Acquario di Genova

The Genoa Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Italy and one of the largest aquariums in Europe.
It represents a true immersion in the world's seas, designed to engage adults and children in a continuous journey of discovery.

The visit unfolds along more than 70 exhibition tanks, housing more than 12,000 animalsbelonging to about 400 species, from marine and freshwater ecosystems from all over the planet. Each environment is carefully reconstructed so that even the youngest children can understand the differences between habitats, climates and species.

The tour leads from the cold waters of Antarctica, with Magellanic penguins, to tropical coral reefs, animated by colorful fish such as clownfish, via tanks dedicated to sharks, rays, jellyfish and large sea turtles. Also popular with children are the tanks that allow close observation of usually little-known species, such as seahorses, dogfish, and cardinalfish.

One of the most spectacular points of the visit is the Cetacean Pavilion, with open-air tanks overlooking the sea of the Old Port, where dolphins live. Here the tour is on several levels and allows you to observe the cetaceans both from above and underwater, offering a very engaging experience from an educational point of view as well.

The Genoa Aquarium is also the only facility in Italy to house manatees, large herbivorous mammals known as "sea mermaids," a particularly delicate and endangered species. The dedicated tank allows these animals to be observed during daylight hours, often at times of interaction and feeding.

Particularly interesting is the puppy trail, which takes young and old alike to discover the births and early life stages of different species: from penguins to tropical fish, from stingrays to turtles.
A simple and direct way to tell children about growing up, caring for and protecting animals.

Practical Information

Have you decided to visit the Genoa Aquarium for the first time? Here are the questions and THE answers that moms have shared on the Facebook group of Its4kids - kid-friendly through their experience.

Aquarium visit and tickets

Visiting the Aquarium takes about half a day.
You can buy tickets for just visiting the Aquarium or combined tickets for other attractions in the Old Port

(Gr)children up to age 3 get in free and up to 12 get reduced admission Buying tickets online there are periodic discounts

How to avoid queues at the Aquarium entrance?
To avoid the queues at the entrance (often quite long), we recommend buying Aquarium tickets online,

It is preferable to visit the Aquarium during the week because the wait for admission is usually shorter. If, on the other hand, you plan to visit on the weekend, arm yourself with a tiny bit of patience because the lines may be a bit longer and so may the number of people visiting the Aquarium.
To reduce waiting time, it would be best to arrive in the morning, before 10 a.m., or around lunchtime. Otherwise late afternoon, but remember that the last admissions are at 6 p.m. because the Aquarium closes at 8 p.m.

How long is the visit to the Aquarium?
The length of the visit to the Aquarium depends a lot on the age of the children and their temperament.
The Aquarium is quite large, to visit it all takes at least three hours., better to devote half a day to visit it at a leisurely pace.
With younger children, the visit might take less time because they are likely to want to go from one tank to another quickly to discover all the animals.

Can you get around in a stroller in the Aquarium?
Inside the Aquarium you can get around safely in a stroller, following a special path with elevators to get from one floor to another.

At what age can you visit the Aquarium?
Visiting the Aquarium is also recommended for younger children. If you are planning to visit the Genoa Aquarium, we would like to remind you that from 0 to 3 years old, children get in for free.

What to see besides the Aquarium?

The Aquarium of Genoa is located in the area of the Old Port of Genoa, within walking distance are the Galata Museo del Mare and la Città dei Bambini.

Where to sleep in Genoa?

Here you can find a list of family friendly facilities in Genoa

For more info look here: practical- nformation for visiting Genoa with kids

Activities by reservation

A night with sharks

The "Night with the Sharks" experience is confirmed on the official website: it is a special children's activity (reserved for children ages 7-11, without adult participation) in which kids spend the night inside the Aquarium sleeping in front of the shark tank. During the evening they take a guided night tour, animation activities and observe how the environments and animals transform in the dark. The following morning concludes with breakfast and observation of the animals' awakening.
👉 The experience is organized on specific dates throughout the year, with limited seating and reservations required.

Aquarium Behind the Scenes

The "Aquarium Behind the Scenes" visit is a guided tour with experts showing how the life of the tanks is cared for on a daily basis, how the animals' food is prepared, and what technical activities are carried out in the spaces not visible to the public.
The experience lasts about 45 minutes and is designed to deepen the understanding of the marine world with direct explanations from the operators.
📌 Strollers are not allowed during this activity due to logistical and space constraints within the technical areas.