Discover Palma Aquarium in Mallorca—home to Europe’s largest living coral collection, 55 tanks, 700 species, Tropical Seas, and a hands-on Backstage Tour.
Mallorca is about more than beaches and blue water. The island hides something far more surprising—Palma Aquarium. It’s not just an aquarium, but an underwater realm with one of the largest coral collections in Europe.
Set in the island’s capital, Palma, the oceanarium opened in 2007 and has since become one of Mallorca’s most popular spots. Inside are 55 tanks that house more than 8,000 marine animals from 700 species. Light, sound, and even water temperature are tuned to feel as close to the real ocean as possible.
The pride of Palma Aquarium is its corals. There are more than two thousand of them, spanning 70 species—the largest living coral collection in Europe.
Many are raised on site. A dedicated coral farm helps them grow: staff propagate tiny fragments much like seedlings. It takes time and care, but the results are striking. Here, corals are not only about beauty—they’re cultivated to safeguard rare species and, in time, return them to the wild.
The aquarium runs special tours that reveal how everything works from the inside. On the Backstage Tour, visitors can see how marine animals are fed, how the corals are cared for, and how they develop. It’s engaging and informative, and it clearly shows why corals matter to ocean life.
One of the most eye‑catching areas is the Tropical Seas section. Here, corals share space with brightly colored fish once mostly seen on screen. Clownfish, surgeonfish, and many others glide through tanks designed to mirror their natural habitats. The place invites a different way of looking at the sea.
Across the world, corals are dying—from pollution, warming waters, and other pressures. Palma Aquarium works to keep them alive: growing corals, studying how they thrive, and helping people understand why reefs can’t be lost. Thanks to places like this, nature still has a chance.
If you find yourself on Mallorca, make time for Palma Aquarium. And if you don’t, it’s worth knowing that on this island, every day, someone is working to protect what keeps the ocean alive. That truly matters.