L'Aquàrium

Lonely Planet review

You won't come much closer to a set of shark choppers. The 80m-long shark tunnel is the high point in this, one of Europe's largest aquariums. Some 11,000 fish (including about a dozen sharks) have become permanent residents here in an area filled with 4.5 million litres of water. The restless sharks are accompanied by splendid flapping rays and huge sunfish. Other tanks are devoted to the delights of the Red Sea, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Australia and the South Seas.

Opened in 1995, it has the world's best Mediterranean collection and plenty of gaudy fish from as far as off as the Red Sea, Caribbean and Great Barrier Reef. All up, some 11,000 fish (including about a dozen sharks) have taken up residence here. Explora! is an amazing centre that allows kids to get up close and personal with three types of marine environment: the marshes of Ebro Delta, an underwater cave, lagoons and beaches. The Miniaquaria is a fun area where kids can learn more about the smaller creatures that inhabit the ocean. The tanks are equipped with magnifying glasses and video cameras so it is easier to study the movements of the minutiae of the ocean. One of the most popular parts of the aquarium is The Sharks, a large area that allows you to walk through the natural environment of sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, it can be quite scary but loads of fun.