Antalya Aquarium Tour from Side – Walk the 131 m Tunnel, Meet Sand Tiger Sharks & Try the Touch Pools
From the harbour wall in Side the sea looks calm and empty; at the Antalya Aquarium you see what lives beneath it. You walk through a 131-metre tunnel while sand tiger sharks glide overhead, explore some 40 themed tanks with more than 10,000 creatures and put your hands into the touch pools – all under one air-conditioned roof.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Operating days
- Daily
- Pickup
- 08:30 → 16:00
- Destination
- Antalya & Belek
Past Antalya to the aquarium
The aquarium stands on the far side of Antalya, near Konyaaltı beach, about 85–90 km from Side. As the minibus begins its round in the Alanya area, guests in Side are picked up later than those further east. The exact pickup time is confirmed after booking. The tour runs daily – a good plan for a windy day when the sea off Side is rough.
Inside, step by step
- Entrance with your guide – the ticket is included
- The 131 m tunnel, among the longest of its kind anywhere
- The shark basin with its sand tiger sharks, plus rays and shoals of fish
- Some 40 themed tanks to explore at your own pace
- Touch pools and feeding presentations
- Free time to wander back to your favourite tanks before the return drive
Good to know
Food and drinks are not included, but there are cafés and restaurants in the complex. Snow World, the Ice Museum, the Wild Park, the XD cinema and photo packages are optional extras paid on site. The halls are cool, so bring a light layer, comfortable shoes and your camera – photos are allowed in most areas, though flash may be restricted. Water and a snack for the road are a good idea. For a long day of ancient sites and a boat over a sunken city, look at the Demre, Myra and Kekova tour from Side.
Highlights
- 131 m tunnel aquarium, one of the longest in the world
- More than 10,000 marine creatures
- Around 40 themed aquariums
- Shark basin with sand tiger sharks
- Touch pools and feeding presentations
- Fully air-conditioned indoor attraction
Hotel pickup from Side
Pickup times depend on where your hotel is and change from season to season, so we confirm your exact pickup time by WhatsApp or e-mail after booking. Please be ready at the hotel entrance 5 minutes early.
Hotels we pick up from in Side
- Acanthus Cennet Barut Collection
- Club Melas Privé
- Megasaray Resort Side
- Barut Hemera
- Adalya Bliss
- Novum Garden Side Hotel
- VONRESORT Golden Coast & Aqua
- Voyage Sorgun Hotel
- Liu Resorts
- Barut GOIA
- Side Star Beach Hotel
Your hotel is not on the list? No problem – just tell us its name when booking and we will arrange your pickup.
Itinerary
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Hotel pickup
Pickup from your hotel in Side – we confirm the exact time after booking.
-
Antalya Aquarium
Arrival and entrance with your guide.
-
Free time
Tunnel aquarium, shark basin, touch pools and themed zones.
-
Departure
Return drive to Alanya.
-
Hotel drop-off
Transfer back to your hotel in Side.
Included / Not included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Antalya Aquarium entrance ticket
- Air-conditioned transport
- Professional guide
- Insurance
Not included
- Food and drinks (cafés on site)
- Snow World, Ice Museum, Wild Park and XD cinema
- Photo packages
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Good to know
Good to know
- The tour duration includes about 2 hours of driving each way from Alanya.
- Flash photography may be restricted in some areas.
- Your driver confirms the exact pickup time the evening before.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A light jacket (air-conditioned halls)
- Camera or phone – photos are allowed in most areas
- Water and snacks for the journey
- Money for extras and souvenirs
Frequently asked questions
How far is the aquarium from Side?
About 85–90 km, on the western side of Antalya – a shorter drive than from Alanya, which is why you are collected later in Side.
Is the entrance ticket included?
Yes. Only the extra attractions – Snow World, the Ice Museum, the Wild Park and the XD cinema – are paid on site.
Will small children enjoy it?
Very much: the tunnel, the sharks and the touch pools are favourites with children.
Is it a good choice for a cloudy or windy day?
Yes – it is entirely indoors and air-conditioned, so the weather hardly matters.
