Oceanográfic

When you arrive to Valencia and visit Tourist Information Center, the first thing they'll tell you is that if you buy the ticket to the Oceanográfic in their office, then you don't have to queue on the spot. It is simply considered the main attraction of the city. They are very proud of it, which is actually not a surprise as this is the biggest "aquarium" in Europe.

The huge area is divided between indoor and outdoor places. Obviously there are lot of green and also lot of unique and very nice buildings and structures. The latter two were designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela.

Actually when you buy the ticket you can buy combined tickets too with which you can visit more sights around the area of the City of Arts and Sciences. Just be aware with the time, as even if you want to visit "only" the Oceanográfic, you need at least 2 but better 3 hours. Moreover once you are there you need at least another hour to look around in that breathtaking complex of the City of Arts and Sciences.

In Oceanográfic you can find animals from all the oceans and seas of the world. Probably some species are grown is lakes or rivers also. All of them have their own place regarding their original location. The aquariums are really huge; you won't see aquariums only at your side but sometimes they are even above your head and you will feel like walking among fishes. There are so many species that you start to feel all the biology lessons you had in high school were worth nothing...

The first idea when you think about visit an aquarium is that you will see there fishes but in reality at Oceanografic you will find also many mammals, reptiles, amphibes and even birds which have one thing in common, they live in water or in areas near water.

If you are good in timing you can also see a dolphin show that unfortunately we missed. But it has to be spectacular, not accidentally were those many seats designed for the dolphins show!

There is also a big auditorium where there are "presentations" held. But those are not ordinary presentation. There is a man who is on the stage talking (we don't speak Spanish, so we couldn't understand him... ), but there is also another man (Miguel in our case), who is inside the huge aquarium that placed on (or rather behind) the stage!

Obviously there are also different facilities inside, such as bars, restaurants, machines for drink or snacks and souvenir shops. It's a very nice experience if you like animals or sea even just a little bit. Check it out!

The Oceanographic Museum in Valencia is larger and, in my opinion, more beautiful and more attractive than those of Barcelona and Hamburg, which I had the opportunity to visit. The Museum is actually a big park that contains the museum, a large flight cage for birds, tropical outdoor lakes inhabited by various animals and birds, islets, a huge aquarium, restaurants, souvenir shops, Conference Room etc. The Oceanographic is part of the one side of the city of Arts and science, and I think it was all designed by the famous architect Antoni Calatrava.

Since the front door you will be impressed by the impressive and very modern architecture that characterizes the City of Arts and Science. In fact, the museum itself, all large and small aquariums are located in the underground, which is pervaded by a multitude of halls and tunnels. The Oceanographic is composed of several places of interest and it is advisable to sightseeing with the map that you get at the entrance:

Mediterranean

In the underground. Has 7 large aquariums and contains flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea and especially from the Iberian Peninsula.

Temperate and Tropical Seas

Underground. Can be seen in areas prohibited as Californian, Japanese coasts, Caribbean, etc. Very nice beautiful corals, seahorses and jellyfishes, make a great show. Here you will pass through the longest water tunnel in Europe (70 m) from where you have a wonderful view of inside of the aquarium. Moreover, they have built a lot of tunnels through the water throughout the park.

Wetlands

(On the surface) There is a huge loft, 26m in diameter, built of steel and rope net, which houses a wealth of tropical birds. On request you can access inside among the birds, but I haven't seen more than 2 amateur.

Islands

On the surface. The sea lions can be very happy and funny.

Arctic

Underground. Here are two large pools with ice and with very cold water, habitats more "obese".

Well at least I remembered 5 of them.

Oceanographic has two underwater tunnels: one with sharks and tropical fishes, one with a very spectacular. I liked more than the Barcelona Aquarium.

Our incursion to Valencia was one day, for this purpose. Besides I saw an oceanographic movie at Hemisferic (big screen, you have the feeling that you're in the middle of the action, you will receive a warning before-if you get to close the eyes with dizziness).

Hardly sympathetic are groups of birds, pelicans and flamingos in the area. I am a disciplined and wrote clearly, tourists you are not allowed to touch them. The great dome with colored birds, the camera could zoom in. Instead they were guarded by a lady who always supervise visitors, tempted to touching the colorful plumage of birds.

The Dolphinarium, particularly impressive to see what were doing acrobatical, sympatic characters! Before we get to the dolphins, there was a group of seals.

For lunch we recommend the ALL you can eat restaurant inside the Carrefour over the road (get in a few minutes, it's their first floor, excellent and varied food, including paella, salmon, desserts as well as open buffet-everything at 10 euros). Inside the City of Science I think it's more expensive. The parking lot was fairly expensive 1. 80 euro/hour.

Then we visited, taking each building and beeing surprised by a fish like Nemo, by a big cat and a jellyfish or a seahorse and the odd fishes I have never ever seen! The biggest attraction are of course, sharks and Oceanographic point of view.

Oceanographic had an impression on us! And there was what to compare with! But it's definitely the most rich, diverse, spectacular, well arranged aquarium that I've seen.

Flawless. And I'm not referring just to the aquariums and fishes, but also restaurants, souvenir shops, elevators, restrooms, green spaces. Irreproachable. I spent 3 hours here, but have passed very quickly.

It is a building where you could spend days, just admiring the fishes and the pinguins. What is really interesting, are the seals which are always playing or fighting or kissing each other. In summer the Oceanografic is full of people from all over the world. You can not miss the city.

Valencia is the most beautiful city in Spain. Modern buildings, awesome parks and nice centre are words that cannot describe everything you can visit in Valencia. From Castellon you can arrive to Valencia for 5, 70 Euro in less than one hour.

Situated in the City of Arts and Sciences, this space was a real discovery. Firstly, the place is made exceptional by the architecture of the exterior white buildings, designed by Felix Candela; as well as the surrounding water basins.

The museum that precedes Europe's biggest aquarium reveals a game for children and adults alike. All sort of interesting and amusing experiences are presented, like jumping as far as possible without a run up. You also have to maintain your balance on a platform moving from left to right without holding onto the bar in front of you. In a dark room, a flash is placed opposite a green panel. Standing in front of it was then enough to there see our shadows on it.

It's also possible to amuse yourself in guessing smells, like from the sea or some algae, before reading what it is. A mini space is also dedicated to the universe of wood and its life cycle, as well as to nature and ecology.

Sound and light are also put to the test. In short, there are many activities to occupy you for a good two hours. Not having time to go and eat outside of this city, we had to eat in one of the restaurants. If you're able to make yourself a picnic or eat before, this is better because the prices are clearly elevated and they profit from the influx of tourists. We arrived on time for the marvellous dolphin show. I was blown away by their obedience to the men, in order to make such beautiful figures: a gesture on their part and they executed; and I was so jealous of the children, having the opportunity to touch them.

Afterwards, we walked in each one of the spaces holding 45, 000 specimens of 500 different species and coming from the whole entire world. I was gob-smacked at the sharks, walruses, birds, whales, sea-lions or more, the seals. Going down the corridor and being surrounded by water and fish was really awe inspiring.

On the other hand, we didn't go to the Hemisfèric to watch a film projection.

Entry prices vary according to the demand and if you're visiting a combination of the different visiting spaces but it's around 30 euros, highly profitable.