Oceanogràfic, Valencia

Oceanogràfic, Valencia

The Oceanogràfic in Valencia is one of the nicest acquariums in the world and especially so as it covers a wide surface area that includes both indoor and outdoor space. Just going for the futuristic architecture is enough and the nice collections of sealife that it houses is a bonus.

Sea Lions

There are a few main sections in the acquarium e.g. Tropical and Temperate Waters, Mediterranean, Islands (sealions), Antarctic, Artic, Oceans (where the sharks are), Red Sea, Dolphinarium and Wetlands. Needless to say the kids loved the sharks and the dolphins best.

Flamingos

There are a few restaurants (including a submarine-restaurant) though I've yet to try any of them. As the El Saler mall is just opposite the Oceanogràfic, I usually just lunch there.

Dolphin Show

The Dolphin Show lasted nearly 30 minutes with a guy presenting facts about the dolphins (in Spanish - but he spoke clearly so it was easy to catch) before it started. It is best to turn up and be seated at least 10 minutes before time as it may get filled up quickly by school groups.

I love the Wetlands with its huge ball, but it stank. Couldn't stay inside for longer than it took to have a few pictures taken. Elsewhere we saw divers cleaning tanks or feeding fish, it was nice seeing the acquarium in its daily functioning.

Wetlands

It would take at least 2 hours to visit the Oceanogràfic correctly. If you come to Valencia, this is one of the few places that you must visit. I've been reading about a reasonably new attraction named the BioParc (like an open Zoo) and that would be the thing we would cover the next time we visit Valencia.