New Orleans: Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium Ticket

The best part of the Audubon Aquarium is the mix of hands-on encounters and huge habitats. You can touch sharks and stingrays in a 60-foot pool, then walk through a 30-foot clear tunnel beneath the Great Maya Reef. I like the range here: the aquarium links the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River to the Caribbean and Amazon Rainforest, so the visit feels like several smaller adventures in one. I also like that the ticket can cover the Insectarium and Zoo, giving you room to spread your sightseeing across five days.

The main drawback is simple: the aquarium is not a quick, cheap stop at $63 for the basic ticket. You will get better value if you take your time, add another Audubon attraction, or visit with children who enjoy hands-on exhibits. Opening hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the final entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Key points to know before you go

• Touch sharks and stingrays: The Shark Discovery Touch Pool gives you a rare chance to interact with sea life under staff supervision.
• Walk beneath the Great Maya Reef: A 30-foot clear tunnel lets you watch marine life pass above and around you.
• See the 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat: This is the aquarium’s largest exhibit and a good place to slow down.
• Add the New Orleans Insectarium: The Insectarium and Butterfly Garden share the aquarium building, making the combo easy to use in one outing.
• Use the ticket over five days: Combo ticket holders have five days from the scheduled date to visit the other included attractions.
• Plan for families and wheelchairs: The aquarium is wheelchair accessible, and children under 2 enter free.

Start beside the French Quarter

The Audubon Aquarium sits beside the French Quarter along the riverfront, so it fits neatly into a day of downtown New Orleans sightseeing. You make your own way there, enter from the riverfront side, and use your barcode to go upstairs after passing the ticket-purchase line.

Once inside, you choose whether to visit the aquarium or the Insectarium first if you bought the combo. That flexibility matters. You can begin with sea life while everyone is fresh, then move into the insect exhibits, or reverse the order if the aquarium is busier when you arrive.

The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and houses more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species. It has also been recognized in the USA Today 10Best aquarium poll. Those facts do not replace a good visit, but they give you useful context: this is a major city aquarium, not a small room of tanks that you can finish in half an hour.

Allow enough time to pause at the larger displays. The aquarium includes educational programs, and the themed sections reward a slower pace. If you rush from tank to tank, you will miss the sense of place that connects the exhibits to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Get hands-on at the 60-foot Shark Discovery Touch Pool

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool is the aquarium’s most obvious family draw. You can reach into a 60-foot pool and touch sharks and stingrays, which turns a standard viewing experience into something physical and memorable.

I like this part because it gives children a reason to look closely rather than simply move past another glass tank. Adults can enjoy it too. Petting multiple stingrays is the sort of small, unusual experience that can become the highlight of an otherwise busy museum day.

The timing of the touch-pool activities matters. A scheduled stingray interaction may happen every hour or so, but the precise timing is not provided here, so check at entry rather than assuming you can walk up at any moment. If this is your main reason for visiting, make it one of your first stops.

The touch pool is also a good test of your expectations. This is a controlled educational encounter, not an open animal-handling session. You will have a better time if you follow staff directions and allow children to take part at their own pace.

Walk through the Great Maya Reef tunnel

The Great Maya Reef habitat includes a 30-foot clear viewing tunnel. You walk beneath the water while fish and other aquatic animals move around the tunnel, giving you a wider view than a normal flat tank.

This is one of the aquarium’s strongest visual moments. A tunnel helps you understand the size and movement of a reef habitat. Instead of looking at animals from one fixed angle, you can watch them pass above and beside you.

The tunnel is especially useful for families because it gives children a clear physical goal: walk through the reef. It also offers a break from reading signs. You can simply stand in the tunnel and watch the water move around you.

Expect this section to attract attention. If you want a quieter look, you might find the edges of the viewing area easier than the center. The experience is still worthwhile even if you cannot linger in the middle.

Slow down at the 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat

The Gulf of Mexico habitat is the aquarium’s largest exhibit, holding 450,000 gallons. It brings the nearby waters into focus and gives the aquarium a strong New Orleans connection.

This is not just a display of distant tropical animals. The Gulf is tied to the city’s food, weather, economy, wetlands, and daily life. Seeing its wildlife in a large habitat helps you connect the museum visit to the place outside its doors.

I would give this exhibit more time than you first expect. Large tanks often work best when you stop scanning for one favorite animal and watch the full scene. Look for movement at different levels, then read the educational material to understand what you are seeing.

The aquarium also covers the Mississippi River. That section gives you another local connection, showing how freshwater systems and the Gulf relate to one another. If you want an attraction that explains New Orleans beyond architecture and music, this part earns its place in your plans.

Find penguins, turtles, and rare white alligators

The aquarium includes several crowd-friendly animals that help keep younger visitors engaged. Penguins offer quick, lively viewing, while sea turtles bring a slower and gentler contrast. A sea turtle may be the animal that holds your attention longest if you prefer calm, graceful movement.

The rare white alligators are another memorable stop. They give you something distinctly Louisiana in subject, but unusual in appearance. This is a good example of how the aquarium balances familiar animals with creatures you may not see elsewhere.

The variety is useful when visiting with mixed ages. One person can spend time with a large marine habitat, another can look for penguins, and children can move between animals without needing to understand every interpretive panel.

Still, do not expect every exhibit to deliver the same amount of action. Some areas are more atmospheric or educational than interactive. A young visitor who needs constant activity may enjoy the touch pool and tunnel most, while older children and adults may spend more time with the Gulf, Mississippi, and conservation displays.

Enter the Amazon Rainforest without leaving downtown

The Amazon Rainforest gallery shifts the mood from open marine habitats to a warm, plant-filled environment. Expect lush vegetation, free-flying birds, piranhas, pacus, an anaconda, and other animals.

This area is valuable because it gives you a complete setting rather than a row of isolated tanks. The plants, birds, reptiles, and fish work together to create a more convincing sense of place.

Piranhas and pacus are easy animals to overlook if you hurry, but they are worth finding. The anaconda adds a strong reptile encounter, while free-flying birds bring movement above eye level. Look up as you walk. The gallery is designed to pull your attention in more than one direction.

Service animals are allowed in the aquarium except in the Amazon Encounters and Amazon Rainforest areas. If that affects your plans, ask staff about the best way to handle those sections before entering.

Add the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden

The Insectarium and Butterfly Garden share the same building as the aquarium. That makes the combo especially practical. You do not need to arrange another downtown transfer, and you can visit one attraction before lunch and the other afterward.

I like this add-on because it changes the pace of the day. The aquarium gives you large habitats and marine life. The Insectarium focuses on smaller creatures, detailed displays, and the butterfly garden. It is not simply more of the same.

Give the Insectarium serious consideration if you enjoy close-up exhibits. The detailed presentation can appeal to adults as much as children, while the butterfly area offers a calmer break from the larger aquarium spaces.

The combo ticket gives you five days from your scheduled ticket date to visit the other included attraction. You do not have to force both into one long session. That is a real advantage in New Orleans, where heat, walking, meals, and music can make a packed schedule tiring.

Decide if the Audubon Zoo belongs in your plan

The Audubon Zoo is in Uptown at 6500 Magazine Street, away from the aquarium and Insectarium. It is not a casual walk between the downtown attractions, so treat it as a separate outing.

The zoo combo can save money compared with buying separate admission, especially if you already want both locations. It also gives you a reason to spend a second day with the Audubon Nature Institute rather than using the aquarium as a one-off stop.

The five-day validity makes the upgrade more useful. You can visit the aquarium and Insectarium downtown, then choose another day for the Zoo. That arrangement is easier on families and gives you time to see each attraction without racing.

The combo does not include Cool Zoo, Boo at the Zoo, Zoo to Do, Zoo to Do for Kids, Zoo Lights, or other special admission events. If one of those is your main goal, you will need to check its separate admission rules.

Is $63 a fair price?

At $63 per person, the aquarium ticket is not a bargain if you only want a quick look. I would question the price for a short visit, especially if you plan to spend less than two hours inside.

The value improves when you use the major features: the touch pool, Great Maya Reef tunnel, Gulf of Mexico habitat, Amazon gallery, penguins, turtles, and white alligators. It improves again if you attend an educational program or add the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden.

The three-attraction option can make more financial sense for a longer New Orleans stay. You receive access to the aquarium, Insectarium, and Zoo, with five days to use the other attractions. Compare the combo price with separate admission before booking, since the savings depend on the option available for your dates.

Food and drinks are not included, and they are not allowed inside the aquarium. Plan to eat before or after your visit. The riverfront location gives you plenty of nearby choices, but you should not count on carrying snacks through the exhibits.

Timing, access, and small practical details

All Audubon attractions open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last entry 30 minutes before closing. I would arrive early if you want the touch pool and the large habitats with plenty of time to spare.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs can be rented on a first-come, first-served basis, so do not rely on one being available if you need it.

Strollers must be no wider than 29 inches and no longer than 52 inches. Wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, and ride-ons are not permitted. This rule may surprise families used to bringing larger child transport, so measure your stroller before you go.

Smoking, food, and drinks are not allowed. Children under 2 enter free. The attraction also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the visit, and you can reserve now and pay later if that option is available when you book.

The aquarium uses barcode entry, but older ticketing problems have included online codes that could not be scanned right away. Keep your barcode ready on your phone, and if it does not scan, ask staff for help rather than joining the wrong line. Parking can be challenging around the downtown location, so public transport, a ride service, or a nearby parking plan may save time.

Who will enjoy this Audubon visit most?

Families with children are the clearest match. The stingray and shark pool, penguins, butterflies, and hands-on areas give children several active stops, while the larger habitats give adults something meaningful to see.

The aquarium also works well for a parent and teenager. The self-paced layout lets you spend more time on the Gulf, Amazon, or reef sections instead of following a fixed group schedule.

Adults without children can enjoy it too, especially if you care about marine life, conservation, or New Orleans’ connection to the Mississippi River and Gulf. The Insectarium add-on makes the outing more varied and gives you a fuller cultural and natural-history experience.

You might want to skip it if your schedule is extremely tight or if $63 feels high for an indoor attraction. The aquarium is best when you can move slowly and use the touch pool, large habitats, and educational sections rather than race through.

Should you book the Audubon Aquarium ticket?

Book it if you want a family-friendly attraction close to the French Quarter, especially if touching stingrays, seeing the Great Maya Reef tunnel, and exploring the Gulf of Mexico habitat appeal to you. The aquarium offers enough variety for children, teenagers, and adults, and the five-day combo window makes the Insectarium and Zoo upgrades easier to use.

Choose the combo if you have several days in New Orleans and want to visit more than one Audubon attraction. Choose the aquarium alone if your schedule is short and marine life is your main interest. I would arrive near opening, plan at least a relaxed half day, and treat the Insectarium as more than an afterthought. That is the best way to make the $63 ticket feel worthwhile.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

The aquarium ticket and available combo options are valid for five days from the scheduled ticket date. If you buy an aquarium and Insectarium combo or the three-attraction combo, you have five days to visit the other included attraction or attractions.

What time does the Audubon Aquarium open?

Audubon attractions are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Can I touch sharks and stingrays?

Yes. The Shark Discovery Touch Pool lets you interact with sharks and stingrays. Stingray interaction times may be scheduled during the day, so check the timing after you arrive.

Is the aquarium wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The aquarium is wheelchair accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I bring a stroller?

You can bring a stroller if it is no more than 29 inches wide and 52 inches long. Wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, and ride-ons are not permitted.

Does the ticket include the Audubon Zoo and Insectarium?

The basic aquarium ticket does not automatically include the other attractions. You can select an aquarium and Insectarium combo or a three-attraction combo that includes the Zoo. Food, drinks, VR experiences, Wild Encounters, and special admission events are not included.