Tickets to visit Aquarium of Genoa, the biggest in Europe
The Aquarium of Genoa is a marvel of the marine world, where nature, science and wonder meet to enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience. Check out how to visit the biggest aquarium in Europe, all the information about tickets, timetable and FAQs to spend a day with family.
Aquarium of Genoa: the tickets most chosen by travelers
Why visit the Aquarium of Genoa
The Aquarium of Genoa is a marvel of the marine world, a place where nature, science and wonder meet to give visitors a unique and unforgettable experience. Inaugurated in 1992 on the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, born right in the City of the Lantern, the Aquarium of Genoa is the biggest in Europe with a surface area of approximately 27.000 square meters and dozens of tanks and indoor and outdoor exhibition environments, which recreate with extreme care and attention 70 marine ecosystems, from tropical waters to the Arctic.
Inside the Aquarium of Genoa it is possible to observe up close around 12.000 animals belonging to 400 species, including sharks, dolphins, seals, penguins, jellyfish and colorful tropical fish, such as the iconic clownfish, as well as rare species of reptiles and amphibians, especially turtles. Also extremely fascinating are the over 200 plant species perfectly integrated into these habitats. Among the most spectacular attractions, the large dolphin’s and shark’s tanks certainly stand out, that make both adults and children in awe.
Visiting the Aquarium of Genoa is a fantastic immersive experience in a world of colors and emotions, discovering the hundreds of animal and plant species that populate the seas of the planet, an adventure to be experienced with the whole family to learn and be amazed.
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The best tickets to visit Aquarium of Genoa with family
The Aquarium of Genoa is an attraction that arouses great interest and attracts many tourists every year, often exceeding one million unique admissions, driven by the curiosity to discover the wonders of the ocean world and beyond. In particular, the aquarium is an absolute must for those traveling with family, thanks to the wide choice of tickets to choose from.
Here are the best tickets to visit the Aquarium of Genoa, especially with children:
Ticket with reserved entrance: the simplest purchase solution, ideal for not wasting time at the ticket office and starting your visit to the biggest aquarium in Europe right away.
Ticket with reserved entrance and lunch: if you plan to spend a long day visiting the aquarium and all its attractions, this ticket will allow you to skip the queue at the ticket office and have lunch on a splendid terrace overlooking the Port of Genoa.
Tickets Aquarium of Genoa + Town of Children and Kids: the perfect solution to save on entrance tickets and spend a fun day with your family, visiting both the aquarium and the exclusive educational play area for children up to 12 years old.
Tickets Aquarium of Genoa + Illusions Exhibition: this double ticket will allow you to see up close not only thousands of aquatic animal species of the aquarium, but also incredible optical illusions in an unmissable temporary exhibition.
Tickets Aquarium of Genoa + Tutankhamun Exhibition: with this 2-in-1 ticket you can visit the largest aquarium in Europe and venture to discover the magic of ancient Egypt and its most famous pharaoh with very accurate virtual reconstructions.
Tickets Aquarium of Genoa + Lanterna: a double ticket to visit the aquarium and the tallest lighthouse in Europe on the same day, two excellences of the capital of Liguria.
Each ticket type includes admission to the Aquarium of Genoa, with the addition of extra services and/or access to other attractions if you purchase a combo ticket.
Each ticket type does not include transportation services to and/or from the Aquarium of Genoa, guided tours and special experiences (to be purchased separately).
Aquarium of Genoa: tips for your visit
FAQs about Aquarium of Genoa
How long does it take to visit the Aquarium of Genoa?
A complete visit to the Aquarium of Genoa lasts at least 2 hours, but to fully enjoy its beauty it is advisable to explore the exhibitions for up to 3 hours.
What is the best time to visit the Aquarium of Genoa?
The best time slots to visit the Aquarium of Genoa avoiding crowds are the morning opening (9:00-10:30 am) and the afternoon at 3:00 pm.
When is free entry to the Aquarium of Genoa?
The Aquarium of Genoa does not usually have free entry days, however children up to 3 years old, seniors over 65 years old, people with certified disabilities and assistants of 100% disabled people are entitled to a free ticket.
How does the visit to the Aquarium of Genoa work?
The entrance ticket to the Aquarium of Genoa allows you to visit its large exhibition spaces and its internal attractions independently and without time limits, however it is forbidden to exit and enter back again.
How much does it cost to swim with dolphins at the Aquarium of Genoa?
Periodically, the Aquarium of Genoa offers visitors exclusive experiences by reservation for a truly unforgettable day, such as Face to Face with Dolphins, a special attraction to spend more than an hour in the company of one of the most iconic marine animals ever. However, direct contact with the animals is absolutely forbidden, so it’s not possible to bathe in their tanks. The ticket for this type of experience has a variable cost and is not included in the standard entrance ticket.
What not to take to the Aquarium of Genoa?
As it happens for all places with public access, it is strictly forbidden to bring knives, sharp, cutting, blunt objects, weapons and explosives into the aquarium. It is also forbidden to smoke and consume food and drinks in the exhibition spaces, give food to the animals or introduce objects into the tanks, as well as take photographs or film with flash or other light signals. It is not permitted to visit the aquarium in the company of pets, with the exception of guide dogs to assist blind people.
How to get to Aquarium of Genoa
The Aquarium of Genoa is located in the area of Genoa Old Port, Ponte Spinola 16, and can be easily reached by choosing the means of transport that best suits you.
By car: from all directions, exit Genova Ovest, towards Centro; take Via Milano, then Via Gramsci; before the underpass, turn right for the Aquarium car park.
By bus: Lines 1 (from Ponente and Val Polcevera) and 13 (from Levante and Val Bisagno) with the terminus in front of the Aquarium.
By train: from Genova Piazza Principe Station you can reach the Aquarium in 10/15 minutes on foot, by bus with Line 32 to Piazza Caricamento (terminus), or by subway towards Brignole (arrival at S. Giorgio station); from Stazione Marittima you can take bus Line 1 to Piazza Caricamento (terminus); From Genova Brignole Station, the Aquarium can be reached by bus Line 13 to Piazza Caricamento or by metro towards Brin Stazione S. Giorgio.
By plane: from Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport, you can reach the Aquarium by taxi (about 15 minutes) or by bus (about 30 minutes) with the Volabus, stop Piazza De Ferrari and continue on foot to Via San Lorenzo.
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Aquarium of Genoa, the wonders of the sea: info and tickets
Organize with us your visit to the Aquarium of Genoa: all the info and tickets to immerse yourself in the wonders of the sea.
Useful information to visit Aquarium of Genoa
Opening time: the Aquarium of Genoa is open everyday, all year round; from Monday to Friday it is open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm with last entry at 6:00 pm, while on weekends and holidays it is open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm with last entry at 6:00 pm.
The internal attractions and play areas dedicated to children are open every day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm with last entry at 4:00 pm. The aquarium's refreshment service is open every day from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.
Duration of the visit: to visit the entire Aquarium of Genoa it takes at least 2 hours.
Ticket reservations: given the high number of daily visitors, to best enjoy your visit to the Aquarium of Genoa without stress in queue and at the ticket offices it is advisable to book your ticket online in advance. Cancellation with refund or rescheduling of the ticket is possible up to 24 hours before the visit.
What to see in the Aquarium of Genoa
The exhibition itinerary of the Aquarium of Genoa is designed to accompany visitors on an exciting journey to discover the main water-based environments of the Earth and the incredible biodiversity that characterizes them. The aquarium is in fact divided into five macro pavilions to best protect and safeguard the species that populate these wonderful and sometimes surprising ecosystems.
Tropical seas: coral reefs are some of the richest ecosystems on the planet in terms of life, with a vast variety of species that includes thousands of fish and invertebrates, equal to about 25% of all marine species; among the most spectacular attractions of this area are the clownfish and the zebra shark.
Temperate seas: they are found between the tropics and the polar circles, characterized by a mild climate with moderate temperature ranges and a complex geological history, and are home to an enormous variety of species, many of which are exclusive to this sea; the main attractions of this pavilion are certainly the dolphins, but also not to be missed are the jellyfish, moray eels, seahorses and grey sharks.
Cold seas: the two polar regions, Arctic and Antarctic, the coldest and most inhospitable places on Earth located at opposite ends of the globe and characterized by long, cold and dark winters and short summers, in which the sun practically never sets; in this pavilion a visit to the tanks of seal and the different species of penguins is a must.
Tropical waters: the waterways of the tropical regions cross a variety of habitats rich in micro-environments with a very high biodiversity, ranging from rainforests to swamps, and from floodplains to coastal areas at the mouth of rivers; here the protagonists are piranhas, Cuvier's caimans and Antillean manatees.
Tropical forests: with their extraordinary wealth of plant and animal species, they represent a true natural pharmacy, not by chance it’s estimated that about 25% of modern medicines derive from animals or chemical compounds extracted from plants that inhabit these very particular ecosystems: here you can see up close fascinating animal species such as iguanas and various types of frogs.