Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium Ticket

The most memorable part of this New Orleans attraction is the range packed under one roof: sharks and stingrays you can touch, a 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat, free-flying birds, piranhas, butterflies, and insects. I like the way the exhibits connect local waters with faraway habitats, and I like that the aquarium and insectarium sit together near the French Quarter.

The main drawback is size. You can see both sections in about two to three hours, but some large aquariums offer more tanks and displays. Visitors with limited mobility should also plan carefully, since manual wheelchairs are available but electric scooters are not.

Key points to know before you go

• Touch sharks and stingrays: The Shark Discovery Touch Pool gives you a hands-on encounter with two animals many people only see through glass.
• See the Gulf of Mexico up close: The 450,000-gallon habitat is the aquarium’s largest exhibit and gives the local coast a starring role.
• Expect two attractions in one building: Your ticket covers both the Audubon Aquarium and the Insectarium, including the butterfly garden.
• Allow two to three hours: Families who stop for interactive displays, the touch pool, and the butterfly area may need the full visit time.
• Bring a working mobile ticket: Admission is meant to be handled with your phone, but technical problems have caused confusion at the entrance.
• Plan around mobility needs: Manual wheelchairs are available, though electric scooters are not, and some flooring can be hard to cross.

What your $42.77 ticket covers

At $42.77 per person, this is not a cheap stop, but it is easier to judge when you count the two attractions included in one admission. You get access to the Audubon Aquarium and the Audubon Insectarium, with all fees and taxes included. Food, drinks, and the optional virtual reality experience cost extra. The VR experience is listed at $10 per person.

I see the best value here for families and nature fans who want an indoor activity with several types of exhibits. Children can move from fish to butterflies to insects without needing another ticket or another ride across town. Couples and solo visitors can also enjoy it, though a solo adult who moves quickly may finish closer to the two-hour mark.

The ticket is not a guided tour. You make your own way to the attraction and explore at your own pace. That keeps the visit flexible, but it also means you will not have a guide explaining every display or setting a route for you.

Because the ticket is mobile, save the confirmation before you arrive and keep your phone charged. One admission problem involved a phone ticket that would not scan, while another visitor reported being told to print tickets even though the booking used mobile admission. The smoothest plan is to have the digital ticket ready and, if possible, a printed backup. You should also confirm the current entry procedure before setting out.

Start with the aquarium beside the French Quarter

The aquarium is adjacent to the French Quarter, near public transportation and within walking distance of a mall and ferry area. You arrange your own transport, so you can fit the visit around a French Quarter walk, a riverfront outing, or another downtown stop.

The route through the aquarium moves across several habitats. You will see displays tied to the Caribbean, the Amazon Rainforest, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. That geographic plan gives the aquarium a clear New Orleans identity. This is not just a collection of colorful fish from around the world. The Mississippi River and Gulf exhibits connect the animals to the waterways that shape the city’s food, weather, commerce, and daily life.

I would begin with the aquarium even if butterflies are your main goal. The aquarium contains the larger animal displays, and the Gulf habitat is the visual centerpiece. You can then move to the insectarium when your attention starts to shift from fish and reptiles to smaller creatures.

The aquarium is generally clean and spacious, with enough room to avoid feeling crowded in many areas. Still, expect a fair amount of walking. A visit can feel tiring if you try to cover every display quickly, especially if you also plan to spend time in the insectarium.

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool gives you a hands-on moment

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool is one of the strongest parts of the visit. You can touch sharks and stingrays, turning a standard viewing experience into something more active. For children, this is often the point where the aquarium becomes real rather than just another room of glass tanks.

I like touch pools when they are used well because they give you a better sense of the animals’ movement and texture. You still need to follow the aquarium’s instructions and treat the animals gently, but the experience can help children connect the exhibit with the living creatures in front of them.

The touch pool is also a good reason to slow down. Do not rush past it on the way to the larger habitats. If you are visiting with kids, build in time for each child to take a turn rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

Walk through the Great Maya Reef tunnel

A 30-foot tunnel runs through the Great Maya Reef habitat. From inside the tunnel, you can look up and around as aquatic animals pass through the water above you. The tunnel changes the experience from looking into a tank to feeling surrounded by it.

This section should appeal to visitors who enjoy the classic aquarium experience: large fish, unusual shapes, and the quiet rhythm of animals moving through the water. It also gives children a simple way to understand scale. They are not just looking at a tank from the outside. They are standing within the habitat’s viewing space.

The tunnel is one of the more visually memorable parts of the aquarium, but it is not the only major display. If you arrive expecting a huge facility with endless galleries, you may find the aquarium smaller than its exterior suggests. That is not necessarily a problem, especially if you prefer a visit that fits comfortably into a half day, but it affects the value calculation.

The Amazon gallery mixes plants, birds, fish, and reptiles

The Amazon Rainforest gallery shifts the mood. You will find lush plant life, free-flying birds, piranhas, pacus, an anaconda, and other aquatic species. It is a busy mix of land and water life, which makes the area feel different from a row of separate fish tanks.

I especially like the contrast between the small, quick-moving fish and the larger animals. Piranhas and pacus give the water displays a sharper edge, while the birds and plant life keep your eyes moving upward. The anaconda adds another kind of interest, especially for children who enjoy reptiles.

This gallery may require more energy from visitors using wheelchairs or dealing with limited endurance. Natural stone flooring has made parts of the route difficult for some people using manual chairs, and one visitor with limited stamina could not complete the Amazon area. If that describes you, ask staff for help before committing to the full route. Staff assistance made it possible for one visitor to reach the butterfly garden even after the aquarium had become too tiring.

The Gulf of Mexico habitat brings the story back home

The 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat is the aquarium’s largest exhibit. It gives the visit a strong local connection, since the Gulf is not an abstract destination for New Orleans. It is part of the region’s economy, ecology, storms, seafood, and daily life.

For me, this is where the aquarium’s layout makes the most sense. The Caribbean and Amazon galleries are interesting, but the Gulf and Mississippi River displays explain why this institution belongs in New Orleans. Take time here rather than treating it as one more large tank.

The aquarium also includes penguins, sea turtles, an albino crocodile, and other animals. Your experience with individual animals will vary. Some may be active while you are there, while others may remain still or face away from the viewing area. That is normal for living creatures, but it can disappoint visitors expecting constant action.

The Insectarium adds butterflies, bugs, and hands-on learning

The Insectarium is in the same building, which makes it easy to add without another transfer. Its displays are interactive, and the butterfly garden is one of the most appealing spaces for many age groups.

The butterfly area offers a change of pace after the aquarium’s darker tanks and larger animals. You can watch butterflies move through the garden and enjoy a quieter, more delicate part of the visit. Families often find this section especially rewarding because it feels both beautiful and approachable.

The insect exhibits are not merely a line of display cases. Interactive games and information panels give children something to do while they learn. The experience also includes opportunities to eat bugs, an unusual feature that some children will find thrilling and others will approach with caution. I would treat it as an optional adventure, not a required part of the visit.

The insectarium works particularly well for families with children of different ages. A young child may focus on color and movement, while an older child can spend more time with the information and interactive elements. Adults who usually skip insect exhibits may also find the butterfly garden more enjoyable than expected.

How long you need, and how to pace the visit

The estimated visit lasts two to three hours. I would use the full three hours if you want to see both attractions without rushing. The aquarium alone may fit into a shorter visit, but the touch pool, Amazon gallery, Gulf habitat, Insectarium, butterfly garden, and interactive stations add up.

A practical route looks like this:

• Start with the main aquarium galleries.
• Spend deliberate time at the Shark Discovery Touch Pool.
• Walk through the Great Maya Reef tunnel.
• Allow extra time for the Amazon Rainforest and Gulf habitats.
• Move to the Insectarium.
• Finish with the butterfly garden and any interactive exhibits that interest you.

You can reverse that order if butterflies are the main reason for your visit, but beginning with the aquarium helps you use your energy on the sections with the most walking. If rain affects your New Orleans plans, this is also a useful indoor stop. It can provide shelter while still giving you a substantial activity rather than a quick indoor diversion.

Parking requires attention. One visitor received a $90 tire-lock charge after not leaving enough time on a parking ticket. I would give yourself a generous buffer and check the parking rules carefully. The attraction’s central location means you can also consider public transportation or combine it with nearby stops.

Accessibility deserves advance planning

The attraction allows service animals and is near public transportation. Manual wheelchairs are available, but electric scooters are not available for rental. That difference matters if you depend on a powered mobility device or have limited shoulder strength.

Some natural stone flooring can be difficult to cross in a manual chair. The Amazon area has also been challenging for a visitor with limited endurance. An aide may be useful for anyone who needs help with pushing, transfers, fatigue, or navigating uneven surfaces.

I would call ahead with specific questions rather than assume every gallery will be equally easy. Staff may be able to help you reach certain sections, as they did for a visitor who was too tired to continue but still wanted to see the butterfly garden.

What can go wrong at admission

The biggest practical risk is not the animals. It is ticket handling. The experience is sold with a mobile ticket, but technical issues have led to confusion at entry. Have the ticket open before you reach the entrance, take a screenshot if the system permits it, and keep your booking confirmation available.

Construction has also affected access at times, with an entrance temporarily shifted from the front to a rear route along the water. Conditions can change, so check the current entrance instructions before you arrive. If you have a timed plan involving parking, a ferry, or another attraction, leave extra time.

The stated cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. Since the ticket is nonrefundable inside that period, check your schedule before booking.

Who will get the most from this visit

I would recommend this attraction most strongly to families, animal lovers, and anyone looking for a half-day indoor activity near the French Quarter. The combination of fish, reptiles, birds, insects, butterflies, and hands-on displays gives children plenty of variety.

It also suits couples or solo visitors who enjoy moving at their own pace. The aquarium is not dependent on a tour guide, so you can linger at a favorite tank or move quickly through a section that does not interest you.

I would be more cautious if you have visited several very large aquariums and expect a massive facility with nonstop exhibits. This aquarium can feel smaller than expected, and some displays may seem limited beside major institutions in larger cities. The admission is easier to justify when you intend to see both the aquarium and insectarium, not just make a short aquarium stop.

Should you book the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium?

Book it if you want a convenient New Orleans activity that mixes local Gulf wildlife with the Amazon, Caribbean, butterflies, insects, and hands-on exhibits. The ray and shark touch pool, butterfly garden, Great Maya Reef tunnel, and Gulf habitat give the visit several clear highlights.

Skip it if your schedule is tight, you are looking only for a huge aquarium, or mobility concerns make uneven flooring and long walks difficult without support. At $42.77, the ticket works best when you use the full two to three hours and visit both sections. Save your mobile ticket, allow extra time for parking, and plan the route around your energy. For most families and nature-minded visitors, that preparation turns a good indoor stop into a worthwhile part of a New Orleans day.

FAQ

How much does the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium ticket cost?

The ticket costs $42.77 per person. All fees and taxes are included.

How long does the visit take?

The visit takes approximately two to three hours. You may need the full time if you want to see both the aquarium and insectarium at a relaxed pace.

Does the ticket include both the aquarium and insectarium?

Yes. Admission includes the Audubon Aquarium and the Audubon Insectarium, including access to the butterfly garden.

Is food included with admission?

No. Food and beverages are not included.

Does the ticket include the virtual reality experience?

No. The virtual reality experience costs an additional $10 per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.