If you pass through Valence during a city trip of a few days, a road trip or even a stopover during a cruise, you shouldn't miss one of Valence's must-sees, the Valencia aquarium tour. The Valencia Aquarium, or Océanografic, is an oceanarium located in the heart of the city of arts and sciences of Valencia. It is one of the largest aquariums in Europe.
Summary:- The Oceanografic: the Aquarium of Valence
- Visiting the Valencia Aquarium: Tips, timetables and prices
- My opinion on the visit to the Valencia aquarium
Buy your entrance ticket directly online and enjoy an enriching visit to the Oceanografic of Valencia. Book your entry Looking for a Valencia travel guide?
Like many, I often travel with a travel guide. If you are looking for a guide for your visit to Valence, let me recommend the "Cartoville" guide from Gallimard. These guides are perfect for directing you during a city trip.Organized in neighborhoods with numerous maps, the “Cartoville” guides really stand out from their competitors by their practical and intuitive aspect. You will discover the essentials of each district, the places to eat, where to go out, etc. Buy this guide on Valencia
The Oceanografic: the Aquarium of Valence
The Valencia Aquarium was built in 2002 inside the City of Arts and Sciences, which also includes the Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts (an artistic complex including an opera house), the Prince Felipe and the Hemisfèric (an IMAX cinema). The Océanografic represents an area of more than 10 hectares comprising around ten buildings as well as numerous indoor and outdoor pools.
The different basins of the Valencia aquarium represent a record volume of water for an aquarium in Europe: more than 42 million liters. These basins constitute the place of life of more than 45 fish and marine mammals divided into more than 000 different species.
The Valencia aquarium is organized around several worlds.
- The Mediterranean Sea
– Wetlands
– Temperate zones
– Tropical areas
- The islands
- The Red Sea
- Le Delphinarium
– Arctic areas
– Antarctic areas
- The reptiles
– The world of the oceans
While browsing these different spaces, you will have the chance to see rare animals such as Belugas, sharks, walruses, many species of Penguins or even sea turtles. The most impressive part and undoubtedly the tunnel crossing the largest basins of the aquarium where there is an impressive number of fish of all kinds but especially sharks of a very good size.
You will also learn more about penguins, these birds living exclusively in the northern hemisphere and about penguins which live only in the southern hemisphere.
The Valence aquarium has 6 restaurants, from the pizzeria to the burger restaurant, including a self-service restaurant. However, the most impressive restaurant is undoubtedly the "Submarino", a restaurant surrounded by glass and immersed in the middle of an impressive pool of more than 10 fish.
As well as being one of the biggest in Europe, the Valencia aquarium is also one of the most visited with almost a million visitors each year.
Visiting the Valencia Aquarium: Tips, timetables and prices
Valencia Aquarium opening hours
- Between mid-September and mid-June:
The Valence aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m. from Sunday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m. on Saturday and during school vacation periods. - Between mid-June and early September:
The aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m. daily. Between mid-July and the end of August, the aquarium is open until midnight with the Oceanografic nights. - December 25 and January 1:
The aquarium opens its doors from 12 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Price and reservation for the Valencia Aquarium
Single tickets can be purchased online or directly on site.
It is possible to combine tickets for the Océanografic with admission to the Prince Filipe Science Museum.
Single entry will cost you €29,70 for an adult; €22,30 for children aged 4 to 12; and free for children under 4 years old.
Book your entry for the Océanografic
How long does it take to visit the Valencia Aquarium
The Oceanografic is relatively large and extensive. Count at least 3 hours to visit the aquarium of Valence quietly. The visit time will also depend on whether or not you choose to attend the dolphinarium show.
How to reach the Valencia aquarium?
The aquarium is located 3,6 kilometers from the central square of Valencia, at the southern end of the Turia gardens.
It is possible to reach the aquarium on foot but also by bike thanks to the Valenbisi, the free access bikes of the city of Valencia.
It is also possible to reach the Valencia aquarium by metro via line 3, then the stop: ALAMEDA.
My opinion on the visit to the Valencia aquarium
Visit the Valencia Aquarium is for me a must for a stay in Valencia. The largest aquarium in Europe is a pleasure to discover, especially if you are visiting Valencia with younger children. The number of species is impressive and the visit is most pleasant. This aquarium is a bit like an amusement park where you discover the different pools during your visit. You can rest for a while enjoying a little ice cream in one of the many cafes in the park.
Only downside to this park: the dolphinarium shows which I did not attend. 5 performances are performed daily. Numerous studies show that these kinds of shows are harmful to the well-being of animals, so we chose not to attend them.
