Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium Ticket

The best part of this ticket is the range packed into one stop. You can touch sharks and stingrays, walk through a 30-foot underwater tunnel, watch butterflies flutter around you, and then learn why insects matter over at the Insectarium. It is an easy way to add nature to a French Quarter day without arranging transport or a guide.

I like the Gulf of Mexico habitat, a 450,000-gallon display that gives the aquarium its biggest visual moment. I also like the butterfly garden and interactive insect exhibits, which earn the strongest praise and give children something to do beyond looking through glass.

The main caution is size and access. You can see the highlights in two to three hours, but the complex may feel small if you expect one of America’s giant aquariums. Visitors with limited mobility should plan carefully, since only manual wheelchairs are available for rent and some flooring and exhibit areas can be tiring to cross.

Key points to know before you go

• One ticket covers two attractions: Your admission includes both the Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium in the same building.
• The 450,000-gallon Gulf habitat is the largest exhibit: It focuses attention on the waters connected to New Orleans.
• Hands-on animal encounters add variety: You can touch sharks and stingrays at the Shark Discovery Touch Pool.
• The butterfly garden is a favorite stop: It offers a quieter, close-up look at living insects and colorful butterflies.
• Plan on two to three hours: Families who want to read every display, use the interactive activities, or linger in the butterfly area may need more time.
• The ticket costs $42.77 per person: That is a fairer deal if you visit both attractions, but less appealing if you only have time for a quick aquarium visit.

A self-guided nature stop beside the French Quarter

You make your own way to the Audubon Aquarium, located next to New Orleans’ French Quarter. This is not a guided walking tour with a named guide, so you set the pace and choose how long to spend at each display.

That freedom works well in New Orleans. You can visit before lunch, after a French Quarter stroll, or during a rainy spell. The aquarium, Insectarium, nearby mall, and ferry area are all within walking distance of one another, making this part of the city useful for a flexible half-day plan.

The ticket is mobile, but take a practical precaution: keep the confirmation ready on your phone and consider printing it if you can. Some ticket holders had trouble with phone scanning machines and said staff could not print replacement tickets. Other people had trouble getting their tickets recognized at first, so allow a little patience at entry.

The admission price is $42.77 per person, with all fees and taxes included. Food, drinks, and the optional virtual reality attraction cost extra. At that price, I would book this mainly when you plan to see both the aquarium and Insectarium. If you only have an hour and intend to rush through the fish galleries, the value is weaker.

Starting with the Audubon Aquarium

The aquarium covers several regional habitats rather than presenting only tropical fish. Its displays connect the Caribbean and Amazon rainforest with the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, giving you a useful sense of how New Orleans relates to water.

You begin with a broad mix of aquatic animals and displays. The aquarium holds more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It was also voted among the top five aquariums in a USA Today 10 Best reader poll, though rankings matter less than your own expectations. This is a polished, family-oriented attraction, not an enormous marine park.

The aquarium’s strongest feature is its variety. You can move from local waters to tropical habitats, then stop for hands-on encounters. That keeps the visit from becoming a long series of similar tanks, especially for children who need frequent changes of scene.

Still, size is worth considering. Some people found the aquarium smaller than expected, particularly compared with larger facilities in Gatlinburg and Newport, Kentucky. If you have visited several major aquariums, you may finish the fish galleries sooner than the advertised two to three hours.

Sharks, stingrays, and the Great Maya Reef tunnel

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool gives the aquarium a welcome hands-on feature. You can touch sharks and stingrays, making this one of the most memorable stops for young children and anyone who prefers active exhibits to quiet observation.

The touch pool also helps put these animals in better perspective. Instead of seeing a shark only as a distant shape behind glass, you get a closer look at its body and movement. Follow posted instructions and staff directions, and give other people a turn at the edge of the pool.

The Great Maya Reef habitat includes a 30-foot-long tunnel. Walking through it lets you look upward and around as aquatic animals pass through the water above you. This is a good place to slow down, since the tunnel changes the viewpoint from looking into a tank to feeling surrounded by the display.

You may find the tunnel crowded during busy family periods. It is still one of the aquarium’s clearest visual highlights, but do not expect a long walk. The appeal comes from the angle and the animals moving around you, not from the tunnel’s length.

The Amazon Rainforest gallery

The Amazon Rainforest gallery shifts the mood from open water to thick plant life and warm-climate wildlife. You can see free-flying birds, piranhas, pacus, an anaconda, and other species in a setting designed to feel different from the aquarium’s main tanks.

This section works especially well for children because it brings together animals they may already know from books or television. Piranhas and anacondas grab attention, while the birds and plants make the area feel less like a row of separate displays.

One point needs careful planning: the Amazon area may be tiring for anyone with limited endurance or mobility. Natural stone flooring can be difficult to cross with a wheelchair, and one visitor with arthritic shoulders found the Amazon immersion area impossible to manage. The aquarium has manual wheelchairs but does not offer electric scooters for rental.

If you use a wheelchair or have trouble walking, contact the attraction before you go and ask about the current route. Staff have helped people reach the butterfly garden when fatigue became a problem, but access may vary by exhibit and physical condition.

The Gulf of Mexico habitat connects the visit to New Orleans

The aquarium’s largest display is the 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat. This is more than a big tank for its own sake. The Gulf supplies a direct connection between the city, the Mississippi River, wetlands, fishing, storms, and the broader water system around New Orleans.

The scale gives the aquarium its grandest moment. After smaller habitats and touch pools, the broad Gulf display helps you pause and take in larger aquatic life. It also gives context to the regional galleries: the water around New Orleans is not a backdrop, but part of the city’s identity.

The Mississippi River and Gulf sections are valuable for that reason. They make the attraction feel tied to place rather than interchangeable with any aquarium in another American city. If you are choosing only a few exhibits, give this one time.

Expect mixed reactions to animal displays. Some people found certain creatures inactive or felt that fish had limited space. Animal behavior can change from hour to hour, but you should know that the attraction’s appeal depends more on its habitat themes, touch pool, tunnel, and regional setting than on constant animal action.

Why the Insectarium deserves equal time

The Insectarium is included with your ticket and occupies the same building. Do not treat it as a quick add-on. For many families, it becomes the most engaging part of the visit because it uses activities and close-up displays to make insects less intimidating.

You can see insects in many forms, learn how they function, and take part in interactive games. The exhibits give children a reason to press buttons, test ideas, and look closely rather than simply walk past cases.

The butterfly garden is the star. It offers a calmer change from the aquarium’s larger habitats, with butterflies moving through the space around you. One family favorite was the garden, and that makes sense: it is easy to understand, visually striking, and enjoyable for adults who may not care much about beetles or bugs.

The Insectarium also offers unusual food-related fun. Children can try eating bugs, adding a slightly daring moment to the visit. This is not required, of course, but it gives families an amusing story to take home.

I would allow at least 45 minutes for the Insectarium if you want to read displays and use the interactive features. If you are already tired after the aquarium, go directly to the butterfly garden first. It is the area most likely to reward the extra effort.

How long to stay and how to plan your visit

The stated visit length is about two to three hours. That works for a steady self-guided visit through both attractions, including the main aquarium galleries, touch pool, rainforest, Gulf habitat, Insectarium, and butterfly garden.

Families may need longer if children stop at every interactive station. On the other hand, a couple moving briskly through the exhibits may finish in closer to two hours. The aquarium itself can feel compact, while the Insectarium adds enough variety to make the combined ticket worthwhile.

Build in time for walking. One family described the outing as involving a lot of walking, even though the attractions are in one building. Wear comfortable shoes, and do not schedule a demanding activity immediately afterward if your group includes young children, older adults, or anyone with limited endurance.

The attraction can also serve as a weather backup. A visit made during heavy rain provided a useful indoor break, though bad weather may also increase demand. If you drive, check your parking time carefully. One person received a $90 charge to remove a tire lock after the parking ticket expired.

Accessibility and comfort details that matter

Service animals are allowed, and the attraction is near public transportation. The facility has manual wheelchairs available, but electric scooters are not available for rental according to the supplied information.

That distinction matters. If you rely on an electric mobility scooter, bring your own if permitted and confirm access before arrival. One person with an electric scooter was able to reach areas that another person with limited endurance could not.

Natural stone flooring may make rolling harder in some areas. The Amazon section can be especially demanding, and the full combination of aquarium and Insectarium may be too much in one stretch. Ask staff about the easiest route and take breaks before fatigue becomes a serious problem.

The attraction is family-friendly, but it is not effortless for every body. A moderate level of physical fitness is advised. With advance planning, a shorter route, and help from staff, you may still enjoy the butterfly garden and selected aquarium exhibits without seeing every room.

Is the $42.77 ticket a good value?

The answer depends on how you use it. At $42.77, the combined ticket is reasonable for a half-day outing in a central New Orleans location, especially if you visit both the aquarium and Insectarium. The included fees and taxes make the price easy to understand, and you do not need to pay separately for the main exhibits.

The value is strongest for families. Children can touch rays and sharks, watch birds, explore interactive insect displays, see butterflies, and possibly try edible bugs. That range helps justify the cost better than an aquarium visit made up only of glass tanks.

The value is less clear for aquarium specialists. Some large aquariums offer more galleries and bigger displays, and this facility may feel modest by comparison. You may also find that two to three hours is enough, so the ticket is not a full-day attraction.

The virtual reality experience costs an additional $10 per person. I would treat it as optional rather than part of your cost calculation. The regular aquarium and Insectarium provide enough to see without adding it.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to families seeking an easy indoor outing, couples who enjoy animals and nature, and solo visitors who like setting their own pace. It also makes sense for anyone staying near the French Quarter who wants a break from streets, shops, and restaurants.

The attraction suits people who enjoy variety more than one massive signature display. You get fish, sharks, stingrays, birds, reptiles, butterflies, insects, rainforest plants, and regional Gulf habitats under one roof.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a very large aquarium with an extensive collection of enormous tanks. I would also plan carefully if you have mobility limits, arthritic shoulders, or low endurance. The lack of rental electric scooters and the difficult flooring can affect how much you see.

Book at least 24 hours before the start time if you want to preserve the option of a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. Since the ticket is generally booked about 15 days in advance, reserving ahead may help with your schedule, but leave yourself enough flexibility if your New Orleans plans often shift.

Should you book the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium?

Book it if you want a flexible, self-guided family attraction near the French Quarter, especially on a rainy day. The shark and stingray touch pool, 450,000-gallon Gulf habitat, Amazon gallery, butterfly garden, and interactive Insectarium make a well-rounded visit.

Skip it if you expect a huge aquarium or have only a short window for one attraction. For most people, the ticket earns its price only when they give the Insectarium equal attention and allow two to three hours. Bring a charged phone, watch your parking time, and plan a slower route if mobility is a concern.

FAQ

Where is the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium?

The attraction is in New Orleans next to the French Quarter. The aquarium and Insectarium are in the same building, and the nearby mall and ferry area are within walking distance.

How long does the visit take?

The approximate visit time is two to three hours. Your timing may vary depending on how long you spend at the interactive exhibits, touch pool, butterfly garden, and individual animal displays.

Does the ticket include both the aquarium and Insectarium?

Yes. The included admission is for the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium.

What animals can I see at the aquarium?

The aquarium contains more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species. Displays include sharks, stingrays, fish, piranhas, pacus, an anaconda, free-flying birds, and other animals from the Caribbean, Amazon rainforest, Mississippi River, and Gulf of Mexico.

Can I touch animals during the visit?

Yes. The Shark Discovery Touch Pool lets you touch sharks and stingrays.

Is food included with the ticket?

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.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.