Eight exhibition halls present the inhabitants of various biotopes, including the dense tropics of the Amazon, the coral reef, the open ocean of the Pacific, the Baltic Sea, and the cold waters of the North Atlantic.
In our exhibition, you will find over 200 species of animals associated with the aquatic environment across 5 floors of the building. In April 2024, we opened a new hall – Cold Seas: From the Baltic to the Atlantic, in the basement of the building.
The Gdynia Aquarium is part of the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, which is the oldest unit engaged in marine research in Poland. It has had the status of a zoo since 2005 and serves as a bridge between the world of marine research and marine education. Our Education Center offers a wide range of activities designed for different age groups.
We believe that to fully appreciate the beauty of the underwater world, you need to get to know it as well as possible. Before you visit us, read about the animals presented at the Gdynia Aquarium. To learn more about our residents, you can browse the exhibition catalog below or use the guide through the free web application.
Unusual species of jellyfish, unique crustaceans, and an exhibition built below sea level. We are opening the largest complex in Poland, presenting the environment of the seas of the cold northern hemisphere. Opening on April 20, 2024.
The construction works for the implementation of the new investment in the Gdynia Aquarium started in 2021. From the very beginning, it has been an extraordinary challenge, the effects of which will soon be observable. Over the course of 4 years, an exhibition was created at the Gdynia Aquarium, showcasing the fauna and flora of cold seas. This includes over 30 species of animals, three times the volume of water compared to all of our previous tanks combined, and new experiences for visitors.
Below the surface of the Baltic Sea
The expansion of the educational path for the new exhibition at the Gdynia Aquarium was a challenge from the very first day of construction work. The biggest challenge was the transformation of the existing basement into usable space. This required lowering the foundations and the basement floor, as well as building new column foundations that support the weight of the rotunda structure. Due to the creation of new space below sea level, the contractor had to build a structure resembling a bathtub around the new floor, aimed at protecting the building from water ingress into its interior. Thus, when visiting the “Cold Seas” exhibition, we literally move underwater!
450,000 liters more water!
The new exhibition consists of 12 tanks with a total volume of 450,000 liters! They are inhabited mainly by bony and cartilaginous fish, as well as crustaceans and a species of jellyfish unique to us, Chrysaora quinquecirrha, bred by our aquarists. Visitors will be able to admire the behavior of schooling fish, those that thrive in surf zone conditions, and those that hide in the sand. The entire exhibition presents the fauna of the cold part of the Atlantic Ocean, including the North Sea, the Danish Straits, and the Baltic Sea. Ultimately, up to 1300 new organisms will inhabit the new space.
Cold Seas – from the Atlantic to the Baltic
The new exhibition is designed to showcase the diversity of an environment that is not commonly considered as such. The dynamic, well-oxygenated, and fully salted waters of the northern Atlantic provide excellent conditions for the life of many species of animals and plants. This exhibition is an invitation to embark on a journey that leads from the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the nearly enclosed, least saline sea in the world – the Baltic Sea.
Each tank located along the tour route brings visitors closer to discovering a slice of the unique richness of the cold European seas.
The ocean and humanity are inseparably linked
The new exhibition is not only a place where the Atlantic meets the Baltic. It is also a space where guests of the Gdynia Aquarium will be able to learn about the relationships that connect the marine world with the world of humans. The global ocean provides about 50% of the oxygen we breathe, shapes the climate, influences the weather, and is a source of resources that help people live healthily.
The implementation of the project is possible thanks to the support of the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship within the framework of action 11.4 of the ROP Pomerania 2014-2020.
The project in numbers:
Total Value: 19,365,271.32 PLN Eligible Expenditures: 15,424,777.46 PLN Requested EU Funding: 11,035,612.10 PLN EU Co-Financing Level [%]: 71.54% Number of tanks – 12 Amount of water – 450 000 liters The largest tank – 126 700 liters The smallest tank– 2 300 liters Completion date – 31.12.2023 r. Exhibition opening date – 20.04.2024 r.
The project contractor was selected through the second tender procedure. The company 3JM Michał Bryłka won the tender.
What did the investment look like?
This is how our basement looked at the beginning of the investment works.
The arrangement of the exhibition space, in a place previously unprepared for tourists, required a series of construction works. These included:
reinforcement of the existing building structure,
lowering of the foundations and basement floor,
construction of a staircase,
installation of a new elevator and all necessary utilities.
By visiting the Gdynia Aquarium, you can use a free application that help you navigate the exhibition and provide knowledge about our animals. It is a web app that is easy to use and do not require installation. Remember to bring your own headphones and wear them while using the guide.
eGuide
eGuide tells about the inhabitants of the Gdynia Aquarium. It is enriched with photos and voice recordings (including those by Krystyna Czubówna) that allow for a comfortable visit. The application is available in Polish and English.
At the beginning of the tour, a login screen appears, but no data needs to be provided. QR codes and numbers leading to the eGuide can be found next to the aquaria’ descriptions
Yes. The ticket office has a separate pool of tickets. If there are no tickets available in the online shop for the day you choose, you will get them on site at the cash desk.
Current ticket prices can be found in here. We invite you to check the offer of family tickets, discount cards and name tickets. We also recommend following special offers related to holidays such as Children’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, appearing in the News tab.
Authorized persons should aquire a free admission card from the Aquarium ticket office before starting the tour. More information on tickets and admissions to here.
The only dogs that can visit the Gdynia Aquarium exhibition are assistance dogs and guide dogs.
A person visiting the Gdynia Aquarium with such a pet must equip it with a harness, have a certificate confirming the dog’s status as a guide / assistant and a certificate of the required veterinary vaccinations.
Unfortunately, other dogs, even those tiny and carried on hands or in handbags, are not allowed at the Gdynia Aquarium exhibition.
There are no guiding people in the Aquarium. We invite you to use the web application, available on your phones, without downloading, at przewodnik.akwarium.gdynia.pl.
In the summer, a gastronomic point with a view on the Gulf of Gdańsk operates on the terrace of the Gdynia Aquarium. In low season, there are many places offering meals around the Aquarium.
Unfortunately, the Gdynia Aquarium does not have its own parking for guests. However, along the entire length of Skwer Kościuszki, there is a city-paid parking zone where you can leave your vehicle. It’s worth noting that during the summer season, these spots can fill up quickly. The nearest free parking is located in the underground parking of the central park, and there is also paid parking available at the Mercure hotel.
For educational purposes, we also use the exhibition of our zoo located at the coast of the Gulf of Gdansk. This amazing location and character of the institution gives the opportunity to show organisms associated with the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea environment, as well as aquatic fauna, coming from almost all over the world.
The Education Center was established at the Gdynia Aquarium in 1998 to promote knowledge of the sea. From then on, students from the Tri-City and surrounding areas and school groups from all over Poland have taken part in many projects. Our main goal is to familiarize as many young people as possible with current issues related to biology, ecology and protection of the marine environment. Participants learn about the world of the sea through the senses of touch, sight, hearing and practical experiences.
