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Georgia Aquarium

the USA🇺🇸 | attractionsGeorgia AquariumWhale sharks, acrylic tunnel, belugas, dolphin coast | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Georgia Aquarium
👍 Recommendedattraction ranked #12
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The Ocean Voyager tunnel has a moving walkway, and the easy-to-miss part is that you can step off it and stand still under the whale sharks while the belt carries everyone else along. Georgia Aquarium sits in downtown Atlanta, in the southeastern United States, beside Centennial Olympic Park. The wow factor is real: the tank holds whale sharks and manta rays. Tickets are pricey, weekends and school holidays are loud, and add-ons multiply fast. I took a train to the stop at the Peachtree Center end, then got lost for ten minutes because a Coca-Cola billboard looked like a landmark. Buy timed tickets online before you go.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #12 attraction in the USAReasons people choose to visit here

Georgia Aquarium earns a place on an Atlanta stop because few places in the world let you see whale sharks swimming overhead, and the Ocean Voyager tank is the reason. It is among the largest aquariums in the country, so a rainy afternoon or a sweltering summer day has a worthy home. It also sits steps from the World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park, so a single downtown day covers several big draws without a car. For a backpacker on a long southern route, it makes a bright break from hostels, highways and hiking, and it is one of the few places in town where a stranger of any age will gasp at the same moment as you.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Ocean Voyager: the giant tank with whale sharks, manta rays and schools of fish, viewed from an acrylic tunnel and a wall-sized window.
  2. Cold Water Quest: beluga whales, sea otters and African penguins, with glass that lets belugas drift right up to you.
  3. Tropical Diver: a coral reef exhibit packed with bright reef fish, with a curved viewing wall that feels close and calm.
  4. Dolphin Coast: bottlenose dolphins in a large habitat, with a theater-style area for the trainer presentations.
  5. Sharks! Predators of the Deep: sharks and rays in a dim gallery, and the contrast with the open ocean tank is dramatic.
  6. River Scout: otters, piranhas and other freshwater animals, a lighter stop that suits a short wander.
  7. Sea Lion Presentations: a show with sea lions that mixes animal behavior with a lot of laughs.
Georgia … read more 👉
  1. Ocean Voyager: the giant tank with whale sharks, manta rays and schools of fish, viewed from an acrylic tunnel and a wall-sized window.
  2. Cold Water Quest: beluga whales, sea otters and African penguins, with glass that lets belugas drift right up to you.
  3. Tropical Diver: a coral reef exhibit packed with bright reef fish, with a curved viewing wall that feels close and calm.
  4. Dolphin Coast: bottlenose dolphins in a large habitat, with a theater-style area for the trainer presentations.
  5. Sharks! Predators of the Deep: sharks and rays in a dim gallery, and the contrast with the open ocean tank is dramatic.
  6. River Scout: otters, piranhas and other freshwater animals, a lighter stop that suits a short wander.
  7. Sea Lion Presentations: a show with sea lions that mixes animal behavior with a lot of laughs.
Georgia Aquarium has no free exhibit inside, so the cheapest way to enjoy the gallery tour is the general admission ticket bought online.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Georgia Aquarium

90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour

90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour

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2.5hr Guided Segway Tour of Midtown Atlanta

2.5hr Guided Segway Tour of Midtown Atlanta

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Atlanta CityPASS®

Atlanta CityPASS®

4.4(281) 216h
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Things to do in Atlanta tour by Luxury car

Things to do in Atlanta tour by Luxury car

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Atlanta Scavenger Hunt Adventure

Atlanta Scavenger Hunt Adventure

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Ultimate Atlanta Walking Tour and Activities

Ultimate Atlanta Walking Tour and Activities

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Spring (March to May): Highs of 21 to 28°C (70 to 82°F) make the walk from the station comfortable, and school groups fill weekday mornings.
  • Summer (June to August): Georgia Aquarium is a perfect escape from 30 to 34°C (86 to 93°F) heat and afternoon thunderstorms, but families push crowds to their peak and prices for nearby beds rise.
  • Fall (September to November): Highs of 17 to 27°C (63 to 81°F) and thinner weekday crowds, with hotel rates often dipping outside convention weeks.
  • Winter (December to February): Highs of 10 to 14°C (50 to 57°F) and the quietest weekdays, though holiday weeks and weekends stay busy.
Book a timed ticket for a weekday right at opening, when the whale shark gallery is calmest.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Downtown Atlanta, within a 10 to 15 minute walk of Georgia Aquarium, is the most practical base, with Centennial Olympic Park district hostels and budget hotels putting you next to the attraction, the World of Coca-Cola and the CNN Center area. Expect dorm beds from about US$35 to 60 a night. The area is busy and well lit on event nights, but it empties after dark on quiet weekdays, so keep late walks short.

Midtown is the stronger pick for social travelers. It has the best nightlife, bars and cafes around Peachtree Street, plus the MARTA rail line that reaches the aquarium area in about 15 minutes. … read more 👉
Downtown Atlanta, within a 10 to 15 minute walk of Georgia Aquarium, is the most practical base, with Centennial Olympic Park district hostels and budget hotels putting you next to the attraction, the World of Coca-Cola and the CNN Center area. Expect dorm beds from about US$35 to 60 a night. The area is busy and well lit on event nights, but it empties after dark on quiet weekdays, so keep late walks short.

Midtown is the stronger pick for social travelers. It has the best nightlife, bars and cafes around Peachtree Street, plus the MARTA rail line that reaches the aquarium area in about 15 minutes. Old Fourth Ward and the BeltLine trail suit those wanting murals, breweries and a younger crowd, with a short rideshare or streetcar link downtown. Book early during big conventions and sports weekends, when prices jump sharply.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Georgia Aquarium costs a backpacker roughly US$135 to 175 per day in Atlanta, with general admission alone running about US$50 to 60 when bought online.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
General admissionUS$50 to 60Online tickets are usually cheaper than the gate. Weekends and holidays cost more.
Add-on experiencesUS$0 to 40Animal encounters and special exhibits cost extra. You can skip them and still see the main galleries.
ParkingUS$0 to 20Paid decks sit near the entrance. Arriving by transit avoids this fee.
Local transportUS$0 to 5MARTA rail fares are about US$2.50 per ride. The aquarium is a short walk from the Peachtree Center and SEC District stations.
Accommodation (high season)US$40 to 70Dorm beds downtown and in Midtown cost more in summer and on convention weekends.
FoodUS$20 to 30The
… read more 👉
Georgia Aquarium costs a backpacker roughly US$135 to 175 per day in Atlanta, with general admission alone running about US$50 to 60 when bought online.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
General admissionUS$50 to 60Online tickets are usually cheaper than the gate. Weekends and holidays cost more.
Add-on experiencesUS$0 to 40Animal encounters and special exhibits cost extra. You can skip them and still see the main galleries.
ParkingUS$0 to 20Paid decks sit near the entrance. Arriving by transit avoids this fee.
Local transportUS$0 to 5MARTA rail fares are about US$2.50 per ride. The aquarium is a short walk from the Peachtree Center and SEC District stations.
Accommodation (high season)US$40 to 70Dorm beds downtown and in Midtown cost more in summer and on convention weekends.
FoodUS$20 to 30The aquarium cafe is pricey. Grocery stores and food halls nearby are cheaper.
Total Daily BudgetUS$135 to 175Per person, per day, in high season.


source: georgiaaquarium.org
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQFrequently asked questions about Georgia Aquarium

Plan on 3 to 4 hours for Georgia Aquarium, or up to 5 if you add animal encounters and a dolphin or sea lion show. The main galleries are Ocean Voyager, Tropical Diver, Cold Water Quest and Sharks! Predators of the Deep. Arriving at opening on a weekday lets you finish before the afternoon school-group rush.
Georgia Aquarium is worth the roughly US$50 to 60 adult ticket if you want to see whale sharks and manta rays, which few aquariums in the world hold. Its Ocean Voyager tank holds about 6.3 million gallons (24 million liters) and has a 100 foot (30 meter) acrylic tunnel. Budget travelers can save by skipping add-on encounters and visiting on a weekday, when crowds are thinner.
Georgia Aquarium sits in downtown Atlanta beside Centennial Olympic Park, and the easiest way to reach it is MARTA to Peachtree Center or SEC District stations, then a 10 to 15 minute walk. Hartsfield-Jackson airport connects by MARTA in about 25 minutes for roughly US$2.50. Driving is possible, but garages nearby can cost US$15 to 30 on busy days.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Georgia Aquarium needs about three to four hours, which is enough for every gallery and one show without rushing. I would go on a weekday morning, book a timed ticket, and skip add-on animal encounters unless one is a lifelong dream. Save the whale shark tunnel for the end.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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