Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman (AkuaTAR) — Attraction in George Town

3 of us visited this Aquarium located at Batu Maung during Awal Muharram holiday fall on Friday. We arrive early at around 9:50am and the entrance ticket selling counter still not yet opened. Hence, we took a few photos outside here while waited for the counter to open. Then at 10am sharp the counter open, we queue up to purchase the entrance ticket. Ticket price is RM5 for Adult and RM2 for children between 7-12 years old, free for kids below 7 years old, Gold Citizens(55 years old and above), and disabled people (OKU).

You have opportunity to see wide variety of fishes, plants, turtle etc by visiting here. We enjoyed the visiting experience here, really awesome experience to let kids to explore the sea creatures and cultivate their imagination and vocabulary learning etc.

There are many species here that attracted out attention, for instance the Sea Horse, Bryde’s Whale, Ikan Arowana, Ikan Mulut Buaya, Lobster, colourful Coral, Elephant Ear Fish, Siakap Putih, Jenahak, Ikan Doino Damsel, Lagoon Trigger Fish & Green Turle(Penyu Agar) etc. There is a special theatre section that equipped with seating resembled Cinema with big Aquarium Screen for us the sat there, relaxed and enjoyed the swimming performances by the turtle, amazing experience.

At the exit point, you may find washrooms, a few stores selling souvenirs, cartoon resembled cars for kids to play( need to exchange RM0.50 coins) local food like Apom Balik, Nasi Tomato, Laksa, Curry Mee, drink & snacks etc if you’re hungry while visiting here. In overall, we have great fun visited here and suggested this place for parents to come with their children during weekends or public holidays, kids will enjoy it!

During our visit, we had a wonderful time with the kid exploring the amazing world of marine creatures. From colorful corals to unique marine species, and the graceful sea turtles, every moment was a delight. A big thank you to all the aquarium staff for maintaining such a clean, educational, and magical environment for everyone to enjoy. Great...

Boleh bawa anak2 selalu datang kesini. Sambil berjalan sambil menambah ilmu pengetahuan.

Banyak jenis spesis ikan boleh dilihat dengan lebih dekat.

Lepas selesai lawatan ada cafe untuk makan dan minum sebelum balik ya.

Ada kedai souvenir juga

Get a glimpse of an underwater world at Aquarium of Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), featuring 25 tanks housing different forms of marine life. Observe a range of species that include lionfish, boxfish, moray eels, stonefish, and stingrays.

The medium-size aquarium is also home to bubble coral, brain coral, mushroom coral, and sea anemones. Keep a keen eye out for the outdoor section, where you can interact with baby and adult green sea turtles.

The aquarium has 25 tanks to showcase various types of marine life, especially those found in the regional waters. Among them are the lion fish, the boxfishes, moray eels, tangs, surgeon fish, cat sharks, stone fish, angel fish, blue spotted stingray, fox face fish, parrot fish, squirrel fish, damsels, bivalves and more. The largest tank measures 15 ft by 10 ft and houses the big fishes such as the snappers, the tudung periuk and the nyior nyior.

The FRI library has many scientific books and journals on fishery from around the world. All reference books are categorized using the Dewey decimal classification. Some of journals are subscription copies which the library receives regularly so you get the latest information.

There is also an internet-ready computer available. At the moment, the library is opened to the Department's researchers, outside academicians and students, the latter two with prior written permission.

Admission fees

RM5 for adults, RM2 for kids 7 to 12 years (RM1.50 for school group)

There is no charge for kids...

Akuarium Tunku Abdul Rahman (AkuaTAR) has been a tourism spot for decades, and the entry tickets are very affordable (RM5 for adults, free for senior citizens, RM2 for kids under 12, and RM1.50 for school groups). It’s definitely an educational trip for the young, with ample parking available.

That said, there are a few areas that could be improved to enhance the visitor experience. RELA personnel could be engaged during school holidays to help monitor traffic and parking for smoother crowd control. The information boards would also benefit from being updated and provided in both English and Malay so that all visitors can understand the exhibits better.

Air-conditioning should be added to certain sections, as it can feel stuffy and humid—especially challenging for the elderly and children. Some facilities, like the chairs in the auditorium facing the giant aquarium tank, are not in good condition and may pose risks during peak periods (though this is the only area where the air conditioning works well).

It was also a little disappointing to see that there weren’t many sea horses, eels, or turtles on display compared to what I had expected.

Overall, it remains an affordable and family-friendly attraction in Penang, but with a few improvements, it could be a much more comfortable and...