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must-visit in IrákleioZoo & Aquarium

Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos

📍 Thalassokosmos, Former American Base, Gournes, Heraklion 71500, Greece
Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos
1 photos
4.6/ 5.0
★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location
Greece, Irákleio
Category
Zoo & Aquarium
Duration
1–1.5 hours; allow 2 hours with children.
Address
Thalassokosmos, Former American Base, Gournes, Heraklion 71500, Greece
Coordinates
35.3340, 25.2800

Introduction

Cretaquarium (Thalassocosmos, "sea world") sits at the former American base in Gournes, about 15 km east of Heraklion, Crete. Opened in December 2005, it is part of the THALASSOKOSMOS complex, home of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the Mediterranean's largest marine research institution. The 5,000-square-metre building holds 60 tanks and more than 100 viewing points with over 2,000 animals of some 250 species: small sharks, rays, scorpionfish, jellyfish, clownfish and sea turtles. The route follows Mediterranean ecosystems, recreating Cretan underwater topography from the Matala rocks in the south to the Vai seabed in the northeast; open-topped shallow tanks let you look straight down on the fish and jellies, while cave galleries hide gliding rays and rock-mimicking scorpionfish. The whole museum is air-conditioned — the answer to a scorching midday or a rainy day — and a beach sits beside it, with Dinosauria Park next door for a family half-day.

✨ Highlights

1
60 tanks, 250 species
5,000 square metres, 60 tanks and 100+ viewing points, with over 2,000 animals of some 250 species.
2
Open-topped shallow tanks
Look straight down into open shallow tanks at shoals and jellyfish — the children's favourite vantage.
3
Caves and crevices
Dim galleries stage the Mediterranean cave ecosystem: rays glide past while scorpionfish mimic the rock.
4
Cretan seascapes
Tanks recreate Crete's underwater topography from the Matala rocks to the Vai seabed — the whole coastline indoors.
5
A research complex
Part of THALASSOKOSMOS, home of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) — a working science campus alongside the exhibits.
6
Air-conditioned all year
Fully air-conditioned for scorching middays and rainy days, with a beach beside it and Dinosauria Park next door.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：1–1.5 hours; allow 2 hours with children.
→Guides：Audio guide €3 in nine languages; online tickets on the official site save a little and skip the queue.
→Families：The open shallow tanks and shark hall win with children; a combined ticket with neighbouring Dinosauria Park fills a half-day.
→Photos：Photography is allowed; galleries are dim, so raise ISO or steady your camera, and keep the flash off.
→Pair with：Knossos is about 25 minutes back towards Heraklion; the coast links easily to Hersonissos and Malia beaches.
→Highlights：A glass tunnel past the sharks, touch pools and scheduled feeding sessions (timetable at the entrance), Mediterranean ecosystem exhibits and conservation displays. It is a research aquarium rather than a show park, with no performing-animal shows.
→Combo：A combined ticket with the neighbouring Dinosauria Park saves roughly EUR 4-5 per person and makes an easy full day; online tickets are usually slightly cheaper than the door.
→Opening Hours：April–October daily 9:30–19:00; November–March daily 9:30–16:00.
→Transportation：About 15 km east of Heraklion at the former US base in Gournes; 25 minutes by car on the VOAK, or a local bus to Gournes plus a 5-minute walk; free parking.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultFree

2026: April–October adults €10, ages 5–17 and 65+ €6, under 5 free; winter €6 for everyone; audio guide €3.

💡 Tips

• Summer crowds peak 11:00–16:00; enter at the 9:30 opening or after 16:30 for a calm visit.
• Buying online on the official site is slightly cheaper and skips the 20-minute summer ticket queue.
• Allow two hours with children and rent the €3 audio guide — it holds their attention.
• The galleries are dim: no flash for photos, and a pocket tripod or steady grip helps.
• Pair it as Knossos in the morning, aquarium plus the adjacent beach in the afternoon.
• Combined tickets cover neighbouring Dinosauria Park and the planetarium — a rain-proof family day.
• The galleries are dim, so bring a tripod if you want sharp shots; floors by the tanks are slippery, so wear flat grippy shoes, and professional photography gear needs prior permission.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos?

April–October daily 9:30–19:00; November–March daily 9:30–16:00.

How much is the admission for Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos?

Adult: Free; 2026: April–October adults €10, ages 5–17 and 65+ €6, under 5 free; winter €6 for everyone; audio guide €3.

Any practical tips for visiting Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos?

Summer crowds peak 11:00–16:00; enter at the 9:30 opening or after 16:30 for a calm visit. Buying online on the official site is slightly cheaper and skips the 20-minute summer ticket queue.

How long should I spend at Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos?

A typical visit takes 1–1.5 hours; allow 2 hours with children..

Compiled from official Cretaquarium and THALASSOKOSMOS materials (Oct 2026). Tickets and hours follow summer and winter seasons, with holiday variations — confirm on the official site.