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Oceanário de LisboaLisbon OceanariumFrom: Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon
is the capital of a nation with a long maritime tradition--and after centuries
of dispatching ships across the world's oceans, it's only fitting that Lisbon
has now brought the ocean to the city.
The Oceanário de Lisboa, or
Lisbon Oceanarium, is is the second-largest
aquarium of its kind in the world (and the largest in Europe).
Its
more than 16,000 fish, mammals, and other species are housed in a building that
seems to float above the water in the
Parque das Nacões,
or Nations Park, a modern district of Eastern Lisbon that was built for Expo
'98. (The Oceanário stands in the Doca dos Olivais, where Pan American's Clipper
flying boats were moored between transatlantic flights in the 1930s and 1940s.)
The
centerpiece of the Oceanário is a huge two-story tank where small fish, eels,
sharks, a
giant ocean
sunfish, and other creatures swim around a reef without eating each other.
Other sections of the Oceanarium, some of which connect to the main tank,
feature sea birds (such as penguins and puffins) and sea otters. It's the kind
of place where you can easily spend a couple of hours, even without taking part
in special activities such as "Backstage Tours" or "Sleeping with the Sharks" (an overnight slumber party for
children or families).
Location: The Oceanário de
Lisboa is in the Parque das Nacões, a modern district on the eastern edge of
Lisbon. Once you reach the park, head for the Tejo (Tagus) riverfront, where
you'll find the exhibit building at the south end of the Doca dos Olivais. (See
photo at top of page.) The ticket office, gift shop, and cafeteria are in a
separate building on land, with an enclosed pedestrian bridge crossing the water
to the exhibit halls.
Public transportation:
Long-distance CP Portuguese
Railways trains, Sintra-Lisbon-Azambuja commuter trains from Santa Apolónia
Station, and subway trains of the Metropolitano de Lisboa's Red Line stop at
the Oriente railway station. From the station, walk toward the river. The oceanarium is a
short distance west of the Pavilhão Atlántico arena and concert hall. Accessibility: The Oceanário is easy to navigate with a
walker or in a wheelchair (as is the entire Parque das Nacões, which is the only
fully accessible district of Lisbon). Current hours and ticket prices:
See the English-language
Oceanário de
Lisboa Web site.
About the author: Durant Imboden is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European cities and transportation. After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The Washington Post. For more information, see About Europe for Visitors, press clippings, and reader testimonials. 2nd inset photo copyright © João Saraiva. |
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