Barcelona Weekend Break

l'Aquarium (Europe's largest marine aquarium)

l'Aquarium” is Europes largest aquarium visitor centre and you find it next to the Mare Magnum building in the popular and tourist frequented shore side district of Port Vell (at the end of las Ramblas).

The l'Aquarium was opened in 1995 and does in fact have the highest visitor figures of any of Barcelona's tourist attractions. There are masses of things to see including virtually every type of fish, plant and coral imaginable and the complex holds a staggering five million litres of water.

The big attractions of l'Aquarium are the shark tunnel which, much like those in “SeaWorld”, allow you to walk through a clear glass tunnel with sharks swimming around and above you. But also the clever way that the inhabitants of the various oceans of the world (e.g. the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Pacific etc) are held in separate tanks enabling you to contrast the differences between them.

Ultimately, all the marine creatures that you would hope to see in this kind of complex take a role, from crocodiles and sharks, to turtles and invertebrates and the numerous living exhibits should be interesting and entertaining to all.

Tourist information

Single adult admission to l'Aquarium is about 15 euros which may appear quite steep, but there is a lot to see and you can easily fill half a day if you take your time and look at everything.

This is a great place to go with children, or if the weather is inclement. If you have never seen a “proper” aquarium complex before, this one will certainly set the standard.

If you plan to stay in Barcelona, for a short break or a longer holiday, take a look at our hotels page at Hotels in Barcelona. Barcelona quite literally has hundreds of hotels catering for every budget and level of luxury. So whether you want a cheap and cheerful guest house, or a five star hotel, you will find a selection of accommodation that fits your needs in this famous Spanish city.