New Orleans: Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium Ticket

The most memorable part of the Audubon Aquarium is its hands-on side: you can touch sharks and stingrays in a 60-foot pool, then walk through a clear tunnel beneath the Great Maya Reef. I like that the exhibits connect New Orleans to the wider natural world, from the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico to the Amazon Rainforest.

I also like the self-paced format and the choice of combo tickets. You can spend a quick morning here or take your time with the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden. The main drawback is price: at $63 per person, the aquarium alone is not a cheap stop, so the add-ons make better sense if you have enough time to use them.

Key Points to Know

• Touch sharks and stingrays: The 60-foot Shark Discovery Touch Pool gives you a hands-on encounter, with stingray interactions offered at regular times.
• Walk through the Great Maya Reef: A 30-foot clear tunnel puts you below a large reef habitat filled with moving aquatic life.
• See local Gulf wildlife: The 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit ties the aquarium to the waters that shape New Orleans.
• Add the detailed Insectarium: The Butterfly Garden and Insectarium share the same building, making the combo easy to fit into one visit.
• Use five days wisely: Combo tickets let you visit the other included attractions within five days of your scheduled date.
• Expect a family-friendly, accessible visit: The aquarium is wheelchair accessible, with a limited number of rental wheelchairs available first come, first served.

Why the Audubon Aquarium Works for a New Orleans Day

The Audubon Aquarium sits beside the French Quarter, on the riverfront side of the Audubon Aquarium building. That location makes it easy to pair with a day in the historic center without arranging transportation across the city.

You make your own way there, then use your barcoded ticket to skip the ticket-purchase line and proceed to entry. Once inside, you decide whether to visit the aquarium or the Insectarium first if you have a combo ticket.

I appreciate this flexibility. You do not have to follow a guide or stay with a group, and you can set your own pace around the exhibits. That matters in New Orleans, where heat, rain, and long sightseeing days can change your plans quickly.

The aquarium includes more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or AZA, a useful sign that the institution follows established standards for animal care, education, and conservation.

The visit is arranged around major habitats rather than a simple row of tanks. You move from Caribbean waters to the Amazon Rainforest, then to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. This gives the aquarium a sense of place instead of presenting marine life as a collection of unrelated displays.

Caribbean Waters and the Great Maya Reef Tunnel

The Great Maya Reef habitat is one of the aquarium’s most effective set pieces. A 30-foot clear tunnel lets you look through the water as animals pass above and around you.

You may find aquatic creatures of many shapes and sizes moving through the reef display. The tunnel is especially useful for children, who can look up and around rather than press against a small glass panel. Adults get a good view too, particularly if you pause instead of treating it as a quick passageway.

The exhibit also helps explain why reef habitats matter. You are not simply looking at individual fish. You are seeing how many forms of marine life share one underwater environment.

The aquarium includes endangered species, so the visit has an educational purpose beyond entertainment. Educational programs are included, though exact times and topics can vary. Check the day’s schedule when you arrive if a program is important to your plans.

The clear tunnel can become a popular stopping point, so patience helps. If you want a quieter look, return when the main crowds have shifted to another gallery.

The 60-Foot Shark and Stingray Touch Pool

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool is the most interactive part of the aquarium. Its 60-foot size gives you room to approach the edge and wait for an opportunity to touch the animals properly.

You can interact with sharks and stingrays under staff direction. The stingray encounter is a particular favorite, and scheduled interactions take place about once an hour according to the operating details provided for the attraction.

This is a good example of an exhibit that works for several ages at once. Young children get a clear hands-on activity, teenagers have something more active than simply looking at tanks, and adults can enjoy the unusual feeling of touching a marine animal.

The word touch should not make you expect a free-for-all. Follow the instructions at the pool and wait for the scheduled opportunity if needed. The pool is a key reason to check timing rather than arriving just before closing.

If this is the main reason for your visit, plan enough time to return to the pool. You may not get the encounter immediately, and rushing through the rest of the aquarium can make the admission feel less worthwhile.

The 450,000-Gallon Gulf of Mexico Habitat

The aquarium’s largest exhibit holds 450,000 gallons and focuses on the Gulf of Mexico. This is one of the most meaningful parts of the visit because it connects the animals to New Orleans itself.

The Gulf supports fishing, shipping, coastal communities, and the wetlands around Louisiana. Seeing its animal life in a large habitat gives you a better sense of the scale of that environment than a small tank could provide.

You can expect a broad mix of aquatic life, including endangered species elsewhere in the aquarium. The large display is also a welcome change of pace after smaller exhibits. Instead of looking closely at one creature, you can spend time watching the movement of the whole habitat.

I would give this area more time than you think you need. Large aquarium displays can look impressive at first glance, but the best details often appear when you stop and watch. Look for changes in movement and activity rather than trying to see everything at once.

This gallery is also a good choice if someone in your group is less interested in insects or rainforest birds. It gives the visit a strong local connection and enough scale to appeal to adults.

The Amazon Rainforest Gallery

The Amazon Rainforest gallery shifts the focus from marine habitats to a warm, plant-filled setting. You can find lush plant life, free-flying birds, piranhas, pacus, an anaconda, and other wildlife.

This section is more than a standard aquarium room. The plants and birds help create the feeling of a living forest, while the aquatic displays show how water links the rainforest’s different habitats.

Piranhas often attract immediate attention, but pacus are worth a look too. The anaconda provides another change in scale, giving you a chance to see a large snake in the same broad habitat story.

Certified service animals are allowed in the aquarium except in the Amazon Encounters and Amazon Rainforest areas. If that applies to your group, ask staff about the permitted route before entering these sections.

The rainforest area may be less comfortable for someone who prefers a quiet, simple gallery, since it combines plant life, birds, and water displays. For many families, though, that variety keeps the visit moving and gives children several kinds of animals to notice.

Penguins, White Alligators, and Other Favorites

Not every memorable stop needs to be enormous. The penguin exhibit is a reliable crowd favorite, especially for families who want a recognizable animal after the more technical reef and Gulf displays.

The rare white alligators offer another strong New Orleans connection. Alligators are closely tied to Louisiana, but white specimens are unusual enough to make this more than a routine reptile viewing.

The range of exhibits is the attraction’s strength. You can move from marine predators to gentle reef animals, from birds in a rainforest setting to an anaconda and local alligators. That variety helps adults and children share the day even when their interests differ.

Some visitors may want more activities and displays than the aquarium alone provides. One person in a family might finish sooner than another, especially if they move quickly through the tanks. That is where the Insectarium combo can improve the day.

Adding the Audubon Insectarium and Butterfly Garden

The Audubon Insectarium and Butterfly Garden are located in the same building as the aquarium. That makes this the easiest upgrade to use because you do not need to travel across New Orleans between the two attractions.

The Insectarium has detailed themed areas and hands-on activities. The Butterfly Garden adds a slower, more enclosed setting with live butterflies. If you enjoy close-up displays and small creatures, this part can take as much attention as the aquarium.

I would choose the aquarium and Insectarium combo for a family or couple planning to spend several hours at the riverfront. The combination gives you two very different kinds of exhibits without adding a transportation problem.

The Insectarium also helps balance the aquarium’s larger habitats. After standing before a 450,000-gallon Gulf display, you can focus on smaller forms of life and carefully designed environments.

The combined ticket is valid for five days from your scheduled ticket date for the other attraction. You do not have to squeeze both into the same afternoon. That is valuable if you have a busy New Orleans schedule or want to split indoor sightseeing across separate days.

Is the Audubon Zoo Upgrade Worth It?

The Audubon Zoo is in Uptown at 6500 Magazine Street, so it is not a quick walk from the aquarium. You need to plan transportation and allow time for a separate visit.

The zoo upgrade can save money compared with buying individual entry, but only if you genuinely plan to go. A three-attraction ticket includes the aquarium, Insectarium and Butterfly Garden, and zoo. If you are staying in New Orleans for at least two or three days, that option can provide solid value.

The zoo is on spacious grounds, which gives you a different kind of outing from the indoor aquarium and Insectarium. It is a better fit for someone who wants a full day of animal attractions rather than a single compact stop near the French Quarter.

Do not assume the combo covers every Audubon special event. It is not valid for Cool Zoo, Boo at the Zoo, Zoo to Do, Zoo to Do for Kids, Zoo Lights, or other special admission events.

If parking is part of your plan, allow extra time. Parking around the zoo can be challenging, although a discount may be available. The aquarium’s central location is simpler for a French Quarter itinerary.

Price, Timing, and Practical Details

The listed price is $63 per person. Children under two enter free. At that price, the aquarium alone may feel expensive if you only plan a fast visit.

The value improves if you use the hands-on pool, spend time in the major habitats, attend an educational program, and add the Insectarium. The five-day validity also gives combo buyers more freedom than a ticket restricted to one calendar day.

All Audubon attractions open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with final entry 30 minutes before closing. I would arrive earlier rather than later, especially if you want to catch a scheduled stingray interaction and still have time for the major galleries.

Food and drinks are not included, and food and drinks are not allowed inside. Plan your meal outside the attraction rather than expecting to snack while walking through the exhibits.

Smoking is not allowed. Strollers must be no larger than 29 inches wide and 52 inches long. Wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, and ride-ons are not permitted, so families with small children should bring a standard stroller within those size limits.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs can be rented on a first-come, first-served basis, so availability is not guaranteed.

How to Plan Your Visit

If you have only a short window, focus on the Great Maya Reef tunnel, Shark Discovery Touch Pool, Gulf of Mexico habitat, penguins, and white alligators. Those stops give you the clearest mix of hands-on activity, large-scale viewing, local wildlife, and popular animals.

For a longer visit, include the Amazon Rainforest gallery and an educational program. Then add the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden if your ticket includes them.

I would not plan the aquarium and zoo as a rushed single outing. The aquarium and Insectarium work well together because they share a building. The zoo is Uptown and deserves its own block of time.

The skip-the-ticket-line feature is useful because you can proceed with your barcoded ticket instead of waiting to purchase admission. Still, keep your ticket ready and follow the entry instructions for the building. Older digital ticket systems have occasionally caused scanning problems, so having the barcode open before you reach the entrance is sensible.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

Families with children have plenty to do here, especially at the touch pool, penguin exhibit, and interactive Insectarium displays. The mix of short viewing stops and larger habitats also helps when attention spans vary.

Teenagers can enjoy the hands-on shark and stingray encounter, while adults may prefer the Gulf of Mexico habitat, rainforest setting, and conservation focus. The aquarium is not only for young children.

It also suits visitors who want an indoor New Orleans activity near the French Quarter. The building offers a break from the weather without requiring a long trip across town.

You may want to reconsider if you dislike animal attractions, have only enough time for a quick walk-through, or do not plan to use the combo options. The admission cost makes more sense when you take advantage of the full range of exhibits.

Should You Book the Audubon Aquarium Ticket?

I would book the aquarium if you want a polished indoor attraction with strong local connections and real hands-on moments. The 60-foot touch pool and 30-foot reef tunnel give it more variety than a basic collection of tanks, while the Gulf display explains why water matters so much to New Orleans.

At $63, I would choose a combo ticket if your schedule allows. The Insectarium and Butterfly Garden are in the same building, and the five-day window means you can split the visit. Add the zoo only if you are ready to make a separate Uptown outing.

For a family, a first-time New Orleans visitor, or anyone needing a weather-proof half-day, this is a sensible booking. For the best value, arrive near opening, check the educational and stingray schedules, and give yourself enough time to see more than the headline exhibits.

FAQ

Where is the Audubon Aquarium located?

The Audubon Aquarium is beside the French Quarter in New Orleans. Enter the aquarium building from the riverfront side.

How much does the Audubon Aquarium ticket cost?

The listed price is $63 per person. Children under two are free.

How long is the ticket valid?

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

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.

Does the ticket include the Audubon Zoo?

The basic aquarium ticket does not include the zoo. You can select a combo option that includes Audubon Zoo, and the zoo is located at 6500 Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans.

Does the ticket include the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden?

The basic aquarium ticket does not include them. You can select an aquarium and Insectarium combo or a three-attraction combo.

Can I touch sharks and stingrays?

Yes. The Shark Discovery Touch Pool allows you to interact with sharks and stingrays in a 60-foot hands-on pool. Stingray interactions take place at regular intervals, about once an hour.

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.

Are food and drinks allowed inside?

No. Food and drinks are not allowed inside the aquarium. Food and drinks are also not included with admission.