Located along the South Platte River near I-25 and 23rd Ave in Denver, United States, the Downtown Aquarium invites you to explore the fascinating link between inland freshwater ecosystems and the ocean. Spanning 107,000 square feet on a 17-acre site, this AZA-accredited destination holds roughly 1,000,000 gallons of marine and freshwater aquaria filled with diverse aquatic life and wildlife. Inside, you can follow dual exhibit paths originally designed around North America's Colorado River and Indonesia's Kampar River.
As you walk through, you will see a wide variety of species, including desert pupfish, bass, North American river otters, Asian arowanas, rainbowfish, and even Sumatran tigers. Following major renovations by Landry's Restaurants, the exhibits expanded to showcase fish from South American and African freshwater habitats, alongside mixed community tanks and a massive 150,000-gallon marine aquarium in the on-site dining area. Dedicated to conservation and education, the facility actively houses multiple endangered or threatened species and features interactive elements like a horseshoe crab touch tank and a stingray touch-and-feed tank.
It offers a memorable experience for landlocked visitors eager to discover marine life.
What to see at Downtown Aquarium, Denver
- Observe diverse wildlife including river otters, Sumatran tigers, and endangered desert pupfish.
- Touch horseshoe crabs and feed stingrays in interactive touch-tank exhibits. transatlantic
- Explore river-themed exhibit journeys tracing aquatic paths from inland rivers to the ocean.
- Dine beside a massive 150,000-gallon marine aquarium located inside the full-service restaurant.
Visiting tips
Check the schedule for for-cost educational seminars held periodically at the aquarium if you want to deepen your knowledge of aquatic conservation.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Downtown Aquarium, Denver is easy to reach on Denver’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Denver Art Museum and Denver Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Denver travel guide.
See the full Denver travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.