Palma Aquarium with kids: a family visitor’s guide

Palma Aquarium is one of Mallorca’s most popular family attractions and somewhere you can visit at almost any time of year. Much of the route is indoors, with outdoor areas and a mix of aquariums, experiences and activities for different ages.

During your visit, you can discover hundreds of marine species, from fish that children will recognise immediately — yes, you can look for Nemo and Dory here too — to sharks, rays, turtles, octopuses and some of the oceans’ most surprising inhabitants.

But Palma Aquarium is much more than a series of fish tanks. The route combines different environments, interactive areas and impressive spaces such as Big Blue, one of the highlights of the visit, and the jungle, where the atmosphere changes completely.

There is, however, something worth considering before planning your day: Palma Aquarium is not a particularly cheap outing, especially for a family. Alongside explaining what you can see, this guide shares our tips for making the most of your visit and looks at the options for resident families who may want to return more than once.

More than 8,000 animals from 700 different species and over 5 million litres of salt water.

Starting your visit to Palma Aquarium

A visit to Palma Aquarium takes you through different marine ecosystems and habitats. Along the way, you pass aquariums of various sizes, themed areas and spaces that keep the experience varied — something you will particularly appreciate when visiting with children.

You will find everything from Mediterranean species to tropical fish, alongside some of the animals children are usually most excited to see: sharks, rays, turtles, octopuses and, of course, the clownfish that will have everyone looking for Nemo.

One thing that works particularly well is that the route involves more than simply moving from one tank to the next. Palma Aquarium combines large aquariums with smaller displays and places where it is worth stopping to take a closer look.

Big Blue: Palma Aquarium’s main shark tank

One of the highlights is Big Blue, the enormous tank that is home to several species of sharks and other fish.

This is somewhere worth doing more than taking a quick photo before moving on. If you are visiting with children, sit in front of the glass for a few minutes and let them watch. Seeing the sharks and other animals moving so close by is often one of their most memorable moments.

This large aquarium is also the setting for some of the attraction’s additional experiences, including Shark Vision Boat, which we explain below.

Our tip: check the day’s activity and feeding times when you arrive. These may vary, and knowing the schedule helps you plan your visit without rushing between different areas.

The jungle and other areas along the route

One of the most noticeable changes comes when you enter the jungle area. The vegetation, water and microclimate create the feeling that you have left the aquarium behind and stepped into another world.

The waterfall is one of its main attractions and has also become a favourite place for photographs. It is worth stopping for a moment, both for the view and because this area tends to make a real impression on children.

This part of the route also introduces different freshwater species, including piranhas, which usually spark plenty of curiosity among younger visitors.

Throughout your visit, other aquariums and displays bring you closer to species you would normally only see in documentaries. Our advice is simple: avoid turning the day into a race to see everything. Palma Aquarium works much better when children have time to stop at whatever really interests them.

Children’s play areas and outdoor spaces

After much of the indoor route, Palma Aquarium has a spacious outdoor area that offers a complete change of scenery. Here you will find gardens, places to rest and a short route worth exploring at a relaxed pace.

You can continue discovering different species here, including turtles and rays, alongside other animals and outdoor aquariums.

One of the moments children often enjoy most is feeding the large, colourful fish in one of the ponds. These are koi carp, and they tend to gather quickly when food appears. It is a simple activity, which is precisely why it works so well with younger children.

One of the aquarium’s restaurants is also in this outdoor area, with tables where you can stop for a meal or a break. For us, this is the ideal place to pause: after exploring much of the aquarium, we can rest, have something to eat and let the children enjoy a change of pace before continuing.

The outdoor section adds variety and breaks up the time spent in rooms and beside large tanks. If you are not in a hurry, it is worth taking time to enjoy this area too.

Ocean Play

Ocean Play is designed specifically for younger visitors. This indoor play area gives children somewhere to carry on having fun while the adults take a short break.

It can be particularly useful when visiting Palma Aquarium with small children or on days when the weather is poor, as much of the visit can still take place under cover.

Splash Pad

During the warmer months, Palma Aquarium offers Splash Pad, a water play area where children can cool down and have fun.

If you are visiting the aquarium in summer, bear this in mind when packing your bag. Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes may prove more useful than you expect.

Our advice is to allow time for more than just following the aquarium route. With children, leave room for these play areas and adapt your pace as the day unfolds. Sometimes, an hour playing or cooling down matters just as much to them as seeing the biggest shark.

Activities and experiences during your visit

Alongside the aquarium route, Palma Aquarium organises encounters and activities that make the visit more interactive, particularly for families with children.

Throughout the day, sessions with the aquarium’s experts offer the chance to learn more about different species, discover interesting facts and watch aspects of animal care and feeding. The programme may vary, so check the schedule as soon as you arrive.

There are also experiences that give children a closer introduction to the marine world and a chance to get more involved. Ask which interactive activities are scheduled that day, as they can be a good addition to your visit.

AquaDome: a 3D cinema experience with whales

AquaDome remains one of Palma Aquarium’s most impressive experiences: an immersive 3D screening that takes you into the world of humpback whales.

The current film, “Whales: Giants of the Ocean”, shows these enormous marine mammals at a remarkably realistic scale, surrounded by a 360-degree projection. It is a fairly short experience — which is perhaps just as well, as children often leave wanting more — but it is well put together and offers something different from the rest of the visit.

AquaDome is currently included in tickets and packages that expressly specify access to 3D Cinema Aquadome. Capacity is limited and admission is subject to availability. Once inside the aquarium, you can reserve your session at the designated kiosks.

Sessions run approximately every half hour, and the experience is for visitors aged 3 and over.

After leaving the cinema, continue along the route to find an interactive exhibition about whales, which complements the film with plenty of interesting information.

Our tip: if your ticket includes AquaDome and you want to try it, do not leave booking until the end. Check and reserve your session early, then plan the rest of your visit around it.

AquaDome practical information:

• Included in tickets and packages that expressly specify AquaDome access, subject to availability.
• Limited capacity. You must reserve a time slot once you enter the aquarium.
• For visitors aged 3 and over.
• Includes 3D glasses and audio in several languages, including Spanish and Catalan.
• All visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
• Sessions run every 30 minutes. Arriving at least 15 minutes beforehand is recommended.

Shark Vision Boat: sailing above the sharks

Shark Vision Boat is one of Palma Aquarium’s more unusual experiences, allowing you to explore the enormous Big Blue tank from a completely different perspective.

The idea is simple but effective: you board a small glass-bottomed boat and travel across the surface of the aquarium, watching sharks and other Big Blue species swimming directly beneath your feet.

The boat travels along the 33-metre tank using a guided system, without an engine or oars, allowing you to observe the animals at a gentle pace.

Children often find this particularly exciting because it completely changes the view they have from outside the tank. Watching a shark through a window is one thing; seeing it apparently just beneath your feet is quite another.

This is an additional experience, so check the conditions and availability. Sessions currently run approximately every half hour, and Palma Aquarium offers different ticket combinations and packages that may include it alongside other activities.

Our tip: if you know you want to try Shark Vision Boat, check the price and availability at the start of your visit. This makes it easier to plan the rest of your day without rushing back to Big Blue for a particular time.

Other special experiences

Alongside the activities included in your visit and experiences such as Shark Vision Boat, Palma Aquarium offers other options for anyone looking to add something different to their day.

These include Undersea Explorer VR, a virtual reality journey into the underwater world, and the Backstage Tour, which reveals what happens behind the aquariums and introduces some of the work carried out at the centre. Other activities offer closer encounters with certain animals.

More adventurous visitors can try experiences such as snorkelling with rays or diving with sharks, while children can enjoy special activities such as shark sleepovers on selected dates and programmes.

We will not cover each one in detail, as the experiences and conditions can change. If you are planning something special, check what is available before your visit, particularly as some activities require advance booking or have limited spaces.

Palma Aquarium also hosts children’s birthday parties and other special events, including private celebrations such as First Communions. It is another option for anyone seeking an unusual venue, although that involves a different budget altogether.

Exhibitions and conservation: more than an aquarium visit

Along the route, you will also find displays and exhibitions that introduce some of the ecosystems and animals found in our seas.

One of these is El Desierto Azul — “The Blue Desert” — an exhibition about some of the most characteristic species of the open sea, or pelagic zone. Here you can learn about animals such as bluefin tuna, dolphinfish, ocean sunfish and blue sharks, and discover interesting details about their lives.

Another area focuses on red coral, a species closely associated with the Mediterranean that has considerable ecological and cultural importance. Palma Aquarium also develops coral breeding and conservation projects, giving visitors a glimpse of the less visible work that takes place behind the scenes.

These spaces add an educational element and can be particularly interesting when children begin asking questions about what they are seeing and why it matters to protect it.

There is no need to make everyone read every information panel, though. As elsewhere in the aquarium, we think the best approach is to adapt the visit to each child’s age and interests.

Palma Aquarium for residents: discounts and Ocean Pass

If you live in Mallorca, it is worth checking the special conditions for residents. Palma Aquarium usually offers specific rates that can make the visit more affordable for families living on the island.

If you enjoy the aquarium and expect to return, another option worth considering is Ocean Pass, an annual pass designed for repeat visits.

In our view, this changes the experience considerably. Paying for a single visit and trying to see absolutely everything in a few hours feels very different from knowing you can come back another day.

A pass lets you enjoy the aquarium at a different pace: spend longer in the areas your children love, join activities organised throughout the year or simply return without feeling you have to make every minute of your ticket count.

Palma Aquarium also introduces special activities during the year, so the pass can make sense for families living in Mallorca who genuinely expect to use it.

Our tip: before buying individual tickets, especially if you are residents visiting as a family, compare the available options. Prices, promotions and conditions can change, but Ocean Pass may be worth considering if you plan to return several times.

A single visit can be a significant expense for a family. If you intend to return during the year, however, resident offers and annual passes can make a considerable difference to the overall cost.

Palma Aquarium practical information

Address	C/ de Manuela de los Herreros, 21, Playa de Palma
Getting there	Easily reached by car from Palma and other parts of Mallorca. Bus connections are also available.
Opening hours	Open every day of the year. Hours may vary by season, so we recommend checking before your visit.
Admission	Paid entry. Special rates are available for Balearic Islands residents, alongside promotions and passes such as Ocean Pass. Special admission conditions apply to young children.
Parking	Yes. Palma Aquarium has its own car park, although it is not particularly large and may fill up during busy periods.
Food and drink	Yes. There is a restaurant and seating areas where you can take a break during your visit.
Facilities	Shop, dining facilities, children’s play areas, toilets and various additional activities and experiences.
Accessibility	Yes. The attraction has facilities to support accessible visits.
Website	www.palmaaquarium.com

Is Palma Aquarium worth visiting with kids?

Having explored its different areas, we think Palma Aquarium remains one of the most varied family days out in Mallorca. It combines large aquariums, animals that never fail to fascinate children, outdoor spaces, play areas and experiences that let each family shape the day around their interests.

It is not a cheap visit, particularly for families adding some of the extra activities. That is why we think it helps to plan a little and decide what you want to do before arriving.

If you are visiting just once, take your time, enjoy the route and avoid rushing to see everything. If you live in Mallorca and expect to return, check the resident offers and available passes.

Beyond the sharks, turtles and familiar fish, Palma Aquarium works particularly well because each family can enjoy it in their own way. Younger children may be captivated by the search for Nemo, others will spend longer watching the sharks, and someone may discover that their favourite part is simply feeding the enormous koi carp.

That is what continues to make Palma Aquarium a good choice for a different kind of family day out in Mallorca.