Oceanário de Lisboa: A Modern Aquarium

The Lisbon Oceanarium is one of Europe's finest and one of the world's largest aquariums. It's also the most family-friendly of the city's visitor attractions. The oceanarium, designed by Peter Chermayeff and built for the Expo 98 World Exposition in what is now known as Parque das Naçes, is home to a dizzying array of fish and marine animals, including dozens of different bird species.

The clever design represents four distinct seascapes and landscapes, effectively representing the habitats of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic oceans. These encircle a massive central tank teeming with fish of all shapes and sizes, including graceful rays, bulbous sunfish, and sleek sharks—children's favorite deep-sea denizens. The wraparound plexiglass allows for an incredible close-up view of this magical underwater world, but you should also look for less obvious, but no less extraordinary, species housed in smaller aquaria, such as the exquisitely delicate sea dragon and the comic clownfish.

The various ecosystems are fascinating to explore. The Antarctic habitat, for example, features playful penguins, while the Pacific tank features a pair of spirited sea otters. The Oceanário de Lisboa actively promotes ocean conservation and, in addition to its enviable reputation as one of Portugal's most popular tourist attractions, has received international acclaim for its marine environmental awareness campaigns. Most importantly, it's a lot of fun.

Address: Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Timings: 10AM - 7PM
Phone: +351 21 891 7000
Google rating: 4.7/5

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oceanario.de.Lisboa/