SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium
The tunnel and Shark Cove
The centre of the visit is a 300-foot (91 m) acrylic tunnel. Visitors walk along it while sand tiger sharks pass overhead; the rays are in the Ray Lagoon and the rescued sea turtles elsewhere in the aquarium. Louise wrote that she loved the water overhead and found the path through easy to follow. Shark Cove holds sand tiger, nurse, brown and whitetip reef sharks, and the mall’s directory also mentions a 14-foot sawfish there. Guitarshark babies are on the listing too. In all, the aquarium holds 1.3 million US gallons (4.9 million litres) of water and more than 10,000 animals.
Rays, rescued turtles and the rainforest
The Ray Lagoon has stingray feeding. The sea turtles include a rescued green sea turtle with a 3D-printed shell. A rainforest section keeps caiman crocodiles and poison dart frogs, and there are separate displays for jellyfish and seahorses. Gwen mentioned a petting tank and called the aquarium clean and well organised. A limited-time Animal Crossing themed trail ran in summer 2026; themed trails change, so a visit may find a different one or none.
An hour, and when it closes
A typical visit takes about an hour. The ticket is valid for one day, and the aquarium closes one hour after the last ticket entry. Hours are 10 am to 9 pm Monday to Saturday and 11 am to 7 pm on Sunday, as published; check before travelling. The short visit makes the aquarium easy to fit before or after a train, a meal or a morning in the park. Wendy’s family ranged from 9 months to 64 years old; Dennis brought the whole family.
Where it is and how to reach it
The mall address is 120 East Broadway, Level 1, east side. The East Ramp is the closest parking, and parking there is free. The METRO Blue Line station is on the ground floor of the same ramp, and since a 2019 rebuild a tunnel under the ring road leads into the mall. The airport is about 12 minutes away by train. The getting-there page covers trains, driving and parking.
Rules at the door
The aquarium is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Food and drink are not allowed inside, and neither are luggage or large bags; lockers are available on several levels of the mall. Children aged 2 and under enter free with a paying adult. From 3 pm to closing, anyone under 16 has to be with an adult aged 21 or over, and the SEA LIFE listing repeats the rule. The escort policy page lists the dates it runs all day.
From UnderWater World to SEA LIFE
The aquarium opened in 1996 as UnderWater World after 18 months of construction. Merlin Entertainments took it over in 2008 and renamed it SEA LIFE in March 2011. Scenes from The End of the Tour (2015) were filmed here and in Nickelodeon Universe.
The aquarium ticket
The aquarium close-up sets out what is included and what reviewers mention. Karen found the staff polite and informative, and Marquita found them helpful.
The light-rail station and the aquarium are both on the east side, so a visit straight off the train is a short walk through the tunnel from the platform. Bags go in a mall locker before entry.
Check dates for SEA LIFE
The ticket is valid for one day and allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Pick a date to see what is open.
Frequently asked questions
How long does SEA LIFE Minnesota take?
About an hour for a typical visit. The ticket is valid for one day, and the aquarium closes one hour after the last ticket entry.
Where is the aquarium inside Mall of America?
On Level 1, on the east side, at mall address 120 East Broadway. The East Ramp and the light-rail station are closest. The map and levels page places all seven attractions.
Can a stroller or a bag go into SEA LIFE?
Strollers and wheelchairs, yes; luggage and large bags, no. Food and drink are not allowed either. The what-to-bring page covers lockers and bag rules across the mall.
What else is near the aquarium?
Nickelodeon Universe is at the centre of the mall, a short walk in from the east side. The park page covers the rides and the wristband.