Wow, this was a great way to spend the day. The fish, coral, and animals were amazing. Staff was very knowledgeable and made me feel like I know some of ther sealife myself by telling me stories. Please support the aquarium, you won't be disappointed.
So much visual fun! Had a blast checking out this awesome display of wildlife. Spent half the day there, and I feel as if my visit was way too short! Many more visits to come.
Great aquarium ironically, and probably intentionally, positioned next to one of the biggest bodies of fresh water in the world. The plethora of exhibits are neatly organized, and it's very easy to adequately view all of the amazing animals within a few hours. If you're going to the food court, be sure to get the salad; it is, by far, the best deal on food I've seen at any museum cafe.
Fun and plenty to see without being too overwhelming. My 9 year old loved it and he usually gets bored at museums.
Great dolphin show! Belucca whales and a newborn calf. If on the museum campus it is worth the trip. IL teachers can go for free with a school ID.
I liked the fun facts and the gift shop had the CUTIEST stuffed animals. The dolphin presentation was really good and I liked the tricks that tye (sea lion) could do. It was great.
The world's best aquarium! Loved the exhibits. Got to touch Sturgeon & Starfish & Stingray!
This place is wonderful to get lost in for a day. All of the animals are incredible to see and the lessons that you learn there through hands-on experience or simply reading all of the information they have is great. I would definitely make this a must-visit for seasoned Chicago visitors or new-comers alike.
This was our first visit to the aquarium and it is an incredible place! The animals are beautiful and obviously well loved and cared for. Getting to watch the dolphin show for free with admission was a nice perk. We ended up buying a family membership because it was considerably cheaper than paying single admissions for our family. One note: the auqrium is right next to the Bears' stadium amd shares public parking. If you plan to visit during football season try to plan around home games as parking will be non-existent.
It's been over 20 years since I've last visited. I have to say I was fascinated with this return visit. The Carribean Reef was updated. That stone facade that they used to have around it is gone, and you get full view of everything. You don't have to look through various sized openings. The place seemed bigger...maybe it's because only so many people are allowed during this pandemic. The Wild Reef was new to me, and I really enjoyed that. I decided to check out the Shark 4D film. That was pretty nice, and let me tell you. They start the film on time, so if you're straggling, you'll miss the beginning of the show. It was very relaxing just walking through, and I'm seriously contemplating on becoming a member. It's definitely worth checking out.
One of the best aquariums we've been too. I loved the dolphin show. If you can, get there early to get priority seating, do it.
Awesome aquarium. The dolphin show is a must. I also enjoyed the beluga whales.
Plz teach this racist lady some customer service skills. She should stop acting as if she's doing some kind of favor by letting us in. It felt as though she didn't like her job at all. I could only get half of her picture. Plz look into this if this helps.
Great place plan to spend a day food courts were pricey but chili was good
Coolest aquarium in the country. It is really nice that you can immediately tell that the employees are concerned with the welfare of the animals and that the aquarium exists to promote their welfare, not for entertainment and profit.
So amazing !!!! Dolphin show was great. Touched sting Ray's. Saw sharks!!!! And there is a place to eat with amazing views
I've been to a lot of aquariums around the world and this is definitely one of the best I've been to. Great, friendly staff as well as beautiful exhibits and animals
I went there with my nephew and he had the best time of his life there. There are so many fish in various colors, shapes, and sizes to see. The 3D shows are extra but they were the best of entire experience. This place is not for kids only to enjoy, adults would love there too.
It was a great place to visit. Enjoyed myself and so did my family. If you have not been there, at lease visit once.
Pricey but the dolphin show is worth it. The show is part of the admission cost. Register for your seats right away. Ask an employee where to register. The shows can fill up fast. Set your phone to alrm for 25 minutes before the show so you can find group seating. The seating is more like cement steps so bring a cushion and they are low so it can be uncomfortable for older people. There is a place for wheel chairs.
If you are an Illinois resident they have free days, but it's crowded. We were out of state but made sure we didn't go on free day.
So of course the aquarium is amazing and filled with creatures I ve never even seen in books or TV. So that is cool. Also has some nice and knowledgeable staff. But, my husband and I left feeling taken advantage of. Tickets for my husband, my 13 year old and two young boys cost 187$, but that isn t the complaint. Shedd s sells you tickets to a 4 D movie experience (Coastal Predators) so this was another 25$ for our family. It was terrible!! We put on stupid 3D glasses to see the opening scene in 3D...it lasted just a few seconds..and that was it for the 3D. I don t think this video was even shot for 3D. You could tell something was wrong right away when they shot out bubbles with some wind machine and you couldn t hear what was being said in the movie. This happened about three times. Super irritating cuz the movie was actually interesting and I m missing the commentary. Then more bubbles. Ugh. Then the bottom of our seat rumbled a couple of times. That was it! Oh, and the show lasted about 12 minutes. Seriously Shedd, just raise your prices if you need money that bad, but don t charge extra for THAT! I d rather pay more per ticket than feel ripped off. We left the aquarium feeling irked. Heard another guy complaining when we walked out of the movie, so I know we weren t the only ones.
Oh, and this video was first released in 2001...so don t be surprised if it feels familiar.
Great place to visit... in fact of you're in Chicago you should visit. Great for couples and families with a good balance of visual and reading attractions.
Spend more than a couple of hours... grab a bite in the cafe and just soak in the attractions.
What a beautiful facility. I remember coming here as a child and coming back now returns me to a state of child like wonder. All of the animals in their care look very healthy and well taken care of and they definitely focus on rehabilitation and rescue. The Oceanarium looks out onto the lake and the shows are fun and educational. Talking to the animal husbandry teams you can tell they are very animal focused. Great place.
It was very nice. They had an entrance for prepaid tickets and wheelchairs for those with disabilities. The dolphin show was pretty unexciting, but the tank overlooked a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan. We also attended a 4D show that was more for kids. You could spend 3 or 4 hours walking through the entire building and observing the animals.
Big aquarium fun for everyone. Super clean, and amazing to look at
My first time there and I was blown away! Didn't think I would stay interested the whole time, but it was awesome!
Love this place! I could watch the stingrays glide for hours
Very kid friendly but can get crowds
Go early if able
So much fun! This is a place for everyone of all ages. There is so much to see and learn at the Shedd Aquarium! Thank you to the staff for providing us with a great experience and a smile at every interaction! I would definitely recommend one of the live performances at the Shedd because they are so much fun and entertaining!
Wastage of money. Not worth the buzz that it has created
Kids had a great time and food was amazing but expensive
Displays are great.. lots of really interesting info and fish... but the prices and the crowds are crazy! DON'T go if it's a free day for Il residents!
Took our oldest to the aquarium. Had an awesome visit!! The facilities are well kept, clean, and the exhibits are all great! I recall going to the aquarium as a child, and am excited to continue the tradition with our children!
A amazing spot for people young and mature. I have been twice in my life and I really enjoyed both times each the same. It was great seeing so many aquatic animals and learning a bit each visit. Also this time seeing the Dolphin show as a bonus which was also phenomenal. Great atmosphere as a spot for kids, dates, even just a place to relax. The staff was on point and really assist with any questions that you might have. Highly Recommended.
Lots of cool extraordinary animals. A little pricey.
This was my second time visiting the Shedd Aquarium. Enjoyed it the first time and was able to enjoy the second time with my toddler.
Great to catch the aquatic show.
Lots of different exhibits to walk through.
The only reason I gave it 4/5 was our fault of going on a Saturday on a day when Illinois residents had free admission...the flow of the aquarium was clunky and it was hard to maneuver d/t amount of people. The exhibits were enjoyable.
Really unique, wonderful location. Enjoyed the presentations and all the rare animals in all the areas. Very educational and interesting.
Customers service was not their strong suit but the fish were fun.
Great place to visit with your family. We were visiting from Michigan, and i forgot our SNAP card for Museums for All discounted admission. I politely asked the ticket person if they would look at DHS Medicaid card as a replacement( accepted as an alternative in MI children's museums, we never had any problems); but the person did not even bother to help or ask someone. He said, no, we need to see your EMT. I had to pay the full price and it was quite a strain for our family with multiple kids........It was my fault for not taking the card, but we were handled with such coldness, we were not beggars or cheaters, just visiting out of state....
The irony is that we went to Du Page next day and had NO problems with entrance, as they looked at DHS Medicaid and accepted it( Thank you, staff!!). But, everything else was quite great: exhibits and fish, very friendly staff inside, very clean place.
The Shed has an enormous variety of sea creatures. Everything from large Beluga whales to tiny seahorses. The one negative was we waited in line for over an hour as they only had 2 cashiers, but a few open registers. It was very crowded, but we were able to view everything with a little patience. The layout is phenomenal and very easy to navigate. It was also quite obvious that the staff truly care about the animals/fish there.
Great time!! The kids had fun, while learning about the marine animals!! We recommend this trip to the Shedd Aquarium!!
The Shedd Aquarium was an experience that was highly educational, informative and fun. It is always interesting to go there and sea all the aquatic life. Stay safe, sound and secure as well as calm, cool and collected.
Nice for family events
Bring yo wallets though
If you have kids it is a good place for visiting...
The shedd aquarium is somehwere I grew up going and loved. The aquarium has grown and is even better than it was when I was younger.
Now that I am an adult it is awesome to see all the different things that they provide. My most recent trip there was for wine at the shedd and it was super fun. Drinks and fish, who could want anything more?
Highly recommend for any ages.
Great learning experience. Fun to look at all the different fish and mammals. Our grandchildren love to watch the dolphins.
Very fun and family friendly. Parking is confusing however if you haven t been there before. I would recommend not parking in the soldier field structure if weather is bad.
My favorite aquarium for unique species of fish I have seen in my travels
A great visit. Thank you. My 2.5 year old daughter thought the soil creatures of the underworld more scary than even the amazing dinosaurs.
Awesome! Great place for friendly family fun to adult entertainment during the summertime with the Shedd's, Jazzin at the Shedd events on select evenings. You get an awesome view of the city while you hangout with some interesting aquatic friends. The fantastic work that the Shedd performs everyday to preserve life and educate the public is why I am a member, they ROCK!
Never thought I'd watch a bunch of Beluga whales playing around and interacting with humans. Spectacular opportunity.
Loved the aquarium. The dolphin show and the stingray touch exhibit were our favorites. Admission and food are pretty expensive but that is to be expected. The only negative experience we had was getting into the building to buy tickets. The line was long and did not move fast. There were only a couple of workers working the counters. Other than that it was a great experience once we got inside. My advice is to buy tickets online before you show up.
Love taking my son to the aquarium for a walk and it's a great place to go to and enjoy as a family and to distract yourself.
I usually love the shedd. But with my current trip, washrooms were gross, and the most engaging staff I talked to was a trainer that was in a rush.
Wonderful experience and a wide variety of exhibits! Definitely a must stop when visiting Chicago. Try and pack food or snacks because the court food was not very good quality.
Teachers and Chase Private client ARTS & CULTURE card holders GET IN free. Seniors $3.00 off Adult prices. Paid $20.00 for parking. Great exhibits, overwhelming of God's creations. Enjoyed dolphins show with seals, and penguins.
One of the best aquariums we have visited. The dolphin show was sort, but very enjoyable. We highly recommend it!
Took my 3y.o nephew here he loved it!!!...WE LOVED IT!! So worth the money...such amazing variety of beautiful sea creatures and the dolphin show was amazing!! Worth the 2 hour drive and the money hands down
Great for kids and adults, well maintained. Must watch dolphin show.
Another aquarium in another city. Nothing special about it except the sharks. The city pass gets you to aquariums, this was one of them. The only reason I went to get a good look for the city skyline which excites more. Great location, I must say.
If weather permits, bikes are available to get back to city through Lakefront Trail which has amazing views.
The aquarium was beautiful! Make sure you see the dolphin show!
The Shedd is expensive. General admission for a family of four almost $200. 30 minutes waiting in line. Go on an off day or a free day. Too overcrowded. Very little change in exhibits ever.
Had a great time at the Shedding Acquarium. Do yourself a favor, buy your tickets online and early. You may also want to bring a bag with your own drinks and snacks to safe some money. Go downstairs and watch the dolphins while you eat.
Expect long lines but it's well worth the wait. Very interactive, lots of things to see, and plenty of rest stops. It is very expensive but that's to be expected. Always love coming back here!
Great, diverse collection of aquatic life. 4D movie and aquatic performance weren't anything to write home about. It was a crowded Saturday when we went but we still got around to see everything. Beluga whales were a definite highlight.
Many new upgrades. We must donate to make this place bigger!! Wonderful place.
Had a great time at The Shedd Aquarium. I wasn't expecting to spend a full day, but there is a lot to take in! Make sure to see the Land and Water show. Very well designed!
An amazing experience! I've been to my fair share of aquariums and this one is my favorite because of the variety of species you are able to see. Its a wonderful experience regardless of age and they do a good job of engaging the audience during their marine shows.
Overall: waste of time.
But if you going: buy a city pass or online ticket to avoid big lines.
Maybe that a good place for kids, but for two adults it's boring.
Crowd by the aquariums make it impossible to look. Also it smells there.
Caribbean reef is a nice one.
4D movie is really short. About 15min.
The food court closes at 4pm! No sign or anything about it in the booklet.
Gift store has good selections.
I have been to many Aquariums around country and I can truly say that this is on fine, world class facility. Only someone from California would say it "pales in comparison". Great examples from all over world, clean, informative. My main problem was that the staff was rude and ill informed, (a common problem when visiting other Chicago attractions). Just like previous review stated, tickets did not include Oceanarium. So we purchased tickets to Oceanarium under the impression that we would be seeing the dolphin show. Then we waited in line for over 35 minutes, only to be let in area and told there would be no dolphin show for our time slot. Traffic is horrendous and Parking was about a mile away and costs $10. Remember admission to most Chicago Museums do not include admission to temporary shows (Shedd, Field Museum, Art Institute. Indianapolis museums and attractions are definately more family friendly.
I have not been to the Shedd in 10+ years. My boyfriend surprised me for my birthday in January, and took me here. I can't believe how much it had changed! The colors, the variety of species, the 4-D theater... I was very impressed. The exhibits are so beautiful. We had a wonderful visit.
Loud, lots of fish, there's only one elevator. That anaconda is cool.
The sights are like something you will never see, ever. The views are breath taking, especially when you can even touch and see the animals so up close. I love Shedd's promise to help all animals there. The food is also great, here and there it can be expensive but the rest of Shedd makes up for it %100. And then after the visit you can go to there gift shop. The kids loved it so much (I even got something ). And the Dolphin show and the sea lions are awesome. If you are looking for somewhere to take the kids and you have a bit of money to spend. GO TO SHEDD AQUARIUM.
You will thank me later :)
Wonderful experience, so much to see, an all day visit
Amazing place. I've payed every year to see what's new and bring friends or girlfriends. By now I should be free. Like is there a account I can make that will show I've payed for 30 to 50 tickets last ten years 20 being for other people... I should at this point get sales commissions or something lol
Fun family place to take kids and adults on free days if you live in il.
Lots to see and marvel at! Stingray touching is a popular spot but I give it a 2/5. On the whole, fantastic experience! Make sure you reserve at least 3 hours for this. We did 5 and could have spent another hour there!
This place is huge. There is a ton to see and it is wonderful! The belugas are the best part imho.
GET THE FAST PASS! DO NOT WAIT IN THAT 2 HOUR LINE IN THE SUMMER!
Love shed, but can't usually afford it. My family of four costs over $100 without any extra exhibits
DO NOT waste your money on the aquatic show. Its 2 min of dolphins doing tricks, 3 min of showing a dog (not sure how that's an aquatic animal), and 25 min of talking about how bad you should feel about not donating money to Shedd because animals are dying. I loved the 3D Predator movie and all the exhibits but could have saved about $20 by not going to the show. NOW they charge $40 a person for general admission. Just take your kids to Bass Pro Shop in Gurnee for free! What happened to giving kids an education about nature, now all they care about is profit. I get that operating an aquarium isn't free but how did we go from $8 admission to $40 admission in a year?
It s a good place to spend a beautiful day with the family
sheddaquarium.org