The Tropicarium Budapest is located inside the Campona Shopping Centre, in the south of Buda. From the city centre, it takes around 40–45 minutes by public transport.
It is called a Tropicarium rather than simply an aquarium because the visit is not only about fish. Inside, there are eight halls that recreate different environments, from Hungarian freshwater habitats to a tropical rainforest and the ocean. Sharks are certainly the main attraction, but there are also alligators, reptiles, monkeys, rays and hundreds of colourful fish.
Starting with freshwater life
The first part of the visit introduces the world of freshwater animals. Some tanks are dedicated to Hungarian fauna, while others contain tropical freshwater species.
It is a quieter beginning compared with what comes later, but it is interesting to see how different the colours, shapes and sizes of freshwater fish can be. The atmosphere also slowly changes as you move from the local environment towards the tropical part of the Tropicarium.
Into the tropical world
The Tropicarium soon starts to feel much more like a small indoor zoo.
This section is home to exotic reptiles and amphibians, snakes, monitor lizards, birds and small monkeys. It is one of the areas where there is always something different to look at, so the visit never feels like walking past aquarium after aquarium.
The animals also have scheduled feeding times. Depending on the day, visitors may see the feeding of snakes, dwarf caimans, monitor lizards or monkeys.
The tropical rainforest
One of the most characteristic areas is the indoor rainforest.
Here the environment completely changes. There are tropical plants, rocks, water and much warmer, more humid air. The Tropicarium even recreates tropical rain, helping to make the area feel very different from a normal indoor exhibition.
Among the most impressive animals here are the alligators. Visitors can observe them from above and from the paths around their enclosure. Nearby there are also koi carp, which can be fed using the special food sold inside the Tropicarium.
It is probably one of the most unusual parts of the visit because for a moment it feels less like being inside a shopping centre in Budapest and more like entering a small tropical environment.
From the rainforest to the ocean
After the rainforest, blue light starts to dominate the rooms.
The marine section contains hundreds of colourful saltwater fish living in larger tanks. This is one of the best areas for photos, especially when many different species are swimming together.
The Tropicarium has a separate section dedicated to marine life, and it prepares visitors for what is easily the most famous attraction in the building: the shark aquarium.
The shark tunnel: the highlight of the Tropicarium
This is the part most people come to see.
The shark aquarium has a 12-metre-long transparent tunnel running directly underneath the water. Sharks, rays and schools of fish can swim above and beside you, so instead of simply looking through the glass, you feel as if you are inside the aquarium.
Among the species that can be seen here are sand tiger sharks and brown reef sharks.
The tunnel is particularly impressive when one of the larger sharks slowly swims directly above you. It is probably also the best place in the Tropicarium for videos and photos, although flash photography is not allowed because it can disturb the animals.
Getting close to the rays
Another favourite part of the visit is the ray pool.
Unlike the animals in most of the other tanks, the rays can be touched in a specially designed area. Visitors can put their hands near the water and wait for one of them to swim close to the edge. Touching animals is only permitted in these designated areas.
Their movement is probably what makes them so interesting to watch: they seem to fly through the water rather than swim.
For us, this area and the shark tunnel are the two experiences that make the Tropicarium different from a normal aquarium.
Tickets and opening hours
Under its normal schedule, the Tropicarium is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00, with the last entrance at 19:00.
An adult ticket currently costs 4,700 HUF on weekdays before 5 pm and 5,500 HUF at weekends and on public holidays. There is also a cheaper Smart Ticket for 3,900 HUF on weekdays after 5 pm.
For children aged 2–18 and visitors over 65, the price is 3,500 HUF on weekdays, 4,000 HUF at weekends, or 2,900 HUF after 5 pm on weekdays. Children under two can enter free when visiting with their family.
A normal visit can easily take around one and a half to two hours, especially if you stop to watch the sharks, animals and feeding sessions.
Is the Tropicarium worth visiting?
The Tropicarium is very different from the classic Budapest attractions. You do not come here for architecture or history, but for an experience that mixes an aquarium, a small zoo and a tropical environment.
The shark tunnel is clearly the star of the visit, but the rainforest and ray pool make the experience much more varied. It is also a particularly good idea on a rainy or cold day, as the entire visit takes place indoors.
If you are staying in Budapest for several days, it can be a nice break from churches, monuments and museums — especially if you like animals or want to see something completely different from the city centre.
Comments are closed.