Audubon Aquarium Tickets and Ways to Save

Updated: 25 marzo 2024

This post is about visiting the Audubon Aquarium and includes information on tickets, the best times to go, how to get there, and what aquatic life and exhibits you’ll see.

As local walking tour guides, we’ve all been to the aquarium and really enjoyed it. To make your visit the best it can be we’ve pooled our knowledge to answer any questions you may have.

We also asked for opinions from the more than 40,000 members of our New Orleans Travel Tips Facebook group. You can see what they said at the bottom of this post.

Our Facebook group is made up of locals, repeat visitors to NOLA, and newcomers to the city. You don't need to join the group to read the posts, comments, and advice. 

When you are done reading this post why not have a look? Perhaps even ask some questions yourself!


OVERVIEW

The world-renowned Audubon Aquarium is home to more than 3,600 animals and 250 species making it one of the finest institutions of its kind.

It’s part of the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans which also runs the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium (located in the same building as the Aquarium) and the Audubon Zoo.

The Aquarium’s approach is appealing to visitors of all ages and is a ‘must-see’ attraction when in New Orleans!


PLAN YOUR VISIT

Audubon Aquarium is a pretty popular destination for families in New Orleans. As a result, it’s a good idea to plan your visit before heading out.

In this section, we explain how to get to the aquarium, the best times to visit, and what to expect from your time there.

TIP: If you’re looking for even more kid-friendly activities in NOLA, check out our family-friendly guide to New Orleans.


Getting Here

The Audubon Aquarium is next to the Canal Street ferry at 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

Audubon Aquarium Map

Streetcar:

  • Take a streetcar down to Canal Street Station. This stop services lines 2 and 47.

Bus Stop:

  • The Canal Street stop services lines 10 and 16.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus:

TIP: This tour bus will also take you to nearby Mardi Gras World. If you plan on seeing a lot of attractions while visiting New Orleans, this is an excellent way to save money on transportation.

No matter how you choose to visit, use this map for directions.


Best Time to Visit

The Audubon Aquarium is open from 10 am - 5 pm every day of the week. Although they aren’t always busy, there are times when things can get pretty crowded.

If you want the best views of the animals, consider this when you plan to visit.

The best times to visit Audubon Aquarium. Image Source: Google.com

As with most popular attractions, this aquarium is busiest during the weekend. If you want to avoid the largest crowds, make your trip on a weekday.

We recommend purchasing tickets on Monday or Tuesday for the best possible results.

Additionally, consider arriving either early or later in the day. The hours between 3 pm - 5 pm usually aren’t as busy, allowing you to enjoy your stay for as long as the aquarium is open.

Early birds who get there at 10 am can also beat most of the crowds, but you should expect things to get busy as early as 11 am on weekends.

The most popular times at Audubon Aquarium. Image Source: Google.com

This is a popular destination for school field trips and camping trips.

These groups tend to visit between 12 pm and 3 pm and Audubon Aquarium recommends coming either before or after these times for the best experiences.

Expect larger than usual crowds on event days and holidays. Fall and Winter are the slow seasons for this location, and you probably won’t have much trouble with crowds during September - February.


How Much Time Should You Spend?

Many visitors recommend setting aside at least 1 ½ - 2 hours to explore the Audubon Aquarium, though, of course, you should move at your own pace.


Is the Aquarium Accessible?

The Audubon Aquarium is handicap accessible and they do their best to accommodate disabled visitors.

In addition to stairs, guests can also choose to take either an elevator or an escalator to reach the second floor. A limited number of wheelchairs are also available for those who might need them.

Families with younger children will be glad to hear that strollers are allowed inside the Aquarium. If you don’t have one, they are sold in the gift shop.

Budding photographers are also welcome to bring their cameras and perform flash photography of all the animals on display.


Nearby Activities

If you’re looking for more to do either before or after your visit to the Aquarium, there are quite a few fun activities and attractions in the area that you might want to consider:


TICKETS

This section lists tickets and prices. Don’t pay full price if you don’t have to! Check out the Ways to Save section below to see how to get into the Aquarium for free.


Aquarium Tickets

  • Monday - Thursdays
    • Adult (Ages 13-64) $30
    • Child (Ages 2-12) $25
    • Senior (Ages 65+) $25
  • Friday - Sunday
    • Adult (Ages 13-64) $35
    • Child (Ages 2-12) $30
    • Toddlers under 2 are free
    • Senior (Ages 65+) $30

Click here to purchase tickets and to find out more information.


COMBO TICKETS

Aquarium tickets can be purchased separately or in combination with the Zoo and the Insectarium.

Combo tickets are less expensive than if you purchased each attraction individually.

When you purchase a ticket for the Aquarium and one other attraction you save 25%. When you purchase all three attractions you save 42%.

You have three days to use your ticket so you can visit them on different days if you like.


Aquarium and either the Zoo OR the Insectarium

  • Adult: $50
  • Senior: $45
  • Child: $45
  • Click here for more information.

Aquarium AND the Zoo AND the Insectarium:

This includes general admission to the Aquarium and the other two attractions.

You have three days to use your ticket so you can visit them on different days if you like.

  • Adult: $60
  • Senior: $55
  • Child: $55
  • Click here for more information.

WAYS TO SAVE ON TICKETS

This section details several ways you can save on the costs of aquarium tickets.


Tourist Attraction Passes

Tourist Attraction Passes save you money by offering you the opportunity to purchase admission to multiple attractions and tours as a bundle which reduces costs on each of those activities.

Most New Orleans attraction passes include the Audubon Aquarium for free or with a substantial amount off ticket prices, in most cases, 50% off.

*Currently, the Aquarium is not included in these passes, but has been in the past and may be in the future. It's worth checking back.

Tickets are included in these passes:

In addition to all the great Audubon locations you can visit for free, these passes also include admission to the following locations at no extra cost:

Even if you only plan to visit a few of these attractions in addition to the Audubon Aquarium, chances are you'll be able to save a lot of money on tickets by using a tourist attraction pass.

To read a full comparison of just how much you can save, look at our in-depth post on Tourist Attraction Passes.


Orleans Parish Appreciation Free Days

Orleans Parish residents receive free admission to the three Audubon attractions (Aquarium, Zoo, and Insectarium) for themselves and up to four guests when they present a valid government-issued photo ID.

This opportunity is offered only on certain days. Read more here.


Public Library Culture Pass

Audubon has partnered with New Orleans Public Library to offer Culture Passes for checkout by Orleans Parish library cardholders.

A limited number of passes are set aside each day and are valid for up to five admissions.

Reserve a pass here or call the Library at 504-529-7323 or visit any Orleans Parish Library location.


Deals websites

Check websites like Groupon and LivingSocial for occasional deals.


SNAP participants

Orleans Parish SNAP participants and up to four guests receive free admission to the Aquarium when they present a valid ID that matches their SNAP card.

Read more here.


Senior Discount

Senior citizens (65+) save $5 off tickets upon providing proof of their age.


Children's Discount

Parents with children under 12 can get $5 off tickets for their kids. Any children under the age of 2 are granted free admission.


Become a Member

Audubon Institute memberships include unlimited free admission to the Aquarium, Zoo and Insectarium for an entire year.

Members also pay less at the gift shop and receive invitations to special events.

While an Individual Membership for one adult is $100, the Dueal Membership is $165, which reduces the price for each adult to just over $82.

If you make four visits in a year to any or all of the Audubon facilities, a membership will save you money!

Plus seniors (65+) save 20% off Individual and Dual levels for Members.

The Family Membership is even better. It costs $219.95 for two adults at the same address and two children.


AAA Discount

Currently, AAA members are not eligible for reduced-price tickets.


Military Discount

Currently, active and retired military personnel are not eligible for reduced-price tickets.


Group Rates

Reduced-price tickets are available to groups with 20 or more guests. This does not include guests under 2 years of age.

Find out more here.


EXHIBITS AT AUDUBON AQUARIUM

There are several different exhibitions on display at the Audubon Aquarium. Here are the most popular attractions.

Note that the Insectarium is no longer an exhibit of the Aquarium, it is now a separate attraction located in the same building. Read more about it from our post, Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.


Shark Discovery

This exhibit features a 13,000-gallon shark and stingray touch pool where you can get up close and personal with some of the beautiful creatures who swim by.

There are white-spotted bamboo sharks, epaulette sharks, southern stingrays, coral cat sharks, bullnose rays, blue-spotted stingrays and cownose stingrays.

Making the experience even more exciting is the massive LED screen that runs the length of the pool showing images of sharks, rays, and fish swimming by.

A highlight of the Aquarium for sure!


Amazon

Experience a rainforest in the middle of a dry season and get a birds-eye view of the area from their “tree-top loop” attraction.

In addition to fish such as payara piranhas, pacu fish, and freshwater stingrays, you will also notice free-flying birds throughout the exhibit.


Amazon Encounters

Step inside and encounter creatures who make the Amazon their home. See toucans, tanagers, and other rainbow-colored avian wonders. There's even a red-footed tortoise.

One creature you can't miss - literally - is the two-toed sloth! Moving so slow, he cant escape your glance!


Penguins Exhibit

Watch as more than 20 African Penguins play and live their lives at the Audubon Aquarium.

These penguins are native to Africa and accustomed to a warm environment, so they are quite comfortable here in New Orleans!


Great Maya Reef

The exciting 4,200 square-foot Great Maya Reef exhibit takes you below the water's surface to enter a mythical ancient Mayan city, submerged centuries ago.

Enter a 30-foot tunnel and be surrounded by brilliant sea creatures, including parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels, slipper lobsters, and other reef residents.


Down the Bayou

Experience many wetland creatures without being hassled by mosquitoes!

Alligators slide through slow-moving water while birds roost above in the branches of cypress trees.

Beneath look for shelter frogs, shellfish, turtles, minnows, and more.


Gulf of Mexico

This is the largest exhibit in the Aquarium, measuring 17 feet deep and holding 400,000 gallons of man-made saltwater.

The exhibit features a quarter-scale replica of an offshore oil rig within the water in which sharks, schools of fish, and stingrays swim.

The most famous resident of the exhibit is King Mydas, an endangered green sea turtle. He’s lived at the Aquarium since 1992. He’s around 70 years old and weighs 265 pounds!


Reef Rescue Virtual Reality Experience

This VR experience gives visitors the chance to dive into a 360° coral reef environment and help save the reefs from extinction.

Clean up the waters, feed the fish, and plant new coral branches to rescue the reef.

This exhibit will cost another $6 per person ($5 for members).


EVENTS AT THE AQUARIUM

Throughout the year, the Audubon Aquarium hosts many events.

Here are three that take place annually but be sure to check the calendar here to see what is happening when you are in town!


Endangered Species Day 

In May, the Audubon Aquarium offers guests the opportunity to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species. 

This event also takes place at the Audubon Zoo so this is a perfect day to buy a combo ticket!

Find out what other things there are to do in NOLA in May.


World Oceans Day

In June, the Audubon Aquarium celebrates all of the world’s oceans with special activities that teach visitors about how they can help keep our oceans healthy.

See what else is happening in NOLA in June.


Scales & Ales

In October, the Aquarium celebrates National Seafood Month with a wonderful party including live music, seafood, and an open bar.

Proceeds fund education and conservation programs to try and make sure that we can keep enjoying this delicious food for years to come.

Check out other things to do in October in NOLA.


TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

While our local tour guides love the Audubon Aquarium, we thought you should hear what others had to say about it.

When reviewing the comments, keep in mind that the Aquarium just went through a $41 million renovation and reopened in June 2023.

At the time we wrote this post, not a huge number of people had been to the new and improved Aquarium.

Most people enjoyed the Aquarium a lot and it is suitable for all ages.

There’s something there for everyone!

A question that popped up quite a lot was about how much time to set aside for the Aquarium, and the answers were pretty similar. A few hours should be more than enough.

You may be wondering if you’ll have time to do some other fun things on the same day you visit the Aquarium and the answer is yes!

TIP: Get a combo ticket and save money on each attraction!

Plenty of people wanted to know if the zoo and the Aquarium and the Zoo could be visited in one day comfortably.

If you can only do one of the Audobon attractions, but have a limited time, which should you do? 

While the zoo is great, you can get more out of your day by going to the Aquarium and enjoying all the many things you can do nearby. The zoo is a bit out of the way.

And that is what this group member did by visiting the Aquarium and Insectarium (located in the same building) and then the VUE observation deck around the corner.

Consider grouping your activities to the same parts of town to make the most of your time in the Big Easy!

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About The Author

Sarah Hester

Sarah first moved to New Orleans in 2001 to work for the American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana. While working in the communities of New Orleans she fell in love with the unique culture of the Big Easy; it's food, music, architecture, wildlife, and most of all history. Read More... Sarah began her career with FTBF, first as a guide, then as an owner/operator. She believes every day is a good day if she gets to impart her love of her beloved New Orleans with Free Tours By Foot guests. She especially likes to convert new Who Dat Saints Fans!
Updated: marzo 25th, 2024
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