Shark Reef Aquarium

Reviewed by the Las Vegas Guide editorial team · Updated July 2026

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is a 1.3-million-gallon underwater world — a shipwreck tunnel under gliding sharks, sea turtles, golden crocodiles and a stingray touch pool, with a VR experience bundled in, from $31.

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Is Shark Reef Aquarium Worth It? Review, Tickets & Tips

Shark Reef Aquarium fills the far south corner of Mandalay Bay with a 1.3-million-gallon habitat and roughly 2,000 animals. The centerpiece is the walk-through tunnel built into a sunken-shipwreck set, with sharks and rays sliding overhead; the route also passes sea turtles, a stingray touch pool and the aquarium's rare golden crocodiles, and admission now bundles a short VR experience at no extra charge.

Know the shape of the visit before you book: entry is timed to hourly slots and they're strict about it — miss your window and you're not getting in — and the last entry is 6:00 PM, so this is a daytime stop, not an after-dinner one. The aquarium sits at the far tip of the resort, a solid walk from the Strip entrance through the casino floor. Most people are through in about an hour; it's fully indoor and cold-air conditioned, which in July is half the appeal. Tickets from $31, kids 4 and under free.

Insider tipBook a weekday morning slot — the tunnel is emptiest before noon — and remember the last entry is 6:00 PM sharp. The aquarium is at the far south tip of the resort, so give yourself a 10–15 minute walk from the Strip door.

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Venue

Mandalay Bay

★★★★

Mandalay Bay is an upscale resort anchoring the south end of the Strip, built around an 11-acre beach with a wave pool and a lazy river. Add the Shark Reef Aquarium, top dining and a major arena, and it's a one-stop destination, from $69/night.

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3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Shark Reef take?

About an hour at a relaxed pace. The tunnel and the touch pool are where people linger — there's no time limit inside once you've entered your slot.

Can you visit Shark Reef in the evening?

Only just — the last entry is 6:00 PM even though the aquarium runs until 8:00. If your plan was an after-dinner stop, it won't work; book an afternoon slot and treat it as your escape from the heat.

Is Shark Reef good for young children?

It's one of the best kid stops on the Strip: indoor, cool, stroller-friendly, with a touch pool where they can feel a ray under staff supervision — and kids 4 and under are free.

What is the VR experience that comes with the ticket?

A short virtual-reality add-on now bundled with every admission. It's included in the $31 ticket rather than sold separately, so try it — you've already paid for it.

What animals will you actually see?

Sharks are the headliners — over the tunnel and in the big shipwreck exhibit — plus sea turtles, rays, a piranha tank and the golden crocodiles, an endangered species very few aquariums keep.

Rating

3.9

PriceFrom $31

WhereMandalay Bay

Address3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Timed entryTickets are for a specific hourly slot and late arrivals aren't accommodated — build the walk through the resort into your timing.

KidsChildren 4 and under enter free without a ticket; ages 5–12 pay the child rate; anyone under 18 needs an accompanying adult.

VR experienceA short VR experience is bundled with every admission — included in the price, not an upsell.

AccessibilityWheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly throughout — the whole route is flat and indoor.

Finding itIt's at the far south end of Mandalay Bay, past the casino floor toward the convention center — budget 10–15 minutes of walking from the Strip entrance.

Opening hours Daily: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Timed entry every hour; last entry 6:00 PM

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