Welcome to the Tihanyi Garda
Aquarium page!
Find out more about us!
Lake Balaton, also known as the “Hungarian Sea”, is one of Hungary’s greatest natural treasures. Central Europe’s largest lake is a unique natural wonder, home to thousands of animal and plant species.
At the Garda Aquarium Visitor Centre you can now see the underwater wildlife of the area live. Our 15 freshwater aquariums, designed to suit the physiological needs of each species, contain both common and rarely seen fish species. Touch-screen information panels provide detailed information about the fish species in the aquariums, which is also a great fun and educational tool for children. Our visitor centre has over 23,000 litres of display aquariums for young and old to enjoy.
Where did the name Garda Aquarium come from?
The first aquarium on Lake Balaton was opened in Tihany in 1910, in the harbour’s waiting hall. The Garda Aquarium takes its name from the local speciality, the garda fish, which is closely linked to Tihany: it features in the town’s coat of arms and is honoured every year with a traditional festival. At the end of autumn, schools of fish gather in the Tihany Gorge, where the “hill walkers” – experienced fishermen – watched the fish move, helping them to catch them successfully.
After visiting the aquarium, homemade desserts await you and your family at the on-site Garda confectionery, which you can enjoy on the shaded terrace overlooking the Inner Lake. Discover Tihany and the Garda Aquarium, where the special experiences of the northern shore of Lake Balaton are unforgettable for all ages!
Where did the name Garda Aquarium come from?
For us, nature conservation is a top priority and we would like to draw the attention of our visitors to this! The primary goal of our Visitor Centre is not only to present the aquatic life of Lake Balaton and its catchment area, but also to provide educational information to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the living environment for present and future generations.
In this way, we want to contribute to preserving the beauty, diversity and richness of the aquatic fauna of the “Hungarian Sea” in its natural environment for as long as possible.
Bricks exhibition and fair and café
Garda Entertainment Complex, the exhibition venue
is also a cube exhibition and café.
