A large aquarium on Playa de Palma, with Europe's deepest shark tank. Open all year, it is a reliable option for a rainy day with children.
Palma Aquarium
Palma Aquarium in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- Families with children
- Best months
- January–December
- Time to allow
- Two to three hours
- Without a car
- Hire car recommended
- Parking
- On-site car park
- Keep in mind
- You want peace and quiet
- Access
- Pushchairs: Easy to manage · Wheelchairs: Largely accessible
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
The building stands on Playa de Palma, a few minutes from the airport.
Jellyfish are nicer to look at in a tank than in the water you're swimming in.
Tropical tanks sit alongside the Mediterranean displays, making the differences easy to see.
Getting to know Palma Aquarium
Does Palma Aquarium suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- Families with children
- You need something to do on a rainy or very hot day
- You are staying on Playa de Palma or in the city
- You are travelling without a car; buses stop nearby
Things to bear in mind
- You want peace and quiet
- You are watching your admission budget
- You would rather spend fine weather outdoors
- You expect a scientific institution
Drive from the airport
12 minutes
8 km
Bus connections
EMT buses from Palma and along Playa de Palma
Region
Palma
Nearest beach
Can Pastilla
1 km
Elevation
5 m
above sea level
A glimpse of Palma Aquarium
Season guide for Palma Aquarium
November Worth a visit
Very quiet Open
Worth visiting in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
Location
Location of Palma Aquarium
- Region
- Palma
- Municipality
- Palma
- Elevation
- 5 m above sea level
- Airport
- 8 km , around 12 minutes
- Hire car
- recommended
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.5323,2.7283
What is Palma Aquarium?
A large aquarium on Playa de Palma, opened in 2007, a few minutes from the airport and promenade. Its 55 tanks hold more than 700 species from the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
The shark tank
The centrepiece is Big Blue. At 8.5 metres deep, it is Europe’s deepest shark tank: 33 metres long, 25 metres wide, with more than three million litres of salt water.
Around eleven sharks from four species live here, alongside more than a thousand other fish. According to the aquarium, the tank also holds Europe’s largest collection of living coral.
You see it twice: from above, looking onto the surface, and from below through the large window. That second view is the reason to come. Qualified divers can also enter the tank through a separate programme offered by the aquarium.
What else is there?
The tanks are arranged by sea region: the Mediterranean, with species you might meet while snorkelling around Mallorca, tropical reefs and a touch tank with rays. Outside there is a jungle area and a Mediterranean garden.
The Mediterranean section is particularly useful: on your next snorkelling trip, you may recognise what swims past.
Planning your visit
Allow two to three hours. Tickets are usually cheaper online than at the entrance, and buying ahead is worthwhile in high season.
Late morning is busiest. Arrive at opening time for a little time with fewer people around the tanks.
When to go
When the weather doesn’t cooperate. In sunshine, I’d make the most of the island outdoors.
Photographs
Palma Aquarium in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in Palma Aquarium
Three hours
Follow the route through the tanks to the shark tank, then head to the Playa de Palma promenade.
Half a day
Add Ca'n Pastilla or Palma's old town.
A full day
Combine it with Palma — cathedral in the morning, aquarium in the afternoon.
On a rainy day
Very good. This is exactly when it comes into its own.
Practical details
- Parking
- On-site car park
- Public transport
- EMT buses from Palma and along Playa de Palma
- Time to allow
- Two to three hours
- Good to know
- Open all year. Tickets are usually cheaper online than at the entrance. Late morning is busiest; arriving early gives you a little time with fewer people around the tanks.
- Bus
- EMT buses from Palma and along Playa de Palma
- Access
- Level indoor floors and paths, with some ramps · Pushchairs: Easy to manage · Wheelchairs: Largely accessible · Dogs: Not allowed
- What you will not find
- Peace and quiet during school holidays · Cheap admission · Everyday Mallorcan life · Direct sea access
- Coordinates
- 39.5323,2.7283 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
An 11th-century brick chamber in an old-town garden, with twelve columns, horseshoe arches and a dome pierced by …
Palma’s cathedral was begun in 1230 and built over several centuries. Its Gothic buttresses rise above the water …
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The March family's city palace between the cathedral and the Almudaina: a terrace filled with 20th-century …
The Balearics' largest harbour sits in the city, in front of the old town. Cargo quays, cruise terminals, marinas …
Palma's grand promenade between Plaça de la Reina and Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I. It follows the bed of a torrent …
Sant Pere bastion, built in the late 16th century on the western edge of Palma’s old town, became home to a …
A striking circular Gothic castle, built above Palma between 1300 and 1311. Inside is a two-storey round …
Distances without a driving time are measured in a straight line. The road journey can be much longer; known driving times are shown alongside.
Where to swim nearby
Beaches and swimming nearby
Places to stay within reach
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Palma Aquarium
How long should I allow?
Two to three hours for the route through the aquarium. With breaks and the outdoor area, it can easily fill half a day.
When is it busiest?
Late morning, particularly during school holidays and in the rain. Arrive early for a little time with fewer people around the tanks.
Is it worth visiting in good weather?
I'd usually make the most of the island outdoors instead. The aquarium is useful for rainy days, very hot afternoons and the day when the children have had enough of old stones.
Can I get here without a car?
Yes. EMT buses along Playa de Palma stop nearby, and the airport is only a few minutes away.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Palma Aquarium?
Palma Aquarium is worth visiting throughout the year. What you can do depends on the season and weather. Open all year, with very few visitors in winter.
Is Palma Aquarium worth visiting in July and August?
July: worth a visit. Usually busy. A sensible outing with children on very hot days. August: worth a visit. Usually busy.
How far is Palma Aquarium from Palma airport?
About 8 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 12 minutes by car. On Playa de Palma, a few minutes from the airport, with its own car park. If you are staying in Palma, the bus can be quicker than driving.
Do I need a hire car for Palma Aquarium?
A car is useful EMT buses from Palma and along Playa de Palma
Where can I park in Palma Aquarium?
On-site car park
Can I visit Palma Aquarium with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Level indoor floors and paths, with some ramps Pushchairs: Easy to manage Wheelchairs: Largely accessible
Are dogs allowed at Palma Aquarium?
Not allowed
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.