Vasco da Gama Aquarium — Attraction in Oeiras

Incredible value!

TLDR: A smaller, but jam packed aquarium with tons of kid-friendly exhibits. Cheap tickets, lots to see, easily spent 2 hours here.

This little aquarium is jam packed with exhibits. There is tons to see. Everything is well maintained and the fish all look happy. We went on a Wednesday mid-day and we were basically the only people there. We easily spent 2 hours here and my 9 year old son loved that everything was designed with kids in mind, even down to having stools at the higher exhibits so the kids can see. I loved the cuttle fish aquarium and could have spent all day watching them interact. They seem curious and friendly and often swam up to the edge of the tank to check us out while we watched them.

My family and I were going to go to the Oceanario, but were put off by the high price tag. We paid under €10 total for the 3 of us to visit this aquarium. It's a bit out of the way if you're coming from downtown, but we were able to take an Uber for relatively cheap (the train wasn't running due to a storm that blew down trees).

There is also a great koi pond out front with huge koi and some turtles.

Overall a great way to spend a rainy...

After several years of hearing about the Vasco da Gama Aquarium, this year I finally had the opportunity to visit.

As far as the interior there are two main components: the aquarium, and the museum. With regards to the aquarium, as a recreational fisherman, I really enjoyed seeing species that I meet regularly, some more often than others. I thought the route through the various maritime areas of Portugal was very well thought out. As for the museum, given that this aquarium is part of one of the most noble and historic Portuguese institutions (the Portuguese Navy), with regards to the sea it is hard to know more than them. It is full of stories, and a lot of culture. Will also suggest visiting the top floor, where one can find several models of various species, shells, etc.

The small garden outside is nice, and has some benches where you can relax a bit.

All in all it was a...

We had a great visit to the aquarium on Sunday afternoon. The building, although old, is well-maintained and has a charming atmosphere. The exhibits are fascinating, with a wide variety of fish and an interesting amphibian section. Our child, especially enjoyed feeding the koi fish in the garden outside the entrance for just €0.50—a lovely touch!

The museum isn’t very spacious, but it’s well-organized, making it easy to explore. They even have stools for kids to step on to see the tanks. There’s also a cafeteria for snacks and clean bathroom facilities, which is always a plus. Parking was convenient, with a lot right beside the building.

Unfortunately, some sections were closed for maintenance during our visit, but there was still plenty to enjoy. Overall, it’s a nice place for a family outing, and we’d recommend it for a fun and...