The Barcelona Aquarium is located in the old port, next to the Mare Magnum shopping centre. Las Ramblas is just a stone’s throw away. This is one of Europe’s biggest marine leisure and education centres, with over 11,000 marine animals from 450 different species housed in over five million litres of water.
The main highlight for many is the vast Oceanarium, where you can see sharks, ocean sunfish and rays. A spectacular close-up view is assured thanks to an 80 metre long underwater glass tunnel passing under the Oceanarium. Aquariums are wonderful for children and provide a source of endless fascination. But at the Barcelona Aquarium there is an exhibit designed especially for children, called Explora. This hands-on exhibit features over 50 interactive activities to touch, look at, listen to, investigate and discover the undersea world from. The tour also features the Miniaquària where children can learn more in detail about marine flora and fauna.
The Planeta Aqua display features fascinating aquatic life that has adapted to the most diverse conditions under the sea such as icy cold, the darkness of the deep ocean floor or the warmth of tropical waters. As well as examining these diverse conditions and their effect on sea life, Planeta Aqua also looks at the important role aquatic life has played in human and planetary evolution, with species such as alligators, piranhas and penguins, as well as fossil exhibits.
The Barcelona Aquarium tour rounds off with two large aquariums, the Mediterranean and tropical aquariums.
Other activities which have to be pre-booked include “Diving with Sharks” (for divers, and only for the brave!), and “Sleeping with Sharks”, an activity for 8 to 12 year olds, offering them the chance to spend the night at the Aquarium attending a programme of educational activities.
Adults 18 euros, children 13.50.
