Is the Malta Aquarium worth it?

Yes for families with children aged 3–12. The Malta National Aquarium in St Paul's Bay is the only aquarium in the Maltese Islands and covers Mediterranean and tropical species across 41 tanks. Adult ticket approximately €13.50, child €8. The ray touch pool and the central Mediterranean shark tank are the highlights. Allow 90 minutes.

Malta National Aquarium: tickets, what to see and honest verdict 2026

The Malta National Aquarium: what to expect

The Malta National Aquarium opened in 2013 in St Paul’s Bay (Qawra Point), on the same bay where the P29 wreck sits underwater a few hundred metres offshore. It is the only aquarium in the Maltese Islands and receives approximately 200,000 visitors per year — a significant attraction in a country with a total population of 520,000.

The aquarium is genuinely well-designed for its scale. The central feature is a 4 m deep Mediterranean shark tank surrounded by a glass tunnel allowing 360-degree viewing. The 41 tanks cover species from the Mediterranean coast (native Maltese marine life), tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific zones (colourful reef fish, corals), freshwater species and a ray touch pool where children can interact with rays under supervised conditions.

This guide covers tickets, what to see, honest advice on timing and age-appropriateness, and how to combine an aquarium visit with the rest of a north Malta day.

Tickets and prices (2026 approximate)

Ticket type	Price
Adult (16+)	€13.50
Child (3–15)	€8
Child under 3	Free
Senior (60+)	€10
Family (2 adults + 2 children)	€38
Annual pass	Available — inquire at desk

Malta National Aquarium admission ticket Malta aquarium ticket for St Paul’s Bay (alternative booking)

Opening hours (approximate — confirm at aquarium.com.mt)

Daily: 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00)
Summer (July–August): some days open to 19:00

The aquarium does not close for a weekly rest day or for Maltese public holidays in general, but check ahead for Christmas and Easter.

How to book

Walk-up purchase is available. Online booking is not essential except on peak summer days (July–August school holidays) when the aquarium can have a queue at the entrance. Online booking saves minimal time but gives peace of mind.

What to see inside

The Mediterranean tunnel (central feature)

The centrepiece of the aquarium is a 4 m deep tank with a glass tunnel running through the bottom. The tank contains species native to the Mediterranean Sea: blacktip reef sharks (Mediterranean-resident, small), large grouper, ray species, moray eels, sea bream and dentex. The scale is sufficient to give the tunnel effect — looking up through 4 m of water with fish swimming overhead — without being on the scale of major European aquariums (Genoa, Barcelona).

For children and visitors who are not scuba divers, the tunnel provides the closest thing to an underwater experience without getting wet. For scuba divers, it is an interesting point of comparison with what they have seen underwater.

The ray touch pool

A shallow, open-topped pool contains undulate rays (Raja undulata) that visitors can reach in and touch under supervision of aquarium staff. Staff are present to explain appropriate touching behaviour (gentle, on the dorsal surface, not near the barb). This is the most popular exhibit with children under 10 and generates queues at peak times. Visit early or late in the day to avoid the busiest periods.

Tropical galleries

Several rooms contain tropical reef aquarium tanks with clownfish, tang, butterfly fish, lionfish, and other common Indo-Pacific and Atlantic reef species. These tanks are smaller in scale (200–1,000 litres) but the colour and fish density is high. Well-lit and photographable.

Freshwater gallery

A smaller section covers European freshwater species — carp, pike, perch — and some tropical freshwater species (discus, angelfish, catfish). Less spectacular than the marine sections but provides context about non-marine aquatic life.

Sea horse breeding programme

The aquarium participates in a sea horse conservation and breeding programme, visible in a dedicated display. The programme addresses the decline of sea horse populations in Maltese waters. This section is brief but educationally interesting.

Touch pool (additional)

In addition to the ray pool, a separate touch pool contains starfish, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers and anemones, all native Mediterranean species. Children can pick up and hold (gently, supervised) the starfish and hermit crabs.

Honest assessment by age group

Under 3: free but limited engagement

Children under 3 can enter free and may enjoy the movement and colour of the tanks, particularly the brightly lit tropical fish. The experience is sensory rather than educational at this age. The aquarium is pushchair-friendly.

Ages 3–6: excellent

The prime aquarium age group. The ray touch pool and the sea creature touch pool are genuinely transformative experiences for young children. The central tunnel is impressive without being overwhelming. Allow 60–90 minutes.

Ages 7–12: very good

Children who have done some snorkelling in Malta or who are interested in marine biology find the aquarium well-matched to their curiosity. The identification of fish they have seen underwater is a genuine engagement point. The shark tank is the primary attraction for this age group.

Ages 13–17: moderate

Teens who are divers or scuba-interested will find the aquarium a useful point of reference. Teens with less specific interest may find it better on a rainy day (a functional purpose) than as a primary activity.

Adults without children: optional

For adults who are not marine biology enthusiasts, the Malta Aquarium is pleasant but not essential on a Malta visit where so much else competes for time. For non-diving visitors who want any sense of the Mediterranean underwater world, it is a reasonable half-hour supplement to other north Malta activities.

How to combine the aquarium with a north Malta day

St Paul’s Bay (Qawra Point, where the aquarium is located) sits at the southern end of the bay, next to the Bugibba resort area. The aquarium’s location on the waterfront makes it a natural component of a north Malta day.

Morning: arrive at the aquarium when it opens (10:00) to avoid peak times and the ray pool queue. Allow 90 minutes.

Lunch: the aquarium has a café, but the Bugibba waterfront has better options — the fish restaurants along the promenade serve good dorado and sea bass at 15–20€ for a main course.

Afternoon option A: Popeye Village in Mellieha, 15 minutes north by car. Combined with the aquarium, this makes a full family day for children aged 4–12.

Afternoon option B: afternoon diving or snorkelling session at Mellieha Bay or with a north Malta dive shop. If you have children of mixed ages (some diving, some not), the aquarium in the morning + beach time in the afternoon works well.

Afternoon option C: Comino boat trip (departing Bugibba directly). Several Bugibba operators run afternoon sailings to Comino — combine the aquarium morning with a Blue Lagoon cruise in the afternoon.

Blue Lagoon cruise from Bugibba with swim and snorkel

Getting to the Malta National Aquarium

By car: Qawra Point, at the north end of St Paul’s Bay. Parking is available in the aquarium car park and along the waterfront. GPS coordinates: 35.9566°N, 14.4249°E.

By bus: Tallinja routes X1, 43, 44, 45 serve the St Paul’s Bay area from Valletta and Sliema. The aquarium stop is on the Bugibba waterfront, a short walk from the aquarium entrance.

From Mellieha: 15 minutes by car, 25 minutes by bus.

From Valletta: 35–40 minutes by car, 50–60 minutes by bus.

Comparison with other family activities in north Malta

Activity	Cost (adult)	Duration	Best age
Malta Aquarium	€13.50	90 min	3–12
Popeye Village	€18	3–4 hours	4–14
Mellieha Bay beach	Free	Full day	All ages
Discover scuba (try dive)	€60–75	2–3 hours	8+
Comino Blue Lagoon boat	€25–35	5–7 hours	6+

The aquarium is the most efficient family activity in terms of cost-per-child-engagement-hour ratio for under-10s. Popeye Village is more immersive for children aged 6–12 but at a higher price. The beach is free and beats both for a full day.

Frequently asked questions about the Malta National Aquarium

How long does a visit to the Malta Aquarium take?

Most family visits take 60–90 minutes. Visitors specifically interested in marine biology or who want to see feeding sessions may stay 2 hours. It is not an all-day destination.

Is the Malta Aquarium suitable for adults without children?

It is pleasant for adults with a marine biology or scuba diving interest, less compelling as a standalone adult activity. If you are a diver, the comparison between the tunnel species and what you have seen underwater is interesting. For non-diving adults, it may feel like 45 minutes well spent on a hot day.

Does the aquarium have feeding sessions open to visitors?

Yes — the aquarium runs scheduled feeding sessions at the main shark tank and at several other tanks. Check the daily timetable at the entrance for feeding times (typically mid-morning and mid-afternoon).

Is it better to visit in the morning or afternoon?

Morning (10:00–12:00) is significantly less crowded, particularly for the ray touch pool. Summer afternoons (July–August) can be very busy. If visiting with young children for whom the touch pools are the highlight, morning is strongly recommended.

What if it rains in Malta? Is the aquarium a good rainy day option?

Yes. The aquarium is entirely indoors and air-conditioned. It is one of the few genuinely practical rainy-day activities in Malta for families. The same applies on extremely hot summer afternoons when outdoor activity is uncomfortable.

The Mediterranean sea life you will see: a diver’s perspective

The Malta National Aquarium is informative for snorkellers and scuba divers planning to get into the water — the Mediterranean section provides an introduction to the species you will encounter at Malta’s dive sites and snorkelling spots.

Species commonly seen at Malta dive sites and in the aquarium

Mediterranean moray eel (Muraena helena): the most photographed species at Malta’s rocky dive sites. The aquarium’s Mediterranean tanks contain morays in their natural habitat position — head out of a crevice, mouth slowly opening and closing (breathing, not aggression). Seeing them in the aquarium before your first Malta dive normalises the appearance and reduces the instinctive alarm response.

European grouper (Epinephelus marginatus): the large, slow-moving fish that characterises Malta’s deeper rocky habitats. Protected by Maltese law (spearfishing banned in Malta’s coastal waters). The aquarium’s Mediterranean tank has several specimens, including large adults that give a sense of how big these fish grow in protected conditions.

Octopus (Octopus vulgaris): common in Malta’s shallow rocky waters. The aquarium’s octopus exhibit shows the animal in a rocky habitat where it does what octopus do most of the time — hide. Staff typically conduct enrichment sessions that bring the octopus out. Timing your visit around a feeding session gives the best octopus viewing.

Parrotfish (Sparisoma spp.) and sea bream family: the snapper and sea bream family (Sparidae) is the most common fish group at Malta’s rocky reefs. The aquarium’s tanks contain gilthead sea bream, dentex, and other sparids. Once you can identify these in the aquarium, you will recognise them immediately underwater.

Ray species: the undulate rays in the touch pool are a common shallow-water species in Maltese waters. Rays are frequently seen on sandy patches between rocky reefs at 10–20 m depth by divers, and occasionally by snorkellers in calm, clear shallows.

For visitors who want to dive or snorkel in Malta after visiting the aquarium, the snorkelling Malta guide covers the best shore snorkelling sites on all three islands, and the PADI courses Malta guide covers learning to dive.

Conservation programmes at the Malta Aquarium

The aquarium participates in several conservation initiatives beyond the sea horse breeding programme:

Marine litter and coastal clean-up

The aquarium is involved in public awareness campaigns about Mediterranean plastic pollution. Display panels in the environmental gallery cover the impact of micro-plastics on Mediterranean marine species and the aquarium’s involvement in beach and sea-floor clean-up initiatives.

Species data contribution

The aquarium participates in data collection programmes tracking Mediterranean species populations. Visitors who observe unusual or unexpected species at Maltese dive sites can report sightings through the aquarium’s citizen science app (details at the information desk inside).

Turtle recovery

Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) occasionally strand on Maltese beaches or are found entangled in fishing gear. The aquarium works with Maltese wildlife organisations on turtle recovery and temporary housing pending release. On occasion, recovering turtles are visible in a holding tank in the aquarium — ask at the information desk about current turtle patients.

Practical comparison: Malta Aquarium versus actual snorkelling

For families or individuals deciding between the aquarium and actual snorkelling in Malta, this comparison may help:

Factor	Malta Aquarium	Snorkelling in Malta
Cost per person	€13.50 adult	€0–35 (depending on tour vs self-guided)
Weather dependence	None (fully indoors)	High (wind and sea conditions matter)
Species variety	41 tanks, diverse	Variable by location and conditions
Physical demand	None	Moderate — swimming required
Age suitability	3+	8+ (recommended for confident swimmers)
Duration	90 min	2–6 hours
Experience type	Educational, controlled	Wild, unstructured, conditions-dependent

The aquarium is not a substitute for snorkelling in the Mediterranean — seeing fish in their natural habitat in clear open water is a fundamentally different experience. But as a rainy-day option, a preparation for younger children before their first snorkelling experience, or for visitors with mobility limitations that prevent open-water swimming, the aquarium provides genuine value.

St Paul’s Bay and the aquarium’s wider neighbourhood

The aquarium is located at Qawra Point, the headland at the south end of St Paul’s Bay. The wider Qawra/Bugibba area is one of Malta’s main tourist resort zones — compact, walkable, and dense with restaurants, bars, and boat trip departure points.

The P29 wreck — underwater, 200 m from the aquarium

A significant coincidence of geography: the P29 minesweeper wreck — one of Malta’s most popular beginner dive sites — sits in St Paul’s Bay approximately 200 m offshore from the aquarium’s position. Certified divers staying in Bugibba or Qawra can dive the P29 in the morning and visit the aquarium in the afternoon (or vice versa), creating a marine-themed day that connects the aquarium’s Mediterranean species displays to the actual underwater environment.

The P29 wreck diving guide covers the dive in detail.

Bugibba waterfront

The waterfront promenade between Bugibba and Qawra is a pleasant 30-minute walk. Boat trip operators depart from the Bugibba jetty for Blue Lagoon (Comino), Grand Harbour, Gozo, and fishing experiences. The north Malta dive shops (several based in Bugibba and St Paul’s Bay) operate from nearby.

Lunch on the Bugibba waterfront after the aquarium is the logical sequence — the fish restaurants on the promenade (ask for the day’s catch rather than ordering from the standard menu) serve freshly caught Mediterranean fish that visitors will now be able to identify from their aquarium visit.

Special events and school groups

The Malta Aquarium offers structured educational programmes for school groups, including guided tours aligned with Maltese primary and secondary school science curricula. If you are visiting with a school group, contact the aquarium directly for educational pricing and programme availability.

For individual family visitors, the aquarium occasionally runs special events: night tours (booking required), feeding demonstrations (timetable at the entrance), and seasonal events around marine conservation awareness days. Check aquarium.com.mt for the current events calendar before your visit.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20