Barcelona Aquarium offers a mesmerizing underwater world where the wonders of the Mediterranean Sea come alive before your eyes. You’ll be embarking on a captivating journey through 66 aquariums, home to an astounding 11,000 creatures from over 450 diverse species. The aquarium exhibits the authentic beauty of the Mediterranean along with it’s vast biological collection. The awe-inspiring Oceanarium also features an 80-meter tunnel that brings you face-to-fin with majestic sharks, rays, and morays. A typical day at L’Aquàrium will involve a number of interactive activities apart from some educative fun. This blog reveals the unforgettable experience that awaits you at Barcelona Aquarium.
Barcelona Aquarium in a nutshell
| ⏰ Suggested Duration: | 2 hours |
| ☀️ Best Time to Visit: | First half of the day |
| 💜 Must See: | Planeta Aqua |
| 🎟️ Barcelona Aquarium Tickets | €25 |
| 🚇 Closest Metro | Drassanes |
Opening hours
Daily 10am to 8pm
Address
del Port Vell, Moll d'Espanya, s/n, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona, Spain
Get directions
Things to know
Opened in: 1995
Location: Barcelona
Theme: Mediterranean
Total species: 450
Why visit Barcelona Aquarium
Underwater Journey
Dive into a mesmerizing world of vibrant coral reefs, mysterious depths, and captivating marine life. The aquarium's expertly crafted exhibits transport you to the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, offering a unique glimpse into its hidden wonders.
Encounter with Majestic Creatures
Come face-to-fin with sharks, rays, and morays as you traverse the 80-meter underwater tunnel. This unforgettable experience allows you to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat
Diverse Marine Ecosystem
With 66 aquariums housing over 450 species, Barcelona Aquarium showcases the incredible diversity of the Mediterranean Sea. From tiny, luminescent jellyfish to majestic sea turtles, each exhibit offers a unique glimpse into the intricate web of marine life.
Interactive Learning Experiences
Engage in hands-on activities, informative displays, and educational programs designed to enhance your understanding of marine conservation.
Explore Planeta Aqua
Planeta Aqua is a sprawling 4,000 square meter space showcasing marine and freshwater ecosystems. You’ll encounter the charming Humboldt penguins in the chilly "La Vida en el Frio" exhibit, and unravel the mysteries of jellyfish within the belly of a colossal model sperm whale.
Recommended tickets to Barcelona Aquarium
Highlights of Barcelona Aquarium
The Oceanarium
The stunning Oceanarium is deemed as Barcelona’s largest and also one of the biggest aquariums in Europe. With over 4 million litres of water, this exhibit is home to a plethora of species such as moray eels, glitheads, ocean sunfishes, rays and two types of sharks namely the Sand Tiger Shark and the Sandbar Shark.
Mediterranean Aquarium
L’Aquàrium Barcelona is well known for being the largest Mediterranean-themed aquarium in the world. In the Mediterranean Aquarium section of the aquarium, you can dive deeper into the marine life (pun intended) without getting yourself drenched. Visit 13 dedicated sections in this experience that focuses on several rare mediterranean sea creatures.
Tropical Aquarium
The Tropical Aquarium takes you through the colourful underwater marine life. It allows you to catch a glimpse of the unique coral reefs along with some stunning underwater architecture. Walk through seven important aquariums that will brief you to this vivid underwater lifestyle and its characteristics without having to travel to the Great Barrier Reef!
Themed Aquarium
Ever wondered what the life of a seahorse would be like? Did you ever wonder how baby sharks were born and raised? The Themed Aquarium part of the Barcelona Aquarium will pick out some such smaller details of marine flora and fauna that we usually seem to miss!
Planeta Aqua
Planeta Aqua, a vast 4,000 square meter space, unveils the astonishing diversity of marine and freshwater ecosystems through immersive exhibitions. The chilly "La Vida en el Frio" zone houses playful Humboldt penguins, while a colossal sperm whale model hosts a captivating jellyfish display. The "Agua y Vida" area showcases fierce piranhas, enigmatic axolotls, lively frogs, and the prehistoric lungfish. Planeta Aqua transcends a mere exhibition, offering an engaging journey that emphasizes the crucial importance of aquatic environments. Interactive displays allow people of all ages to explore and appreciate the wonders of the marine world.
Explora! Children’s Area
Treat your children to an exhibit designed especially to raise awareness along with the fun of discovering the marine life. Explora! Has interactive 50 activities where children can put their every sensory organ to use. Set foot in the murky marshes, sail along the Caribbean coastline or explore the remains of a shipwreck!
Barcelona Aquarium Reviews
We have visited Aquarium Barcelona and was way better than expected. The variety of sea life is really rich and colourfull. The experiance was awesome and we reccommend it. The online skip the line ticket was great choice so we didn't wait hours in line to enter.
- Tanja, Headout, May 2024
We loved the tunnel aquarium loaded with marine life, sting rays and sharks. The service at the food counter/cafeteria was good as well.
- Russell, Headout, March 2024
Top 3 Experiences inside the Barcelona Aquarium
If you’re hunting for an experience that will last with you forever, Barcelona Aquarium has three activities for those who wish to shed their inhibitions and fight their fears. Here are a few close-up shark experiences that will acquaint you to the apex sea-predators.
Shark Cage Diving
This exhilarating adventure lets you dive into the Oceanarium from an observation platform. Under the guidance of an expert instructor, you'll learn essential diving skills, including hand signals, using a regulator, and mastering buoyancy control. As you navigate through underwater rings, majestic sharks will be surrounding you.
Diving with the sharks
Ever wanted to swim underwater, but looking for an added thrill? Now, you can wade in the deep with the sharks to get a closer look into their colony. Become a scuba diver for a day and swim with thousands of sharks. An experience unlike another, this is a delightful sensorial activity.
Sleeping with the sharks
Designed for children and adolescents, the sleeping with sharks experience involves staying overnight at the Barcelona Aquarium and observing sharks along with some 8,000 odd fishes present there. Study their regular behaviour, watch them wake up and hunt for their food on the most thrilling sleepover of your life yet!
Practical Information & Insider Tips
Barcelona Aquarium Opening Hours
- January, February, March, November and December: - Monday to Friday: 10am - 7:30pm
- April, May and October: - Monday to Friday : 10am - 8pm
- June & September: Daily from 10am - 9pm
- July & August: Daily from 10am - 9:30pm
- Easter Holidays (24th March to 1st April) & Christmas Holidays (15th Dec to 7th Jan) - 10am - 8pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 8pm
- Saturday & Sunday : 10am - 8:30pm
Getting to Barcelona Aquarium
To reach Barcelona Aquarium, look out for modes of transport heading towards Port Vell. From here, the Barcelona Aquarium is a mere 2 minute walk.
By Bus
You can take any of the following buses to reach Barcelona Aquarium - V17 and 39, 45, 59, 91, 120, D20, H14, V13, V15
If you're using the Bus Turístic, get down at the Port Vell stop on the Red Route
If you're using the Barcelona City tours, get down at the Port Vell stop on the East route
By Metro
Get down at either L4 Barceloneta or L3 Drassanes and walk to the Barcelona Aquarium.
By Car
Look for Rondo Litoral signs and take exit 21 and 22 to reach the Barcelona Aquarium.
By Bicycle
Park your cycle at the L’Aquàrium station and walk towards the Barcelona Aquarium
Insider tips for visiting Barcelona Aquarium
- The Barcelona Aquarium is not too big and can be comfortably toured in 2 hours time.
- If you intend to catch any of the activities, it is wise to check the schedule on the official website before going.
- The cafeteria inside the Barcelona Aquarium is a tad bit overpriced, hence avoid purchasing food here, unless absolutely necessary.
- Entrance to the Barcelona Aquarium is free for those who have the Barcelona City Pass.
- During summers and peak seasons, the queues outside the Barcelona Aquarium can extend upto 2 hours, hence purchasing a fast track ticket online is highly recommended
- Being an indoor aquarium, it is ideal to spend your time in the Barcelona Aquarium during afternoons to take respite from the sun.
- It is forbidden to feed the animals and all visitors are requested to respect this rule.
Other attractions around Barcelona Aquarium
Explore the whimsical world of Antoni Gaudí at Casa Batllo, a masterpiece of modernist architecture. This UNESCO World Heritage Site captivates visitors with its undulating façade, reminiscent of a dragon's scales. Step inside and be enchanted by the organic forms, vibrant mosaics, and the mesmerizing light well, known as the "Vertebral Courtyard."
Distance from Barcelona Aquarium: 2.6 KM
Also known as La Pedrera, Casa Mila is another architectural gem by Gaudí. This innovative building features an undulating stone façade and a rooftop terrace adorned with striking chimneys and ventilation shafts. Explore the attic, which houses an exhibition on Gaudí's life and work, and marvel at the unique interior courtyards and apartments, showcasing the architect's genius in creating functional and beautiful spaces.
Distance from Barcelona Aquarium: 4.2 KM
No visit to Barcelona is complete without witnessing the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece. This towering basilica is a testament to his boundless imagination and devotion to his faith. The intricate façades depict scenes from the life of Christ, while the interior is bathed in a kaleidoscope of colors from the stained-glass windows.
Distance from Barcelona Aquarium: 4.8 KM
Stroll along the vibrant La Rambla, a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard that pulses with life. Street performers, artists, and vendors create a lively atmosphere as you explore the various shops, cafes, and landmarks along the way. Don't miss the iconic Miró mosaic, a colorful masterpiece embedded in the pavement.
Distance from Barcelona Aquarium: 2.7 KM
