Malta National Aquarium

Opened in 2013, the Malta National Aquarium is a small aquarium distinguished by its modern, star-shaped architecture. The aquarium sits on the tip of Qawra (San Pawl il-Baħar), along the coast and just a few metres from the famous Café del Mar.

The aquarium houses almost 150 species of fish, insects and reptiles, spread across six themed zones that recreate marine habitats from around the world. From reconstructions of local seabeds to those of the Indian Ocean, each area is designed to be both fun and educational.

The Malta Aquarium is also a research and conservation centre for aquatic fauna and flora. Among other projects, it partners with the Sharklab organisation and has helped reintroduce nearly 300 sharks along Malta’s coastline.

The aquarium features six themed zones, including a vivarium, to explore: Malta’s Western Shoreline Submarine (Zone 1), Valletta Harbour (Zone 2), Tropical Oceans (Zone 3), Roman Times (Zone 4), Gozo and Comino (Zone 5) and the Reptiles and Amphibian Area.

The Malta’s Western Shoreline Submarine zone mainly hosts Mediterranean species such as gilt-head bream, European sea bass, as well as mullet, groupers, amberjack and scorpionfish. Spotted rays—cartilaginous fish closely related to sharks—also lie hidden beneath the aquarium sand.

In the Valletta Harbour zone, you will find a mural depicting Malta’s famous harbour and tanks populated with local fish such as bream, marbled grouper and Mediterranean spiny lobster, alongside various reef fish including lionfish and pufferfish. A small tank dedicated to the Indian Ocean also displays colourful species like the emperor angelfish and the iconic clownfish.

The Tropical Oceans zone is undoubtedly the most impressive (all things considered) in the Malta Aquarium. The large tropical tank showcases Indo-Pacific marine life, where blacktip reef sharks, leopard sharks, zebra sharks, rays and a multitude of colourful fish swim. The different species can be viewed through an underwater tunnel.

The Roman Times zone aims to recreate a Roman-era shipwreck. Ancient artefacts are displayed alongside various local fish, including larger species such as amberjack, Atlantic chub mackerel and moray eels.

As its name suggests, the Gozo and Comino zone is dedicated to Malta’s sister islands, Gozo and Comino. It is both entertaining and educational, featuring freshwater tanks with South American species such as catfish and peacock bass. The area also includes a kind of nursery with small tanks for species bred within the aquarium.

The final zone, the Reptiles and Amphibian Area, is a small vivarium inaugurated in November 2015. A wide variety of reptiles, amphibians and insects is exhibited, including snakes, beetles, tarantulas and poison dart frogs.

Visitor reviews of the Malta Aquarium are often mixed. The aquarium is a beautiful, well-maintained venue with tidy facilities, ideal for families. However, it is admittedly not very large compared with other national aquariums, and the visit is fairly short—allow about an hour to tour the site and its tanks, which do not feature “rare” species.

Although the price may seem a little high, particularly given the aquarium’s size and the length of the visit, the Malta National Aquarium remains one of the island’s must-do activities. It is the perfect opportunity to discover Malta’s underwater world in an educational setting, making it ideal for a family outing or a school excursion—especially on rainy days or during extreme heat.

The Malta Aquarium is open daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm; last admission is at 7:30 pm.

The Malta Aquarium is situated in St Paul’s Bay, in the Qawra district. The exact address is: Triq it-Trunċiera, Qawra, San Pawl il-Baħar SPB 1500.

The aquarium is accessible by bus: routes X3 (airport), 45, 48, 31 (Valletta), 212 (Sliema), 221 (Mellieħa) and 186 (Rabat). It is easy to recognise thanks to its starfish-shaped dome. The aquarium also offers a free car park with around 140 spaces (validate your ticket at reception).

Entry prices to the Malta National Aquarium vary by age:

The tour usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.

The circuit is divided into six zones: five marine areas and one space dedicated to reptiles.

Yes, the Aquarium is accessible: the entire route is on one level and/or served by a lift.

Yes, the Aquarium has the La Nave Bistro restaurant on the ground floor, serving food from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm.