The four aquariums
Istanbul has grown to four aquariums, and the names cause confusion because people search for "Istanbul Aquarium" meaning any of them. The one this guide covers, İstanbul Akvaryum in Florya, is the largest and the one most people mean. Here is how they line up.
| Istanbul Aquarium (Florya) | Emaar Aquarium (Üsküdar) | Sea Life (Forum Istanbul) | Viasea (Viaport Tuzla) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side of the city | European, coast, 25 km west of the centre | Asian, inside Emaar Square Mall | European, inside Forum Istanbul mall, Bayrampaşa | Asian, far east, inside Viaport Marina |
| Size | Largest: 17 zones, 1.2 km route, ~1,500 species | Mid-size mall aquarium with underwater zoo | Mid-size, ocean tunnel | Smaller, marina complex |
| Headline | Rainforest hall, tunnel, gentoo penguins | Scuba-diving experience, SkyView combo | Tunnel, shark tank | Family complex with other attractions |
| Hours (official, Sept 2026) | Mon–Fri 10–19, Sat–Sun 10–20 | Daily 10:00–22:00, last entry 21:15 | Not verified | Not verified |
| Adult price (official online, Sept 2026) | 1,000 ₺ (promotional, TR citizens); standard rate for others | 805 ₺ online / 895 ₺ gate | Not verified | Not verified |
| Child price | 900 ₺ ages 2–18 (promotional); under 24 months free | 740 ₺ online / 820 ₺ gate ages 3–12 | Not verified | Not verified |
| Getting there without a car | Marmaray to Florya Akvaryum station | Marmaray to Üsküdar + bus, or Çamlıca M5 metro | M1 metro to Kocatepe | Far; taxi or Marmaray to Tuzla + taxi |
| Best for | Families, a full half day, rainy days | Asian-side stays, evenings, scuba | Quick visit combined with the mall | Locals on the far Asian side |
Prices and hours were read from each operator's official ticket page on 11 September 2026 where one was reachable; "not verified" means the official page did not load or did not publish the figure, and we would rather say so than guess.
Istanbul Aquarium (Florya)
The one to pick if you are choosing one. It is the largest in Turkey, the route is a proper two-to-three-hour experience rather than a mall detour, and the rainforest hall and the penguins give it two things the others do not have. The trade-off is distance: 40 minutes by Marmaray from Sirkeci, and further from Taksim. It is the most family-oriented of the four. Everything about it is on this site, starting with tickets and how to get there.
Emaar Aquarium and Underwater Zoo (Üsküdar)
Inside Emaar Square Mall on the Asian side, opened in 2017 by the Dubai Mall aquarium's operator. Smaller than Florya but well presented, with an "underwater zoo" section, a walk-through tunnel and a scuba-diving experience in the main tank (14+, around 3,200 ₺ online in September 2026). It is open late, until 22:00 with last entry at 21:15, which makes it the only aquarium you can do after a day of sightseeing. Official online prices in September 2026: adult 805 ₺ (895 ₺ at the gate), child 3–12 and students 740 ₺ (820 ₺ at the gate), with a combo including the SkyView tower. If you are staying in Kadıköy, Üsküdar or Ataşehir it is the sensible choice.
Sea Life Istanbul (Forum Istanbul, Bayrampaşa)
Part of the international Sea Life chain, inside the Forum Istanbul mall on the M1 metro line, which makes it the easiest of the four to reach from the old city by public transport. It is a mid-sized aquarium built around an ocean tunnel and a shark tank. At the time of writing we could not load current hours or prices from its official pages; check the mall's site or the Google listing for the day you plan to go.
Viasea (Viaport Marina, Tuzla)
On the far eastern edge of the Asian side, inside the Viaport Marina complex that also has a theme park and a marina. It serves the local Tuzla and Pendik area and visitors landing at Sabiha Gökçen; for a tourist based in the centre it is too far unless you are already out there.
Our recommendation
- One aquarium, any side of the city, with children: Florya.
- Staying on the Asian side, or want an evening visit: Emaar.
- Tight schedule, want a quick indoor hour near the metro: Sea Life at Forum Istanbul, after checking it is open.
- Near Sabiha Gökçen or Tuzla: Viasea.
For the Florya aquarium in detail, including whether it is worth the trip, see is it worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the biggest aquarium in Istanbul?+
Istanbul Aquarium in Florya: 17 themed zones, a 1.2 km route, around 1,500 species and 17,000 animals, with a rainforest hall and a penguin colony. Emaar Aquarium is smaller but has a scuba-diving experience; Sea Life and Viasea are smaller again.
Which aquarium is closest to Sultanahmet?+
None is close. Florya is 25 km west by Marmaray (about 40 minutes from Sirkeci). Emaar is in Üsküdar on the Asian side, reachable by Marmaray to Üsküdar or the Çamlıca metro. Sea Life is at Forum Istanbul in Bayrampaşa, on the M1 metro line.
Is Sea Life Istanbul still open?+
Sea Life Istanbul is inside Forum Istanbul mall in Bayrampaşa. We could not verify its current opening status and prices from its official channels at the time of writing; check the mall's website or Google listing before travelling.
Which one for small children?+
Florya, for the rainforest hall, the penguins and the flat, long route. Emaar is a good second choice on the Asian side and has later hours (until 22:00).
Keep planning
Aquarium Florya is an independent visitor guide. It is not the official website of İstanbul Akvaryum; official information and gate tickets are at istanbulakvaryum.com. istanbulakvaryum.com · Türkçe