{"id":235,"date":"2015-08-20T10:02:54","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T08:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=235"},"modified":"2026-01-01T16:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T15:02:38","slug":"hausdesmeeres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/hausdesmeeres\/","title":{"rendered":"Haus des Meeres"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><a href=\"#tickets\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hausdesmeerestickets.jpg\" alt=\"Haus des Meeres signage\" class=\"wp-image-81241\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vienna had to deal with a lot of problems post WWII, including what to do with the huge flak towers. Fortunately for us, one turned into a giant zoological attraction: the Haus des Meeres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hundreds of species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds &amp; mammals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Diverse displays, including mammoth fish tanks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Highlights include sharks and a multi-level tropical house<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roof terrace has great views of Vienna (and a restaurant)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/tiergarten-schonbrunn-tickets-l141990\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_ZooVenue\" rel=\"sponsored\">tickets to Vienna zoo<\/a>* too<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/kids-2\/\">Vienna with children<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/palace-of-schonbrunn\/vienna-zoo\/\">Vienna zoo<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/wwii-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"69411\">WWII &amp; Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside the Haus des Meeres<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hausedesmeeressharks.jpg\" alt=\"A shark tank\" class=\"wp-image-68670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hausedesmeeressharks.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hausedesmeeressharks-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The 360\u00b0 shark tank; press photo courtesy of Haus des Meeres &amp; \u00a9 Daniel Zupanc &amp; Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/wwii-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"69411\">flak towers<\/a> formed giant concrete blockhouses with 3.5m thick walls, built to house air defences to counter bombing raids by the allied forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Too big to easily demolish, the flak tower in Esterhazy Park now houses the Haus des Meeres; 12 floors of watery entertainment. The literal translation is House of the Sea, which gives you an idea of what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Essentially, you have an aquarium and vivarium, with numerous glassed displays. But that description undersells it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Haus des Meeres is not row after row of identikit tanks. Instead, these tanks come in all sizes and shapes, from tunnels to giant, two-storey showpieces.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hausmeerestropicalhouse.jpg\" alt=\"View of the tropical house interior\" class=\"wp-image-58216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hausmeerestropicalhouse.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hausmeerestropicalhouse-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The tropical house. Press photo courtesy of Haus des Meeres &amp; \u00a9 Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The contents of each display cover themes as well as different types of animal. So you might have a tank with baby seahorses or one illustrating symbiosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Added to that are walkthrough zoological enclosures. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A multi-level tropical house with rope bridges and free-roaming bats, birds and monkeys. I often lose time in there just watching the animals close up or (on my previous visit in July 2025) seeing a bat insouciantly eating lunch just an arm&#8217;s length from me<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An exhibition on environmental protection of the oceans with some eye-opening videos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A 70m long Australian experience featuring free-ranging marsupials, parakeets, and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I always enjoy visiting (I have an annual pass), and I&#8217;ve put some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/haus-des-meeres-fish\/\">fish and animal highlights<\/a> in a separate article.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/hausdesmeeresroof.jpg\" alt=\"Haus des Meeres roof terrace\" class=\"wp-image-43320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/hausdesmeeresroof.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/hausdesmeeresroof-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The view from below)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of love clearly goes into the facility. It&#8217;s full of bright colours, well-maintained displays, and friendly staff. You&#8217;d expect a flak tower to be dingy, but the opposite is true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Haus des Meeres does a marvellous job with the space available, and nowhere feels as cramped as you might imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also do a wonderful job full stop. For example, this is the first zoo in the world to breed the Namaqua chameleon in captivity.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/chameleonhausdesmeeres2024.jpg\" alt=\"A baby Namaqua chameleon with a one Euro coin\" class=\"wp-image-74609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/chameleonhausdesmeeres2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/chameleonhausdesmeeres2024-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A baby Namaqua chameleon arrived in 2024. I have no idea what the technical term is for chameleon offspring. A quite outstanding breeding success for the Haus des Meeres; press photo \u00a9 Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent extensions have even added airy glass-walled areas that offer views  across Vienna. Some of the floors do have only a very few displays, though, with the rest of the space given over to offices, storage rooms and similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All in all, consider it an excellent way to spend an hour or three, particularly in wet weather and particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/kids-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"11143\">if you have kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets\">Tickets &amp; visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Get your tickets direct from the Haus des Meeres. At the time of writing, a standard adult entrance ticket cost \u20ac23.50, with various concessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few tips and notes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The dollop of whipped cream on the aquarium pie is the top floor <em>Ocean Sky<\/em> restaurant and terrace with table service and a 360\u00b0 panorama across the entire city: one of the best places to get <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/where-to-get-the-best-views-of-the-city\/\">views of Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A ticket to the Haus des Meeres allows you to visit the viewing terrace. But you can also go up without one: a separate Panorama Lift in the entrance foyer takes you directly to the top floor. However, that lift is only available for those who actually use the restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The tower also has Caf\u00e9 Sharky: a small, self-service caf\u00e9 (also with views)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lifts take you everywhere. My tip: take a lift once up to the top, then walk down the stairs visiting each level as you go<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don&#8217;t rush to the lift or stairs once through the ticket barrier: the ground floor already has some memorable exhibits: an aquarium tunnel and fish to stroke, for example<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/hausdesmeeresturgeon2024.jpg\" alt=\"Sturgeon aquarium\" class=\"wp-image-74610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/hausdesmeeresturgeon2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/hausdesmeeresturgeon2024-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The haus regularly adds new areas and aquariums, like this 13,000 liter facility for breeding sturgeon for release into the Danube through the LIFE-Boat 4 Sturgeon reintroduction project; press photo \u00a9 Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An ongoing expansion project will add more animal displays and improved visitor facilities, so expect to see changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you enjoy animals, or need more furry (or scaly) friends to entertain the family, then another stop on your Vienna stay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/palace-of-schonbrunn\/vienna-zoo\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1674\">should be the zoo<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two kid-friendly locations live near the Haus des Meeres:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/retro-gaming-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"62158\">Retro Gaming Museum<\/a> in the shadow of the flak tower combines displays with hands-on entertainment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Apollo Kino opposite is one of Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/theaters\/english-cinemas-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"633\">English-language cinemas<\/a> (and has an IMAX screen)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mariahilfer Stra\u00dfe (one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/shopping\/best-places-to-shop\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1920\">major shopping streets<\/a>) is nearby, so consider combining a trip with a retail expedition or lunch in the many restaurants there. Or walk east down Gumpendorfer Stra\u00dfe to find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/cafe-sperl\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9714\">Caf\u00e9 Sperl<\/a>: an absolutely classic Viennese coffee house<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Haus des Meeres<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: take the U3 line to Neubaugasse station (a 5-minute journey from Stephansplatz in the centre) and walk down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram\/bus: if you want to be dropped off a little closer, then take a 13A, 14A or 57A bus to the appropriately-titled Haus des Meeres stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Esterhazypark, Fritz-Gr\u00fcnbaumplatz 1, 1060 Vienna | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.haus-des-meeres.at\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1LZrdD7ngdqMGHb2AFmIvwKgR_Jjyniw&#038;ehbc=2E312F&#038;noprof=1\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vienna had to deal with a lot of problems post WWII, including what to do with the huge flak towers. Fortunately for us, one turned into a giant zoological attraction: the Haus des Meeres. Inside the Haus des Meeres (The 360\u00b0 shark tank; press photo courtesy of Haus des Meeres &amp; \u00a9 Daniel Zupanc &amp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-235","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sights","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87890,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions\/87890"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}