Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium
4.5
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Georgia Aquarium contains more than 70 amazing habitats, with thousands of marine animals such as whale sharks, manta rays, beluga whales, and more. Don’t miss out on the animal encounter programs, where you can get up close and personal with dolphins, penguins, and sea lions. Combine your visit to the aquarium with other top attractions and enjoy additional discounts with the Atlanta CityPASS. You might also want to visit around Halloween or the holidays for special themed activities or presentations. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
Does not meet animal welfare
guidelines
Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
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See what travellers are saying
- Ron K4 contributionsAwesome AquariumThis was a great experience! I have been to many aquariums and this one is the best by far! Well laid out, plenty of room! Was very cool to see the whale sharks, never knew anything like this existed!Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 3 October 2023
- Kaleigha W1 contribution1000% Worth ItI have been to a lot of aquariums. Georgia Aquarium is by far the BEST that I have ever visited. The staff were absolutely phenomenal. Staff were stationed at every exhibit, and would routinely use a microphone to give you information about the animals you were visiting. In between those times, staff were eager to answer any questions and interact with guests. At one exhibit, a diver was in a tank arranging some rocks, and when he saw my children, he came over to them and waved, putting his hand up to the glass for a high five. And then there are the shows! I was amazed at how well trained and well loved the animals are. The shows were expertly choreographed and an absolute must see. Is it expensive? Absolutely, but it is worth every bit of it.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 17 October 2023
- pmax283518476 contributionsMy favorite place in AtlantaThere are very few places I am impressed with more than the Georgia Aquarium. The layout was so, so easy to follow and so easy to find things (like the restrooms). The staff were all very pleasant. Most importantly, the exhibits are amazing. The fish and animals are obviously so, so well cared for. I could have spent hours more there. They wasn’t anything about the aquarium I didn’t like. I recommend learning the backstories about the fish and animals the aquarium houses. For those that think they are just grabbing them out of the sea to make money, that is not true. I remember one of their original belugas was rescued from what was essentially a swimming pool under a roller coaster. They are doing very, very good work. I would also like to mention the food service people. We got in a pretty good line and it moved quick. They had a variety of options out that you could select from and it was pretty tasty. The aquarium functions like a well-oiled machine. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give is about my mother - who was with me. My mother has always said she didn’t like aquariums (just not her thing) - the Georgia Aquarium was her favorite place on the trip. She absolutely loved it.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 18 October 2023
- David CNaples, Florida140 contributionsWorth the visit when in AtlantaI see why this aquarium is so highly related. I was a bit surprised by the entry fee but it has been a bit since I have been to an aquarium (Baltimore was my last one, a must see by the way). I like the way it is laid out and you can easily see all of exhibits without feeling you missed something. For me, the Beluga whales were the highlight (whale sharks definitely very cool).Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 October 2023
- Cryptic_TouristSaint Louis, Missouri1,106 contributionsBest Aquarium EverMy husband and I took a spontaneous trip here and absolutely loved it. Our jaws were on the floor the entire time we were there. Just know going in that it will be very crowded and loud and you’ll have a good time. There’s so much to see, give yourself minimum two hours but probably closer to three. We parked at the world of Coke parking lot and paid $20, it was worth is since we visited both attractions. Between the whale sharks, the belugas, the dolphins, the sharks…man it is just the best aquarium we’ve ever been to hands down. We will be back!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 October 2023
- Luca A3 contributionsMarine WonderlandAs soon as you enter, the Georgia Aquarium welcomes you with an incredible underwater spectacle. The Ocean Voyager exhibit is a standout, with a huge tunnel letting you stroll through an enchanting world filled with elegant rays, colorful fish, and majestic sea creatures. It's like taking a dive into the deep sea without getting wet—an absolute highlight of the aquarium.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 14 November 2023
- Emily SKent, Ohio33 contributionsAbsolute MUSTA MUST SEE if in Atlanta. A huge, well run animal sanctuary that genuinely cares for the animals and works day in and day out with them. The shows are incredible and highlight how a rescued creature can turn around and learn how to do great things is amazing. Very transparent with how they care for animals, how they maintain tanks, and always put animals above themselves.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 November 2023
- Maddison P3 contributionsIf you're into sea life or just want a unique experience, this place is a must-visit.First off, the place is massive, and the variety of marine life is mind-blowing. It's like a real-life Nat Geo experience. Honestly, the Georgia Aquarium is not just for kids. I went there as an adult, and I had a blast. It's an awesome escape from reality, and you'll leave feeling like you just had a mini-vacation underwater.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 16 November 2023
- account4funDenver, Colorado739 contributionsAnimal Encounters are worth the extra!Fantastic aquarium with unique animals not found elsewhere in the US. Make sure to arrive as soon as they open at 9 so you have a peaceful hour before all the school field trips arrive. The sea otter and beluga animal encounters are really fun and well worth the price. The penguin encounter is cute but not as interesting as the other two. The whale sharks and manta rays are so impressive to see! Overall a great day!Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 November 2023
- Denise SVenice, Florida12 contributionsGeorgia Aquarium Visit in December, 2023We went to the Georgia Aquarium for not only my grandson's birthday but also to fulfill one of the wishes on my bucket list which was to see a whale shark. It is not disappoint. Between the two whale sharks and the huge rays and all the other fish, it was amazing and we got to just hang there for a little while and just watch them. It is the largest aquarium in the United States. We love the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The shows were good and the dolphin show was really nice. Of course it is Christmas/holiday time so the whole place looked amazing and the dolphin show was no exception! There are differences between the two aquariums, each unique in it's own way, but the biggest was the cafeteria/food court. They have tons of healthy choices at the Monterey Bay. Unfortunately, in our opinion, the food was limited. And as with all attractions these days, the food is very expensive! We booked our tickets and hotel as a package on the Georgia Aquarium.org website. It was really a nice time and because we got the 2nd day pass as well, we got to go back and spend more time with the whale shark and see the other shows again, which my grandson loved. Age group that went were 9, 44, 68 and 70. We all enjoyed it very much.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 16 December 2023
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4.5
23,884 reviews
Excellent
15,453
Very good
5,535
Average
1,905
Poor
557
Terrible
435
Carly M
Tampa, FL102 contributions
Dec 2019
We visited the Aquarium and was completely amazed at how nice it was. Everything was laid out in different spots and it wasn't crowded the day we visited. We however took advantage of the Early Bird pass, and including the Sea Lions Experience, lunch at the café, and reduced parking. This is by far the best Aquarium we have visited so far of many that we had previously visited. We had paid for the sea lion encounter and it was well worth the money. We got to interact with Fin and Diego and were amazed at how smart they are. The instructor who had our group was very informative. We had to wait for quite awhile for our pictures to be ready so that held us up at the door to exit. We didn't buy any extra ones but we both received a free folder with 2 pictures in it with our visit. The instructor took some pictures for us with our camera which was very nice of her. We saw two shows, in which we got wet on the first one and then realized that we had to sit up about 12 rows for the 2nd one to avoid getting any drenched. The staff kept telling people that if they didn't want to get wet to sit at least 10 rows back which was definitely true. I don't think the kids minded the water though and seemed to have a lot of fun with it. The shows were of the dolphins and the sea lions. Both are very smart creatures. Would definitely visit again when passing through.
Written 7 January 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.
K D
Norfolk, VA40 contributions
Dec 2019
Two kids (aged 5 and 2) adored the sea otter show and penguin march - and we appreciated that these were at no extra charge on top of the already pricey tickets. We had hoped the timed ticket system would prevent overcrowding, but within the first hour the place was completely swamped. We enjoyed the layout (designed to prevent bottlenecks), and saw almost everything within 2 hours which - when considering the price - might not've been worth it.
Written 13 January 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.
Danielle P.
Auburndale, FL1 contribution
Jun 2021 • Family
There were four of us (myself, husband, daughter and son (turning 4) who had reservations a week in advance to attend at 4pm on June 19th. We had even included parking and the dolphin show at 7pm that evening in our ticket purchase. We are from FL and this was planned for my son's 4th birthday. After arriving in the area easily 15 minutes prior to 4pm, literally within a quarter mile from the aquarium, we were at deadlocked in traffic on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. for over 40 mins. My husband tried all he could to get us into the parking area but due to another event across the street, we kept being directed in complete circles. While waiting, stuck in traffic, I called the aquarium and explained the situation (it was around 4:25pm). The representative told me we had a 30 min grace period after our reservation time to attend. I told him that was impossible as we are stuck. He offered complimentary tickets, but I explained to him that we are not local and were heading back to FL in the morning. He then gave me an email address and advised me to email them for a refund, which I did. I received an automatic response stating that the aquarium had a general policy of "no refunds" for ticket cancellations but that it would be reviewed within 15 days. I double checked online as well in my ticket confirmation emails and nowhere did I find a no refund policy. The thing is they only allow you to purchase tickets online at this time. The email wanted you to reply with the amount you wanted refunded and they went as far to suggest that you donate the funds used to purchase the tickets the aquarium!?! The thing is, we didn't cancel our reservation, but we're unable to attend due to circumstances beyond our control. My kids, son especially, were very disappointed. I emailed all of the required information and contacted my bank to dispute the charge. Now I wait and hope to receive a refund of $197.00 for something that we didn't even get a chance to experience.
Written 20 June 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.
mduque2339
Pembroke Pines, FL22 contributions
Mar 2021
Due to covid restrictions we ordered our tickets a few days beforehand online, unfortunately a lot of the tours and additional up close animal encounters were already booked for the day. We thoroughly enjoyed all the exhibits, especially the new shark exhibit and the penguins! We spent all morning and early afternoon wandering through the exhibits and admiring the marine life. The staff was very knowledgable and answered all our questions, animals looked very well cared for. I think this is a must do if you are in Atlanta, one of the highlights of the whole trip! They do have a timed dolphin show (free) that requires ticketed reservations, which you can get onsite.
Written 24 March 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.
bkath2000
shaker Heights, OH42 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
We visited the aquarium and purchased the seal lion up close experience. WOW!! It was beyond worth it. It was really educational and the trainers were fantastic. We also spent the extra $5 to purchase the special seating for the dolphin show - also worth it! Get to the dolphin show EARLY. Also when they say you are in the splash zone they are NOT kidding. The dolphins are masters with their tails and the folks in the first 10 rows looked like they had just gotten off the log ride at Cedar Point. Terrific show - and educational. The aquarium is doing everything it can to keep everyone safe and is continually reminding people to keep their masks on properly. All the exhibits are fascinating and we spent half the day there.
PRO TIP - buy the city pass and you can hit the aquarium, Coca Cola museum, zoo and a few others over the course of 7 days for a fraction of what it will cost to visit two of these.
PRO TIP - buy the city pass and you can hit the aquarium, Coca Cola museum, zoo and a few others over the course of 7 days for a fraction of what it will cost to visit two of these.
Written 9 April 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.
Roam07
Haslett, MI63 contributions
Feb 2020
This is an incredible Aquarium in the middle of Atlanta. Hands down. It's also crowded af, so plan wisely and be patient. It is laid out well, so people move through efficiently and you still get to see the exhibits. But, I would choose to go on a non-peak day if possible. We went on a rainy Sunday in February, so... We did the behind-the-scenes tour, which I recommend especially for older kids. It is an incredible operation to keep those tanks running. The chow is typical cafeteria food and is expensive. Look out for that. I will definitely visit again next time I'm in Atlanta.
Written 22 February 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.
SCoxygenman
Columbia, SC275 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
It don’t matter how many people are around, I could sit and watch the whale sharks, sting ray and other fish swim around the big tank for hours. There is so much enjoyable marine life to be seen in this place we took our time and saw it all. This place is totally worth it if your not afraid of people. Even though they are limited to how many people can be there with timed entry tickets (make sure to purchase online in advance) people will be people. Some areas of the aquarium get more attention and crowds than others. Get your maps at the beginning and work your way around Aqua World and have fun.
Written 2 May 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.
Polaroids & Drinkin Stories
United States2,426 contributions
Apr 2021
First and foremost my review is going to be Covid-centric because that's when I visited. I was in town for work and staying right across the street and even though I've been avoiding indoor public places like this still I really wanted to see this aquarium I had heard so much about. The site claims they are checking temps before entering and you have to buy your tix online and are given a specific time of when you can enter to try and keep the crowds to a minimum. And obviously you are required to wear face masks and practice social distancing. Reading all that info online made me feel a little more comfortable about visiting so I decided to go. I bought my tix for 1pm entry. $40 per ticket. I didn't pick up any of the additional shows/attractions you can add. I just wanted to see the basic aquarium. Once I got there I already felt like maybe this was a mistake. It seemed pretty crowded. They did take our temps before entering. There were hand-sani stations set up. But once inside all bets were off with people following mask guidelines or social distancing. I saw plenty of people with masks down around the chin. No one was telling them anything. Heck, I saw some of the employees doing the same. There were announcements asking guests to wear masks properly, but no one's paying any attention to those. People were crowded around tanks. Again, this is my experience. I don't think I was ready for this indoor public experience and it hampered my visit especially due to what I was surrounded by. If you have no issues like I do by all means go and enjoy it. It's a pretty good aquarium and set up fairly well with every section basically feeding off the large main area. It's definitely smaller than I expected. If Covid wasn't happening at all I probably would've stuck around for a good 2-3 hours reading all the info scattered about. But under these circumstances I couldn't wait to get out and just checked out every exhibit and moved on. Maybe someday I'll return when things are better.
Written 25 April 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.
246lcr
Illinois73 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
My kids gave me the best birthday present, a ticket to scuba at Atlanta aquarium with the whale sharks. From the beginning of this experience to the end, it was was organized and totally professional. Eight divers were given a thorough informative behind the scenes introduction and a list of do’s and don’t in the tank to protect us and all the creatures in the water. This dive gave us a close encounter experience with many pelagic species and a high species count you’d be hard pressed to find in recreational diving. The whale sharks overwhelm you by their size, grace and beauty as they glide along overhead. An assortment of rays and sharks swim by as if you were just part of the community. Pork fish interact very closely. One of my favorite parts was scuba diving over the walk through tunnel where people below waved. We were definitely part of the show at the huge viewing acrylic window (23 feet tall by 61 feet wide and 2 feet thick), children pressing their hands up against ours through the window giggling and waving.
This 20-30’ dive took place at 11 am on a Saturday which played an important part of the beauty of the whole experience as the tank is open to the sky above. Light coming down through the water danced and ricocheted throughput the tank also intensifying the colors of many of the fish.
Another plus is family that accompany you to the aquarium, get a behind the scenes tour and are escorted to the viewing windows so pictures can be taken and waving can occur. They have about an hour to view the aquarium when you are suiting up, so there is not any dead time in this event for anyone.
Not everyone scubas, but there are many animal encounters available with an additional purchased ticket to interact with belugas, otters, seals and dolphins. This is one memory, filed deep, with a big smile on my face!
This 20-30’ dive took place at 11 am on a Saturday which played an important part of the beauty of the whole experience as the tank is open to the sky above. Light coming down through the water danced and ricocheted throughput the tank also intensifying the colors of many of the fish.
Another plus is family that accompany you to the aquarium, get a behind the scenes tour and are escorted to the viewing windows so pictures can be taken and waving can occur. They have about an hour to view the aquarium when you are suiting up, so there is not any dead time in this event for anyone.
Not everyone scubas, but there are many animal encounters available with an additional purchased ticket to interact with belugas, otters, seals and dolphins. This is one memory, filed deep, with a big smile on my face!
Written 15 March 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.
travelbrat
Carmel, IN39 contributions
Dec 2021
This aquarium is awesome and puts all others to shame! I will say I was a little overwhelmed when I first walked in as I wasn't quite sure where to start but where ever you choose to start you will not be disappointed. There are extra's you do have to book in advanced but they do not cost extra. Things like the dolphin show and I think some of the movies and sea lion show have be booked in addition to your ticket but again, they don't cost anything extra. If you want to do the dolphin show I would recommend booking that in advance as it filled up quickly. I would also recommend getting to the dolphin show early especially if you do not want to sit in the splash zone. I would also recommend getting to the aquarium early as it gets busier as the day goes on. It is definitely worth the visit if you are ever in Atlanta.
Written 25 March 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.
no idea but looks like it was answered....good luck with visit!
Written 30 September 2024
Shoncy B
Atlanta, Georgia
how much your tickets for after five Monday through Friday
Written 8 July 2024
That information should be on their website. I attended during the day.
Written 9 July 2024
Shoncy B
Atlanta, Georgia
what are your specials for after five Monday through Friday
Written 8 July 2024
Is there a place to store carry-on luggage? I am planning on coming from the airport.
Written 7 July 2024
I don’t think so, I haven’t seen anyone with the luggage
Written 11 September 2024
catherine e
Canton, Georgia
I need to confirm by tickets purchased the week of June 23. My name is Catherine Emery
Written 1 July 2024
Karyl C
Edisto Island, South Carolina
Is the senior discount for all or just Georgia seniors?
Written 24 May 2024
The only discount they have is for military. I called them before I visited and they mentioned that was the only discount they give out.
Written 28 May 2024
O preço do ticket é fixo ou é o preço sugerido, podendo o visitante pagar valor menor, se quiser?
Written 29 December 2023
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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