Aquaria Phuket opened beneath the Central Phuket Floresta shopping mall, on the edge of Phuket Town, and quickly became the island’s main indoor attraction. Its centrepiece is the South China Sea exhibit, which holds about three and a half million litres of seawater and, according to the operator, around one hundred thousand marine specimens, from shoals of tropical fish to sharks and rays, viewed through wide windows and a tunnel that takes you under the water. Around it are themed zones: the Mystic Forest, devoted to freshwater fish, and the Jewels of the Jungle, with reptiles. Through the day, staff hand-feed the otters, stingrays and penguins and feed the sharks, and these sessions are the highlight for most children. The aquarium is open every day, air-conditioned and easy to reach, so it slots neatly into a shopping trip, a visit to Old Phuket Town or an afternoon when the sea is too rough for boats. The Tiqets ticket covers entry, offers free cancellation up to a day ahead and lets you add the AR Trick Eye Museum at checkout.
How it works: Aquaria is open daily from 10:30 to 19:00 on the B1 floor of Central Phuket Floresta on the bypass road in Wichit. You show your mobile voucher together with a passport, ID card or work permit at the entrance, so bring identification. Food, drinks, special activities and souvenirs cost extra. Free cancellation and rescheduling are available until twenty-four hours before.
What to expect: plan for around two hours at a relaxed pace. Check the feeding times at the entrance and build your route around them, because they draw the biggest crowds and are the best moments for children. Weekends and rainy afternoons are the busiest times, when the tunnel can feel crowded. The rest of the mall has plenty of restaurants, cafés and air-conditioned shops for afterwards.
Making the most of it: arrive at opening for the quietest visit, then go on to Old Phuket Town for lunch, which is a short taxi ride away. If you have children who love illusions, the AR Trick Eye Museum add-on makes a good second stop. Taxis and ride-hailing cars from the beaches take around half an hour, so combine the trip with other errands in town.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided indoor aquarium visit with a huge seawater tank, an underwater tunnel, freshwater and reptile zones and scheduled animal feedings.
Best time
At opening time on a weekday, or on any afternoon when rain or rough seas cancel beach and boat plans.
How long
About two hours at an easy pace, longer if you add the AR Trick Eye Museum.
Tips
Bring a passport or ID for entry, and plan your route around the feeding times posted at the entrance.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and anyone who needs a cool, dry plan when the weather turns.
- Families
- Top pick for children, with sharks overhead in the tunnel and otter and penguin feedings.
- Couples
- A relaxed indoor date before lunch in Old Phuket Town.
- Pair with
- Old Phuket Town for lunch and the shophouse streets.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
Where is Aquaria Phuket?+
It is on the B1 floor of Central Phuket Floresta, a large shopping mall in Wichit on the edge of Phuket Town. Taxis from the west-coast beaches take about half an hour.
What are the opening hours of Aquaria Phuket?+
It is open daily from 10:30 to 19:00. Arrive early for the quietest visit.
Do I need ID to enter Aquaria?+
Yes, you show your mobile voucher with a passport, ID card or work permit. Bring identification for each adult.
How long do you need at Aquaria Phuket?+
Most visitors spend about two hours. Allow longer if you plan to watch several feedings or add the Trick Eye Museum.
Can I cancel my Aquaria ticket?+
Yes, Tiqets offers free cancellation and rescheduling up to twenty-four hours before your visit. Later changes are not possible.
