Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta is one of the largest in the world, and its signature draw is the vast Ocean Voyager tank, home to whale sharks (the only ones on display outside Asia) and manta rays, viewed through a giant acrylic tunnel and one of the largest viewing windows anywhere. Standing as a whale shark glides overhead is genuinely awe-inspiring, and it's the kind of attraction that lands equally with small children and adults.

Beyond the headline tank, galleries cover everything from beluga whales and African penguins to a dolphin presentation and a touch pool. It's a major, well-organised attraction that easily fills half a day, and timed tickets keep the crowds manageable.

Don't miss

• Whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager tank, rare outside Asia
• The acrylic tunnel beneath the main tank
• Beluga whales and the cold-water gallery
• African penguins and the touch pools
• The dolphin presentation

Good for

How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• Buy timed tickets online ahead, it's cheaper and avoids sold-out slots on busy days.
• Head to the Ocean Voyager whale-shark tank first thing, before the crowds build.
• It's beside the World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park, easy to combine.
• Allow a good half-day; it's bigger than it looks from outside.

A bit of history

Opened in 2005, the Georgia Aquarium was funded largely by a donation from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus as a gift to the city of Atlanta. It was the world's largest aquarium at opening and remains among the biggest, holding millions of gallons of water.