Istanbul SEA LIFE® Aquarium
Paşa Caddesi 5/5, Bayrampaşa, Istanbul, Turkey, 34045
One of Europe’s largest aquariums, Istanbul SEA LIFE® Aquarium houses more than 15,000 marine creatures across 21 zones. Highlights include a stingray exhibit, a touchpool, a 60-strong school of sharks, and a sea turtle hospital where the largest turtle weighs a whopping 440 pounds (200 kilograms).
The Basics
Admire sea creatures from all angles during a walk through the 272-foot (83-meter) ocean tunnel and see imaginary sea creatures projected onto the walls of the multimedia art area. Other exhibits and activities include diver shows, ray feeding, shark encounters, and exhibits that explore the weird-and-wonderful world of jellyfish. Enjoy discounted rates and beat the ticket lines when you book your admission tickets ahead of time.
Things to Know Before You Go
There are no food options within SEA LIFE® Aquarium however the adjoining Forum Istanbul mall has more than 50 food and beverage outlets.
SEA LIFE® Aquarium has free Wi-Fi throughout.
The LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Istanbul is also in Forum Istanbul. Consider purchasing combo tickets or the Istanbul Tourist Pass, which gives you access to over 30 attractions.
The aquarium is tailored to the needs of families, with changing facilities, a soft play area, and more. It’s stroller-friendly throughout.
Both the mall and the aquarium are fully wheelchair-accessible, with adapted parking and bathrooms.
How to Get There
Istanbul SEA LIFE® Aquarium is in the Forum Istanbul shopping center in the Bayrampaşa district, a 6-mile (10-kilometer) drive northwest of Sultanahmet on the European side of the Bosphorus. Catch the metro to Kocatepe (Line M1: Yenikapı–Atatürk Airport/Kirazlı) and its a 5-minute walk.
When to Get There
The aquarium is open from morning until early evening, seven days a week and 365 days a year, with slightly extended hours at weekends. Try to avoid Saturdays, Sundays, and Turkish public holidays, when lines can be long.
Visiting Forum Istanbul
There’s an abundance of attractions at Forum Istanbul, an American-style mall that takes up almost two million square feet (176,245 square meters) of space. Besides a wealth of international high street brands, there’s a movie theater, bowling alley, helicopter simulator, arcade-style games and Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) first LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
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