What Can You Do at Newport Aquarium? Every Exhibit, Experience, and Animal Encounter

At Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky, you can explore 18 exhibits, walk across the Shark Bridge just inches above sharks, touch sharks, stingrays and sea stars and watch several species of penguins, all included with 1-Day General Admission. For an extra cost, your family can add the Behind-the-Scenes Tour, a Penguin Encounter, the VIP Penguin Painting Experience or virtual reality.

This is your complete guide to Newport Aquarium, two minutes from downtown Cincinnati: every exhibit by name, every hands-on experience included with your ticket and every paid add-on with its price, so you can plan the perfect day in Northern Kentucky.

Newport Aquarium at a Glance

• Exhibits: 18, from shark tunnels and a sunken shipwreck to penguins, jellies, gators and a Kentucky waterfall.

• Included with admission: Shark Touch, Stingray Touch, Tide Pool Touch, the Shark Bridge, the Stingray Viewing Tunnel, Shark Viewing, Penguin Viewing, Draw Alive!, the Seahorse Creation Station and the Splash & Bubbles Play Climber.

• Behind-the-Scenes Tour: $29.99 plus admission. Ages 8 and up. About 60 minutes.

• Penguin Encounter: $59.99 plus admission. Ages 6 and up. About 30 minutes.

• VIP Penguin Painting Experience: $499.99 plus admission for up to six people. Ages 6 and up.

• Virtual reality: $7 for the Undersea Explorer experience. Minimum height 3.3 feet.

• Admission: 1-Day General Admission as low as $25.99 with Plan-Ahead Pricing.

• Location: One Aquarium Way, Newport, KY 41071, at Newport on the Levee.

What Is There to Do at Newport Aquarium?

Newport Aquarium has 18 exhibits that take you from the open ocean to the Amazon rainforest, plus a lineup of hands-on experiences that are all included with your ticket. You can walk over sharks, crawl under stingrays, touch a sea star and watch penguins dive. Four premium experiences, including two with penguins, are available for an extra cost.

Below, the exhibits are grouped by what your family is most excited to see: sharks, the ocean and reef, penguins, rivers and reptiles and a play area built for little ones. Then come the included experiences and the paid add-ons.

Where Can You See Sharks at Newport Aquarium?

Newport Aquarium has four shark-focused exhibits, all included with admission. You can walk through 85 feet of underwater tunnels in Surrounded By Sharks, cross the Shark Bridge at Shark Tank Overlook, sit and watch shark rays glide past at Shark Ray Bay Theater and touch sharks yourself at Shark Central.

Surrounded By Sharks

Surrounded By Sharks wraps you in 85 feet of acrylic tunnels inside a 385,000-gallon saltwater habitat. Sharks, stingrays and schooling fish swim over your head, along with big personalities like Brutus the giant grouper and Denver the loggerhead sea turtle.

Shark Tank Overlook, home of the Shark Bridge

At Shark Tank Overlook, you look down into one of the largest open-air viewing tanks in the country. This is where you will find the Shark Bridge, a 75-foot rope bridge strung just inches above the sharks.

Shark Ray Bay Theater

Shark Ray Bay Theater is a big window into the aquarium's largest tank. Grab a seat and watch for the rare shark rays, stingrays and Denver, a 200-pound sea turtle with a playful streak.

Shark Central

Shark Central is home to Shark Touch, a 5,000-gallon touch tank filled with a changing mix of sharks and skates. Try to touch them all and feel how different each one's skin can be.

What Ocean and Reef Exhibits Are at Newport Aquarium?

Newport Aquarium's ocean and reef exhibits include the Coral Reef Tunnel, Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels, Jellies: Go With The Flow, Ring of Fire: World of the Octopus, Seahorses: Unbridled Fun, Hatchling Harbor, Shore Gallery and Stingray Hideaway. Together they cover tropical reefs, the deep sea, coastal shores and tide pools, all included with admission.

Coral Reef Tunnel

The Coral Reef Tunnel surrounds you with a 60,000-gallon reef community of colorful corals and more than 50 species of tropical fish. It is a favorite spot for family photos.

Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels

Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels sets hundreds of animals among the ruins of a sunken ship. Peek into the Captain's Quarters and the Cargo Hold, then find green moray eels that grow more than 5 feet long, garden eels poking out of the sand and a treasure chest with 270-degree views.

Jellies: Go With The Flow

Jellies: Go With The Flow is a calm, glowing gallery with five species, including Atlantic sea nettles and upside-down jellies. Cozy lounge seating makes it a great place to slow down and watch them pulse and float.

Ring of Fire: World of the Octopus

Ring of Fire: World of the Octopus is home to a giant Pacific octopus with floor-to-ceiling views, plus a peacock mantis shrimp with one of the fastest punches in the animal world. A 360-degree display of bubbling hydrothermal vents brings the deep sea to life.

Seahorses: Unbridled Fun

Seahorses: Unbridled Fun introduces seahorses, sea dragons and pipefish. Kids learn that seahorses have eyes that move like a chameleon's and tails that grip like a monkey's, and that the dads carry the babies.

Hatchling Harbor

Hatchling Harbor is a 25-foot Caribbean seagrass habitat where young parrotfish, puffers, lobsters and crabs grow up. Watch closely and you may see the fish changing shape and color as they mature.

Shore Gallery

Shore Gallery is the only place in the aquarium with a brackish water ecosystem, where saltwater meets freshwater. It is also home to Tide Pool Touch, where you can meet sea stars, sea urchins, anemones and rays.

Stingray Hideaway

Stingray Hideaway has a 17,000-gallon touch pool with dozens of cownose rays, plus a crawl-through tunnel that pops kids up in the middle of the pool. Don't miss Iguana Rock, home to rhinoceros iguanas and other lizards.

Where Are the Penguins at Newport Aquarium?

The penguins live in Penguin Palooza, home to four species: King, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Macaroni. You watch them through the largest viewing window in the aquarium as they hop up snowy cliffs and splash in 34-degree water, while you stay a comfortable 70 degrees. Penguin Viewing is included with admission.

Each penguin has its own personality, and the Animal Care Team even adjusts the lighting to follow the Southern Hemisphere's seasons, so the birds' behavior changes depending on when you visit. Want to get closer? The Penguin Encounter and VIP Penguin Painting Experience, covered below, bring you face to face with Newport's African penguins.

What Freshwater and Reptile Exhibits Are at Newport Aquarium?

Newport Aquarium's freshwater and reptile exhibits are the Amazon Tunnel, Freshwater Falls, Frog Bog and Gator Alley. You can walk under a flooded rainforest, stand beneath a Kentucky waterfall, shrink down to frog size and meet one of the rarest reptiles in the world. All four are included with admission.

Amazon Tunnel

The Amazon Tunnel runs 32 feet through a 117,000-gallon freshwater habitat. Look up for the arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fish on Earth at about 6 feet long, which surfaces to gulp air. Pacu with surprisingly human-looking teeth swim nearby.

Freshwater Falls

Freshwater Falls features 13 tanks of freshwater life from the Congo, Central America and right here in Kentucky, including bass, crappie and perch. An underwater tunnel lets you walk beneath a cascading Kentucky waterfall.

Frog Bog

In Frog Bog, you shrink down to the size of a frog among tall grasses and blooming flowers. Look for brightly colored poison dart frogs, American toads and the great siren, which looks a bit like an underwater dragon.

Gator Alley

Gator Alley brings the southern bayou to Northern Kentucky. Meet Snowflake, a rare albino American alligator, plus the Orinoco crocodile, one of the rarest reptiles in the world, along with snakes, turtles, lizards and geckos.

What Is There for Little Kids at Newport Aquarium?

Little kids have their own play area, Jim Henson's Splash & Bubbles Reeftown Adventure. It includes the Splash & Bubbles Play Climber, where they climb through Coral Cove, and Draw Alive!, where they color a fish and watch it swim to life on screen. Both are included with admission and open all day.

Pair it with the touch pools and the crawl-through Stingray Viewing Tunnel, and toddlers and preschoolers have plenty of hands-on fun between tanks.

What Experiences Are Included With Newport Aquarium Admission?

Your 1-Day General Admission includes every exhibit plus 10 hands-on experiences: Shark Touch, Stingray Touch, Tide Pool Touch, the Shark Bridge, the Stingray Viewing Tunnel, Shark Viewing, Penguin Viewing, Draw Alive!, the Seahorse Creation Station and the Splash & Bubbles Play Climber. None of them needs an extra ticket.

• Shark Touch: Touch sharks and skates at Shark Central.

• Stingray Touch: Reach into a 17,000-gallon pool as rays swim along the edge.

• Tide Pool Touch: Meet sea stars, sea urchins, anemones and rays in Shore Gallery.

• Shark Bridge: Walk the 75-foot rope bridge just inches above the sharks. Guests must be able to walk across independently.

• Stingray Viewing Tunnel: Crawl through and pop up in the middle of the stingray pool.

• Shark Viewing and Penguin Viewing: Watch sharks and penguins up close throughout the day.

• Seahorse Creation Station: Design a digital seahorse to share with family.

• Draw Alive! and the Splash & Bubbles Play Climber: Color, climb and play in Jim Henson's Splash & Bubbles Reeftown Adventure.

Good to know: the touch animals eat a seafood diet, so Newport asks guests with fish or shellfish allergies to skip touching them.

What Costs Extra at Newport Aquarium?

Four experiences at Newport Aquarium need an additional ticket: the Behind-the-Scenes Tour at $29.99, the Penguin Encounter at $59.99, the VIP Penguin Painting Experience at $499.99 for up to six people and the Undersea Explorer virtual reality experience at $7. Each is added on top of admission, and members save on several of them.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour: $29.99, ages 8 and up

The Behind-the-Scenes Tour is a guided trip of about an hour through the filtration systems, veterinary labs and food prep areas that care for a million gallons of water and thousands of animals. You help prepare enrichment treats and meet an animal ambassador. Guests under 18 need a paid parent or guardian with them. Bundled with admission, it starts as low as $59.98.

Penguin Encounter: $59.99, ages 6 and up

The Penguin Encounter puts you inside the habitat with nearly a dozen African penguins for about 30 minutes. They are curious, a little mischievous and full of personality. Bundled with admission, it starts as low as $89.98, and members save 10% to 20%.

VIP Penguin Painting Experience: $499.99 for up to six

The VIP Penguin Painting Experience lets up to six guests, ages 6 and up, step into the African penguin habitat while the penguins create a one-of-a-kind painting on your canvas. It lasts about 45 minutes and is offered on select days, so book ahead. Members save 10% to 20%.

Undersea Explorer virtual reality: $7

The Undersea Explorer virtual reality experience takes you on a virtual dive with sharks, whales and other ocean giants. Riders must be at least 3.3 feet tall, and kids 13 and under need an adult with them. Newport notes it is not recommended for some health conditions, so check the page before you buy.

Other optional extras include the Souvenir Cup ($13.99), the Pizza Meal Deal ($34.99) and the 1-Year Unlimited Digital Photo Card ($50). See them all on the add-ons page.

Where Can You Eat and Shop at Newport Aquarium?

Sharky's Cafe, just beyond the Shark Tunnel, is the place to refuel with light and hearty options. Remember, outside food and drinks are not allowed except bottled water. The Gift Shop has souvenirs to remember your day. Also more restaurants and shops are steps away at Newport on the Levee.

Learn more on the dining and shopping page.

Is Newport Aquarium Worth Visiting?

For families across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Newport Aquarium packs a remarkable amount of wonder under one roof. Few places let your kids walk over sharks, crawl under stingrays and touch a sea star in the same afternoon. VisitCincy, the Cincinnati region's tourism site, calls it one of the best aquariums in the country.

“Newport Aquarium gives guests the chance to experience the underwater world in ways that are exciting, memorable, and often unexpected,” said [Insert Aquarium Leader]. “From walking above sharks on Shark Bridge to getting up close with penguins, stingrays and other incredible animals, there’s something here that can spark curiosity in visitors of every age.” 

Tips for Seeing Everything at Newport Aquarium

• Download the Newport Aquarium app or the aquarium map to plan your route.

• Book the Penguin Encounter, Behind-the-Scenes Tour or VIP Penguin Painting Experience ahead, since spots are limited.

• Build the rest of your visit around any timed add-on.

• Save the Shark Bridge for when everyone has energy. Many kids want to cross twice.

• Take a break in Jellies: Go With The Flow when little ones need a calm moment.

• Check the hours for your date before you go.

Plan Your Day at Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky

Now you know everything you can do at Newport Aquarium, from 18 exhibits and 10 included experiences to four unforgettable add-ons. Buy your tickets, add an encounter and check the Plan Your Visit page for hours, parking and directions. For prices, see How Much Are Newport Aquarium Tickets?. To plan your time, read How Long Does It Take to Go Through Newport Aquarium?. Planning to come back? Explore annual memberships. Discover the Wonder!

Sources

• Newport Aquarium Exhibits

• Newport Aquarium Activities

• Newport Aquarium Add-Ons

• Newport Aquarium Admission

• Newport Aquarium Dining and Shopping

• VisitCincy: Newport Aquarium