Gdynia Aquarium

Gdynia Aquarium is a public aquarium on the Southern Pier (Molo Południowe) at al. Jana Pawła II 1, in Gdynia in Poland's Pomeranian region. It stands beside the Pomeranian Quay and close to the moored sailing ships that are among the city's best-known sights. The aquarium shows Baltic species alongside tropical fish, with tanks that represent coral reefs, the Amazon and other marine and freshwater habitats. Visitors walk through a sequence of halls with tanks of varying size, and the displays of Baltic fish give a useful introduction to the local sea, which is rarely seen by tourists. The reef and tropical tanks supply the colour and are generally the most popular, and there are also exhibits on other animals found in the aquatic habitats. A visit typically takes one to one and a half hours. Tickets cost about 35 PLN for adults and about 25 PLN reduced, and the aquarium typically opens from 10AM to 6PM daily, with shorter hours in winter, so checking the current schedule before a visit is wise. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while weekends, school holidays and rainy summer days produce long queues at the entrance and crowded halls. Outside, the Southern Pier offers a pleasant promenade with views of the harbour, the Hel Peninsula in clear weather and the historic ships Dar Pomorza and ORP Błyskawica nearby. Good photo spots are on the pier outside, as photographing the tanks through glass is difficult with reflections. The aquarium lies about ten minutes on foot from the Gdynia Główna railway station via the Skwer Kościuszki area, and buses stop at Skwer Kościuszki and at an Akwarium stop. It is a good rainy-day option, and it pairs well with a walk along the pier and a visit to the nearby museum ships. Visitors with children often plan the aquarium first and leave the open-air pier walk for afterwards, since the tanks are indoors and the pier is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace once the main visit is finished.