🎟️ Aquarium tickets: prices, opening hours and what to see

You can see the underwater world without scuba gear or a long dive. Ten unusual aquariums around the world are home to whale sharks, manta rays, belugas, and jellyfish.

We've put together ten aquariums in Europe, Asia, North America, and the UAE, from Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Japan to Dubai Aquarium in the Emirates. For each one, you'll find how to get there and what sets it apart from the others on the list. Prices and opening hours are listed where official websites publish them.

💡 In short:

The list includes ten aquariums in Europe, Asia, North America, and the UAE.
Prices and opening hours: as of 09/2026, verified on the aquariums' official websites.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

1. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is built around a central tank called the Pacific Ocean. It's home to a whale shark, the largest fish on the planet. Octopuses, porcupinefish, squid, and piranhas live nearby. Keepers recreate conditions close to the animals' natural habitats, and the aquarium participates in ocean conservation programs.

Kaiyukan Aquarium building in Osaka from outside

How to get there: Minato ward, Osakako subway station, about a five-minute walk.
Cost: the adult ticket price depends on the day; check the current rate on the official website (as of 09/2026).
Who it's for: families with children and anyone who wants to see a whale shark. You reach the main tank along a spiral path, so take your time.

2. Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is one of the largest aquariums in the world. According to Georgia Aquarium, it's home to more than 100,000 animals: belugas, African penguins, tropical fish, and whale sharks. Five galleries surround the central atrium.

In addition to whale sharks, it showcases belugas and sea otters, and in a separate area you can touch some of the residents with your hands. In summer, the halls are full of tour groups.

Giant grouper in the Georgia Aquarium tank

How to get there: downtown Atlanta, next to Centennial Olympic Park.
What to try: diving with sharks and an overnight stay by the large tank.
Who it's for: families with children, because some programs are designed for school-age kids.
Not for: those looking for quiet: in summer, the halls are full of tours.

3. Acquario di Genova

Acquario di Genova brings together dozens of tanks with marine life. Here you'll find sharks, dolphins, turtles, penguins, jellyfish, and seahorses. A separate zone is dedicated to a virtual dive with long-extinct species.

In the hummingbird room, birds fly freely over visitors' heads, and Acquario di Genova itself is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Acquario di Genova building in the Old Port

How to get there: Genoa's old port, Porto Antico.
What to try: a nighttime visit once a month, when the halls are open after closing.
Tickets: aquarium tickets on Tiqets with an entry time slot, so you don't have to wait in line at the ticket office by the waterfront.
Who it's for: those strolling along the waterfront who want to stop by the aquarium along the way.

4. Oceanogràfic Valencia

Oceanogràfic Valencia is considered the largest marine complex in Europe. According to the park's page, it's home to more than 45,000 fish and marine animals and features more than 650 species. The complex consists of buildings shaped like a water lily, each recreating a distinct aquatic environment.

Two underwater tunnels connect the halls with the sharks, and one of them is called the longest in Europe. A dolphinarium and an underwater restaurant are nearby.

Panorama of L'Oceanogràfic park in Valencia

Getting there: the City of Arts and Sciences complex in eastern Valencia.
What to try: the dolphinarium and dinner at the underwater restaurant.
Who it's for: couples and families who also care about the complex's architecture.
Tip: buy tickets in advance, you'll need at least half a day to see everything.

5. Singapore Oceanarium

On Sentosa Island, the aquarium reopened as Singapore Oceanarium, formerly S.E.A. Aquarium. As of Resorts World Sentosa, it houses more than 100,000 marine animals across 22 zones, and its area is three times larger than before. The complex is connected to an amusement park and a hotel, so people come here for a full day.

Here you can feed sharks and rays, swim with them, or take a diving course, and at night some of the halls are open to guests with tents.

Singapore Oceanarium entrance with blue illuminated arches

Getting there: Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island.
What to try: feeding sharks and rays, diving courses.
Tickets: tours on GetYourGuide with a guide and full-day entry.
Who it's for: families and those ready to spend a whole day by the tanks.

6. Oceanário de Lisboa

Oceanário de Lisboa guides visitors through the zones of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. It is home to the ocean sunfish and the giant Pacific octopus. As of the aquarium's data, it features more than 500 species.

Every year it hosts exhibitions on climate and ocean conservation. In the center of the hall stands a large open tank, around which the entire route is built.

Getting there: Doca dos Olivais, Parque das Nações district, next to Oriente train station.
Cost: adult ticket from €25 (as of 09/2026, ticket page).
Hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00, last entry at 19:00 (as of 09/2026, schedule).
Tickets: timed-entry tickets on Tiqets choose the morning, when the main tank is quieter.
Who it's for: families and travelers who have already seen central Lisbon.

7. Den Blå Planet

Den Blå Planet near Copenhagen is considered the largest aquarium in Northern Europe. Its tanks are home to electric eels, a giant Pacific octopus, as well as birds and turtles from the Faroe Islands.

In the tropical hall you'll see tiny frogs and piranhas, and at the pump station kids can try controlling the water themselves; a digital exhibition about marine life runs there too.

Getting there: Kastrup, next to Copenhagen Airport, M2 metro line.
Who it's for: families with kids and anyone who wants to stop by on the way from the airport.
Tip: go before your flight if you have an extra two to three hours.

8. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada in Toronto is known for its Dangerous Lagoon tank. According to the aquarium, it houses about 20,000 aquatic animals, including several shark species and sea turtles. Here you can scuba dive alongside sharks or watch a dive show with feeding.

Ripley's Aquarium facade in Toronto during the day

Getting there: downtown Toronto, at the foot of the CN Tower.
What to try: the dive show with shark and turtle feeding.
Who it's for: those who want to see sharks up close without leaving the city.

9. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on the island of Okinawa is among the most visited aquariums in the world. It is home to whale sharks and manta rays, and the aquarium itself was the first in the world to successfully breed Alfred manta rays.

The main Kuroshio Sea tank replicates open-ocean conditions, including lighting and pressure. Visitors come for the fish feeding and watch a free outdoor dolphin show.

Main Kuroshio Sea tank at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Getting there: northern Okinawa, Motobu Peninsula.
Who it's for: those renting a car and driving around the island.
Tip: a crowd gathers for the feeding at the main tank, so get your spot early.

10. Dubai Aquarium

Dubai Aquarium operates inside the Dubai Mall. The enormous tank is home to thousands of marine creatures: reef and leopard sharks, sand tiger sharks, rays, and other animals. You can take a glass-bottom boat ride here.

The aquarium sits at the center of the mall, so it's visible right from the Dubai Mall galleries, and you can also dive with sharks accompanied by an instructor or try on a mermaid costume for photos.

Panoramic glass at Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall

Getting there: Dubai Mall, next to the Burj Khalifa skyscraper.
Who it's for: families with children, because there are educational programs for school and university students.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which of these aquariums is the largest?

Oceanogràfic Valencia is considered the largest marine complex in Europe, and Georgia Aquarium is among the largest in the world. The choice depends on your trip: in Europe, it's easier to get to Valencia, Lisbon, or Genoa.

Where can you see a whale shark?

Whale sharks live at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. It's the largest fish on the planet, and these facilities have built spacious tanks for it. Come at feeding time and you'll see it active.

How much does an aquarium ticket cost?

Prices vary by city and day. At Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, the rate depends on the date. Children and students get discounts almost everywhere.

Can you swim with sharks?

Yes. Diving and shark swimming programs are available at Georgia Aquarium, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Dubai Aquarium, and Singapore Oceanarium. Book in advance: popular slots have limited spots, and participation takes place under instructor supervision.

What to see near the aquarium?

Almost all of them are located in tourist areas. Near Oceanário de Lisboa is the Parque das Nações waterfront, near Dubai Aquarium is Dubai Mall, and Acquario di Genova sits in the Old Port. That turns an aquarium visit into a half-day outing.

If you want to add a tour or a timed-entry ticket to your visit, check out the options below.

Tours and tickets

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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Below is a short video from Dubai Aquarium so you can see the tank in motion.

In short: what's worth booking

If you're going to Japan: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. If Europe: Oceanogràfic Valencia, Oceanário de Lisboa, and Acquario di Genova, and if you're traveling with little kids, Den Blå Planet near Copenhagen is a good fit. For North America, go with Georgia Aquarium and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada; for Asia, Singapore Oceanarium; and for a short stopover in the UAE, Dubai Aquarium. Tickets to major aquariums are cheaper when bought online in advance. Tours and timed-entry tickets are available on GetYourGuide.

Whale sharks and manta rays: 10 unusual aquariums of the world