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January 2025 by V
Shedd Aquarium is an absolute gem for anyone interested in marine life and aquatic ecosystems. Located in the heart of Chicago, this iconic institution offers an immersive and educational experience that’s perfect for visitors of all ages. As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by the mesmerizing sight of a vast array of aquatic species, from colorful tropical fish to majestic sea turtles and even playful dolphins.
The exhibits at Shedd are diverse and beautifully curated, with a wide range of habitats to explore. The Caribbean Reef exhibit is a particular standout, offering an up-close look at vibrant coral reefs and their diverse inhabitants. The Wild Reef exhibit is another must-see, showcasing the beauty of tropical marine life in an interactive and engaging way. You’ll also find fascinating penguins, beluga whales, and fascinating exhibits on freshwater species from around the world.
The aquarium is well-maintained and thoughtfully laid out, making it easy to navigate through the various exhibits. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate, offering insightful information during animal demonstrations and presentations.
For those looking to dive deeper into their experience, Shedd also offers unique behind-the-scenes tours and interactive experiences that let you get closer to the animals.
Overall, Shedd Aquarium is an extraordinary destination that combines education, conservation, and entertainment in one spectacular location. It's a must-visit for anyone in Chicago!
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January 2025 by John Harrison
Loved the exhibits. Felt a little rushed by all of the people on a week day but that is my own fault. Parking is outrageously expensive.
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January 2025 by prince prathap
It is an underwater wonderland, showcasing diverse marine life through beautifully designed exhibits. From playful dolphins to colorful coral reefs, every corner offers a fascinating experience for all ages. The only downside is the waiting time for the dolphin show. It's a must-visit destination for education, exploration, and family fun by the lakefront!
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January 2025 by Mau
Extraordinary!!! Dolphin, penguin, shark show, they have everything. Spend at least 3 hours to see everything. It is very worth it, there are species of fish that I have never seen before, a dragon fish?? I had never seen it!
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January 2025 by Madison Welborn
We were really excited to visit the Shedd Aquarium after hearing so much about it, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. The aquarium was sold out the day we went, so it was extremely crowded, with long lines to access certain sections. The overcrowding made it uncomfortably warm inside, and the exhibits themselves felt underwhelming for such a highly recommended attraction. For $88.50 per couple, we expected a much better experience. Sadly, we wouldn’t recommend it.
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January 2025 by Jacob Singer
The sharks were *very* slay. I enjoyed the children yelling “Hi Mr shark! SHARK! SHARK!”… bathrooms were mid but we used the ones by the lockers and they were basically empty, so the privacy was splendid. Shout out to the lady who let us take the stairs back to the main floor from the “wild reef” exhibit instead of waiting for the elevator. Very mindful. The gift shop lacked frog representation, but the shark plushies were epic. Overall, 12/10 experience. My girlfriend really enjoyed her enrichment time at the aquarium. 😎🪼🦈🦑
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January 2025 by Arianna Farias
It was busy today but it is always a great experience. There has been some remodeling that make it a new experience.
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January 2025 by Roselyn Laguna
Very disappointed! I do not recommend this place. If I could give ZERO stars, I would definitely do it.
We were a family of 8 and a baby, and it was so disappointing. We went with high expectations, but this place was so packed that we wasted $400 in two hours just standing in lines waiting to see what we could, not what we paid for.
They let us get tickets at 2:30 pm, but their last live show to see the dolphins was at 4 pm, and since it was full of people, they didn't let us in. The staff literally shut the curtains off at our faces and said, "We are at full capacity for the show. Please keep moving; you cannot be standing there". We couldn't understand how and why we were charged full price, but we couldn't have the full experience. Seriously, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE.
The staff was so rude. We had a toddler that didn't want to leave, but one of the staff yelled at us, "People, you have to leave! WE ARE CLOSED" when I was struggling trying to dress my toddler to go outside in winter weather. I was speechless with the rudeness of this person.
Honestly, if you care about your money, do not waste it here.
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January 2025 by Max Evers
Unless you are a Chicago resident, this is massively overpriced for what you get. We paid 45$ a person. If you do not go early in the day, you will stand in long ones for basic exhibits like sharks. I’ve been coming to shedd for about 15 years, and there hasn’t been much improvement in exhibits in terms of new animals, but it is more accessible. Best for smaller kids (under 12).
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January 2025 by Pazz P
Dec 24 i think this is the 5th time we're here. Last time we did penguin encounter and this time Sea Lion. It was so much fun, seeing them jump out of the pool and slide over curiously was very cute.
amazing place, the show was so cute i melted a little.
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January 2025 by James Hicks
Fond memories of this place as a kid in the 80s. Now it's insanely expensive like everything else in Chicago. $220 for two adults and three kids, not very large, lots of renovation construction currently. Crowded and small. It's a historic location, but honestly not worth the admission price. I can think of a few other aquariums that are superior and cheaper: New England Aquarium in Boston, Newport Aquarium on the Ohio River, hell, even the aquarium in the Mall of America is better. And all of them are cheaper. Too bad, probably won't be back.
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January 2025 by S Lentz
Way, way too crowded! If there had been half the number of people it might have been tolerable but it was challenging even walking without hitting anyone. Forget about trying to sit down after a couple hours, the chairs were all occupied. Finally got to sit down on a rock hard wooden bench with no back. My son had a panic attack because of the crush of people and just had to leave. The line to see the reef was incredibly long so I gave up .I scuba dive and love the ocean but I couldn't wait to get out of here.
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January 2025 by S
Would have been good if not for the overwhelming amount of morbidly obese people. I came here to see real whales, not land ones.
Penguins were cute tho.
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January 2025 by TheHustle Princess
Shedd on Dec 24th was a treat because it was so many less ppl. Parking is $25 under 4 hours and there’s basically no way around that. But if you want to take a trip to the museum campus just plan to pay $30 and use city pass and make a day of visiting all the museum. Locker rental was about $8 for Al of our coats. We got to see the cayman, pet the starfish, watch the dolphin show and really tire our babies out before naptime. The staff was very knowledgeable about the baby Beluga whale born this July and a member told us all about the Beluga’s family in the main tank. This is our third time going in 5 years and each time we love enjoying the animals.
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January 2025 by A K
It's not as wonderful as it was years ago. Perhaps it's because they pack people in like sardines and leave you standing in lines inside waiting to see anything. The only thing we really got to see were fish that are local to the Great lakes...not worth $100+
I know they limit how many tickets are sold, but that number seems to high if you can't even see the exhibits when you're inside.
