The Istanbul Aquarium is a fascinating attraction for children and adults, a great option for a rainy-weather outing. The Aquarium in Istanbul is a modern thematic center equipped with the latest technology, interactive entertainment. We will tell you how to get to Floria Aquarium, ticket prices, opening hours, and share our impressions.
Istanbul Aquarium is located on the European side of Istanbul, in the Aqua Florya Shopping Center. The shopping center is located in the prestigious Florya district, 20 km from the historical center and the Sultanahmet district. By the way, there is another large aquarium-oceanarium “Sea Life” (or Turkuazoo) in Istanbul, located a little closer to the historic city center and the Golden Horn. It is older and slightly smaller than the Floria, but has its own “highlight” – a very long tunnel. In this article, our review of Istanbul Akvaryum in the Aqua Floria shopping center.
Aqua Florya Shopping Center
Floria is a prestigious district of Istanbul on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. It is part of the Bakırköy Municipality. Florya is known for its municipal beach, beautiful parks along the coast, the museum in Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s Maritime Mansion. Aqua Florya is a large shopping center.
It has stores, exhibition centers, cinemas, cultural areas, cafes and restaurants. People come here for shopping and just for a walk.
The terraces of Aqua Floria restaurants and bars offer a magnificent panorama of the Sea of Marmara.
It is nice to stroll along the promenade. A flock of dolphins was a surprise for us.
Floria Aquarium in Istanbul
The Aqua Floria shopping mall is not just for shopping and restaurants with good views. One of the largest aquariums in Turkey is located here. The Istanbul Aquarium opened in 2011. It is spread over two floors and 22,000 square meters. There are 66 aquariums, which hold 7 thousand cubic meters of water.
Under the largest there are tunnels. Almost 17 thousand sea and land creatures, 1500 species live in conditions that replicate their natural habitat as much as possible. Each of the 18 exhibits/halls of the aquarium is dedicated to a particular theme. You can “travel around the world” from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean and the Amazon jungle.
The route is incredibly interesting. Let’s move on from numbers to impressions.
- The Marine World of the Red Sea.
- Exposition of the Mediterranean Sea.
- A look inside a shipwreck.
- Mysterious treasures at the bottom of the sea.
- They say watching the fish calms the nerves.) Sit – calm down.)))
- Impressed by the grand main aquarium. Under it there is a tunnel.
At the Istanbul Aquarium you will like the mini amphitheater near the glass wall. You sit on the comfortable steps opposite and enjoy watching the sea world.
The lemon shark is the largest sea creature of the Istanbul Aquarium. Usually lives in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. And have you seen how a stingray “smiles”. Everyone was fascinated by this action. The stingray lives in the Atlantic Ocean. It has a poisonous spike on its tail. They called the stingray so because it resembles the nose of a bull. “Smile – and the world will smile back at you”))). The inhabitants of the Istanbul Aquarium in the video:
The Floria Aquarium’s work schedule
The Aqua Floria shopping center is open from 10-00 to 22-00.
Aquarium Floria works from 10-00 to 19-00, on weekends – until 20-00.
You can see how the fish and animals are fed at the Aquarium at these times:
Sharks and other fish in the large main aquarium are fed daily at 11 a.m., except on Mondays. The location is the Panama Tunnel.
Tiger Shark Lunch Wednesdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. in the West Atlantic section.
Crocodiles are fed every Saturday at 4pm in the Amazon Jungle Room.
The Istanbul Aquarium website
How to get to the Floria Aquarium
From Sultanahmet district (with the main attractions of Istanbul) to Aqua Floria Shopping Center is 20 km. There are several ways to get there: by bus, by subway + minibus, by cab. All these options have one significant disadvantage – traffic jams on Istanbul roads, respectively spent more time on the road.
1.The fastest and best option – to get to the urban railroad Marmaray. Exit at Florya Akvaryum station, then walk 5 minutes.
From the historic center – take a city train to Marmaray Sirkeci station. It is near the Eminönü ferry piers, opposite the T1 streetcar stop – Sirkeci İstasyonu. The train takes 30 minutes – without traffic jams and with a minimal number of stops along the way.
From the Asian side – also use the Marmaray city railroad.
2. Istanbul Aquarium offers transfers from the Sultanahmet, Taksim and Sirkeji districts. The free ride is available to those who have purchased a ticket to the Aquarium Floria at the Hop on Hop off bus tour outlet. You must show a ticket to the Aquarium when boarding the shuttle. The ride is one hour. On the downside, the shuttles run on a schedule, so you will have to adjust for bus departure hours. There may be traffic jams along the way. Shuttle schedule from downtown Istanbul to Floria Aquarium and vice versa.
The Istanbul Aquarium shuttle stops are located:
Taksim district – near the Ataturk Cultural Center and the Hop-on Hop-off point next to the Marmara Hotel.
Sultanahmet district – at the Hop on Hop off bus stop next to Sultanahmet Park.
Sirkeci district – in front of the Marmaray Sirkeci station of the Marmaray Municipal Railway, opposite the T1 streetcar stop – Sirkeci İstasyonu.
The journey through the Aquarium of Istanbul lasts about 2-3 hours. And together with a stroll along the promenade and a nice tea at a restaurant with a view of the Marmara Sea, it is worth planning a half day. The impressions are incredible. So many new discoveries and vivid emotions. A great place in Istanbul for a family vacation.