The Malta National Aquarium at Qawra Point in St Paul’s Bay spreads across 20,000 square metres of seafront property. It presents five themed zones covering Mediterranean marine life, tropical oceans, Roman-era diving, and the waters around Gozo and Comino, alongside a reptile and amphibian area.
The door price for adults is now €16.90 — many recent visitor reviews on aggregators still cite €14 or €15, and some list €12. Buying online saves 10% on all tickets, confirmed on the official prices page. You can book through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Triq it-Trunciera, Qawra, St Paul’s Bay SPB 1500 |
| Hours | Monday–Sunday, 10:00–20:00 |
| Last entry | 19:30 |
| Adult (13+) — at door | €16.90 |
| Child (4–12) — at door | €10.90 |
| Senior (60+) — at door | €13.90 |
| Toddler (0–3) | Free |
| Online discount | 10% off all tickets |
| Maltese resident — adult | €13.90 |
| Maltese resident — child | €8.90 |
| Back-of-house tour | Daily at 10:45, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 (subject to availability) |
| Parking | Free on site (200 spaces, 3 accessible bays) |
| Nearest bus stop | Directly outside on same pavement |
| Typical visit | 1–2 hours |
Malta National Aquarium opening hours
The aquarium is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:30. No annual closure days are listed on the official site, though hours may vary on Maltese public holidays — check before visiting on significant national dates. The later closing time (20:00) makes this one of the few attractions in northern Malta accessible after a beach afternoon.
Malta National Aquarium admission prices
Door prices are confirmed on the official prices page. Many visitor reviews on TripAdvisor and aggregators still cite €14 or €15 for adults — those figures are out of date. Buying online saves 10% on all ticket categories.
| Category | At door | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (13+) | €16.90 | ~€15.20 |
| Child (4–12) | €10.90 | ~€9.80 |
| Senior (60+) | €13.90 | ~€12.50 |
| Toddler (0–3) | Free | Free |
| Bundle: 1 adult + 2 children | €34.90 | — |
| Bundle: 2 adults + 1 child | €40.90 | — |
| Bundle: 2 adults + 2 children | €50.90 | — |
| Maltese resident adult | €13.90 | — |
| Maltese resident child | €8.90 | — |
Residents must show proof of residency at the door. Resident rates are not available online. Book your ticket through GetYourGuide to secure the online discount and avoid queuing.
Why visit the Malta National Aquarium?
- 🐠 Eight free talks and feedings daily: The aquarium runs a packed schedule of presenter-led talks every day — from baby shark releases to piranha feeding — all included in the admission price with no extra booking required.
- 🎟️ Book online and save 10%: The official site confirms a 10% discount when purchasing tickets online vs at the door — saving nearly €2 per adult ticket. Many visitors pay the higher walk-in price unnecessarily.
- 🌿 Back-of-house tours seven times daily: Access to the quarantine area, food prep, laboratory, filtration system, and main tank from above — offered at seven fixed slots daily and not prominently listed on most aggregator guides.
- 🦈 Sharklab Malta partnership: The aquarium collaborates with Sharklab Malta to rescue and rehabilitate baby sharks for release back into Maltese waters — part of a live conservation programme, not a static exhibit.
- 💰 Free parking and seafront location: 200 on-site parking spaces are free to aquarium visitors (redeemable at reception). The building sits directly on the water’s edge at Qawra Point, with outdoor terrace dining overlooking St Paul’s Bay.
How to get to the Malta National Aquarium
By bus, the aquarium’s official address on Triq it-Trunciera, Qawra is served by buses stopping directly outside the entrance on the same pavement. From Valletta, routes 41, 48, and 101 serve the St Paul’s Bay / Qawra area; journey time is approximately 50–70 minutes depending on traffic. From Sliema, take bus 212 to Bugibba or bus 103 direct to the Qawra area.
By car, follow the coastal road north from Bugibba or approach from the St Paul’s Bay bypass (A2/A7). The aquarium is at the tip of the Qawra peninsula on the seafront. Signage from the main road is clear.
By taxi or rideshare, the aquarium is approximately 30–35 minutes from Valletta and 25 minutes from Sliema under normal traffic conditions.
Parking at the Malta National Aquarium
The aquarium has a private car park with 200 spaces adjacent to the building. Parking is free for all aquarium visitors, redeemed by presenting a parking ticket at the reception desk on arrival. Three yellow-badge accessible parking spaces are provided, located 40 metres from the main entrance, with a low ramp to the pavement. The car park surface is tarmac, well lit at night. Additional on-road parking is available a short distance away.
How long to spend at the Malta National Aquarium
Allow 1 to 2 hours for a self-guided visit through all five zones and the reptile area. The aquarium’s own access statement recommends a minimum of 45 minutes, but most visitors spend 60–90 minutes. Adding a back-of-house tour (around 45 minutes) and one of the daily presenter talks extends a visit to 2.5 hours. The outdoor terrace at La Nave Bistro extends the experience further for those staying for lunch.
Accessibility at the Malta National Aquarium
The aquarium has been designed with accessibility in mind. The main entrance has automatic double doors (214 cm wide). The ticketing desk has a lowered section at 75 cm for wheelchair users. A lift connects the ground-floor reception to the lower-level aquarium, and a ramp at the car park connects accessible parking to the pavement. The aquarium floor is slightly uneven in some areas but broadly accessible throughout.
The Hidden Disabilities scheme is recognised — the aquarium has a dedicated page on its site for visitors with non-visible conditions, and staff receive disability awareness training. All fires exits are accessible via ramp. Baby changing facilities are available in the aquarium, bistro, and kiosk areas. The giftshop, bistro, and kiosk are all step-free on the ground floor. No photography flash is permitted in the tanks.
What to see at the Malta National Aquarium
Zone 1 – Malta’s Western Shoreline & Submarine opens the visit with a recreation of the shallow rocky seabed around Malta’s northwest coast. This section includes Casper, an albino stingray who regularly draws a crowd during the Mediterranean Section Talk and Feeding at 11:00 am. A walk-through submarine replica adds atmosphere. Baby sharks from the Sharklab Malta collaboration are housed here.
Zone 2 – Valletta Harbour recreates the historic underwater environment of the Grand Harbour, including artefacts and species associated with centuries of maritime trade and warfare in Maltese waters.
Zone 3 – Tropical Oceans centres on the main tank (Tank 35) — the aquarium’s largest — which houses sharks alongside a reef ecosystem. The daily 13:00 main tank talk and feeding session is a highlight, and shark feeding is possible at this time. The Big Fish Campaign talk at 17:00 tackles the problem of pet fish that outgrow home aquariums.
Zone 4 – Roman Times introduces freshwater species, including piranhas in Tank 42 — the target of the 14:30 feeding talk. The zone draws on Roman-era Maltese history for its narrative frame.
Zone 5 – Gozo and Comino represents the marine habitats of Malta’s northern islands, with species from the clearer deeper waters around the Azure Window site and Santa Maria Caves.
The Reptile and Amphibian Area goes beyond marine life into terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles. The daily presenter talk at 15:15 covers the evolution of life from ocean to land.
Practical tips for visiting the Malta National Aquarium
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book online for 10% off | Door price for adults is €16.90. Buying in advance online saves approximately €1.70 per adult ticket — worth doing even if you’re planning a same-day visit. Book through GetYourGuide. |
| Plan around the daily schedule | Eight presenter talks and feedings run daily. The main tank feeding at 13:00 and the piranha feeding at 14:30 are the most popular — check the daily schedule on arrival. |
| Book the back-of-house tour early | Tours run seven times daily but are subject to availability. Ask at reception on arrival or pre-book if you have a preferred time. |
| Redeem your parking ticket | Parking is free for aquarium visitors but must be redeemed at the reception desk — don’t forget to present your parking ticket on entry or exit. |
| Flash photography is not permitted | All tanks are lit by internal lighting. Flash can disturb the animals and is prohibited throughout. A camera or phone with a good low-light setting is essential. |
Malta National Aquarium FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the adult admission price? | €16.90 at the door. Many reviews still cite €14 or €15 — these are out of date. Buying online saves approximately 10%. |
| Are there talks and feedings included? | Yes — eight presenter-led talks and feedings run daily at fixed times, all included in the standard admission price. |
| Is there parking? | Yes — 200 free spaces on site, redeemable at reception. Three accessible bays are 40 metres from the main entrance. |
| Can I visit just the gift shop? | The giftshop is on the ground floor adjacent to reception. It is generally accessible to non-visitors, though this is not confirmed for peak periods — check on arrival. |
| Is the aquarium accessible for wheelchairs? | Yes, broadly. A lift connects all floors, the main entrance is step-free, and an accessible counter section is at the ticket desk. The floor inside the aquarium is slightly uneven but manageable. |
Things to do near the Malta National Aquarium
Bugibba Promenade is a 5-minute walk south from the aquarium along the seafront. The 3.5 km pedestrian promenade connects Bugibba to St Paul’s Bay via a flat coastal path and is popular for an evening walk, with views across to St Paul’s Island and its small chapel.
Qawra Tower is a 17th-century watchtower on the Qawra peninsula headland, a 10-minute walk from the aquarium. It is one of the Lascaris watchtowers built by the Knights of St John to protect the Maltese coastline and is freely accessible from the exterior.
Wignacourt Tower Museum, St Paul’s Bay is around 15 minutes by bus or 5 minutes by car and houses one of the best-preserved coastal watchtowers in Malta, with an exhibition on the island’s fortification history. Admission charged.
Popeye Village, Mellieħa is the original film set of the 1980 Robert Altman production, around 20 minutes north by car. It has been developed into a theme park with boat rides, museum, and activities based around the harbour set. Admission charged.
Mellieħa Bay is around 20 minutes north by bus or car — Malta’s largest sandy beach. It is shallow and calm and is the most family-friendly beach on the island. Free access.
