home these magnificent and mistreated tigers to a wildlife sanctuary. And if you feel so inclined, it would be great to add your name to one of several petitions to free these beautiful creatures.
• BG

  Brenda Garcia

  Mar 2, 2026
  2.0
  The aquarium is a little small for the price. It would be nice for the meet and greets with the animals to be done before the aquarium is open to the public. It would probably be a nicer experience for the client who pays for it as well. An area in front of the otter exhibit was roped off and there were people crowding there area so much you could barely walk through - definitely couldn't see anything unless you were right up front next to the people trying to enjoy their experience. The worst part of the entire place is the 4d experience. That is definitely a money grab. I'm not sure what the goal is, but people actually walked out of our show. The 3d video was bad. The speakers are blown providing terrible sound. You had small squirts of water in your face. The fans turned on for the "wind" experience but all it did was drown out the terrible sound of the video. That was a complete waste of money. Don't do the 4d experience. Also why allow people to buy tickets online when you still have to stand in line to get a wristband. Waste of resources with outdated wristbands.
• TB

  Taylor Bradley

  Mar 1, 2026
  5.0
  Visited the aquarium and it was a lovely time. Started off with a nice special from the lunch menu and was waited on by Victor. He was exceptional and extemely professional and knowledgeable about the menu and made sure to check in on us ecery so often to make sure the food and experience was up to par. He went above and beyond and deserves recognition for his exemplary service and care. Unfortunately didnt see the tigers and in the north american fish section there were some fish that looked like they werent doing too well. I believe in the salmon, and/or trout section. I'm not an expert in the field but it may have been a natural part of their life cycle but was still concerning to see. The jellyfish taks also looked a little concerning to various degrees but I am not an expert so take that with a grain of salt. Other than that it was a great learnimg experience and was really awesome to be able to see all the fish and learn a few things about the different enviroments and fiah of the world. 9.5/10 would definitely go again and reccomend that anyone who enjoys nature, fish and the world we live in pay them a visit to learn and explore. Thank you Denver Aquarium!

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