AquaRio Aquarium

The Basics

Visit the aquarium to see nurse sharks, sand tiger sharks, and reef sharks in the shark tunnel; learn all about phytoplankton at the Plankton Station; and spot octopus, stingrays, sea snakes, jellyfish, and more. There’s also a surf museum, an exhibition of sea shells, a virtual aquarium where you can learn more about the different marine animals, and touch pools, where you interact with starfish and seahorses under the supervision of the aquarium staff.

Things to Know Before You Go

• There are three restaurants and a gift shop on-site.

• There is paid parking next to the aquarium.

• Plan up to two hours to visit the aquarium.

• The aquarium is wheelchair accessible.

How to Get There

The aquarium is located at Porto Maravilha in the Gamboa neighbourhood, around 1.2 miles (two kilometers) north of downtown Rio. To reach the aquarium from downtown, take the VLT (Line 1) to the Utopia Aquario stop, a 5-minute walk away.

When to Get There

The aquarium is open daily from morning until early evening, with last entrance an hour before closing. It can get busy on weekends and holidays, when booking skip-the-line or early-access tickets is especially recommended.

Porto Maravilha

The AquaRio aquarium is part of the Porto Maravilha waterfront, Rio’s old port area which was completely renovated as part of the city’s Olympic preparations in 2016—Brazil’s largest urban renewal project. Today, many of the old shipping warehouses have been transformed into event venues and adorned with colorful street art; scenic walking and cycle paths run along the seafront; and attractions include the Rio Art Museum and the Museum of Tomorrow.