Should You Just Follow the Arrows? A First-Timer's Guide to Lotte World Aquarium


Large aquarium tank at Lotte World Aquarium in Seoul, with sharks and schools of fish swimming through the blue water.

When you first enter Lotte World Aquarium, it may seem like there is not much to figure out. Follow the signs from the entrance, and you pass a series of smaller tanks filled with fish and other animals as you make your way farther inside. Finding the next exhibit is not particularly difficult.

But after walking for a while, a different set of questions begins to come up. Should you simply keep moving from tank to tank until you reach the end? When do you get to the main tank? Is a program listed on the schedule worth waiting for? At crowded tanks, it can be difficult to see from the back, and people who were moving through the exhibits a moment ago may suddenly stop in one place and wait.

At Lotte World Aquarium, the arrows tell you where to go. They do not tell you where to stop or how long to stay.

At Jamsil Station, Find Lotte World Mall First

When you arrive at Jamsil Station, Lotte World, Lotte World Mall, Lotte World Tower, and Seoul Sky are all clustered in the same area. With names that sound so similar, it is easy to wonder whether the aquarium is inside the amusement park or somewhere up in Lotte World Tower.

Lotte World Aquarium is inside Lotte World Mall. So at Jamsil Station, instead of simply following any sign that says "Lotte World," make your way toward Lotte World Mall first.

Seoul Sky is also accessible from Jamsil Station, but the observatory and the aquarium are separate attractions. The route from Jamsil Station toward Lotte World Tower is covered separately in the Seoul Sky guide.

The Arrows Show the Direction, but the Crowd Sets the Pace

Once you are inside, the route itself is fairly simple: you just follow the arrows. Before long, you begin to reach places where people slow down, such as the otter area and the underwater tunnel.

But the same space can feel very different depending on how crowded it is that day. When it is crowded, stopping for a photo in the underwater tunnel can be difficult, and the otters can be hard to see up close when people gather in front of the exhibit. On the other hand, one visitor who went on a day of heavy rain found the entrance nearly empty and was able to move through the same areas at a much slower pace. That does not mean rainy days are always quiet; it was one unusually quiet visit.

So even when everyone follows the same arrows, the number of people around you changes how quickly you move through the aquarium.

Another thing to notice is that the route takes you from B1 down to B2. Changing floors does not necessarily mean leaving one exhibit behind and starting a completely new one. Some visitors have described seeing a large tank from one level and then coming across the same tank again from a different position downstairs. Spaces that seem separate at first can turn out to be connected when you reach the lower level.

At the Main Tank, Walking Turns into Waiting

Once you reach B2, there is a point where the pace of the visit clearly changes: the main tank. Large rays and sharks glide through the wide tank, and people who had been moving quickly past smaller exhibits stop here and watch for a while.

The difference becomes even more noticeable when a scheduled program is about to begin. One visitor chose to skip another program and arrive early to get a spot near the front of the main tank. The area near the front began filling before it started, and more people gathered behind as the start time approached. If you want a close view during a scheduled program, it helps to get there before it starts.

This is where first-time visitors have to make a choice. Do you keep following the arrows, or stop and wait for one program you really want to see? You do not need to plan your visit around every program. But if there is one you especially want to watch, that single choice can change the order of your entire visit.

Bella's Story Is Not Over Yet

As you make your way through B2, you may see people gathered in front of Bella's tank. When she drifts slowly toward the glass, people stay and watch for a while, or take photos.

There is one piece of background worth knowing before you stand in front of this beluga. The one remaining beluga here is named Bella. There were originally three, but two of them died, and in 2019 Lotte World announced that it would release Bella, the one that was left. That has still not happened, years later. Several outside experts on the committee reviewing her release have said that letting Bella go now appears difficult in practical terms. Lotte World, however, has maintained that it has not given up on the plan, and Bella is still in this tank.

So standing in front of this white whale means seeing more than just the animal in front of you; it also means being aware of the story behind it.

Even After the Main Tank, There Is More to See

Because the main tank has such a strong presence, it can feel like the main part of the visit is over once you pass it. One visitor even started forming an opinion of the aquarium after seeing the main tank, then held off after realizing there was still more to see.

Reactions to the size of the aquarium vary. Some visitors felt it was smaller than expected and finished quickly. Others had a different experience when they stopped for scheduled programs and animal presentations instead of simply moving from tank to tank. If you walk through quickly, the visit can feel short. If you stop and wait along the way, the same route takes on a very different pace.

And there is more beyond the main tank. Farther along, an escalator between floors gives you another view of the sea lions through the glass, and in the polar section the penguins swim quickly through the water. Depending on when you visit, there may also be character collaborations, photo spots, or small interactive activities, though these are limited-time events that may or may not be there when you visit. The main tank may be the center of the visit, but it is not the end.

At First, You Follow the Arrows. Later, You Choose Where to Wait.

At first, you simply follow the arrows to the next tank. But once you reach the main tank, you begin to stop. And if there is a program you want to see, you may decide to wait for it.

Even along the same route, the experience changes depending on where you choose to stop.

Visitor Information

  • Location: B1 of Lotte World Mall, connected to Jamsil Station by underground passages. Jamsil Station is served by Subway Lines 2 and 8.
  • How long to allow: This varies depending on your pace, where you stop, and whether you wait for any scheduled programs.
  • Hours, tickets, and programs: Opening hours, admission prices, and daily program schedules all change from time to time, so check the official Lotte World Aquarium website before your visit.
  • Indoors: The aquarium is indoors, and you can continue with a meal or shopping in Lotte World Mall afterward.
  • Seoul Sky: An official package ticket combining Lotte World Aquarium and Seoul Sky is available. The two are separate attractions, so allow enough time for each. (Seoul Sky guide)

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