If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta with kids, the Georgia Aquarium is an absolute don’t miss spot. And I don’t say that lightly.

We’ve visited a lot of aquariums over the years, but Georgia Aquarium hands down takes the cake. Between the enormous Ocean Voyager gallery, beluga whales, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, and thousands of other aquatic animals, you will spend hours here exploring. And if you have underwater obsessed kids like I do – they will be in heaven.

But because it is such a large and popular attraction, a little planning goes a long way.

After our recent visit, I put together this list of my best Georgia Aquarium tips and tricks to help you make the most of your time here.

Here’s everything you need to know before your visit.

1. Buy Your Tickets in Advance

As the #1 family attraction in the entire state, you definitely want to purchase your tickets ahead of time to ensure availability. The Georgia Aquarium uses timed entry, so plan to arrive within 1 hour of your selected time.

Ticket prices can also vary depending on the date and demand, so planning ahead can help you find the best price, especially if you have some flexibility in your schedule.

Visiting multiple attractions in Atlanta? I highly recommend purchasing the City Pass – which will get you into 5 attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, at a huge discount.

2. Go Early or Later in the Day

If you have any flexibility with your schedule, I highly recommend visiting Georgia Aquarium either early in the morning or later in the afternoon – or both! Your ticket is valid for reentry anytime during your selected visit date.

We arrived at the aquarium right as they opened for the day, and stayed until lunch time. The crowds were low and we were able to see and do so much. Then we came back around 4:00 pm – which was still quite crowded – but stayed until they closed at 9 p.m. that day. By about 6:00, the crowds had thinned and it was a much more enjoyable experience.

Weekends, holidays, and school breaks will be expectedly more busy.

If you don’t have flexibility in your day, no worries! The aquarium is very large and has a lot to see and do. Just go in knowing there will be crowds, but don’t stress. You will have a great time no matter what.

3. Give Yourself at Least 3–4 Hours

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll breeze through the Georgia Aquarium in an hour or two.

You could probably see the highlights in 1-2 hours, but if you want to explore all the galleries, watch the live shows, and spend some time watching the incredible whale shark, belugas, sea lions and dolphins, I highly suggest at least 4 hours.

And if your kids are anything like mine, you’ll probably have a hard time pulling them away from some of the exhibits, and they will want to revisit their favorites at the end of the day. We spent about 6.5 hours total here, and felt like we really got to experience everything we wanted without feeling rushed.

4. Download the Georgia Aquarium App Before You Go

The layout of the Georgia Aquarium is amazing, and it is so easy to find everything and not feel like you are lost or missing important exhibits.

That said, the Georgia Aquarium no longer relies on printed maps, so you can download the aquarium’s mobile app before your visit, or even just take a screenshot of the map for easy reference.

The app can help you navigate the galleries and, more importantly, check the daily schedule for presentations and other activities.

I recommend looking at the schedule before you start exploring, and plan your day around that.

5. Don’t Miss the Dolphin Presentation

If your kids love dolphins, you definitely want to see this show.

The dolphin presentation is included with general admission, but you do need to reserve a spot. There are several shows offered throughout the day, and you can make reservations on the website or app anytime on the day of your visit.

My recommendation is to book your spots for any shows first thing when you wake up the day you are visiting. That way you can get a spot at the time that works best for your kids.

I would advise against waiting until you arrive or right before the show to try and book a spot, as space does fill up.

We visited on a Saturday in late August, and the afternoon and evening shows were completely book several hours in advance.

Then build the rest of your aquarium visit around your reservation.

They also offer the option to reserve premium seating for the dolphin show for $5/person. We booked this, but I don’t really think it’s necessary. We arrived at the stadium 15 minutes before the show and we were pretty far back, even with premium seating. I think your best bet to get good seats is to plan to arrive 30-40 minutes before the show.

6. Watch the Sea Lion Presentation Too

The sea lion presentation is another one I’d put on your list.

Like the dolphin presentation, it is included with general admission, but reservations are required and are available on the day of your visit.

I really loved this one, and it felt much more personal and intimate than the dolphin show (which seats 1,800 people).

We even sat in the splash zone for this one, but thankfully didn’t get too wet!

7. Make Ocean Voyager a Priority

If you only have time to thoroughly explore a few areas, make Ocean Voyager one of them.

This is the gallery that really makes Georgia Aquarium stand out.

The massive viewing window gives you the chance to see the incredible whale shark, massive manta rays, and other marine life swimming overhead and around you.

There’s also an underwater tunnel that is so fun to just stand in and take it all in.

I highly recommend visiting this spot a couple of times during the day. It’s fun to see the different sea creatures at different times and in different spots. Also, you will definitely want to sit and watch the whale shark for awhile. He truly is the highlight of this aquarium!

8. Don’t Skip the Smaller Galleries

While Ocean Voyager is the obvious showstopper, don’t make the mistake of rushing through everything else.

You’ll find everything from penguins and sea lions to beluga whales, sea turtles, jellyfish, and sea dragons.

There are also some really cool and interactive exhibits for kids to learn and explore.

9. Think Twice About Bringing a Stroller

If you’re visiting with younger children, this is something worth considering before you arrive.

Strollers are allowed, but there are size restrictions. Georgia Aquarium currently limits strollers to no more than 29 inches wide and 52 inches long. Wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, jogging strollers, and ride-ons aren’t permitted, with some medical and sensory exceptions.

The aquarium also notes that strollers can contribute to congestion in busy exhibit areas.

If your kids are old enough to comfortably walk for several hours, I would consider leaving the stroller at home.

10. No Outside Food and Drinks

One thing to know before you arrive: Georgia Aquarium generally does not allow guests to bring outside food and beverages inside.

There are limited exceptions, including some small snacks for children and accommodations for food allergies.

You are allowed – and encouraged – to bring a refillable water bottle.

There is an onsite dining option, Coastline Café, with things like sandwiches, salads, burgers, pizza, snacks, and some vegetarian and gluten-free choices.

There are also plenty of restaurants nearby if you’d rather eat before or after your aquarium visit.

11. Plan Your Parking Before You Arrive

If you’re driving, Georgia Aquarium has an attached parking garage, which is probably the easiest option for families.

The official garage is located at 357 Luckie Street NW and has entrances from Luckie Street and Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. The garage is cashless, so you’ll need a card or digital payment method.

The garage also has a 6’8″ height restriction, so keep that in mind if you’re driving a larger vehicle.

You are able to purchase parking ahead of time ($30) when you buy your aquarium tickets, which is a good way to save time when you arrive.

12. Consider Taking MARTA

If you’re staying downtown or don’t want to deal with Atlanta traffic and parking, public transportation can be a good option.

Georgia Aquarium is within walking distance of several MARTA stations, and rideshare is another convenient option.

For families staying in downtown Atlanta, this can be especially convenient if you’re planning to visit several attractions in the same area.

There are also several hotels within walking distance from the Georgia Aquarium. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Centennial Park and it was a 3 minute walk from our hotel.

13. Wear Comfortable Shoes

This sounds obvious, but you’re going to be walking a lot.

And because the aquarium is so interesting, you may not realize how much you’ve walked until your kids suddenly announce that their feet hurt.

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers – it’s chilly in several of the exhibits and I was thankful to have a jacket during our summer visit.

These are my favorite walking sneakers for travel or sightseeing days!

14. Use the Aquarium as Part of a Downtown Atlanta Day

One of my favorite things about Georgia Aquarium’s location is that it’s surrounded by several other popular Atlanta attractions.

It’s right across from Centennial Olympic Park and close to places like the World of Coca-Cola and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

That makes it really easy to build an entire day around this part of downtown.

You could spend the morning at the aquarium, grab lunch nearby, explore another attraction in the afternoon, and then walk through Centennial Olympic Park before dinner.

If you’re planning a larger Atlanta trip, I would group your downtown attractions together rather than spending time driving all over the city.

Here’s my recommendation on where to stay for exploring downtown Atlanta:

• Hyatt Place Centennial Park – free breakfast, sleeps 6, + 3 minute walk to the aquarium
• Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta – swimming pool + family suites
• Springhill Suites – free breakfast + walking distance to Georgia Aquarium

15. Take a break midday

Georgia Aquarium can be overstimulating.

There are crowds, bright exhibits, music, tons of movement, and a lot to look at.

If your kids need a break, take one.

I highly recommend heading across the street to the park midday when the crowds are high, or hopping over to check out one of the other museums, and then coming back later in the afternoon or evening when the crowds have thinned.

16. Check the Schedule Before Your Visit

Aquarium schedules can change, so don’t plan your entire day based on information you saw weeks or months before your trip.

Check the aquarium’s current schedule shortly before your visit.

17. Consider CityPASS If You’re Visiting Multiple Attractions

If Georgia Aquarium is just one of several attractions you’re planning to visit in Atlanta, I highly recommend the Atlanta CityPASS before purchasing individual tickets.

The pass includes Georgia Aquarium along with other major Atlanta attractions and can offer significant savings when you’re planning to visit several of them.

This can be especially worthwhile for families because attraction admission adds up quickly.

18. Plan More Time Than You Think You’ll Need

Don’t make this a rushed stop.

The aquarium is enormous, and there is a lot to see. Also, the tickets are cheap, so make sure you get your moneys worth and spend some real time here.

If you’re planning a family trip to Atlanta, I would give Georgia Aquarium at least half a day rather than trying to squeeze it into a quick morning or afternoon.

Is Georgia Aquarium Worth Visiting With Kids?

Absolutely. In fact, the Georgia Aquarium is so great, it’s worth a trip to Atlanta just to see!

If you’re visiting Atlanta with kids, the Georgia Aquarium is the #1 attraction you should prioritize.

It’s educational without feeling like school, there’s so many things to keep kids of all ages interested, and the sheer size of some of the exhibits makes it feel like an adventure rather than simply walking through a series of tanks.

The biggest thing I would recommend is to do just a tiny bit of planning before you arrive.

Buy your tickets ahead of time, choose an arrival time that works for your family, check the daily presentation schedule, reserve your dolphin and sea lion presentations early, and give yourself several hours to explore.

Once you’ve taken care of those details, you can stop worrying about the logistics and just enjoy watching your kids’ faces when they see a whale shark swimming over their heads.

More Things to Do in Atlanta With Kids

If you’re planning a family trip to Atlanta, don’t stop with Georgia Aquarium. There are enough family-friendly attractions in the city to easily fill several days.

After the aquarium, consider adding:

• World of Coca-Cola
• Centennial Olympic Park
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Children’s Museum of Atlanta
• Zoo Atlanta
• Atlanta Botanical Garden
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History
• Skyview Atlanta Observation Wheel

Planning a trip to Atlanta? Read my 2 – day Atlanta with kids itinerary