Audubon Insectarium

Museum of zoology · French Quarter

Audubon Insectarium

Museum of zoology · French Quarter

4

1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Photos

Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by Audubon Aquarium, New Orleans
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null
Audubon Insectarium by null

Highlights

Interactive insect exhibits, butterfly garden, edible insects, IMAX  

Featured on Michelin
Featured in Eater
Featured in Conde Nast Traveler

1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions

audubonnatureinstitute.org

Information

Static Map

1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions

+1 504 524 2847
audubonnatureinstitute.org
audubonnatureinstitute
𝕏
@AudubonNature

Features

restroom
wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Aug 14, 2025

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@cntraveler

The 23 Best Things to Do in New Orleans

"On a typically hot and humid New Orleans day, there aren’t many places more pleasant than the cool, dark rooms of the aquarium. Formerly the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, in 2023 this facility underwent a $41 million renovation that also relocated the Audubon Nature Institute’s Insectarium, and now both attractions are contained under one roof. The insectarium has obviously been completely redesigned, adding a new butterfly garden, with the aquarium itself presenting a new walkthrough exhibit of wading birds and a reconfigured Gulf of Mexico exhibit that can be viewed from above as well as from eye level. You could spend almost any amount of time just meditating as the jellyfish float by, or watching the penguins go about their daily routines. The butterfly garden is also a lovely spot to linger and experience the whimsy of these colorful creatures. If anything, it’s a challenge to leave once immersed in the calm and aquatic tranquility." - Paul Oswell

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-new-orleans
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@michelinguide

8 Things to Know About Eating Insects

"Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, the largest independent insect museum in the United States, celebrates the museum’s subjects with a creative insect menu at its café." - Michelin Guide Digital-Singapore

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/wellness/eating-insects-food-faq
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@cntraveler

12 Things to Do in New Orleans With Kids (That Are Fun for You, Too)

"Set in the U.S. Custom House, which dates back to 1848, the Audubon Butterfly Sanctuary and Insectarium is the largest museum in North America dedicated to insects. Not only are there loads of displays with live insects, there are also exhibits—tunnels and walkways—that make you feel bug-sized. The most popular exhibit is the butterfly garden, which houses around 700 free-flying butterflies, plus a koi pond that’s home to red-footed tortoises. Even cockroaches get their moment of glory in the Insects of New Orleans gallery, where a miniaturized '50s kitchen makes them look huge." - Stirling Kelso

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/things-to-do-in-new-orleans-with-kids-that-are-fun-for-you-too
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@eater

The Most Incredible King Cake-Inspired Dishes To Try Right Now | Eater New Orleans

"So, this is a real, traditional style king cake, but it’s a king cake filled with crickets (and topped with crickets), which is just so wacky that it landed on this list. Jayme Necaise, Director of Animal and Visitor Programs at Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, says the cricket-stuffing lends “a nice nutty flavor.” The cricket topping adds a little crunch, kind of like a Danish topped with pecans. (Tastings are included with general admission while supplies last through Mardi Gras season.)" - Stephanie Carter

https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-creative-king-cakes-new-orleans-nola
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Tanya Straus (Alimova)

Google
Small but mighty. I mean, insects are small, so you can't expect it to take a lot of space right? The butterfly room is beautiful and truly a unique experience. The bug cafe is awesome too! You get to try eating a food with bugs in it - the cookies re my favorite.

Sharon Ernst

Google
This place is an amazing location for families or anyone who wants to learn more about Insects. I have been to many butterfly exhibits and this by far is the best one I have ever been too for the amount of butterflies flying around. Additionally the other insects were fascinating and there was plenty to see. The signage was informative and easy to read/comprehend. Well done and a must to visit!

Tracy Wise

Google
It was very crowded. The butterfly exhibit is the best thing about the insectarium. There isn't a whole lot to look at other than the butterflies. You can eat crickets on a cookie and ranch and Cajun flavored ones as well.

Nicole Potter

Google
This is included in the price of the aquarium and was a nice add on. It was small as well but worth it. We saw a lot of bugs that were active. The butterfly area is pretty and relaxing!

Abigail Rosewood

Google
Interactive firefly experience, butterfly house, and so many different insects! The ant exhibits were so cool, you could see the underground colonies.

Brandon Dykes (Bj)

Google
Man the best place for adults or kids was on vacation and decided to go here with the wife and they have alligators dolphins birds even a butterfly.room check out the pics

C P (Baba Yaga)

Google
I purchased the insects and the aquarium combo. I enjoyed the Insect area. I think for the size of the aquarium the insect area was pretty good. I went into the butterfly entrance and I thought that place was absolutely beautiful. It smelled so earthy with all the plants and butterflies. The perfect place for a plant lover. I asked some questions about the butterfly food and the employees there were very knowledgeable. I enjoyed all the information they shared. So kudos to the two employees that were in the butterfly area today. I like the little computer games they had in the area as well. The instructions were really easy for kids to understand and it allowed them to play more so they could survive from being eaten by a bird. There was a gentleman there that was showing a scarab to another customer and the information that he had on the scarab was interesting. I wasn’t expecting much from this place, but I enjoyed myself plenty and highly recommend going to the aquarium and getting the combo.

Hunter Garcia

Google
I personally like the insect area more than the aquarium. It was very informative and you even get to eat some bugs if you want I would recommend if you have small children but personally if you’re just looking for something to do, I would pass especially the price of it But completely up to you
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Frans D.

Yelp
It was a rainy day in New Orleans, so we decided to go to the aquarium. We found out that there is more. The Insectarium is connected, you can buy tickets for each one or a package for both. It was recommended to us, to first visit the Insectarium. There were a lot of very interesting insects. Walking sticks (some really hugh, like 6 inches), ant colonies, and the butterfly room. That is really special. You walk in through a double door area to prevent the butterflies to escape. After that it is amazing. Butterflies in all colors and sizes flying around. Another double door (please check if no butterfly landed on you for a walk out) and on to the aquarium. When in New Orleans and it rains (which happens a lot, according to our tour guide), this is a wonderful destination.
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Robert C.

Yelp
Would you rather see a white Alligator or butterflies? Insectarium overshadowed by the Audubon Aquarium. There are at least 22 Insectariums in North America, but only a handful of aquariums with a white alligator. Wife is crazy for butterflies, and we see them at the Monterey, CA butterfly sancturary. Came over directly from the adjoining Aquarium, which has a separate admission, and headed straight to the indoor butterfly collection. Place has double doors to prevent butterflies from escaping. Beautiful indoor display overlooking the Mississippi river, with butterflies stationary, eating, and flying around. A couple of butterflies with damaged wings, dying on the ground, more than likely by kids handling them. We spent a good hour watching them, on a weekday morning with school in session, and only few preschoolers around. Before we leave, we have to make sure there are no butterflies still hanging onto our clothes and hats. Wife is big into butterflies, but I told her there's no need to pay to see the Insectarium, when we can see cockroaches in the local hotel for free!
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Kim U.

Yelp
Bugs, spiders and butterflies, oh my! One price gets you admission to the aquarium and the insectarium. Wear light blue in the butterfly room. They will come land on you.
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Troy H.

Yelp
This was an inhumane display of insects and marine life. No type of enrichment is provided for the marine life. It really was a sad experience, especially dead insects.
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Margery Z.

Yelp
There are some fascinating "bugs" here, and you can actually stop in the "bugateria" and eat one or two. Grasshoppers and some worms are deep fried or made into hummus. I was not that brave/adventurous.
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Klemens T.

Yelp
Came here for the first time with my family. Based on some photos that was online, I didn't want to go because it looked like a place for toddlers. My kids are grown so we decided to do just the aquarium only to find out that the admissions covered both the aquarium and the insectarium. I'm glad it did because the family and I all enjoyed both exhibits. There were some cool and gross critters lol. Definitely cool to experience and read about. There was also a beautiful butterfly exhibit. There are gift shops and also an area that gives out free crickets to eat lol. Our hotel was nearby so we walked. There is a paid parking lot nearby. There are a few homeless people outside so just be careful. All the staff were very friendly.
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Mario E.

Yelp
Amazing. Lots of great information, learned a lot. Very clean. Insects were very active. Great amount of insects, activities, explore zones and educational. Def worth coming to, probably the better part of the aquarium.
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Carolyn C.

Yelp
I visited on Sunday, March 17th. WOW WOW WOW! Definitely a state-of-the-art adult and child approved interactive museum. As someone who is covered in insect tattoos, I am a bit biased but still, it was incredible. There are many features that are for children, however, there was plenty to see, feel, read and taste as an adult. As an adult who steers clear of children, I appreciated the added playground-esq interactive toys for children which acted as deploys so that we could hear the small lectures at the bug camp and the butterfly garden exhibition. Perfect location for the deploys, in my opinion. At the insectarium you will learn about the insects that you encounter every day to the ones in other countries that you can only dream about touching or seeing from being in movies or pictures. At the "Bug Appétit Cafe" you can taste edible insect cuisine--flavored crickets, candy covered mealworms, roasted waxworms and even desserts (cicada muffins or chocolate chip cricket cookies) with insects or insect protein powders. The Butterfly Garden was truly impressive. It even looks over the Mississippi River which is the perfect backdrop when exploring the Butterfly Garden. You could easily see 100+ butterflies drinking nectar, taking naps, or simply majestically soaring around. My only complaints are with the Butterfly Garden. (1) Entrance logistics need to be worked out. There needs to be a staff member on the outside of the entrance so that it doesn't keep opening every EFFING minute when we are trying to open the main door. So annoying. No lie, it took us over ten minutes to get through due to the amount of people who stepped closed to the entrance door to the waiting room. (2) There needs to be 2+ employees inside the butterfly garden since the children were grabbing, poking and touching the butterflies--I am assuming this is why many were damaged. Maybe having an info graphic poster on the negative aspects of touching the butterflies should be posted beforehand and throughout. Also, having a staff member that isn't afraid to speak up and toss a kid out would be apricated. Though I wanted to trip or smack the kids running and touching everything, it was still amazing (I did hiss at a few which made them focus on the crazy lady inside the butterfly enclosure instead of the butterflies--whatever works, ya know?). (3) There should be a limit of how many people can gain access to the butterfly room--there was NO ROOM to move. We were all on top of each other. I highly recommend the Audubon Insectarium. It truly is a must see when in the area. It is located at the Audubon Aquarium and NOT AT THE ZOO.
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Blythe R.

Yelp
Great way to spend part of the day when you aren't huge into the typical New Orleans things.

J. S.

Yelp
I prefered this over the aquarium. The staff were all great. The butterfly garden was beautiful