Tickets for the Shore Oceanarium are priced at the top end of Melaka attractions, although there are discounts for children and senior citizens. Optional upgrades include a feeding package and an interactive 3D package. It’s possible to buy tickets online, and while a handful of family-friendly Melaka tours include the Shore Oceanarium, most travelers visit the aquarium independently. International travelers almost always visit from within Melaka as part of a longer stay in the city.
The Shore Oceanarium is a great rainy day choice for families with kids.
Food and drinks are not allowed in the aquarium.
Allow a couple of hours if visiting with children.
The Shore Oceanarium is located on the second floor of the Shore Shopping Gallery. It’s on the east bank of the Melaka River, just outside the historic center and about a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk north of the Stadthuys. If the walk is too far, the brightly colored 3-wheelers known as trishaws make a fun alternative, particularly with kids.
The Shore Oceanarium is open from midmorning until quite late in the evening seven days a week, but closes occasionally for maintenance and special events. Visit on a weekend if you’d like your kids to mingle with local children, or during the week for a quieter experience.
The Shore Oceanarium provides a great introduction to the myriad tropical fish species around Malaysia—not to mention international favorites, such as the Amazon’s dreaded piranhas. Younger children will enjoy feeding the sea turtles and touching marine animals such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, and even a bamboo shark. Bigger kids will appreciate displays such as Dangerous Marine Species, freaky creatures such as octopuses and walking fish, and the living fossils exhibit.