Visit the Lisbon Oceanarium with the Lisboa Card

With the Lisboa Card you can make admission to the Lisbon Oceanarium by taking advantage of the 15% discount on the ticket price.

Lisbon's Oceanário has been evaluated as the best aquarium in the world according to TripAdvisor, in the years 2015, 2017 and 2018, and promotes an intimate connection with the oceans and their more than 8,000 sea creatures. Let's discover the Lisbon Aquarium together and how to take advantage of access with the Lisboa Card.

Lisbon Oceanarium

The Oceanarium is a large aquarium located in the modern and pleasant area of Parque das Nações, and it is the Second largest in Europe after the one in Valencia. Located in an imposing two-story building, it is known for its large central aquarium which serves as the focal point. The itinerary is well marked, with the upper floor devoted to surface animals and plants, and the lower floor to marine species of the deep.

The aquarium was designed by theAmerican architect Peter Chermayeff and was built for the1998 International Exposition, which attracted more than 11 million visitors. This event greatly increased Lisbon's visibility and represented an opportunity for cultural renaissance not only for the city, but for the entire country.

In 2011, the'Portuguese architect Pedro Campos Costa added a new wing Oceanarium.

The animals inside the Lisbon Oceanarium.

The Oceanarium houses over 15,000 living organisms belonging to about 450 different species. The main attraction of the permanent exhibition is the vast central pool, inhabited by Sharks, tuna and other oceanic marine species. The four smaller tanks recreate different habitats-Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic. The fish, including Sharks, moray eels, stingrays, trumpet fish, unicorn fish and tuna, are the real stars of the aquarium and attract a million visitors each year, making the Oceanário one of Portugal's top tourist attractions.

Among the most admired fish are the Yellow tail damsel, lo Blacktip carrion shark, the Blue-spotted trigon from the electric mottles, the Disguised sea dragon, l'Commerson antennary Often mistaken for a coral, the Sea Devil with a blue-black coat and the impressive Lionfish By colorful thorns.

Other animals include several species of penguins, puffins, terns, sea magpies, giant Pacific octopuses, Australian spotted jellyfish, colorful anemones, starfish of various shapes and sizes, as well as the very sweet otters, the only mammals visible.

Lisbon's Oceanário offers a fascinating variety of sea creatures, curious shapes, bright colors and fascinating behaviors, making it a magnificent place to explore.

How to visit the Oceanarium de Lisboa

The central aquarium, called the Global Ocean, is the main protagonist, housing Sharks, rays, tuna, barracuda and tropical fish such as clownfish. This environment is surrounded by four more tanks that recreate the specific habitats of each ocean-Antarctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific.

Through acrylic "invisible walls," the environments seem to blend together, allowing a Close coexistence among sharks, tuna, penguins and other creatures. Inside the building, interactive educational panels explain the characteristics of each ecosystem. Initiatives such as "Sleeping with Sharks" or "Underwater Vacations" engage children in the experience.

The main mission of the Oceanarium is. Educating children to respect the sea and its diverse marine life, combining entertainment with education. In 2023, the Oceanarium celebrated its 25th anniversary and welcomed over 28 million visitors Over the years.

In addition to conservation and defense of the seas, the Oceanarium embraces the concept of "edutainment", aiming to educate and entertain simultaneously. An experience not to be missed.

Facts and trivia about the Lisbon Oceanarium

• It is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe, and contains about 15,000 different fish, seabirds and mammals from all over the world.

• The central pool is as large as four Olympic-size swimming pools and contains 100 different species from all over the world.
• The central tank is filled with 5 million liters of seawater And it is the largest indoor pool in Europe
• It is one of the only places to see the Moonfish, the world's largest bony fish: it is more than three meters long and weighs more than two tons
• La tropical part of the Lisbon Aquarium is dedicated to the Indian Ocean and recreates Seychelles coral beaches, rainforest and coral reefs.

Frequently asked questions about the Lisbon Oceanarium

• How long does it take to visit the Lisbon Oceanarium? To visit the Lisbon Oceanarium you need to budget at least 1.30h, if you are traveling with children the visit could extend to 2.30h.
• How to get to the Lisbon Oceanarium? You can reach the Lisbon Oceanarium by subway (take the red line in the Oriente direction), by bus (lines 5, 25, 28, 44, 708, 750, 759, 782, and 794 will take you to the Oriente), and by train (you can use Alfa Pendular and Intercity trains, as well as interregional and regional trains on the Azambuja line).
• How much does the Lisbon Aquarium cost? Admission for the Lisbon Aquarium costs 25€ for adults, 17€ for those over 65 and 15€ for children aged 3 to 12. Children under 2 years old get in free. Buy ticket online.
• How does luggage storage work at the Lisbon Oceanarium? Typically the visit lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, as there is really a lot to see inside the facility.

Things to know before visiting the Oceanarium

Reservation

To fully enjoy this experience without having to deal with long lines, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a "skip the line" ticket in advance. This will allow you to skip the ticket line and gain quick access to this wonderful Lisbon attraction. Also, you could plan your visit in the afternoon to enjoy the view of the Capital at sunset.

Turnout: This attraction is extremely popular and gets booked up quickly. If this is one of your "must-sees," book your spot as soon as possible!

Input: Upon arrival, present the reservation confirmation that will come to you via smartphone. Show the pass to the attendant present at the entrance of the attraction and enter the castle by skipping the queue at the ticket office.

Getting there

• Address: Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal
• Nearest subway stop: East - red line towards airport
• Nearest bus stop: East - lines 5, 25, 28, 44, 708, 750, 759, 782 and 794 

Opening Hours.

• Days: Monday to Sunday
• Timetable: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Last entry: 1 hour before closing

Contact

• Address: Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal
• Email: info@oceanario.pt
• Tel: +351 21 891 7000 (call from national landline)

Conclusion

Lisbon's Oceanário, one of the world's leading aquariums, is home to more than 15,000 organisms belonging to 450 different species. Its main attraction is a large central basin which houses sharks, tuna and other sea creatures. Four smaller tanks recreate specific ocean habitats. Among the most admired species are the Lionfish, the Sea Dragon and the Blue-spotted Trigon. The aquarium also offers educational initiatives for children and promotes marine conservation. With over 28 million visitors in 25 years, the Oceanário is a must-see for lovers of marine life.