Another must see for me when I was on my trip. I was hoping to squeeze this in, no matter how exhausted I was, I knew I was going to make it here. Lucky for me, during my trip, it was during Glow Nights. An amazing way to see this place. There is no wrong way to view this place. You don't have to follow a designated route. Pick a direction and head that way. Literally no wrong way to go here. It is massive and you will eventually cross paths with the group you showed up with at some point. I think one of the first places a lot of people go is to see the whale shark. So much so that you can take it in one of two ways. You can hop on the people mover and let is slowly move you through the tunnel. Or you can walk the tunnel at your own pace. whichever you want to do. Look up, see the whale shark and other enormous fish that glide over you and snap that great shot. Move onto whatever other exhibit you want, but you will not forget this one. I'm not even sure what direction we went after Ocean Voyager (whale shark). But we hit all the exhibits. One that sticks out was the Dolphin Cove, because it was their nighty night time. I just happened to pass by when the dolphins woke up to take lap or two. Cold Water Quest takes you through areas where you will see beluga whales, African penguins, rockfish, seahorses and more. This also is an area where you will encounter some crawl spaces with viewing windows to get you in the middle of it all. However, do be careful, not all of this is padded. The one part you think should be padded, where concrete turns to glass, the lip is not padded and I found out the hard way. Aquanaut Adventure is like a kids haven. Where you get to interact a bit. You'll see tortoises, alligators, eels and rays. There is so much more in here with over fifteen species. Southern Company River Scout is a great exhibit that reminds you to look up as you walk through here. Alligators loom above, you also get to see the otter floating around while it snoozes. Other things to look at are gar, piranha, bluegill, carp, tons of tetras, turtles and puffers. There are crawl tunnels in here, but I learned my lesson there. So much to see here it is easy to overlook any given exhibit. Take lots of pictures, it will remind you of what you may have missed the first time through. Just remember to not use a flash. Hit up the gift shop on the way out for sure, I mean it is the exit too. The Glow experience was amazing. How those performers do what they did, yikes, I could never. They interact a lot with the crowds. read more

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I met people that work here at a bar and they're so enthusiastic about it and you can tell they love it by the way they talk. Generally, I hate the idea of an aquarium. I came because of the people that work here and it's a lot and I don't know if they're enthusiasm got me but I loved it. The Georgia Aquarium is supposed to be one of the best and I saw first hand of how the inhabitants are treated and yeah, if they're gonna be contained-- i hope they're treated as well as they treat them at the Georgia Aquarium and are looked after by such loving people. The set up for attendees make it fun and exciting. I also ate at the cafeteria and I don't recommend the falafel sandwich. Looks good by the picture I posted but it isn't. read more

Georgia Aquarium - Falafel Hoagie with Fries $24.95 (pass) - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Such a great aquarium!!!! They had BOGO tickets this summer, so my parents, brother and I jumped on that deal and took my 2 nieces before school started back. The aquarium is open 9am-9pm, and when you purchase tickets, you choose an entry window -- we went with 9am since we knew the kids would be up early and excited to get inside. Entrance was easy, and there's a professional photo op just before your tickets are scanned, with photos available for purchase inside or on the way out. We did buy ours since it made for a nice family photo :) The place itself is beautiful inside, and staff were friendly and welcoming all around. It's two stories, with bathrooms and hand-washing stations on both floors in multiple locations, plus elevators, escalators, and stairs to get between floors. There's plenty of space for strollers or wheelchairs, too. There's so much to see here. Reservations are required for the shows (no extra fee -- just for the paid experiences), and it's easy since they have QR codes posted outside the show stadiums. We only caught the dolphin show, since we spent most of our time exploring on our own -- it was entertaining and educational, and my nieces loved it! There are tons of exhibits, plus an interactive canopy the kids can climb through. And of course, don't miss the tanks with the whale shark, the beluga whales, and the shark section -- they're wonderful! There's a gift shop, of course, and a restaurant upstairs. You can bring in reusable water bottles, and there are filling stations throughout. Would definitely visit here again! read more

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Took a long ride from Tampa to Atlanta, and partially to experience this nationally renowned aquarium, so our expectations were very high, and sadly unmet. Pricey admission at $65 per person, and completed entire experience in less than two hours. There were dolphin and sea lion shows but the earlier times were full, and couldn't wait around for the later shows. Truly, as much to see in Tampa's smaller, less expensive, and less acclaimed aquarium. read more

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I snagged a promo and finally went to the Georgia Aquarium. It's one of the biggest Aquariums but it honestly didn't feel like it. I was a bit underwhelmed, especially because the dolphin exhibit was over by 2pm when we tried to check it out. Definitely disappointing. I don't think it's worth it for what they charge regular price. The photos they try to sell you are also ridiculously overpriced. Also, some of the exhibits had really dirty glass and it was hard to see. read more

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Georgia Aquarium was a pretty fun time. Went on a Tuesday and it was still pretty busy. It is also quite expensive. Spent over 3 hours exploring and it was fun and somewhat relaxing at some spots. The first part of the dolphin show was pretty boring but then it got better. Too much talking in the beginning. The layout was good so you moved from section to section. Besides some of the crowd and the expense the Aquarium was fun and informative. read more

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This is an AMAZING aquarium!! I came with my friend and we thought the price was great, and they appear to periodically run promotions as well. There are 2 levels, and each has a TON of exhibits. We probably missed a couple things but there was enough to see that we spent hours in here. The main exhibit with the tunnel and whale shark was amazing, truly a must see. We did eat at the food court here, which was a little overpriced and had limited options. We also did find it somewhat difficult to navigate just because it was so crowded, and many parents were not watching their children. read more

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Checked out the GA Aquarium for the $20 Tuesday promotion, and this was awesome! It was so packed with so many people. Parking is $30; however, you have to walk through the entire building to get to the entrance. I would prefer parking at the World of Coca-Cola, where parking is conveniently located and costs $25 for 2 hours. It depends on your mobility. There are also several other parking structures around where you can park that's a little cheaper. The dolphin show was amazing, and I enjoyed learning about the other animals and touching the stingray. read more

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Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker St. NW Atlanta, GA 30313 This educational marine life museum is conveniently located in downtown Atlanta. As you enter the museum, you may come across a long, slow moving line. This line is for family photo ops and is not required to enter the museum. The photographer will photoshop you free of charge, but there is a fee if you decide to keep the photo. It is recommended to skip this line and follow signs that read "Entrance to Museum." As you enter this 2-floor museum, there are eight exhibitions with each gallery relating to a specific section of the water including rivers, oceans, fresh water, and cold water. I was more than impressed with the variety of marine life animals that are displayed. The atmosphere was so realistic I almost felt as if it was actually tele-transported to another world. One of the best parts if this museum was a large tunnel where we were able to look up and have a crystal clear view of mammals swimming above us. In addition to a lot of sight seeing, some of the exhibits are interactive. Visitors have the option to walk in a shallow pool with stingrays. They may also draw and design sea creatures, which will come to life on an on an animated screen. I felt these interactive games were geared for a younger audience, so I did not participate. In addition to the exhibitions, there are two theaters. A 4d theater has special effects. The other theater features a live performance by a group of dolphins. (I arrived when the museum was packed and wasn't able to reserve a spot for the show.) The museum has a gift shop where you can purchase a variety of memorabilia and souvenirs. There is also a temporary tattoo parlor for children. Aside from pictures, I did not have any desire for any goods, but this is great for young children or if you are in the market for gifts. If you arrive in the afternoon hours, there will be a crowd. It's best to arrive early to you prefer a quieter atmosphere. This is an educational facility and I highly recommend allowing yourself 2-3 hours to explore all exhibits and additional time to attend a show. #georgiaaquarium #dolphincoasttheater #coldwaterquest #tropicaldiver #oceanvoyager read more

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The belugas are still a favorite when visiting here. They are so cute. There was an employee that helped answer all my question about seastar eating habits at the touch tank which I appreciated immensely. My only note is I was needing a snack as I was feeling peckish. Not wanting to stop our whole experience, my thought process was to grab something easy to eat on the go. Sadly, all the items at the two kiosks were ridiculously overpriced. It was $6 for a small bag of off brand chips or 4 oz skittles. Really? Prices were not better for snacks in the gift shop either. 31.07.2026 read more

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Huge aquarium! Dolphin and Otter show is a must~~~ I rushed through everything in like 2hrs haha Buy online if u already know time and date so u can say $5 to $10 off for online purchase! In person was abt $65 with tax...so it was definitely a pretty penny haha read more

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The kids really loved the Aquarium and were talking about it for several days afterward. The shows are really well done and engaging so I definitely recommend planning to attend them while visiting. The exhibits are all really nice, well put together and decorated. I would have actually liked to see a little more information on some of the animals. There were some staff at a few places who could give more info but several things were pretty light on details that I think the bigger kids and adults would have appreciated learning. read more

Georgia Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This is my second time here, the first time was about 20 years ago. I walked there from downtown and bought my ticket at the kiosk. It said $55 (wow!) but then when I paid it was $65 (double wow), so I think there is a ridiculous fee from the kiosk (but that was the only option). It is a very unique aquarium with sharks (hammerheads, a tiger and silver-tip). And of course they have a whale shark and manta rays. It was very cool to see them get fed. The beluga whales were defiantly my favorite. There is food there, although I did not partake. There was also a dolphin show but that was extra. It was definitely a pricy outing. I tried to go slow and even went through things twice but I struggled to make it last more than 1.5 hours. read more

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I was so excited to visit the aquarium but my excitement got short fast! The main reason for me to visit was the dolphins and seals show but unfortunately I wasn't able to get to see the sea lion show! The aquarium had a reservation only policy to see the show and I didn't know. Besides that little inconvenience the rest of my day was wonderful I really recommend it!! read more

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My husband and I were visiting ATL for our anniversary and this was on my list of must experience. We spent about 5hrs in here, its alot different when your not touring wit children. An adult field trip and it was just a whimsical environment. Just to see its really one humongous tank.. to try and recognize the variety of sea life everything form coral, to plants, fish, sharks, seahorse.. its mesmerizing.. read more

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The Georgia aquarium is regaled as one of the best in the country, and for good reason. There's a lot of animals here, but I'd say the walkthrough experience is about an hour. I think it's a bit expensive (close to $70) for this reason. The areas are kept up pretty well. Early Friday evenings are rather busy, and there were a lot of school field trips there for the time of day. I'd recommend going off peak hours. If not, traversing the different corridors can be challenging. read more

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The Georgia Aquarium is amazing. If you are going to be in Atlanta for a few days, I recommend purchasing the Atlanta City Pass. This will allow you to choose 5 attractions out of 6 to visit. Buying the pass in advance online will give you the best value! The Georgia Aquarium is stunning. The layout allows for crowds to disperse and spread out through the venue. There are fantastic shows to see involving dolphins and sea lions. When you purchase your tickets or the City Pass, you are able to make reservations for free on the day of your visit for tickets to these shows. You do not have to have tickets to attend the shows, but the people with tickets are the ones who are seated first. The aquarium has a beautiful variety of aquatic creatures to visit. The large tanks are captivating...gazing on the beluga whales and huge manta rays is stunning. Every exhibit, big or small, is designed to draw in the visitor to the underwater world! read more

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Oh we had a lot of fun! I took my Summer Camp students to the GA Aquarium and they were so tired when they left. We began with the exhibits, about four of them. Then we had reservations for the Dolphin Show. It was packed. We found seats available in the front on the left corner. Once the show started, they introduced the dolphins by names and each one did a trick with their trainer. Then we saw a lot of acrobatics with the 5 dolphins and a trainer for each one. We got splashed once hard and then a little dribble. We loved it! We had lunch which we preordered the next level Kids Meal. The chicken tenders were larger and came with lots of fries, a drink and a cookie. Last we went to the Explore Exhibit where the students could touch the sting ray or the fish. Then we headed to the gift shop and left. read more

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This is the best aquarium I've ever been to. Yes, I've been to Monterey Bay Aquarium (4 times). Georgia Aquarium is actually better, probably a hot take but it's the truth. Their dolphin show was absolutely insane. They got dolphins dancing to fallout boys (not joking). And don't get me started on the whale shark exhibit, it was massive and insanely beautiful. Whale sharks are actually my favorite animals so seeing them for the first time was amazing. 10/10 experience read more

Georgia Aquarium - Seadragons - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Sometimes, a place is so overhyped that when you finally make it to that place, it disappoints. Luckily, this was not my experience. I've been to the Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach, CA), the National Aquarium (Baltimore, MD), and the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station.... Out of the four, this one is number 1 in my book. Super easy to navigate and well organized. Employees are so nice and helpful, and the dolphin show is so much fun. My favorite part was the beluga whale exhibit. They were so amazing to see in real life and I would go back just to see these beautiful creatures. Easy 10 out of 10! read more

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Excellent facility. Easy to locate, park, walk and view. Extensive water life. Very expensive from tickets to parking to food. read more

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Great way to spend a few hours or the day! The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the US with over 11 million gallons of water. The largest tank, Ocean Voyager, is 3 stories high or 30 feet deep. The Aquarium is mostly indoors. We went on a weekday but it is probably extremely crowded on the weekends. Parking was easy and paid $30 on the phone. Parking elevators took awhile so stairs are definitely quicker. Then a short walk to the entrance. Entrance is set at $54.99 per person with kids under 2y free (no youth or senior discounts). Check the dolphin and sea lion presentations (no additional fee), definitely make reservations on their website using your phone at the start of your visit. There is also a 30 minute penguin encounter for an additional fee $79.99 for non members. Upon entering your first encounter is the jellyfish lite up in an array of colors. Then you enter the main hall where most exhibits lead you in a circular path back to the main hall: Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Explorer's Cove, Cold Water Quest, River Scout, and Sharks! Predators of the Deep. Escalators (and elevators) take you upstairs to the Dolphin Coast Theater and Sea Lion Theater. We each had our favorite exhibit: sharks, whales, dolphins, and cuttlefish (flamboyantly changing color) but we all agree that this was a lot of fun! read more

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Our visit to the Georgia Aquarium was easily a five-star experience from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, everything was well organized, clean, and beautifully maintained. The exhibits are absolutely breathtaking and thoughtfully designed so you can truly appreciate the marine life up close. The variety of sea creatures is incredible -- from massive whale sharks and graceful manta rays to playful dolphins and colorful tropical fish. Every section felt immersive and educational without ever being overwhelming. The large viewing windows and tunnels make you feel like you're underwater with the animals, which was unforgettable. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, always ready to answer questions and guide visitors. Even with crowds, the layout allowed everyone to move comfortably and enjoy each exhibit. The only small downside was that one of the exhibits was under construction during our visit, which was a little disappointing. However, it didn't take away from the overall experience. Overall, the Georgia Aquarium exceeded expectations. It's an amazing experience for families, couples, or anyone who loves marine life. Definitely worth the visit -- five stars all the way! read more

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We attended the glow night at the aquarium and I had such a good time. They had acrobatic performances all over the main floor that were captivating for every age. There was something to see from every type of sea creature you'd think of but the main attraction to me was the giant Stingrays and the whale shark. I was like a kid in awe of how small we are compared to these and animals. This place is entertaining and educational for everyone. read more

So neat! I purchased the city pass and it was so worth it. The place was insanely busy during Memorial Day weekend. The exhibits were fun informative and easy to navigate. The whale shark was so cool! read more

As a card carrying "woo woo" person I expected to enjoy this but they still EXCEEDED my high expectations! It's not "just an aquarium." It felt like an indoor amusement park! All of the separate exhibits and levels of exhibits! Oh my! Nothing prepared me to see the beluga whales! High points include but are not limited to: interactive crawl through caves, giant manta rays, beluga whales, and the SEA OTTER show! read more

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This is my favorite aquarium I have visited so far in the United States. It was massive and definitely worth the cost of admission. I would recommend buying the city pass because it'll save you money if you're planning on visiting multiple popular attractions around Atlanta! There seemed to be endless amounts of exhibits in this huge aquarium. My favorite areas were the jellyfish, sharks, and dolphins. We must have spent hours walking around so give yourself some time if you're in a rush, come back when you have at least 2 hours to spare! read more

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Such an amazing time, although very crowded. So much to do. Make sure you secure a reservation online for the dolphin and sea lion show ahead of time! You are also able to leave and come back the same time (get your hand stamped at guest services). Tons of animals. Easily the best museum ever. read more

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One of THE best aquariums. I would not recommend going two days after Christmas though because yo the lines and yo the people. I crashed out.. Also my hubby and I and some family members got sick. So be mindful. Family friendly, nice cafeteria, incredible main gift shop. All wins. This is my second time here and I appreciate the cause. I appreciate the diverse ecosystems in the exhibits. My favorite was the hammerhead shark! A fan a fan. We will be back. Thanks for the memories!! read more

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Had an amazing experience at the Georgia Aquarium, the exhibits were beautiful, immersive, and absolutely worth seeing. It's truly a must-visit. That said, the food was a 2/10 and definitely not the highlight of the trip. Also, be prepared for heavy crowds. You have to know how to move with the flow of traffic and bring your patience, especially on busy days. Overall, unforgettable views and memories, just eat beforehand and plan ahead! read more

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I would give this aquarium 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to five! Truly the aquarium is outstanding- likely the best I've ever been to. My beef is that there were locations in the aquarium that smelled like pee. I mean, I get that there are kids running around but ewwwww. Other than that, it was truly spectacular! Only aquarium I've ever been to that has beluga whales, and whale sharks. They also had a giant manta rays more than 6 feet across, hammerhead sharks and oh boy were the otters entertaining! A lot of these animals have been rescued from fish markets, or are unable to live in the wild for various reasons. The aquarium actually has received multiple awards for its humane treatment of animals. It was also decorated beautiful for Christmas! We had a great time. read more

Georgia Aquarium - Holiday Decorations at Georgia Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Yes, this is going to be a hot take. Rating a world-class aquarium with two stars is controversial but it could have been better. I sort of felt like I was gaslighting myself. This is a facility that's known throughout the country (the world?) yet the interminable amount of time I spent here felt like slow death. My biggest gripe with the aquarium was the air quality. Post-covid, large-scale facilities like this one should be HEPA'ed out the wazoo. I couldn't breathe here. Granted, it was mid-Spring in Atlanta but I had a better allergic response outside in parklands than I did in the aquarium. My nose ran despite being stuffed up. I sneezed. My ears were clogged. My eyes were itchy and red. I.was.miserable. I've been to other aquariums so I don't think I'm naturally allergic to the type of environment but for whatever reason I was highly allergic to the GA. Beyond my inability to breathe comfortably, I found the exhibits a bit... boring. I didn't go to one display that attracted my attention or wonder. Again, being mid-spring, the place was overrun with kids (year-end field trips, I assume). Watching the kids, they paid more attention to sprinting up and down the paths (it's a gigantic space) than the various tanks. And speaking of tanks, I was a bit confused with the size of a good deal of them. Seeing as this is a vaunted location with a huge footprint, I would have imagined that the animals would have more space to swim. Don't get me wrong, there were some massive tanks bu the majority looked cramped which, in turn, made me feel cramped. Does that make sense? I think my favorite part of the Aquarium was the meeting space. That might (sadly) say it all. I was hoping for better but what it was (for me) was 'meh' at best. That's to say: being an active respiratory distress for hours didn't help my impression. read more

I love coming here! Great displays, fun shows and friendly staff. Make sure to book your dolphin show, sea lion show tickets from so you can better plan. The shows are included in the price of the ticket, so don't pay the $5 online. You can also sign up for the show on-site, but tickets go fast. Another tip: if you don't get tickets, there's a stand by line near the entrance that usually allows up to 60 people in, after ticketed guests have sat. The seats aren't the best, but all seats are good. But a membership here, it's well worth it! read more

Georgia Aquarium - Front stage area - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Overall This aquarium is on another level. It is the largest in the United States and often described as the largest in the Western Hemisphere, so yes, it feels massive in real life. If you like sea life even a little bit, it's a must visit. Time needed Plan for about 2 to 2.5 hours to see everything at a comfortable pace (no rushing). We didn't stop for food and that was still the right amount of time. The wow factor Ocean Voyager and the tunnel The Ocean Voyager gallery is unforgettable, with a huge tank (about 6.3 million gallons) and a long acrylic tunnel where marine life surrounds you. Seeing the whale sharks here is surreal. Georgia Aquarium is also the only aquarium in the US that houses whale sharks. Animals that stood out So many memorable exhibits, but these were standouts: * Whale sharks in Ocean Voyager * Sea otters (watching feeding time was a highlight) * Penguins * Seahorses and sea dragons * Jellyfish displays * Anemones * Poison dart frogs * Bioluminescent looking plankton and algae exhibits (mesmerizing) Interactive areas There are hands on "touch" moments (great for kids and still fun for adults), like touching rays and other fish. Ambience and experience It's vast, so expect a lot of walking. The water tunnels and large viewing windows create a super immersive vibe that sticks with you. My favorite part The sea otters. They are ridiculously entertaining, especially when they float, spin, and basically perform a tiny water ballet. Recommendation Strongly recommend. If you're visiting Atlanta, this is one of those experiences that actually lives up to the hype. read more

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Didn't get to watch any shows due to schedule timing but it was still a great visit. I think the sharks were my favorite. Glad we got a deal on tickets, check their facebook page for miscellaneous special pricing. Loved the Christmas decorations too! read more

Georgia Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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A huge aquarium with so much to see and a really cool vibe - almost like an amusement park. We took in both the dolphin and sea otter shows, and they were very entertaining and the animals were incredible! There are touch tanks, interactive displays, and so many great things to see. Keep in mind, though, it gets CROWDED so you're likely to be dealing with crowds the entire time. Go early, book shows early, and prepare for organized chaos. read more

Absolutely incredible attraction! I'm not sure I had a favorite part...everything was awesome! I did really enjoy the dolphin show at the end when we got soaking wet, lol! I stopped taking pictures after awhile because I just wanted to be present and enjoy the moment. I visited a couple of years ago, so I don't know if they have modified anything. The prices were well worth the cost. It's a tour at your pace set-up. I think I missed a few areas because the place is huge. It's definitely a must visit on a trip to Atlanta. read more

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I went on an ideal day! There was not a lot of traffic and the aquarium was not too crowded. Came here with another family. They have great areas to take photos, even right as you get there so make sure you're picture ready. I don't think a stroller is needed if you have a toddler. It makes things a little difficult with the escalators and stairs. Plus the kids get to see all the different sea animals, and it's nice of them to see their eyes light up! We loved to see the beluga whales and the tunnel. The sea lion and dolphin shows are a must too! read more

Georgia Aquarium - Sea lion show - Aquariums Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The staff here are super friendly and helpful. The aquarium is amazing. A must see. Make sure you book the shows in advance. They fill up quickly. read more

WORST experience EVER. Bathrooms were dirty, it was crazy expensive, it was more crowded than Disney World with less happy employee. I've never been more disappointed. it was also incredibly hot inside the entire building. please don't spend your hard earned money here or expect an enjoyable learning experience with your kids. read more