Hotels near New England Aquarium

On Central Wharf at the downtown waterfront, the New England Aquarium is built around its four-storey Giant Ocean Tank, a 200,000-gallon cylindrical Caribbean reef you spiral around on a ramp, watching sea turtles, sharks and rays glide past. A breezy outdoor harbour-seal exhibit greets you for free before you even buy a ticket.

Inside are penguin colonies, a touch tank of rays, and exhibits on the marine life of the Gulf of Maine. The aquarium is also the departure point for the city's whale-watching cruises, which head out to the feeding grounds of Stellwagen Bank in the warmer months.

Pro Tip: Book a timed entry online to skip the wharf-side queue, which can be long in summer. Combine a morning at the aquarium with an afternoon whale-watching cruise from the same wharf, and check feeding times for the best tank viewing.