An Insider’s Guide to Visiting The Tropicarium in Budapest

When you think of Budapest, words like “shark” and “tropical fish” don’t exactly spring to mind.

And yet the Hungarian Capital is home to the Tropicarium, a veritable shark and wildlife zoo with a 12-meter long observation tunnel to see these deadly predators up close and personal. Even though its location (inside Campona Shopping Mall) is a bit off the major sightseeing tracks, it is definitely worth the trip. Located in the southern area of the city, the shopping center is on the Danube River at Nagytétényi út 37-43.

Not quite an aquarium, not quite a zoo, not quite a botanical garden, the Tropicarium has a little bit of it all. Although also known as the “Shark Zoo,” there’s still more to it than that. A few of the top things to see at the Tropicarium in Budapest are the sharks, alligators, monkeys, and tropical birds.

What to Expect at the Tropicarium

Upon entering the Tropicarium, you’ll no doubt be greeted by the sight of dozens of kids with their faces glued to the fish tanks. If you choose the right time for your visit, you’ll learn exactly how voracious the appetite of sharks, snakes, alligators and monkeys is by feeding them yourself! The alligator and shark feeding is especially exciting!

The Oceanarium

Photo Credit: anastasia_gritsenkoo via Instagram

The first two rooms contain nothing but seemingly endless tanks of tropical fish of all kinds and sizes. Here, you can enjoy the saltwater animals up close and personal. If you’re a certified diver you can sign up for a session to swim with the six 2-meter long resident sharks in the shark tank.

Ever wondered what it is like to pet a ray? At the Ray Touch Aquarium you’ll be able to do just that.

The Tropical Rainforest

Photo Credit: Kateryna Korolevtseva

Children and grown-ups alike will love the tropical rainforest section, home of the American alligator and an exceptional variety of birds and tortoises. To make everything look even more realistic, a tropical rain is created artificially every 15 minutes.

Further on you’ll get to meet the pygmy marmoset, the smallest kind of monkey and a number of the deadliest snakes on earth, fortunately locked away in their terrariums!

Central Europe Flora & Fauna

Photo Credit: Jaroslav Moravcik

And since we are after all in Hungary, don’t forget to check out the section dedicated to the local fauna with several species of endangered freshwater fish.

So if you're in town with kids or you simply like admiring these remarkable animals and learning about natural history, make sure to schedule a visit to the Tropicarium.