If you’re traveling from Busan, Daegu is an easy day trip — SRT takes about 50 minutes from Busan Station (₩15,600 / ~$10), KTX around an hour (₩17,000 / ~$11).
Once you’re at Dongdaegu Station, Daegu Aquarium is a 2-minute walk: it’s on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Department Store, directly connected to the station. Around 200 species and 10,000 marine creatures, a suspension bridge over the main tank, a manatee feeding show, and an indoor animal zone — it’s a solid few hours indoors, especially useful when the weather outside is not cooperating.
Table of Contents
Basic Info
| Address | 9F, Shinsegae Department Store Daegu, 149 Dongbu-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu |
| Hours (weekdays) | Mon–Thu 10:30–20:00 (last entry 19:00) |
| Hours (weekends) | Fri, Sat, Sun, public holidays 10:30–20:30 (last entry 19:00) |
| Closed | Once a month on Monday (same as Shinsegae Daegu — check website) |
| Website | daeguaqua.com |
Getting There
From Dongdaegu Station: The aquarium is directly accessible via the station — either through the underground connection or from Exits 2 or 3, which put you right in front of the Shinsegae building. Take the elevator or escalator to the 9th floor.
From Busan: SRT from Busan Station to Dongdaegu takes around 50 minutes (₩15,600 / ~$10). KTX takes about an hour (₩17,000 / ~$11). Both stop at Dongdaegu Station. The aquarium is a short walk from the platform.
By car: Shinsegae Daegu has its own car park — 2 hours free parking with aquarium validation. Make sure to register at the information desk.
Tickets
| Category | Age | KRW | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | 19 and up | ₩29,000 | ~$19 |
| Youth | 13–18 | ₩27,000 | ~$18 |
| Child | 36 months–12 years | ₩25,000 | ~$17 |
| Infant | Under 36 months | Free | — |
One infant (under 36 months) enters free per accompanying adult. Free entry applies through the day the child turns 36 months. Age verification is required — original documents or a photo on your phone both work.
Tickets purchased at the door are full price. If you book in advance through KKday, the adult ticket comes down to ₩24,000 (~$16). Book here.
Note: some paid experience programs inside (like feeding sessions) are card payment only and priced separately from the entry ticket.
What’s Inside
Daegu’s first aquarium, and the variety holds up well — 200+ species across marine and freshwater tanks, plus land animals. What makes it distinct from other aquariums in the region isn’t the size of the main tank (which is on the smaller side) but a few specific features worth knowing about.
Ocean Cloud Bridge: A suspension bridge over one of the main tanks that lets you look down through the water from above. The bridge moves as you walk across it. It’s the most memorable part of the visit — not something you get in most aquariums.
Sea Mirror Maze: Near the entrance, a tank section surrounded by mirrored walls creates the effect of infinite tanks in every direction. Good photo spot, and genuinely disorienting in the best way.
Manatee: This is one of the few places in Korea where you can see one up close. The Manatee Feeding and Talk Show is one of the most popular programs — you watch the manatee eat and learn about its habits. Performance schedules are posted at the entrance; worth photographing when you arrive so you can plan around them.
Bird Cabin: Free-roaming parrots that land on your arm if you hold it out. One of the more interactive parts of the aquarium and tends to work better with kids than some of the tank sections.
Other animals: Meerkats, turtles, and various freshwater fish species fill out the rest of the space alongside the marine sections.
I keep a 120cm tank at home with fish and a turtle, so I’m not a casual visitor when it comes to places like this. What stood out was how well each individual tank was maintained — the water clarity and the condition of the animals. The variety across species, from cichlids to marine fish to reptiles, meant there was consistently something worth pausing at.
A Few Practical Notes
Check the performance schedule at the entrance and plan your visit around the manatee show if it runs during your slot. Some feeding programs require card payment and need to be booked separately inside — cash won’t work for those.
The aquarium sits inside Shinsegae, so the surrounding floors have food options before or after your visit. If you have extra time near Dongdaegu Station, Simple Bookstore is a few minutes away — a basement independent bookstore and cat cafe with a strong retro atmosphere that’s worth the detour.
Where is Daegu Aquarium and how do I get there?
Daegu Aquarium is on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Department Store Daegu, at 149 Dongbu-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu. It’s directly connected to Dongdaegu Station — take the underground passage or use Exits 2 or 3, which open right in front of the Shinsegae building. From Busan, SRT takes about 50 minutes (₩15,600 / ~$10) and KTX about an hour (₩17,000 / ~$11) to Dongdaegu Station.
What are the opening hours?
Weekdays (Monday–Thursday): 10:30–20:00, last entry at 19:00. Weekends and public holidays (Friday–Sunday): 10:30–20:30, last entry at 19:00. The aquarium closes once a month on a Monday, following Shinsegae Daegu’s holiday schedule. Check the website before visiting on a Monday.
How much does a ticket cost and where should I buy it?
Adult (19+): ₩29,000 (~$19). Youth (13–18): ₩27,000 (~$18). Child (36 months–12 years): ₩25,000 (~$17). Infants under 36 months enter free (one per accompanying adult, up to and including the day the child turns 36 months). Booking in advance through KKday brings the adult ticket to ₩24,000 (~$16). Age verification is required at entry — original documents or a photo works.
What are the highlights inside Daegu Aquarium?
The Ocean Cloud Bridge — a suspension bridge over the main tank that lets you look down through the water from above — is the most distinctive feature. The Sea Mirror Maze near the entrance uses mirrored walls to create an infinite-tank effect. The manatee (one of the few in Korea) and the Bird Cabin with free-roaming parrots are the most interactive sections. The aquarium also has meerkats, turtles, and a wide range of freshwater and marine species across well-maintained tanks.
What is the Manatee Feeding and Talk Show?
It’s one of the most popular programs — you watch the manatee eat and hear about its habits and lifestyle. It runs on a schedule posted at the entrance. It’s worth photographing the schedule when you arrive so you can plan your visit around it. The show is included with general admission.
Are there paid experiences inside?
Yes. Some programs, including certain feeding sessions, are priced separately from the entry ticket and require card payment — cash is not accepted for these. Check with staff at the entrance for the current program list and pricing.
Is there parking available?
Yes. Shinsegae Daegu has its own car park with 2 hours of free parking for aquarium visitors. You need to register your vehicle at the information desk inside to receive the free validation. Without registration, standard parking fees apply.