New Orleans’ aquarium delivers real wow fast. The reimagined Audubon space is clean, smartly laid out, and packed with hands-on animal moments right by the French Quarter. I especially like the 60-foot touch pool where you can interact with sharks and stingrays, and I love the 30-foot Great Maya Reef tunnel that lets you watch animals glide overhead.

Next, I like how easy it is to make the day fit your pace. You can bounce between galleries that cover the Caribbean, the Amazon Rainforest, and the waters tied to New Orleans, without feeling rushed. One possible drawback: parking near this area can take extra time, and if your ticket barcode acts up at entry, you may need to wait longer than you hoped.

If you want a high-quality, interactive aquarium day with real animal variety—and you’re open to pairing it with insects and butterflies—this is a strong pick.

Key things to know before you go

• Touch Pool time: A 60-foot hands-on Shark Discovery Touch Pool lets you interact with sharks and stingrays.
• Tunnel viewing: A 30-foot clear tunnel through the Great Maya Reef makes for easy, photo-friendly animal spotting.
• Animal count matters: Over 3,600 animals from more than 250 species.
• Amazon Rainforest gallery: Expect free-flying birds and aquatic stars like piranhas and pacus, plus an anaconda snake.
• Insectarium focus: The insect and butterfly side feels more detailed than most quick add-ons.
• Good value with combos: Upgrades can save money versus buying separate Audubon entries.

First Stop: What This Ticket Really Gives You

This is an Audubon Nature Institute ticket that covers the Audubon Aquarium and, with the right upgrade, the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden, plus optional access to Audubon Zoo. The big selling point is not just the animal list. It’s the variety of ways you can experience the animals—touch, tunnel viewing, themed galleries, and indoor exhibits that work year-round.

You’ll spend your time self-guiding. That matters in a place like this because the best moments are usually the ones you slow down for: the touch pool when lines aren’t bad, the tunnel when the lighting hits right, and the insect rooms when you’re ready to focus on small details.

The ticket is priced at $63 per person, and the offer is built around flexibility: your entry is valid for 5 days. That’s handy if your New Orleans schedule is fluid or you want to spread out the day without cramming.

The Aquarium Layout: Caribbean, Amazon, and New Orleans Waters

When you walk in, you’re stepping into a large indoor set of themed habitats. The aquarium spans everything from Caribbean scenery to Amazon Rainforest spaces, then shifts to the waters that connect to New Orleans—the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

This is where the experience earns its points. Most big aquariums can feel like a checklist: you see tanks, you move on, you forget details. Audubon’s approach is more like a set of chapters. Each area has its own look, animals, and viewing setup, so you’re not just repeating the same “look at fish” motion over and over.

Also, the aquarium is adjacent to the French Quarter, which means you can pair it with a museum-and-stroll day. It’s not an all-day detour far from everything else.

The Shark Discovery Touch Pool: Up Close Without the Guesswork

One of the strongest parts of this visit is the 60-foot hands-on touch pool. The setup is made for interaction, not awkward guessing. You get a chance to touch and connect with animals like sharks and stingrays in a controlled, educational environment.

This is the kind of exhibit that turns a “nice aquarium” into a memorable one. It breaks the pattern of watching through glass because you’re actively participating. If you’re traveling with kids, this is often the moment that makes the day feel special fast. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, it still works because it adds a physical element to an otherwise visual experience.

Practical tip: go early if you want the least waiting. If you’re trying to fit it between other stops, plan your timing around when you’ll be most ready to be in the touch area.

Great Maya Reef Tunnel: A 30-Foot Walk Through Marine Motion

Next, don’t skip the 30-foot clear viewing tunnel in the Great Maya Reef habitat. This is where you see fish in motion from a perspective that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Instead of standing at one tank window, you’re inside a corridor and the animals swim around you.

The value here is simple: it’s low effort to enjoy and high payoff for photos and just plain wonder. You’re not hunting for the animal. The tunnel does the guiding for you.

If you’ve ever visited an aquarium where the best views required perfect timing, this feels more forgiving. The tunnel keeps the sightlines consistent.

Amazon Rainforest Gallery: Birds, Piranhas, Pacus, and Anaconda

The Amazon-themed area is one of the most engaging sections because it’s not just “water tanks.” You get a mix of plant life and animal variety, including free-flying birds. That adds movement and atmosphere beyond the aquarium glass.

You’ll also find aquatic species like piranhas and pacus, plus an anaconda snake. That mix gives the space a sense of real-world complexity: land, water, and predators all share the same general story.

One practical consideration: this gallery may feel like it has sections with different rules. If you’re traveling with a certified service animal, it’s allowed in the Aquarium overall, but not in the Amazon Encounters and Amazon Rainforest areas. Plan ahead so you don’t get surprised at the entrance to those specific parts.

Gulf of Mexico Habitat: The Big 450,000-Gallon Centerpiece

The aquarium’s largest exhibit is the 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat. Big tanks can sometimes become background noise, but this one is designed as a focal stop. When the exhibit works, it does two things: it anchors the whole aquarium experience, and it gives you a place where you can slow down without feeling like you’re losing time.

This habitat also supports the aquarium’s mission of covering real marine systems. It’s not only about spectacle. You’re seeing how coastal water environments support many kinds of life, including species identified as endangered within the aquarium’s collection.

Crowd Favorites: Penguin Exhibit and Rare White Alligators

If you like knowing what to aim for, Audubon makes it easy. The aquarium includes penguins and rare white alligators. These are the kinds of exhibits that naturally bring people to a certain section of the building, and that’s useful on a self-guided visit.

I recommend treating these as anchor points. If you’re limited on time, hit the touch pool first, then plan one “must-see” favorite after. It keeps your day from turning into wandering with no payoff.

Insectarium and Butterfly Garden: Where Detail Becomes the Whole Point

Now let’s talk about the insect side, because it’s not a throw-in. With the Audubon Insectarium and Butterfly Garden option, the tone of the visit shifts from big animals to small, intricate ones—and the difference is noticeable.

The insectarium is where you’ll feel the design choices most. The rooms are set up with attention to insect behavior and how you view them. In other words, it feels like more than a basic exhibit corner.

You can also expect a butterfly exhibit and an interaction style that leans hands-on. There’s even a stingray petting station every hour or so, which gives you another chance to do the touch experience without needing to schedule your whole day around one fixed moment.

If you want something that works for both adults and kids, this is the section that adds texture. Kids love the movement. Adults tend to appreciate the tiny details once they slow down.

The Gift Shops: More Than a Souvenir Stop

After you’ve seen the animals, you may want a break. The gift shops are worth a detour here. They’re described as spectacular and beautifully set up, which is exactly what you want when you’re visiting with kids or you’ve been standing for a while.

I like gift shops like this because they help you remember what you just saw. If you’re traveling with younger kids, it’s also a low-stress way to cap the day.

Combo Upgrades: When Spending More Actually Saves You Money

The base aquarium ticket is already a full day plan, but the upgrade options are where you can create real value. You can upgrade to include Audubon Zoo and, if you choose, Audubon Zoo plus Audubon Insectarium and Butterfly Garden.

The key benefit: combo upgrades can save money versus buying individual entry. Since your ticket is valid for 5 days, the combo setup also makes it easier to spread out visits across multiple days instead of trying to do everything in one stretch.

One more detail that matters: when you buy a combo like the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium Combo Ticket or the Audubon 3-Attraction Combo Ticket, you have 5 days from your scheduled ticket date to visit the other attraction(s). So if you plan to add the zoo, don’t treat it as a vague someday thing. Pick the dates you’ll actually use.

Pricing and Timing: Make the 5 Days Work for You

At $63 per person, you’re paying for a high-quality aquarium setup plus skip-the-ticket-line entry. The skip-the-line piece is not a small perk in a popular area like this. It turns your visit from “wait first, enjoy later” into “enjoy first.”

Since the ticket is valid for 5 days, I’d use it strategically:

• If you’re arriving mid-day on a travel day, use one day for the aquarium highlights.
• Use another day for the touch pool and tunnel when you’re not rushing.
• Add insectarium/butterfly the next time you feel like slow exploring.

Audubon’s attractions follow the same general window: 10 AM to 5 PM, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. That means you should plan for a full stop, not a late-night sprint.

Tickets, Entry, and the Most Common Friction Points

The experience is designed to be smooth with skip-the-ticket-line entry. Still, a couple real-world issues can pop up.

If you enter the aquarium or insectarium first, go into the Audubon Aquarium building from the riverfront side. Your ticket gets scanned via a barcode, and you proceed upstairs to the entry area. If you enter the zoo first, you go to the main entrance at 6500 Magazine Street.

Here’s the practical consideration: if your ticket barcode doesn’t scan smoothly, you might end up waiting to get tickets activated or reissued. I’d rather assume you might need an extra few minutes at entry than assume everything will go instantly.

Also, parking can be challenging. If your trip depends on staying on schedule, build in time to park and walk. This is New Orleans near the French Quarter—plan like you’re visiting a busy neighborhood, not a quiet museum campus.

Who Should Book This (and Who Might Skip It)

This experience is a great fit if you want:

• A hands-on animal highlight (touch sharks and stingrays).
• A memorable tunnel viewing moment.
• A mix of big marine life and smaller insects/butterflies.
• A self-guided format that works for different ages.

It’s also a good choice for mixed groups. Some people want the splashy sea life moments. Others can enjoy the insectarium and butterfly areas without feeling left out.

If you’re extremely focused on one species or you hate crowds, you might find that the aquarium feels like a lot of variety to take in at once. But even then, the 5-day validity helps you space it out.

Quick Practical Rules to Know Before You Go

You can’t bring or use food and drinks inside, and smoking isn’t allowed. Strollers have size limits too: they can’t be larger than 29” (72 cm) wide and 52” (132 cm) long. Wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, and ride-ons aren’t permitted.

Wheelchair access is available. There’s also a limited number of wheelchairs for rent on a first-come, first-served basis.

These details matter because they can change how easy your day feels if you’re traveling with small kids or mobility equipment.

Should You Book the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium Ticket?

Yes, I’d book it if you want a high-value, interactive aquarium day in a convenient location. The combination of sharks and stingrays in the touch pool, the 30-foot viewing tunnel, and a strong insect/butterfly add-on makes it feel like more than a typical aquarium visit.

If you’re the type who likes spreading out activities across days, the 5-day validity is a real advantage. If you’re trying to keep costs down, look closely at combo upgrades since they’re meant to save money compared to separate entry.

My final advice: plan your visit so the touch pool and the tunnel aren’t rushed. That’s where the experience delivers its best payoff.

FAQ

How many animals and species are in the aquarium?

You’ll see over 3,600 animals from more than 250 species.

Is there a hands-on touch pool at Audubon Aquarium?

Yes. There’s a 60-foot hands-on Shark Discovery Touch Pool where you can interact with sharks and stingrays.

How long is the viewing tunnel through the Great Maya Reef?

The clear viewing tunnel is 30 feet long.

What’s included with this ticket?

The ticket includes skip-the-ticket-line entry to the Audubon Aquarium, plus educational programs. If you select the right option, it can also include skip-the-ticket-line entry to Audubon Zoo and the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.

What are the opening hours?

All Audubon attractions operate 10 AM–5 PM, and the last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Is the ticket valid for more than one day?

Yes. The ticket is valid for 5 days. If you buy certain combo tickets, you also have 5 days from your scheduled ticket date to visit the other attraction(s).

Are food and drinks allowed inside?

No. Food and drinks aren’t allowed.

Is the aquarium wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The aquarium is wheelchair accessible, and there’s a limited number of wheelchairs available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis.

Are service animals allowed?

Certified service animals are allowed in the Aquarium, except in the Amazon Encounters and Amazon Rainforest areas.