Key West Aquarium Admission Ticket

<p>Opened in 1935, the Key West Aquarium was one of the first open-air aquariums in Florida, and it has held onto that period character: concrete tanks under an open roof, sea air moving through the whole space, and a collection focused on what actually lives in the waters just offshore. Nurse and bonnethead sharks circle the main tank, tarpon hang motionless in the shallows, and barracuda and moray eels fill out the reef exhibits. Sea turtles rest in their own dedicated pool.</p><p>A large touch tank is one of the highlights of a visit to this aquarium, letting you handle conch, sea stars and horseshoe crabs, and there's a separate stingray pool alongside it. Guided tours and feedings run several times a day, with staff talking through reef ecology, hurricane recovery and conservation work while handling the animals in front of you. It's a hands-on, close-up way to see Florida Keys marine life rather than a walk past glass tanks.</p><p>The aquarium sits right on Mallory Square in Key West, steps from the sunset crowds and Duval Street, so it fits easily into a day of wandering Old Town.</p>

<p>You'll start at the ticket counter on Mallory Square, redeeming any smartphone promo code before heading into the open-air tanks. From there, the visit moves at your own pace past the shark tank, the reef exhibits with barracuda and moray eels, and the turtle pool, with the concrete-and-open-roof design keeping the sea air and light moving through the whole space. The touch tank and stingray pool are typically where visitors spend the most time, handling conch, sea stars and horseshoe crabs directly.</p><p>Throughout the day, staff run guided tours and feeding sessions covering topics like the Florida Keys ecosystem, Atlantic Coast fishing and sharks, and rays. These sessions are the best way to get context on what you're seeing, as staff handle the animals while explaining conservation work and how the aquarium's exhibits connect to the reef just offshore. A full visit, including a tour or two, typically fits into an hour or two, easy to combine with time on nearby Duval Street.</p>