I wanted to go to Lviv mainly to volunteer, but designated Sunday to be my “off-day” to explore the area. Typically, when I go places, I look for historical sites, museums, or zoos/aquariums.
Lviv does have a zoo which is still open to the public as of 2026, and typically one of the first places I’d go, but the reviews of it are pretty horrendous; talking about the poor conditions of the animals, bordering on neglect or abuse, and so I decided to skip it and visit the aquarium instead.
Ticket Prices- There are multiple prices of tickets, and they have considerations that I honestly really appreciate:
- Children under 3 years old: Free
- Children with disabilities: Free
- Orphans (Under 18 years old): Free
- Children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old: 379 UAH/$8.63
- Adults: 449 UAH/$10.23
- Other Discounts: *NOT APPLICABLE ON HOLIDAYS/WEEKENDS*
- Pensioners: 10%: 10% discount
- People with disabilities: 10% discount
- Persons accompanying children with disabilities and orphans: 10% discount
- Full-time students: 10% discount
- Anti-terrorist operation participants: 10% discount
- Military personnel, volunteers, and law enforcement who directly participated in combat operations against Russian forces: 10% discount
- Armed Forces of Ukraine: 10% discount
- Internally Displaced Person: 10% discount
- Large family: 15% discount
Honestly, I have never been to an aquarium or any venue for that matter that offers discounts for orphans or people accompanying them, so I honestly really appreciated this.
The Entrance:
The entrance to the aquarium is clear, but it’s part of the buildings next to it. I don’t quite know how to explain it, but I expected it to be its own building, but it’s not.
Once you get inside, there will be the ticket office to the right. And you enter the aquarium straight ahead. You are supposed to exit through the gift shop at the end; you don’t leave the same way you come in.
This is where I have less commentary but hopefully the photos will do justice. When you go insider, there are a couple of stairs, so while they do offer discounts for those with disabilities, I wouldn’t say the place itself is all that disability-friendly for people with wheelchairs, etc. I honestly can’t recall if there was an elevator inside… but many of the pathways are narrow.
When you enter the actual aquarium, the first thing you’ll see is the sharks and you get to go through the tunnel, which while I’ve always wanted to do as many of the aquariums I’ve been to don’t have that. You can watch the sharks swim above you and get to see their cute bellies haha!
The lighting here for photos was pretty horrendous but in-person, I promise it looks better!
Like most aquariums, the rest is self-exploration of different tanks along the walls. And they have different types of animals, mostly fish, some stingrays, amphibians and axolotl!
They have a small collection of seashells as well and a gift shop at the end. The aquarium is small, but it definitely is a nice thing to do with kids. These are the bulk of the animals, so don’t be disappointed hoping for penguins, whales or seals! They’re not here 🙂
Do I Recommend Oceanarium Lviv?
I really do! I thought it was a nice place, the animals seem happy with enough space to swim. It’s a great place to go with friends or with family. It is small, but it was enough for me! I would go here again, especially if I had a friend to tag along. Will you come?
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Address: Lviv, Shevchenko Avenue, 8
Hours: 11:00-16:30 (Monday), 11:00-19:00(Tuesday- Thursday) & 11:00-20:00 (Friday-Sunday)
Cheers friends & Travelers!
~Sho, Founder of Backroad Butterflies ~
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