The best aquariums in the world allow us to enjoy the treasures of the undersea universe without ever needing to go underwater.
From the world-famous kelp forests and sea otters at Lisbon’s Oceanário de Lisboa to the walk-through shark tunnels at Sydney’s lively Sea Life Aquarium, here’s a list of the top aquariums around the world you should plan on visiting during your next vacation.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Osaka, Japan
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka, Japan
One of the most impressive marine exhibits in Japan, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, in Tempozan Harbor Village, has a specific focus on the aquatic life of the Pacific Rim.
Start your tour by walking through the Aqua Gate, a transparent tunnel in which you’re completely surrounded by marine life, including graceful rays. From the eighth floor, work your way down a spiral ramp around a spectacular central tank, some 30 feet deep, with 15 secondary tanks and exhibits to admire along the way. There’s a thrilling sensation of descending into the deep as you explore.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka, Japan
Each exhibit represents a different habitat around the Pacific Rim. These range from a sunlit Japanese forest housing otters and herons to the icy but nutrient-rich waters of Antarctica, where you’ll see three species of penguin.
The star attraction, though, is the deep central tank. It’s home to two magnificent whale sharks, the biggest species of fish in the world—sharks, rather than whales—and a peaceful, filter-feeding creature very few people are lucky enough to see in the wild.
Read: What Is Osaka Known For?
Oceanário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Oceanário de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal
Dominating the waterfront at Parque Das Nações, this magnificent, conservation-oriented aquarium is way more than a rainy day activity in Lisbon. It’s an education for adults and kids, and is a must-see in addition to the capital’s more historic attractions.
The aquarium features different ecosystems on a grand scale and is home to mammals, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates, as well as a dazzling array of fish. Four huge tanks represent different ecosystems, including Indian coral reefs, Pacific kelp forests, the icy waters of Antarctica, and the North Atlantic.
Oceanário de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal
A massive central tank, some 23 feet deep, gives the illusion of standing at the bottom of the ocean as sharks circle overhead. As well as the sharks, you’ll see rays, tuna, barracuda, toothy moray eels, and curious-looking sunfish, the largest of which ever recorded weighed two tons.
The mammals in question are enchanting sea otters, while puffins and Magellanic penguins represent the avian world. Fish species, of which there are dozens, range from various sharks to the more bizarre, including the common sea dragon, a kind of seahorse, and the popular clownfish, in their jaunty stripes, and electric blue surgeonfish.
The Oceanário is impressive in its conservation efforts, heading up captive breeding programs for various species, including Magellanic penguins and bluespotted ribbontail rays.
L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
L’Aquàrium de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain
A prominent structure in the port area of Barcelona, the city’s aquarium is a top spot for thrill-seekers. The shark collection here is particularly impressive, and you can even join a cage dive in the shark tank.
While the main focus of the aquarium is Mediterranean ecosystems, the 66 different tanks house some 450 species from as far away as the Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. A highlight—again, for shark fans—is the 262-foot-long shark tunnel, from which you can see sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, rays, and moray eels gliding above you.
In Planeta Aqua, you can observe Humboldt penguins, and in the tropical section, piranhas, sea turtles, and iguanas. Other tanks feature venomous fish such as the stonefish, the most poisonous fish known in the world.
Curaçao Sea Aquarium Park, Curaçao
Curaçao Sea Aquarium Park, Curaçao
The Curaçao Sea Aquarium Park isn’t your average aquarium. A portion of it is located inside of the water, where several man-made lagoons fed by seawater house species like dolphins, sharks, and sea lions.
Aside from the animals found in the lagoon, every other species at this park in Curaçao lives in ocean water that is pumped into each tank to mirror their natural environment, making it one of the best aquariums in the world if you’re concerned about fish welfare.
The park is quite large and offers snorkeling and scuba diving excursions, ocean encounters with dolphins and sea lions, and an underwater window where you can get a fish-eye view of the ocean without ever getting wet. There’s a lot to do at the aquarium, so be sure to reserve your activities in advance to make sure you don’t run out of time.
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium, Nagasaki, Japan
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium in Nagasaki, Japan
One of the best things to do in Nagasaki, the Penguin Aquarium is home to more than 180 penguins. The facility features a wealth of species, including Patagonian Magellanic penguins, yellow-eyebrowed rockhopper penguins, and giant king penguins of Antarctica.
Even though it’s not a large aquarium, plan on spending at least an hour or so while you’re in Nagasaki. You’ll be easily charmed by the penguins who are naturally comical and often show off for visitors.
The penguins live indoors and outdoors, thanks to a net system in Nagasaki Bay that allows them to swim freely in the open ocean. Try to catch the adorable penguin parade as they make their way from the indoor exhibits to the outdoor swimming area, which usually happens around 1:30 p.m.
S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore
S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore
There are many amazing sights to see in urban and stylish Singapore, but the S.E.A. Aquarium is one of its top can’t-miss attractions. When it opened in 2012, the S.E.A. Aquarium was the world’s largest and its sheer size alone makes it one of the best aquariums in the world with 1,000 different species and more than 100,000 individual animals.
Their exhibits focus on a variety of different animals, including Pacific octopus, green brittle stars, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and stingrays. Aside from underwater species, the S.E.A. Aquarium also features tree frogs, a rainforest habitat, a touch tank, and a recreated two-story shipwreck.
If you want to try scuba diving, you can do it here in one of the aquarium exhibits. Plus, the Ocean Restaurant is the only underwater dining experience in Southeast Asia.
Atlantic Sea-Park, Alesund, Norway
Atlantic Sea-Park in Alesund, Norway
Get a glimpse of what life is like under the sea in Norway at the Atlantic Sea-Park in Alesund. Built as an extension of the coastline, the Atlantic Sea-Park features both indoor and outdoor ocean water habitats for penguins and sea lions. Animals are hand-fed every day and if you’re lucky, you can even interact with penguin researchers, as the aquarium has an active on-site breeding program.
The outdoor area at the Atlantic Sea Park is larger than the indoor exhibits, so be sure to bring a rain jacket or umbrella. If you decide to stay inside, you’ll still be able to see many of the large floor-to-ceiling tanks and handle some of the smaller ocean creatures with staff always on hand to make sure the animals are safe.
Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu, Hawaii
Whether on a snorkeling excursion, glass-bottom boat tour, or catamaran ride, there’s no shortage of ways to explore Hawaii’s thriving marine world. But if you don’t feel like getting wet or packing your boat shoes, head to the Waikiki Aquarium, one of the best aquariums in the world to see unique creatures native to the Hawaiian Islands.
There’s an entire exhibit dedicated to animals with the ability to propel themselves underwater, like the nautilus and octopus, who provide fascinating displays of their swimming prowess.
There’s a roomy area for a small population of Hawaii’s native monk seals, too, and a green sea turtle habitat for rescued and born-in-captivity animals. While it’s a relatively small aquarium, its focus on all-things-Hawaii makes it unique in the world.
Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, Sydney, Australia
Sydney Sea Life Aquarium in Sydney, Australia
It’s no surprise that Australia, the home of the Great Barrier Reef, would have one of the top aquariums in the world. The Sydney Sea Life Aquarium is a research center that has more than 700 animal species and is centrally located in Darling Harbour.
It’s also one of the very few places in the world where you can see a dugong, a rare mammal related to manatees with a forked, dolphin-like tail. The aquarium’s chubby dugong named Pig is undeniably cute. Watch as he gently munches on cabbage and kale and plays with toys to stimulate natural behaviors.
While Pig is the main attraction, the sprawling aquarium has much more to keep you busy for a full day. Walk through manta ray and shark tunnels and get an up-close view of the ocean predator’s rows and rows of highly evolved teeth.
The aquarium also features rare wobbegong sharks, a section dedicated to adorable little penguins, and a massive Great Barrier Reef exhibit, which is the largest Great Barrier Reef exhibit in the world. Thanks to special lighting that mimics nighttime conditions, you’ll also have the chance to see the barrier reef’s unique night critters.
L’Oceanografic, Valencia, Spain
L’Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain
Valencia’s L’Oceanografic captures all of the Earth’s varied ocean habitats in one building. As the largest aquarium in Europe, it has different areas dedicated to arctic oceans, tropical oceans, the red sea, a mangrove ocean, a dolphin habitat, an antarctic exhibit, and several shark habitats.
Its size allows it to make room for species you won’t find at most aquariums, such as flamingos, giant tortoises, and even beluga whales. It’s one of the top aquariums in the world if you love arctic animals.
There are several large areas connected by walkways over an artificial lagoon and dozens of shows and educational lectures offered daily, so plan to spend at least a few hours here while you’re in Valencia.
As you may expect from an aquarium of this size, it’s a world leader in marine conservation and animal welfare. L’Oceanografic actively practices animal stress management techniques to ensure their species are thriving and works with animals outside of the aquarium to evaluate how well species are doing in the wild.
Visitors can take behind-the-scenes tours to learn more about how the non-profit and aquarium operate or catch a show in its 4-D marine theater.
Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife Aquarium, Auckland, New Zealand
Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife Aquarium in Auckland, New Zealand
Marine archaeologist and diver Kelly Tarlton realized that few people appreciated the importance of preserving the oceans, which is why he decided to open an aquarium in Auckland to help people feel better connected to the marine world.
Though it started small, Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife Aquarium is now a bustling space and is home to the largest sub-Antarctic penguin colony in the world. The aquarium has both King and Gentoo penguins and guests can go out on the ice with them for an hour of play.
If that’s not adventurous enough, one of the best things to do in Auckland is to snorkel in a cage in the aquarium’s shark exhibit. Or if you prefer to see sharks with more of a safety barrier in place, walk through one of the aquarium’s underwater tunnels. Kelly Tarlton was the first to create a curved, walk-through ocean tunnel, though many of the best aquariums in the world have since followed suit.
Read: Best Beaches in Auckland
New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
New England Aquarium in Boston, MA
If you like the ocean’s more mysterious creatures, head to the New England Aquarium in Boston. While this vast aquarium has sharks, penguins, and a massive 200,000-gallon recreation of a Caribbean coral reef, it also has exhibits on animals that usually get a bit less attention.
Spot sea dragons that have some of the world’s best camouflage and are nearly impossible to admire while snorkeling. Visit the Amazon rainforest exhibit where you’ll see piranhas and electric eels, as well as a giant pacific octopus and a 50-year-old green sea turtle named Myrtle.
The four-story aquarium also allows you to get close to wild animals during one of its popular whale-watching tours. But if you’d rather stay on land, there are plenty of activities indoors as well, including a meet and greet with Myrtle, walking with a researcher behind the scenes, or learning how to care for seals with a marine biologist.
Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver’s aquarium is Canada’s only marine mammal rescue facility. It rescues around 150 animals a year including sea lion pups and newly hatched sea turtles stuck in fishing nets that wouldn’t survive on their own in the wild.
The site allows visitors to interact with friendly harbor seals and a large steller sea lion. The rescue efforts are inspiring and will teach kids and adults how to be better friends to the ocean’s ecosystems.
However, wild animal rehabilitation is only a tiny portion of the aquarium. It also features exhibits on ecosystems from around the planet with a large two-story tank focused on the coastal species of Vancouver.
If you’re keen on spotting penguins, tropical sharks, and glow-in-the-dark jellyfish, you’ll find them there, too. The aquarium runs dozens of educational programs and shows every day, allowing you to easily be entertained for hours.
Read: Best Things to Do in Vancouver With Kids
Atlantic Sea-Park in Alesund, Norway
Browse through our cruise itineraries that travel to over 300 destinations around the world, including all of the cities in this list that are home to the best aquariums in the world. View the shore excursions at each port and start planning your next ocean-focused adventure today.
