L’Aquàrium de Barcelona sits in Port Vell (Moll d’Espanya, next to the Maremagnum) and is the world’s largest aquarium devoted to the Mediterranean. Opened in 1995, it holds 11,000 animals of 450 species. Its great draw is the Oceanarium, a tank 36 metres across crossed by an 80-metre transparent tunnel where you walk surrounded by sharks, rays and moray eels. It opens every day at 10:00 (closing time varies by season) and the visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Metro: Drassanes (L3) or Barceloneta (L4).
Places to Visit in Barcelona…
- Montjuïc
- Tibidabo
- Parc de la Ciutadella
- Laberint d’Horta
- Jardí Botànic de Barcelona
- Zoo de Barcelona
What is L’Aquàrium de Barcelona?
Facing the sea, right in Port Vell and a few minutes’ walk from the end of Las Ramblas, L’Aquàrium de Barcelona is one of the city’s most popular visits and, without question, the best family plan for a rainy or a scorching day. It opened in September 1995 and has since welcomed more than 14 million visitors, placing it among Barcelona’s most visited attractions.
Its defining feature is its focus: it’s the world’s largest marine centre dedicated to the Mediterranean. The aim here isn’t just exotic spectacle but understanding the sea that laps the city itself, with its posidonia meadows, rocky shores and protected species. Alongside that, there are tropical tanks, immersive rooms and a strong commitment to education and conservation. It also holds Biosphere sustainability certification.
The Oceanarium and the shark tunnel
This is the crown jewel and the reason almost everyone buys a ticket. The Oceanarium is a colossal tank 36 metres across and 5 metres deep, holding around 4 million litres of seawater and considered the largest in Europe. It’s crossed by an 80-metre transparent tunnel that you ride through on a moving walkway: the animals swim to your sides and above your head, and it feels like walking along the seabed without getting wet.
The stars are the sand tiger sharks (with their unmistakable teeth) and the sandbar sharks, but don’t fixate on them alone: through the tunnel also pass large rays, moray eels, sea bream, the astonishing sunfish (Mola mola) and the guitarfish, which looks like a cross between a ray and a shark. Look up: that’s where the magic happens.
What else to see at the Aquarium?
The Mediterranean and tropical tanks
The route begins with a series of tanks devoted to the Mediterranean’s different communities: seagrass meadows, rocky bottoms, the Ebro delta, the Medes Islands… It’s the part most people rush past and yet the one hiding the most singular species. Then come the tropical tanks, with corals, clownfish and reef sharks, which children adore.
Planeta Aqua and the penguins
Upstairs, the Planeta Aqua area brings together other aquatic ecosystems and the much-loved penguins, one of the public’s favourite corners. Many visitors miss it because it comes after the tunnel: don’t make that mistake.
Explora! and the immersive rooms
Explora! is the interactive area designed for the youngest visitors, with around fifty things to touch, hear and experiment with. In recent years the aquarium has renewed the route with immersive rooms, such as Journey to the Depths (a 360º enveloping experience) and the SubAqua Explorer.
Feeding times and special activities
One of the most spectacular moments is the shark feeding, carried out by divers inside the Oceanarium (usually on Tuesdays and Fridays around midday). Rays and moray eels are also fed on weekdays at around 12:45. For the bold, the aquarium offers shark dives (for adults with a diving licence) and the “Sleeping with Sharks” experience, a whole night inside the aquarium. Both require separate booking well in advance.
What are the Aquarium’s opening hours in 2026?
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening | Every day of the year, at 10:00 |
| Closing (approximate) | Weekdays around 19:30-20:00 · Weekends and holidays until 20:00-20:30 |
| July and August | Extended hours (until 21:00-21:30) |
| Ticket desks and entry | Close 1 hour before the aquarium closes |
How much does it cost to enter the Aquarium in 2026?
| Ticket type | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adult (from 11 years) | Around €27-30 (check the official website) |
| Children 5 to 10 | Reduced child rate |
| Children 3 to 4 | Special rate |
| Under 3s | Free |
| Flexi-ticket | No fixed date: valid within a period (usually 90 days) |
💡 Tip: buy your ticket online in advance (especially in summer, Easter and at weekends) and go first thing. If it looks busy when you arrive, head straight for the Oceanarium tunnel and do the rest afterwards at your own pace: that’s where the bottleneck forms first.
How to get to L’Aquàrium de Barcelona?
It’s on the Moll d’Espanya in Port Vell, next to the Maremagnum shopping centre, reached by crossing the Rambla de Mar footbridge from the end of Las Ramblas.
| Transport | Line / Detail | Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | Line 3 (green) | Drassanes (about 10 min walk) |
| Metro | Line 4 (yellow) | Barceloneta (about 15 min walk) |
| Bus | Lines 39, 45, 59, 91, 120, D20, H14, V13, V15 | Nearby stops |
| Tram | T4 | Port Vell |
| Renfe / Rodalies | Local trains | Estació de França (about 15 min walk) |
The prettiest approach is to walk down Las Ramblas to the Columbus Monument and cross the wooden Rambla de Mar footbridge, with the harbour boats on either side.
Practical tips for your visit
- Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the visit (there’s no time limit inside).
- Avoid midday: that’s when it’s busiest. Early morning or late afternoon are far better.
- If you want to see the shark feeding, get to the tunnel well in advance: places aren’t reserved.
- Don’t skip the upper floor (penguins and jellyfish): it’s the area most people miss.
- Tickets are single-entry: if you leave, you can’t come back in on the same ticket.
- Eat outside: Port Vell and the Barceloneta have far better options than inside.
- It’s fully accessible, with ramps and lifts.
What to see near the Aquarium
| Place | Why visit |
|---|---|
| Port Vell and the Rambla de Mar | The old harbour, with its quays and footbridge |
| Columbus Monument | The viewpoint at the end of Las Ramblas, with a lift |
| Maritime Museum (Drassanes Reials) | The Gothic shipyards and the replica of the Royal Galley |
| La Barceloneta | The seaside neighbourhood, its beaches and its paellas |
| Las Golondrinas | Boat trips around the harbour and the coast |
Hotel Arc La Rambla, a ten-minute walk from the Aquarium
Few visits are as handy from Hotel Arc La Rambla (La Rambla 19-21, next to Drassanes metro, L3): just walk down Las Ramblas to the Columbus Monument and cross the Rambla de Mar footbridge to reach L’Aquàrium in about 10 minutes on foot. It’s the ideal plan for a family morning, which you can round off with the Maritime Museum, a stroll around Port Vell and lunch in the Barceloneta, with the hotel always just steps away.
💡 Book on our website with the code ARCBLOG and enjoy a special perk as a blog reader.
Barcelona Aquarium — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter L’Aquàrium de Barcelona?
Adult admission (from 11 years) is around €27-30, with reduced rates for children aged 5 to 10 and 3 to 4; under-3s enter free. The price varies by season and sales channel, and buying online is usually cheaper and skips the queues, so it’s worth checking the official website.
What are L’Aquàrium de Barcelona’s opening hours?
It opens every day of the year at 10:00. Closing time varies by season: around 19:30-20:00 on weekdays, until 20:00-20:30 at weekends and on public holidays, with extended hours in July and August (until 21:00-21:30). Ticket desks and entry close one hour before.
How long does a visit to the Aquarium take?
The visit takes between 1.5 and 2 hours, though there’s no time limit on staying inside. If you catch the feeding sessions or want to linger in the interactive areas, allow a little more time.
What can you see at L’Aquàrium de Barcelona?
It’s home to 11,000 animals of 450 species. Its great draw is the Oceanarium, a tank 36 metres across crossed by an 80-metre transparent tunnel with sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, rays, moray eels and sunfish. The visit also includes the Mediterranean and tropical tanks, the Planeta Aqua area with the penguins, the immersive rooms and the Explora! interactive space.
How do you get to L’Aquàrium de Barcelona?
It’s on the Moll d’Espanya in Port Vell, next to the Maremagnum. The nearest metro is Drassanes (Line 3), about a 10-minute walk, and Barceloneta (Line 4) also works, about 15 minutes away. You reach it by crossing the Rambla de Mar footbridge from the end of Las Ramblas.
