The Aquarium of the town of Rhodes or Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes is situated at the very northern edge of the town of Rhodes and of the island, very close to Mandraki. It was constructed during the Italian domination of the island, in the years 1934-1936. From 1937 it was called «Reale Instituto di Ricerche Biologiche di Rodi», that is to say “Royal Research Institute of (Marine) Biology of Rhodes”. After the incorporation of the Dodecanese to the Greek State, it was renamed in “Hellenic Hydrobiological Institute” and operated under the supervision of the Academy of Athens. Today it is operating as Aquarium, Museum and Research Center and belongs to the National Center of Marine Research.

The principal aim of the Center is the maintenance and display of embalmed and alive sea life of the Mediterranean Sea. It receives more than 200.000 visitors annually, who come here to see numerous nice and rare species of sea life. Apart from that, the Center operates as a model research unit for the marine space of the Dodecanese and carries out extensive research in all domains of Oceanography.

The Center is housed in a nice building, excellent sample of the architecture of the International Style. The building has been listed by the Greek State as historic building with conservation status.