New Orleans: Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium Ticket

New Orleans has an underwater side. The Audubon Aquarium brings you from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Amazon Rainforest under one roof. I like the 60-foot Shark Discovery Touch Pool, where you can gently touch sharks and stingrays, and the 30-foot Great Maya Reef tunnel, which gives you a clear view of fish moving above and around you. The main drawback is that the aquarium may feel a little short for adults who move quickly, especially if you skip the Insectarium or Zoo.

The setting beside the French Quarter makes this an easy addition to a downtown day. You can tour at your own pace, use the educational programs, and stay comfortable in a clean, wheelchair-accessible building. For families, the hands-on features, penguins, white alligators, sea turtles, and butterfly displays give children plenty to watch and do, though food is not allowed inside and the most useful combo savings depend on how many attractions you plan to visit.

Key points to know before you go

• Touch sharks and stingrays: The 60-foot touch pool is one of the aquarium’s most interactive stops.
• Walk through the Great Maya Reef: A 30-foot clear tunnel lets you watch reef life from below.
• See New Orleans through its waterways: Exhibits cover the Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Amazon Rainforest.
• Expect a family-friendly visit: Penguins, white alligators, butterflies, free-flying birds, and hands-on activities keep young children interested.
• Use the five-day window wisely: Combo tickets let you visit the other included attractions within five days of your scheduled date.
• Plan for a self-guided visit: You choose the order and pace, with educational programs available along the way.

Starting beside the French Quarter

The Audubon Aquarium is on the riverfront side of its building, close to the French Quarter. That location is a major plus. You can pair the aquarium with a morning or afternoon in the Quarter without arranging transport across the city.

When you arrive, skip the line for ticket purchases and take your barcoded ticket upstairs to the entrance. You can then choose the aquarium or Insectarium first if you have the combo ticket. Bring the barcode ready on your phone, since the whole point of this ticket is to avoid spending time in the purchase queue. An older ticket issue involved a barcode that could not be scanned at first, so keep your confirmation accessible and allow a little patience at the entry desk if needed.

The attractions open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with final entry 30 minutes before closing. I would arrive earlier rather than later if you want to see the aquarium, Insectarium, and possibly the Zoo. The five-day validity applies to combo tickets, not to an unlimited number of visits. It gives you time to spread the attractions across your schedule.

The Gulf of Mexico takes center stage

The aquarium’s largest habitat holds 450,000 gallons and focuses on the Gulf of Mexico. This is the exhibit to give yourself time with. It connects the aquarium to the water that shapes New Orleans, from fishing and storms to coastal wildlife and the city’s wider relationship with the sea.

You will see a wide range of aquatic life here, including endangered species. The scale helps, since large habitats can make animals feel less like isolated displays and more like part of a working underwater environment. For children, the size alone makes an impression. For adults, the Gulf focus gives the aquarium a useful local connection instead of presenting a random collection of fish from around the world.

The display also helps explain why this attraction fits New Orleans so well. You are not simply looking at tropical fish. You are following a loose geographic path from the city’s river system into the Gulf and then out toward other parts of the Americas.

The Great Maya Reef tunnel

The 30-foot clear tunnel through the Great Maya Reef is one of the aquarium’s most memorable spaces. You walk through the habitat while aquatic life moves above and beside you. It is a good stop for photographs, but the moving fish are the real attraction, especially for younger children who may not spend long at ordinary tanks.

The tunnel also gives you a different view of reef life than a flat glass panel. You can look up, across, and around instead of standing in one spot. If the aquarium is busy, pause along the side and let the first crowd move through rather than trying to hurry down the center.

This is a strong part of the visit for anyone who likes visual exhibits. It does not require a lecture or a scheduled activity to make sense. You can understand the scene immediately, then stay as long as your interest lasts.

Getting hands-on at Shark Discovery

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool adds the kind of contact that many aquariums lack. At this 60-foot pool, you can touch sharks and stingrays under staff direction. The experience has been a real favorite for both children and adults, and the stingray encounters can make the day for anyone who has always wanted to feel one glide past a hand.

The touch pool is also useful because it changes the rhythm of the visit. Much of the aquarium involves looking through glass. Here, you take part in the exhibit, which helps children stay focused and gives adults a more direct sense of the animals.

Pay attention to the timing of the stingray activity. It takes place about once an hour, so you may want to check when the next session happens rather than arriving just after one ends. The exact timing can affect your route through the building.

Penguins, turtles, and rare white alligators

The aquarium has several crowd-friendly stops that work well when attention spans begin to fade. Penguins provide constant movement, and sea turtles give you a slower, calmer exhibit to enjoy. The rare white alligators add a distinctly unusual feature that children tend to remember.

These animals are not just filler between the larger habitats. They give the aquarium variety. You move from open-water scenes to close views of familiar animals and then to something uncommon. That variety is one reason the attraction works for mixed-age groups, where one person wants a large tank and another wants to see a penguin doing something amusing.

The building also includes educational programs, so check what is offered during your visit. Since the ticket is self-guided, the programs can add structure if you prefer more explanation rather than simply moving from one gallery to the next.

The Amazon Rainforest gallery

The Amazon Rainforest section shifts the focus from saltwater to a warm, plant-filled environment. You may see free-flying birds, piranhas, pacus, and an anaconda among lush plant life. This change of setting keeps the aquarium from feeling like one long corridor of fish tanks.

The piranhas and pacus are especially helpful for showing that the Amazon is not only about the animals with the most dramatic reputation. The gallery lets you compare different types of aquatic life while also bringing birds, reptiles, and vegetation into the same scene.

Certified service animals are allowed in much of the Aquarium, but not in the Amazon Encounters and Amazon Rainforest areas. If that applies to you, ask staff about the best way to handle those sections before entering.

Adding the Audubon Insectarium

The Insectarium and Butterfly Garden is in the same building as the aquarium, which makes the combo particularly easy. You do not need to cross town or build a second major outing around it. You can visit the two attractions on the same day or return within five days of your scheduled ticket date.

The Insectarium is more detailed than many people expect. Displays cover insects from around the world, and the butterfly area adds a slower, more delicate contrast to the aquarium’s large tanks and active touch pool. If you want the broadest experience at the riverfront, this is the upgrade I would examine first.

It is also a good option for adults who worry that the aquarium alone may not fill enough time. One adult visitor found the aquarium and Insectarium particularly well designed, spacious, clean, and well maintained, with the Insectarium providing the greatest level of detail. That matches the practical value of the combo: you get more variety without changing venues.

The butterfly exhibit has been a major hit with families. Hands-on activities across the insect and aquarium areas also help younger children stay involved. If your group includes someone who likes animals but is not drawn to fish, the Insectarium makes the ticket more balanced.

Adding Audubon Zoo in Uptown

The Zoo is a separate attraction at 6500 Magazine Street in Uptown. It is not next door to the aquarium, so you should think of it as its own half-day or full outing rather than a quick add-on.

The three-attraction combo can save money compared with separate entry if you genuinely plan to see all three. The key phrase is plan to see. If your New Orleans schedule is tight, buying the largest package may create pressure rather than value. You have five days from the scheduled ticket date to visit the other included attractions, which helps, but you still need enough free time and transport to make the upgrade worthwhile.

The Zoo ticket includes skip-the-ticket-line entry when selected. Go to the main entrance at 6500 Magazine Street, show your barcode, and proceed to admission. The Zoo’s spacious grounds mean you should allow more energy and time than for a compact indoor visit.

Combo tickets do not cover special events such as Cool Zoo, Boo at the Zoo, Zoo to Do, Zoo to Do for Kids, or Zoo Lights. They also do not include extra attractions such as virtual reality experiences or the Wild Encounters program.

What $63 buys you

At $63 per person, the aquarium ticket is not a minor stop on your sightseeing list. The value depends on how much time you spend inside and whether you add the Insectarium or Zoo.

For a family, the price makes more sense if you use the touch pool, educational programs, major habitats, and smaller animal exhibits rather than rushing through in an hour. The five-day option adds flexibility for combo ticket holders, since you do not have to fit every attraction into one hot or busy day.

The Insectarium combo is likely the stronger upgrade for a downtown itinerary because it is in the same building. The Zoo combo may offer better total value for a longer New Orleans stay, but only if you are prepared to travel to Uptown and spend several hours there.

Food and drinks are not included, and food and drinks are not allowed inside the aquarium. Plan your meal before or after the visit, especially with young children. There are gift shops, and the shops themselves are nicely arranged, but purchases are extra and should not be part of your ticket budget.

How long should you plan?

The ticket is valid for five days when you choose a combo, but the attractions themselves operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The supplied information does not promise a fixed tour length, because this is an unguided admission experience. Your pace matters.

I would allow several hours for the aquarium if you want time at the Gulf habitat, reef tunnel, Amazon gallery, touch pool, penguins, turtles, and alligators. Add more time for the Insectarium. The Zoo deserves its own block because it is in Uptown and spread across spacious grounds.

One recent adult and teenager enjoyed a relaxed, self-paced visit, which is the right way to think about this ticket. You are not being moved through a timed group. You can linger at the animals that interest you and pass quickly through sections that do not.

Access and family details

The Aquarium is wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of wheelchairs can be rented on a first-come, first-served basis. 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. That rule may matter if you are visiting with toddlers, so bring a standard stroller that fits the limits rather than assuming a larger family wagon will be accepted.

Children under two enter free. The attraction is well suited to families because it offers movement, touch activities, unusual animals, and colorful habitats. Still, older children and adults can enjoy it too, particularly if they take time with the Gulf and reef exhibits rather than treating the visit as a quick photo stop.

Who will enjoy it most?

I would recommend the aquarium to families, animal lovers, first-time New Orleans visitors staying near the French Quarter, and anyone looking for an indoor break from heat or rain. The self-paced format works well when different members of your group have different interests.

The Insectarium combo is best for anyone who wants more than fish and large marine habitats. The three-attraction ticket suits a longer stay with room for an Uptown visit.

You may feel less satisfied if you expect a full-day aquarium alone or if you move quickly through exhibits. One visitor felt there could be more to see, and that is a fair caution. The attraction’s value improves when you use the touch pool, attend available programs, and add the Insectarium.

Should you book the Audubon Aquarium ticket?

Book it if you want a polished, accessible indoor attraction close to the French Quarter, especially if the Shark Discovery Touch Pool and Great Maya Reef are high on your list. The Gulf of Mexico habitat gives the visit a strong New Orleans connection, while the penguins, white alligators, Amazon gallery, and sea turtles keep the route varied.

Choose the Aquarium and Insectarium combo if you want the best riverfront value and more time indoors. Choose the three-attraction option only when your schedule can handle the Uptown Zoo. If you need a quick one-hour stop, $63 may feel steep. If you can slow down, use the interactive exhibits, and spread combo attractions across five days, it becomes a practical family investment.

FAQ

Where is the Audubon Aquarium located?

The aquarium is beside the French Quarter on the riverfront side of its building in New Orleans.

What are the aquarium’s opening hours?

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 is a 60-foot hands-on pool where you can interact with sharks and stingrays.

Is the Insectarium included with the basic ticket?

The basic option is for aquarium entry. You can select an Aquarium and Insectarium combo, or a three-attraction combo that also includes Audubon Zoo.

How long are combo tickets valid?

If you purchase an Aquarium and Insectarium combo or a three-attraction combo, you have five days from your scheduled ticket date to visit the other included attraction or attractions.

Are children under two charged admission?

No. Children under two enter free.

Is the Aquarium wheelchair accessible?

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