SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

Reviews

• MK

  M K

  3 days ago
  5.0
  Great place for taking kids. Took my girlfriend for a stroll through there as well. Always a good time(Unless it's busy, people need to allow space for walking when they stop to look at things or staff should say something to them). The Detroit Zoo yearly pass gets you a 50% off discount too~
• TP

  Tori Portz

  5 days ago
  3.0
  Went on a Friday afternoon and the mall itself was extremely packed. The aquarium was cool but my kids got really overwhelmed because there were so many people so we didn't really get to enjoy the experience. Tickets are really expensive as well. $26 person online and under 2 is free. So, I spent $56 (included service fee) for a 15-20 min walk through. Maybe if it wasn't so busy we would have enjoyed it more.
• MD

  Manoj Dwivedi

  6 days ago
  3.0
  Size & Scope:- ∼100+ approx. species / 1,000+ approx. animals across a compact, multi-exhibit layout within Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. Time to Explore:- Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Key Highlights:- - 180° ocean tunnel with sharks, rays, and a green sea turtle - Local Great Lakes exhibits highlighting regional ecosystems - Interactive touch pools for hands-on learning Admission:- Tickets typically range from $19 to $28 depending on online purchase or walk-up rates. I found it slightly expensive than the reasonable price given the location and the scale of the exhibits. It delivers a diverse lineup—sharks, rays, tropical fish, and a green sea turtle - that’s easy to navigate. The exhibits are polished, well-maintained, and thoughtfully curated for younger visitors and casual outings. While it doesn’t aim for the architectural grandeur or multi-acre ecosystem zones of larger, harbor-based institutions like the National Aquarium in Baltimore, that reflects a different design philosophy and era of construction. Each serves a distinct purpose: SEA LIFE excels as a high-engagement, compact experience ideal for families, while larger aquariums function as major destination complexes. 2.5 to 3 out of 5:- Though modest in absolute ticket price, the cost relative to time spent is higher given the 1–1.5 hour average visit. The value lies in the quality of interaction and ease of access rather than sheer volume of exhibits.
• JC

  Jay Cast

  Jun 27, 2026
  4.0
  This was a fun aquarium to visit! It has a beautiful large fish tank, sea turtles, jellyfish, and a nice variety of marine life to see. While it's on the smaller side, it's very well done and makes for an enjoyable visit. I'd especially recommend it for families with young kids—they'll have a great time exploring and seeing all the animals. If you're looking for a huge aquarium, you may want to visit a larger one, but for a relaxing outing, this is definitely worth checking out.
• JL

  Jojo L

  Jun 14, 2026
  1.0
  We came for the animal crossing event and left utterly disappointed. To start, we had a party of 6, but was told we would only be given one poster and one stamp card per group. Only one member out of our entire party was able to collect stamps and keep the poster. Regarding the Animal Crossing aspect, there were only about 5 small character boards to take photos with. Additionally, the aquarium advertised there would be character meet and greets, but there was only one character out of the entire game available to take photos. For this, I would have never paid $24 for this experience. In addition, the aquarium was small and cramped. We reserved our entry time to be right at 10 am opening, but it seems like reservations do not help limit capacity entry. We had a line form at 10 am and was also accompanied by a school trip as well. The sea animals were nice to see, but overall I would not recommend anyone to visit for the Animal Crossing event or this aquarium in general. It was a complete waste of money and time.

Frequently Asked Questions About SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium