Official Information
Official site & tickets: https://www.acquariodigenova.it/
Address: Area Porto Antico, Ponte Spinola, 16128 Genova, Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Open every day of the year with varying hours; typically from around 09:00 or 10:00 until late afternoon or evening. Last admission is about two hours before closing. Exact times change by season and day of the week, so always check the official calendar before your visit.
The Acquario di Genova is Italy’s largest aquarium and one of the biggest in Europe, designed by Renzo Piano for the 1992 Expo and located in the redeveloped Old Port area. The multi-level space features over 70 tanks recreating diverse marine habitats, including the Ligurian Sea, tropical reefs, the Antarctic, and the Amazon. Visitors can view panoramic tanks with sharks, rays, and shoals of fish, as well as specialized aquaria for coral, jellyfish, and seahorses. Star residents include bottlenose dolphins, penguins, manatees, seals, and a wide range of colorful fish. Educational exhibits explain the aquarium’s conservation work and environmental challenges, making it ideal for families and anyone interested in marine life. Many tanks offer viewing windows at different heights for younger children. The Acquario is part of Genoa’s Porto Antico complex, also home to attractions like the Bigo panoramic lift and the Biosfera glass biosphere. You can buy tickets for the aquarium alone or as part of combination passes for multiple sites. Online purchase is strongly recommended, especially on weekends, school holidays, and rainy days, when it is busiest. Visits typically last two to three hours; cafés and rest areas are available inside. As an indoor attraction, the Acquario di Genova is enjoyable year-round and is a memorable contrast to Italy’s art and archaeology-focused sights.