Capacity: 7 million litres
No. of tanks: 64
No. of habitats: 18
No. of animals: More than 15,000
No. of species: 1,500
Popular animals: Lemon Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Reef Shark, Stingrays, Gentoo Penguins, Red-bellied Piranhas, Cownose Ray, Eagle Ray, Mediterranean Moray, Spotted Garden Eel, Clownfish, Humphead Wrasse.
Did you know?
The public route is geographic rather than random: it begins with the Black Sea and continues through 17+ themed zones before finishing in the rainforest.
You enter Istanbul Aquarium through Aqua Florya Shopping and Life Center, with the main public entrance on the mall's seafront side rather than at a standalone gate.
The official site describes Istanbul Aquarium as one of the world's largest thematic aquariums, emphasizing narrative design instead of pure tank volume.
Facts about Istanbul Aquarium
Why visit the Istanbul Aquarium?
- Embark on a journey through the world's oceans: Follow a 1.2 km one-way route that takes you from the Black Sea and Bosphorus all the way to the Pacific Ocean and an Amazon Rainforest, spanning 17 themed zones under one roof, each recreating a distinct aquatic habitat with its own climate, soundscape, and decor.
- Walk through an 80-meter shark tunnel: Experience the aquarium’s iconic centerpiece, a curved acrylic tunnel offering 270° views of sharks, rays, and giant groupers gliding overhead, widely regarded as the most memorable part of any visit.
- Discover Turkey’s only Gentoo penguins: Head to the Polar Zone to meet the country’s one-of-a-kind gentoo penguin colony, watch them dive underwater, and marvel at cold-water species in a fully recreated Antarctic habitat.
- End your visit in a lush tropical rainforest: Step from the ocean into a humid, immersive Amazon zone filled with piranhas, caimans, anacondas, and dense tropical foliage, a surprising and spectacular finale that delights visitors of all ages.
- Make a full half-day of it at Aqua Florya: The aquarium sits inside Aqua Florya on the Marmara Sea coast, so after your visit you can unwind at a waterfront café or terrace restaurant with sea views, turning an aquarium trip into a relaxing half-day outing.
Discover the habitats at Istanbul Aquarium
1/18
Habitat: Black Sea
What to see here: This zone features cold-water species such as Black Sea turbot, anchovies, mullet, gobies, and various small coastal fish adapted to rocky seabed environments.
Habitat: Bosphorus
What to see here: This section highlights migratory and predatory species found in the strait, including bluefish, bonito, sea bream, and large shoals of anchovies that move seasonally between seas.
Habitat: Marmara
What to see here: This area showcases marine life from the Sea of Marmara, including sea bass, gilthead sea bream, wrasse, mullet, and other schooling fish typical of semi-enclosed waters.
Habitat: The Dardanelles
What to see here: Information about the Dardanelles Strait, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea, informative display panels about the animals at Istanbul Aquarium, and the mythological Battle of Troy, which is said to have been fought here.
Habitat: Aegean Sea
What to see here: Mediterranean Moray, Cownose Ray, Eagle Ray, Red scorpionfish, Thorny Lobsters, stingrays, Jewelled blenny fish, and seahorses.
Habitat: Suez Canal
What to see here: Starfish and sea urchins in the touch pool, a model showing the workings of the Suez Canal
Habitat: Red Sea
What to see here: Pufferfish, Spotted Garden Eel, Humphead Wrasse, False Stonefish, Lagoon Triggerfish, Golden Lionfish, Butterfly Fish, Clownfish, and Angelfish.
Habitat: North Pole
What to see here: Information about the drastic impact of global warming on the world’s seas and oceans, and how it has endangered several marine species.
Habitat: Mediterranean
What to see here: Mediterranean Moray, Thickback Sole, Dogtooth Grouper, crabs, and carp.
Habitat: Straits of Gibraltar
What to see here: Painted Eel, Red Sea Bream
Habitat: East Atlantic (Liberty shipwreck)
What to see here: The replica of the inside of a shipwreck, which lets you experience what it’s like to be inside a sunken ship, with rusted iron pipes, a ship’s wheel, antique nautical dials and gauges, and walls lined with salt.
Habitat: Mid-Atlantic Ridge
What to see here: Lemon Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Stingrays, Cownose Ray, Eagle Ray, Dogtooth Grouper, Bowmouth Guitarfish, Atlantic Croaker, smaller fish, corals, and anemones. You can also watch a live feeding session.
Habitat: Western Atlantic
What to see here: Lemon Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Bowmouth Guitarfish, Cownose Ray, Eagle Ray.
Habitat: Panama Canal
What to see here: Lemon Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Stingrays, Cownose Ray, Eagle Ray, Bowmouth Guitarfish, Seabass.
Habitat: Pacific Ocean
What to see here: Lemon Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Stingrays, Cownose Ray, Eagle Ray, Emperor Angelfish, Red Lionfish, Clownfish, Banggai Cardinalfish, Longhorn Cowfish, Lagoon Triggerfish.
Habitat: Nautilus
What to see here: Clownfish, Bamboo Shark, Lionfish, smaller vibrantly-coloured fish species.
Habitat: South Pole
What to see here: Gentoo penguins
Habitat: Amazon Rainforest
What to see here: Red-bellied Piranha, Anaconda, Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman, Poison Frogs, Capybara, Giant freshwater stingray, Catfish, other Amazonian reptiles, insects, and arachnids.
Highlights of the Istanbul Aquarium
Habitats
There are 18 habitats at Istanbul Aquarium, connected by a 1.2 km route with 64 tanks that house 1,500 species of marine creatures. These zones are designed to replicate the animals’ natural environments as closely as possible. The most popular zones include the Amazon rainforest and the Pacific Ocean.
Observation areas
Visit the aquarium’s observation areas in the Marmara and the Pacific Ocean habitats to observe the sharks, rays, and other marine animals. The viewing panels in these zones measure 8 by 4 metres (27 by 13 feet), giving you a huge, scenic window into the depths of the ocean.
Underwater glass tunnel
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to stand at the bottom of the sea, surrounded by fish, the aquarium’s underwater glass tunnel is your answer. You’ll see sharks and rays majestically glide by above you while thousands of smaller fish dart around. It’s one of the most magnificent sights at the aquarium.
Live feeding sessions
Catch the live feeding sessions at the aquarium, one of the most popular activities. Get the chance to see the animals up close and observe their eating habits. The feeding areas are located in the main tank shared between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Western Atlantic, and Panama Canal habitats.
Touch pools
Meet starfish and sea urchins at the aquarium’s touch pool, located at the Suez Canal zone. One of the highlights of the aquarium is that it gives you the chance to interact with these animals under the supervision of the aquarium’s expert staff. It’s a rare and unique opportunity to connect with marine life.
5D cinema
Take a virtual 5D journey into the underwater abyss at the aquarium’s cinema. Sit back in your seats and watch a panoramic film, accompanied by fog, wind, and water effects, which make you feel like you’re at the bottom of the ocean.
Wonders of the deep: Must-see creatures of Istanbul Aquarium
Sharks
At Istanbul Aquarium, you'll see Lemon sharks, Sand tiger sharks, Sandbar sharks, and Reef sharks.
History of the Istanbul Aquarium
Istanbul Aquarium opened in June 2011 as part of the Aqua Florya Shopping and Life Center on the Marmara Sea coast in Istanbul's Florya district. From its inception, it was conceived not as a conventional aquarium but as a thematic journey that takes visitors through the world's major aquatic ecosystems along a single, continuous route. The aquarium quickly established itself as one of the world's largest themed aquariums, distinguishing itself through narrative-driven design rather than sheer tank volume.
In its first year of operation, the aquarium welcomed approximately 1.2 million visitors, with that figure growing to around 1.5 million by 2019, its busiest year on record. By then, more than 60% of visitors were international tourists, reflecting the aquarium's rise as a major attraction in Istanbul. Today, Istanbul Aquarium markets itself as Turkey's national aquarium, continuing to welcome families, school groups, and travelers from around the world to its 17 themed zones.
Frequently asked questions about Istanbul Aquarium
It’s one of Turkey’s largest aquariums and is home to over 15,000 marine animals. It has a 1.2-kilometer route of exploration that takes you through 18 geographical habitats, with animals like sharks, rays, penguins, piranhas, and many more.
You can purchase your Istanbul Aquarium tickets online. Booking online is easy and convenient. You can buy your tickets in advance, choose a day and time that best suits you, and your entry is reserved upon confirmation of payment.
The aquarium is open on weekdays from 10am to 7pm, and on weekends, from 10am to 8pm.
The aquarium is more crowded on weekends, so consider visiting on a weekday. Reach the aquarium closer to the aquarium’s opening times on weekdays to avoid the rush later in the day.
At the aquarium, you can watch a live feeding session, take a walk in the underwater tunnel, spend time at the aquarium’s observation areas, watch a 5D film, and meet some animals at the touch pool.
Yes, the aquarium is accessible for wheelchair users and people with disabilities, including those with mobility problems. The route is navigable by wheelchair and there are designated elevators to move between floors.
Yes, there are restaurants and cafes at the aquarium where you can have a meal or a quick coffee and a snack. At the restaurant, which shares a large glass wall with the Panama Canal tank, you can enjoy your food while watching the fish.
Yes, you can take pictures and videos at the aquarium. However, flash photography is not allowed.
