Book Cretaquarium Holidays

Stand only inches away from fearsome sharks and watch the spectacular forms of giant jellyfish at Cretaquarium. See the huge diversity that lives within the Mediterranean Sea and learn about how it all came to be by taking a tour or interacting with the informative display panels. Enjoy a meal overlooking the sea in the aquarium’s café.

Cretaquarium opened in December 2005 and has been recognized as one of the best aquariums in Europe ever since. View the 60 tanks containing over 450,000 gallons (1.7 million liters) of water showcasing hundreds of species and over 2,500 organisms. The aquarium is part of the larger Thalassocosmos complex, which is one of the largest research and innovation centers in the Mediterranean area.

Pick up one of the audio guides and use it to tour the aquarium at your own pace. The first section you enter is dedicated to the genealogy of the Mediterranean and shows detailed pictures of the sea floor. Learn about how life came to be in this diverse and fascinating environment.

Continue on to reach the main attractions, the 60 spectacular tanks presenting life from all over the Mediterranean. Marvel at the otherworldly forms of the giant jellyfish and peer in at the sharks as they prowl their tank. Seahorses, turtles and huge shoals of spectacular tropical species are also on display.

Make sure you stop to read the information on the interactive touch screens as you walk around. Other facilities include microscopes to look at some of the ocean’s tiniest organisms in more detail and periscopes to allow you to see right up into the tanks. A tour of the aquarium takes about 2 hours. 

Once you are done, enjoy a meal overlooking the Mediterranean Sea at the Thalasea Café or browse for souvenirs in the gift shop.

Cretaquarium is open daily year-round. Buses stop here regularly. Finding the aquarium by car is easy using the brown signs guiding you through Heraklion. There is a charge for parking and entry.