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Forests Underwater is the world’s largest nature aquarium, created by aquascaping master Takashi Amano. It creates tropical forest ecosystems entirely underwater and showcases the harmony between aquatic plants, freshwater fish, and natural landscapes within a single immersive habitat.

Where is it located?

The exhibit is located on the ground floor of the Oceanário, adjacent to the Central Ocean Tank.

How can you access it? 

All tickets to the Oceanário de Lisboa include access to this exhibit. This includes combos with other attractions, and with the Lisbon Card and the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour.

Book Oceanário de Lisboa tickets

Things to know before booking Forests Underwater tickets 

  • All Oceanário de Lisboa tickets include access to the Forests Underwater exhibit. 
  • You can choose a timed entry tickett to the Oceanário to explore the exhibit and the various oceanic zones at your own pace. 
  • You can upgrade your tickets to enjoy a guided tour of the Oceanário with a local English-speaking expert. This is the ideal way to understand Amano’s intent behind this nature aquarium and learn about the Oceanário’s role in conserving our aquatic ecosystems. 
  • If you choose a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, you can easily get off at stop #9 on the Oriente Line (Blue) to reach the Oceanário. This combo ticket also gets you access to the Oceanário and the Forests Underwater exhibit. 
  • The combo with the Lisbon Card is ideal if you want seamless access to the city’s public transportation network, including the metro train and bus. You also get one-time access to 51 attractions across the city and the flexibility to choose between a 48 and a 72-hour pass.

Why visit the Forests Underwater exhibit?

Underwater forest exhibit by Takashi Amano at Oceanarium, featuring diverse aquatic plants.

This exhibit is housed in a unique U-shaped, 40-meter-long tank that surrounds you on the front and both sides, creating an immersive space. The foyer you walk into is dark, eliminating all distractions so you can focus on every element of this carefully curated exhibit.

Takashi Amano aimed to immerse you in the delicate balance of tropical ecosystems, and he does this by turning aquascaping into a work of fine art. The lush plants and the fish swimming amidst them are a constant reminder of how interdependent these species are.

Unique fact: The exhibit is designed to be experienced in a very specific way. As you walk from one end of the tank to the other and back, you get a unique perspective into Amano’s ingenious use of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements, almost making this live ecosystem seem like a scene out of the BBC’s Planet Earth.

Who was Takashi Amano?

Leafy seadragon swimming among seaweed at Takashi Amano Exhibit, Lisbon Oceanarium.

Takashi Amano (1954–2015) was a pioneering Japanese aquascaper, photographer, and designer renowned for creating large-scale nature aquariums. He developed the Nature Aquarium concept, creating aquariums that resemble natural landscapes rather than artificial displays. They blend Japanese aesthetics, natural harmony, and advanced aquarium design techniques.

Amano’s Forests Underwater at Oceanário de Lisboa, his final and largest work, showcases his mastery of aquascaping and commitment to ecological awareness. His legacy continues to inspire aquarium design worldwide.

About the Oceanário de Lisboa

Know before you go to the Forests Underwater exhibit

Aquarium with lush aquatic plants at Takashi Amano Exhibit, Lisbon Oceanarium.

The opening hours of Takashi Amano’s Forests Underwater are the same as those of the Oceanário. It’s accessible every day from 10am to 8pm, with last entry capped at 7pm. However, the following days have varying timings:

  • December 24: 10am to 7pm, with last entry at 6pm 
  • December 25: 11am to 8pm, with last entry at 7pm
  • December 31: 10am to 7pm, with last entry at 6pm
  • January 1: 11am to 8pm, with last entry at 7pm
Oceanário de Lisboa opening hours

Address: Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal | Find on Google Maps

  • By metro: Take the Red Line to Oriente Station (approximately 0.8km away or a 10-minute walk). Follow the exit signs toward the Oceanário.
  • By train: Regional and intercity trains stop at Oriente Station.
  • By bus: Multiple local and intercity routes (lines 705, 708, 725, 728, 744, 750, 759, 782, 794) have stops within 0.5km.
Getting to Oceanário de Lisboa
Woman in wheelchair observing fish in an aquarium.
  • The Forests Underwater exhibit, like the rest of the Oceanário, is wheelchair accessible. Ramps and elevators make access seamless. 
  • The restrooms are also designed to be wheelchair accessible.
  • Pregnant women, infants, and visitors with limited mobility also get priority access.
Plan your visit to the Oceanário de Lisboa
No smoking sign on a pole in an outdoor setting.
  • Photography: Flash photography is not allowed at this exhibit. The use of selfie sticks is also prohibited. 
  • Behavior: You must refrain from tapping on the glass, as this could disturb the animals. 
  • Pets: Pets are not allowed at the exhibit or the Oceanário. If you need to bring a guide dog or service animal along, make sure to contact the venue before your visit. 
  • Smoking: Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the premises.

Frequently asked questions about Takashi Amano’s Forests Underwater

Yes, entry to Forests Underwater is included with all Oceanário de Lisboa admission tickets.