10 Best Aquariums Around the World to Visit

Forbes

2 days ago

Father with daughter watching sharks in aquarium
Oceans are often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" because they play a crucial role in producing 50%-80% of the oxygen in our atmosphere and they absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the Earth's climate. The growing interest in the welfare of our marine life and oceans has undoubtedly led to increased visits of the world's aquariums. While some aquariums focus primarily on entertainment, others are crucial for education, conservation and scientific research. Ethical aquariums aim to inspire ocean conservation, rehabilitate injured marine life and support research efforts that help protect vulnerable species. Here are ten of the world's best aquariums that do a good job in balancing entertainment and ethics.
Underwater tunnel at Oceanografic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
The biggest aquarium in Europe, located in the stunning City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, is worth a visit for the architecture alone. The futuristic design features gleaming white concrete, glass and water in a complex of five buildings designed by famous Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela in 1998. The Oceanogràfic building houses around 45,000 animals and 500 species. The aquarium consists of ten different habitats, including a Mediterranean environment, the Arctic Ocean, the Red Sea and the tropics. A highlight is the longest underwater tunnel in Europe where you feel you're swimming with fish all around you, including beluga whales, Angel Sharks, Barrel Jellyfish and Blacktip reef sharks.
Oceanário de Lisbon is located in Parque das Nações
Opened in 1998, the Lisbon Oceanarium's permanent exhibition One Planet, One Ocean is a wonderful multi-sensory experience. The central aquarium represents the 'global ocean' and hosts about 500 species from four oceans, surrounded by four distinct marine habitats. Visitors can meet various species of sharks, sea otters, sunfish, puffins, sea dragons, clownfish, eels, rays and stunning corals, among many others. The aquarium is located in the Dock of Olivais, in the Park of Nations (the site of the 1998 World Expo) and has an excellent restaurant, SeaTheFuture, featuring a menu of organic, seasonal products from local producers.
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
The Musée Océanographique de Monaco opened by Prince Albert I in 1910, has one of the oldest aquariums in the world. From the start, the museum attracted the world-leading oceanographers (including Jacques Cousteau, director from 1957-1988) who developed the concept of a future Mediterranean Commission dedicated to oceanography, now called Mediterranean Science Commission. Four aquariums, specially designed to recreate complex ecosystems, include: the shark lagoon against the bright colors of a coral reef; the Mediterranean sea with 100 of the 650 species of fish living in the Mediterranean and more than 200 species of invertebrates; the tropical sea with deadly stonefish, clown fish and the unnerving moray eel.
Red Blood Parrot in Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, USA
Since opening in 1984, in a lovely oceanfront location, the aim of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium has been to inspire conservation of the ocean through its exhibits and research. When it opened, it was the largest public aquarium in the United States and the first in the world to exhibit a living kelp forest and to successfully care for and display a great white shark. Today the 28 feet tall and 65 feet long Kelp Forest exhibit is one of the main attractions of the aquarium. The Open Sea wing is also essential viewing, featuring three separate galleries with various jellyfish and other plankton found in the bay plus tufted puffins and sea turtles.
Yellow Fish in S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore
With over 100,000 marine animals and 1,000 species distributed in 40 different environments, S.E.A. Aquarium which opened in 2012, is the fourth largest aquarium in the world. A highlight is the 36-meter underwater tunnel that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the water, viewing hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, giant groupers and the red-bellied pacu, a native species to Asia. The aquarium also houses rare and endangered species like the Bow mouth Guitarfish, Moray Eel and Blue Tang. Also on show are unique corals like the Bubble Coral and Sun Coral with explanations of the importance of coral reefs in the marine ecosystem.
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta
Expect to see a wide range of the world's most fascinating animals and sea creatures from the African Penguin, Beluga Whale, California Sea Lion, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tiger Shark and Whale Shark. And speaking of the latter, this aquarium was actually designed around a whale shark exhibit, making it the first aquarium outside of Asia that hosts the giant species. The Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world on opening in 2005, is on land donated by the Coca-Cola Company, just north of Centennial Olympic Park.
Group of fishes and coral at Sea Life Aquarium, Sydney, Australia
As one of world's newest aquariums, having opened in 2023, visitors can see over 4,000 animals from 300 different species, including large species such as tiger sharks and orcas. One of Sea Life e's highlights is the world's largest variety of Australian aquatic life, a rescue dugong called Pig. Another popular attraction is the Penguin Expedition Boat Ride, where you can see a spectacular colony of king and gentoo penguins. Also unmissable is the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, the largest in the world.
National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, UK
The largest aquarium in the UK, the National Marine Aquarium, is home to over 4,000 animals and features groundbreaking ocean conservation work, according to its website. The aquarium is also home to the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the ocean. There are lots of different exhibits and animals found in this harborfront museum. One exhibit shows some of the stunning and colorful animals found locally in the rockpools around the coast. The Eddystone Reef exhibit features local sharks and stingrays while the Ocean Drifters exhibit features mesmerising jellyfish.
National Aquarium, Copenhagen, Denmark
The striking architecture of Denmark's national aquarium, Den Bla Planet, which opened in 2013 was inspired by a whirlpool with visitors entering into the vortex – the curved lobby – and from here are drawn out to the 53 aquariums and installations. Inside you'll see what is described as 'the big five' – sea otters, hammerhead sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus and the arapaima (one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.)
Penguins in Alesund Aquarium, Norway
Since 1998, the Atlanterhavsparken Foundation has been one of Northern Europe's largest and most unique saltwater aquariums. Animals and fish live in unfiltered water straight from the sea outside. The Atlantic Tank is one of Europe's largest saltwater tanks where you'll see all the large cold-water fish that live in our oceans. The aquarium is located in one of the world's most scenic locations, in Norway's western fjords. After exploring the aquarium, hike up to the Fjellstua Viewpoint. Be prepared for several hundred steps to get to the top but the views over the town and sea are worth the effort.