Audubon Aquarium
Audubon Aquarium
4
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter Audubon Aquarium immerses you in an underwater world. The colors of a Caribbean reef come alive in our walk-through tunnel, while our penguins enchant you with their antics. Touch a sting ray and marvel at our gigantic sharks, tarpon, and rays in the 400,000 gallon Gulf of Mexico Exhibit. Watch for sea turtles throughout the Aquarium-as coordinator of the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, we prepare many of them for release to the wild.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Admission tickets
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₱2,457.36
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
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See what travelers are saying
  • Bgpow
    Seoul, South Korea150 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not worth the admission a high parking fee!
    We toured the Aquarium yesterday and were disappointed. Many of the displays/tanks did not have signed letting you know what you were looking at. It took us less than an hour to walk through all the exhibits, the place was small! The price for admission was high!
    Thank you for providing this feedback on your recent visit to Audubon Aquarium. We've passed along your feedback to department leaders. We don't have control over the parking fees surrounding the Aquarium, but we do offer discounted parking at the following lots: https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/directions-parking-aquarium
    Written November 29, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 25, 2023
  • ticoalra
    Jefferson, Maryland301 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice coastal aquarium
    Beautiful aquarium with nice exhibits. Enjoyed learning about the bayou and the gulf. Loved the jellies exhibit! The rainforest exhibit reminded me of my hometown aquarium, the National Aquarium. Enjoyed watching a sea turtle happily eat his lunch of lettuce. Walking through the tunnel of fish was awesome. We spent a little over an hour touring and didn’t feel rushed. We walked from our Canal Street hotel. Easy to access.
    Thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed your visit to Audubon Aquarium. It's always fun to see Mydas our green sea turtle munch on his lettuce!
    Written January 18, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled on business
    Written January 13, 2024
  • Linda T
    75 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great indoor adventure on a chilly New Orleans day!
    Another great place to go in New Orleans. The weather was very windy and cold this day so going inside was the tour for the day....the Aquarium was fun and would be a great place to take your kids! My family of 6 were adults but still enjoyed seeing all that was in here! Reasonably priced too
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 25, 2024
  • TwosATraveling
    76 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not impressed.
    Small aquarium, didn't take long to go through. Not many staff around to ask questions of. We had a Mardi Gras senior two-fer which made the deal ok, but I don't think it was worth the full ticket price.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 5, 2024
  • perry1127
    39 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice Aquarium But Not Much Different From Others
    The Audubon Aquarium is very similar to other aquariums of it's size. The location also has an Insectarium but I did not pay the additional price to view it. I spent a little over an hour but others may take longer. I went early within an hour of their opening and had no problem getting tickets immediately. However, there were at least 2 groups of children from local schools visiting around me which made it more of an obstacle course. It is a good place for kids but can get busy very fast. The employees were friendly and helpful which was needed when you had to be directed through the food area and down to see another half of the exhibit. It was not all that intuitive in the middle. Overall, it was nice but a little pricey. The mandatory gift shop you exit through was also on the higher end. I like that they do some rescue work with their animals so I hope must if the funds are going toward that work.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 5, 2024
  • Wilson L
    Kelowna, Canada5,042 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun visit
    We had a very nice time bringing our son to the Audubon Aquarium. The facilities were really nice and the staff were all so nice. It was a great time to spend the day for our family. I would definitely recommend checking it out.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 10, 2024
  • Jet31977680676
    San Antonio, Texas9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing aquarium
    We bought the combo insectarium/aquarium ticket. Both spaces were absolutely amazing!! Highlights for me were the butterfly garden. And in the aquarium they have a sea turtle that is 80 years old. The care they take to conserve these species for future generations is amazing!!
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 11, 2024
  • Matt2129
    Glenmora, Louisiana57 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A blend of Louisiana species and others from around the world.
    This has to be one of the best Aquariums for the size. It has a great variety of exhibits and sea animals. The touch pool with the rays is amazing. They have a really neat focal point on the Gulf and on Southern sea creatures in some places. The penguins are very adorable and rip through the water right in front of you. The staff are very kind and often wanting questions and provide great education to the guests. The snack and food options on site are a bit pricy for what they are.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 4, 2024
  • Adrienne C
    New York City, New York453 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice aquarium but on the smaller side
    We had a great impromptu visit to the aquarium on our last day in the city. It’s definitely a state-of-the-art aquarium and the exhibits are very well done. Surprisingly, my favorite exhibit was the rainforest one. I will admit I was hoping the aquarium would be bigger and have more exhibits than it actually did, but I can imagine it would be a blast for families and young children.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 11, 2024
  • jenfromseabeck
    Redmond, Washington83 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rays!
    We had a great time learning about marine life and especially enjoyed the ray feeding and touch tank area. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the combo deal with the zoo was a good bargain. Very clean, with lots of signs and information.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 13, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles3,428 reviews
Excellent
1,452
Very good
1,221
Average
599
Poor
102
Terrible
54

MissDawnAnn
New Jersey221 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
This aquarium was nice to walk through. Unfortunately, while we were there, it was extremely crowded with people, strollers and parents not watching their children. The aquarium is extremely expensive for what it is.
The exhibits were well-maintained.
Tip: If the ticket line is too long, order tickets online and then you can skip to the front of the line. You will get a barcode of your "ticket" that will be scanned when you enter.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paula P
4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My husband and I went to the aquarium on a Sunday in January. It's definitely a family attraction - lots of kids (which was fine), but I felt it was overpriced for it's size, compared to other aquariums I've been to. Also - the women's bathroom was a complete mess!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi paulapJ1672KK - Thank you for your feedback. We will reach out to the departments involved. We apologize for any inconvenience during your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
Written January 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SeñorElGreco
North Merrick, NY215 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
Maybe because it has the Audubon name attached to it, I thought this would be a great aquarium. While it was not bad it is not good either. To begin with the entry fee is very expensive, being $35 per adult (at the time of this writing for a peak weekend entry), the quality does not reflect this price point. Some exhibits are just badly designed but are mostly average with few being decent. Only the touch Ray tank and last large aquarium are truly good. We thought we would spend 2-3 hours here, we only spent slightly more than an hour here. We felt while the mission is well meaning the aquarium is very overpriced and not worth a visit, I would skip this one.
Written April 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi senorelgreco - Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience during your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
Written April 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Chuck M
Mount Pleasant, SC83 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
Being from Charleston I am biased when it comes to aquariums, and it wasn't all bad, a little pricey, but I assume that goes to help animals and I am okay with that. My daughters and I had a good time here. It really doesn't take long to go all the way through, as a matter of fact, we had to go back through again so we could catch the penguin feeding and the stingray petting because we were already done. Quite a few exhibits were closed or missing animals and the place is showing some age and in need of maintenance. Overall, I would recommend a family visit here and support the animals.
Written September 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris B
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
This only reason I am giving the Audubon Aquarium 3 stars instead of 2 stars is that children we observed on our visit were delighted and are unaware of its shortcomings. This aquarium is small; it takes about a half an hour (you could stretch it to 45 minutes if you read every word on every display). It cost $28 a ticket which I think was ridiculous--it's worth maybe $10. What they have on display is nice and the tanks look clean, plenty of staff, and the fish/animals seem happy. If you have elementary aged kids/grands, they'll love it. Highlights were the penguins and otters, small exhibits but you can get very close to them. If you go, go when they open at 10am before it's crowded. Online reservations required due to covid protocols.
Written March 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi ChrisB7124 - Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience during your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
Written March 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carlos C
Auburn, AL211 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Friends
Every attraction (aquarium, paddle boat ride, tour bus, etc.) price in New Orleans is $39 per person. The aquarium is pretty good, although there were several exhibits being"renovated." I understand what that means, just seemed like there were more than you would think while still charging full price.
Written March 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi carloscZ1088VF - Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience during your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
Written March 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Trina D
Orange County, CA1,223 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
We ventured over to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas because we were staying nearby. Little did I know, it was also free for locals that day and my bf had his ID so we were able to get comped admission. Score! We wandered about and saw an albino alligator, countless jellyfish, penguins, a sea turtle swimming with sharks, and countless fish. The aquarium is multi-level and while vaccination status is asked, masks weren't required. We were able to wander around and take our time with the various exhibits.

I love visiting aquariums in various cities. One of my favorites is the Monterey Bay one but the Audubon Aquarium isn't as big, however the variety of fish is impressive. It was quite peaceful inside, so if you're looking for something to do that isn't super busy, checking out the aquarium is a nice respite from the hubbub of the city.
Written November 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi JaDeGirL01 - Thank you for your feedback! We are glad you enjoyed your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
Written December 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Whitney U
Cleveland, MS42 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Family
We liked it but it took us under an hour to go through. It was packed also. They make you wear a mask but definitely aren’t strict on social distancing. The guy who checked our tickets was extremely rude. We had an issue with my tickets because it didn’t print all 3 so I had to pull up my email. He asked me to stand to the side and then proceeded to let everyone go ahead of us, which would have been fine if he had told me to get in the back of the line. He was chit chatting with one person, giving directions (not aquarium related) and when I tried to show him my tickets, THEN he told us to get in the back of the line.
They had a large tank with a TV playing sharks over it but nothing inside. The food area was completely packed. They had only 1 cashier trying to handle everyone. We ended up just not eating there due to the lines. They had a random pop-up I believe it said no touch gift shop and then the huge gift shop downstairs. It was a neat experience but I don’t know that I ever would have paid that hefty price for it. I believe the tickets were more expensive than the zoo (if I remember correctly).
Written March 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi whitneyu2018 - Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience during your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. We will share your feedback with management.
Written March 31, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

LindaKayC
Fresno, CA616 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
For us, it was not worth it. The website says it will take 2 hours, we were done in 30 minutes, so we thought maybe we had missed something and made another loop, nope that was it. No hands on adventures for the kids. The exhibits are very small and some are hard to see into. Just not much there.
Written June 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi LindaKayC - Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience during your visit to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
Written June 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kristen
26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
This is a small, but cute and well done aquarium. My husband and I spent about an hour and a half here. They have penguins, alligators, sharks, jelly fish, and varieties of fish. There is also a resident owl and eagle that were rescued. There is a touch tank to touch the sting rays with two fingers.

The aquarium offers a bundle deal (20% savings) if you are also going to visit the insectarium that is in the same building.
Written July 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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AUDUBON AQUARIUM (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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