Valencia's Aquarium: the Oceanografic in the City of Art and Science of Valencia

Visit Valencia Aquarium

The Oceanografic of Valencia is the largest aquarium in Europe. It is part of the stunning City of Arts and Science of Valencia and the buildings have been designed in the wonderful contemporary style of the rest of the city.

The Oceanografic and the City of Arts and Sciences is on the eastern edge of the city near to the port area of Valencia. It was designed by the architect Felix Candela.

Explore the Aquarium of Valencia, the Oceanografic

The Oceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe and has different buildings highlighting sea life from the Mediterranean, Temperate and Tropical Oceans, Antartic and Artic Oceans, the Red Sea and wetlands. There is also a Dophinarium with daily shows.

The aquariums as well as the various restaurants are housed in buildings of the same contemporary style as the rest of the City of Arts and Science which makes the aquarium stunning visually as well as full of interesting displays.

The Oceanografic houses 45000 different animals and 500 different species including whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, penguins and a vast array of fish.

The Arctic area is housed in a giant igloo with two levels. There are giant ice blocks in the upper level and below you can see fascinating beluga whales through the glass of the giant tanks. Beluga whales are white as camouflage amongst the icebergs of the Arctic Ocean.

In 2016 the first beluga whale baby was born in Europe here at Oceanografic.

The Antarctic area features Gentoo penguins with their distinctive white patches on their heads.

The area housing the Temperate and Tropical Oceans has a large number of aquariums housing different species from these seas. These include puffer fish, humphead wrasse, surgeonfish, eels and crabs and many more. There are also a number of different species of sharks.

The Mediterranean area has many species of fish, rays, sea urchins, octopus and coral. Near to here is the shark tunnel. A higlight of the visit the 35 meter long shark tunnel connects two underwater towers and combined is one of the largest aquariums in the world.

Shark species in the tunnel include blacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, and sand tiger sharks. There are also sawfish and bull rays.

Oceanografic also has a dedicated jellyfish with lots of tanks of these unusual and beautiful creatures.

One of the bigest draws of Oceanografic is its dolphinarium with a group of bottlenose dolphins and these perform a show several times a day.

Also at Oceanografic is a large aviary and a number of small lakes including one with a group of slender-snouted crocodile.

There are a number of different restaurants to suit a range of tastes and budgets.

You can buy a ticket just for the aquarium or combine it with a ticket to the IMAX cinema or the science museum.

Places to visit nearby

The whole of the City of Arts and Sciences is well worth a visit as is the old town of Valencia.

If you have time visit the lovely castle and town of Xativa.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Valencia guide and the Valencia and Murcia guide.

Photos of Valencia Aquarium

Click any picture to start the gallery

Map of Valencia Aquarium and places to visit

Valencia Aquarium places to visit

City of Arts and Sciences

Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences is a spectacular collection of modern buildings housing arts and science exhibitions.

City of Arts and Sciences guide

Valencia

An attractive city with an historic centre but also a lively centre with trendy bars, restaurants and shops.

Valencia guide

National Ceramics Museum

Spain's National Ceramics museum is housed in a beautiful Baroque building in the heart of Valencia's old town.

National Ceramics Museum guide

Valencia Fine Arts Museum

The Fine Arts Museum of Valencia has an excellent display of Valencian and Spanish artists. The display includes beautiful golden altarpieces from the 14th and 15th century.

Valencia Fine Arts Museum guide