Seville Aquarium Entry Tickets – Marine Life, Exhibits & Visitor Guide
Tickets & Entry Options
- Standard admission: €19 adults, €14 children aged 4–14, free for under 4, €16 seniors 65+. Tickets include access to all permanent exhibits, touch tanks, outdoor river ecosystem area, and educational presentations. No time limit once inside—visitors typically spend 1.5–2.5 hours depending on interest level and age of children.
- Skip-the-line tickets: Same pricing but guaranteed immediate entry without ticket office queues. Worth purchasing during peak periods (weekends, school holidays, rainy days) when wait times exceed 20–30 minutes. Book online for best availability and mobile entry convenience.
- Family packages: Occasional promotions offer slight discounts for 2 adults + 2 children, though savings rarely exceed €5–8 total. Check official website for current offers before purchasing. No annual passes or multi-visit tickets available—single-visit pricing only.
- Combined tickets: No official combo deals with other Seville attractions. The aquarium operates independently from major monuments like Alcázar and cathedral. Budget separately rather than expecting bundled savings.
Exhibits & Marine Species
Acuario de Sevilla opened 2014 in repurposed dockside warehouse near Puerto de las Delicias. The facility houses 7,000 specimens representing 400 species across 35 tanks totaling 2 million liters of water. Layout follows journey from Guadalquivir River through Atlantic to five world oceans, emphasizing Seville's historical maritime connections.
Key exhibits and zones:
- Guadalquivir River ecosystem: Opening exhibit showcases local freshwater species—carp, catfish, barbel, and endemic Iberian fish. Educational context about the river's role in Seville's history and current ecological challenges. Often overlooked by visitors rushing to ocean tanks, but provides meaningful local connection.
- Atlantic Ocean tunnel: Central attraction features 9-meter underwater tunnel passing through 400,000-liter tank. Bull sharks, nurse sharks, sea turtles, and giant groupers swim overhead creating dramatic perspectives. Feeding demonstrations occur twice daily (check schedule upon entry). Tunnel can bottleneck during crowded periods—visit early or late for better photography.
- Tropical coral reef: Colorful Indo-Pacific species including clownfish, tangs, angelfish, and living coral colonies. Vibrant and photogenic, particularly appealing to young children. Informational panels explain coral bleaching and conservation challenges—decent educational content beyond mere entertainment.
- Touch tanks: Interactive shallow pools allow supervised touching of sea stars, urchins, and small rays. Staff monitors closely to prevent animal harassment. Children universally love this hands-on experience. Queues form during peak hours—strategic timing necessary.
- Jellyfish gallery: Mesmerizing cylindrical tanks with backlighting showcasing multiple jellyfish species. Minimalist aesthetic creates calming atmosphere contrasting with busier reef exhibits. Instagram-popular spot—expect photographers monopolizing prime viewing positions.
- Deep ocean zone: Dimly lit section featuring bioluminescent species, deep-sea fish, and octopuses. More subdued and contemplative than high-energy shark tunnel. Appeals to older children and adults more than toddlers who prefer colorful shallow-water species.
- Outdoor terrace: Penguins and river otters in naturalistic habitats. Climate-controlled viewing area provides respite from indoor tanks. Less impressive than main exhibits but children enjoy watching otter feeding behaviors. Seasonal access—sometimes closed during extreme summer heat.
Educational presentations occur throughout the day covering shark biology, marine conservation, and ecosystem interconnections. Presentations in Spanish with English summaries on request. Quality varies by guide—some excellent, others formulaic. Not essential to visit but adds value if timing aligns with feeding demonstrations in main tunnel.
Visiting Strategy & Practical Tips
Maximizing your aquarium experience:
- Optimal timing: Weekday mornings (10–11 AM) offer smallest crowds before school groups arrive after noon. Weekends fill quickly by 11:30 AM and remain crowded until 3 PM. Late afternoon visits (4:30–6 PM) provide emptier tanks as families with young children depart. Rainy days see maximum attendance—plan aquarium visits for clear weather when outdoor attractions monopolize tourists.
- Route strategy: Most visitors follow clockwise circuit from river exhibits to ocean tunnel to exit. Consider reversing direction—counter-clockwise means encountering main tunnel attractions first while relatively empty, then exploring smaller tanks without crowds. Feeding demonstrations draw everyone to tunnel simultaneously—avoid or embrace depending on preference.
- Photography considerations: Low lighting and glass reflections challenge casual photographers. Turn off camera flash (prohibited and stresses animals). Stand perpendicular to glass to minimize reflections. Smartphone cameras struggle in dim conditions—DSLR or mirrorless with fast lens performs better. Jellyfish gallery and coral reef offer best lighting for quality images.
- With young children: Budget 2–2.5 hours including touch tank time and outdoor terrace breaks. Bring stroller for children under 4—facility is fully accessible. Restrooms with changing tables located mid-circuit. Small café sells overpriced snacks and drinks—consider eating before or after visit rather than relying on facility food.
- Educational value: Signage appears in Spanish with English translations of varying quality. Marine biology vocabulary provides excellent learning opportunity for Spanish students—consider combining visit with DELE exam preparation focusing on scientific terminology and environmental themes.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible throughout including tunnel viewing areas. Elevators connect multi-level exhibits. Sensory-friendly hours occasionally offered for visitors with autism—check website for scheduled dates. Service animals permitted with documentation.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Honest assessment: Seville Aquarium is well-maintained and educational but not exceptional compared to world-class aquariums. The shark tunnel impresses, species diversity is respectable, and local river ecosystem provides unique regional context. However, at €19 per adult, value depends heavily on your priorities and travel companions.
- Worth it for: Families with children aged 4–12 who love marine life, rainy day backup when outdoor Seville attractions are unpleasant, marine biology enthusiasts wanting comprehensive species overview, travelers with 3+ days seeking activity variety beyond historical monuments.
- Skip it for: Solo adult travelers prioritizing culture and history, visitors with only 1–2 days in Seville needing to maximize limited time, budget travelers where €19 significantly impacts daily spending, those who've recently visited major aquariums (Barcelona, Lisbon, Valencia offer superior facilities).
- Better alternatives: Spend the time and money exploring Seville's unique cultural attractions—cathedral, Alcázar, Plaza de España, Triana neighborhood. These provide experiences unavailable elsewhere, whereas aquariums exist globally with similar offerings.
- Compromise option: Visit during late afternoon (after 4:30 PM) when crowds thin. Spend 60–90 minutes seeing highlights (tunnel, jellyfish, touch tanks) rather than comprehensive exploration. Reduces time investment while capturing core experience.
Quick Logistics
Location and access: Muelle de las Delicias, Puerto de Sevilla—waterfront location south of city center. No metro access—bus C2 stops nearby, or taxi ride from cathedral costs €8–10. Walking from historic center takes 25–30 minutes. Free parking available on weekdays (limited spaces), paid parking weekends and holidays.
Operating hours: Daily 10 AM–7 PM (high season April–September), 10 AM–6 PM (low season October–March). Last entry 60 minutes before closing. Hours occasionally extend during school holidays—verify current schedule before visiting. Closed December 25 and January 1.
What to bring: Camera for photos (no flash), light jacket as interior climate-controlled cool, hand sanitizer for after touch tanks. Strollers permitted and recommended for young children. Food and outside drinks prohibited—small café inside offers limited options at inflated prices.
Nearby Attractions
The aquarium's waterfront location near Torre del Oro means easy combination with river cruise departures, historic port district exploration, and riverside promenade walks. After your visit, cross Isabel II Bridge into Triana neighborhood for authentic tapas and ceramic workshops—far more representative of Seville culture than the aquarium experience itself.