Barcelona Aquarium exceptionally opens its backstage areas and new technical zone to the public

Regular visitors are used to watching sharks, rays, and seahorses glide behind the tank windows. Yet, a large part of the site usually remains inaccessible. For the first time in this renovated layout, Barcelona Aquarium invites the public to enter directly into its most secret workspaces. This special initiative titled L'Aquàrium que no se ve invites curious visitors to discover the behind-the-scenes world for free and witness the daily routine of the teams protecting marine biodiversity.

The traditional route allows guests to contemplate marine species or even dive with sharks in the various basins. Now, a rare opportunity is offered to access work areas reserved for specialized staff. The technical facilities have recently undergone major renovation work, notably incorporating new equipment intended for the care and biological monitoring of marine animals.

At the heart of the technical spaces now accessible lie two major newly designed additions. The facility now features a brand new quarantine room and a new scientific laboratory. These daily work hubs ensure the biological monitoring essential to the overall balance of the aquatic ecosystem seen by visitors.

During the guided tour, participants enter these restricted access areas to understand precisely the protocol implemented when a newcomer joins the marine center. The technical team explains in detail the necessary acclimatization phases before a specimen joins the large exhibition tanks. The public also discovers how the rigorous control of water parameters and the medical care of individuals requiring veterinary care are carried out.

Behind the glass facades of the aquariums, ongoing applied research activity takes place. This foray behind the scenes highlights the reproduction and conservation programs for marine species carried out on site. The specialists mobilized every day ensure that each resident benefits from the optimal conditions necessary for its longevity and overall well-being.

The technical area serves as the real operational heart of the complex. It is in this precise location that all the technical and scientific work comes together to make possible the aquatic life presented before the eyes of the public. Aquarists and biologists share their field knowledge there to raise visitors' awareness about the complexity of managing these fragile species on a daily basis.

This exclusive operation lasts only a very short time and is focused solely on two consecutive weekends. Tours of the technical area take place exclusively on September 19, 20, 26, and 27. No additional dates are scheduled outside of these four days of exceptional opening.

For each of these days, five specific time slots are available to participants. Departures to explore backstage take place at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Given the technical nature of the visited areas, the capacity of each group remains strictly limited.

Discovering behind the scenes is completely free for anyone holding a general admission ticket to the aquarium. However, holding a standard entry ticket does not automatically guarantee a spot for the tour of the technical facilities. As spots are limited, prior online registration is essential to reserve an access time slot.

Regarding safety and visiting comfort in these professional work areas, an age guideline is explicitly stated. The activity is recommended for adults as well as children from 6 years old. Participants can thus move smoothly through the technical corridors and observe care protocols without disrupting the work of the keepers.

A pricing opportunity accompanies this period of tours in the reserved areas. From September 18 to 24, visitors can purchase their admission ticket with a direct 5-euro discount. This reduced rate then allows planning a visit to the aquarium until September 30.

To take advantage of this financial benefit, guests can complete their purchase online via the official link or go directly to the on-site ticket counter by explicitly mentioning the Promo Mercè code. This discount allows combining access to the tropical aquariums and the reserved visit of the technical premises at an attractive price during the September festivities.