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Top things to do in Genoa

Experience the best of Genoa Aquarium

Explore Genoa Aquarium with 10,000+ animals from 400 species. Located on Genoa's waterfront, it's perfect for families. Book skip-the-line tickets or combo deals for a marine adventure.
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Slide 1 of 7, Girl observing dolphin at Genoa Aquarium.
Girl observing dolphin at Genoa Aquarium.

Genoa Aquarium Tickets

Flexible

  • Explore 12,000+ marine animals across up to 70 exhibits at Italy’s largest aquarium.

  • See rare marine species including manatees, jellyfish, penguins, and sharks in unique habitats.

  • Step into the Cetacean Pavilion for an immersive look at the Mediterranean’s protected Pelagos Sanctuary.

  • Discover the Tactile Basin, where you can safely touch and feel marine animals under controlled conditions.

  • Upgrade your ticket with a Genovese lunch at Tender Café or freshly baked focaccia.

More details

  • Explore 12,000+ marine animals across up to 70 exhibits at Italy’s largest aquarium.

  • See rare marine species including manatees, jellyfish, penguins, and sharks in unique habitats.

  • Step into the Cetacean Pavilion for an immersive look at the Mediterranean’s protected Pelagos Sanctuary.

  • Discover the Tactile Basin, where you can safely touch and feel marine animals under controlled conditions.

  • Upgrade your ticket with a Genovese lunch at Tender Café or freshly baked focaccia.

from
€33
Slide 1 of 11, Genoa Aquarium visitors and hop-on hop-off bus in Genoa city center.
Genoa Aquarium visitors and hop-on hop-off bus in Genoa city center.

Combo (Save 5%): Genoa Aquarium Tickets + Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Flexible
Audio guide

  • Combine a marine-life visit with 24 or 48 hours of flexible sightseeing across Genoa’s historic and coastal routes.

  • Enter Genoa Aquarium and explore 70 rooms housing around 12,000 animals, including dolphins and sharks.

  • Ride the Red and Blue hop-on hop-off routes with multilingual audio, free Wi-Fi, live bus tracking, and walking tours.

  • Hop off at Old Port, Piazza De Ferrari, Via Garibaldi, Boccadasse and other stops, then continue sightseeing at your pace.

More details

  • Combine a marine-life visit with 24 or 48 hours of flexible sightseeing across Genoa’s historic and coastal routes.

  • Enter Genoa Aquarium and explore 70 rooms housing around 12,000 animals, including dolphins and sharks.

  • Ride the Red and Blue hop-on hop-off routes with multilingual audio, free Wi-Fi, live bus tracking, and walking tours.

  • Hop off at Old Port, Piazza De Ferrari, Via Garibaldi, Boccadasse and other stops, then continue sightseeing at your pace.

from Original price€58
€55.10

5% off

Slide 1 of 10, Exterior view of Aquarium of Genoa and City of Kids entrance, with nearby harbor and cityscape.
Exterior view of Aquarium of Genoa and City of Kids entrance, with nearby harbor and cityscape.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + Christopher Columbus House Tickets

4 hrs

  • Combine marine biodiversity with a closer look at Christopher Columbus’ early life, voyages, and maritime legacy.

  • Explore Genoa Aquarium’s aquatic habitats, marine species, and exhibits highlighting ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

  • Visit Christopher Columbus House to see historical objects and displays tracing his life, from his Genoese origins to his time in Portugal and later voyages.

More details

  • Combine marine biodiversity with a closer look at Christopher Columbus’ early life, voyages, and maritime legacy.

  • Explore Genoa Aquarium’s aquatic habitats, marine species, and exhibits highlighting ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

  • Visit Christopher Columbus House to see historical objects and displays tracing his life, from his Genoese origins to his time in Portugal and later voyages.

from
€34
Slide 1 of 7, Genoa Aquarium dolphins and Genoa Lighthouse.
Genoa Aquarium dolphins and Genoa Lighthouse.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + Lighthouse of Genoa Tickets

Flexible

  • Combine marine conservation exhibits with a waterfront lighthouse visit and an 800m promenade overlooking Genoa’s harbor.

  • Enter Genoa Aquarium and explore conservation projects plus its newly opened reptile and amphibian areas.

  • Visit the Lighthouse complex with access to its promenade and open-air museum in the surrounding park.

  • Take in the harbor from the lighthouse complex, including access to the panoramic terrace in the tower.

More details

  • Combine marine conservation exhibits with a waterfront lighthouse visit and an 800m promenade overlooking Genoa’s harbor.

  • Enter Genoa Aquarium and explore conservation projects plus its newly opened reptile and amphibian areas.

  • Visit the Lighthouse complex with access to its promenade and open-air museum in the surrounding park.

  • Take in the harbor from the lighthouse complex, including access to the panoramic terrace in the tower.

from
€35
Slide 1 of 8, Dolphins swimming at Genoa Aquarium and superhero figure at Fantacinema Museum.
Dolphins swimming at Genoa Aquarium and superhero figure at Fantacinema Museum.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + FantaCinema Museum Tickets

Flexible

  • Pair Genoa’s marine-life experience with a dedicated fantasy-film collection for a varied day of attractions.

  • Explore Aquarium of Genova with entry to its aquatic habitats, digital installations, and updated light and sound design.

  • See more than 5000 animals from 400 different species including bottlenose dolphins, seals, jellyfish, and more.

  • Enter FantaCinema Museum to browse memorabilia, posters, statues, original pieces, and cult film objects.

  • Discover how fantasy cinema was born and evolved as you view cult objects at Fantacinema, like the DeLorean from Back to the Future.

More details

  • Pair Genoa’s marine-life experience with a dedicated fantasy-film collection for a varied day of attractions.

  • Explore Aquarium of Genova with entry to its aquatic habitats, digital installations, and updated light and sound design.

  • See more than 5000 animals from 400 different species including bottlenose dolphins, seals, jellyfish, and more.

  • Enter FantaCinema Museum to browse memorabilia, posters, statues, original pieces, and cult film objects.

  • Discover how fantasy cinema was born and evolved as you view cult objects at Fantacinema, like the DeLorean from Back to the Future.

from
€36
Slide 1 of 10, Visitors observing sharks and rays at the Genoa Aquarium.
Visitors observing sharks and rays at the Genoa Aquarium.

Tickets to Genoa Aquarium with Lunch

Flexible
1 more

  • Beat peak-hour café queues with a prebooked meal during your aquarium visit.

  • Enter at your reserved time and wander through the aquarium's themed spaces.

  • Watch sharks and other ocean predators at Shark Bay, get a closer look at jellyfish, and spot Gentoo and Magellanic penguins.

  • Take a lunch break at Tender Café's terrace, with views stretching across Genoa's harbor.

  • Choose a sandwich and chips with either an adult or child-size drink to complete your meal.

More details

  • Beat peak-hour café queues with a prebooked meal during your aquarium visit.

  • Enter at your reserved time and wander through the aquarium's themed spaces.

  • Watch sharks and other ocean predators at Shark Bay, get a closer look at jellyfish, and spot Gentoo and Magellanic penguins.

  • Take a lunch break at Tender Café's terrace, with views stretching across Genoa's harbor.

  • Choose a sandwich and chips with either an adult or child-size drink to complete your meal.

from
€41

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Your ticket to the Aquarium of Genoa comes with a selected time slot. Once you enter, you canenjoy a relaxed, immersive experience at your own pace.

Craving a quick bite after your aquatic adventure? Book tickets that include lunch at the in-house eatery, Cafe Tender, and savor fast food that is made from responsibly sourced produce.

Maximize your time in Genoa with a cost-efficient combo ticket that bundles the Aquarium with other top attractions like the hop-on hop-off bus, Christopher Columbus House, or Fantacinema Museum.

It is best to book online in advance to guarantee entry to the Genoa Aquarium and secure your preferred time slot.

Similar things to do in Genoa

About Aquarium of Genoa

Home to over 10,000 animals, Genoa Aquarium is a marine wonderland captivating visitors with its diverse exhibits across different biomes like temperate, rainforest and tundra zones. As Europe’s largest aquarium, it offers an educational journey through underwater ecosystems, fostering conservation awareness among tourists.

AddressPonte Spinola, 16128 Genova GE, Italy
Year opened1992
Visitors per year1200000
Expected wait time - Standard30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

Originally, the Genoa Aquarium was built for the 1992 World Expo to celebrate 500 years since the sailor Christopher Colombus discovered the New World.

The Aquarium's design is inspired by the nautilus shell, a beautiful seashell with a spiral chambered interior. This reflects the building's focus on showcasing the ocean's wonders.

The aquarium isn't entirely built on land, but partially also on a boat which is connected to the main building by a walkway.

Contrary to popular belief, sharks aren't fed daily. At the aquarium, they're fed only thrice a week. Manatees, on the other hand, are fed daily. It takes four people to feed the aquarium's three manatees, and around 90 pounds of fresh produce is required daily.

Why visit Aquarium of Genoa?

See Italy's largest marine collection

Genoa, a historic maritime hub, boasts the country's biggest aquarium! Encounter over 12,000 marine animals representing over 600 species.

The Biosphere

Step inside a giant glass and steel sphere and be transported to a lush rainforest teeming with exotic plants and uncaged birds. The Biosphere showcases Genoa's commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable design.

Journey through global ecosystems

The Genoa Aquarium isn't just tanks of fish - it's a carefully curated journey through recreated ecosystems, from the icy waters of the Polar Zone to the vibrant coral reefs of the tropics.

Interactive exhibits and shows

The Genoa Aquarium offers interactive exhibits and informative talks. It also has captivating shows featuring dolphins and penguins that make the underwater world come alive for visitors of all ages.

Genoa's waterfront gem

Located in the heart of Genoa's revitalized port area, the Aquarium is surrounded by historical sites and cultural attractions. Combine your visit with a stroll along the picturesque harbor or explore the nearby Galata Maritime Museum for a complete seaside experience.

Highlights

The Aquarium

Witness an array of marine animals including (but not limited to) manatees, sharks, seals, eels, dolphins and more. At the Blue Safari area of the Biodiversity Zone, don't miss the Tactile Tank where you can touch certain species without causing them harm. At the aquarium you can also see zones that are divided by biomes like the tropical, temperate and frigid zones.

Biosphere

Here, marvel at a recreated tropical zone replete with plants and animals from this biome. See 150+ species up close like ferns and orchids. It also includes flora important to man like the chewing gum tree, coffee plants, banana and cinnamon. Catch sight of the Scarlet Ibis, a brilliant red bird native to South America.

Bigo

Don't miss the aerial view afforded by Bigo, a panoramic lift near the Genoa Aquarium. Given its location in the heart of the Old Port, the Bigo offers panoramic views of the harbor area. You'll likely also spot the Galata Maritime Musuem and of course, the aquarium.

The City of Children and Teens

In this environment, the five senses are activated as children are encouraged to explore the room in a manner of their choice. This exhibition offers kids the chance to interact with the world around them by engaging their senses and encouraging exploratory play.

Plan your visit

Browse by themes

What our guests say

Dubuis V

Switzerland
Family
3 weeks ago
Easy admission and a great visit, though maybe a few more directional signs are needed in the aquarium. Very nice cafeteria with good food.

Genoa Aquarium Tickets

Eugina I

Philippines
Group
Aug 2026

+1 more

With headout, we enjoyed a smooth entrance and a great tummy filling lunch! Moreover, reservation was easy and we did not have to pay until a few days before our visit! We had a great time at Acquario de Genova. Not only were the sea species we saw there were awesome, staff from entrance to luggage storage were also so friendly and helpful! Great place for people of all ages! Thank you headout!

Genoa Aquarium Tickets

Kateryna D

Italy
Solo
Aug 2026

+6 more

Top-notch service. The driver was friendly and knew everything. The tour itself is fantastic—I recommend it to everyone. Plus, since the ticket is valid all day, you can get off and back on along the two routes. I did run into a small issue because I couldn’t find the schedule at one of the stops and ended up waiting 15 minutes for nothing. Then I found out on the website that the buses stop running at 5:30 p.m., so I continued on foot. The audio guide teaches you a lot, and the classical music during the breaks is very enjoyable.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium Tickets + Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Nanila L

Family
Jul 2026

+3 more

Perfect way to see a city for the first time. The audio was good, interesting details about the various points. The routes were interesting and we got to spend enough time at each stop

Combo: Genoa Aquarium Tickets + Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Rouven D

Couple
2 weeks ago
Even though the aquarium only offered audio guides in Italian and English, the English explanations at the tanks made everything easy to understand. Except for the unnecessary dolphin tank, the tanks and the displayed animals and plants are all very nicely designed, and at the large tanks you can view everything both from underwater and above water. There are plenty of restrooms and food options. The film museum doesn't really have a central theme, but it includes lots of diverse and partly interesting exhibits. It's a fun mix of horror and sci-fi, but definitely worth a visit.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + FantaCinema Museum Tickets

Gianluca G

Couple
2 weeks ago
Beautiful as always, the Aquarium is constantly fascinating. However, the road leading to the Lanterna in the area past the Coop is full of overgrown weeds and trash in the middle of the street. Still, it was great.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + Lighthouse of Genoa Tickets

Paola A

Italy
Solo
Sep 2026
No problems at the entrance, we went straight to the turnstiles and avoided the rain. An attraction well worth a visit and well-structured across the different categories.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + Galata Museo del Mare Tickets

Veronica F

Italy
Couple
Sep 2026
Quick and easy admission to the Genoa Aquarium with e-tickets. Selected time: 10:00 a.m. The visit lasts nearly 2½ hours.

Combo: Genoa Aquarium + Galata Museo del Mare Tickets

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