Antalya Aquarium

The aquarium stands at the western end of Antalya's Konyaalti seafront and is built around one long acrylic tunnel, roughly a hundred and thirty metres of it, running through a single large tank with rays, sharks and shoaling fish passing overhead. Around the tunnel sit several dozen themed tanks covering Mediterranean species, reef systems, amphibians and freshwater fish. The same complex holds a set of separate paid attractions, among them a chilled snow room, an insect and reptile hall and a wax figure hall, sold as add-ons or in a bundle. It is an indoor option in a city where summer afternoons make indoor options worth having.

What to look for

• The tunnel - about 130 metres through one large tank.
• The themed tanks - Mediterranean, reef, freshwater and amphibian sections.
• Feeding and diver shows - scheduled through the day.
• The add-on halls - snow room, reptiles and the other separate attractions.

When to go

Any time of year, and specifically useful on a hot afternoon or a rainy day. Weekday mornings are quietest; weekends and public holidays bring long ticket queues and a slow shuffle through the tunnel. Ask about feeding and diver show times on arrival, since those are the parts worth building the visit around.

Practical notes

The bundled tickets push the price up quickly, and the add-on halls are thin next to the aquarium itself. In peak season the tunnel moves at a crawl and most photographs come out full of other people. Lighting is deliberately low throughout, which frustrates phone cameras. It is a commercial attraction and does not pretend otherwise.

Nearby

Konyaalti beach, the Antalya Museum and the old town at Kaleici.

Key facts