Aquarium of Genoa — Attraction in Genoa

At first I was somewhat disappointed. The first few exhibits had several fish seemingly with injuries, either from pathogens or from ramming into walls. However they could have easily arrived to the aquarium with these injuries or been simple mistakes, so I won't make it a big deal. I do have to say the shark exhibit was quite bland. Practically flat and empty, which while great for viewing, I can't imagine is very enriching for the fish. At least it was visually boring, and I would have preferred some strategically placed structures. That aside, the exhibits improved in quality as I continued walking. I really enjoyed the coral reef and tropical animal areas. Both the common and giant octopus were not hiding at all and easily visible, a rarity for these species. Great for pictures but honestly the behavior was somewhat concerning. They tend to hide in crevices or under overhangs or even in the corners of the tank. Hopefully these are just particularly bold specimens and not that they have inadequate living spaces with no privacy. I saw several exhibits being actively cleaned, which is both entertaining and good to see staff taking care of the animals. Finally I'll talk about the dolphins. They are beautiful and I love seeing them, but these intelligent animals being in such relatively small exhibits is kind of sad. Swimming back and forth in an empty exhibit, boring at best and depressing (for the dolphins) at worst. Dolphin shows and exhibits are often condemned by the wider community for not being the most humane / ethical. It is possible that they are in the process of finding these dolphins a better home, or housing dolphins deemed ill-advised to reintroduce into the wild. Either way it'd still be nice to see them get enrichment besides from just doing tricks for treats.

Overall above average, potential for improvement, and I'd say still worth a visit.

For those with mobility disabilities there are elevators at several locations but not always in the most obvious spot, however it looked like most if not all did have some sign to point you in the right direction. For those with vision disabilities, there are touch tanks, though I'd probably advise you ask for assistance so you're not randomly grasping into the water and scare / harm the fish. You might also smell the fish in some areas, but I don't know if that's something you'd want...

Cramped and Unethical Conditions for Marine Animals — at an Aquarium Claiming to Be a Conservation and Education Center

While the Aquarium of Genoa is beautifully designed on the surface, what I saw behind the glass was incredibly troubling. The tanks for many of the large marine animals — especially the dolphins, sharks, seals, and manatees — are far too small for their size and needs.

The dolphin tank is particularly upsetting: four dolphins confined to a space barely big enough for one — and not even one dolphin should be kept in such a small enclosure. They swam in tight circles, showing clear signs of stress and lack of stimulation. These are intelligent animals that travel vast distances in the wild, yet here they’re essentially trapped in a glorified kiddie pool.

The shark tank was similarly disappointing — not enough depth or space for these apex predators to move naturally. Seals and manatees were kept in shallow, confined enclosures with little to no environmental enrichment. It felt more like a display for tourists than a sanctuary for marine life.

This aquarium claims to promote education and conservation, but it’s hard to see how that aligns with keeping such large, sentient animals in restrictive and unnatural environments.

If you care about animal welfare, I urge you to think twice before supporting this kind of attraction. Had I known, I would never have purchased tickets for my family. These animals deserve better!

Please write to the aquarium and ask that they release these animals to the wild. Repost and share with your friends and family.

Aquarium of Genoa Porto Antico Area, Ponte Spinola – 16128 Genoa Tel: +39.010.23.451 (from...

Very outdated, poorly maintained aquarium with dark lighting and foggy uncleaned glass. Some exhibits were nice, like the Seahorses. Be mindful that the signage directing you to the exhibits is very poor, you do not get a visitor map and there are few signs informing you of the right way to proceed. Especially confusing with the upper and lower levels. After we visited the Penguin enclosure we were brought to a giant white building that had little signs, other than for lockers or bathrooms. There was a big desk that read “Behind The Scenes” and that requires an extra ticket (€8). So we turned back, not even realizing there was another big section of the aquarium after that. Very poor layout and guidance. When we asked about the other exhibits on the pier, they told us to go outside and we will find the Biosphere €5 extra) and other things. That is when we realized there is a Dolphin tank and Tropical Rainforest area… but it was too late. Once you go outside, you can not re-enter. Of course, it’s sad that they keep dolphins in a small tank anyway, so probably better not to see that. And finally, we were surrounded by aggressive migrants forcing us to take bracelets and souvenirs and begging for money along the entire area of the aquarium. From the entrance to the exit. Almost no security around.

Overall, this aquarium should be priced around €15 for the quality of the current experience. After our visit, we felt let down and overcharged. I hope they consider a major renovation to improve the exhibits and signage and consider discontinuing the dolphin shows and instead use the facility to rehabilitate and release injured or...