Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

An aquarium beneath a shopping mall might sound like a gimmick, but the tour there is anything but. Spanning approximately 10,000 square meters in the basement of the Siam Paragon, it's designed like a journey: from jellyfish and a rainforest to coral reefs and a shark trail, culminating in a large open-water tank. Along the way, visitors encounter around 30,000 animals. The centerpiece is the 270-degree tunnel, through which sharks and rays glide overhead. Penguins, live coral, and tide pools teeming with starfish provide younger children with more entertainment than one might expect.

The extras cost 390 Baht each. The glass-bottom boat departs every 15 minutes from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, cruising over the reef tank (suitable for children 3 years and older). The 4D cinema on the lower level (B1) is open hourly during the same hours. Shark, otter, and penguin feedings, as well as a diving show, take place between 11:30 AM and 4:30 PM. Check the information board upon arrival and plan your itinerary accordingly.

This is primarily a family attraction. Solo travelers with only a slight interest in fishing may not find it good value, although it offers a really good way to escape an afternoon in the Bangkok heat, and it gets very crowded on weekends.

SEA LIFE is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with last entry at 7:00 PM. A visit takes approximately two hours. Book online to save money. A child's ticket (ages 2 to 11) costs 799 Baht online instead of 1,199 Baht at the ticket office. The "Big Ticket" also includes admission to Madame Tussauds at the neighboring Siam Discovery Centre, starting at 899 Baht online. A combination ticket with the Mahanakhon SkyWalk is also available. The Siam BTS station is directly connected to Siam Paragon, and the aquarium entrance is located on the lower level.