Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Dusseldorf — Attraction in Dusseldorf

🐟 Atmosphere & Concept

Located in Nordpark since 1987, and fully renovated in 2017, Aquazoo blends aquarium, terrarium, zoo, and natural history museum into one immersive experience .

The carefully designed layout follows an evolutionary theme: starting from microscopic life, through marine and freshwater realms, to terrestrial habitats, including fossils and skeletons (e.g., a giant sperm whale skeleton) .

What's Great

Impressive biodiversity: Over 500 species—fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds, and more—across more than 140 live exhibits plus natural-history displays .

Highlights: The central shark tank and coral reef habitat open to the public; tropical hall with crocodiles and lush vegetation; penguins and insects in dedicated zones .

Interactive & educational: Displays include microscopes, tactile exhibits, audio guides (in English and German), story guides featuring kid-friendly cartoon characters, and museum staff who are generally friendly and helpful .

Accessibility: Fully barrier-free with elevators, ramps, promenades, children’s viewing steps, and nearby café. Situated within Nordpark where kids can enjoy playgrounds before/after a visit .

Points to Keep in Mind

Crowded on weekends and holidays: Despite online ticketing, lines at popular exhibits and tight corridors can affect the flow. Visiting weekday mornings (10–12 h) is often more pleasant .

Slightly compact feel: While cleverly arranged, some describe the space as narrow and presentation style as a bit outdated or “old‑fashioned” .

Mostly German signage: Although audio guides and some info are multilingual, static displays and panels are predominantly in German—something to consider for non-German speakers .

Admission pricing: Adults €9, families €18; many rate it as good value for the diversity on display, though a few feel it's a bit steep .

Visitor Satisfaction

In a 2023 survey, 86 % of guests reported being "very satisfied or satisfied", with 95 % saying it’s always a learning experience .

Final Verdict

Who it’s best for:

Families and children, especially on rainy days—a fully indoor attraction with strong educational, interactive elements.

Nature-lovers and enthusiasts interested in biodiversity and the evolution of life.

Ideal visit tips:

Go on a weekday morning to avoid crowds.

Use audio guides in English if your German is limited.

Combine the visit with a relaxing stroll around Nordpark.

All in all, Aquazoo offers much more than your average aquarium—it’s a richly layered, compact museum that tells a fascinating story across water, land, and deep time. With thoughtful planning, it's a highly rewarding experience.

Essential Info at a Glance

Opening hours: Daily 10:00–18:00 (check closures on holidays) .

Ticket prices: Adult €9, reduced €5, family €18, various concessions .

Accessibility: Fully barrier-free, with child-friendly amenities .

How to get there: Tram U78/U79 to Nordpark/Aquazoo, or drive via...

First and foremost: it’s a nice little aquarium. Don’t expect tunnels or big tanks, but the price is also only 9 euro’s. So for a 1-2 hour visit, well worth the ticket price.

So why only 3 stars? There were some issues. First of all, we went on a Sunday and it was way too crowded. We had to wait in line for tickets (only cash) and once inside it was really really busy. So busy it became hard to see fish.

Second of all: there are stairs in the aquarium. There are handicapped elevators next to them, but you need a key. We were there with a baby in a pram, nobody bothered to tell us. So once arrived at the stairs we could walk back to get a key. To get the key they ask you for your ID. Not to check it, but as a deposit. They put it in a little box behind the counter, in sight and reach for anyone to grab. Asking for an ID as deposit isn’t allowed anyway, but the way they do it here creates a huge risk for identity theft. Yet they were adamant to get your ID. Only after multiple denials to give an ID as deposit they accepted cash. Also because they were in a rush to let even more people into the aquarium.

Oh and third: for those of you driving electric and want to charge at the aquarium? Don’t bother, the charging point is blocked by non electric cars.

This all made our visit a bit of a downer, while the aquarium itself is really nice. Go on a quiet moment during the week, without anything on wheels and...

A fantastic biology class for kids. Recommend it to all that have kids (one visit isn’t enough) and school tours.

Skeletons were very interesting. Could be great to put an actual photo of each animal next to their respective skeleton. The restaurant next to museum was full and not giving anything except drinks! Really needs a cafe with some simple food items. The Aquazoo is in the center of a beautiful garden and great to walk around and perhaps picnic. A bicycle rental or cart rental station can be a nice addition to this garden complex.

Suggestions to the museum: -Needs more English information next to the stations. -Having a science communicator going around and engaging with visitors Perhaps in an animal suit even. -Didn’t see a replica or a shell of Penguin egg. Can be nice to put the replicas or shells of the animals somewhere for kids to see the shape, color, size -Perhaps a book section can be nice. Also putting a book related to each station next to it for kids to check. Even a section for book sale. -Stones section Wasn’t that busy. Needs a science communicator to walk around and interact with visitors. Perhaps a stone replica for kids to touch, a smelly stone… can attract...