Day trips with kids

Cattolica Aquarium with kids from Pesaro

Updated 2 November 2026. Sharks, penguins and themed tanks half an hour from Pesaro: how to get there by car or train, when to go, what to know about tickets and opening times, and how to round off the day with a walk on Cattolica's seafront.

What Cattolica Aquarium is

Cattolica Aquarium is the big aquarium of the Adriatic riviera, housed in the «Le Navi» complex, a group of 1930s ship-shaped buildings originally built as a seaside holiday camp, on Cattolica's seafront. It is the favourite indoor outing for families in the area: you walk among tanks large and small, along themed routes devoted to sharks, penguins, jellyfish, reptiles and the creatures of rivers and wetlands, with talks by the staff explaining what you are looking at. For kids the highlight is usually the shark tank, with its tunnel and huge windows, followed by the penguins at feeding time.

How to get there from Pesaro

By car. Cattolica is the first town in Romagna beyond Gabicce: from Pesaro follow the SS16 north or take the A14 motorway to the Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce exit. Allow roughly 25-35 minutes, more on summer Sundays when the coast gets busy. There are car parks near the aquarium, usually paid: follow the signs on site.

By train. From Pesaro station, regional trains towards Rimini stop at Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce in about ten minutes. From the station to the seafront and the aquarium it is a walk of about twenty minutes, or a short ride by local bus or taxi. Train times differ between weekdays and holidays: check them before leaving. To reach Pesaro station from the centre, see how to get to Nuovo Fiore and move around from the station.

When to go: season, days and hours

The aquarium is not open all year round and its calendar changes between high and low season. In 2026 the season opened in April and some sources list openings until 6 January 2027, with fewer opening days in autumn and winter and openings at weekends and on public holidays. This is the key point: before getting in the car, check days and hours on the official website, because in low season a weekday may well be closed.

One tip that always applies: go in the morning, at opening time. You will find parking, the tanks are quiet, the children are rested and you have time to catch the animal feedings, which are usually scheduled through the day. In summer and at weekends the afternoon is the busiest time.

Tickets and children's entry

According to the sources we consulted, entry is free for children under about one metre tall, with reduced fares for older children and full price for adults. Combined tickets with other parks on the riviera also exist. We do not list prices because they change: you will find the current ones, and the option of buying online to skip the queue, on the aquarium's official website. Also check the age or height limit for free entry, as the conditions may be updated.

The behind-the-scenes tour

For families with children over 6, at certain times the aquarium offers a behind-the-scenes tour: you enter the working areas, see the tanks from above and learn how meals are prepared and the animals cared for. It is a limited-numbers experience with a separate charge and booking: check availability, days and how it works on the official website before promising anything to the kids.

Family tips

• Stroller: most of the route is accessible, but some rooms are dimly lit and at weekends crowded. With the smallest ones a baby carrier helps in front of the tanks.
• Timing: with children allow at least two to three hours. Breaks matter: there are places to sit and refreshment points, but you can bring water and a snack.
• What to watch: ask at the entrance for the times of feedings and staff talks and plan your route around them.
• Temperature: it is cool inside even in summer; a light sweater in the backpack is a good idea.
• Rain: it is the perfect outing for a bad-weather day. If you would rather stay in town, see Pesaro with children on a rainy day.

After the aquarium: Cattolica's seafront

Leaving Le Navi you are already on Cattolica's seafront, flat and stroller-friendly, with gardens, fountains and, in summer, the beach a few steps away. A stroll and an ice cream round off the morning nicely. On the way back to Pesaro you can pass through Gabicce Mare, on the other side of the canal harbour: ideas and tips in our guide to Gabicce Monte and Gabicce Mare with kids. If you still have energy, drive up to Gradara castle, visible from the coast: see day trip from Pesaro to Gradara and Urbino.

Starting from Nuovo Fiore

Nuovo Fiore is at Via Barignani 60, in Pesaro's historic centre, with a private garage and the station ten minutes away on foot: by car or by train you reach Cattolica in little more than half an hour and are back in town for lunch or dinner. With two bedrooms and two bathrooms it is designed for families who want a comfortable base for trips along the coast.

Read also: Nuovo Fiore · Gabicce with kids · Pesaro with children on a rainy day