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Shedd Aquarium

Aquarium

Museum Campus, Chicago

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Shedd Aquarium

8.8^/10

2,901

ratings

Ranked #7 for exhibits in Chicago
The experts at Wired and Chicagoist recommend this place
"The penguin encounter one was a great value and a wonderful time!"(18 Tips)
"Excellent aquarium, choose the CityPass, great deal!!!"(22 Tips)
"Jazzin' at the Shedd is the best time to visit the aquarium!"(7 Tips)
"Spend some time with the cute Beluga whales, they're cute and funny."(13 Tips)

417 Tips and reviews

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Carlos TorresOctober 15, 2012
On free general admission days be prepared to still pay if u want to see the wild reef and other events. General admission exhibits are ok.
BonAugust 9, 2015
A la carte pricing for the good stuff: otters, whales, and dolphins 🐶🐋🐬💰
Rose DavisJuly 18, 2013
Definitely check out Jazzin at the Shedd on Wednesday nights! Fewer crowds than during normal hours, booze and great music.
Emily MitchellJuly 18, 2013
So much fun! Go see the jellies exhibit before its gone! It's awesome! I love wild reef! Great picture oppurtunity's!
Blake WoodSeptember 23, 2012
9am on gameday is a GREAT time to visit, the place feels empty! Parking does get more expensive on game day though :(
Felix I BobadillaApril 3, 2013
If you get here with a Citypass ask about the tickets for the 4D theater and the show, they don't give enough information by themselves.
Kenny DallmeyerAugust 11, 2011
Jazzin at the Shedd during the summer is fun. Sit outside and bring a picnic for free or mingle with the hip people inside.
Rebecca M.May 22, 2012
Get the Chicago CityPass if going to other attractions too. Lets you skip the line, which was ridiculous when we went.
Zach IsenmannMarch 1, 2014
Buy the express pass for an extra $10, it will save you an hour in line easily!
Duncan PJSeptember 2, 2014
The lines in summer are bad unless your smart and buy a ticket in advance
Crystal HJune 10, 2013
Call before going! They were having a "gala event" when I went, and closed at 2:00pm. My friend said the same thing happened to her when she went a few months before me.
Rob VernonDecember 16, 2016
Been here 5+ times
Be sure to check out all the free expert talks they have scheduled throughout the day!
Amanda WhitneyAugust 21, 2016
Jazzin at Shedd is something I look forward to every year. Great views of the Navy Nier fireworks!!
KneeTherapistSeptember 18, 2014
The unlisted $8 ticket is good for about 2 hours of walking around. That's a good deal
SSeptember 24, 2013
They have a penguin exhibit in the polar area!!! The whole place was awesome for me.
Kate FurmanMarch 18, 2016
Buy your ticket online and pick them up at will call to avoid longass lines.
VeronikaOctober 30, 2015
Well, the aquarium in Dubai impressed me more, but this one is also nice. I wish the shows would be more interesting.
Brianna GoenApril 11, 2013
The "chats" during the day are a fun and free way to learn more about the exhibits! Check them out!
VictoriaDecember 27, 2019
Don't miss all the exhibits - so much to see!
AmandaMarch 31, 2014
Containing over 25,000 fish, it was at one point the largest aquarium in the world.
Kirstjen LorenzJune 30, 2017
Not sure why this happens, but whenever I visit the Shedd, I feel like I did some kind of meditation. What is this calm that comes over me from fish??
Green is UniversalNovember 11, 2011
The aquarium grows some of it's own food 2 protect against unsustainable fishing practices. For more green tips & to build ur Green Scene,download Green Square–available 4 iPhone & Android!
Ricardo LucianoFebruary 6, 2015
Excellent aquarium, choose the CityPass, great deal!!!
Valerie GoguenJuly 7, 2013
It is definitely worth buying the City Pass if you are spending a few days in Chicago.
Pathik BhattJuly 18, 2013
Come watch the navy pier fireworks from the aquarium lawn, less crowd and beautiful view of the skyline
Andraya ThompsonMarch 24, 2012
Make sure to prepurchase tickets or a city pass. Waiting inside is better than outside for a full city block!
Jon ShecketJuly 28, 2013
Use the accessible entrance. It's open to everyone and the line is waaaay shorter.
Joseph GOctober 11, 2015
Dolphins were blocked off for the newborn. Was a nice aquarium, may be biased but the Camden aquarium is nicer.
Shedd AquariumMay 20, 2010
Make sure to visit Granddad, our Australian lungfish! Full-grown when he arrived for the 1933 Worlds Fair, he is at least 80 and possibly much older. Not only the oldest resident at Shedd, Granddad ha Read more
Beth WongAugust 21, 2011
Been here 25+ times
Buy a ticket online and avoid the lines. If you get there at opening, easier to zip through exhibits and you can park in the small close lot.
Adam R.September 20, 2014
Great aquarium. Park near Adler, it's the cheapest lot.
Kendra TorresJuly 15, 2012
Get a free background when you check in. I would have loves a colorful background Jellie instead but this is pretty nice
Thao PhamDecember 4, 2015
Great place - The daily pass won't include shows. 30$-80$ per ticket
Nam HoangJuly 29, 2013
On weekends Go early to avoid lines and book shows.
LaurasseinJanuary 22, 2016
Been here 5+ times
Wednesdays and Thursdays are the most frequent school field-trip days, so try a Monday?
David GerechtJuly 7, 2013
Lines to buy tickets are always crazy long, either get here before 9 or buy online.
Antonio BurrowesMay 29, 2017
During summer season jazz at the shed is a hot spot
Laurie RamirezJune 9, 2016
Everything got to see a lot of different things awesome
Laura GamboaDecember 23, 2014
Sea otters and belugas. One of the biggest aquariums I've ever seen in the US
Lou Malnati's PizzeriaMay 13, 2013
Did you know approximately 2 million guests visit the Shedd Aquarium each year? With more than 220,000 animals, it's no wonder!
Chloe RosenJune 27, 2011
Been here 10+ times
When its raining or when its super hot outside, there will generally be a long line. Be warned now. If you have small kids with you. Bring something to entertain them.
Mike DavisJuly 10, 2018
Get a city pass. You’ll be glad you did.
ReggieAugust 3, 2013
Got kids & a stroller? Use the stroller accessible entrance by the "man with the fish." The line is much shorter!
Gilt CityMarch 29, 2011
Shedd is home to Nunavik, a Beluga that’s just one year old. The name is an Inuit word that means “friendly, beautiful and wild.”
Julia StylesOctober 11, 2011
Go see the jellies! Jazzin' at the Shedd is a lot of fun, but the food isn't great. Make dinner reservations somewhere else, and just get drinks at the Shedd.
Juan MolinaMarch 30, 2019
Avoid the crowds. The aquarium can get crazy busy in the weekends. Not worth going if you have to wait in line even to ride the elevator
Victoria ElizabethOctober 13, 2012
Great place to spend the day! I love bringing my nephew here!
KristinSeptember 3, 2012
Aquatic show was awful! Very surprised that the incredible Shedd couldn't deliver. Confirm what you will see before you buy that add-on.. Plan to wait in line. Stroller line is shorter. City pass FTW
beautifulkelliAugust 1, 2013
The North Patio is fabulous with the sun setting behind the skyline view!!
Roosevelt CollectionOctober 31, 2011
Fun fact: More than 25,000 fish live here! Visit the newest permanent exhibit, Wild Reef to see live coral, sharks and rays!

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