Visit the Oceanarium: one of the finest in Europe

Located in the north-east of Lisbon, the aquarium fits perfectly into the Parc des Nations district, a very modern environment where you can see buildings with futuristic architecture. This excursion is now as popular with the Portuguese as it is with tourists, as it is such an impressive sight to behold. The district is a mix of avant-garde buildings, urban art and picturesque gardens. Getting there is simple: the aquarium is easily accessible by metro in less than 40 minutes from the city centre. Head towards the airport on the red metro line and stop at the "Oriente " stop, then walk a few minutes to the Oceanarium. Take the opportunity to look around.

You will arrive in front of the enormous concrete building set on the water and surrounded by its glass shell. A gently undulating walkway mimicking the waves will lead you inside. The complex was designed by American architect Peter Chermayeff, who has also built several other pools around the world. The aim of this monumental construction was to raise awareness of the need to protect the oceans as part of Expo 98, a universal exhibition held in Lisbon in 1998, the theme of which was the preservation of "the oceans, a heritage for the future". Despite its age, the aquarium in Lisbon was a success, remaining the second largest in Europe and one of the most visited.

The two-storey building revolves around a huge central pool with rounded windows and a magnifying glass effect. You feel like you're right there with the animals! We strongly recommend that you follow the direction of the tour to avoid getting lost. As you explore the building, you'll see different marine species depending on your position.

You'll go from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic, then from the North Pacific to the Indian Ocean. Upstairs, you'll be able to see animals living on the surface, such as penguins and the aquarium's two mascots: two adorable otters, a faithful species that lives with the same partner all its life and is sure to put on a show for you. Don't miss the little passageway reproducing a walk through the jungle!

On the ground floor, you can contemplate the marine species of the deep and sit back to admire the fish, sharks, different species of rays and even a strange flattened fish that looks like a half-moon, the mola-mola. All these marine animals come and go like an orchestrated aquatic ballet. There are also smaller aquariums showing tiny but dangerous animals such as jellyfish. You can spend hours contemplating this whole ecosystem, especially with the lighting effects, it's so mesmerising!

Despite any concerns you might have about seeing animals living in an aquarium, they are pampered and remain in a protected environment. In fact, some species today would be unable to live in their natural environment due to poaching or difficulties in reproducing, and are safer here. Thanks to a cutting-edge technological process that artificially recreates their natural environment and living conditions, the Oceanarium is able to welcome animals from tropical, temperate and cold zones. It's also a way of raising our children's awareness of current issues such as the climate and the conservation of flora and fauna.

📍 Address: esplanada D. Carlos I, Lisbon

🚌 How to get there

By metro: "Cabo Ruivo" stop.

By bus: lines 26B 728 stop "Av. Mediterrâneo"

⏰Opening times: 10am to 8pm (last entrance at 7pm)

👛 Price (from) :

• 15 € (from 3 to 12 years old)
• 22 (13 to 64 years old)
• 17 (over 65s)

👉 Duration: between 2 and 3 hours

Take a lunch break at Honest Greens Parque das Nações, a restaurant that has left a lasting impression on us thanks to its décor and history. It was created by three world travellers in search of good food, who met in Spain and decided to set up their own restaurant with the concept of healthy food from responsible sources for everyone, at any time of day. In short, we loved it!