Malta National Aquarium: 52 Tanks & Walk-Through Tunnel

The 12-Meter Tank with a Tunnel You Walk Through

You get entry to all 52 tanks, including the signature 12-meter walk-through tunnel with sharks and rays, plus access to the kids' play area on the promenade. Parking is included in your ticket. The whole site is wheelchair accessible, and you can spend as little or as long as you want moving through the exhibits. There's no fixed schedule or guided pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Malta National Aquarium

• Enter Malta National Aquarium
• Explore 52 tanks with marine life
• Walk through main tank tunnel
• See black tip and zebra sharks
• Visit children's play area
• Enjoy promenade recreation facilities

The experience

The moment you step into the main chamber, the tank surrounds you: 12 meters across, a walk-through tunnel cutting straight through the middle so the sharks and rays pass overhead and on both sides. It's the kind of thing that stops you mid-step. The Malta National Aquarium in Mellieha holds 52 tanks total, but that one does the work. Black tip sharks, zebra sharks, rays, and fish you'd actually see if you dove off a Maltese beach. They're all in the Indo-Pacific section, and the tunnel is where the scale of it hits.

The building itself is hard to miss. It's shaped like a starfish shell, curved and pale, sitting right on the promenade with a view out toward the water. Inside, you move through the tanks at your own pace. There's no guide, no timed entry, just you and the glass. Reptiles and insects in some sections, Mediterranean species in others, and scattered through it all are historical artifacts pulled from the seas around the islands. It's the kind of place where you can spend twenty minutes at one tank or three hours moving through all of them. The promenade outside has a kids' play area if you need a break, and parking is included, so you're not hunting for a spot in Mellieha.

The whole thing is wheelchair accessible (ramps, flat surfaces, accessible restrooms), and strollers work fine if you're bringing small children. Service animals are allowed, and public transport stops are nearby if you'd rather not drive. You can show up whenever works for your day. There's no reservation system or crowd management, just entry when you arrive.

What’s included

• Your ticket covers entry to all 52 tanks, the walk-through tunnel in the main 12-meter tank, and access to the landscaped promenade with its children's play area.
• Parking fees are included.
• The aquarium is wheelchair accessible throughout, and strollers are welcome.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Malta National Aquarium

Is this one for you?Right for families with young children or anyone who wants to see Mediterranean and exotic fish without arranging transport or parking separately: the included lot and self-guided pace mean you show up and spend as long as you want without a schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

How long does it take to see the whole aquarium?

Most visitors spend 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on how long you linger at each tank. There's no set route, so you can move at your own pace.

Is parking really included?

Yes. Parking fees are included with your ticket. The aquarium has a multi-storey car park on-site.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the aquarium, and all areas are flat and accessible.

Can I bring my service dog?

Yes. Service animals are allowed throughout the aquarium.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, including restrooms and transportation options to the site.