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Aquarium · Oeiras, Lisbon
Vasco da Gama Aquarium
Aquarium and museum opened in 1898 in Dafundo, Algés — one of the oldest functioning aquariums in the world. It belongs to the Portuguese Navy and houses live aquatic fauna and King D. Carlos I’s oceanographic collection.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Vasco da Gama Aquarium
The Vasco da Gama Aquarium was inaugurated on May 20, 1898, as part of the celebrations of the fourth centenary of Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India, at the initiative of King D. Carlos I, an enthusiast of oceanography. In 1901 it was handed over to the Portuguese Navy, which still manages it today. It is one of the oldest aquarium-museums in the world still in operation.
The building is in Dafundo, beside the Tagus River, on the border between Oeiras and Lisbon. For decades the aquarium was also a marine biology station where many Portuguese biologists trained. The visit includes tanks with freshwater, brackish and saltwater species, highlighting the fauna of the Portuguese coast, and interactive areas for children.
On the main floor, added in 1917, is King D. Carlos I’s oceanographic collection, which arrived at the aquarium in 1935. It includes animals, instruments and records gathered during the twelve oceanographic campaigns the king carried out along the Portuguese coast between 1896 and 1907 aboard the yachts Amélia. The combination of aquarium and museum makes the visit a lesson about the sea and the history of science in Portugal.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour and a half.
Best time
Open every day. Weekdays, outside of school morning visits, tend to be quieter.
How to get there
On Rua Direita do Dafundo, in Algés. Algés station on the Cascais line is about a 10-minute walk away; several Lisbon bus lines stop nearby.
Tip
Allow time for the floor with King D. Carlos’s collection — many visitors leave it until the end and see it in a hurry. Combine the visit with Belém, which is a few kilometers away on the Lisbon side.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Vasco da Gama Aquarium
When was the Vasco da Gama Aquarium inaugurated?
On May 20, 1898, during the celebrations of the fourth centenary of Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India.
Where is the Vasco da Gama Aquarium located?
In Dafundo, in Algés, municipality of Oeiras, beside the Tagus and near the border of Lisbon, about a 10‑minute walk from Algés station.
What is King D. Carlos’s collection at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium?
It is the oceanographic collection assembled by King D. Carlos I during twelve campaigns along the Portuguese coast between 1896 and 1907, displayed on the aquarium’s main floor.