Las Vegas is home to a lot of things. Entertainment is the capital shareholder of the city and a big attraction to the multitude of visitors coming into the city every day.
The hotel industry is one of the biggest on and off the Strip, with big resorts like Wynn, MGM, Caesars, Mandalay Bay, Silverton, and Golden Nugget incorporating more than gambling and hotel rooms to keep you entertained.
They do massive projects to add pizzazz to their image. A good example is the dancing mermaids at the Silverton Hotel. Yeah, there are mermaids here. Not to mention aquatic exhibits, shark tunnels, wildlife habitats, and water features that make Las Vegas feel less like a desert and more like an entertainment city that can build almost anything.
Best Aquarium in Las Vegas
Back to pizzazz-water shows and aquatic displays are some of the magnificent displays you can ever dream of seeing. Water is life, and Vegas has got a lot of it. Gallons of water flow in this marvelous city in the middle of the desert-a miracle indeed.
If you ever wonder what a shark looks like real up close or a sea turtle, you need to see one. Not in pictures and on cable but real close, like a few centimeters apart. And what better way to experience the sea effect than in an aquarium?
Scientists talk of how flowing water and its flora and fauna make our brain release happy hormones and antidepressants. It is, therefore, a good medication rodeo to visit an aquatic life display.
Resorts have gone way above with imagination to construct aquariums that are not only magnificent in design but huge in size. Some of these waters show the majestic sea life that you can only find in the deep waters of the sea. Get to see coral reefs, sharks, fish, turtles, stingrays, and even mermaids. Who would have known that those childhood fairy tales were true!
Below are the best aquariums and aquatic displays in Las Vegas to visit right now.
1. Shark Reef Aquarium, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
- Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 am-8:00 pm; last admission is usually 7:00 pm
- Price: Ticket prices vary by date, age, and package
- Restrictions: Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a paid adult. Some animal encounters and VR experiences may have age restrictions.
The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is the biggest and most complete aquarium attraction in Las Vegas. Housing around 1.6 million gallons of water across the facility, the aquarium is an impressive work of art in the middle of the desert.
It contrasts the heated Fahrenheit in the city with the use of carefully controlled systems to keep the water at the right temperature for the animals. This is essential for the survival of the more than 2,000 animals living there.
The aquarium has huge reef environments, a shipwreck-style viewing experience, touch pools, and underwater tunnels that make you feel close to marine life without getting wet. If you have never been scuba diving, this is a perfect opportunity to see what secrets lie down in the ocean.
Shark Reef is famous for one thing. Yes, you guessed it right-sharks. The apex predators that eat almost every swimming thing in the sea waters are right here. The menacing carnivores swimming at Mandalay Bay are full of adrenaline, and you can’t help but appreciate the fact that you are on the other side of the glass.
What’s more, the aquarium has exotic fish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranhas, and a Komodo dragon. It is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, making it more than just a casino attraction. It is also a place focused on conservation, education, and animal care.
Undersea Explorer VR Experience
Technology has amazingly made it possible for you to travel into the ocean while still in Vegas. It is amazing how a simple eyepiece can project a realistic sea experience right at the comfort of Mandalay Bay.
A marine biologist takes you on a 360° excursion of the sea, explaining the different organisms you come across. Depending on the current VR lineup, you may see whales, sharks, ocean environments, and other marine life in an immersive virtual setting.
Animal Encounters and Stingray Feeding
If you fancy more interactive activities, Shark Reef Aquarium offers animal encounters depending on current availability. One of the most accessible options is the stingray feeding experience, where participants can reach into the touch pool and feed stingrays and horseshoe crabs.
Participants usually must be at least 5 years old, and minors must be accompanied by a paying adult. Same-day tickets may need to be purchased in person, so check the official Mandalay Bay page before visiting.
Shark Reef Aquarium has also been known for more adventurous experiences like diving with sharks, but availability can change. If a specific encounter is the main reason for your visit, confirm directly with the aquarium before buying tickets.
Note: Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk through indoor exhibit paths. Food and beverages are not allowed inside the aquarium. Rules, animal encounters, prices, and refund policies can change, so check the official Shark Reef Aquarium page before your visit.
2. The Aquarium, Silverton Casino Hotel
- Address: 3333 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas, NV 89139
- Opening Hours: Aquarium open 24/7
- Price: Free
- Restrictions: Family-friendly, but children should be accompanied by adults
117,000 gallons of water is what the aquarium at Silverton packs. This massive construct is home to thousands of tropical fish and other marine life that inhabit a colorful reef-style environment. They live in a coral environment that makes their conditions match the idealism of the ocean.
Visiting this aquarium gives you a free aquatic display away from the Strip, and it is one of the best family-friendly stops in Las Vegas if you want something fun without paying admission.
The tank also has stingrays that you can watch during interactive feeding programs. Current interactive stingray feedings are usually held daily at 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm. During these feeding times, divers and staff help guests learn more about the animals and their care.
Mermaid Swim Free Show
Fairytales are just that, fairy tales. They don’t exist. They are stories told to children of how they seduce sailors in the sea to follow them into the deep. But alas! Welcome to the land of magic at Silverton Hotel Casino, where mermaids are real. Yes, swimming beauties that will charm you with their skill and kisses. The mermaid show is an attraction that has made the hotel one of the most visited off-Strip family stops in Vegas.
- Mermaid Swims on Thursday to Saturday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Mermaid Swims on Sunday: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm
Mermaids usually swim every half hour except during scheduled stingray feedings. They also take a break in the afternoon, so check the current schedule before going if the mermaid show is the main reason for your visit.
Bring your child for that celebrative tour at the Silverton, and you will be smiling as your kid’s mind gets blown by the incredible water dances and stunts. Most mermaids are former water dancers and professional swimmers, so they are in for a treat. Don’t forget to take a picture of your child at the aquarium, then give it to them as a memory from a magical Las Vegas trip.
Mermaid School and Dive Experiences
Silverton also offers more immersive mermaid and dive experiences from time to time. Mermaid School is designed for children who want to transform into a Silverton mermaid and swim in the aquarium experience under supervision.
These experiences are special ticketed activities and may have age, swimming ability, and reservation requirements. If your child dreams of becoming a mermaid for the day, check Silverton’s current ticketing page and availability before planning your visit.
Freshwater Aquariums at Bass Pro Shops
Right outside the Silverton hotel area is the Bass Pro Shops freshwater aquarium setup. The large water feature simulates Red Rock Canyon and has live koi. Other aquariums feature trout, channel catfish, carp, bass, ducks, turtles, bluegills, and sturgeon.
It is not a formal paid aquarium like Shark Reef, but it adds a lot of family value to a Silverton visit. You can see the mermaids, watch the fish, explore Bass Pro Shops, and make the trip feel like a free mini-attraction day.
Related Read: Bass Pro Shop Las Vegas: All You Need to Know
3. The Atlantis Aquarium, Caesars Palace Forum Shops
- Address: 3500 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Opening Hours: Usually open during Forum Shops operating hours
- Price: Free
- Restrictions: None
Not only is the aquarium free, it is also one of the earliest and most familiar aquarium displays on the Las Vegas Strip. The 50,000-gallon saltwater tank features hundreds of colorful fish from international waters and sits near the Fall of Atlantis show inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
The Atlantis Aquarium has the theme of the Atlantis city that fell according to history and myth.
The round shape of the tank allows you to explore the tank fully to see coral and animal life swimming from different angles. It is not as large or immersive as Shark Reef Aquarium, but it is free, easy to access, and located inside one of the most famous shopping destinations on the Strip.
This is a good choice if you are already visiting Caesars Palace, The Forum Shops, or nearby restaurants and want a quick free aquarium stop rather than a full ticketed attraction.
Check out this video to see this amazing aquarium:
4. Chart House Restaurant Aquarium, Golden Nugget Hotel
- Address: 129 East Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Opening Hours: Restaurant hours vary by day
- Price: Free to view from the restaurant area, but dining or drinks are expected for the best experience
- Restrictions: None
It may not be the biggest, but it features a wider build that is incredible to watch. The curved tank in the restaurant allows you to see the aquarium from many areas of the restaurant.
Though it is free to look at from the restaurant setting, you will need to order food or drinks to have the better viewing experience at the restaurant. The best view is at the corner of the main dining room area.
This is not a classic tourist aquarium where you buy admission and walk through exhibits. It is better described as a restaurant with an impressive aquarium feature. Visit Chart House if you want seafood, cocktails, and a unique Downtown Las Vegas dining room with fish swimming around you.
Temporarily Unavailable: The Tank at Golden Nugget Las Vegas
The $30 million award-winning pool at the Golden Nugget Casino is one to behold. It has a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium, private cabanas, a pool deck, and one of the most famous waterslides in Downtown Las Vegas.
The icing to the cake is the slide that runs through the shark tank. Can you imagine sliding down past the menacing sharks? Nerve-racking, right? If you have the guts to push through it, you will have a moment to remember.
However, the slide and aquarium are currently closed for the remainder of the 2026 pool season due to maintenance. Other areas of The Tank & Hideout, including the pools, bars, lounge chairs, and cabanas, may remain open according to the property’s current schedule.
Because of that closure, The Tank should not be treated as a currently available aquarium attraction for 2026. It is still worth knowing about because it is one of Las Vegas’ most famous aquatic features, but check Golden Nugget’s official pool page before planning your visit around the shark tank or slide.
What happened to the Aquarium at the Mirage Hotel?
The Mirage Las Vegas hotel closed in July 2024 and with it went the 20,000-gallon aquarium tank that hosted about 450 tropical fish.
The aquarium entertained every guest who checked into the hotel due to its central location at the main lobby.
After the closure, the fish were transferred to a new home at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, where they joined Las Vegas’ biggest aquatic display.
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Conclusion
Aquariums are big in Vegas, and you can visit them to get the full aquatic concept of sea life. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is the best overall aquarium in Las Vegas if you want a full ticketed attraction with sharks, sea turtles, rays, and immersive exhibits.
Silverton Casino Hotel is the best free aquarium experience, especially if you want to see the mermaid show or stingray feedings. The Atlantis Aquarium at The Forum Shops is the easiest free aquarium stop on the Strip, while Chart House gives you a beautiful aquarium dining setting in Downtown Las Vegas.
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is not a true aquarium, but it is still worth adding to a family-friendly aquatic itinerary because it is free, peaceful, and filled with fish, turtles, birds, and waterfalls.
Then there are the mermaids!