New Orleans: Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium Ticket

At New Orleans’ riverfront, the Audubon Aquarium puts you face to face with marine life from the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon, and the Great Maya Reef. Its 60-foot touch pool lets you meet sharks and stingrays, while a clear viewing tunnel takes you through the reef habitat.

I like two things here: the exhibits connect New Orleans to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, and the ticket can be paired with the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden or Audubon Zoo. One thing to weigh is the price: at $63 per person for the aquarium ticket, it makes most sense if you plan to spend time exploring rather than rushing through.

Key points

• Meet sharks and stingrays at the 60-foot Shark Discovery Touch Pool.
• Walk through the Great Maya Reef via a 30-foot clear viewing tunnel.
• See the aquarium’s largest habitat, a 450,000-gallon exhibit devoted to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Look for favorite animals, including penguins and rare white alligators.
• Add the Insectarium or Zoo with combo tickets, with five days to visit the other selected attraction or attractions.
• Plan for a self-paced visit. You make your own way to the riverfront building, and educational programs are included.

Start with the river, then follow the water

The aquarium is next to the French Quarter, on the riverfront side of the Audubon Aquarium building. Once inside, you can choose whether to visit the aquarium or the Insectarium first if your ticket includes both.

There is no guided tour or set route described for this ticket. You explore at your own pace, which is useful if your group wants to linger at the touch pool or move quickly through exhibits that hold less interest. Educational programs are included, but the ticket does not include extra attractions such as virtual reality experiences or the Wild Encounters program.

The aquarium’s organizing idea is place as much as species. Its galleries connect the Caribbean and Amazon Rainforest with the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, waters that shape New Orleans. That context helps make the visit feel local, rather than like a collection of unrelated tanks.

The main draw is the range of life on view: more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species, including endangered species. The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and it was voted among the top five U.S. aquariums in a USA Today 10Best reader poll. Those credentials give you a useful sense of its standing, though your own visit will depend most on which exhibits catch your eye.

The reef tunnel puts you close to the action

The Great Maya Reef habitat is one of the aquarium’s most memorable stops. A 30-foot clear tunnel runs through the exhibit, giving you a view of aquatic life moving around and above you. It is a simple idea, but it changes the perspective: instead of looking at a tank from the outside, you pass through the display.

The tunnel is likely to be a hit with children, but it is not just a kid-focused feature. It gives you a calm place to watch the animals and take in the scale of the habitat. If you are visiting during a busy period, you may find it harder to linger, so give yourself a little time rather than treating the tunnel as a quick photo stop.

Another hands-on highlight is the Shark Discovery Touch Pool, which stretches 60 feet. You can touch sharks and stingrays there, a rare chance to get close to animals many people only see behind glass. The stingray interaction is especially appealing to families, and the touch station is described as operating every hour or so. Check the timing once you arrive, and use the opportunity to take a break between galleries.

Touch pools work best when you slow down and follow staff instructions. They offer a different kind of visit from simply looking at exhibits, but they are not a guaranteed private encounter. If the pool is busy, you may need to wait for space or take turns.

The Gulf habitat and local waters

The aquarium’s largest exhibit is a 450,000-gallon habitat focused on the Gulf of Mexico. That scale matters: it gives larger aquatic displays room to make an impression and helps underline how much life is tied to the waters just south of New Orleans.

Look for the aquarium’s crowd favorites as you make your way through, including penguins and rare white alligators. The sea turtle is another animal that has made a strong impression on visitors. These headline exhibits are useful anchors if you are visiting with children, or if you want to make sure you see a few memorable animals before deciding how much time to spend elsewhere.

The aquarium also includes endangered species, which adds a conservation dimension to the visit. The supplied information does not detail individual conservation programs, so treat this as an opportunity to notice the species and habitats on display, not as a substitute for a dedicated conservation presentation.

The aquarium is self-paced, so you can set your own rhythm. Families with younger children may want to pause often, while adults and teens can take a more measured route. A 15-year-old has enjoyed the visit at a relaxed pace, which gives you a good sense that the exhibits are not designed only for very young children.

The Amazon gallery is a change of pace

The Amazon Rainforest gallery shifts the focus from open water to a lush habitat. Expect plant life, free-flying birds, aquatic species such as piranhas and pacus, and an anaconda. The mix gives you more than tanks to look at and makes this section feel distinct from the reef and Gulf displays.

The gallery is also a practical point to know about if you are visiting with a certified service animal: service animals are allowed in the aquarium except in the Amazon Encounters and Amazon Rainforest areas. Plan your route with that restriction in mind.

The aquarium’s different habitats are a strength, but they also mean that not every section will hold the same appeal for every person. If your main interest is large marine animals, prioritize the Gulf habitat and reef tunnel. If you enjoy varied ecosystems, leave time for the Amazon gallery as well.

Add the Insectarium for a fuller day

The Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is in the same building as the aquarium. If you choose the aquarium and Insectarium combo, you can visit the other attraction within five days of your scheduled ticket date. That flexibility can help you avoid packing both into one long day, especially if you are traveling with children or want to explore the French Quarter between visits.

The Insectarium is not a small add-on to the aquarium. It has its own themed areas and a level of detail that rewards a slower visit. The butterfly exhibit is a particular draw, and the combination of insects from around the world and interactive activities gives the day a different character from the marine galleries.

There is a useful balance in pairing the two: the aquarium offers large habitats and familiar sea life, while the Insectarium shifts your attention to smaller creatures and close-up displays. If your schedule allows, I would avoid treating the combo as a race to tick off two attractions. Take a pause between them, and give each its own time.

Combo tickets are also available with Audubon Zoo, or with both the Zoo and Insectarium. The Zoo is in spacious grounds uptown, at 6500 Magazine Street, rather than in the riverfront building. If you choose a multi-attraction option, check the ticket details for which attractions are included and make a plan for the Zoo separately. Combo tickets do not cover special events such as Zoo Lights or Boo at the Zoo.

Does $63 make sense for your plans?

The aquarium ticket costs $63 per person. That is a substantial admission price, so value depends on how much of the aquarium you want to see and whether you will use a combo option. If you plan to explore the major habitats, spend time at the touch pool, and take in the Amazon gallery, the visit offers more than a quick look at a few tanks.

The best savings opportunity is the combo upgrade. You can select the Zoo, or the Zoo plus the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden, and the package is described as saving money compared with buying individual entry. The exact savings are not specified, so compare the current options before booking rather than assuming every combo is a bargain for your itinerary.

The five-day window is particularly handy for the aquarium and Insectarium combo or the three-attraction option. You have five days from the scheduled ticket date to visit the other included attraction or attractions. That makes it easier to split the day, though the information does not promise that every ticket type has the same visit arrangement. Check the option you select.

Children under two enter free. Food and drinks are not included, and bringing food or drinks into the aquarium is not allowed. Additional attractions, including virtual reality experiences and Wild Encounters, also require separate admission.

Timing, access, and a few useful rules

All Audubon attractions are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Arriving late in the day leaves less time to work through the exhibits, so give yourself a comfortable window if you want to see both major habitats and the touch pool.

You can skip the line to purchase tickets by using your barcoded ticket at the entrance. If you are starting at the aquarium or Insectarium, enter the building from the riverfront side and proceed upstairs to the attraction entrance. If your first stop is the Zoo, go to its main entrance at 6500 Magazine Street.

The aquarium is wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available to rent 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, a rule intended to keep the galleries passable for people of all ages and abilities.

Parking can be challenging, so allow time to sort it out rather than assuming you can pull up and head straight inside. The ticket information does not specify parking arrangements or costs. Smoking is not allowed.

The ticket offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful if your New Orleans plans are still taking shape. For the smoothest visit, keep your barcode handy and decide before arrival whether you want the aquarium alone or a combo.

Who will get the most from this visit?

I would put this near the top of the list for families who want an indoor activity with hands-on moments. Children can watch the penguins, see the white alligators, and touch sharks or stingrays, while the themed galleries give adults something to explore beyond the animal encounters. The aquarium is also suitable for teens and adults visiting without children: the exhibits can be explored at your own pace, and the reef tunnel and large Gulf habitat have broad appeal.

The Insectarium combo makes sense if you enjoy natural history and have time for both attractions. Add the Zoo if it is already part of your New Orleans plans and the combo price compares favorably with separate admissions. If you are short on time or mainly want a brief aquarium visit, the $63 ticket may feel expensive.

The strongest reasons to go are the hands-on touch pool, the reef tunnel, and the range of habitats, from the Amazon to the Gulf. The main caution is that some people may want more to see or do, especially if they move through quickly. Set aside enough time to explore rather than expecting a short stop to feel like a full day.

Should you book it?

Book the aquarium if you enjoy animal exhibits and want a well-organized, self-paced visit close to the French Quarter. The touch pool and 30-foot reef tunnel give it a couple of features that are more engaging than a simple walk past tanks, while the Gulf and Amazon habitats add variety.

Choose a combo if you genuinely want to visit the Insectarium or Zoo, not just because a package sounds like a deal. The Insectarium shares the building and can be spread across five days with the aquarium, while the Zoo requires a separate trip uptown. For families, the aquarium plus Insectarium is a practical pairing; for a shorter visit, the aquarium alone is the clearer choice.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

The activity is listed as valid for five days. For the aquarium and Insectarium combo or the three-attraction combo, you have five days from your 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.

Can I touch sharks and stingrays?

Yes. The Shark Discovery Touch Pool is 60 feet long and allows you to touch sharks and stingrays. The stingray station operates every hour or so.

Is the Insectarium in the same building?

Yes. The Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is in the same building as the aquarium. You can choose which one to visit first.

Does the ticket include Audubon Zoo?

The aquarium ticket does not automatically include the Zoo. You can choose a combo option that includes Audubon Zoo, or a three-attraction option with the Zoo, aquarium, and Insectarium.

Are children under two charged admission?

No. Children under two are 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.

Are food and drinks included or allowed?

Food and drinks are not included, and food and drinks are not allowed inside the aquarium.