Backlit jellyfish drifting in the jelly gallery at Georgia Aquarium

Plan Your Visit to Georgia Aquarium

Six galleries, more than 11 million gallons and the only whale sharks in the country. It is a lot of building to take on without a plan. This page covers what your ticket gets you, where to eat, what you can and cannot bring, and how the place works for visitors with access needs.

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Georgia Aquarium: Skip The Line Ticket

Highlights

Avoid long queues with priority entry.

Explore all existing aquarium galleries.

Watch the Saltwater Showdown Sea Lion Presentation.

Access special temporary exhibitions included with the ticket.

What Your Ticket Covers

All six galleries

General admission takes you through Ocean Voyager Built By The Home Depot, Cold Water Quest, Dolphin Coast, Tropical Diver, SHARKS! Predators of the Deep and Aquanaut Adventure.

The dolphin and sea lion presentations

Both are included. Seats fill up quickly, so make your reservations early in the visit rather than drifting over at showtime and hoping.

Skip-the-line entry

Your ticket is scanned at the door, so you walk past the ticket queue rather than joining it. This is an admission ticket, not a guided tour.

Same-day re-entry

Get your ticket stamped before you walk out and you can come back later the same day. Handy if you want to eat somewhere in the Centennial Park district and return.

Timing Your Visit

Sea turtle swimming past a reef display at Georgia Aquarium

Hours Open 365 days a year, with closing time changing through the calendar and entry stopping half an hour before the doors shut. Check your date before you set off.
When to come The aquarium points visitors toward the morning or evening hours. Summer and the holiday season are its busiest stretches, and low-sensory hours run daily until 10 AM.
How long to allow Two to four hours suits most people. Lean toward four if you want the presentations and a proper look at Ocean Voyager rather than a quick loop.

Getting There

Address

Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

Rail, bus and car in brief

SEC District Station on the Blue and Green lines is the closest MARTA stop, about a 10 to 15 minute walk. Civic Center and Peachtree Center on the Red and Gold lines are a similar distance, and Route 32 buses run from Civic Center and Five Points. Driving, the aquarium deck is at 357 Luckie Street NW, cashless, with a 6 ft 8 in height limit.

Eating at the Aquarium

Coastline Café
Seaside Delights
Coveside Concessions

Pizza served at a casual café inside Georgia Aquarium

The main dining room, on the upper level. Casual counter service with enough range to keep a mixed group happy.

On the menu
Burgers, pizza and chicken tenders for the crowd-pleasers, alongside sustainable seafood, salads and vegetarian plates. There is beer and cocktails for adults.

Breakfast
Served daily from 9:30 to 11 AM, with cinnamon-sugar waffles, creamy grits, tots, coffee and fountain drinks.

Hours
Opens half an hour after the aquarium and closes half an hour before it, so it tracks whatever the day's schedule happens to be.

Accessibility at Georgia Aquarium

Accessible restroom facilities at Georgia Aquarium

Wheelchairs: Free at the Guest Relations Desk, first come first served, and cannot be reserved in advance.
Low-sensory hours: Daily until 10 AM, with low lighting, minimal music and limited microphone use.
Sensory room and bags: The Wilkins Rhodes Sensory Room is on the second level; sensory bags are free, first come first served.
Family restrooms: Two, on the second level rotunda.
Parking and captioning: Accessible spaces on Level 3; closed captioning devices for both animal presentations. ASL for specific experiences with advance notice.
Service animals: Guide dogs, service dogs and working dogs in training are permitted. Emotional support animals are not.

House Rules and Practical Details

Book online in advance to fix your date and skip the ticket queue.

No outside food or drink, apart from small snacks for kids or allergy needs.

Refillable water bottles are encouraged, so bring one and fill it up.

Cameras are for personal use. No flash near animals, and none during the presentations.

No tripods, monopods, detachable lenses or other professional-grade gear.

Strollers up to 29 in by 52 in are fine; no wagons or jogging strollers.

FAQs About Visiting Georgia Aquarium

What does the ticket include?

General admission covers all six galleries and both the dolphin and sea lion presentations. It is an admission ticket rather than a guided tour, and it lets you skip the ticket queue at the door.

Do I need to book in advance?

Booking ahead is the sensible move. It fixes your date and means you walk straight in rather than queuing for tickets.

How long does a visit take?

Most guests spend two to four hours. Four is nearer the mark if you want to sit through a presentation and give Ocean Voyager the time it deserves rather than passing through.

Are there places to eat inside?

Coastline Café on the upper level is the main option, with burgers, pizza, chicken tenders, seafood, salads and a breakfast service from 9:30 to 11 AM. Seaside Delights opens Friday to Sunday and Coveside Concessions opens Tuesday plus Friday to Sunday, both 11 AM to 7 PM.

Can I bring my own food?

No, apart from small snacks for children or visitors with food allergies. Refillable water bottles are encouraged. If you would rather eat elsewhere, get your ticket stamped and come back on the same day.

Is the aquarium accessible?

Yes. Wheelchairs are free at the Guest Relations Desk on a first come first served basis, there are family restrooms on the second level rotunda, accessible parking on Level 3, and closed captioning devices for both animal presentations.

What is there for visitors with sensory sensitivities?

Low-sensory hours run daily until 10 AM with low lighting, minimal music and limited microphone use. There is also the Wilkins Rhodes Sensory Room on the second level, and free sensory bags on a first come first served basis.