The Best Aquariums in The World

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Why Visit the Best Aquariums In The World

Public aquariums are the only way many of us get a glimpse of the mysterious world that lies beneath the surface of our oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. When done well, aquariums also help with research, rescue, rehabilitation, conservation, education, and breeding programs for some of the world’s most endangered and at-risk species. These top aquariums feature colorful freshwater aquarium fish, stunning marine tanks, colossal crabs, terrifying piranha tanks, penguin parks, some of the biggest jellyfish in the world, rare captive whale sharks, beautiful coral reefs, protected sea turtles, and much, much more, making them the best aquariums in the world.

It’s important to note that most public aquariums are also accessible to the disabled and many are compliant with the ADA. Aquariums have also been proven to have a myriad of health benefits, like lowering stress and blood pressure. So, if you can’t have your own 200 L aquarium at home, hopefully, you’ll enjoy checking out this list of the best aquariums in the world. And if you can’t get there in person, links to the aquarium’s live streams have been included where available.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium - Okinawa, Japan

Formerly The Okinawa Ocean Expo, The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium located in Ocean Expo Park Okinawa, Japan showcases a massive collection of wildlife native to the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire area. Their 27 tanks and 16 main exhibits allow visitors to get an up-close experience with animals they wouldn’t otherwise see.

The largest aquarium tank, called the Kuroshio Sea, holds almost 2 million gallons of water and features some of the few whale sharks in captivity. The Okinawa Aquarium whale sharks swim amongst giant ocean manta rays, smooth tail devil ray, and many other fish species. TheAquarium also features a Coral Sea tank with 450 colonies of reef-building corals and 80 different species based on the actual scenery of the coral reefs in Motobu.

Another big attraction at Okinawa Churaumi is the Shark Research Lab which breeds bull sharks, tiger sharks, silky sharks, and silvertip sharks. Outside the Aquarium visitors can enjoy the Dolphin Lagoon which houses bottlenose dolphins, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, false killer whales, Pantropical spotted dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins, and Pygmy killer whales. There’s also a manatee and sea turtle exhibition. The sea turtle exhibition has successfully spawned Hawksbill sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, and Green sea turtle as well as birthing West Indian manatees.

Disabled guests and their caregivers are granted free entry to the aquarium. The aquarium is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. wheelchairs are also available for use free of charge at the North Gate guard booth on a first come first serve basis.

Seattle Aquarium - Seattle, Washington, USA

Seattle Aquarium Octopus Tank, Seattle, Washington, USA

The Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, Washington is located on Pier 59 on the Elliot Bay waterfront. The aquarium focuses on fish of the Puget Sound, including grunt sculpins, Pacific spiny lumpsuckers, canary rockfish, wolf eels, salmon, sturgeon, sharks, skates, and rockfish. The Underwater Dome on the aquarium’s lower level allows guests to view a dazzling array of Puget Sound fish from an impressive undersea room.

The main exhibits include Window on Washington Waters, a 120,000-gallon tank replicating the coastal waters of Washington State. Life of a Drifter, which focuses on the ocean’s more unusual creatures including an octopus tank featuring the giant Pacific octopus and a 12-foot glass “donut” tank filled with moon jellyfish. Other exhibits include The Pacific Coral Reef, a 25,000-gallon man-made coral reef, Ocean Oddities, an exhibit showcasing cowfish, flying gurnards, potbellied seahorses, pinecone fish, and short dragonfish, and Birds and Shores, which allows visitors to see tufted puffins, common murres, and shorebirds.

Another popular area of the aquarium is the Marine Mammals area which displays the Pacific harbor seal, Northern fur seals, sea otters, and river otters. The seal tank allows guests to view seal feeding and learn about sea otter pups and endangered animals in the sea. Conservation and education are a major focus of this aquarium’s Seattle staff.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible and offers wheelchair rentals free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Seattle Aquarium has also partnered with KultureCity to accommodate and assist guests with sensory needs. Sensory bags containing KCVIP badges, fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones, and other resources, along with weighted lap pads are available for checkout at no cost to guests.

If you can’t get there in person and want a Seattle Aquarium virtual tour, the Seattle Aquarium offers live cams of both sea otters and harbor seals.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Located in The Dubai Mall (the world’s largest shopping mall and one of the most Instagrammable places in Dubai), The Dubai Underwater Zoo and Aquarium aka The Dubai Mall Aquarium, consistently ranks as one of the top aquariums in the world. The 10-million-liter Dubai Aquarium tank is one of the largest suspended aquariums on Earth.

In a city full of aquariums large and small, The Dubai Underwater Zoo and Aquarium really stands out. The aquarium complex houses the most spectacular variety of aquarium fish in Dubai, comprising over 140 species. More than 300 sharks and rays swim alongside the largest collection of Sand Tiger Sharks in the world.

The Dubai Underwater Aquarium was the first facility in the region to exhibit Gentoo penguins. Part of the Aqua Nursery Experience, Penguin Cove houses 8 male and 8 female penguins in a Subantarctic environment. This all-new immersive encounter allows guests to step inside the Penguin Cove habitat to learn more about the fascinating natural behaviors of the Gentoo penguin.

In The King Croc encounter guests can view two massive Salt Water Crocs from Australia. Relocated from his original home in Queensland, Australia, King Croc was labeled a problem crocodile due to his highly aggressive behavior and massive size. Now the largest crocodile in the world, clocking in at 1,653 pounds, King Croc must remain in a protected environment to avoid conflict with humans and other wildlife.

This marine life park also offers an Otter Encounter where guests can view a family of Asian small-clawed otters, the smallest otter in the world. This highly threatened species is part of the aquarium’s breeding program and its commitment to ensuring the survival of endangered species.

Their Ray Encounter allows guests to meet, feed, and pet stingrays. Their stingray tank houses 50 Eagle Rays and Cow nose Rays alongside a specially designed feeding platform.

Click here for Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Tickets.

Shedd Aquarium - Chicago, Illinois, USA

One of the most famous aquariums in the US, The John G Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois houses 32,000 animals, encompassing 1,500 species, including fish, marine animals, snakes, birds, amphibians, and insects. When it comes to beautiful aquariums, it’s hard to beat Shedd. The building was designated a part of the National Historic Landmarks, America in 1987. The oldest aquarium’s gallery, Waters of the World, features Haraldmeier’s Mantella, an octopus fish tank with a giant Pacific octopus, blue iguana, starfish, and alligator snapping turtles.

Their Caribbean reef houses a rescued green sea turtle named Nickel, as well as bonehead sharks, Tarpons, and stingrays.

The Amazon Rising area is home to 250 different species including a red-bellied piranha aquarium, and tanks housing electric eels, Green anacondas, freshwater stingrays, Dwarf caimans, Caiman lizards, wattled jacanas, yellow-spotted river turtles, Yellow-footed tortoises, Red-footed tortoises, Mata matas, Arowanas, and many species of South American birds, frogs, and fish.

Their Wild Reef exhibit recreates a Philippine coral reef complete with living coral, rays, sharks, and Wobbegongs. The main focus of this ocean kingdom is a 400,000-gallon shark tank with curved windows for optimal viewing of these majestic animals.

The Polar Play Zone contains an underwater aquarium where guests can view beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Sea otters, Rockhopper Penguins, and Magellanic penguins. Visitors can also admire the large jellyfish aquarium area which is home to Aurelia aurita/ moon jellyfish, shrimp, seahorses, and starfish, as well as a starfish touch pool. Speaking of touch pools, Shedd also offers a Stingray touch exhibit, open seasonally on the aquarium’s outdoor South Terrace.

Free Shedd aquarium days are open to Illinois residents every Thursday. Advance reservations are required with proof of a valid state ID or driver’s license.

Shedd’s facilities are fully wheelchair accessible. They also offer a sensory-friendly app designed for guests with autism and sensory processing disorders. ASL interpreters can be arranged at no additional cost for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. In addition, closed captioning is available for guests in the 4-D Experience Auditorium. There are also hearing loops installed at the membership desk and the ticketing counter. For guests who are blind or have low vision, Shedd offers recorded audio descriptions, touchable models, and Aira.

If you can’t get to Chicago, you can always check out a Shedd Aquarium virtual tour through their website.

Moscow Oceanarium - Moscow, Russia

One of the biggest aquariums in Europe, Moscow Oceanarium features 80 panoramic tanks with more than 12,000 inhabitants, including killer whales, beluga whales, dolphins, starfish, rays, xiphosurans, and more. The Oceanarium also offers a lecture hall where children and adults can learn from top scientists, naturalists, aquarists, and divers.

This massive aquarium is also home to the biggest freshwater fish in the world, the beluga sturgeon. The largest of these fish measured over 20 feet in length and weighed over a ton. Seeing one in captivity is extremely rare, so guests will want to take the opportunity to see one of the coolest freshwater fish in the world.

Tickets for disabled guests and their companion are available for 10 RUB, which at the time of writing is about .15 US.

SEA Life Aquarium - Sydney, Australia

Sydney Sea Life Aquarium offers an interactive experience in their Great Barrier Reef exhibit, the largest Great Barrier Reef exhibit in the world. The aquarium also houses a shark tunnel, penguin expedition, discovery rockpool, and one of only 6 captive dugong in the world.

The highlight of Sydney Sea Life is Dugong Island, home to Pig the dugong. Pig was rescued from Forrest Beach in North Queensland after being separated from his mother at a very young age. After rehabilitation, Pig was released into the wild but was later found washed up on the shore and the decision was made not to release him again for fears he would not survive.

The Aquarium’s ethos is Breed, Rescue, Protect. As such, they have established breeding programs for everything from Undulate Rays to coral propagation. They’re also active in worldwide beach cleans, developing a beluga whale sanctuary, and providing amazing educational resources for schools.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible throughout and offers free entry to carers or essential companions of those with disabilities. Sea Life Sydney also offers Escape The Noise kits provided by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Included in the kits are earplugs and noise-reducing earmuffs.

Click here for Tickets to Sydney SEA Life Aquarium.

Aquarium of The Pacific - Long Beach, California, USA

Neon Jellyfish at The Aquarium of The Pacific - Long Beach, CA USA

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located just outside Los Angeles in Long Beach, California. The aquarium focuses on the Pacific Ocean. Exhibits include sea otters, sharks, sea jellies, frogs, and more spread out amongst their Tropical, Northern, and Southern California/Baja aquarium galleries.

The aquarium also offers a variety of boat excursions, including gray whale watching, dolphin cruises, harbor tours, and the blue whale and sea life cruise.

Aquarium of the Pacific also offers extensive educational programs for all ages, focused on helping to engage the community in tackling critical environmental issues. They provide virtual field trips, a kids’ summer camp, and an online academy.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available to guests free of charge at the Information Desk. For guests who are blind or visually impaired, audio tours are available for free at the Information Desk. Braille visitor guides are also available. There are also a variety of sensory experiences for blind guests. For deaf and hard-of-hearing guests the aquarium provides written descriptions of all shows. Exhibit videos are close-captioned. Sign language interpreters are available for free tours with four days’ notice.

The aquarium also hosts events highlighting people with disabilities, including Autism Nights and Abilities Night, a night where anyone with a disability can enjoy free entry to the aquarium.

If you can’t get to Long Beach, you can check out The Aquarium of the Pacific live cam through their Live Aquarium TikTok Broadcast streaming every Tuesday at 6 pm PST on the TikTok app.

SEA Life Centre London Aquarium - London, England, UK

One of the best UK aquariums, Sea Life London is one of three Sea Life Aquariums to make the Sick Girl Travels best aquariums list. It’s also one of only two aquariums in the UK to make the cut. Of the aquariums in London, Sea Life is hands down, the best. Life Sea Life Sydney and the other Sea Life locations on this list, Sea Life Aquarium’s London location works closely with the Sea Life Trust to do amazing conservation work around the world. It’s partnered with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Shark Trust, and Save Our Seas. The aquarium also focuses on education and includes two classrooms that host approximately 40,000 schoolchildren each year.

The Sea Life Center is divided into three aquarium zones: Rainforest Adventure, Coral Kingdom, and Ocean Invaders. One of the best aquariums in Europe, Sea Life features a dazzling array of species from the common octopus, to Gentoo penguins, to Bungle and Zippy, the aquarium’s impressive Grey Nurse Sharks. The aquarium also coordinates the European Black Tip Reef Shark breeding program and features several of these magnificent creatures in their shark tank.

Sea Life London is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Guests with disabilities are entitled to a ‘free carer’s ticket’ when appropriate documentation is shown to admissions staff. For further accessibility info for Sea Life London, check out their website.

Click here for Skip-The-Line Tickets to SEA Life Centre London.

Looking for more animal adventures in the UK? There are some amazing UK safari parks.

Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Georgia Aquarium, the best aquarium in the US - Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Formerly the largest aquarium worldwide, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is widely regarded as the best aquarium in the United States. It’s also still one of the largest aquariums in the world. The Georgia Aquarium building holds 11 million gallons of fresh and saltwater. Notable residents include whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, and manta rays.

The aquarium’s design is built around a 6.3 million gallon whale shark exhibit. Whale shark captivity is extremely rare and the Georgia Aquarium was the first aquarium outside Asia to house the giant species. Their whale shark were taken from Taiwan’s annual fishing kill quota. Were they not brought to Georgia they would have been eaten. The facility also offers a whale shark diving experience where guests to the Georgia Aquarium swim with whale shark from inside the safety of a cage.

The aquarium is also one of 5 aquariums with a manta ray. The aquarium’s first manta ray was saved after being accidentally caught in nets protecting the South African coast from sharks.

The Georgia Aquarium works with Georgia Tech, Georgia State University in Atlanta, and The University of Georgia in Athens to help save endangered species through multiple education and research programs.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available to rent free of charge on a first-come-first-serve basis in exchange for a picture ID. Golf carts are available to transport guests to and from the Aquarium’s parking deck.

For visually impaired guests, tactile elements have been added at the educational stations in each gallery. Staff members are also located throughout the galleries to give detailed descriptions of the exhibits.

For guests with hearing impairments, a visual script of the cell phone and iPod tour is available at the Information desk. Additionally, the aquarium offers ASL interpreters at the first sea lion and dolphin presentation of the day on the last Sunday of each month.

The entire Dive Immersion Team is certified by the Handicapped SCUBA Association as either Divemasters or Instructors. So Disabled guests wishing to participating the Snorkel and SCUBA dive encounters are able to do so.

The Georgia Aquarium is the first aquarium in the world to be designated as a Certified Autism Center. Sensory bags are available for guests on the spectrum.

If you can’t get to Atlanta you can view the Georgia Aquarium Live Cams. The facility offers the most extensive aquarium live cam viewing in the world. Choose from the Ocean Voyager Webcam, Jelly Webcam, Beluga Whale Webcam, California Sea Lion Webcam, African Penguin Webcam, Gator Crossing Webcam, Piranha Tank Webcam, Southern Sea Otter Webcam, or Underwater Puffin Webcam.

Oceanográphic - Valencia, Spain

Located in beautiful Spain, Oceanographic Valencia is the biggest aquarium in Europe. It has one of the best walk-in see-through shark tunnels in the world. The aquarium is home to 45,000 animals representing 500 species, including sharks, rays, penguins, dolphins, sea lions, walruses, beluga whales, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. The exhibits are organized into nine two-tiered underwater towers representing all of the Earth’s major ecosystems.

On top of being the largest aquarium in Europe, it’s arguably the most beautiful aquarium in the world. Part of the avant-garde architectural complex known as the City of Arts and Sciences, Oceanographic is a first-rate educational, scientific, and recreational centre.

On top of showcasing a wide variety of Mediterranean Sea life and animals in the Mediterranean Sea, the aquarium holds Aldabra giant tortoises, Angel sharks, Barrel jellyfish, Beluga whales, a variety of seahorse, Blackchin guitarfish, Bottlenose dolphin, Bull ray, Carpet shark, Common jellyfish, Common octopus, Flame jellyfish, Flamingos, Giant spider crab, Gentoo penguins, Green moray eel, Grey reef shark, Japanese sea nettle, Jelly blubber, Leaf fish, Longhorn cowfish, Mauve stinger, Medusa huevo frito, Nurse shark, Palette Surgeonfish, Peacock mantis shrimp, Pelicans, Port Jackson shark, Pufferfish, Sand tiger shark, Sailfin snapper, Sawfish, Sea lions, Shovelhead shark, Slender-snouted crocodile, Spotted garden eel, Large-spotted dogfish, Undulate ray, Upside-down jellyfish, Whitetip reef sharks, Zebra shark, and many, many more.

The Oceanográphic Foundation works tirelessly to protect the marine environment and improve the conservation of species and their natural habitat.

Reduced priced tickets are available to disabled guests. All aquarium buildings are adapted with ramps and/or lifts so all guests can access any point of the aquarium. Wheelchairs are also available for rent with a refundable 10 euro deposit. Audio guide services are available in Spanish, Valencian, English, French German, Italian, and Russian.

Oceanográphic 360 offers a virtual tour of the aquarium grounds, allowing those outside Spain to see a variety of exotic aquarium fish from the comfort of their home.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan - Osaka City, Japan

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan showcases aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim in perfectly recreated natural habitats. Over 15 incredibly big aquariums each recreate a specific region of the Pacific Rim, taking guests on a virtual tour of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these tanks, “The Pacific Ocean” holds 5,400 tons of water and houses the aquarium’s whale sharks, the largest aquarium fish in the world. Guests can encounter 30,000 animals encompassing 620 species.

Kaiyukan also allows guests the unique opportunity to experience the sea at night in their Kaiyukan Night Aquarium, open every day starting at 5 pm.

The Osaka Aquarium Biological Institute of Iburi Center (OBIC) is the research laboratory of the Osaka Aquarium. OBIC operates a research building and a large research tank holding 1,600 tons of water and a myriad of local species. With the cooperation of local fishermen and Iburi community members, OBIC collects local marine animals in order to feed them and manage their health conditions.

The Aquarium is wheelchair accessible. Guests who use wheelchairs are requested to come to the Information Counter on 2F of the Entrance Building to receive further guidance on the aquarium tour. Wheelchairs are available for rent free of charge at the information desk on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Audio guides are available for guests in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. Leaflets describing the aquarium are available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.

Footage of the Osaka Aquarium’s whale sharks can be viewed on YouTube.

Tropicarium Hungary - Budapest, Hungary

The Tropicarium Aquarium Budapest is one of the biggest attractions in Budapest. The aquarium’s 8-room facility showcases animals from all over the world including exotic birds, squirrel monkeys, alligators, spurred tortoises, and thousands of colorful fish. But their main attraction is their incredible 1.4 million liter shark aquarium. The Tropicarium is the largest saltwater aquarium in Central Europe, encompassing 32,000 square feet and 50 aquariums.

Feeding the sharks is one of the aquarium’s most popular attractions. Feeding takes place each Thursday between 3 pm and 4 pm. Other popular attractions include a large freshwater tank dedicated to the indigenous fish of Hungary. This exhibit allows guests to glimpse these unique freshwater aquarium fish.

The aquarium’s main goal is to educate visitors to love and respect nature. The Tropicarium offers a shark class to help guests become more informed about these incredible creatures.

The Tropicarium is wheelchair-accessible and located nearby several beautiful Budapest Boutique Hotels.

Lisbon Oceanarium - Lisbon, Portugal

Home to 8,000 sea creatures in 7 million liters of saltwater, the Lisbon Oceanarium is the largest outdoor aquarium in Europe. The aquarium is built around one main exhibit, a 1.3 million gallon marine tank measuring 23 feet deep and featuring 100 species from around the world, including sharks, rays, groupers, barracudas, moray eels, and one large sunfish.

Lisbon Oceanarium is one of few aquariums in the world to house sunfish, because of their unique and demanding care requirements. The study and conservation of sunfish is a huge priority in the few aquariums to hold them in captivity. Sunfish are considered a delicacy in some Asian countries, but due to declining numbers eating sunfish has been banned in the European Union. Lisbon Oceanarium offers guests the unique opportunity to view one of these amazing creatures and learn more about sunfish facts.

Oceanário Lisboa participates in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria breeding program for ten species, including Bluespotted ribbon tail ray, sharks, seahorses, and sea birds such as Magellanic penguins. They also engage in several European conservation projects.

The Oceanário complies with European Accessibility Standards. Wheelchairs are available for rent on a first come first serve basis. All videos in the facility have subtitles in English. All explanatory texts are available in Portuguese and English.

Click here for Lisbon Oceanarium Tickets.

Monterey Bay Aquarium - Monterey, California, USA

The Monterey Bay Aquarium was the first aquarium to exhibit a living kelp forest. This three-story high exhibit showcases fish species indigenous to Monterey Bay, including leopard sharks and rockfishes. They were also the first aquarium to successfully exhibit and care for a great white shark.

Monterey Bay Aquarium research and conservation efforts focus on sea otters, numerous bird species, and tunas. They also publish a sustainable seafood advisory list which is used worldwide in efforts to procure more sustainable seafood.

The aquarium displays 35,000 animals belonging to 550 species, including various jellyfish, tufted puffins, sea turtles, pelagic stingrays, scalloped hammerhead sharks, sandbar sharks, mahi-mahi, mackerel, bluefin and yellowfin tunas, sea otters, plumose anemones, white sturgeon, bat star, African penguins, and many more. Monterey Bay Aquarium is also home to one of the largest ocean sunfish in captivity, Mola Mola.

A Monterey Bay Aquarium ticket costs $49.95 for adults. Senior and Youth tickets are available for $39.95. Children under 4 are free.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible, however, they do not provide public parking on-site. Disabled guests may utilize the passenger drop-off and pick-up zone near the Aquarium’s main entrance.

All videos in the exhibit halls have captioning in both English and Spanish. Printed aquarium guides are available in English and Spanish at the Main Entrance Information Desk.

The aquarium offers a variety of on-site dining options which cater to vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. For other allergy issues, please contact the Cafe managers at (831) 648-4870. Outside food is permitted for those with medical needs ONLY.

Monterey Bay Aquarium also offers sensory bags and noise reduction headphones for guests with sensory needs.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Membership program allows free admission year-round with early entry. The early hours are considered a quiet time to visit. Membership is an excellent option for guests with sensory needs or limited stamina who may wish to make several shorter trips to the aquarium rather than one long trip. Membership plans start at $75.

If you can’t get to the Central California Coast, Monterey Bay Aquarium cameras provide live footage of the aviary, aquarium’s jellyfish, kelp forest, open sea animals, penguins, sea otters, and sharks, allowing guests to go on a Monterey Bay Aquarium virtual tour.

Genoa Aquarium - Genoa Italy

The Genoa Aquarium in Genoa is the largest aquarium in Italy, welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors a year. The aquarium encompasses 70 tanks containing 1,600,000 gallons of water spread over 33,000 sq feet of exhibit space. The aquarium tanks are home to 12,000 animals from 400 species including marine mammals, reptiles, birds, fishes, amphibians, and invertebrates, making a trip to the aquarium one of the top things to do in Genoa, Italy.

Their Sharks Bay exhibit is home to multiple species of shark and two specimens of sawfish. The Antarctic Marine Species and Penguins exhibit is the only aquarium exhibit in Europe to host several specimens of invertebrate and Antarctic fish. The gallery also includes Gentoo and Magellanic penguins in a tank specially designed to reproduce the environment of the Falkland Islands.

The Genoa Aquarium also focuses on many species from endangered environments, offering educational opportunities to visitors from around the world.

The aquarium is accessible to guests with mobility impairments.

Kenting National Museum of Biology and Aquarium - CheCheng Township, Taiwan

Ray at Kenting National Museum of Biology and Aquarium - Taiwan

The Kenting National Park complex is not only home to the largest water park in Taiwan, but also Taiwan’s National Museum of Biology and Aquarium.

The nearest city to Kenting National Museum of Biology and Aquarium is Kaohsiung. You can read more about the artsy port city of Kaohsiung here.

In 2004 NMMBA joined with National Dong Hwa University to establish NDHU College of Marine Sciences and The Graduate College of Marine Biology. The building has several major divisions including research facilities, public facilities, a center for aquatic life, maintenance facilities, a large international conference center, and a center for academic research. The museum features a 266 foot underwater moving track, the largest underwater tunnel in Asia. Their main tanks contain an impressive 1,500,000 gallons of water.

There are three main exhibitions. Coral Kingdom showcases multiple varieties of coral reef habitats. Leaving the exhibit guests exit through an underwater tunnel where they can view the aquarium’s four beluga whales. Some of the animals featured in this exhibit are lionfish, moray eels, blacktop reef sharks, unicornfish, cow nose rays, butterflyfish, and garden eels. Waters of Taiwan showcases aquatic animals native to Taiwan. Featured animals include trout, cuttlefish, tilapia, Japanese eel, nurse sharks, yellowish tuna, Indo-Pacific tarpon, spotted eagle rays, and the rare captive whale shark. The Ancient Oceans exhibit takes guests through the formation of the ancient oceans and the evolution of marine organisms, from the first microscopic multicellular organisms to the appearance of the first marine mammals in the Cenozoic Era. The exhibit also showcases a variety of ocean habitats and houses the museum’s Penguin Tank.

Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire, England, UK

The second of the UK aquariums on this list, Planet Aquarium’s stated aim is to “enlighten, increase knowledge and raise interest in the marine environment using an interactive, entertaining, and sustainable approach.” This aquarium in Chester is the largest aquarium in North West England and Sick Girl Travels pick for the best aquarium in the UK. The main Planet aquarium tank holds 1,100,000 gallons of water and features a 233-foot underwater tunnel. Planet Blue features more varieties of shark than any other aquarium in Britain. Guests can enjoy more than 100 living displays with a wide variety of species. Some of the more popular Blue Planet fish tank exhibits include Caiman Crocodiles, Sand Tiger Sharks, Black Pacu, Electric Eel, and the exciting piranha’s aquarium.

Blue Planet Aquarium also offers Shark Encounter Dives for beginners, as well as Junior Shark Dive Experiences for kids ages 8-15 years.

Recognized by the ‘Rough Guide to Accessible Britain’ as the ‘UK’s Finest Aquarium’, Blue Planet Aquarium provides dedicated accessible parking, free admission for full-time carers on a 1:1 basis, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and free wheelchair rental with a refundable deposit.

Adventure Aquarium - Camden, New Jersey, USA

Adventure Aquarium Penguin Park - Camden, NJ, USA

One of the best aquariums on the East Coast, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ features some of the most interesting animals in the world, including the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast US. It is the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos, and one of only six facilities in the US to house Little Blue penguins. It’s well worth the train ride from New York City if you happen to be visiting the area.

Adventure Aquarium attractions include Creature Feature, an area showcasing Purple ochre star, anemones, sea cucumber, and other invertebrates. Hippo Haven, which is home to several Nile Hippopotamus. Kidzone Learning Center, an educational area dedicated to helping kids learn about conservation and the wide world of marine life. Penguin Park, the area dedicated to the aquarium’s colony of African penguins. Sea Turtle Cove, an exhibit focusing on several endangered species of turtles from around the world. Shark Tunnel, Shark Bridge, and Shark Realm, the three sections dedicated to the aquarium’s massive shark collection. Stingray Beach Club, a touch pool where guests can interact with Cownose rays and Southern fish tank stingrays. And finally, Piranha Falls which holds the piranha fish tank containing a school of 120 red-bellied piranha in aquarium below two beautiful waterfalls.

Adventure Aquarium is wheelchair accessible and wheelchairs are available for rent for a small fee. Sound reducing headphones and weighted blankets are available for guests with sensory needs. The Adventure Aquarium Shark Bridge diving experience is not accessible to guests with mobility issues. the aquarium instead offers guests the opportunity to take part in a fully accessible, behind-the-scenes Shark Shack tour. Adventure Aquarium Parking offers guests handicap accessible parking spaces in lots 7 and 8 located on Riverside Drive.

Two Oceans Aquarium - Cape Town, South Africa

Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa is situated on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, not far from the location where 2 oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, meet. 2 Oceans Aquarium is home to Knysna seahorses, sea stars, compass jellyfish, moray eels, anemone fish, cryptic klipfish, shysharks, Japanese spider crabs and more. Their giant predator exhibit holds a massive 2 million liters of water and multiple Ragged-tooth sharks. The aquarium also contains a massively popular Kelp forest exhibit which is home to white musselcrackers, spotted gully sharks, steenbras, and a wide variety of local kelp species. Their penguin exhibit houses several species of penguins, including African black-footed penguins and northern rockhopper penguins. The I&J Ocean Exhibit holds an impressive 1.6 million liters of seawater, as well as rays, turtles, and various fish. I enjoyed this aquarium a bit more than Ushaka marine world in Durban, South Africa, if only for its amazing conservation efforts and variety of programs.

Two Oceans is one of the coolest aquariums on this list, offering yoga classes where guests can relax and realign amongst the tranquil aquarium surroundings. They also offer dive experiences for both experienced and novice divers.

One of my favorite exhibits is the underwater viewing dome where you can pop up in the center of a giant clownfish tank and watch these beautiful orange fish swim around you.

The aquarium is heavily involved in conservation and educational programs. They tag and release ragged-tooth sharks every 2 years, making them one of the few facilities in the world that release their animals back into the wild. The data is used to learn more about local shark species. Turtles are also part of Two Ocean’s tag and release efforts. The animals are frequently rescued and rehabilitated before being released in warmer waters off the coast. The aquarium also works tirelessly to save seals entangled in fishing lines and plastic bands used for packaging.

Two Oceans Aquarium is wheelchair accessible throughout.

Click here for Skip-The-Line Tickets to Two Oceans Aquarium.

SEA Life Centre Istanbul Aquarium - Istanbul, Turkey

SEA Life Center Aquarium Istanbul is the third of the Sea Life aquariums to make this list. One of Istanbul’s top tourist attractions, this top-notch aquarium is well worth including in your Istanbul Itinerary. The aquarium showcases exotic fish tanks, underwater diving shows performed by professional divers, exciting touchpool experiences, and shark encounters. But the aquarium’s best feature may be its grand overhead display of exotic aquarium fish and wildlife.

Animals on exhibit include Moon jellyfish, seahorses, pipefish, Caretta Caretta sea turtles, rays, Rockpool creatures, clownfish, and octopus. The aquarium is committed to breed, rescue, and protect marine life. They also organize beach cleaning events and are partners in the Sea Life Trust which funds multiple conservation efforts and educational programs.

Sea Life Istanbul has complete wheelchair and disabled access.

Click here for Skip-The-Line Tickets to Sea Life Istanbul.

AquaRio - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The lone aquarium in South America to make this best aquarium in the world list is Aquario, Brazil. The largest marine aquarium in South America, and one of the biggest aquariums in the world, Aquario opened in the fall of 2016. The building has 5 floors, 28 tanks, 4.5 million liters of seawater, and 8,000 animals encompassing 350 different species. The aquarium’s main draw is its shark exhibit, showcasing nurse sharks, whitetip reef sharks, blacktop reef sharks, and sand tiger sharks. Other exhibits include doctor fish, grouper, whiting, catshark, scorpionfish, bamboo sharks, and moray eels.

One of the more unique exhibits, The Virtual Aquarium, allows guests to create their own fish through digital touch screens. These creations are housed in the aquarium’s virtual tank. Aquario’s Museum of science exhibits subjects related to the marine and aquatic environment. The Museum of Surf takes guests through the history of surfing in Brazil and around the world.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible with ramps and wheelchairs.

Click here for AquaRio Tickets.

How I Chose The Aquariums on My List

You may notice I’ve left off large aquariums like Chimelong Ocean Aquarium and Shanghai Ocean Aquarium. I didn’t feel comfortable adding these to my list given the animal abuse that occurs in this country. When I visit China I purposely stay away from their zoos and aquariums because of my involvement with local animal activists. That’s not to say these aren’t very well reviewed on other sites or that Chimelong Ocean Kingdom aka Chimelong International Ocean Resort isn’t beautiful and impressive, but as an animal activist, I cannot recommend it as one of the world’s best.

The Aquariums I’ve recommended here are well-known for their conservation efforts and great animal care. I’ve personally visited many of them and others are on my bucket list.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the world’s best aquariums. Have a suggestion that didn’t make the list? Let me know what you think are some of the best aquariums in the world by dropping them in the comments below.