Aquarium of San Sebastián
Stand in the 36-metre glass tunnel and two bull sharks — Txuri and Kontxita, named after the city's own symbols — pass overhead close enough that you can count their scars. The Aquarium of San Sebastián occupies the old port beside the Parte Vieja, in a 1928 building its architect Juan Carlos Guerra called the Palacio del Mar, the Palace of the Sea.
Three floors move from Gipuzkoa's maritime past — fishing culture, navigation history, the bones of a right whale suspended from the ceiling since 1934 — up through the Oceanarium's 360-degree tunnel, where roughly forty species circle in a single tank. The top terrace opens onto La Concha Bay and the Santa Clara island sitting in the middle of it.
💛 What travellers fall for
Regulars tend to time a visit for Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday at noon, when divers drop into the tunnel tank to feed the bull sharks, rays and turtles. After that, the rooftop restaurant with grilled octopus and a view of the Bay of Biscay makes a reasonable argument for staying longer than the two hours most people plan.
The story behind Aquarium of San Sebastián
The Oceanographic Society of Gipuzkoa was founded in 1908, partly inspired by a visit five years earlier from Prince Albert I of Monaco, himself a serious marine researcher. The society campaigned for a permanent facility for years before construction on the Palacio del Mar finally began in 1925. King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia inaugurated it on 1 September 1928.
The building held its original form for decades — the right whale skeleton went up in 1934 and never came down — until a major renovation in the 1990s added the Oceanarium and its tunnel, which opened in 1998. A second, larger renovation between 2007 and 2008 unified the historic and new wings into a single institution; Kings Juan Carlos and Sofía, along with Princess Carolina of Monaco, reopened it in 2009.
Good to know
Weekday mornings are quieter; July and August draw the biggest crowds. The ticket office closes an hour before the building does. Under-fours enter free; adults pay around €13. Numerous Dbus lines stop roughly 900 metres away, and the port location puts you steps from the Old Town.
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What travellers say about Aquarium of San Sebastián
This is easily one of the best aquariums I've ever visited. The highlight for me was the underwater tunnel experience—being completely surrounded by marine life and watching the fish glide overhead was absolutely exhilarating and truly immersive. The tropical fish exhibits were outstanding as well. There were so many beautiful and fascinating species, including several I'd never seen before. Every tank was thoughtfully presented and packed with incredible marine life. Beyond the fish, the aquarium's collection of shells and coral was equally impressive. The variety and detail on display added another layer of appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the underwater world. A fantastic experience from start to finish and a must-visit for anyone with an interest in marine life!
This is a fantastic experience if you have children or even if you dont. The aquariums are so well done and the glass is so clear it feels like you are in the water with the fish. It also has a great mix of things on each level.. starting off on the top floor with amazingly mate model boats giving great visuals on how fisherman catch fish then moving down a level you come across a nice little arts exhibition before moving along to see the truly amazing aquariums.. a must visit spot if you find yourself in San Sebastian.
A beautiful place if you want a mix of Basque maritime history and marine ecosystems. Good for solo, pair, and group visits should you wish to stop by! The more unique rooms I encountered was the Auditorium where you can sit down and watch fish swim by. Definitely a spot where you can relax. (See the video below for the view) This place is good for kids! Lots of informative segments throughout the experience but just keep them close and behaved as the aquarium can get packed during peak hours :)
Great little aquarium spread over two floors, the first floor is a general ocean exposition, not live fish. It offers a nice variety of content and a view of San Sebastian. This place is great for children and exploring, positioned right off the beach. Accessible and clean, there area resting areas and enough washrooms.
The Aquarium show the story of people of live near by the shaw, how they fishering, how the do a marin transportation, and how they love there. The second part of this Aquarium is a biome that the living thing in the sea use to live. For my opinion it's very interesting to learn how people and other livingthing at other side of this world live their life.
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