# Istanbul Aquarium, Florya

> A big indoor aquarium in Florya, by the Sea of Marmara: a 1.2 km walk from the Black Sea to the Pacific, around 1,500 species and an Amazon rainforest. Adults pay 1,000 TL. It's about 15 km from Sultanahmet — roughly half an hour on the Marmaray — so allow 2–3 hours inside. Best with kids or on a rainy day.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/istanbul-aquarium

- City: [Istanbul](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul), Turkey
- YesGo score: 21/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 2 h
- Entry: 1,000 TL
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Adult ticket: 1,000 TL
- Reduced: 900 TL — ages 2–18, students, teachers, 65+, with ID
- Infants: Under 2 free
- Family ticket: 3 people 2,900 TL, 4 people 3,800 TL
- Packages: With VR, exhibition or photo — from 1,500 TL
- Hours: Weekdays 10:00–19:00, weekends 10:00–20:00
- Closed: No closing day listed — open daily
- Online tickets: Official İstanbul Akvaryum website, valid for a month
- Museum Pass Istanbul: Not valid — it's a private attraction
- Getting there: Marmaray to Florya Akvaryum, ≈ 30 min from Sirkeci
- Address: Yeşilköy Halkalı Cad. 93, Şenlikköy, Bakırköy
- Coordinates: 40.96462, 28.80047
- Facts checked: 29.10.2026

## Key facts

- **≈ 1,500** — species of marine and land animals (source: Official İstanbul Akvaryum website; English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **1.2 km** — route, from the Black Sea to the Pacific (source: English Wikipedia; Istanbul.com)
- **2011** — year it opened (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Wikidata Q2859182)
- **15,000–17,000** — animals: 17,000 on the official site, 15,000 in encyclopedias (source: Official İstanbul Akvaryum website; English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Amazon** — rainforest zone inside the building (source: Official İstanbul Akvaryum website; English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **≈ 7,000 m³** — of water in 64–66 tanks (source: English Wikipedia (7,000 m³, 66); Russian and Turkish Wikipedia (6,800 m³, 64))
- **22,000 m²** — two-storey building (source: English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia)
- **6,000 m²** — of themed galleries for visitors (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Florya** — in Bakırköy on the Sea of Marmara, ≈ 5 km from Atatürk Airport (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Penguins** — the aquarium runs a penguin conservation programme (source: Official İstanbul Akvaryum website; Istanbul.com)

## Istanbul Aquarium tickets and prices

An adult ticket is **1,000 TL**. Children aged 2–18, students, teachers and over-65s pay 900 TL with ID; under-2s go free.

Family tickets are 2,900 TL for three and 3,800 TL for four. Packages add the Su Altı Kaşifi VR experience, the Giants of the Ocean exhibition or a photo, from 1,500 TL. The lower campaign prices on family tickets and packages are for Turkish citizens only.

Buy online on the official İstanbul Akvaryum website — the ticket is valid for a month from purchase. The Museum Pass Istanbul doesn't cover it.

> **Istanbul has more than one aquarium** This page is about **İstanbul Akvaryum in Florya**, the large stand-alone aquarium by the sea. SEA LIFE Istanbul (formerly Turkuazoo) is a different, smaller one inside the Forum Istanbul mall in Bayrampaşa. Check the address before you buy.

## Istanbul Aquarium opening hours

Open **10:00–19:00 on weekdays and 10:00–20:00 at weekends**. The official site lists no closing day. The route takes 2–3 hours, so arrive at least three hours before closing.

## How to get to Istanbul Aquarium

1. Take tram T1 to Sirkeci, or walk there from Sultanahmet in about 15 minutes.
2. At Sirkeci, board a Marmaray train towards Halkalı — check the destination board.
3. Get off at Florya Akvaryum, about 30 minutes later. Pay with an Istanbulkart.
4. The entrance is a few minutes' walk from the station.
5. Alternatives: bus BN1 from Eminönü to Florya (slower), or a taxi — 30–45 minutes from the centre depending on traffic.

## Is Istanbul Aquarium worth it?

With children, or when it's pouring, yes — it's one of the best indoor half-days in the city. On a first two- or three-day trip without kids we'd skip it: the journey plus the route takes half a day that the old city and the [Bosphorus](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/bosphorus-ferry) deserve more.

## What to see

- The seas of Türkiye first: Black Sea, Bosphorus, Marmara, the Dardanelles and the Aegean.
- The underwater tunnel with sharks and rays overhead — the showpiece.
- The Amazon rainforest, with piranhas and birds.
- The Liberty shipwreck and the Nautilus zone.
- The South and North Pole zones and the penguins.
- The Pacific and Panama at the end of the route, next to a café with sea views.

## Istanbul Aquarium vs SEA LIFE Istanbul

|  | Istanbul Aquarium (Florya) | SEA LIFE Istanbul |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Where | Florya, Bakırköy, by the Sea of Marmara | Forum Istanbul mall, Bayrampaşa |
| What it is | Stand-alone building, 1.2 km route | Aquarium inside a shopping mall |
| Rainforest | Yes, Amazon zone | Not confirmed |
| Adult ticket | 1,000 TL | Own ticket, price verifying |
| Time needed | 2–3 h | Shorter, verifying |
| From the old city | Marmaray ≈ 30 min | Metro, route verifying |

Going just for the aquarium? Choose Florya — it's bigger and the route is better. SEA LIFE makes sense if you're heading to Forum Istanbul anyway.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Heading to İstanbul Akvaryum in Florya, not SEA LIFE
- [ ] Istanbulkart topped up for the tram and Marmaray
- [ ] Leaving at least three hours before closing
- [ ] Children's ID and student card for the reduced fare
- [ ] Allowed 2–3 hours for the route
- [ ] About 45 minutes back to the centre afterwards

## Istanbul by the water, compared

Every waterside place in Istanbul rated by YesGo.

- [Bosphorus ferry cruise](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/bosphorus-ferry) — YesGo score 76/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Price: verifying
- [Maiden’s Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/maidens-tower) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Boat and entry: verifying
- [Kadıköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/kadikoy) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
- [Galataport](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/galataport) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free
- [Karaköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/karakoy) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free
- [Arnavutköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/arnavutkoy) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Bebek](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/bebek) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Beylerbeyi Palace](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/beylerbeyi-palace) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 800 TL
- [Rahmi M. Koç Museum](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/rahmi-koc-museum) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 550 TL
- [Emirgan Park](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/emirgan-park) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free
- [Princes’ Islands](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/princes-islands) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · ≈ 151 TL ferry each way
- [Istanbul Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/istanbul-aquarium) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 1,000 TL

## Aquarium morning, Golden Horn evening

The aquarium in the morning, the Marmaray back to Sirkeci, then the Spice Bazaar and Galata Bridge for sunset.

1. [Istanbul Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/istanbul-aquarium) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 1,000 TL
2. [Spice Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/spice-bazaar) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free
3. [Galata Bridge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/galata-bridge) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
4. [Galata Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/galata-tower) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Price: verifying

> **Go on a weekday at opening time** Weekday mornings are the quietest. Rainy days and school holidays get busy — buy online in advance then.

## Not to be confused with

Istanbul Aquarium, Florya Aquarium and İstanbul Akvaryum are the same place. SEA LIFE Istanbul is the former Turkuazoo in Forum Istanbul, and ViaSea is another aquarium on the Asian side, in Tuzla.

## Tips

- With kids, the family ticket for four works out cheaper than single tickets.
- Bring children's ID and student cards — no ID, no reduced fare.
- Head back for the evening: Marmaray to Sirkeci, then walk to the [Spice Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/spice-bazaar) and [Galata Bridge](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/galata-bridge).
- Keep it as your rainy-day plan, when mosques and the Bosphorus don't appeal.
- Want the real sea? A Bosphorus ferry beats any tank.

## Questions

### How much are Istanbul Aquarium tickets?

1,000 TL for adults, 900 TL for ages 2–18, students, teachers and over-65s with ID; under-2s are free.

### What are Istanbul Aquarium opening hours?

10:00–19:00 on weekdays and 10:00–20:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

### How do I get to Istanbul Aquarium from Sultanahmet?

Tram T1 to Sirkeci, then the Marmaray towards Halkalı to Florya Akvaryum — about 30 minutes — and a short walk.

### Is Istanbul Aquarium worth visiting?

With kids or on a rainy day, yes. On a short first trip without children, spend the half-day on the old city and the Bosphorus instead.

### How long does Istanbul Aquarium take?

2–3 hours for the route, plus about 45 minutes each way from the old city.

### Is there a family ticket?

Yes: 2,900 TL for three and 3,800 TL for four. The lower campaign family prices are for Turkish citizens only.

### Where is Istanbul Aquarium?

In Florya, Bakırköy, on the European side by the Sea of Marmara, about 15 km west of Sultanahmet.

### Istanbul Aquarium or SEA LIFE Istanbul — which is better?

Florya is bigger: a stand-alone building, a 1.2 km route and a rainforest. SEA LIFE is smaller and inside the Forum Istanbul mall — handy if you're going there anyway.

### Is Istanbul Aquarium included in the Museum Pass?

No — it's a private attraction with its own tickets, sold online on the official site or at the door.

## How we checked

Fares, hours, address and bus routes come from the official aquarium website. It lists no separate foreign-visitor fare; the lower campaign prices on family tickets and packages are for Turkish citizens only, so we show the full prices. No closing day is given, so that row is marked “verifying”, as are the Museum Pass and the Marmaray station (not named on the official site; Wikipedia and Istanbul.com give it). Sources disagree: 17,000 animals officially versus 15,000 in encyclopedias; 7,000 m³ of water in 66 tanks in English Wikipedia versus 6,800 m³ in 64 in Russian and Turkish; an opening in April or on 25 June 2011, so we give only the year. Zone counts differ too (16 in Wikipedia, 17–18 officially), so we leave them out of the facts. The shark tunnel is described by Istanbul.com and other guides but not named in the official theme list. We compare with SEA LIFE Istanbul without prices, which we haven't verified. Turkuazoo and SEA LIFE Istanbul are the same place under a new owner.

## Sources

- Official İstanbul Akvaryum website: fares, hours, address, transport, route themes, 29.10.2026
- English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia: Istanbul Aquarium; Wikidata Q2859182
- English Wikipedia: Florya railway station — on the Florya Akvaryum Marmaray stop
- Istanbul.com — Istanbul Aquarium: route, transport, time needed
- Blooloop and Architizer — on SEA LIFE Istanbul (formerly Turkuazoo) in Forum Istanbul

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