The big downtown Atlanta aquarium, KultureCity certified, with low-sensory hours every day until 10 am, the Wilkins Rhodes Sensory Room on the second level, free sensory bags with headphones and fidgets, signs for headphone zones and quiet areas, and a social story to read together first.
Sensory supports. Low-sensory hours until 10 am, sensory room.
Hours
Open 365 days a year. Hours change from day to day (see the aquarium's Daily Schedule); entry ends half an hour before closing, and hours are subject to change. Low-sensory hours run every day until 10 am. Thanksgiving (Nov 26 2026): 9 am to 4 pm. Dec 24 2026: 9 am to 4 pm. Christmas Day (Dec 25 2026): 12 pm to 6 pm. Dec 31 2026: 9 am to 6 pm. New Year's Day (Jan 1 2027): 10 am to 8 pm. On Christmas Day and New Year's Day the aquarium opens after the low-sensory time ends. Guest services: 404-581-4000.
“Experience the Aquarium’s low-sensory hours each day until 10 AM. This time consists of low lighting, minimal music, and limited microphone use to help all guests enjoy the Aquarium every day.”
“Our sensory room is located on the second floor near our Ray Touch Pool.”
“Sensory bags are available on a first come first serve basis free of charge with exchange of a picture ID at the Guest Relations Desk.”
“Signs throughout the building will indicate headphone zones and quiet areas.”
“Some areas in the aquarium are louder than others. The glass from the habitats and the popularity can cause sounds to echo.” venue.kulturecity.org
The social story is on the aquarium's KultureCity page, linked from its accessibility page. It walks through the line outside, security, the ticket scan, the sensory bag, the loud tunnel, bright and dark exhibits, headphone zones, quiet areas, the sensory room, the dolphin and sea lion shows and the touch pools (skip the touch tank if your kid is allergic to shellfish).
To use the sensory room, check in with a staff member at the Animal Interaction Desk or the information desk beside the room. Each family has 15 minutes unless staff approve a longer stay. Inside: bubble tubes, tactile wall panels, bean bags, calming room colors and visual light panels.
The aquarium names a few places for sensory bags: the Guest Relations Desk, its Guest Service desks, and, in the social story, the Ticket Counter or any team member at the entrance. Each bag has headphones, a marble fidget, a noodle fidget, a tangle fidget and an I.D. card, and you get your picture ID back when you return the bag to the Guest Relations Desk.
For questions about a sensory need before your visit, the aquarium asks you to use its accessibility request form, which has a Sensory Needs option.
Low-sensory hours every day until 10 am: low lighting, minimal music and limited microphone use.
The Wilkins Rhodes Sensory Room is on the second level near the Ray Touch Pool; check in with staff first, and each family has 15 minutes unless staff approve longer.
Free sensory bags with headphones and fidgets, first come, first served, in exchange for a picture ID.
The tunnel (it can be loud; headphones from the sensory bag are suggested there)not stated
Headphone zones (marked with signs) (areas that are louder than others; the glass of the habitats and the crowds can make sounds echo)not stated
Dolphin and sea lion presentations (they can be loud, with lighting effects and loud music, and there is a chance of getting splashed)not stated
Behind the Seas Tour: Dive Deeper (extra ticket) (may go into areas with higher levels of visual and auditory stimulation)not stated
Quieter, in the aquarium's words
Quiet areas, marked with signsquiet zone
The Wilkins Rhodes Sensory Room, second level near the Ray Touch Poolquiet zone
Tickets: Fixed Date Ticket from $54.99 (prices vary by day, peak times and availability, and may be higher on holidays, school breaks and weekends); Anytime Ticket $69.99, good for one visit any day within a year, no blackout dates; Aqua Pass $69.99 plus tax for unlimited visits for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027, with a reservation required for each visit; blackout dates apply. Children 2 and under don't need a ticket. On days that need an arrival time, enter within one hour of it; once inside, stay until closing. Guests typically spend 2 to 4 hours.
Military: 10% off daily with a valid military ID. On Military Appreciation Days, current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces get in free and their family members with them get 30% off general admission: Mondays Nov 16 2026, Nov 23 2026, Nov 30 2026, Dec 7 2026, Dec 14 2026, Dec 21 2026 and Dec 28 2026, then Sat May 15 2027 and Mon May 31 2027. Show a valid military ID at the aquarium or verify online with ID.me; it can't be combined with other offers, and the whole party must be in the same order. Current and former members can also save 20% on select memberships.
Other offers: Georgia residents get in free on their birthday, with the ticket bought that day at the aquarium's ticket window and a valid Georgia ID (a copy of a birth certificate for children); no exceptions and no combining with other offers. Atlanta CityPASS and a Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola combo ($79.99) are also sold.
Refunds: no refunds. Date changes can be made up to 24 hours before your date for a minimal processing fee per ticket, never after the ticket date, and promotional tickets can't be rescheduled. Come Back Guarantee: if the visit doesn't meet your expectations, tell the Guest Relations Desk before you leave that day, and the aquarium will host you again free of charge.
Re-entry: general admission guests can leave and come back in during their visit by getting the ticket stamped at the Information desk.
Entry: everyone goes through security outside the aquarium, the first stop on arrival. Not allowed inside: guns, knives, matches, lighters, fishing poles, outside food and drinks, balloons, disposable drinking straws and gum; security takes these items. The food exception is small snacks for children or for guests with food allergies. There are water bottle filling stations inside. Children 12 and under must be with an adult.
Strollers: no larger than 29 inches (72 cm) wide and 52 inches (132 cm) long. Wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, jogging strollers and ride-ons aren't allowed, except specialty strollers or wagons used for medical or sensory purposes. For questions about the stroller policy and exemptions, contact 404.581.4000 or hospitality@georgiaaquarium.org before your visit. Self-service lockers in Explorer's Cove start at $8, flat rate per day.
Parking: the aquarium's deck at 357 Luckie Street NW is $30 ($20 for members), cashless (card or digital payment), with a 6 ft 8 in height limit; it opens 1 hour before the aquarium and closes 1 hour after, with no overnight parking and no re-entry on pre-paid parking. Accessible parking is on Level 3. Golf carts take guests to and from the deck, first come, first served: ask an attendant on the 1st or 2nd floor. The aquarium gives two answers on oversized vehicles: limited first-floor spaces for vehicles up to 8 ft 2 in, or no oversized vehicle parking in the deck. MARTA trains: a 10 to 15 minute walk from Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center, Civic Center or Peachtree Center stations.
Shows: the dolphin and sea lion presentations are included, with free seats reserved on the day of your visit online, in the mobile app or at the aquarium; first come, first served, space is limited, and the aquarium suggests getting in line 15 to 30 minutes before. Closed captioning devices are offered for both. Flashing lights or patterns, theatrical fog, lighting effects and loud music are used on the property.
Help on the day: the first-aid station, staffed by Piedmont Hospital, is in the restroom hallway between Ocean Voyager and Tropical Diver. Team members wear a shirt or jacket with the aquarium logo. There are two family restrooms on the second level rotunda, two nursing pods (ask a team member) and a private nursing and pumping room on the second floor. The aquarium no longer prints maps; the map is in its mobile app and on its website.
WinterTide, Nov 13 2026 to Jan 3 2027, is included with admission: holiday lights, cheerful music, a daily 10 am tree lighting with elves in the atrium, live music Saturdays and Sundays 11:30 am to 4 pm, Santa's North Pole Village from Nov 21 2026 with a play area (Santa photos cost extra, on select days), and a Family Fun Zone with games and inflatables, 10 am to 4 pm on Nov 27 2026, Nov 28 2026, Dec 26 2026 to Dec 30 2026 and Jan 1 2027 to Jan 3 2027.
