Best Things to Do:
- 1. The Barcelona Aquarium
- 2. Visit the largest aquarium in Europe
- 3. Have you considered a tourist pass?
- 4. Tickets for the Barcelona Aquarium
- 5. The classic fast-track ticket
- 6. The Flexi-Ticket for the Barcelona Aquarium
- 7. The Barcelona Zoo + Aquarium Digital Pass
- 8. Opening Hours
- 9. How to get to the Barcelona Aquarium?
The Barcelona Aquarium
Port Vell, the old tourist port of Barcelona, completely renovated for the 1992 Olympics, is now one of the most attractive areas in the city. Here you'll find the large shopping center, Maremagnum, numerous restaurants and shops, an IMAX cinema, and one of the city's biggest family attractions: the Barcelona Aquarium!
Visit the largest aquarium in Europe
Opened since 1995, the Barcelona Aquarium is none other than the largest in Europe, with its 35 tanks holding a total of 6 million liters of water. It houses over 11,000 aquatic animals from nearly 500 different species
The aquarium's tanks are divided into several areas that replicate the different marine zones of our planet. It includes the following:
- 16 aquariums dedicated to the Mediterranean
- 10 aquariums dedicated to tropical seas
- Planeta Aqua, a space dedicated to other ecosystems (ice fields, mangroves, deep-sea environments...)
- ¡Explora!, an interactive area that allows you to explore the marine world playfully, where children can also visit a submarine
The largest of all is the Oceanarium, a huge tank of 4 million liters of water, 36 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep, which visitors can explore by passing through a transparent-walled tunnel that is 80 meters long. It notably houses two species of sharks that are the main attractions: the bull shark and the grey shark
Many other species can be discovered within the Barcelona Aquarium's tanks: jellyfish, tropical fish, rays, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates...
Several special experiences and activities are offered at the Barcelona Aquarium. You can dive with sharks (freely or in a cage), and even sleep with the sharks, meaning you can spend a night in the aquarium beside the tank, surrounded by thousands of fish! All these activities are separate from your visit and require a reservation.
Have you considered a tourist pass?
Are you planning a vacation in Barcelona and want to discover the main attractions of the city, in addition to the aquarium? I recommend checking out the Barcelona Pass available, which can help you save some money. The Barcelona City Pass for example, will allow you to access the must-see sites for your first visit: the Sagrada Família, Parc Güell, and you can choose between La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, or the tourist bus. Expect to pay $85 per person for this pass
Tickets for the Barcelona Aquarium
The classic fast-track ticket
Tickets to visit the aquarium are, of course, available at the ticket counters on-site, but to avoid waiting in line and save valuable time, it is advisable to purchase them online
The fast-track ticket for the Barcelona Aquarium allows access to all tanks and all permanent exhibitions. By choosing your time slot when booking online, you can ensure that you can start your visit without waiting.
If you are traveling with several adults, you will also have the option to get a Friends Pack for $96.
The Flexi-Ticket for the Barcelona Aquarium
Based on the same premise as a classic fast-track ticket, the Flexi-Ticket for the Barcelona Aquarium will allow you to skip the line at the entrance. However, its second advantage is that this time, you won't need to book a specific time to enter.
As the name suggests, this ticket will allow you to access the tanks and all spaces and exhibitions at any time of the day. This is quite handy if you don't want to stress about a specific schedule
The Barcelona Zoo + Aquarium Digital Pass
The combined ticket includes access to both the Zoo and the Barcelona Aquarium. If you plan to discover these two major attractions, this pass will allow you to save money and enjoy two fast-track entries The Zoo + Aquarium Pass comes with a mobile audioguide app that contains images, descriptions, and information on over 100 points of interest in the Catalan capital.
The Zoo + Aquarium Pass for Barcelona costs:
- $48 for adults (13 years and older)
- $40 for ages 11-12
- $32 for ages 5-10
- $23 for ages 3-4
Opening Hours
The Barcelona Aquarium is open every day of the week. It opens its doors at 10 AM, with closing times varying depending on the days and seasons.
In January, February, March, November, and December:
In April, May, and during the Christmas holidays:
In June, September, and October:
In July and August:
You can check the exact opening hours on a specific date by consulting the calendar on the official website of the Barcelona Aquarium.
- Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 7:30 PM
- Weekends and holidays, from 10 AM to 8 PM
- Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM
- Weekends and holidays, from 10 AM to 8:30 PM
- Every day, from 10 AM to 8 PM
- Every day, from 10 AM to 9 PM
How to get to the Barcelona Aquarium?
The Barcelona Aquarium is located at Port Vell, right next to the Maremagnum shopping center. You can reach it via Barcelona's public transport:
Its exact address is: del Port Vell, Moll d'Espanya, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona
I hope you found all the useful information for visiting the Barcelona Aquarium in this article! If you're looking for other information to visit Barcelona, you can check my dedicated articles on when to visit Barcelona and where to stay in Barcelona
- By metro, on Line 4 to Barceloneta or Line 3 to Drassanes.
- By bus, traveling on lines 47, 59, 120, D20, H14, V13, V15, V17, and V19.
- Using the hop-on hop-off tourist bus, getting off at the Port Vell stop on the Red route.