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Georgia (GA)
Atlanta
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Georgia Aquarium
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Georgia Aquarium

See all things to do
See all things to do
Georgia Aquarium
4.5
#1 of 309 things to do in Atlanta
Aquariums
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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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. Take on a shark cage dive, or scuba dive in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Catch a show at the 4D theater, check out the virtual reality simulator, and even have an overnight sleepover. 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
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
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See what travellers are saying
  • CocoaLily
    Sicklerville, New Jersey28 contributions
    Nice Aquarium
    Huge aquarium, a lot to see there. No line when I went (maybe it was because of the rain), purchased my ticket and walked in. It also has a restaurant but oddly enough there wasn't any seafood on the menu (I do not eat meat). I wasn't crowded so the visit was very pleasant.
    Visited August 2022
    Written 11 December 2022
  • 54tomas
    Coral Springs, Florida431 contributions
    I’m glad I went
    Extremely well organized. Plenty of parking. The park venues are easy to navigate and amazing. Be sure to book the shows the minute you arrive. Prepare to be wowed by the exhibits, plenty of colors.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 December 2022
  • Happygoluckyang
    Lansing, Michigan216 contributions
    MUST SEE
    This is a must see on the Atlanta bucket list. This aquarium was amazing! A little pricey get in but a few things were included like a 4D movie and the Dolphin show. However, it was confusing that they said you needed a QR code scan for the time you wanted to see the show. But no one ever asked for proof you did that 🤷‍♀️ It was unclear. Also, there are no maps. So you need to find another QR code somewhere to get one. If you buy your tickets at a kiosk you don’t talk to someone so it wasn’t clear. Exhibits were amazing and so much to see. Must see!
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 December 2022
  • TravelVitoYYC
    Calgary, Canada188 contributions
    A wonderful experience
    Two words: Whale Sharks. I got to see the biggest fish in the world in the largest aquarium in North America. And it was awesome. I was also happy to see Puffins as I’ve visited Newfoundland and didn’t see any there. It was late November when I was there so the aquarium was decorated for Christmas with seasonal music playing. It was a worthwhile visit and I highly recommend coming here.
    Visited November 2022
    Travelled solo
    Written 19 December 2022
  • bcg1116
    Austin, Texas49 contributions
    Excellent aquarium
    The Georgia Aquarium is an excellent way to spend a day. Kids up through teens will enjoy the exhibits. If you have a chance to do any of the extra tours, they are very worth it. We did the shark and ray touch and the experience was well managed and a lot of fun for our teens.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 21 December 2022
  • ralphrg
    North Royalton, Ohio187 contributions
    Excellent aquarium
    Wow!. The best aquarium. There are so many things to see and do. An aquarium with not 1 but 2 whale sharks. What amazing creatures. So huge. The same tank houses so many other fish, including including 2 gaint manta rays. There are 2 levels and so many different sections. The cold water area features sea otters and beluga whales. A coral reef section, Amazon river area, a separate shark tank. As well as dolphins and sea lions. The dolphins and sea lions' encounters are very popular, so reserve a time and arrive early. The preferred seating for the dolphin show is worth it on a busy day. My one complaint. In the dolphin arena, they need a couple of large monitors on the sides for those of us who had obscured views A couple of tips: Download the app and order tickets, parking, and reserve any shows, including any behind the scene encounters well advance. The aquarium is a very popular attraction, and things get booked up fast, and it can be very crowded.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 December 2022
  • Nena s
    Moss Point, Mississippi5 contributions
    Winter Georgia aquarium. Family holiday trip.
    This was worth the trip. We enjoyed our day here. The crowd was busy but the dolphin show was worth it. We unfortunately had to sit in the splash section but seeing how close we were to the dolphins made up for it. It is a beautiful layout worth the money. My three kids enjoyed seeing the fish.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 December 2022
  • Jennifer O
    Fort Wayne, Indiana106 contributions
    Arrive Early
    We arrived at 8:00 a.m. and boy it was a magical 1.5 hours before the crowds came! We loved spending time just watching and taking in the shark area. The Sea Lion show is a must see. The dolphin show was the BEST I have ever seen and we have been to a zoo in Indiana and to Sea World! The way the trainers interacted and cared for the dolphins was beautiful. If you are in the splash zone you WILL get WET! We enjoyed the variety of animals that were housed and the ability to get right up to the glass to view the animals. The glass was clean too! The crowds picked up and we focused on viewing the animals that we could not see at our local zoo's. Parking was easy and I would encourage you to prepurchase your parking as it saves you some money. Also be prepared to dig deep for the gift shop! There were some shirts $25 but most were $45 on up! Download the app as it was helpful in navigating our way around as well as knowing more about the animals in the exhibits.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 30 December 2022
  • Ester P
    3 contributions
    Incredible Aquarium!
    Most aquariums have multiple small exhibits and then one big bang at the end. Not here, there are huge jaw-dropping exhibits in every gallery with the Whale Shark tank being their big bang. A central atrium gives you access to each exhibit area. No getting lost and winding your way through corridors wondering where to go next. Friendly docents and staff. Must see!
    Visited January 2023
    Written 9 January 2023
  • NW748
    Washington410 contributions
    Amazing aquarium
    This was the one thing I had to be sure to do while we were in Atlanta and it was definitely worth it! It’s a better deal to buy your tickets online before you arrive. You have a time period for your entrance with an hour grace period. The parking garage is huge and pretty packed. The aquarium was just amazing! To be able to see whale sharks and manta rays was a highlight. Even though the aquarium was very full, the layout of the building really made it so it didn’t feel overly packed. The dolphin show and sea lion show were so cute! Your love of sea creatures will grow after coming here. All the animals seem well taken care of and it’s nice to hear about how they rescue animals.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 15 January 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
23,724 reviews
Excellent
15,348
Very good
5,509
Average
1,888
Poor
551
Terrible
428
LiterateWanderer
United States129 contributions
Excellent aquarium with just a few problems
Oct 2023 • Couples
Our visit to the Georgia Aquarium was mixed. It is a gorgeous facility and very well maintained. Most of the staff we encountered were knowledgeable and very helpful. Before you go, know that (1) tickets are for timed entry, so if you don’t buy them in advance, you might not be able to get in when you arrive; and (2) shows require advance reservations also (see below for the potential problem with that).

Favorite exhibits included the following:

• The shark display is wonderful. It is a very large tank with multiple sharks of varying types swimming in it. In addition, there is a whole school of little white fish that are “schooling fish.” They spend their time swimming round and round in a clockwise circle in one big ball of fish—except when one of the sharks nears them or swims through them. It is quite mesmerizing to watch. I found myself wishing I was a shark so that I could play with that school as well—try out different movements to see how it would shift in response. The tank has large viewing windows around three sides of it, so it accommodates a lot of people at once, as well as offering different angles on the action. Don’t worry about the sharks eating the fish; these fish are too small to be worth the effort.

• One of the large tanks has a hallway that allows you to walk underneath and see the tank’s inhabitants from below. The hallway also has a moving walkway along one edge, allowing you to just stand still and look up for the entire length of the hallway without having to worry about running into another visitor or a wall.

• Sadly, the otter exhibits were all under maintenance when we were there.

There were a number of things we wished could have been different.

• We did not realize before we went that you have to use a cell phone that handles QR codes to reserve times for the shows. There appeared to be nothing in place to accommodate anyone who didn’t have an appropriate cell phone. We found out after the fact that we could have used their website in advance to email reservations to ourselves, but it is still slightly possible for there to be someone without that capability either. It seems to me the aquarium should still have some option onsite for everyone—a ticketing kiosk or something?

• More displays with maps of the space would have been helpful since they no longer pass out paper maps, and not everyone can use the cell phone app. We saw two maps in the whole building, one of which wasn’t lit up and was therefore quite difficult to actually use.

• All of the signs for exhibits were monitors that rotated through multiple screens of information for a single exhibit. This meant that you had to either stand there a fairly long time to read through it or just skip it entirely. Skipping it meant that you view the wildlife without knowing which kind of puffin or whale or shark you happen to be looking at. The advantage of a static sign (especially when a single tank contains multiple types of fish) is that you can spot a fish and glance at the sign to immediately identify it.

• The monitors tended to be positioned rather high on the wall. Difficult for children, especially, to see and read.

• As is customary for aquariums, it was way too loud. I found myself wishing such places would hold a “quiet visit” day or evening for adults only. I’d be willing to pay extra for something like that.

• And, lastly, if you go on a school day, there will likely be multiple school groups visiting at once.
Written 29 November 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.
Mida H
13 contributions
Breathtaking
Nov 2023 • Couples
Simply breathtaking! I have been wanting to go for years and this aquarium didn’t disappoint me for a second. The Whale Sharks were incredible. Great shows don’t miss them. And yes the Dolphins made me cry 😢 😊
Written 25 November 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.
Geetanjali J
3 contributions
Best aquarium ever!
Nov 2023 • Family
The best aquarium I have ever been to the aquarium had a great dolphin show and sea lion show you must visit the Georgia Aquarium
Written 25 November 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.
Daniele Pimentel
14 contributions
The best aquarium
Nov 2023 • Couples
Lots and lots of animals and a beautiful ambiance. I also went to the harbor seal encounter and it was the best experience I ever had. The only downside is that it was too crowded.
Written 24 November 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.
account4fun
Denver, CO702 contributions
Animal Encounters are worth the extra!
Nov 2023 • Couples
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!
Written 17 November 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.
Maddison P
3 contributions
If you're into sea life or just want a unique experience, this place is a must-visit.
Jun 2023 • Family
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.
Written 16 November 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.
Emily S
Kent, OH8 contributions
Absolute MUST
Nov 2023 • Couples
A 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.
Written 15 November 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.
Luca A
3 contributions
Marine Wonderland
Sep 2023 • Family
As 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.
Written 14 November 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.
Ramika E
Lawrenceville, NJ20 contributions
Colorful times ahead
Oct 2023 • Friends
If you can this is a fun family and friends activity. Beautiful aquatic life shown and say hi to the newest addiction the cute octopus. Although his name is Tsunami I still thinks he looks more like and was giving Harold energy.
Written 11 November 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.
Sandijo L
6 contributions
Number 1 on our list!
Nov 2023 • Family
This was and awesome experience fun for all ages. Interactive for all truly amazing experience you don’t want to miss ! Put 3 hours aside minimum. Highly recommended.
Written 6 November 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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Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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