Meet the aquarium’s dolphins up close and learn about their care, behavior, and daily routines.
- Fixed scheduled slots in the dolphin area.
- Minimum age 6 applies.
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Quick overview
- Ticket options: Standard timed-entry tickets cover the full self-guided route; add-ons bundle entry with lunch or focaccia.
- Zones & animals: See sharks, dolphins, rays, penguins, manatees, and freshwater species across cold-water and tropical zones, plus a regulated ray touch pool.
- Unique experiences: Combos fold in film museums, or an open-sea cruise, turning the aquarium into the anchor for a wider Genoa day.
- Queues & access: Entry uses timed slots, with crowding mainly at dolphin, shark, and penguin windows. Weekday mornings are quieter outside Italian holidays.
- When to book: Core tickets are often available close to the date, but weekend, holiday, museum, and whale cruise slots fill faster. Book ahead in peak months.
- Good to know: Allow 2.5–3 hours; tickets are single-entry. The visit is mostly indoors and stroller-friendly, with restrictions on pets, food, and flash photography. Cancellation terms vary.
Which Aquarium of Genoa ticket is best for you
| Ticket type | Entrance used | Lines skipped | Security | Includes | Distance from Genoa Aquarium | Why pick this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skip-the-line aquarium entry | Porte Spinola | Ticket queues | Mandatory (30 minutes) | Aquarium entry; optional variants with lunch | NA | • Save 1 hr queuing time • Budget-friendly option |
Aquarium + FantaCinema Museum | Porte Spinola; Cine Ciak | Ticket queues at both sites | Mandatory | Aquarium + FantaCinema Museum | ~1.5 km | • Two contrasting indoor experiences • Fantasy film enthusiasts |
Aquarium + Christopher Columbus House | Porte Spinola; Porta Soprana | Ticket queues at both sites | Mandatory | Aquarium + Christopher Columbus House | ~1.5 km | • Marine life + maritime history • Visiting Columbus’ former home |
Aquarium + Lighthouse of Genoa | Porte Spinola; Via Milano | Ticket queues at both sites | Mandatory | Aquarium + Lighthouse of Genoa | ~2 km | • Panoramic sea views + marine life • One of the oldest operating lighthouses |
What to expect at the Genoa Aquarium
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Arrive in Porto Antico
Enter directly from Ponte Spinola in Genoa’s old port. Scan your timed ticket at the main entrance, pass a quick rule check, then start the clearly signposted one-way route.
Follow the main route
Move from smaller introductory tanks to broad windows filled with sharks and large marine species. Expect some bottlenecks at these early ‘wow’ viewpoints; if it’s crowded, take a first look, then continue along the route and re‑pause where space opens up.
Dolphins, penguins, and other stars
Further along, linger at the dolphin lagoon, penguin habitat, and other charismatic-species tanks that draw the biggest crowds and longest stops. There are no theatre-style shows; instead, you watch the animals’ natural routines.
Explore manatees and biodiversity zones
Later sections spotlight manatees, tropical freshwater habitats, and varied smaller species. Conservation messages and habitat details are highlighted, summing up to around 2.5–3 hours inside.
Interact and learn along the way
Expect mainly look‑only viewing, with a supervised tactile ray pool as a notable interactive exception. Additional features help manage energy during a longer visit.
Things to know before booking your Genoa Aquarium tickets:
Booking window
- Timed-entry: Aquarium of Genoa tickets use timed entry, so choose an entry slot and arrive around that time.
- Book ahead: Same-day tickets may be available, but popular dates can have fewer slots. Book your aquarium slot first if you’re planning other activities that day.
Entry & access
- Main entrance: Enter through the main Aquarium of Genoa entrance at Ponte Spinola in Porto Antico.
- Ticket scan: Online tickets are scanned at the entrance before you follow the marked one-way route through the exhibits.
- Queue access: Timed-entry tickets bypass the ticket purchase queue, but entrance checks still apply.
What’s included
- Self-guided visit: Standard tickets cover the main aquarium route and exhibits on a self-guided basis. Allow around 2.5–3 hours for a typical aquarium visit.
- Add-on lunch: Select tickets include a prearranged meal at Tender Café and skip peak-hour café queues.
- Not included: Scheduled shows and add-on experiences are not included unless stated on your ticket.
Combos
- Aquarium + FantaCinema Museum: Visit both on the same day at any time during their operating hours, making this an easy pairing for a flexible day in Genoa.
- Aquarium + Christopher Columbus House: Both visits require a time slot, so plan your day around the selected timings; allow around 4 hours for the combined experience.
- Aquarium + Lighthouse of Genoa: Explore both at your own pace with no fixed time slot, giving you flexibility over when to visit each attraction within a day.
- Aquarium + Hop-on Hop-off Bus: Add a 24- or 48-hour sightseeing pass to your aquarium visit and use it to explore Genoa's main landmarks across two routes.
Accessibility: The Aquarium is barrier-free and wheelchair accessible, with accessible lifts, rest areas, Braille lift signage, and guide-dog access.
Experiences at Aquarium of Genoa
Experiences such as animal encounters and behind-the-scenes visits are not included with standard tickets and require separate booking.
Dolphin experience (A tu per tu con i delfini)
Penguin experience (A tu per tu con i pinguini)
Get closer to the penguins while learning about their behavior, habitat, and conservation.
- Fixed scheduled slots at the penguin habitat zone.
Aquarium by Night
Spend a night inside the aquarium and sleep near the shark tanks for an after-hours experience.
- Selected evening openings with softer lighting and fewer crowds.
Must-see marine life at Aquarium of Genoa
Dolphins
Watch dolphins swim in coordinated groups with energetic movements.
Visiting Aquarium of Genoa with kids?
Aquarium of Genoa works well with children because it’s visual, contained, and easy to navigate. Little ones can watch sharks cruise past huge windows, spot playful penguins, and stop at the tactile ray tank where touching is allowed under staff rules — a big hit for curious hands.
For parents, the route is barrier-free and stroller-friendly, with elevators connecting levels. You’ll find several toilets with baby‑changing tables, plus a staffed cloakroom for bulky items. Mid‑way cafés and fast‑food points make it simple to break for snacks, and there’s an outdoor picnic area if you prefer to bring your own food. Overall, it’s straightforward to pace the visit around naps, feeds, and short attention spans rather than the other way round.
Plan your visit to Aquarium of Genoa
- Open daily: Open 365 days a year; standard visiting hours are usually 9am to 8pm.
- Summer hours: In July and August, doors typically open earlier, around 8:30am, with 8pm closing.
- Last entry: Last admission is generally at 6pm; allow 2.5–3 hours for the visit.
- Quieter times: Weekday mornings outside school holidays are usually quieter and more comfortable.
In Genoa’s Porto Antico waterfront district, on the Ponte Spinola pier.
- Address: Ponte Spinola, 16128 Genova GE, Italy. | Views on maps
Getting there:
• Metro: Line M to San Giorgio; walk about 5–8 minutes into Porto Antico.
• Bus: Routes stopping at Piazza Caricamento; walk 5–10 minutes to the entrance.
• Train/Taxi/Car: From Genova Piazza Principe; walk 10–15 minutes or take a short taxi ride.
- Public entry is via the main Aquarium of Genoa entrance in Porto Antico / Ponte Spinola.
- Online and mobile tickets are typically validated at the entrance.
- Staff may check ID for reduced or free-ticket categories.
- Timed-entry slots are enforced; re-entry isn’t allowed once you leave.
- Restrooms with baby-changing tables available.
- Staffed cloakroom for coats and luggage (small fee applies).
- Food points, vending machines, and an outdoor picnic deck along the route.
- Gift shops and photo points near the exit.
- On-site 24-hour car park with accessible spaces.
- The aquarium is barrier-free and suitable for wheelchair users and strollers.
- Elevators, Braille signage, and voice announcements support visually impaired visitors.
- Accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are available.
- Four accessible parking spaces reserved.
- Personal photography allowed but without flash or tripods.
- Food and drinks not permitted in exhibition areas.
- Smoking and vaping banned indoors; allowed in designated areas.
- Pets not allowed, except guide dogs.
- Dangerous items, scooters, and bicycles are prohibited.
Tips for visiting Aquarium of Genoa
- Start with the busiest habitats: Visit the shark and dolphin areas early, then return later if crowds build up.
- Avoid the afternoon rush: Crowds can build around 1:30–2pm, so an earlier slot can make viewing the exhibits easier.
- Don’t wait for shows: The standard aquarium route has no scheduled animal shows or feedings, so you can explore continuously at your own pace.
- Check experience rules: Strollers are suitable for the main route, but some special experiences may have separate access restrictions.
- Save the smaller tanks for later: If you're visiting with children, prioritise the larger habitats first and leave smaller exhibits for when attention starts to dip.
- Plan around your meal: If you have a lunch-included ticket, use the prearranged meal to avoid spending time waiting at the café during peak hours.
Frequently asked questions about Aquarium of Genoa tickets
Yes, booking ahead is strongly recommended. Aquarium tickets use timed-entry slots, and morning or weekend times often sell out. Combos with hop-on hop-off buses, museums, or whale-watching cruises also have limited capacity, so reserve preferred dates early.
Standard Aquarium of Genoa tickets on Headout give you timed entry to the aquarium’s full public route and exhibits. They don’t include guided tours, food, transport, or re-entry once you leave, unless clearly listed as part of a combo.
Headout sells several upgrade-style tickets. You can bundle aquarium entry with lunch or focaccia tastings, the Galata Maritime Museum, Palazzi dei Rolli, Columbus’ House, Lighthouse of Genoa, Fantacinema Museum, hop-on hop-off bus passes, or a Pelagos Sanctuary whale-watching cruise.
Many tickets are marketed as skip-the-line, but practically they’re timed-entry e‑tickets. You’ll usually bypass the ticket-purchase line, then still go through the normal entrance checks and any crowds at popular tanks.
No, Aquarium of Genoa tickets are valid for one entry only. Once you exit the exhibition route, you can’t come back in on the same ticket, so plan breaks accordingly.
Cancellation and rescheduling depend on the specific ticket. Some options include free cancellation within a set window, while others are non-refundable. Always check the ticket details before paying.
You don’t usually need to print your tickets. Headout sends a mobile voucher with a QR code, which you show at the entrance. Keep your phone charged for smooth validation.
Standard tickets are for a self-guided visit. They don’t include a live or audio guide; you explore the route at your own pace.
Combo tickets bundle aquarium entry with another attraction or service, such as museums, buses, or cruises. Each option specifies where and when to use each component, so read the voucher instructions carefully.
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