Istanbul Aquarium
From the Black Sea to the Pacific
Meet sharks, penguins and thousands of fascinating creatures on an underwater journey at Istanbul Aquarium.
How many different worlds can you discover beneath the surface of the water?
Located in Florya, Istanbul Aquarium takes families on a geographical journey that begins in the Black Sea and continues across different seas and oceans towards the Pacific. Along the way, children encounter unfamiliar species, changing habitats and stories about the natural world.
With 17 geographical themes and an Amazon Rainforest, the aquarium turns a family day out into an adventure across the planet.
A Journey Through the World’s Waters
The visitor route moves through environments inspired by regions such as the Bosphorus, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Each section combines aquatic life with visual, geographical and cultural details connected to that part of the world.
Children can watch stingrays glide through the water, come face to face with lemon sharks and discover colourful species hiding among rocks and corals. Gentoo penguins add another memorable stop to the journey, showing how life adapts to some of the planet’s coldest environments.
Rather than presenting every creature in the same setting, the aquarium helps young visitors understand that each species belongs to a larger ecosystem.
From Ocean Depths to a Rainforest
Just when the underwater journey appears to be over, the landscape changes completely.
The Amazon Rainforest section introduces families to a warm, humid world filled with tropical plants and freshwater species. This transition from oceans to rainforest makes the experience feel like travelling between continents without leaving Istanbul.
For children, it is an opportunity to explore the connection between water, climate and wildlife. For adults, it is a reminder of how diverse—and delicate—the planet’s ecosystems can be.
Curiosity Beneath the Surface
Istanbul Aquarium offers more than an opportunity to observe unusual creatures. Its themed route encourages children to ask where animals live, how they survive and why protecting their habitats matters.
Some visitors may be fascinated by sharks. Others may spend the day searching for the smallest and most colourful fish. Every family will leave with a different favourite.
The aquarium may be located in Istanbul, but the journey it offers reaches far beyond the city. Istanbul Aquarium
Location: Florya, Bakırköy