As much as I love sushi, I don't quite share that passion about fish before it gets caught, auctioned, filleted, and devoured. Now Jamie and I have been to world-class aquariums from Okinawa (review: https://yelp.to/JmZt0OKoJh) to Monterey (review: https://yelp.to/Zl6LM5VwU2), and this one is among the better ones we've visited, for sure. Take, for example, the Shark Tunnel billed as Europe's longest underwater tunnel (Photo 8). Sharks, rays, tortoises, and the more alpha fish swim above and all around you. It was definitely a unique feature, and so was the college campus approach to the entire operation. Instead of the usual claustrophobic space aquariums provide visitors, Oceanografic offers separate pavilions to reflect different ecosystems like the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Mediterranean. Spanning 110,000 square meters, It allows them to spread out the marine life. Birds and reptiles get their own outdoor compounds. The layout and architecture are compatible with the rest of the retro-futuristic City of Arts & Sciences complex. In fact, this worked well as an introduction to the expansive complex for us as we headed northward through Jardí del Túria. We didn't plan on coming here, which meant we waited in line for a half-hour before paying 39.45€ for each of us to enter. A bit steep but hey, if you like live sushi.. RELATED - Exploring Valencia? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/FQBNx3Jkoj read more

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As far as aquariums go this one is world class. Oceanogràfic offers various aquatic environments that will delight and awe everyone from children to elders. The highlights are the tunnels that fully immerse you in the underwater dwellings. You can see sharks and various other fish and sea life swim all around you. The beluga whale and penguins in the artic exhibit were cool too. If you're visiting Valencia, I highly recommend including Oceanogràfic as a must visit destination. read more

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Enjoyed this experience , would do it again. Be prepared to walk . The lay out of the animals it's very organized . Loved the experience recommend paying a visit to this location. read more

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Such a beautiful aquarium. The largest in Europe. It has multiple buildings divided by oceans with 500 species. The structure and surroundings are as beautiful as what's inside. My favorite was the shark area, a big tank with a tunnel unfortunately we did not get a chance to eat at the restaurant, everyone closed early due to bad weather. There are multiple buildings next to this one, one is a science museum and others are for concerted, conferences and even a night club. I highly recommend this if you're ever in Valencia. read more

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Perfect aquarium to spend half a day exploring. The exhibit of this time is all kinds of tortoises and turtles. The dolphin show was very nice and they are so talented and well trained. The show is not in English at all but there are some parts from the big screen of the show with subtitles in English. The Beluga Whales are beautiful and the penguins are a must see as well. There are plenty of school children on field trips so go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds during the week. I would expect the weekends to be very crowded. I think the value of the admission is good because the aquarium is so big and beautiful. read more

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Wow, this place is amazing! The architecture alone is awesome. I always make it a point to visit zoos and aquariums whenever I can when I visit another city or country. Animals are amazing. The set up in Oceanografic is easy to follow, and quite intuitive. You won't miss anything if you follow it. My favorite was the dolphin show for sure. Amazing animals! I also loved the Beluga whale dome. There's of course a shark tunnel. So cool. All in all, it was an amazing experience. read more

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Do not pass this up!!! This is one of the most amazing aquariums you can see !! I would fly to Valencia again just to see this ! It can get crowded but even with crowds it's worth every bit of time and space and money just to experience this !! read more

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Best aquarium I've been to in a while. I was pleasantly surprised. The dolphin show was amazing and it's plenty of food bars nearby and dessert if you would like to take a break. The dolphin show lasted for an hour which it was incredible. This a beautiful aquarium with so many cool things to see. Good job Valencia Spain read more

Oceanogràfic - Aquariums Near Me - Valencia, V

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Oceanografic is the largest aquarium in Europe. We got there two hours before closing and was told you really need three to four hours to take it all in. We still explored the aquarium park for the two hours and enjoyed every moment. You can purchase an audio guide for an additional fee but we just used the map and went to as many exhibits we could. We really enjoyed the Ocean Shark, Dolphin, and Tropicales exhibits. There is a long tube that you walk through to see sharks, fishes, manta rays. There is just so much to watch and signage everywhere. There are dolphin shows included with admission. Those dolphins and trainers are amazing- doing jumps and tricks. That is a must! There are so many exhibits to see and places throughout the park to grab snacks, drinks, and rest in between all the excitement. Be sure to budget enough time to take it all in. Great place for the young and young at heart. read more

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THE BEST AQUARIUM I have EVER been to. Far exceeded my expectations! Spanning 110,000 square meters, the Oceanográphic is the largest complex of its kind in Europe. Visitors can expect an all-inclusive experience of training, leisure, and research across a mix of 10 magnificent areas containing habitats, swamps and marshland and a garden. This aquarium is so well organized and delightful to navigate. If you are visiting on a hot day, you can cool down in the Artic Zone. Or you can watch a 4D film ( we saw "Sharks"- it was very good). This is far more than an aquarium. We really enjoyed the Bird Avery. The dolphin show is a MUST see and is included in the ticket price. The entire complex is very clean and the animals look very well taken care of. People of ALL ages will enjoy this venue. One of the ways this Aquarium stands out from other similar venues I gave been to, is the affordability of everything inside. We had s fantastic lunch right by the Dolphin Show for a total of $20.00. The 4 D films only cost 3 Euros each! It was so refreshing to visit a large venue without being price gouged at every turn. If you are in Valencia be sure and visit! You won't regret it read more

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Easily the best place to go during a rainy day or to escape the heat. This was one of the largest aquariums that I have ever been to. Although it was huge inside, following the map was very easy. Each section of the aquarium is numbered and set up in a way so you won't get lost. We loved seeing all the different animals and sea creatures here read more

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By far the best aquarium I've ever been to! I didn't think it was that big until I started really making my way through the exhibits. Make sure to check out the times for different shows they have; ie dolphins. They only go in at specific times so try not to miss them and plan accordingly. GREAT place for kids but honestly as an adult, you'll have a blast too. Most exhibits are indoor, but you will be walking outside from exhibit to exhibit. You can spend an entire day here. Worth it in all aspects! SKIP THE OCEANAGRAPHIC RESTAURANT. Please take this advice as the food is terrible, over priced, and service is THE worst I have ever encountered. You won't be missing out on anything as long as you get the tickets for the aquarium. read more

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Had an amazing time walking around the facility, just enjoying the exterior itself was so enjoyable! I liked having the chance to take some photos with the lighting. The whole area had a nice "vibe" to it- no public music or anything like that, but everyone was so relaxed in the area. Very family friendly and the moms and dads who were there were definitely trying to keep their kids within sight! Highly recommend trying the lighting out to see if you can get some fun photos! Pasé un tiempo increíble caminando por las instalaciones, ¡simplemente disfrutar del exterior en sí fue muy agradable! Me gustó tener la oportunidad de tomar algunas fotos con la iluminación. Toda la zona tenía un buen "ambiente", no había música pública ni nada de eso, pero todos estaban muy relajados en la zona. Muy familiar y las mamás y los padres que estaban allí definitivamente estaban tratando de mantener a sus hijos a la vista. ¡Recomiendo probar la iluminación para ver si puedes tomar algunas fotos divertidas! read more

Oceanogràfic - Aquariums Near Me - Valencia, V

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Es el acuario mas grande de Europa. Es un excelente lugar para visitar con los hijos. Tienen mucho para mostrar y aprender. read more

Oceanogràfic - Tiburones. - Aquariums Near Me - Valencia, V

I completely enjoyed visiting this place and I easily spent 3 hours looking at marine animals, birds, etc. There are several buildings that house different animals: Delfinario (dolphin show), Oceanos-Tiburones (sharks), Mediterraneo, Arctico (beluga whales), Humedales-Aviaro (wetlands-aviary), Antarctico (penguins), Mar Rojo Auditorio (sea creatures from the Red Sea), Tropicales (fish and corals) and Templeados (seals and penguins). My favorites are the seahorses and beluga whales...soooo cute! Although this is Europe's largest aquarium, it doesn't seem too busy on a Thursday morning. There are gift shops at the Edificio de Acceso where you will start and end your visit. They have a Christmas tree decorated with sea animal stuffed toys since it's December. I wanted to eat at the Restaurante Submarino but they were still closed when I got there after the dolphin show. The architecture of Oceanografic is just AMAZING. That's what makes is this aquarium standout from all the others. Not all aquariums have beluga whales either. The bathrooms are nice and clean. The Oceanografic in Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias is one of the reasons I love Valencia! read more

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The absolute industry standard for Aquariums worldwide, I was fortunate enough to spend four hours at Oceanografic on September 3rd and could not have been more impressed, everything from the layout to the collection itself unparalleled on the national or international level with admission offering a comprehensive experience including Dolphin Shows, Butterfly house, large aviaries and a truly impressive Sea Lion and Beluga Whale Dome. Not subjected to the childish aspects of several American Aquariums, nothing dumbed-down or made to be eye-level for kids with disregard for adult patrons, Aquarium designers across the globe should see Oceanografic Valencia as a model of how things can and should be done to accommodate all ages and education levels. read more

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This aquarium in Valencia, Spain is one of the few aquariums that is big in size. There a various sections of the park, and the sea creatures are divided into different buildings depending on their category. My first impression about this sector was the beautiful architectural structure, it truly is amazing and it's worth admiring the work! There are various price ranges for entering. You are able to just go to the aquarium or able to make a combination with the next door buildings such as the city of arts and sciences, Hemispheric, and Reina Sofia.If you are a student you are able to receive a discount, but it's important to demonstrate a school ID. Once you are inside, there are buildings that are labeled for the different species. Antarctic, Mediterranean, crocodilaryh, Dolphins, Red Sea, Oceans, Temperate and Tropical, Wetlands, Butterfly room, and finally Islands. I was fortunate enough to make it to the dolphin show and it was spectacular! There were very great performers and the dolphins themselves were incredible. They got the crowd motivated and made it more interactive by allowing a kid to participate in the show itself! They promoted a lot of positive messages on how to help animals that were in danger. It was about a 30 minute show filled with a lot of insight. After, I spent my time walking around and exploring the various sectors. All different and filled with a lot of interesting information. All varying with historical context, myths, and fun facts about the aquatic animals. Overall, I covered the ground around 3 and half hours. I thought overall it was very impressive. Although I was kind of disappointed that some sectors were closed, but they were making improvements to certain sections of the aquarium. read more

Oceanogràfic - One of the few largest Aquariums in Europe. This is situated in Valencia, Spain. - Aquariums Near Me - Valencia, V

Five stars for the architecture, but for the amount and variety of species this place holds, probably 2.5 stars. Oceanografic is known as the biggest aquarium in all of Europe, the entrance is a magnificent building that looks like the landmark of Sydney - definitely reminds you of waves. Entering into the first complex, the main entrance is actually underground. Entering into the Tropical fish region, there was a large aquarium of fish, followed by a tunnel of sharks. Connecting underground, there were plenty of small aquariums for a few species. I had no idea that this wasn't a one building kind of aquarium, but it actually had many complexes such as the penguins, beluga whales and a circular netted ball of the aviary with many birds inside. Check the times for the dolphin show, especially if you have children! read more

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Really fine aquarium. Thoughtful lay out. A lot of well engineered displays. Animals seemed well taken care of. Admission is high relative to other aquariums in Europe, but aquariums are expensive to run so I expect to pay a higher fee to support. Not as kid friendly / oriented as other aquariums. Not a destination, but if you are going to check out the architecture in the area, this is worth checking out. Note: not a negative, but an FYI, a lot of the facility is outdoors, so it is not a perfect rainy day activity unlike most aquariums. read more

One of the largest aquariums in all of Europe representing a huge swath of marine life. It tries to portray all walks of the earth in those ecosystems, while doing it in a large and modern Calatrava designed complex. Lots of kid s and families roam the space and it closes a bit early for my taste. However it's a beautiful landmark that promotes education. 4.5 stars read more

Oceanogràfic - Aquariums Near Me - Valencia, V

Great variety of species! Location is awesome right next to the calatrava buildings. Little pricey and directions inside the aquarium are confusing at times. read more

We sent a notice to participate in the "Sleep with the Sharks" event a week ago. I received an email confirming receipt of my order indicating that I needed to provide a passport and phone number. Two days before the event I sent my information. I received a call this morning asking me to provide payment information to confirm my reservation and was informed that we wouldn't actually be sleeping "under the sharks" as the advertisement said. They indicated that with renovations and too many people booking the event, we would be sleeping in the facility but would see the sharks "off in the distance". I asked if there was a discount for sleeping "away from the Sharks" and they suddenly said, we are booked and we don't have any room for you. You should have confirmed your reservation over a week ago. Enviamos un aviso para participar en el evento "Dormir con los tiburones" hace una semana. Recibí un correo electrónico confirmando la recepción de mi pedido indicando que necesitaba proporcionar un pasaporte y número de teléfono. Dos días antes del evento envié mi información. Recibí una llamada esta mañana pidiéndome que proporcionara información de pago y me informaron que en realidad no estaríamos durmiendo "debajo de los tiburones" como decía el anuncio. Indicaron que con renovaciones y demasiadas personas reservando el evento, estaríamos durmiendo en las instalaciones pero veríamos a los tiburones "a la distancia". Le pregunté si había un descuento por dormir "lejos de los tiburones" y de repente me dijeron: estamos reservados y no tenemos espacio para usted. Debería haber confirmado su reserva hace más de una semana. read more

The surrounding architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences is very impressive. It's a huge space. The Oceanografic is a relatively compact aquarium. You can easily do the whole park in under two hours. If you're visiting in the summer I would recommend going as early as you can, because it's very hot and about half of the exhibits are outside. The areas inside are conditioned but it's not always all that cool inside either. The content of the fish, exhibits, etc are just ok. I've been to a lot of different aquariums, and this one seems a bit depressing actually. We didn't go to the dolphin show which are spaced 3-4 hours apart because we didn't want to wait around since we finished the exhibits very quickly and that was WITH a 3 year old. I still say to check it out because you're in Valencia and it's one of its major attractions, but in my opinion it's just ok. read more

El Oceanográfic es excelente! Es la mejor parte de la visita a la Valencia...luego de la playa claro esta. Mi review completa de la Ciudad de Las Artes y Las Ciencias esta en http://www.yelp.com/biz/ciudad-de-las-artes-y-las-ciencias-valencia#hrid:Fldwhzq-CYH0Qq_DOGW2Xg (en ingles!). Tranquilamente puedes pasar todo un dia aqui. Mi parte favorita es donde estan las morsas y belugas. Durante mi visita en el caliente mes de Agosto, es muy rico entrar a esa sala tan fria y ver pasear a las morsas. Es casi hipnotico! Si tienes que ir a ver una pelicula, date por los menos 30 minutos para poder llegar a tiempo y no tener que correr como loco. En cuanto a la comida, mejor visita la zona central. Te recomiendo la Lambrusqueria (review en http://www.yelp.com/biz/lambrusqueria-valencia#hrid:o5GrXAQGjTqbfDzIL8U1XA ) read more

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Excelente lugar precioso para pasar un rato en familia y disfrutar de todas su arquitectura

One should always visit this spot when in Valencia. I'm not a big fan of zoo's or aquariums for the matter, but this one is realy well done. I enjoyed the dolphinshow, and even believed the animals were having fun. I also believe they are being kept in excellent conditions here (I'll always prefer them being kept in their natural habitat, but once they are born in captivity...) In the other buildings I really liked the diversity of animals you can watch here. And again, the spacious tanks they are in. I only had a feeling once or twice that there were too many fish in a tank. What I also liked were the many tunnels in which you could observe the fish from a different perspective. read more

I typically don't love aquariums, but this one blew me away. There is so much to see! The architecture of all the buildings are unique and beautiful. The dolphin show was the best one I have ever seen. There are a few underwater tunnels where you can watch fishes (and sharks) swim all around you. Be prepared to walk a lot (including outside) as there are several different buildings. The line was very long for purchasing tickets, however you can purchase tickets ahead of time! Make sure to allow plenty of time here. read more

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The aquarium is a must see site in Valencia! I have only been to two other aquariums but this has been my favorite. You could easily spend an entire day there. We received a coupon book at the airport and we were able to receive a discount at the ticket window of the aquarium read more

Oceanogràfic - This was a huge aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Valencia, V

can't compare with San Diego seaworld or even Monterey aquarium but probably worth it to come and visit here if you are staying in Valencia for couple days. read more

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It's really big! Like disneyland, it has a lot of sections for different types of animals. We saw it all in 2-3 hours. My favorite was the "Antarctica" section because they have this beautiful beluga. So magical that I wanted to cry, and sit there all day in front of the enormous tank. The interior of some sections were not as modern looking, or as flashy, as some of the aquariums in the states (like the monterey), but the breadth of animals, land and sea, is impressive. Visiting in the Nov was good because it's cooler, which means the tanks were less smelly.. Tip: get 15% off by showing them your visitor metrocard! (bought the 25euro - 3 day unlimited bus/subway pass, totally worth it.) Tip: can skip the "red sea" - we walked into the 500+ seat auditorium that has a large tank on a stage. i thought a show was going to start to use that as a back drop, or someone will come in and talk and educate - but nope. Sat in a seat for 20 minutes, and nothing happened. On the way out, i asked the employee what is going to happen? when is the show? hes like no, that is it. ..... i say to confirm, you mean just looking at the tank? he says yes read more

My visit at oceanografic was awesome. I especially liked the dolphin show, I was amazed what these beautiful sea creatures could do. Furthermore I liked the sharks very much but I was a bit disapointed because I heard that there would be white sharks which there weren't, yet the others were obviously really cool and toothy :) . I went in the "semana santa" so there were a lot of kids there which was sometimes annoying because they cry really loud etc but oceanografic stays open till 10 pm so after 6 pm most children and a lot of people were already home so the parc was less crouded which was nice. I also went to the 4D movie to see the hurricane which was really nice and lifelike (luckily enough not to lifelike but you get the point) Tip: get a bracelet at the info point when you go in, this way you can go outside oceanografic and get back inside afterwards to for example get a cheap icecream etc.. because the shops in oceanografic are more expensive. Tip: when you go to oceanografic during the school year you can go with an erasmus office instead of paying 30 (or 25 for students) you only pay 15 euros. read more

A few exhibits were closed, but the largest aquarium in Europe delivered. The daily dolphin show cannot be missed. The park has great indoor and outdoor components, birds and butterflies in addition to sea life, and was incredibly clean. They offer audio guides in a variety of languages for rental but i didn't choose to use one and still found english and Italian written displays along with Spanish near many exhibits. The real snow falling in the penguin exhibit was great as was the baby beluga! read more

Best aquarium I've seen in Europe. It really deserved a visit.

Perfect for keeping the kids happy. It's pricy, but it must cost an awful lot to run. If you want to avoid the long queues on holidays and in the summer, buy tickets in advance at the Corte Inglés department store in the centre of the city. Cheapest way to get there from the centre is the frequent 35 bus. If you're prepared to splash it on the meal, there's also a first-class underwater restaurant. read more

Incredible - amazing.. Feels like you are really walking under the ocean..one day not enough..the bird sanctuary is awesome as well. If you are planning to eat there later in the evening a note to remember the restaurants close early except the revolving one at the top (found out later about it) read more

A real entertainment whatever your age. Best aquarium I have ever seen with different acquariums presenting the different marine eco system of the world : arctic, tropical, mediterranean, pacific, ... There is even a gastronomic restaurant inside a circular giant acquarium, so that you enjoy eating amongst thousands of fishes read more

Fabulous modern architecture at its best. The fish, animals and birds are displayed in imaginative and accessible displays. The Beluga whales were particularly memorable and truly awe inspiring. The free dolphin display adds fun and variety for both visitors and the dolphins. Many exhibits are connected by underground tunnels to avoid the heat. Good self service restaurant offers well priced local foods. Allocate a full day to get the most from your visit. read more

This is one of the nicest aquariums I've seen anywhere in the world. It blends beautiful architecture with a fantastic collection of ocean creatures. If you are in Valencia, Spain, I highly recommend a visit to this aquarium. read more

Oceanográfic was my favorite part of Valencia (besides the food). The whole complex that it resides in is completely stunning and visually interesting. La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias was designed by Calatrava and he did a wonderful job of making it modern without looking ridiculous against the back drop of an older city. This particular aquarium is beautiful and wonderfully designed. The compound is fun to walk around, and most of it is outside, which is great since the weather is so nice there. The animal exhibits were well designed and interesting to walk through. Most importantly there were TWO separate places to see penguins!!!! In the penguin area outside people could feed them at designated times as well. The dolphin show definitely shouldn't be missed either. You absolutely cannot go to Valencia without visiting the aquarium and the whole Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias. read more

Don't miss this--especially if aquariums are on your list of destinations and it's a rainy day. We thoroughly enjoyed our three hour visit and took great pictures/videos to share with our grandchildren. read more