Walking along the banks of the Tagus, in the Parque das Nações district, you will certainly pass the Lisbon Oceanarium: a striking building that floats on the water! It is one of the finest aquariums in the world and undoubtedly one of the most essential things to do in Lisbon — all the more so because with the Lisboa Card you get a 15% discount on the entry price, so a ticket at around €21!
Fish, seabirds and mammals, in settings faithful to their natural habitat.
🌊
5 million litres
The giant central tank, visible from several points along the route.
🌍
4 ecosystems
The Atlantic, Antarctic, Pacific and Indian Ocean recreated.
👨👩👧👦
Ideal for families
Interactive areas and play spaces for children of all ages.
Why visit the Lisbon aquarium?
Portugal's most visited cultural attraction according to its operator, with around a million visitors a year, and the second largest aquarium in Europe, the Lisbon Oceanarium is without doubt the thing not to miss if you are travelling with family — or even alone! At this exceptional site you can observe over 500 species of marine life and plants.
The aquarium owes its success to its one-of-a-kind concept and to the wealth of animal and plant species on show. It is also famous for its central tank, which you discover right at the start of the visit: a giant basin of more than 5,000 cubic metres, around which 4 themed ecosystems are arranged, linked gradually and fluidly for an even more immersive experience.
Each space recreates a marine environment to perfection, with its own climatic conditions and its endemic flora and fauna. You will also find temporary exhibitions, activities, games and events designed especially for children.
To prepare your dive into the heart of the oceans, here is all the practical information for your visit: how do you visit the aquarium? Where do you buy tickets? Which species are on show?
Discovering the great central tank
The central tank is without question the most impressive part of the Lisbon Oceanarium. It holds 5 million litres of salt water and has striking dimensions: 32 metres long by 23 metres wide and 7 metres deep.
It spans two floors: first the deep-sea species, then various plant and animal species living at the surface. The tank was designed to be visible from several points along the route and gives the impression that all the species live together in one and the same ocean.
Its creators wanted to highlight how marine ecosystems interconnect, and this tank expresses that perfectly. You can enjoy it head-on as well as from the side corridors and the higher vantage points.
As for the species on show, the tank brings together over 500 of them, including grey sharks, rays, sunfish, tuna, barracudas and a spectacular shoal of multicoloured and tropical fish.
You will see other fish species such as the yellowtail damselfish, the blacktip reef shark, the bluespotted ribbontail ray and the Commerson's frogfish, a fish oddly similar to a coral.
Penguins, puffins, terns, giant Pacific octopuses, Australian spotted jellyfish, multicoloured anemones, starfish… You can watch thousands of different species living side by side in this tank.
The different themed ecosystems
During your visit to the Lisbon aquarium you will notice that different environments have been recreated all around the central tank. You will find the following zones:
Indian Ocean: colourful coral reefs, clownfish, anemones and other tropical species
Pacific Ocean: kelp forests and fish species living in warm currents
Each of these zones stages not only the flora and fauna, but also the natural sounds, temperature and light. The complex has of course put up explanatory panels describing the biological features of each ecosystem, with well-handled transitions between zones to guide visitors.
The exhibitions and children's areas
Alongside the central tank you can also discover various exhibitions within the aquarium. There are temporary exhibitions on themes such as plastic pollution, climate change and the preservation of coral reefs.
The Lisbon Oceanarium is of course one of the best family activities! On site you will find interactive areas and play spaces for the youngest visitors. They can touch replicas of marine objects, listen to the sounds of marine species and learn while having fun.
For something out of the ordinary, you can even take part in a dedicated programme to sleep with the sharks! It is one of the flagship experiences, open to all, where visitors spend the night on site in front of the main tank and take part in night-time activities.
📍 Practical information
🕐
10 AM - 8 PMEvery day
⏱️
2-3 hoursVisit duration
🚇
Oriente metroRed line
📍
Parque das NaçõesEsplanada D. Carlos I, 1990-005 Lisboa
Note that prices may vary slightly depending on the time of year and how busy it is.
Lisboa Card: the smart way to visit the Oceanarium!
To make the most of your visit to the Lisbon Oceanarium, and of the city in general, consider getting a Lisboa Card. This official city pass gives you access to many of the city's sites at a reduced price, while simplifying how you get around.
Among the activities included in the Lisboa Card, you get free or reduced entry to museums, attractions and the capital's flagship activities, including the Oceanarium, but also the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and tram 28.
You can choose between different plans depending on your budget and the length of your stay:
Duration
Adults
Children
24 hours
€31
€21
48 hours
€51
€28
72 hours
€62
€35
This card also offers free and unlimited access to the capital's public transport, such as buses, the metro and trams. You can also take the famous tram 28 for free.
You can also easily visit Sintra and Cascais on the trains, which are included in the pass too, and enjoy extra discounts in many restaurants, on sightseeing tours and in some shopping centres.
The Oceanarium is open every day of the year, including public holidays, from 10 AM to 8 PM, with last admission 1 hour before closing. Keep an eye on announcements, as the hours sometimes vary by date.
⏱️
Visit duration
Allow at least 2 hours to properly enjoy the aquarium. That is the minimum to take in the central tank and read the explanatory panels. Families can easily stay an extra hour without getting bored.
🚇
How to get there
The Oceanarium is about 6 km from the historic centre, in the Parque das Nações district. Get there via the red metro line to Oriente station. There is paid parking nearby and cycle paths running along the Tagus.
🎒
Luggage lockers
Luggage lockers are available on site to leave your belongings during the visit. There are also lockers at the nearby Oriente station, very handy if you are arriving straight from the airport or leaving after your visit.
☕
Café-restaurant
On site you will find a café-restaurant with a magnificent view over the Tagus. Ideal for a break and a boost after the visit. There is also a book and souvenir shop for a memento of your visit.
📍
Address
Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal. The Oceanarium is easy to spot: it is the large building that seems to float on the water, reached by a walkway from Parque das Nações.
History of the Oceanarium
The Lisbon Oceanarium opened in May 1998 for the Lisbon World Exposition, held on the theme "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future".
Created by the American architect Peter Chermayeff, the founding ambition was to recreate an ocean at full scale by placing a giant central tank at the heart of the visitor route.
The architecture of the building itself is remarkable, since it sits on the water and is linked to land by a walkway, symbolising the bond between people and the sea.
From the day it opened, the Lisbon aquarium was extremely well received by the public for its approach, at once immersive and educational. In 2011 it moved to private management, a fresh impetus that has allowed more and more exhibitions and educational programmes.
The Lisbon Oceanarium has welcomed more than 22 million visitors since it opened.
Ready to dive into the adventure?
Remember that with the Lisboa Card you can enjoy the visit stress-free while making real savings!
