Ocean Aquarium Protaras: tickets, prices and what to expect
Plan a visit to Protaras Ocean Aquarium with the operator's ticket prices in euros, what's inside the park and how long to allow near Cape Greco.
On this page
Protaras Ocean Aquarium costs €15 for adults and €7 for children aged 2 to 12, with infants free, and it is a half-day rather than a full-day outing. The park near the Cavo Greco headland combines aquarium tanks with 12,500 square metres of tropical gardens, so you need to budget time for both. This guide covers what is inside, how long to allow, and how it fits alongside a beach or boat day in the Protaras area.
Prices above are the operator's own published rates, so treat them as the current figure to check before you travel rather than a fixed rule for future seasons. The aquarium sits in the Famagusta District between Protaras and Paralimni, which makes it easy to pair with the resort strip or the Cape Greco coast.
What the Ocean Aquarium in Protaras actually is
This is not a single dark hall of tanks. Protaras Ocean Aquarium describes itself as a home to more than 1,000 species and a 12,500 square metre tropical garden, so the visit is part indoor aquarium, part outdoor animal park. That mix is the reason to go: you can move between the fish and the gardens instead of standing in one room.
It is a compact aquarium and animal park near the Cavo Greco headland, in the Famagusta District of Cyprus. It is not inside the Cape Greco national forest park, so do not plan the visit as a stop on a Cape Greco walking route; treat it as a separate attraction near the headland.
Where it sits in the Protaras area
The aquarium is in the Protaras and Paralimni area, which means it slots easily into a day that starts on the resort strip and ends at the coast. If you are staying around the resort, it is a short drive rather than a walk you would want to do in high summer heat. Use the Protaras map to work out distances from your accommodation before you decide whether to drive or take a taxi.
Driving is the simplest option because the site offers free parking for visitors. That makes it practical to combine the aquarium with a look at Paralimni town or a drive toward Cape Greco in the same afternoon.
Tickets and prices
The operator publishes clear ticket tiers: adults pay €15, children aged 2 to 12 pay €7, and infants are free. There is no separate charge for parking, and group bookings such as schools, guides and sports teams can get a discount off the admission price, arranged in advance by phone.
Prices are quoted in euros like the rest of the Republic of Cyprus. Buy on the day or confirm current rates on the operator's own site before you commit, since published figures can change between seasons.
What you see inside
The operator lists piranhas, stingrays, turtles, crocodiles and penguins among its residents, alongside the broader collection of over 1,000 species. That list is the honest headline: expect a mixture of fish, reptiles and birds rather than only marine life.
Displays can change without notice, so do not build a visit around one particular animal. If a specific species matters to you, ask on arrival rather than assuming the tanks follow a fixed line-up. Outside the tanks, the tropical gardens are the second half of the visit and are worth real time rather than a quick pass.
How long to allow
Plan for around two hours if you move steadily through the tanks and the gardens, and longer if you have children who want to linger. The 12,500 square metre gardens add substantial outdoor walking, so the site is bigger than a single-room aquarium suggests.
There is an open-air kiosk next to the water fountains serving snacks, ice cream and cold drinks, which is a natural break point between the indoor and outdoor sections. A visit that includes a kiosk stop is closer to three hours, especially with younger children in tow.
Access, parking and practical points
Almost every part of the aquarium is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, which makes it one of the easier outings in the area for mixed-age groups. The free car park removes the usual stress of finding a space on the Protaras seafront in summer.
Bring sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen, and keep insect repellent handy even though the park takes preventive measures against mosquitoes and other insects. Feed nothing to the animals: the operator asks visitors not to share food because the animals are on controlled diets.
Sun, shade and timing your visit
The gardens are outdoors and the sun is strong from late morning through the afternoon in midsummer, so an early slot is kinder than midday. If you are visiting in July or August, aim to be finished before the peak heat and save the coastal drive for later.
Shoulder months are more forgiving for an outdoor animal park. October and September still bring warm days but with less ferocious midday heat, and both are good months for combining the aquarium with a boat trip or a beach afternoon.
Is it worth it, and who it suits
This is a good pick for families with young children, mixed-age groups that need step-free access, and anyone who wants a non-beach activity out of the sun for a few hours. Adults travelling without children may find it a short visit for the ticket price, and should weigh it against a boat trip or a longer day at Cape Greco.
If you are choosing between the aquarium and a beach day, remember that the Protaras coast is free and needs no planning, whereas the aquarium costs €15 per adult and gives you a fixed, ticketed indoor-outdoor attraction. A wet or windy day tips the decision firmly toward the aquarium.
Which day suits the aquarium best
Pick the aquarium for a hot midday window, a mixed-age group that needs pushchair access, or a day when the sea is not cooperating. Go early, allow two to three hours with the gardens and kiosk, and park for free on site.
Pair it with a drive toward Cape Greco or an evening at Magic Dancing Waters if you want a full day out from Protaras. Check the operator's site for current ticket prices before you go, since published rates can change.
Explore more Protaras guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit the Protaras Aquarium?
The operator publishes adult admission at fifteen euros and children aged two to twelve at seven euros, with infants free. Group bookings arranged in advance can receive a discount.
Is there a zoo in Protaras, Cyprus?
The Ocean Aquarium describes itself as an aquarium and animal park, and lists piranhas, stingrays, turtles, crocodiles and penguins among its residents alongside more than a thousand species. It is not a large conventional zoo, so expect a compact site rather than a full day out.
How long should I spend at the Ocean Aquarium?
Allow around two hours to see the tanks and walk the tropical gardens, and closer to three if you stop at the open-air kiosk with children. The gardens are outdoors, so the time you spend there depends on the heat.
Sources
Notes for your Cyprus trip
Optional updates to our Cyprus guides.
You might also like
Continue reading
More guides you'll find useful
