Seaglass Carousel

Battery Park (entrance across from 17 State Street), Lower Manhattan
Hours: 7 days a week, 10am — 10pm, weather permitting
Price: $ 5 on-​site
212−344−3491
This is our favorite carousel in NYC. This magical ride sits in the original location of the New York Aquarium (which is now in Coney Island). This aquatic-​themed carousel is made of steel and glass and features 30 sea creatures under LED lights. The gorgeous iridescent fish, some up to 13 feet tall, seem to glide in dancing movements during the ride so it’s more exciting then your typical carousel. The LED lights shining from above and mystical music help create a wonderful underwater dream-​like experience. This impressive carousel took over a decade and $ 16 million to make. Its a must visit.
For a list of our favorite NYC carousels check out:

Who says carousels are only for kids? I grew up loving carousels and horses. So when I found out about this seaglass underwater themed carousel in lower Manhattan, I knew it would be simply magical. Yesterday my fiancé and I took my mom and grandma for a belated Mother’s day outing. We saw a write up in the times about this new and unique carousel in Battery Park and have been meaning to check it out for some time. It’s a little off the beaten path but near the Battery Gardens venue and Staten Island Ferry station.
Although yesterday was a bit cloudy and we got sprinkled with drizzle, we still trekked over. There wasn’t too much of a wait and the attendant told us to wait for the next ride so that we could sit in the moving fish. Each seat is individual and has a seat belt to keep you in safely. It’s very cool and pretty. There are speakers in each fish that allow you to hear the music going on during the ride. The fish change colors and it is just truly beautiful.
Hours are from 10am– 10pm. I will def come back at night another time to see it more lit up. For $ 5 a ride, it is a bit steep but if you’re in a group you can buy a 10 ride deal. Definitely worth a trip to check it out.

This is such a cool place to check out! I’ve been wanting to pay this place a visit since forever and finally got to today with my best friend :) We got here at 11:30 on a Saturday and there was a very short line for tickets. They are $ 5 each, very affordable. The carousel itself is very creatively constructed. The seats are fish that you climb into and in addition to moving forward, they also move up and down to create the feeling of the fish swimming! Cool! The music is aquatic themed, which I always enjoy. I know it’s tempting to take your phone out and record/​take pictures during the ride but, in my opinion, to make sure you get the most out of the ride, I suggest just sitting back and enjoying the experience! The entire ride is 3.5 mins, which is a reasonable amount of time. Definitely check this place out! There are a ton of other attractions in the immediate area (Battery Park, Bowling Green, Charging Bull, etc.) so a fun packed day is practically inevitable. Loved it!

My daughter looooooves carousels. So we had to visit this new carousel. Luckily there was no wait. The fish you sit in are well spaced out. The music that plays is loud but nice. I will return.

This is a very unique carousel and worth at least one visit. It’s $ 5 per rider and if you’re not riding you cannot go into the building. Luckily the day I went it was extremely empty and I was allowed to go in with my kids and just watch from the sides. There’s a mix of stationary and moving fish. My kids said it was the best carousel they’ve ever been on.
They’ve been doing a lot of construction in this section of the park forever now. Unless you’re hopping on the SI Ferry or going to Statue of Liberty, keep walking further up the West Side. Less construction and better views.

Not really worth the hype, but it was pretty. $ 5 per person to get in. If you have 10 people, it comes out to $ 45 for everyone… in a way, it’s cheaper…

This is probably my favorite carousel in New York. What a surprise after all the time I’ve walked in this park and never noticed it.
This carousel is pretty well-​hidden in a nautilus-​shell inspired building with some glass around the periphery. Inside is a wonderland of different fish, some that move and others that don’t. The great thing about this carousel is that there isn’t just up-​down and one rotational motion, but a second rotation due to each «school of fish» having a separate rotational base. This is definitely not for the motion-​sensitive.
Each fish has a small seat where you can just lie back. Feels amazing. The circular shape of the seat allows you to look to both sides and marvel at the movement of the other fish. BUT, there’s more. There’s also various lighting and music that make this amazing. If I were a kid, I’d have a blast. As an adult, I still had a blast. Judge as you will. $ 5 per ride, which is a bit steep, but I think it’s worth it if you haven’t done this one before.

Walked all the way to Battery Park from east village just for this!
$ 5 each ride, I wish the time could be a bit longer, SO MUCH FUN AND SO CUTE.
I got a bit dizzy at the beginning though.

Friends and I came here on a saturday night. While we were walking towards it, the place didn’t seem to have anyone in there. We were scared that we walked all the way there to not even experience the ride.
But once we went near, we realized they were still open. I don’t know how the place looks like during the day, but at night, it seriously looks magical. We were the only ones there so we managed to get the whole ride for ourselves. The lights change colors on the fish seats that we were sitting on. Music was great, and the experience was great. It felt like I was going back to my childhood. Will definitely come back at night.
Ride is $ 5. Might sound pricey, but it’s definitely worth riding at least once.

My daughter loved the seaglass carousel and the fact that it was winter and there was no line… even better.
The cost is high, but in the end, it was worth it for how happy she was during the short ~3 minute ride. The only reason i knock off a star is the fact that the light show was not working, and it was only music. They did let us know prior to buying a ticket so we could opt to not go – but you try telling a 2 year old they cant go on the carousel.
We’ll definitely be back, hopefully again when the line is short, to hopefully see it with it’s light show running.

Really amazing ride.
It is a little pricey. $ 5 per person.
We weren’t impressed when we first approached the building. The ride seemed sort of a let down from afar. We were WRONG.
When you get inside and hear the perfectly soothing music and watch the beautifully made fish moving around you soon become amazed.
It was fun, relaxing and mesmerizing. The kids and grown ups all seemed to love it.
I think this should be a must try for all!

Loved every minute of the ride! I was on the angelfish and the lionfish! Be sure to check out the concession for an angel fish charm necklace in the same shape as the ride. Charms are available as necklaces and individually through the holidays for a limited time while quantities last. It’s a great way to celebrate the holidays New York City style! For details and hours
Tickets are $ 5 per ride
or $ 45 for 10 rides

Was wandering around an empty Battery Park area and found this super bright building with moving fish! I just knew I had to get on this colorful, fish carousel after that hahaha I just read that it closes in December too so I’m glad I caught it before it left. Whether you’re a grown adult or a little kid, you’ll love this attraction. It’s a bit pricey ($ 5) but it’s a moving carousel that spins and changes color AND has cool music. Pics don’t do this place justice: D ps, get on the pink fish and not the green fish because the green one doesn’t go very high. Shorter the fin, higher the fish.

Yay for pretty carousels! This place opened up in August, and will close in December, FYI!
We came on a weeknight and only two other people were there, which was nice. It’s also prettier at night, with all the pretty lights and everything!
Yes it’s $ 5 for a few minutes, but it’s a more unique experience than the typical carousel ride. My six month old loved riding it with me and looking at everything-​and that’s priceless. Word.

This place is bonkers! I loved every minute of it. No matter what your age, head here for the best 3-​minutes you’ll have all day.
Before we went, I explained it to my man and and was like «It’s a trippy carousel…» and he’s like, «What’s a trippy carousel?»
I’m like GET ON.
He’s like «WHOA! That WAS a trippy carousel!»
Do it.
Absolutely no wait on a Saturday afternoon. Steps from the Statue of Liberty cruises.

The seaside carousel is fun carousel for all ages to check out
It’s a little pricey, but if you love aquarium themed places it’s pretty fun
It’s inside of battery park which has plenty of other things to see.

I had an unsuccessful attempt about a month ago on a Saturday night. The line was wrapped around and didn’t appear to moving much. I opted to try again at an off peak time. Best decision on my part because I would’ve been furious If I waited all that time to go on this ride.
A friend and I decided to stop by on Monday evening in the hopes that there wouldn’t be a long line. Lucky for us we were right. The man selling the tickets for the ride advised most of the people who were inquiring, that they should do the ride in the evening when it’s all lit up. We decided not to take a chance by coming back later, and went ahead immediately.
The ride is strictly for small children. I couldn’t imagine anyone over ⁷⁄₈ being impressed by this. The ride lasts about 4 – 5 minutes and goes as slow as most merry go rounds, if not slower. I should have known better, but the article in the NY Times hyping the debut of this ride made me think it was going to be a unique experience. Sadly it was not.

Wonderful!
I came here tonight expecting an extraordinary wait and was pleasantly surprised that it was less than 10 minutes. Hint: Come early in the week after 7:30 pm for the best chance of shorter lines.
The carousel is absolutely beautiful; fish float through the space with perfection, cycling through a number of vivid colors as the ride plays soothing yet upbeat music. Each fish holds one person, or one parent with a small child and there are probably around 15 – 20 carriages to choose from. Similar to a standard carousel, some of the seats are stationary while others bob up and down and spin slowly. The building itself is shaped like a spiral seashell, so be sure to take some pictures from the outside as well. It does get a little warm in the space so be ready for that.
The ride itself isn’t terribly long, about three and a half minutes which go by quickly, but at only $ 5 per person you definitely get your money’s worth. One note for parents: the fish move around in so many directions that you will be unable to stand next to your child while they ride like you might on a normal carousel.
My suggestion is to snap some pics in the beginning but then, put your phone /​camera down and just enjoy the moment. You’ll be glad you did!

Carousels have a special place in my heart. They’re not merely spinning amusement park rides. It’s strange how a whirl can uplift you and dose your spirit with joie de vivre, as if you were transformed back into a child when everything was fresh and magical again. The Sea Glass Carousel delivers this with some of the most imaginatively wrought rides I’ve ever seen. These translucent beauties shimmer and glow under changing lights, as if they could have been sown from a dream about fantastical sea creatures created by Lalique. Some resemble anglefishes, some lionfishes. the shapes are art nouveau, and esthetically breathtaking. During the night, the nautilus shaped carousel lights up Battery Park, and when these frosted beauties come to life, whirling sideways and sliding up and down, you almost think you are witnessing a dream. Watching them twirl is just as fun as being in one.
It is a great idea and an ingenious way to make money for the park. The price of $ 5 is higher than other carousels, but it’s a cheap way to recapture whimsical innocence. magic. You can tell, by the size of the creatures and the seats, that this carousel was meant for adults as well as children. I didn’t see any man shie away from wanting to take a spin in these, the way grown men I know have scoffed at riding on a painted pony.
Opening day was today and the lines were long, even at close to 10 pm. People seemed in good spirits though, especially with the night breeze blowing. I recommend going during the evening, when you can really see these piscine visions contrasted against a night sky as you wait on the line. Young and old shouldn’t hesitate to take a ride.

What a beauty! For $ 5 a ride, you get the experience of «swimming» round and round in different sea creatures in changing neon lights. Not only was the spinning my favorite part, but the bubbly sound effects, the vibrations and the tunes played during our ride. It was really magical and really brought our fish to life.
What makes this attraction miraculous, is the glowing of colorful lights, a perfect backdrop for the picture of the year.
Battery Park is definitely worth a visit now a days.
Tip: Hold off till the hype dies down, I was here for a 1.5 our wait.