When you go to an aquarium, there’s something incredibly magical about seeing that blue light and watching the sea life swim by. You’ll want to save this list if you always look forward to visiting an aquarium when you travel.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka, Japan
The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the most popular aquariums in Japan and among the world’s best aquariums. It has a lot of marine life from the Ring of Fire zone of the Pacific Ocean.
The way the exhibits are set up is cool, and the fun starts as soon as you walk through Aqua Gate and into a blue tunnel. You can see hammerheads, whale sharks, octopuses, and the scary Japanese spider crab, which can grow 12 feet long, in the Aquarium’s 27 tanks and 16 main exhibits.
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, United States
When it was unlocked in 2005, the Georgia Aquarium was the largest in the world. It’s also the only place outside Asia to see the rare and endangered whale shark. Even though it’s no longer the largest Aquarium in the world, it’s still the largest in the United States.
Here, you can get close to dolphins, schools of tropical fish, sea lions, penguins, and many other animals. Zones are amazing and protect freshwater ecosystems, aquatic waters, coral reefs, and river habitats.
Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain
Oceanografic is the best and most futuristic Aquarium in Europe. It is also one of the finest aquariums in the world. It was made by the famous Spanish architect Félix Candela, resulting in a place where avant-garde architecture and the beauty of marine life coexist.
It has the lengthiest aquarium tunnel in Europe and nine beautiful underwater towers that hold samples of the most important ecosystems in each. Here, you can see over 500 animals, such as belugas, sea lions, penguins, rays, jellyfish, and rare oceanic sunfish.
S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa Island, Singapore
The most popular thing on Singapore’s Sentosa Island is to visit the S.E.A. Aquarium, one of the world’s largest and best aquariums. With more than 100,000 marine specimens in its large tanks and 10 different zones that cover 50 different habitats, you can go on a voyage of discovery from the Strait of Karimata to the Red Sea and much further.
The Aquarium is home to over 200 sharks, elegant manta rays, and seahorses with only one partner. The Open Ocean exhibit at S.E.A. is what makes it stand out. Looking through its huge viewing window, you’ll feel like you’re on the ocean floor.
National Aquarium in Copenhagen, Denmark
The National Aquarium of Denmark is another of the best aquariums that is also a great piece of architecture. The Blue Planet (Den Bl Planet) in Copenhagen has a facade shaped like a whale, which has won awards. It is the biggest Aquarium in Northern Europe, and you can see the water worldwide without leaving Scandinavia.
There are more than 400 species at the Aquarium, such as snapping turtles, electric eels, and a giant Pacific octopus with 2,000 suckers. Conservation-wise, the Aquarium has been a big part of some amazing marine life discoveries, like the strange Greenland shark, which scientists think can live up to 250–500 years in the ice-cold waters around Canada and Greenland.
Dubai Aquarium in Dubai, U.A.E.
The Dubai Aquarium is a sight to see and a BIG break from shopping. It is right inside the Dubai Mall. Still, its huge viewing panel goes to the mall’s third floor, is home to more than 300 sharks and rays, and has the world’s biggest collection of Sand Tiger sharks. And in true Dubai style, the tank remains in the right mood, thanks to a special lighting system that changes with the moon.
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China
In the huge Chimelong International Ocean Resort theme park is the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Whale Shark Exhibit Aquarium. After that long intro, it won’t surprise me that it’s also the biggest Aquarium in the world. It is home to at least five whale sharks and many other sea creatures, like manta rays, coral reefs, and sharks.
Agreeing to the Guinness of World Records, the Aquarium has the nation’s biggest underwater viewing dome and aquarium tank. It takes about 30 minutes from Macau by bus or taxi to this beautiful place. From Hong Kong, it takes about 2 hours.
Blue Planet Aquarium in England, UK
In 1998, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, who had passed away, opened the largest Aquarium in Northwest England. Blue Planet Aquarium would then take you deep into the ocean with 9 different themed zones, huge tanks, pools, and underwater tunnels.
See the greatest collection of sharks in the United Kingdom, swim over your head in a spectacular 71-meter underwater tunnel, or if you’re daring, you can go shark cage dive to get even closer.
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium in Shanghai, China
The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is in the Pudong New District, next to the renowned Oriental Pearl TV Tower. It’s made up of two pyramid-shaped buildings and covers 20,500 square meters. It has four subsea tunnels that are 155 meters long in total.
Each building has different exhibition areas, including China, South America, Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Cold-Water, Polar, and Deep Ocean. With more than 15,000 aquatic animals, including rare fish, jellyfish, moonfish, and emperor penguins, there’s no doubt that the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is unlike any other aquarium.
Lisbon Oceanarium in Lisbon, Portugal.
Lisbon Oceanarium is one of the finest aquariums in the world, and it’s right in the heart of Portugal. It’s a unique and fascinating show. The Oceans Building and the Sea Building make up the modern Aquarium. Here, you can watch as 16,000 ocean animals from 450 different species swim around their beautiful exhibits. Because of how it needs to be cared for, a sunfish can only live in a few aquariums worldwide.
