Aquatis Lausanne with Kids: Is Europe's Largest Freshwater Aquarium Worth Visiting?

Aquatis Lausanne is one of the most unique family attractions in Switzerland, taking visitors on an immersive journey through the freshwater ecosystems of Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America. Home to thousands of fish, reptiles and amphibians, this modern aquarium and vivarium combines interactive exhibits, impressive tanks and educational experiences that captivate children and adults alike. Whether you're looking for a rainy-day activity in Lausanne, a family-friendly attraction near Lake Geneva or one of the best aquariums in Switzerland, Aquatis offers an unforgettable day out for curious young explorers. (Updated: June 2026)

We visited the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe !

We had often thought about going to visit Aquatis since it opened but somehow the price (chf29 for an adult, chf19 for children aged 5-15 and free for children under 5) had seemed prohibitively high. However we were offered a gift voucher by an enterprising friend for Christmas and quickly put it to use!

The parking is covered, huge and right next to the building so access is easy. We went on a day when it was quite busy so it was hard to get close enough to some of the displays for very long but there were places to sit in front of lots of the tank to watch the animals when we got the chance.

We were impressed by the cleanliness of the tanks, the general presentation and atmosphere created and the variety of sea life on display. Jude was really excited to see the crocodile and Alba fell in love with the Komodo dragon and it wasn’t easy to get her away from the glass.

There were plenty of toilets with changing facilities and there is a small snack shop at the exit. Towards the end we passed through a sort of rainforest section with humid air and a nice array of tropical plants which we liked along with the tunnel surrounded by a tank containing the sharks which was impressive.

"It remains an expensive outing for families with older children even by Swiss standards."

The main question we asked ourself on leaving was “is it worth the high price”? We didn’t think so. Yes there are some nice displays, it’s modern, clean, easy to get around and with ample facilities but it remains an expensive outing for families with older children even by Swiss standards.

Information

Parking : Yes

Toilets : Yes

Baby Change Facilities : Yes

Accessibility : Possible with a pushchair by using the lifts

Website : https://www.aquatis.ch/