Georgia Aquarium

State: Georgia. Type: public aquarium in downtown Atlanta at Pemberton Place, adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and the World of Coca-Cola. Opened November 23, 2005, funded largely by a $250 million donation from Home Depot co-founder Bernard "Bernie" Marcus. Holds more than 11 million U.S. gallons of water and was the largest aquarium in the world when it opened; it remains the largest in the United States. Address: 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Phone: 404-581-4000.

The Georgia Aquarium is one of the world's largest aquariums and a centerpiece of downtown Atlanta's attractions district. It opened on November 23, 2005, built with a landmark $250 million gift from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and constructed on land donated by The Coca-Cola Company at Pemberton Place, next to Centennial Olympic Park and the World of Coca-Cola. Holding more than 11 million U.S. gallons of water across its exhibits, it was the largest aquarium in the world at opening; though later surpassed by facilities in Asia, it remains the largest in the United States. Its signature habitat is the Ocean Voyager exhibit, a 6.3-million-gallon tank home to whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, and manta rays, which visitors can view through a long acrylic tunnel and a massive viewing window. The aquarium is organized into nine major galleries spanning cold-water, tropical, river and open-ocean environments, and its collection includes beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, sea otters and a variety of sharks. Live dolphin and sea lion presentations, animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences round out a visit. Expansions over the years have added a dolphin gallery and a large shark exhibit, keeping the aquarium among Atlanta's most-visited destinations.

The aquarium is located at 225 Baker Street NW in downtown Atlanta, at Pemberton Place, immediately adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and the World of Coca-Cola in the Centennial Park District. The site sits on land donated by The Coca-Cola Company and is within walking distance of other downtown attractions and MARTA rail stations.

The aquarium is an entirely indoor, climate-controlled attraction, so weather has little effect on a visit. Atlanta itself has a humid subtropical climate: hot, humid summers averaging around 81 degrees Fahrenheit with frequent thunderstorms, mild winters averaging about 45 degrees, and roughly 50 inches of rain a year. Because the exhibits are indoors, the aquarium is a popular option on hot, cold or rainy days alike.

Since the aquarium is indoors, any season works, and it is a common choice during Atlanta's hot summers and occasional rainy or cold spells. Within a given day, arriving early or visiting on weekday mornings generally means smaller crowds than weekends, holidays and school breaks. The aquarium's own ticket pricing varies by date, with weekends and holidays priced at a premium, so off-peak weekdays can also be cheaper.

The Georgia Aquarium grew out of a $250 million donation from Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, who conceived it as a gift to the people of Georgia and an economic driver for downtown Atlanta. Built on land donated by The Coca-Cola Company at Pemberton Place, it opened to the public on November 23, 2005, and was billed as the largest aquarium in the world, a title it held until 2012, when larger facilities opened in Singapore and China. It remains the largest aquarium in the United States. The original building enclosed about 550,000 square feet. A roughly $110 million expansion completed around 2010 added the Dolphin Coast gallery, and a $100 million, 45,000-square-foot shark gallery, SHARKS! Predators of the Deep, opened on October 23, 2020. The aquarium has also been a center for marine research and conservation, and its whale sharks and manta rays have been among its best-known residents since opening.

Visitors move through nine galleries showcasing habitats from cold northern waters to tropical reefs and rivers. Highlights include walking the acrylic tunnel beneath the giant Ocean Voyager tank to watch whale sharks and manta rays pass overhead, viewing beluga whales, and seeing sea otters, penguins and a range of sharks. The aquarium runs complimentary dolphin and sea lion presentations on a first-come, first-served basis, and offers paid add-on experiences such as animal encounters with belugas, dolphins, penguins, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and sharks and rays, plus premium diving and swimming programs in the whale shark habitat for certified and non-certified guests. Interactive touch pools and a 4D theater experience add to a typical visit.

The aquarium's nine galleries are Ocean Voyager (the 6.3-million-gallon whale shark and manta ray habitat), Tropical Diver, Cold Water Quest (beluga whales, sea otters, penguins), Southern Company River Scout, Dolphin Coast, SHARKS! Predators of the Deep, Explorers Cove, Aquanaut Adventure, and the Truist Sea Lion Studios. The Ocean Voyager tunnel and its enormous acrylic viewing window are the most photographed features, and the dolphin and sea lion presentation venues are focal points of a visit.

The aquarium is in downtown Atlanta and easily reached from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), about 10 miles south, via MARTA rail or car; the nearest MARTA rail stations are a short walk away in the Centennial Park District. By car it sits just off the downtown Connector (Interstates 75/85). On-site parking is available in a deck with a limited number of prepaid spaces bookable online plus first-come, first-served spaces, with overflow parking at the neighboring World of Coca-Cola and nearby public lots.

The aquarium is open 365 days a year, but daily hours vary; on the day of research the posted hours were 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with last daily entry a half hour before closing. Because hours change from day to day and seasonally, check the official calendar at georgiaaquarium.org or call 404-581-4000 before visiting.

General admission is priced dynamically by date. As of research, the official site listed Fixed Date general admission starting at $54.99 (with peak weekend and holiday dates ranging up to about $69.99), an Anytime general admission ticket at $69.99, and an annual Aqua Pass at $69.99 with some blackout dates; annual memberships started at $110. Georgia residents were offered a discounted rate after 4 p.m. during a limited promotional period. Animal encounters and dive/swim experiences cost extra. Buying online in advance for off-peak times generally yields the lowest price; confirm current pricing at georgiaaquarium.org.

Most visitors spend roughly two to three hours seeing the galleries and catching a dolphin or sea lion presentation, with more time needed if you add animal encounters, the 4D theater, or a dive or swim experience.

The aquarium sits in downtown Atlanta's Centennial Park District, which has a dense cluster of hotels ranging from major convention and business hotels to mid-range chains within walking distance or a short drive. Midtown, a couple of miles north, and the downtown core near the convention center offer additional options. Because the area is a convention and tourism hub, room rates rise around large events; staying nearby lets visitors reach the aquarium and adjacent attractions on foot.

There is a cafe on-site, and the surrounding Centennial Park District has restaurants, food options at the adjacent CNN Center area, and dining throughout downtown within walking distance. For a wider selection, the Midtown neighborhood a short distance north and food halls such as Ponce City Market along the BeltLine offer many more choices. Many visitors pair a meal with a visit to the neighboring World of Coca-Cola.

The World of Coca-Cola sits immediately next door at Pemberton Place, and Centennial Olympic Park is directly adjacent, making a combined downtown-attractions day easy. Other nearby draws include the College Football Hall of Fame, the CNN Center area, and, a short drive or MARTA ride away, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and Midtown's Fox Theatre and Piedmont Park.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is about 10 miles south and connected to downtown by MARTA rail. The nearest MARTA rail stations in the Centennial Park District are a short walk from the aquarium, making transit a practical alternative to driving and parking. Rideshare and taxis are also widely available downtown.

The aquarium is a family-friendly indoor venue; keep track of children in crowded gallery areas and near touch pools, and follow staff instructions during any emergency response. Walkways can be dark and occasionally damp near exhibits, so watch your footing. For driving visitors, keep valuables out of sight in parked cars in the deck and public lots. For any emergency, dial 911; an on-site first aid station staffed in partnership with Piedmont Hospital is located between the Ocean Voyager and Tropical Diver galleries.

Bring your booking confirmation or tickets (buying online in advance is recommended), a light layer since indoor galleries are air-conditioned, and a phone or camera for photos, though be mindful that flash photography is often restricted near animals. A card or mobile payment is useful since parking and on-site purchases are cashless, and comfortable shoes help for standing and walking through the galleries.

Book tickets online in advance and choose an off-peak weekday time slot for the best price and smaller crowds, since pricing is dynamic and weekends and holidays cost more. Arrive a little early to allow time to park in the deck, which fills on busy days. Check the show schedule on arrival so you can time the dolphin and sea lion presentations, which are first-come, first-served. Pairing the aquarium with the adjacent World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park makes for an efficient downtown day, and a CityPASS can save money if you plan to see several Atlanta attractions.

For any emergency, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States. The aquarium's general information line is 404-581-4000, and an on-site first aid station is operated in partnership with Piedmont Hospital.

Georgia Aquarium - https://www.georgiaaquarium.org

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.