The Mediterranean Sea brims with life. Dive right into it at the Malta National Aquarium, just off the main road on Qawra Point. See all the colourful critters that swim just off Malta’s beautiful coastline and have a fully immersive experience in the shark tunnel as these great beasts swim above you.
Inside the aquarium see the special displays that tell the stories of the surrounding seas. Themed areas are matched to important locations in the waters surrounding Malta, such as the Grand Harbour and the wrecks of ancient ships and modern airplanes in the deep waters. Some of the residents here are cute and some are scarier. About 130 species of fish are kept in 26 different tanks. The main tank, which features the shark tunnel, has life from the Indian Ocean including horn sharks, ray sharks, eels and more.
The aquarium’s design might be the first thing that catches your eye: it’s a huge white star curving down over a glassy façade. The whole development makes wonderful use of its gorgeous sunny location high on the rocky peninsula. The centre was opened in 2013 and its construction was in part financed by the European Union, so the facilities are very contemporary. Bring kids to enjoy a great nautical-themed playground outside, whether you have tickets to the aquarium or not. While you have a snack at the on-site café you can also enjoy lovely views out to St. Paul’s Bay. Stop at the gift shop after you’ve visited the fish. Also on-site is a tall landscaped belvedere from which to gaze out to sea.
Learn about the programmes happening here. The Malta National Aquarium does conservation work and makes a great effort to teach its visitors about the ecosystems in the seas surrounding Malta. If you want to stay after closing time, book a room in an underwater hotel. You can actually spend a whole night here with the Night at the Aquarium programme.
