Visiting the Quebec Aquarium: What to Expect & Why It’s Worth It
If you’re visiting Quebec City with kids, the Aquarium du Québec is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. We visited during our family trip to Quebec City, and between the jellyfish, tiny seahorses, polar bears, seals, and hands-on exhibits, it ended up being one of our favourite stops.
I’ll admit, we don’t usually seek out zoos or aquariums simply to see animals in captivity. But I felt much better about visiting the Aquarium du Québec because of its focus on education, conservation and animal care, plus its commitment to sustainable tourism.
And I was really surprised by how much there was to do. The aquarium spans 16 hectares with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and even though it’s an aquarium, there were also Arctic animals, including polar bears.
Here’s what our visit was actually like, the exhibits we loved most, and everything you need to know to decide if the Quebec Aquarium is worth visiting with your family.
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Aquarium du Québec At a Glance — answers hours/tickets/time quickly
→ Is the Quebec Aquarium Worth Visiting? — gives them a reason to stay
→ What to See — this is your strong firsthand material
→ Visiting With Kids
→ How Long to Spend could fit naturally here or in practical tips
→ Know Before You Go — tickets, parking, food, etc.
→ nearby / hotel / FAQ / verdict
Quebec Aquarium At A Glance
📍 Address: 1675 Avenue des Hôtels, Quebec City, QC
The Aquarium du Québec sits right on the St. Lawrence River, about a 15-minute drive from Old Quebec. It’s not in the historic centre, so you’ll need to drive or take public transit if you’re staying in Old Quebec.
If you’re staying at L’Hôtel Québec, one of our favourite family-friendly hotels in the city, it’s just a short drive away.
Ticket Prices & Discounts
Aquarium tickets are now purchased on-site when you arrive. General admission covers all exhibits, both indoor and outdoor, with discounts available for kids, seniors, and families.
- Adults: $33.50
- Kids (3–17): $16.75
- Family (1 adult + kids 17 and under): $67
- Family (2 adults + kids 17 and under): $100.50
- Kids 2 and under: Free
Quebec residents receive discounted admission with proof of address. Prices are before tax and updated for 2026.
Quebec Aquarium Hours
The aquarium is open year-round, with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The Quebec Aquarium hours vary throughout the year:
- June 1–September 7: 9 am – 6 pm daily
- September 8–October 12: 9 am–4 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am–5 pm on weekends
- October 13–May 31: 9 am–4 pm daily
The aquarium is open on most holidays but is closed on December 25. Last entry is 60 minutes before closing.
What to Expect at the Quebec Aquarium
The Aquarium du Québec is much bigger than I expected. It’s spread across 16 hectares, with two indoor pavilions and a large outdoor area, so you’ll want to leave enough time to explore both.
While the aquarium focuses on marine life, there are also land animals, including Arctic foxes, owls and even polar bears. Indoors, you’ll find everything from jellyfish and seahorses to rays, sharks and an octopus, while the outdoor areas are home to polar bears, seals, Arctic foxes and sea otters.
Here’s a look at the Quebec Aquarium map to give you an idea of how everything is laid out:
We visited in winter, so we started with the outdoor exhibits before heading inside to warm up.
Outdoor Exhibits
The outdoor areas are home to several animals you might not expect to find at an aquarium, including polar bears, Arctic foxes, owls and seals.
Polar Bear Habitat: Home to three polar bears, this large enclosure has a waterfall, swimming pool, and multiple viewing paths. While we didn’t see them swim, we did catch a glimpse of the huge creatures walking down the hill before heading into their indoor area.
Arctic Foxes & Owls: The aquarium also has three Arctic foxes, and a few snowy owls. We visited in winter and were able to spot both as we made our way through the outdoor exhibits.
Seals: There are two separate habitats for seals, one for harbour seals and the other for harp seals. The harbour seals were especially fun to watch, zipping in and out of different areas so quickly that we had a hard time counting them at first! One of the harp seals, meanwhile, was stretched out enjoying the sun when we were there, even though it was pretty chilly outside.
Pathways connect the different outdoor exhibits, and in the summer, there’s also a natural playground and adventure course near the owl habitat.
Indoor Exhibits
After exploring the outdoor habitats, we headed inside. The indoor exhibits are divided into different areas, taking you from freshwater species found here in Quebec to marine life from around the world.
This is where you’ll find more of what you’d expect from an aquarium, including tropical fish, jellyfish, seahorses, rays, sharks and an octopus.
Freshwater Section: This section focuses on species found in Quebec’s lakes and rivers, along with freshwater fish from other parts of Canada. It was interesting to walk through, but we didn’t spend as much time here as we did at some of the other areas.
Canada’s Saltwater Environment: This area focuses on marine life found in Canada’s oceans, with species like leopard sharks, scorpionfish and even a golden lobster. Living in Nova Scotia, my kids are pretty used to seeing lobsters, but this one is definitely unusual. The aquarium says the odds of finding an American lobster with this colouring are about one in 30 million.
Saltwater: On the top floor, you’ll find marine life from tropical and temperate regions, with colourful fish, coral ecosystems and a coastal zone. When we visited, there was also a touch pool where you could touch sea urchins and starfish, although this is currently temporarily closed.
Deep Sea Pavilion: This was the real highlight for me. I could have watched the jellyfish floating through the water forever. There are also seahorses, including some absolutely tiny ones, and sea dragons. When my kids told me they were called sea dragons, I thought they were trying to trick me, but nope. That’s actually what they’re called.
Underwater tunnel: One of the coolest spots indoors is the underwater tunnel, where you walk beneath a huge tank with fish swimming above and around you.
Touch tanks: These were easily my kids’ favourite part. They loved getting hands-on with the starfish and anemones, but the best part was touching the Atlantic stingrays. It was such a cool experience, and one they were still talking about afterwards.
Animal Feedings & Activities
These aren’t held at set times, so there’s no schedule you need to plan your visit around. Depending on the day, you might see the guides working with animals like the sea otters, seals, polar bears or Arctic foxes.
The Aquarium du Québec doesn’t have scheduled animal shows. Instead, animal-care guides interact with the animals throughout the day, and you may get a chance to watch a feeding or training session while you’re exploring.
Tips for Visiting the Quebec Aquarium with Kids
Stroller Accessibility
We found the aquarium easy to get around, with ramps and an elevator between floors and wide paths through the outdoor areas. If you’re visiting with younger kids, bringing a stroller shouldn’t be a problem.
Bathrooms & Baby Changing Stations
Bathrooms are available on every level of the aquarium, so you don’t have to go far to find one. Larger baby changing stations are located on Level 1 (which is actually the middle floor).
Dining Options
There’s a food court inside the Freshwater & Saltwater Pavilion, offering sandwiches, pizzas, salads, drinks, and treats. In the summer, there’s also two additional restaurants and a snack truck outside for quick bites.
You’re also welcome to bring your own lunch or snacks and eat on-site. There are picnic tables outside and plenty of seating options indoors.
How Long to Spend at the Quebec Aquarium
Plan to spend about 2–3 hours at the Aquarium du Québec. That was enough time for us to explore both the indoor and outdoor exhibits without rushing. If you stop for lunch, spend extra time at the touch tanks or catch one of the animal-care interactions, you could easily spend half a day here.
What to Bring
Since part of the Aquarium du Québec is outdoors, what you bring will depend on the season.
- In summer: Bring sunscreen, hats and water bottles for the outdoor areas.
- In winter: Dress warmly, including hats and gloves, since you’ll still spend part of your visit outside. There are lockers available inside, so you can store bulky coats and winter gear while exploring the indoor exhibits.
- Snacks: While there is food available to purchase, it’s a good idea to bring along some snacks as well.
Good to know: Like many attractions, the gift shop is the only way out, so expect to walk through it before leaving. It has plenty of souvenirs, but prices aren’t cheap. While there are some great books, especially in French, my kids were a bit confused by the huge selection of stuffed animals that didn’t match the animals we actually saw at the aquarium. If you’re looking for something truly aquarium-themed, choices are a bit limited.
Things to Do Nearby
If you have more time after visiting the aquarium, there are a few other places nearby that are easy to add to the same day.
Chutes de la Chaudière: Just across the river in Lévis, Chutes de la Chaudière is one of our favourite stops whenever we’re in Quebec City. There are walking trails, viewpoints and a suspension bridge overlooking the falls, and it’s completely free. You can find more details, along with a few other options, in our guide to the best waterfalls near Quebec City.
Old Quebec: About 15 minutes away by car, Old Quebec is an easy place to spend the rest of the day after the aquarium. You can walk through the historic streets, see Château Frontenac and stroll along Dufferin Terrace. For more ideas, here’s some things to do in Quebec City in winter and our favourite things to do in Quebec City in summer.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay close to the aquarium, L’Hôtel Québec is a great option for families. It’s just a short drive away and has plenty for kids, including an indoor pool, seven-storey play structure and splash area.
If you’d rather stay closer to Old Quebec, there are plenty of other family-friendly hotels in Quebec City, including several we’ve stayed at ourselves.
FAQ: Visiting the Aquarium du Québec
The aquarium is located at 1675 Avenue des Hôtels, about a 15-minute drive from Old Quebec. Public transit is available, but driving is the easiest option.
Yes, parking is free and available on-site, just outside the entrance.
General admission is $33.50 for adults and $16.75 for kids ages 3–17. Family rates are also available, and kids 2 and under are free. Quebec residents receive discounted admission with proof of address. Tickets are only available on-site.
Plan to spend about 2–3 hours at the Quebec Aquarium. That gives you enough time to explore both the indoor and outdoor exhibits without rushing, although you could easily spend half a day if you stop for lunch or spend extra time at the touch tanks and animal exhibits.
Yes. The Aquarium du Québec is open year-round, although the hours vary throughout the year. Some outdoor activities are seasonal, but the indoor exhibits and outdoor animal habitats make it worth visiting in winter too.
Our Take: is the Quebec Aquarium Worth Visiting?
Yes, we loved our visit to the Aquarium du Québec. What surprised me most was how much more there was than the typical indoor aquarium experience. Between the polar bears and seals outside, the jellyfish and sea dragons inside, and the touch tanks that my kids loved, there was plenty to keep all of us interested for a few hours.
If you’re visiting Quebec City with kids, I’d absolutely recommend adding the aquarium to your itinerary.
Looking to explore more of Quebec?
We’ve visited Quebec City in every season, and there’s always more to do beyond the aquarium. If you’re visiting in winter, our 3-day Quebec City winter itinerary will help you plan out your trip, or find ideas in our guide to what to do in Quebec City in winter. For a warmer-weather trip, we’ve also rounded up our favourite things to do in Quebec City with kids.
Short on time? Here’s how we’d spend one day in Quebec City.
