Heal the Bay Aquarium
The scoop: A small aquarium under the Pier with local species — as of Oct 2026, regular weekend drop-in hours are paused.
- Price
- Confirm admission when a visit is offered
- Hours
- As of Oct 19, 2026, regularly scheduled weekend public hours and birthday parties are paused during Pier Bridge construction. Other programs continue; special events and open houses replace drop-in visits. Check healthebay.org/events before you go. As of Nov 2026, the events calendar showed no public aquarium open house for November.
- Best for
- Aquarium, Touch tanks, Kids, Education
- Address
- 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The scoop
Heal the Bay Aquarium sits under the Santa Monica Pier at 1600 Ocean Front Walk. It's a compact aquarium focused on local marine life — more than 100 species, touch tanks, and short educational programs — when it's open to the public. Until regular hours return, a casual weekend walk-in is not something you can count on.
What to do
When public hours or an open house are on the calendar, you can see touch tanks, a rocky reef, a kelp forest, a shark nursery, sea jellies, an under-the-pier exhibit, and horn and swell sharks, plus a shop on site. Field trips and other programs continue even while weekend drop-in hours are paused.
When to go
As of Oct 19, 2026, regularly scheduled weekend public hours and birthday parties are paused because of Pier Bridge construction. Other programs continue, with special events and open houses replacing drop-in visits. As of Nov 2026, the official events calendar did not list a public aquarium open house for November. Check healthebay.org/events before you go, or email [email protected] or call (310) 393-6149, ext. 206. Don't rely on the Pier FAQ, which still lists Saturday–Sunday, noon–4 p.m.
Who it's for
People who want a small, local-species aquarium rather than a full-day destination. When it's open, it's a short visit that pairs easily with the Pier or the beach.
Kids: A good fit with young kids when an open house or public hours are actually on the calendar — touch tanks and a compact layout. Confirm the date before you go.
Insider tips
- Admission prices were not posted on the official aquarium page as of Nov 2026. Don't assume a walk-up rate; confirm the cost when a visit is offered.
- Park in the beach lots near the Pier, especially Lot 1 North at 1550 Appian Way or Lot 1 South at 1640 Appian Way. November–March, Lot 1 North is $8 weekdays and $12 weekends; April–October it's $20 a day.
- A public beach restroom with an outdoor shower is at 1600 Ocean Front Walk, the aquarium's address, open daily 6 a.m. to dusk.
- As of Nov 2026, Pier Bridge work can close Ocean Front Walk under the bridge on weekdays, 5 a.m.–1 p.m., which may affect the beach-level approach to the entrance. Flaggers direct pedestrians around the work.
Skip it if…
You were hoping to drop in without checking first. Regular public hours are paused, and a spontaneous visit may not be possible.