Haus des Meeres, founded in 1957, is an aquarium and zoo stacked over the floors of a single building in Vienna. The moments children tend to remember are the hands-on ones: a tank of small doctor fish that nibble at fingers held in the water, and koi that are there to be stroked. Families can print a treasure map before they come and start the trail on level 9. For a break, Café Sharky sits opposite the aquarium of Puppi the sea turtle, so the snack stop doubles as another look at the animals.
The one thing to plan around is timing. In school holidays, on public holidays and at weekends the mornings bring longer waits at the entrance, and the aquarium itself suggests coming in the afternoon instead.
Family FAQ
How much does Haus des Meeres cost?
Online tickets: adults €23.50, children 6–15 €9.80, ages 3–5 €6.50; under-3s go free.
What are the opening hours of Haus des Meeres?
Open daily 09:00–20:00, public holidays included.
