Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: aquarium (131) great (94) time (88) fish (78) exhibits (62) family (56) experience (55) visit (53) staff (50) Great (49)
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  • 4/5 Jeff R. 1 year ago on Google
    We wanted a fun day in Chicago with a family of five, it was between the shed and the Museum of science and industry.. there are many discounts but none for families very sad. Wound up buying the membership as it was the most economical.. there are many great exhibits to look at. We were able to catch one of the 10 minute main shows,. would've been nice if they were a little longer. We had an enjoyable day. Will have to go back to get use out of our one year annual pass now.
    18 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Bruna P. 11 months ago on Google
    I removed a couple stars because finding a parking spot there is a challenge and of course it costs a small fortune. Even the paid parking lots get full. I went on the weekend so be prepared to face a line if you do the same. They had only 3 people scanning tickets for a line with about 500 people. Make sure you do a time slot reservation. Tip: buying their membership for a family of 4 was cheaper than paying entrances for 1 time visit and they have partnership with other places around the country for discounts. Inside: lovely. The shows are great and impressive. They don't have a lot of seats available for rest besides the areas they sell food. The souvenir stores are cute, price of touristic places.
    15 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ninette 3 months ago on Google • 233 reviews New
    We went for the penguins and loved it all. We got lucky and caught the spotlight for the dolphins and penguins. Goodness I have been following Wellington since Covid so it was such a delight to see him. I liked touching the starfish too. It looks big but was a bit smaller than I expected. Maybe since a lot is under construction right now. Staff is super friendly offering tips and wanting to be helpful. Still a recommend.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karen K. 1 year ago on Google
    I went here with my family during the week and it was timed entry, which helped with the crowds earlier in the day. We spent a little over 3 hours there and by the early afternoon, it was pretty crowded. We saw all the attractions (no movie or shows), ate lunch in the cafeteria and went to the gift shop. There were a lot of great photo opportunities and it looked like all of the exhibits were open. The cafeteria offers awesome views of the Chicago skyline too! My family and I had a great time!
    13 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas Brackett I. 1 year ago on Google
    Really awesome aquarium with lots to explore. The dolphin show is fun even for adults. It can take a while to get through if you want to stop for every exhibit. 2-3 hours for casual aquarium goer; 4-5 hours for super aquarium lovers. You will not be able to do the aquarium and museum in one day if you really want to appreciate everything.
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Griffin M. 4 months ago on Google • 203 reviews
    I haven't been here in many years, and I liked it for the most part. A bit disappointed to see the central aquarium closed, but glad to see that it's getting an uplift. Other than that, it's still a great place! Many different kinds of aquatic creatures from around the world and very diverse species. I also got to see the penguins up close during one of the shows. I definitely recommend visiting!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 shaggy 5. 2 years ago on Google
    Makes you want to get on a plane and travel to see the amazing places these species come from! We paid $40 for an adult and $30 for a child which I feel is reasonable. The exhibits are very well labeled and educational, many are organized based on regions of the world. Some of the shows aren’t happening now (July 2021) due to a COVID related pause. There are also some things that are an additional charge such as 4D movies or a virtual Humpback whale dive. There’s several gift shops and a cafeteria, the food is priced high but you should expect that. Great place for any age, I’ve been many times and it’s always fun to go back. On a nice day the views of the Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline are beautiful! There was a taco place, shave ice and hot dog stands just outside the entrance. We were there about 2 1/2 hours which seemed to be plenty of time to see all the general admission exhibits.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brenda Q. 1 year ago on Google
    I took my family, and we had so much fun. My kids enjoyed seeing all the different fish. They liked the dolphin show too. I just became a member, and I'm happy to have done it. You get free entry for as long as you are a member and best of all your contribution goes to good use. Now I went on a weekend so make sure to buy your tickets in advance because it was busy.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Angie C. 1 year ago on Google
    A wide collection of species from all over the world. It is a bit smaller than other aquariums I've been to but it's activities really make up for it. There are a lot of interactive activities for families, couples, groups, and people going alone. Best time to go is about May- October which is when most, if not all, interactive touch the animal exhibits are open. Very expensive if you are either not a resident or if you decide to go on a regular price day. Check the calendar before planning your trip so you don't miss out on the discounted/free days. Once you get there definitely check out the animal meet-n-greets (which are often free) or the aquatic mammal shows put on by the trainers. The 4D experience is alright, but to be honest not very much worth the price. It's about 15 min long and plays out like a documentary. You get 3D glasses but they're not very good quality and they also use the same pair on multiple crowds. Not much goes on and if you're expecting to get splashed with water, it's mostly just bubbles. As a chicago native I would always recommend this to someone visiting but just be prepared to spend a good amount.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nand Kishore G. 1 year ago on Google
    It's a great place to visit but I feel it has lost its charm from the past. Kids friendly, easy to navigate, great 4D show and the food is good.. Some new additions as well to the residents of the museum in the last few years. Parking and walking into the museum is a hassle but you got to deal with it.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda Dabb (. 1 month ago on Google • 249 reviews New
    Lovely aquarium with some great displays and healthy, playful live animals. We were very impressed and the new baby otter is adorable!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cindi J. 1 year ago on Google
    Be sure to buy tickets beforehand and save yourself a lot of time. Also worth it to take a ride share instead of parking. Great adventure for the whole family. Most people moved at a pretty good pace around the exhibits therefore not too much waiting time. Multiple options to grab a bite to eat and the prices were reasonable.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shira H. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a great time!! My friend had sprained her ankle so she couldn’t walk, but the info desk was able to give us a really nice wheelchair to use while we were there. Everything was very accessible-ramps, elevators, lots of room. And the fish were amazing!! Especially loved the underwater beauty stuff and all the jellyfish. And we last minute did the creature show and it was so fun!! A great experience w the wheelchair seats!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elizabeth G. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this aquarium!! First time taking the kids and they enjoyed all the exhibits. Favorite part was the dolphin show! I wanted to add a note about the lockers because I couldn’t find any information if lockers were available or where to put our coats. There are a bunch of lockers located by the main lobby, they are $8 to rent for the day. The bigger ones are big enough to fit a smaller rolling luggage bag, a backpack and a coat. We were taking the train home right after so had our luggage with us, was convenient to have the lockers available!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Coty C. 2 years ago on Google
    This place was very neat! I took my cousin here for his birthday and we enjoyed ourselves very much! There were so many different types of fish to see, they had penguins out and putting on a show for everyone. Also, we went to the 4-D experience here and it felt like we were in the middle of the action! If you’re looking for something fun to do in downtown Chicago I’d highly recommend this place.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 chaddy a. 1 month ago on Google • 136 reviews New
    I booked tickets for my significant other and I on their website. It was $85.90 for both of our tickets together, so it wasn’t cheap. The website had me choose a date and a specific time to visit, so you should be cautious of that if it doesn’t change. I chose 1/20/2023 at 9 am for our visit. I chose that time, so we were able to get in early in the day. Once I completed the purchase online, I was given an E-Ticket with a scannable code that displayed the Date for my visit. That was convenient. I also downloaded their app. This aquarium was located relatively close to me, for being what it was. There was a small walk before the entrance. Unfortunately for us, the weather wasn’t too friendly. After we entered the aquarium on the Ground Level, our tickets were scanned almost immediately. We took an elevator up to the Main Level after that. There were plenty of displays to see at almost every turn. I really enjoyed the Pacific white-sided dolphin display. Of course, I also had to check out the Beluga whale display, which was just as pleasant to see! It was such a unique experience to see them. They were beautiful and they seemed happy in their environment. I was glad to see that! They had a Rockhopper penguin and Magellanic penguin display. That one was definitely my favorite. As we went along, we stopped at the Underwater Beauty area. There, I checked out the Spotted jelly, Lagoon jelly, and Blue blubber jelly area. They were so vibrant and each movement they made was astonishing! To switch things up, we checked out the Common musk turtle and Western pond turtle area. Close to them, we got to see more than one American Alligator in the Alligator Lake display. That was a real treat for me! I’m now an Alligator fan! There was also a Golden Shiner, Midas Cichlid, and Red-Eared Slider display within the Alligator Lake display. Besides viewing displays all day, we did get to sit down for a bit at the dolphin show. This show was included at no extra charge, so with that being said, it was a must-see show! The dolphins seemed to have a high level of training and they were entertaining. We stopped at Soundings Café for a break from all of the beautiful scenery. It was located on the Ground Level. I purchased a Strawberry Fruit Smoothie, a Peanut Butter Cookie, and a Monster Energy 16 Fl. Oz. to get some energy. The prices were a bit steep, but not intolerable for me. My order was completed relatively fast. We sat down at a table that they had there. The smoothie was thick, fruity, and tasty! The cookie was a good size and just as tasty! That was a relief, as it was rather pricey. The Monster was crisp and refreshing! This was a convenient stop. Before we headed out, we stopped at the shop on the Main Level of the facility. It was large with a variety of items to choose from. To give insight, I purchased a Shedd Aquarium mug, a Shedd Aquarium magnet, and a Shedd Aquarium keychain. The keychain came in a little bag. The prices at this store were definitely not the best. I didn’t expect them to be. I’d say it’s worth it to purchase at least one item if you have the chance, so you have a physical memory to take home with you. The whole place was tidy and clean. That was impressive to see a busy place still kept up with. The customer service I had throughout my visit was friendly. I didn’t have any issues or encounter anyone with a bad attitude, so that was a plus! Overall, this was a relaxing experience for my significant other and I to do together. The displays were put together nicely and there was a variety of living things to admire! I loved all of the displays in a special way. I’m almost positive I’ll return here again someday. Date of visit: 1/20/2023
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carlos De Sa G. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful experience to have come to this aquarium. It’s a place where you’ll see a lot of different species from all continents. It’s so beautiful to see how they have every single one of them living in a space that’s conditioned as their habitat. Very well maintained. You’ll also see friendly workers trying to help you with anything you need, as you walk through the building. I recommend it to everyone!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 JC 1 month ago on Google • 134 reviews New
    A great experience as always from here. Last time I was here I was a kid, now I brought my daughter here. So much to look at with fish and sea creatures from all over the world. It looks smaller than it is, the place is huge we almost missed the whole bottom part with the whales. It’s recommended to download the map online so you don’t miss anything. Our daughter loved it, we’ll be back when she’s a bit older for sure!

  • 4/5 Ryan Jones (. 1 month ago on Google • 125 reviews New
    It's a nice aquarium! I'm not really that interested in aquariums in general (I went because it was included on the City Pass) but I still enjoyed my time here. If you like aquariums, you'll enjoy your time here!

  • 5/5 John J. 6 months ago on Google
    Your kids (and you) will love this aquarium. Beautiful location on the lake in an amazing historic building. The aquatic exhibits are fantastic and the large amphitheater has reall cool educational shows with dolphins / beluga whales etc. you can go downstairs to see into those tanks and get an underwater look at belugas and dolphins. There is a kids playground in the basement with a digital background so it looks like they are with penguins. Also a neat submarine to play in. Wild reef area is a lot of fun as well. If you are having lunch, I suggest the patio on the lake (or if you are leaving around lunch just picnic on the lawn on the lake).
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Josue S. 6 months ago on Google • 83 reviews
    Great aquarium with an amazing collection! Wasn’t too crowded. Huge space for eating — we brought our own food and saved money. Outdoor eating area has amazing view of the lake. Reef area was hard to get to due to construction—had to wait in line for elevator to get down, and the photo booth caused a bottleneck when you get out of the elevators. Otherwise, displays are amazing. The big tank has a show every hour on the half hour, so we made it to 3 different ones. Dolphin show was the favorite of course. Parking was a short walk away, though you want to get there early to find the close parking.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 C L. 4 months ago on Google
    A very small aquarium, not a lot to see. No storage like other aquarium has. Has like 4 or 5 floors but each one is very small Overall clean and neat. We walked like 1 ish 2 hours then we were done. Outside has a beautiful view and you can see the shoreline.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christina W. 1 month ago on Google • 89 reviews New
    Went Monday afternoon, and it was mildly busy. We scheduled 2 hours and wished we had allotted 3 to 4 hours for it. The best of the museum cluster in our opinion and easily could make half a day out of it. We were lucky to catch the animal spotlight show for the dolphins and highly recommend you make the attempt to see the shows. Penguins had a wonderful observation area that makes a good rest spot and the dolphin tanks have a picnic area that makes for a decent lunch area. Shark tanks are the best photo opportunity/has good lighting.

  • 5/5 Adriana A. 4 months ago on Google • 62 reviews
    This place was so pretty! The tickets are on the more expensive side but you'll probably spend half of your day here so in the end you could say it was worth it. The beluga whales were really cute and I was very excited to touch stingrays in the pool exhibit area they had. They also had an area where you could touch big fish and starfish. This aquarium is extremely family friendly and has a ton of exhibits. The gift shop is also huge and has stuff for everyone.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Northern S. 1 month ago on Google • 50 reviews New
    My favorite aquarium in what was once my favorite city. Truly a terrific place. The keepers obviously love their animals. Everything is so beautiful. They take such good care of all their living beings. It’s truly a perfect place. If I could live there I would be happy!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Megan 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing aquarium with so many species! I did not realize how huge this place was until we went. You can easily spend hours here and have fun! Definitely check this aquarium out.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yoly K. 3 years ago on Google
    My step daughter had a blast despite some of the COVID19 restrictions. Due to the pandemic most of the main attractions were temporarily down. Stingrays, jelly fish, penguins, polar bears and beluga whales and so much more!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maxd t. 6 years ago on Google
    Super friendly and great corals they sell the baby blue tangs aswell as full sized ones the sale that everyone is referring is a less then 1in baby blue tang is more the comfortable in a 30gal tank he states that u need to upgrade the tank once it does get bigger or bring in for trade in. don't base opinion on a few uneducated fish activist it's sad that one instant can hurt a store reviews this bad when I don't think people fully understood the sale...
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 michael m. 6 years ago on Google
    Best place around for salt water fish and Jeff the owner and family are great
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jennifer T. 7 years ago on Google
    Love this place. My husband and I come here often and the people that work here are very knowledgeable with any questions we have. They are so friendly and patient--especially with our energetic 4 year old boy. They arent just out to make a sale (like we have experienced at other fish stores), and have even given us recommendations on what we should and shouldn't purchase with our set up. Even when we came in right before closing, they still took time with us and didn't try to rush us out the door. Great customer service!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Chris J. 3 years ago on Google
    It's OK. Better than I expected after reading other reviews. Not spectacular. Not bad. Worth the money, but wouldn't drive hours for it. A very large variety of fish, and high-quality, informative descriptions next to each exhibit. Takes about 25 minutes to go through. Remember: Kids do NOT social distance, and there are some tight squeezes here as you walk through.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 kendra f. 3 years ago on Google
    So cute my 2 year old Absolutely loved it ! Perfect for little kids . So much to look at and touch. Will definitely go back again
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joanne B. 2 years ago on Google
    Better to come during non-winter months due to far parking. Tip for cars: know/plan where to park ahead of time so that you are not circling around especially with really congested traffic. You will waste a good half an hour of your trip. Covid Updates: although the website makes you reserve and purchase tickets online, I saw the in-person ticket booths were open as well. Their cafes are all open with limited hours. Their shows were shorter. They had traffic control setups: ropes, stanchions, visual management on the floors, etc.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Samuel S. 2 years ago on Google
    The location of Shedd Aquarium made it an exciting place to visit. There'll be so much more fun had the kids sections to play remained opened but I think it's closed due to covid. I was told few more fun stuff including for adults are closed. From business perspective the entry price should drop accordingly to reflect minimal services at the moment. Nonetheless I think given what it is, things are still explorative as one gets to enjoy great deal of corals, reptiles, fishes and other aquatic animal lives. For the few shows available like dolphins, the rooms is large as is the number of attendants making social distance possible. Mask wearing is required here. As usual, like other good businesses there's free internet. Hygiene: bathrooms at the locker area is really disgusting and should be sanitized especially the surfaces. Just basic things like that will extremely make one's visit a greater pleasure. I also think for the entry fee there should be more food services or varieties to buy from. People spend on the average 2 hours walking, and more fast food service will do great. I'll recommend anyone visiting Chicago city to plan on seeing Shedd Aquarium spectacularly by Lake Michigan. Get ready for plenty of pics below. Because Google maps allows limited pics upload I'm uploading the rest to the Shedd Aquarium maps photos, be sure to check them out if you got a moment.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ashley Rieckhoff (. 1 year ago on Google
    Lots to see and do for your whole family. Food vendors outside and snack shops and lunch rooms inside. Be prepared to walk but the 4D Shark show and the Dolphin show are great places to take a break. Make sure to bring a back pack for everything you will accumulate and if your like me pack snacks. Need more excitement? The Museum is in walking distance.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 AnaCecilia L. 8 months ago on Google
    Fantastic experience! There are lots of interactive exhibits enjoyable for any age group. They have a very large assortment of aquatic life and we were very pleased to see that their enclosures were well suited and maintained. Exploring the entire place took about 3 hours to see everything. Definitely recommend the sturgeon and stingray touch pools!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Margie W. 9 months ago on Google
    Love this Aquarium, it's so fun, there's so much to see and all the animals look pretty happy & active. We bought the city pass and made a reservation first using the City Pass app. The high light is --every hour there's a show performed 10 mins randomly by dolphins or Sea Lions or penguins or beluga (rumor has it, there's beluga performance.) We kept coming back every hour. We had a great time and spend half day exploring it. I highly recommend it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 light t. 5 months ago on Google
    Had a good experience here, loved all the different varieties of sea creatures. Some of them were very interactive as well and very unique, never seen before. Also saw the beluga whales show which was very nice. Although the shark aquarium could use more sharks we had to wait for a shark to circle back to take a look.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stephen S. 5 months ago on Google
    Such a great aquarium! The exhibits are all really well taken care of. The food is actually good too! Lived in the Midwest my whole life and it took me 38 years to finally get here. Don't be like me and visit the Shedd!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amy 5 months ago on Google • 24 reviews
    Loved this aquarium! I feel like you can't really go wrong on vacation with visiting a zoo or aquarium, and this is a really good one. I got there not long after opening so it wasn't too busy, but by the time I left it was definitely busier. So go early for sure and hit the most popular areas first. Many of the various shows and the sting ray petting area were super cool, and free with admission. I would definitely go back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Siarra W. 1 month ago on Google • 22 reviews New
    Treated my mom and I to the museum for her birthday and it was an okay experience. She enjoyed herself which was a major plus, but we were uncomfortable/second-guessing our presence due to the price of admission ($97). It’s just weird to think of an educational institution as a luxury that one experiences on a special occasion such as a birthday. I hope the aquarium will become less expensive and pivot to one admissions price for all patrons no matter the time of day.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alisha K. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved it. Dolphin and beluga whale show is awesome!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 L N. 3 years ago on Google
    Clean and well aware of social distancing. Great bathroom and safe ways to open doors without touching them. Aquarium is an amazing site to see and is 100% worth the trip. Stingray touching exhibit was open surprisingly and I got splashed by them. Overall a very fun experience for the family and I.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 A P. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a great and Interactive place for a Family, Friends, Date outing. I'm visiting from out of town and I appreciate all the necessary measures they are taking due to Covid-19. Just to make sure the aquarium experience was pleasant for guest as well the employees. The day i visited It wasn't pack at all and everyone kept to themselves and social distanced. Almost every corner had a sanitary station which i appreciate because you're gonna need it especially if you're touching the fish tank Glass. I appreciated the employees that consistently reminded the guest to keep their mask on. They weren't rude about it just informed the guests its for their own safety. One of place i enjoyed was the Caribbean and Shark exhibit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Pamela F. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful time. Just beautiful inside! Such a great visit. I highly recommend... I went with my daughters, and my grandchildren... The shark exhibit, we all went in 3 times! Just loved the beauty there. Felt safe, & highly entertained. Learned about so many species. The colors, shapes, breath taking!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Shikder Mahmud S. 3 years ago on Google
    Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, USA
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eric G. 3 years ago on Google
    Jazzing at the Shedd is a must attend event...the whole place becomes electric with music, comraderie and delicious snacks and there's food and fireworks...a great night 🌙
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Mat M. 3 years ago on Google
    What could be an amazing place is brought down by their captivity of cetaceans.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessica V. 3 years ago on Google
    Went here about 2 years ago now, but loved visiting here and can't wait to go again. I dragged my brothers with me and they ended up having a good time too. Lines were pretty long but they moved quickly and the staff was nice. A great place for kids to learn about lots of different reptiles, mammals, & sea life!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Selina L. 3 years ago on Google
    This place exceeded our expectations! We began our adventure at the amphibian and reptile exhibits; which included an albino alligator! Then we proceeded to the aquarium; there was staff everywhere to guide and provide you with educational information. The aquarium also had petting ponds where you could touch all sorts of sea life like stingrays! Once outside, we took a walk around the garden where we encountered huge animatronic dinosaurs! To end, we went into the Butterfly Bungalow where there were hundreds of free-flying exotic butterflies!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Italia H. 3 years ago on Google
    Very small place they charge too much for nothing only thing coo was Sharks and jellyfish
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brian E. 3 years ago on Google
    The Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a nice gem of a surprise - kids love it. You can get through the exhibits in one hour - shorter or longer, if you desire.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jason C. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to visit, highly recommend if you've never been it's worth the cost. The facilities, despite having distance restrictions is impressive. Millions of gallons of water being held behind glass and acrylic very awesome. Take your time going through, take it all in, many of the ecosystems in the world are being ravaged, and facilities such as Shedd are trying to keep them going through research and conservation.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sakthivel R. 3 years ago on Google
    The place is very well organized during the covid-19 times. The employees make sure the masks are put on at all times for all visitors. The restrooms are super clean and sanitized. They have hand sanitizer all over the building with a no touch foot pedal. Employees keep sanitizing the high touch points. Only one family at a time in the elevators. Go during the week days, very less crowd. We loved watching the baby, mommy dolphin and the sting ray touch. The only dissatisfaction is that the aquatic shows are cancelled. But overall had a great time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael A. 3 years ago on Google
    I GO THERE ALL THE TIME AND THE FISH, TURTLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND IT IS SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO LEGIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 A M. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent Aquarium, everything you would hope for animal-wise with a healthy looking penguin habitat, some baby belugas, a stingray touch tank and incredible attention to detail put into the lighting and fixtures. I had a great time with my mom and my girlfriend, we only spent about 3.5 hours there but when the shows are running I'm sure we could have spent the whole day!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Karen S. 5 years ago on Google
    Store looked "clean" and staff helpful but when I seen how they took care of their bettas made me decide I would not but anything alive there.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jose Louie R. 5 years ago on Google
    I love it............
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 AJJ 5. 6 years ago on Google
    Putting a blue tang in a 30 gallon and a clownfish in a 6 gallon is downright absurd. You should be ashamed for your terrible business practices.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 A day in life with P. 3 years ago on Google
    So much to look at. So much to see. So many different kinds of sea/ocean animals to learn about and observe. The 4D theatre was so cute. Staff was friendly and helpful! Loved it! Can’t wait to come back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James M. 3 years ago on Google
    Lots of options, big, great service, excellent staff, good price
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Tabitha B. 3 years ago on Google
    Over priced, over rated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jenna F. 3 years ago on Google
    Our experience was slightly disappointing. We originally went here for the dolphin tour which we found out after we arrived that all tours were canceled. We did get a refund but was so disappointed. We ended up just enjoying the aquarium which is a beautiful aquarium. Their tanks are amazing! Took my 9&6 year old and we loved it. Tons of different fish to look at love the tunnel. I was very impressed by the size of tanks. Overall was a good experience
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 kristin c. 3 years ago on Google
    Numerous exhibits are unavailable due to covid restrictions. Visited with my assigned time slot, and there were still a lot of people and crowding. The team members working on the floor were less than enthusiastic about talking about the sea life in their area (with the exception of the lady working with the sting rays - she was knowledgeable and genuinely seemed interested to be there). The aquarium itself is not very large, and we were in and out to the gift shop in 30 minutes. The exhibits were clean and the fish, reptiles, and amphibians generally looked healthy. Overall, it was an okay experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dr. K. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice aquarium with different types of spices. Great place to visit with family. Kids would love it.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Brad M. 3 years ago on Google
    I am not sure how people leave low ratings. This isn't meant to be Ripley's Aquarium. If you stop and look at the exhibits it will take over an hour. If you stop and pet the stingrays or mingle with the Koi fish you could spend hours there. We like it a lot. This is my second time here. The first time the space was new. After a couple years being open and used it needs some upkeep and attention to detail. Back again and it's going downhill. Lights burned out, paint chipping, gross spots in tanks. The bathroom smelled like an outhouse at a whisky/chinese food festival. To bad. This place could be great.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 MICHAEL A. 3 years ago on Google
    Very surprised and very good. lots of hands on
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessica M. 3 years ago on Google
    I love going to the aquarium.I may be 24 but I always feel like a giddy child when I visit. It's just good fun
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James C. 3 years ago on Google
    I really like petting the rays.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rebecca M. 3 years ago on Google
    A fun place to visit my kids had a great time too. So much to see.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nicole C. 2 years ago on Google
    It was a wonderful experience where I got to see many different types of wildlife. Very clean, and employees were on top of individuals that weren't masked properly. I would love to go back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lillianna H. 2 years ago on Google
    I absolutely loved it at this aquarium! It has multiple floors of things to do. Seeing the penguins, the dolphins, and touching the sting rays and the sturgeon was some of the best parts. We also really liked the 4D shark movie. It just adds to having a great experience. The gift shop on the first floor also has things at various price ranges to be able to get something cute to take home.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin H. 2 years ago on Google
    Such a great aquarium. Such a grand entrance and well laid out sections. I kinda liked having each section circling the carousel. It seemed to make things easily accessible and make it so it didn't feel so crowded. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Cafeteria area had a great selection with outdoor seating and cool views. The dolphins and beluga whales were definitely the hit for everyone. Will definitely make time to visit next time we're in Chicago!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael B. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent aquarium! The atmosphere is very family friendly. When we went it was 90% strollers and small children which was great for us. The building is very large with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The air was nice and cool which made a huge difference in the over 80 degree day. Staff was very friendly and pleasant to us - very willing to answer questions and direct us to what we were looking for. Lots of educational opportunities present here.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda F. 2 years ago on Google
    So much to see! Love how they have everything broken out and the different levels. Both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Large fish, small fish, reefs and everything in between. Tons of interactive things for the kids. You get to see the animals up close. Everything seems well maintained. Definitely a must stop.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amith R. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this place! It sits aside one of the best views of the skyline alongside the lake. The giant aquarium is awesome to behold upon entering the aquarium. My other favorite features are the beluga whale tank, penguin enclosure and sting ray area. Really an excellent aquarium..highly recommend!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Grey K. 2 years ago on Google
    Credit where credit is due: all the animals here seem happy and very well looked after. The tanks are HUGE (the main show tank is over 3 MILLION gallons), well maintained and gorgeous. The larger animals, like the belugas, had plenty of room to swim around and play with toys for enrichment. The animals used for the shows genuinely seem like they're interested in performing and aren't being exploited, unlike some other companies. The seal we saw was a rescue, which is amazing! It seems like most, if not all, items in the gift shop are eco friendly in some way as well. They don't sell plastic bags, clothing are made from recycled materials, etc. Very cool seeing fish from the Great Lakes and what's local to us! There was a wide variety of fish, from the little guys like seahorses to your big boys, like sharks and dolphins. A handful of interactive tanks too. The sting ray touch was way bigger than I was expecting. Whole location is pretty as well, being right on the water. Very easy to get to the museum via bus or walking. Surprisingly good food at the cafeteria too that's reasonably priced for what you get. Loved every second here, but it didn't feel like it was worth the $80 for admission. A big, fun aquarium that everyone in your party will enjoy, but definitely feels like it's priced that way because they know they attract a lot of tourists, and they'll pay whatever price they put.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bahadir E. 2 years ago on Google
    Impressive aquarium. Parking is a challenge. Plenty of exhibits that include lifeforms from different areas and ecosystems. Beyond sea life, they have amphibians, tarantulas, and a few other reptiles. The bird eating Goliath tarantula was a pleasant surprise to see. In terms of interactive areas, there is a sturgeon (sp?) And star fish petting area. The sting ray petting area is seasonal from may to October. They have multiple showings for dolphins during the day which is great for the kids, however I was a bit concerned at the limited space the beluga whales have. I'm sure their tank has been reviewed by some regulatory body but it still seemed like a very tight enclosure. Plenty of bathrooms and sitting areas that were all clean and a nice view of lake Michigan (especially on windy days when the waves are crashing onto the rocks next to the aquarium). Try to go during the weekdays, much smaller crowds especially near the penguin exhibit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ahmed S. 2 years ago on Google
    The Aquarium was fun. Not perfect as I heard about it. Was too Busy when I went last Friday. You might get lost if you don’t have a map. Bigger than i expected for sure. They have a lot if kind of fish which I don’t have a clue about it. My second favorite part was the dolphin show. Was really worth the money. However my favorite part was the view outside by the caffe store. Its pretty nice. Its actually my favorite spot in Chicago. I would love to pay the tickets again just to have this view.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Heidy De la C. 2 years ago on Google
    it is a very entertaining place for children. on cold and rainy days it is an excellent place to spend several hours.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dusty S. 2 years ago on Google
    Aquarium was easy to access. Prices weren't over the top to get in. Display areas were laid out great with some amazing tanks. The only down side to this experience was trying to find an efficient way to navigate through it. We had a map and relied on it so we didn't waste time going back and forth through the same areas.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessica F. 2 years ago on Google
    Came on a field trip with my son's class since the last time I came with the family. They had a lot of interesting animals. There were a lot of sharks of different kind in the Wild reef if I'm not mistaken. An octopus, penguins and so much more. They also had a dolphin show which was short but great. Definitely worth to come with the family or even alone if wanted. They do have staff around that gladly reply to any question you may have.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Becky L. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved the Beluga Whales. The penguin show was cute. The dolphins were playful. The exhibits were clean and beautiful. Everyone was required to show their vaccination cards, schedule an appointment time and wear masks appropriately. Great place to visit
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Claudia Isela P. 1 year ago on Google
    Considering we visited on a free day, it was not as crowded as I expected and the wait in line was not so bad either. Prices, well high as expected. We were able to touch star fish and some other fish (😅) the was a great experience for the kids and adults -especially if you never have done something like that! The view we had our lunch at was just beautiful.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa H. 8 months ago on Google
    One of the best aquariums I've visited. The layout is easy to navigate and there are so many beautiful exhibits. The staff was friendly and helpful. If you use a city pass you save a little money. Definitely a must see.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Trent 8 months ago on Google
    This was the first time in decades that I had returned to the aquarium and the first time that I had taken my young son. I have no idea what caused me to wait so long to return to see the animals. By taking my son I was able to see everything with new eyes and the staff was very friendly and helpful with his army of questions. There were various “touch” exhibits that kept his attention and everything was at his eye level which helped save me from constant lifting. There were several food options both in and around the aquarium and if you bring in a refillable bottle you will have plenty to drink.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Michael B. 2 years ago on Google
    Came here as part of our city pass during a trip to Chicago in October 2021. This is an excellent aquarium, nicely laid out, a lot to see, good for all ages. The dolphin show is great too, don't miss it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda C. 7 months ago on Google
    This place is huge! Next time we visit, we will come by on a weekday because it was packed. We really enjoyed the exhibits and shows. The restaurant areas were nice as well. We were able to take our strollers on the elevator to the multiple levels. Parking is $35 so if you can take the train.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yurii D. 7 months ago on Google
    were in the aquarium today. really liked it. staff is friendly, restroom are clean. there is something to see. I recommend to visit. if you get snap Illinois benefits, you get into the aquarium on a discount system, and the kids are free.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lauren H. 8 months ago on Google
    Great place to go when you’re in the city! There were so many different exhibits to see like fresh water fish from the Americas to deep sea creatures like turtles. The gift shop was a large one with many options and the cafeteria had so many options. I got a chicken sandwich and it was very good. Great in a group or on your own!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Megan T. 8 months ago on Google
    We arrived just prior to opening on a Monday morning and were the first in line. The employees came out and scanned our tickets about 5 minutes before opening which was promptly at 9. All the employees we encountered were friendly and willing to help. The aquarium itself is huge with plenty to see and do! There are several hands on exhibits where you can touch stingrays, starfish and sturgeon (fish)! They also have a dolphin tank with shows, and a theatre for various movies. The gift shop was huge! Everything was clean and well taken care of. We parked down the road at the big lot near the planetarium for $12. Overall a great experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Megan S. 6 months ago on Google
    Let's hit some key points here. First of all we have never been here before so we had zero expectations. 1 first stop upon getting in the gate is the stingray encounter. It would make WAY more sense to have the food tickets available out at the exhibit instead of having to go inside then back out. The exhibit feeding was worth the $5. It's intimidating and not for everyone but was fun. 2. There are maps available online and through the app. They don't make sense in real life being there or maybe there was signage missing that I didn't notice to help with the flow. 3 maybe once all exhibits are open the flow makes more sense but today it seemed really crazy. It's pretty much a free for all when you enter. Pros! There are employees everywhere! They are all so kind and helpful. It was a bit expensive to get in so we just upgraded to a membership. I'm thrilled we did as we will be back to see the exhibits we didn't get to. It was a bit of a maze so we didn't get to see everything like we had intended. We snagged some 9am tickets and I'm glad we did as we were out by noon having almost seen everything. It was SO packed when we left I can't imagine much more people fitting in there
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Cassie H. 3 months ago on Google New
    Even though there is construction going on it didn't interfere with our visit. Nice, big aquarium. Loved the cafe area & how much is recycled. Disappointed that the water was so cloudy in the underwater viewing area. Took less than 2 hours for the 3 of us. Quite pricey.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kikumi P. 4 months ago on Google
    You need to buy tickets in advance & I will echo that it’s $$$ for how small it is. The Caribbean section is closed too which I think would have really pretty. I was on a time crunch and chose Shedd over Field and Field would have been cheaper and more to see. All of that being said, I hadn’t been here since o was a kid and it’s a beautifully done Aquarium. The building itself is really old and there is some really beautiful details in the architecture if you stop and pay attention.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 CAT 1 month ago on Google • 39 reviews New
    I could sit and watch those gorgeous Beluga whales for hours. They're one of my favorite animals.. I know it's allowed, but I kind of hated watching people disturb the sea stars and the other fish that people are allowed to "touch". I love this place though, many more beautiful creatures to see.

  • 5/5 Hannah & Don M. 1 month ago on Google • 21 reviews New
    Went for an event in the summer and it doesn’t get much better than this! The exhibits are fantastic and truly incredible. The event was wonderfully done and the food and drinks provided were great! The views are like none other. It doesn’t hurt when the weather is that nice in Chicago!

  • 4/5 paula m. 3 years ago on Google
    The fish were nice...jk. The staff also. I just had a hard time with the fish smell.

  • 5/5 Gabriela L. 3 years ago on Google
    In my opinion, this is the best place to take the kiddos out on a little family field trip! The kids LOVE the aquarium and it’s so easy to navigate through. The shows they have are amazing as well! It’s also a really nice place to go to for a small date! Both children and adults enjoy the Shedd.

  • 5/5 Kyle J. 3 years ago on Google
    This place is fantastic. We became members after attending for the first time. The staff are great and it is obvious they really enjoy what they do and the enthusiasm is contagious. My son loves everything in the ocean life so I am happy to have such a great place near by. I highly recommend taking your family soon.

  • 5/5 Heidi S. 3 years ago on Google
    I went here pre covid and it was really fun. Even if you don't actually go in it, the path by the lake is amazing. Inside it is well structured and the maps are really clear so you won't get lost. I would recommend this place.

  • 5/5 David P. 3 years ago on Google
    Great trip to Shedd. They did a great job with social distancing, and they fish were very well displayed. Was very impressed with the facility and people there. Due to COVID is was pretty deserted, so I guess it might not have been as much fun if there were thousands of people packed in.

  • 5/5 Kelli B. 3 years ago on Google
    A great way to spend the day. The aquariums are breathtaking. The otters were super playful the day I went, too. A captivating experience.

  • 5/5 Pranit G. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing experience watching all the aqua life here. Very well maintained. You can get student discount with a valid student ID. Please give yourself a room of 3 hours at least to explore the whole aquarium as it is huge.

  • 5/5 Hunter 3 years ago on Google
    Good fun for the whole family. I fed my 3yr old to the sharks when the attendants back was turned. 10/10 would feed again

  • 5/5 Larry G. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this place!!

  • 5/5 Robin I. 3 years ago on Google
    It was also pretty cool.

  • 4/5 Herbert P. 3 years ago on Google
    Rain forest is amazing , is really awesome.shows you what is like to be in rain forest. awesome place to be with family , i recommend it to everyone, you won't be disappointed!!!

  • 4/5 Sophia L. 3 years ago on Google
    I will start with the bad, it's really over priced. The tickets are like $35 which is like going to Knott's berry farm and the cafe is priced like a theme park too. Now the good... Everything else. It's extremely high tech, clean, well taken care of and modern. There is an extremely well rounded variety of exhibits. Rain forest, aquarium, natural history area, earthquakes exhibit, living roof.... Very very cool place!

  • 5/5 Da-Wang W. 3 years ago on Google
    Initially, we thought Shedd Aquarium is for kids, but it turned out that we also enjoyed it a lot! It’s a large aquarium with multiple parts and several shows going on every day. Would recommend to check the show time first, so it’s easier to plan your visit and get seats in time. We spend slightly more than a half day here.

  • 4/5 Chris B. 3 years ago on Google
    This aquarium is a solid Chicago attraction to visit. At full price, I hesitate to call it a must see. In many locations it would be an incredible central attraction, however as a neighbor to the Field Museum, it stands as the second best Chicago Museum on the campus.

  • 5/5 Cameron D. 3 years ago on Google
    Great experience altogether for all ages

  • 3/5 Madeline W. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful exhibits and great employees

  • 5/5 Carolyne P. 3 years ago on Google
    Such a fun and beautiful tour to take. Interesting species, building, on a very beautiful waterfront land. Prices are good, you can also prepay your admission to save some time. Very friendly and knowledge staff. Lots of incredible breath taking moments.

  • 5/5 Chica Dulce, t. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing place, my pictures says it all.

  • 5/5 GRACE S. 3 years ago on Google
    🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • 4/5 Carlos Eduardo Coan J. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Very interesting tour, especially in the freshwater area, with the possibility of viewing fish from the Amazon. #I recommend (Original) Passeio muito interessante, principalmente na área de água doce, com a possibilidade de visualizar os peixes da Amazônia. #recomendo

  • 5/5 Martha S. 3 years ago on Google
    During the dog days of summer I love coming here.

  • 5/5 Aly S. 3 years ago on Google
    Incredible!

  • 5/5 M K. 3 years ago on Google
    Good time for whole family.

  • 5/5 Maruca L. 3 years ago on Google
    You can not leave Chicago without make a stop at the Aquarium, mostly if you are traveling with children. It's mandatory

  • 5/5 Guangzhi 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Aquatic animals and plants gather. (Original) 水生动植物物齐聚。

  • 1/5 Becky K. 3 years ago on Google
    Hi! Please consider not going to the Shedd Aquarium if you were planning a visit. The Shedd Aquarium has a documented pattern of poor animal care, especially with its beluga whales. The Shedd breeds their belugas irresponsibly and separates mothers and calves unnecessarily. Additionally, the Shedd offers pay-to-interact programs with their belugas, which are unsafe and unnecessary to the whale's care and quality of life. Please feel free to reply with any questions or concerns. Go to learnaboutwhales.com to learn more about ending contemporary cetacean captivity.

  • 5/5 j06169 3 years ago on Google
    Love it. When i came to Chicago for the Taeyang Concert at Aragon Ballroom in 2017. I came here and it was so awesome. It was one of the best experience i got while i was in Chicago

  • 5/5 Raul A. 3 years ago on Google
    You must go if you travel to Chicago

  • 4/5 Vazia S. 3 years ago on Google
    A lot of fun stuff is closed during covid...but had fun here...they have a huge collection of rare fishes...

  • 5/5 Taner I. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) The John G. Shedd Aquarium is a Public Indoor Aquarium Located in Chicago, USA. Opened on May 30, 1930, the 5 Million American Welsh (19,000,000 I, 4,200,000 Imp Gal) Aquarium was the World's Largest Indoor Facility for a while. Today it shelters approximately 32.000 animals. Shedd Aquarium Was The First Aquarium To Have A Permanent Saltwater Fish Collection. This Is Located On Lake Michigan, At The Adler Planetarium And The Natural History Museum With The Museum Campus Chicago In 2015 The Aquarium Had 2.02 Million Visitors. It was the Most Visited Aquarium in the USA in 2005, and in 2007 it surpassed the Field Museum as the Most Popular Cultural Attraction in Chicago. There are 1500 species in the aquarium including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians and insects. The Aquarium Received "Best Exhibition" Awards from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for Seahorse Sypmhony (AZA) in 1999, Amazon Rising in 2001 and Wild Reef in 2004. In 1987, it was Chosen as a National Historic Landmark. (Original) John G. Shedd Akvaryumu Amerika Birleşik Devletleri, Chicago Illınois’de Bulunan Halka Açık Bir Kapalı Akvaryumdur. 30 Mayıs 1930’da Açılan 5 Milyon Amerikan Gal (19.000.000 I, 4.200.000 İmp Gal) Akvaryum Bir Süredir Dünyanın En Büyük Kapalı Tesisiydi. Bugün Yaklaşık 32.000 Hayvanı Barındırmaktadır. Shedd Aquarium, Kalıcı Bir Tuzlu Su Balıkları Koleksiyonuna Sahip İlk Akvaryumdu. Bu Yer Almaktadır Michigan Gölü Üzerinde, Müze Kampüsü Chicago İle Birlikte Adler Planetarium Ve Tabiat Tarihi Müzesi’nde 2015 Yılında Akvaryumun 2.02 Milyon Ziyaretçisi Vardı. 2005’te ABD’de En Çok Ziyaret Edilen Akvaryumudu Ve 2007’de Chicago’daki En Popüler Kültürel Cazibe Olarak Field Museum’u Geride Bıraktı. Akvaryumda Balıklar, Deniz Memelileri, Kuşlar, Yılanlar, Amfibiler Ve Böcekler Dahil Olmak Üzere 1500 Tür Bulunur. Akvaryum, 1999’da Seahorse Sypmhony İçin Hayvanat Bahçeleri Ve Akvaryumlar Birliği’nin (AZA), 2001’de Amazon Rising’den Ve 2004’te Wild Reef’ten “En İyi Sergi” Ödüllerini Aldı. 1987’de Ulusal Tarihi Dönüm Noktası Seçildi.

  • 5/5 Alexis A. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved it. Kids had a ball

  • 5/5 Allison K. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this place so much. Miss going all the time and I can't wait go back.

  • 5/5 1sexy 4. 3 years ago on Google
    So much to see!! Employees are friendly

  • 5/5 Sharon L. 3 years ago on Google
    Where nemo 😎

  • 5/5 pyszne 3 years ago on Google
    I LOVE SEA AMINALS!! The penguins were soo cute!!

  • 5/5 DEO A. 3 years ago on Google
    Great view ,nice sea life and daily dolphin shows. Currently closed due to COVID😢

  • 5/5 Madeline W. 3 years ago on Google
    hopefully they will be open soon.

  • 5/5 Alpheus J. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved this place ever since I was little.

  • 5/5 Holly Brumm F. 3 years ago on Google
    What a beautiful facility! Took pictures outside with the amazing Chicago background!

  • 5/5 Angie 3 years ago on Google
    Thanks to visiting during an off-peak season and a pandemic, we went and had a very relaxing quiet visit. The staff was so informative and helpful. It's a small aquarium but still an enjoyable experience!

  • 4/5 Tristen F. 3 years ago on Google
    Really cool place! Love the sea turtle rehab area. People here definitely care for the animals! Overall a nice and clean establishment!

  • 5/5 David H. 3 years ago on Google
    Great experience with grandkids. Really felt comfortable with the covid precautions.

  • 5/5 christopher b. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice little aquarium. Only complaint would be kinda expensive for maybe an hours worth of exhibits. Kids did have fun so it was worth it.

  • 5/5 Kelly R. 3 years ago on Google
    Really beautiful location. Informative signs and nice exhibits. The staff and volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. It is very organized and set up well for social distancing. Make sure you order tickets online ahead of time!

  • 4/5 Glenda P. 3 years ago on Google
    Because of covid19 you have to buy tickets online and make an appointment to get in. Staff was courteous and helpful. The aquarium is pleasant and calming.

  • 5/5 Heather B. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a smaller aquarium but the exhibits are nice. We went during covid19 so there wasn't quite as much to do inside and it felt like there was some effort to promote social distancing. I appreciated the work they're doing with the sea turtles!

  • 5/5 Nihar T. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome specimens and worth the trip for kids and Adults!

  • 5/5 Lauren M. 3 years ago on Google
    Not a huge aquarium, but has a great selection of exhibits that are thoughtful and beautifully set up. Everyone loves the sea horses and jelly fish room! Well worth the price of admission!

  • 5/5 Elizabeth L. 3 years ago on Google
    A great little aquarium that I'm sure would have been so much better if some of the stuff was closed for covid

  • 3/5 Denny K. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice aquarium, well kept & clean, maybe all the exhibits weren't open because of Covid-19?

  • 5/5 Aaron J. 3 years ago on Google
    I love aquariums. This is great place to visit.

  • 4/5 Bobby P. 3 years ago on Google
    Always enjoy visiting this aquarium whenever we are in the area!!!

  • 2/5 Tabatha N. 3 years ago on Google
    Expensive for such a small aquarium. I was fairly disappointed. The fact that the kids got to touch rays placate them. However they had the touch area roped half way off so all the people were crowded in one spot. The corralled all the customers into small areas.

  • 5/5 Bodescu G. 3 years ago on Google
    Friendly staff and awesome place! Totally recommend it! Buying tickets was easy. The place was clean and well organized. Not a huge Aquarium, but definitely worth seeing.

  • 5/5 Nathan B. 3 years ago on Google
    Worth a visit. Take your time. Great option uf weather us bad.

  • 1/5 joseph B. 3 years ago on Google
    Do not go right now. They have someone watching you and getting in your face to make sure you have your mask on. After my son inches his nose they said they saw him in cameras when he pulled it down for one min. And a guy got in our face and was mean to my son

  • 4/5 Maria M. 3 years ago on Google
    We enjoyed our visit to the Aquarium, specially my granddaughters.

  • 5/5 Ellen P. 3 years ago on Google
    We had fun although you need to wear a mask even outside. Some things were closed due to Coronavirus.

  • 4/5 James M. 3 years ago on Google
    An excellent aquarium at a fair price.

  • 5/5 Ray W. 3 years ago on Google
    The family loves this place. It's always clean and the staff is friendly and informative. Even with Covid restrictions it was a great time.

  • 5/5 Kenny M. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice place

  • 5/5 Mark O. 3 years ago on Google
    It was a good little adventure. It was surprisingly much better than I expected when considering the tickets are only 12 dollars. The petting tanks are open too!

  • 5/5 lulu w. 3 years ago on Google
    Our trip to this aquarium was amazing! While it was not a huge facility, there are plenty of things to see. I really loved the jelly fish room, and there is a care facility for sea turtles where they explain how they help the turtles recover and then release them. I was amazed at how clean the employees kept the facility and how kind they all were! The tickets are also very inexpensive making the trip affordable. I highly recommend visiting if you travel to obx!

  • 5/5 Matthew S. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent rainy day activity..or if you need a break from the sun. Way cool fish and creatures.

  • 4/5 John W. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful locale, fascinating fish. And you can let stingrays.

  • 5/5 Clover C. 3 years ago on Google
    Got to pet the stingrays. Best moment of my life. Loved those little guys, have a good day.

  • 5/5 Toni P. 3 years ago on Google
    I love this place

  • 4/5 Kassie W. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice place. Bigger than expected.

  • 5/5 Dump T. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice little aquarium

  • 4/5 ben y. 3 years ago on Google
    Decent

  • 5/5 ronny S. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome!

  • 5/5 David D. 3 years ago on Google
    Perfect size for 5-10 year old crowd. Keeps their attention with some great exhibits and the outside nature trial is fun as well.

  • 5/5 carl p. 3 years ago on Google
    Always a great experience

  • 5/5 Danielle M. 3 years ago on Google
    Not crowded, very nice staff they informed us about their ocean and fresh water creatures in the touch tanks. My kids had a great time. Aquarium is small but overall a great family outing spot.

  • 5/5 tammy a. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome seeing the turtle hospital.

  • 5/5 Tommy G. 3 years ago on Google
    Visited during Covid, still learned a lot. Also, the otters were fun. And, there's an Albino alligator. Come on!!!

  • 5/5 Muriel K. 3 years ago on Google
    Love the baby alligators

  • 5/5 Jessica M. 3 years ago on Google
    It was very educational

  • 5/5 Jeff M. 3 years ago on Google
    Very enjoyable, and adherence to virus protocols.

  • 5/5 Willy and Dad's Strange T. 3 years ago on Google
    Very friendly. One way aisles and low customer count.

  • 5/5 Teresa C. 3 years ago on Google
    Absolutely wonderful! The first aquarium I have been. Had there been a place to sit in the jellyfish area, I would still be there.

  • 5/5 W D. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful! Well kept, great variety, and beautiful grounds!

  • 5/5 Lesley J. 3 years ago on Google
    Buy tickets in advance, it made all the difference!!

  • 5/5 Marco C. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Not to be missed. Highly recommended (Original) Da non perdere. Consigliatissimo

  • 5/5 elliot v. 3 years ago on Google
    One of the best places in Chicago. Super cool stuff. I suggest paying the extra money to see all the exhibits you will not be disappointed.

  • 3/5 Mak C. 3 years ago on Google
    It was an ordinary aquarium, but I enjoyed it. The crisps under the long hot dog I ate at lunch was so delicious!

  • 5/5 Mohit K. 3 years ago on Google
    we were hesitant with the obvious coronavirus issues, but they were responsible and present as far as staff! There was staff ready to clean high touch surfaces after a family (almost unnoticed but much appreciated!) reserving times for your family to enter was realistic. when you enter due to the restricted visitors and lack of packing the shedd, you realistically spend about 1.5 hrs max there. so the overlap is very minimal for the next entry. worth the visit. they have a ton of information online and on their app about filtration and sanitation. food is closed so plan a little snack and eat at tables by otters or dolphins and move on for the next family! they've done a lot of work and it shows! thanks shedd!!

  • 3/5 Christy L K. 3 years ago on Google
    It’s so beautiful to see how they have every single one of them living in a space that’s conditioned as their habitat. Very well maintained. You’ll also see friendly workers trying to help you with anything you need, as you walk through the building. I recommend it to everyone!

  • 5/5 Jason M H. 3 years ago on Google
    Fun place to see when visiting Chicago

  • 5/5 Marisol G. 3 years ago on Google
    Was great!!

  • 2/5 Molly K. 3 years ago on Google
    I love Shedd! However their mobile site does not make it clear the difference between Illinois resident pricing and general public. I paid double and I live in Chicago. When I tried to address this they did nothing. Normally I would not complain but $80 is a lot of money! They also sold new two tickets and then only had a time slot for one person. They corrected that so my family & I can go together but I’m still not impressed I’m paying double and I’m a Chicago resident & they said “welp sorry.”

  • 4/5 David De La C. 3 years ago on Google
    Kinda over priced for the experience..it was more like a $25 value..

  • 5/5 hazel p. 3 years ago on Google
    It is a very fun and interesting place to go if you love fish. I went and I was really little and I can’t wait to go back. We have a lot of memories from shed aquarium and I really really want to go back. It is kind of expensive have a large family but if you only have three people in your family then you are good to go. It is located in Chicago which has a lot of other things to do. It is a huge aquarium compared to other programs. Not too far away is the science Museum, and the history Museum. They have a lot of things to look at actual aquarium I really do suggest that you go there I had a lot of fun when I went. They have a Lotta fish for children and adults to look at.

  • 5/5 Rob F. 3 years ago on Google
    Right now is the time to go if you can! We went on a weekday afternoon, and I never imagined I'd see the place so empty.

  • 5/5 Raj S. 3 years ago on Google
    One of the best aquariums with variety of sea species. My 3 year old loved it too 😊.

  • 3/5 Gennaro S. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice but pricey, I've been in Aquarium much better organized for half of the price.

  • 4/5 Kat w. 3 years ago on Google
    Very easy to understand social distancing signs. Very friendly staff everywhere to help you out. Didnt get to see the beluga whales as they were going between tanks so that was a little disappointing since we paid to see them 😕 but still had fun.

  • 5/5 Rebecca S. 3 years ago on Google
    Great! Really cold outside, but beautiful inside. No place to eat inside though...all the eateries were closed...

  • 2/5 Sonja 3 years ago on Google
    Lame, only 4 animal exhibits, enclosures too small, and did not follow CDC recommendations for social distancing and had tables with people eating everywhere. Not worth $40

  • 5/5 Sarah R. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved the visit!

  • 5/5 Elaine 3 years ago on Google
    It's so beautiful and it was my first time visiting that place because I was out of town with my family after Christmas.

  • 4/5 Barry S. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a fun experience when I visited this aquarium. It’s so beautiful

  • 4/5 Eric C. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic aquarium in an absolutely gorgeous property. The staff were friendly and super helpful. A map would have been helpful as I found it a little awkward to navigate and make sure we didn’t miss anything. Perhaps they provide them and we missed it. Also, it’s not cheap and there’s a lot of people, which makes it impossible to spend meaningful time at any exhibit. Regardless, it was a lot of fun.

  • 5/5 Clint L. 3 years ago on Google
    Staff was great. Exhibits were nice. People were trash. A little too pricey. Make sure to find your way to the dolphins and otters.

  • 5/5 Kirby 3 years ago on Google
    Very enjoyable experience, despite COVID. Very clean, beautiful animals, great gift shops. Always a treat! :)

  • 5/5 Alex A. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a great time at the Shedd Aquarium! A reservation with a specific time is required to limit capacity with covid. Once inside it was busy but not overly crowded. The dolphin shows aren't running on a schedule to limit crowds with covid but we were still able to see the dolphins working with the trainers. There is so many different fish tanks and types of fish that you can easily spend over 2 hours here!

  • 5/5 Julie C. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this place, we have a membership and when we came it was so quiet.

  • 5/5 Eric E. 3 years ago on Google
    I loved this place! Definitely recommend this place especially if you have the whole family. Great layout and awesome exhibits!

  • 5/5 Prashanth G. 3 years ago on Google
    We go here few times a year as my 2 year old likes to watch Dolphins and Penguins. We make use of ‘Museums on us’ by Bank of America couple times a year.

  • 5/5 Palestina J. 3 years ago on Google
    I went there with my family while we were on a four day trip in Chicago this month and the kids loved the place a lot! I even had lots of fun and we all learned lots of new things about ocean creatures! The wild reef/sharks is such a beautiful area where all you wanna do is to sit down and watch the beauty of underwater! I went there three years ago and there were more hands on activities like dolphins dance and stingray touching but probably due to the pandemic such activities are temporarily suspended! Will absolutely visit each time I go to Chicago!

  • 5/5 miguel r. 4 years ago on Google
    One of my fave lfs, great selection of fresh water fish, saltys and dog stuff.

  • 4/5 Stacy R. 5 years ago on Google
    Got a nice aquarium plant and they allowed my friendly leashed dog inside the store.

  • 4/5 Lee B. 4 years ago on Google
    Very helpful and knowledgeable, and a decent selection of Fish Fresh and saltwater

  • 5/5 Syed N. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice staff.

  • 4/5 shanu k. 5 years ago on Google
    Has variety of fish collection, also dog and cat food

  • 4/5 Teresa P. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice place

  • 5/5 Kaley F. 3 years ago on Google
    This is easily the best place in the area for your saltwater tank needs. The staff are so knowledgeable, honest, and friendly. We always look forward to our trips to this fish store to check out their wide variety of fish, corals and of course for the great company :)

  • 5/5 Lore D. 6 years ago on Google
    I am not sure why they have any poor reviews. I am assuming it is because of the lack of knowledge of the hobby. I have never received such amazing customer service and knowledge from any other establishment like I have with Exotic. I have been in the hobby for the last few years. I am the type of person who will NOT shop at an establishment if A. They do not have any knowledge on their product B. They do have have the customer satisfaction I am seeking and C. Truly love what they do! I have found A,B and C all at Exotic Aquatics. All my Coral, Invertebrates and fish are all hand selected by me with SOOO much help from each of the staff. I have learned SO much and truly LOVE LOVE LOVE the hobby and the establishment. THANK YOU SO MUCH Exotic Aquatics! If it wasn't for your love for the hobby, I wouldn't have such beautiful live art in my home.

  • 5/5 Maddie H. 3 years ago on Google
    Extremely friendly and helpful staff, one of the only places ive found that sells not only salt, but reef and fresh water as well. Fish look super healthy and well taken care of as well!

  • 5/5 Christopher B. 4 years ago on Google
    Love this place! I've been doing business with Jeff and his family for 15 years. Pricing is very very fair and if there's a problem with anything Jeff will stand behind his stuff. They also have a great reward program

  • 5/5 Dan P. 4 years ago on Google
    Great owners, very knowledge and the best livestock out of all the saltwater aquarium stores around. Definitely recommend.

  • 5/5 Casey B. 3 years ago on Google
    Love the owners great place

  • 5/5 Sue G. 5 years ago on Google
    Love my tank but hate the maintenance. Had James from Exotic Aquatics out to my house and will now be having them come monthly. I LOVE my tank again! These guys are magical and I wish I would have found them sooner.

  • 5/5 Lisa M. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice store with knowledgeable staff.

  • 5/5 Tanner I. 4 years ago on Google
    Very helpful staff and very nice modern and clean store with lots of great coral and fish definitely my go to saltwater store

  • 5/5 noel g. 6 years ago on Google
    This place is the best. Great family owned shop, everyone is super friendly and most importanty knowledgeable about the hobby. They answered all my questions and helped me find the right corals to best fit my system. Everything I purchased was healthy and opened up in my tank. They really make you feel like a guest in their home. Will definitely revisit.

  • 5/5 Dave B. 4 years ago on Google
    Mmmmm Good

  • 5/5 Dewey G. 4 years ago on Google
    Verry friendly staff and clean store. Check their FB and web site for on sales products. Also give them a call to confirm what product are on sale and if they stock what you are looking for.

  • 5/5 Brigida S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great price, healthy fish, friendly and knowledgeable staff

  • 5/5 Amy C. 4 years ago on Google
    My son loves the fish here. He enjoys looking at all the colorful fish.

  • 5/5 Humberto G. 4 years ago on Google
    Good place to get your salt water fish and accessories

  • 5/5 Dan M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place and knowledgeable

  • 5/5 Connor M. 5 years ago on Google
    Awesome store with lots of coral, if you have a saltwater tank do yourself a favor and check this place out!

  • 4/5 Maryann U. 5 years ago on Google
    They had a GREAT christmas sale

  • 5/5 JR I. 5 years ago on Google
    Stopped in today from out of town just to have a look. I wish this place was near me. Great selection and outstanding prices compared to what's near me. Owner was very friendly too.

  • 4/5 Agustin M. 5 years ago on Google
    Great aquarium great variety

  • 5/5 KevDan 5 years ago on Google
    Great customer service and amazing selection of corals!

  • 5/5 Jason R. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice people clean store!

  • 4/5 Rachel B. 5 years ago on Google
    Great place!

  • 5/5 Matt C. 5 years ago on Google
    Great staff and high quality fish. Love this family owned LFS. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped in just to hang out

  • 5/5 Thomas W. 5 years ago on Google
    Found everything I needed for my saltwater tank.

  • 5/5 Paul B. 5 years ago on Google
    Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Best looking selection of coral in the area.

  • 5/5 Terra B. 5 years ago on Google
    Very knowledgeable

  • 5/5 Dubsy D. 6 years ago on Google
    Clean and nicely laid out systems with easy to read prices. Deals range from "How is this so cheap?" to How is this so expensive?" But mostly everything is more than fair in price. Friendly staff and a trust worthy place to buy fish and coral. Go check it out!

  • 5/5 Anthony S. 6 years ago on Google
    Awesome and smart staff

  • 5/5 OGXenonNQ 6 years ago on Google
    Great store and staff, Highly recommend

  • 5/5 Joe M. 6 years ago on Google
    Healthy animals and informed workers make this the place to go!

  • 5/5 Scott H. 6 years ago on Google
    love this place, best store to deal with saltwater fish.

  • 5/5 Julie C. 7 years ago on Google
    Jeff, James, and Elise are the best. They help me out all the time either with a question, late nite text, or a home visit. I can't say enough about how grateful I am to have them as my tank maintenance peeps.

  • 4/5 Hugo D. 7 years ago on Google
    great store just a little over price some times

  • 5/5 Ryan M. 7 years ago on Google
    Great store, good prices, nice selection of coral frags, great shop.

  • 5/5 Elise M. 7 years ago on Google
    Beautiful store with really educated people. You guys are my 1 stop store :)

  • 5/5 Johnny S. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to spend the day with family and friends. Very educational, interesting, clean, friendly staff.

  • 5/5 Gabby G. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a great time. I liked the time entry, definitely didn’t seem too packed. Staff enforced covid rules and they were constantly walking around cleaning. Staff was very nice and knowledgeable as well!

  • 5/5 Melissa 3 years ago on Google
    So amazing !!!! Dolphin show was great. Touched sting Ray's. Saw sharks!!!! And there is a place to eat with amazing views

  • 5/5 Ahmed B. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice variety of aquatic animals. Nice stop for kids and worth one time stop. Few exhibits are closed due to covid.

  • 5/5 Alec D. 3 years ago on Google
    By far the best aquarium out there! The variety of fish and animals here is out of this world. The only concerning thing was there were so many people here and social distancing was very hard, they were trying by having people going around and saying please stay 6 feet apart, however, there were way too many people here in my opinion. Overall, I would definitely go back!

  • 5/5 Jasper A. 3 years ago on Google
    Such a great time. Lots of work to adjust for COVID.

  • 5/5 DabLitGaming 3 years ago on Google
    I loved it. Perfect views to see aquatic animal exhibits (above and below water). I recommend to go here on weekends or during breaks.

  • 5/5 Sabrina Z. 3 years ago on Google
    This is in Wild Reef section. Don’t miss that.

  • 5/5 Puneet J. 3 years ago on Google
    lots of sea creatures, beluga whale , penguins. you can see folks have genuine care and respect. kudis and God bless.

  • 5/5 Cinthia Cruz c. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) I love it, it is wonderful to be able to observe the fish and they have from many countries and even one as old as 1930, when its founder brought it (Original) Me encanta es maravilloso poder observar los peces y tienen de muchos países e incluso uno tan viejo como el año 1930 fecha en que lo trajo su fundador

  • 5/5 Julie R. 3 years ago on Google
    I love coming here. It's so much. I highly recommend coming here with the family.

  • 4/5 NerdJoshua's A. 3 years ago on Google
    Expensive, but incredibly cool to look at. Go on a free day if you want to look at it.

  • 5/5 Julie Lubbers /. 3 years ago on Google
    Just soooooo beautiful

  • 4/5 nausheen a. 3 years ago on Google
    must go live shows best part

  • 5/5 kresimir o. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to spend afternoon

  • 5/5 Saad Q. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place for knowledge about under water. There are underwater experiences and 4k movie theaters about shark etc. Excellent place to go with partner or children.

  • 5/5 Joro B. 3 years ago on Google
    Great experience!!!

  • 5/5 DeRanda M. 3 years ago on Google
    It was amazing to take the kiddos here. A family event was long overdue b/c of the latest stipulations due to covid. It was well organized in the Shedd. There is staff standing at sanitation stations at each exhibit. There is one way in/out for each exhibit. Visitors practiced social distancing. No longer do you have to fight a crowd to see an exhibit b/c now there is a limited amount of people allowed in the Shedd. One thing I will advice is to take public transportation b/c parking is now limited as well and is quite expensive ($25-$35 for starters). Take advantage of free entrance days for Illinoisans. It's worth it. You'll only pay for a $3 online credit/debit card convenience fee. Hope this bit of info helped.🤗

  • 5/5 John S. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing

  • 5/5 robert j. 3 years ago on Google
    Best place in Chicago

  • 5/5 Courtney S. 3 years ago on Google
    Really fun!!! Had a lot of great things to look at!

  • 5/5 Tariq J. 3 years ago on Google
    Favorite museum in Chicago. They are very clean and encourage social distancing. Most of the building is open for visitors!

  • 5/5 Ariel H. 3 years ago on Google
    The animals look like they are well taken care of and the staff is wonderful at engaging with people. I love talking my family here. The aquarium is great at following local health guidelines to ensure the safety of all of its guests.

  • 4/5 Troy S. 3 years ago on Google
    The VA Aquarium is fun, educational, and well maintained. The have a wide variety of exhibits, and do a great job of representing the local marine life and habitats. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. They were also on top of keeping the aquarium clean; I saw the sanitize several exhibit areas after guests moved through. I walked through the whole aquarium in a little more than an hour, and I suppose I could have stretched it to two of I really tried. Just something to keep in mind as I assumed it would have taken twice that to see everything. Overall though I enjoyed my time here and will be back in the future.

  • 5/5 Rosa S. 3 years ago on Google
    This was a great pit stop to take the kids and family. Sanitization was done very often. They also have signs of high touch areas to give you heads up. The staff was super sweet, welcoming & friendly. The restrooms were super squeaky clean. Fun attraction to bring your family out and enjoy the fishes, animals & wildlife.

  • 3/5 Steph R. 3 years ago on Google
    Honestly the aquarium itself is awesome.. educational, easy to see, friendly volunteers and workers- but on our visit during the covid restrictions the only people not social distancing were the workers! I had to ask a volunteer who was giving a tour to give us some space. Unfortunately this led us to rushing through because it happened more than once.

  • 5/5 Emily C. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this place! There's lots to see and they have adapted well during COVID-19. I will really be looking forward to when everything opens up because they are adding a new addition to their facilities.

  • 4/5 Shay M. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a great place to take the family. This aquarium is clean and has a decent amount of exhibits, although there are museums in the US, that are better as far as (more marine life) and bigger aquariums, this is the perfect place to visit if you are in Virginia beach. Tickets are reasonably priced as well.

  • 5/5 Kimberly J. 3 years ago on Google
    I love how you have to have an appointment to visit the aquarium during COVID. It's not crowded, you can go at your own pace without being run over by others. Very relaxing and educational place to visit.

  • 5/5 Joshua B. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing as always! During Covid-19 they have a one-way pathway and have touch pools closed off but it does not hinder the experience. The volunteers were very knowledgeable and kind!

  • 5/5 jason d. 3 years ago on Google
    Always a beautiful clean and fun way to spend an afternoon, be sure to make your appointment ahead of time

  • 5/5 Leviathan S. 3 years ago on Google
    Always a lovely place to go to and good covid measures in place as well.

  • 3/5 Dynamis 3 years ago on Google
    Its ok. Ill go back after Covid and see how much better it is.

  • 5/5 Veronica J. 3 years ago on Google
    Great time!

  • 5/5 akeem a. 3 years ago on Google
    The perfect place for a family timeout.

  • 5/5 Jessica C. 3 years ago on Google
    They are taking many precautions to keep guests and family of all ages safe and still have an enjoyable experience.

  • 5/5 Ana K. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place. I have membership and we go here almost every week. People working here are very helpful . Go and see, positive vibes !

  • 4/5 SUNG KWON Y. 3 years ago on Google
    Good for kids..

  • 5/5 Braby C. 3 years ago on Google
    I loved this place as a kid, and I cannot wait to move back to Virginia Beach to visit it again. So much fun!

  • 5/5 Kate 3 years ago on Google
    A LOT of fun :) can't wait for the rest of the exhibits to open back up when everything is safe to do so!

  • 3/5 Anna W. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved the walk thru tank! Staff was very friendly! Disappointed that half of aquarium was not available due to renovation but they still charged full price.

  • 3/5 jeremy k. 3 years ago on Google
    All of the coastal aquariums in NC are better. We were disappointed. With that said, it's is a decent aquarium.

  • 5/5 Ann L. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice exhibits

  • 5/5 D R. 3 years ago on Google
    Well worth the fee and trip to visit! From the seals that met us outside to everything inside including the gift shops. Take your time to enjoy everything! Will visit again

  • 5/5 Alex 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing aquarium lots to see. Highly recommended

  • 5/5 Abdallah r. 3 years ago on Google
    It was a lot of fun also lots of information about marine creatures .

  • 5/5 ashwini b. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing 🤩🤩🤩🤩 one of the best experiences in my life! And very friendly staff.

  • 4/5 Brain 3 years ago on Google
    The VA aquarium is great. Amongst many other things to do in the area during the summer, I would recommend checking this out. Great for kids, fairy large, the only downside is due to COVID, you have to follow the allotted path you can’t really go back or skip around. I’m not sure if this was the way it was in the past. Overall good experience, lots of animals & exibits and the price is pretty good for a few hours of entertainment for you and your kids.

  • 4/5 Becky S. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice job requiring masks and keeping distance. Wish we could have seen otters too. Weather too inclement for the nature trails today. Guess we're good for a return trip!

  • 1/5 Teresa R. 3 years ago on Google
    Due to covid they are at 20% capacity and if you don't have an online scheduled appt time you can't get in at all. They should have a few spare slots for walk ups.

  • 5/5 Ferdilyn L. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome place to be. The Aquarium have a promo going for militaries and they families, so we took the opportunity and took the kids. The kids learned alot specially my 10 year old. She had so many questions and got answered. I love the animals they are all beautiful. Thank you Virginia Aquarium and Marine science for the opportunity.

  • 5/5 Ryan K. 3 years ago on Google
    Seeing the Sea Turtles is amazing!

  • 5/5 marcela p. 3 years ago on Google
    I had a great time with the family if you have young kids or teenagers this a good place to keep them excited about learning good activity for the day.

  • 4/5 Carmen D. 3 years ago on Google
    Pandimic precautions 👍. Such a fun educational place to visit.

  • 4/5 Joseph C. 3 years ago on Google
    It was nice a little expensive for how small it is

  • 4/5 M F. 3 years ago on Google
    Great displays the guides are freindly and knowelegeable

  • 4/5 C I. 3 years ago on Google
    It was not big aquarium but it was okay.

  • 5/5 Kina H. 3 years ago on Google
    We took our granddaughter and we all had a great time.

  • 3/5 Peter L. 3 years ago on Google
    I have to say that the aquarium will be much better after all the Covid restrictions end. All the activities for kids are basically closed. There exhibits are phenomenal but all hands on exhibits where closed.

  • 5/5 Brenda H. 3 years ago on Google
    The staff is so friendly AND knowledgeable about the animals. The displays are fun and entertaining...we had a wonderful time. I loved it so much I bought a yearly pass so I can go whenever I want with a friend for only $100..a bargain in today's world.

  • 5/5 Elizabeth L. 3 years ago on Google
    Good place to take the kids just to get them out of the house....refreshing

  • 5/5 Gabby C. 3 years ago on Google
    I have never been to an aquarium until I came here for Valentine’s Day last month. It was a small gallery with small showings of different fish and where they reside in the world. Lots of new things I didn’t know existed, it was a fun learning experience! There’s also one of those overhead tunnels with sharks you can walk through which was amazing. The BEST part about this trip was getting to pet the sting rays, that would be the reason I’d want to return. They swim right up to your hand in the water, and you can stand there and pet them for a long time if you’d like (and feed them if there is food left). This place is located inside a mall in case you come early like we did, so there are things to do and places to eat as well. A well recommended experience if you live in CNY

  • 5/5 Mick K. 3 years ago on Google
    Came here end of Feb, 2021 with my Son. He loved it. Favorite part was petting & feeding the open tank fish. It is a nice aquarium. Fun to pet the stingrays. Good reason to browse Rotterdam Mall as well.

  • 5/5 purplemantis 3 years ago on Google
    I have to write this a perfect five stars. The fact that it is not super big makes it more enjoyable. They have the right mixture of fish and displays to make this a wonderful experience. I did not like the big Aquarium’s in Boston and other places this place is three children friendly the staff is wonderful and it is very clean and the layout is really good.

  • 1/5 Cillian F. 3 years ago on Google
    It makes no sense that this place is able to stay open. Most of the sanitizing stations were empty. The place was packed, there was no implement, or attempted implementation of social distancing. Batching the entrance of people makes no sense, it made the density worse. In reaction to the response below. Only one of the wall mounted sanitizers were working of all of the ones 8 tried. The barriers in place around the tanks where fish can be touched only serve to crowd people into a smaller area. None of the staff were making any attempt to enforce social distancing and the patrons were not doing a good job of it. It is not like a grocery store with mostly adults, this is a place that serves primarily children. Much more is required to keep up with social distancing recommendations. I was there on Wednesday 2/17 at 1.30pm.

  • 4/5 K M. 3 years ago on Google
    Good place to go with the kids. Masks are required which is great. I wish there were more staff to help keep the line of people moving so there is no delay.

  • 5/5 G. R. 3 years ago on Google
    The staff is extremely professional. The displays and different fish that are featured are very stimulating for young children. Going there is an education in itself

  • 4/5 Dan D. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this place. Doing well with covid regulations I like the group concept.

  • 5/5 Amanda B. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful place soon many fish!! Got to pet a stingray and a coy fish.. Tunnels were awesome makes the fish and sharks look like the are out of the water

  • 5/5 Kevin V. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to bring the grand kids, our favorite was petting the stingrays

  • 3/5 amor r. 3 years ago on Google
    Not sure what to have expected in light of covid but it was ok

  • 5/5 Steve W. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to visit, even during Covid-19!

  • 3/5 Matthew M. 3 years ago on Google
    people were not maintaining social distancing, place was crowded and nothing new since the last time I was there

  • 5/5 Justin S. 3 years ago on Google
    Our favorite experience usually is the water table(4 year old). However recently our favorite is the Koi fish stream and the rays since the water table is closed to that pesky corona

  • 5/5 Tiffany F. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved it will bring the family back again

  • 4/5 Emily L. 3 years ago on Google
    Cute, nice little aquarium. Perfect for kids, the koi fish and sting rays were cool.

  • 5/5 Tom M. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing Aquarium and make sure you check out the animatronic dinosaur exhibit, it is amazing, totally awesome!!!

  • 1/5 Jason B. 3 years ago on Google
    I enjoyed my time here with my nephew and family. But today I was not impressed with how crowded it was. Several other people in line to get in also said the same thing once inside. The line outside people were socially distancing. But inside they were not at all. And there was no one there to monitor it or keep people kinda separate. It made me really nervous and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. It’s there fault for allowing to many people in at once. And it’s the public’s fault for just having no common sense. Time to continue to hide in the house again. We did enjoy feeding the fish and my nephew loved the stingrays. But you need a system in place. You can’t just let in 90 people at once you told me? That’s ridiculous at the height of the pandemic when the cases are 10 times what they were in March. And we need to do something SAFE for our kids. No go guys. Sorry :(

  • 5/5 Martin B. 3 years ago on Google
    Not bad for a small aquarium. Not overly crowded and friendly staff.

  • 5/5 Jon R. 3 years ago on Google
    I'm sure if it wasn't for all the restrictions it would have been better. As it was it was nice.

  • 5/5 Dana C. 3 years ago on Google
    It was cute. Not a whole lot, but just enough to entertain my toddler without making her fatigued from the walk.

  • 5/5 Elizabeth C. 3 years ago on Google
    I loved being able to pet the coy fish and stingrays. The finding nemo tank was cute.

  • 5/5 Dana C. 3 years ago on Google
    My 3 year old and 15 month old both LOVE the aquarium.

  • 5/5 Viki W. 3 years ago on Google
    My favorite part was the fish in the area with the water overhead.

  • 4/5 Katie R. 3 years ago on Google
    Great places to spend quality time or just to walk in and see the amazing sites

  • 5/5 tori h. 3 years ago on Google
    Great time I was excited to find the stingray touch exhibit was open as the website said it was closed.

  • 5/5 Erica R. 3 years ago on Google
    It was small but good enough for toddlers. Lots of cool, exotic fish. We loved the walk through tunnel tank and the end

  • 4/5 Landon F. 3 years ago on Google
    You'd think there were gonna be big sharks

  • 5/5 Angela W. 3 years ago on Google
    We enjoy our time at the aquarium,much to see and learn about.

  • 4/5 Michael B. 3 years ago on Google
    Granted it's not NOLA aquarium. Surprisingly decent for location and all going on with covid.

  • 4/5 Antonio & Samantha B. 4 years ago on Google
    It was very cheap to get in. Considering the price, I was surprised at how big the aquarium was! It had multiple exhibits. It was $2 for the reptile show and that was well worth it.

  • 3/5 Bianca C. 4 years ago on Google
    Fun place, the costumer service at the gift shop shop is terrible...the lady was extremely rude

  • 4/5 Blade W. 4 years ago on Google
    could have cheaper prices

  • 5/5 Raven L. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place and plenty to do for young kids! My 5 and 6 year old absolutely loved it! Took about an 1 hour and 30 mins to get thru everything. The gift shop was great too! Alot of interactions with the fish and Sting Ray's was very fun as well!

  • 4/5 Aaron S. 4 years ago on Google
    The aquarium is wonderful, but in my opinion it's a bit overpriced for everything that you get with it. Again, I have no complaints on the aquarium itself. It's wonderful and fit for kids. My 1.5 year old had a great time. There is so much to do for kids. But it is over priced. Kids 2 and under are free though; that's not over priced. Regardless of pricing, my little family will probably come back again. We really enjoyed it. Note: there are cheaper days of the week that you can go. We went on a Friday, and weekends are most expensive.

  • 5/5 Diego R. 3 years ago on Google
    This will ever be one of my favorite places to visit. They have a great environment and many amazing species alongside lots of information regarding natural habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity. I loved the belugas as well as the store. Highly recommended!

  • 5/5 Pedro g. 3 years ago on Google
    As an educational institution this aquarium is amazing. We experienced friendly staff and accommodations. They didn't have any viewing shows as far as dolphins or Beluga go. But the rest made up for it. Highly recommend it as you can see!

  • 5/5 Jose C. 3 years ago on Google
    I absolutely loved this place. There are so many animals to see and it most certainly is a state of the art facility located not to far from downtown Chicago. I visited with my family and a toddler. This is a perfect day trip. Will be back soon.

  • 5/5 Cristy H. 3 years ago on Google
    It's huge lot's of pretty things to see definitely worth checking it out!!!

  • 5/5 Juan Carlos H. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Beautiful place to visit as a family. (Original) Hermoso lugar para visitar en familia.

  • 5/5 Elizabeth H. 3 years ago on Google
    One of the greatest attractions in Chicago, highly recommend it.

  • 5/5 Pablo P. 3 years ago on Google
    Esta super Bonito selos recomindo

  • 5/5 Aura D. 3 years ago on Google
    Took my 2yr old here. She loved it. Everyone was very nice and knowledgeable. Shout out to Dakota and Shane

  • 5/5 Matt D. 3 years ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing place, if you have not i suggest you should!

  • 2/5 A L. 3 years ago on Google
    Due to covid, only half of the aquarium is open. Prices for tickets should be discounted. Kind of ridiculous to pay $40/ ticket to see half of an aquarium.

  • 4/5 Ian 3 years ago on Google
    It was cool but not alot there as faf as price vs content but the whales were cool.

  • 5/5 Toño R. 3 years ago on Google
    Great experience and an amazing display of marine wildlife.

  • 4/5 Brandon S. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent. Plenty of space and the exhibits are very cool. The giant Amazon fishes aquarium was extra cool. The wild reef space was also captivating.

  • 5/5 Sophia H. 3 years ago on Google
    Most exhibits that don't require touching are available right now. Can be quite crowded though

  • 4/5 Robbie J. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved the experience of the aquarium and how they have rows and rows of tanks with all species and animals pertaining to each region of the world. The only thing that makes me sad about the place was the size of the tanks. Alot of the tanks seem too small for the animals and fish.

  • 3/5 Amy W. 3 years ago on Google
    Wasn't very impressed. Drove from Michigan and paid a bunch of money to walk through 20 minutes of exhibits. The things I did see were very cool though.

  • 5/5 Kavitha M. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing!!

  • 5/5 Stephanie S. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) FISHH !!! (Original) FISHH!!!

  • 5/5 Crowned L. 3 years ago on Google
    I LOVE THIS PLACE! It’s a great facility with what you would expect in an aquarium the only bad thing was it’s former Japanese giant salamander exhibit which was lacking but other than that it is incredible the aquarium has a great view of Lake Michigan and it’s the perfect back drop for the pacific white sided dolphin and beluga whales.

  • 2/5 Abdalla B. 3 years ago on Google
    Lots of spots closed. They DONT TAKE CITY PASS! BE AWARE !!!

  • 4/5 Sri L. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Super super (Original) Super super

  • 5/5 T S. 3 years ago on Google
    fish tasted real good

  • 5/5 Chelsea H. 3 years ago on Google
    It was great!!

  • 5/5 Hugh L. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful aquarium, lots and lots of sealife to enjoy! Not so much the lampreys, but...

  • 5/5 Molly F. 2 years ago on Google
    One of my favorite aquariums, still! Plus they're doing excellently when it comes to COVID precautions. Animals are always healthy and happy, tons of good enrichment, and the "colorful reef" special exhibit is very educational and fun!

  • 5/5 Snehal M. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is beautiful! The 4D show is a must watch! We tried the shark 4D show which was amazing ! They did not have the dolphin show though! But rest is amazing! You can easily spend 4-5 hours!

  • 5/5 Kraig 2 years ago on Google
    Always a fun experience at the Shedd Aquarium! The kids loved every exhibit and animal. It was very busy for a Monday, but we had a spectacular time seeing fish, sharks, turtles, whales, dolphins, and of course, the sting rays. Excellent place to learn, explore, and delight in the wonderful world of animals. The aquarium trainers were out working with the beluga whales and having them do different skill and even spray the onlookers with water. A good place to plan your day around.

  • 5/5 Louise H. 2 years ago on Google
    It was a very nice Family/Friends outing!!! Stroller friendly, lots of sanitizing stations and clean restrooms.. We loved it!!🤗

  • 5/5 Avinash D. 2 years ago on Google
    We chose wrong day to visit the aquarium, it happened to be day for Chicago marathon run too. Usual transit was not available so kind of long walk. On normal day you can take bus to campus. Kids loved the aquarium, 4d show, dolphin show. It took around 3.5 hours to view all the sections in the aquarium. Car parking near aquarium is expensive, you can choose millennium garage lakeside or north garage. Definitely worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Edith G. 2 years ago on Google
    I'm a huge fan of Aquariums and I have been to this one twice and intend on visiting every year I travel to Chicago, it's Amazing. Everything looks well taken care of. By far my favorite Aquarium!

  • 5/5 judith c. 2 years ago on Google
    Took my son and grandbaby on a free day. Had to reserve tickets in advance online which was an easy process. Arrived 15 minutes before scheduled time and was allowed access which was great because it was a little drizzle of rain. Was surprised that it was not so crowded. I suggest to take your lunch as I did due to no food sold, just popcorn and pretzels and drinks. We saw all 3 movies and they were entertaining and informative. Overall a great experience!

  • 5/5 Michael N. 2 years ago on Google
    If you have kids, this is a must. Great thing, it's free for military. The aquarium has a great layout where you can easily navigate the whole thing and not miss anything. The animal discovery show is a fun, short show that combines teaching with a fun show.

  • 5/5 John H. 2 years ago on Google
    This is an amazing aquarium, multi levels of informative and educational exhibits. It is well maintained and very clean. You can easily spend a whole day here. Very family friendly, there's something here for any age to enjoy. There's a massive water tank that homes beluga whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Since covid, they can not schedule animal shows in the auditorium, but thru out the day there are animal spot lights. We were able to catch the dolphin and the penguin spot lights randomly thru out the day. The production in the auditorium is steller. Earlier in the day we were able to see the beluga whales with trainers, very fascinating creatures. There's thousands of fish in a hundred different tanks. They have an interactive tank outside where you can touch a sting ray. There's also a tank inside were you can touch seastars. There is another huge tank with sharks and other creatures. The jellyfish were beautiful and mesmerizing. I also enjoyed the otters, penguins, and sea horses. We used the Chicago City Pass for entrance; it included one 4D movie Pass and 50% off any additional movie. We watched 2 of the 3 movies. The 4D experience was fun, they are more catered toward children. There's a nice gift shop with a variety of sea related items for sale. There's also a food court (nothing fancy or cheap)on premises that also has outside seating with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. This aquarium is worth the time and money, a must see when visiting Chicago.

  • 4/5 Red B. 2 years ago on Google
    Great visit early on a Monday morning. Best to order tickets in advance online for entrance and the 4D show - This allowed me to breeze through the entrance as soon as doors opened at 9am. Staff were great. A lot of exhibitions and sections are mainly geared towards children as expected, but plenty for adults too!

  • 5/5 Berenisse S. 2 years ago on Google
    We had so much FUN! Recommend to buy tickets online if possible and add on the 4D movie experience. We watched the SHARK 4D movie and it was awesome. We ate lunch at the Cafe and the food was delicious. The gift shop is a wonderland! The experience was so much fun. Don't forget your mask and have fun!

  • 4/5 Naresh V. 2 years ago on Google
    Good aquarium with so many fishes from all around the world. Things I liked: * Good social distancing practices followed * So many fish varieties from all across the globe * I saw few of the marine species which I never heard of eg: sea dragon * So many things are covered in the ticket which u buy 40$ for adult (it’s bit costly) * Don’t miss Dolphin, Penguins and Beluga whale. * Don’t miss 4D movie my daughter just loved it. * You can touch Stingray, Star fish many more. Everything is covered in the actual ticket. Things I wished for: * I was hoping aquarium to be a little bigger(Comparing with the aquariums I visited earlier) * Cafeteria was closed. I wish it was open with all COVID protocols. Things to make note of: * Try if you get roadside parking it will be cheaper. try near lake view road. I was able to find it easily during weekends. * Dedicated parking costs 25$!! * Plan to spend at least 2 to 3 hours. * Kids will love this place.

  • 5/5 Jason L. 2 years ago on Google
    A great aquarium with heaps of marine life! Great fun day out for both adults and kids! You can literally spend a whole day here and not feel bored!

  • 5/5 Tonia M. 2 years ago on Google
    Great experience. Touch a sea star. Touch a sturgeon. Interactive bulga whale show. Big aquariums, small tanks, penguins. Such a great time.

  • 5/5 Sri 2 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed seeing red color octopus so closely, also enjoyed seeing different color seahorses, dragon fishes, many colourful and types of fishes, Dolphins show, Michigan lake views from inside here,..etc...loved it overall..

  • 5/5 Gary A N. 2 years ago on Google
    Very helpful staff, they offer to take your family pic as you go into the shark area, you must keep your mask on, they is no way I'm spending that kind of money for face half covered pic. Otherwise great experience

  • 5/5 Parth B. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved the place, a must visit if you're in Chicago. Close to Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. Amazing collection. Do watch the sea lion and Dolphins show. We also watched the whales getting fed by the staff and it was so cute and loving to see there relationship. Kids will absolutely love this place. Tickets included if you buy CityPass and avoid any waiting lines.

  • 4/5 Luke L. 2 years ago on Google
    Great aquarium. Busy, so book online, had sold for the afternoon. Lots of unique species, organized well by area. Caught the evening dolphin show which was good. Beluga whales seemed a bit low on energy, other than that most animals looked well

  • 5/5 Antoinette M. 2 years ago on Google
    So incredibly fun! So much to see and the shows are exciting and fun! Don’t forget to pet the stingrays! Such a great way to spend the day with family♥️

  • 5/5 Oscar F. 2 years ago on Google
    Definitely an aquarium worth visiting. Me and my family used the Chicago CityPass and had no troubles visiting, it even includes you a 4D show (which is short - about 10 minutes, not sure I would pay extra for it). Their parking lot is small but you can use the parking lots in the Special Olympics Dr (we used the North Garage) and walk to the museum. If the museum is crowded, remember to arrive to the shows on the 1st floor with enough time before they start, so you can find seating. Once the seating space is full, they don't let anyone else in.

  • 5/5 Karly H (Exploring the l. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved all the variety of fish. Super cool place for all ages. Remember to get tickets in advance!

  • 4/5 Pedro D. 2 years ago on Google
    Brought my family here today, my 2.5 y/o LOVED IT! Three stars because parking sucks In a nutshell, here are my thoughts/comments: 1. Parking sucks, especially in winter. You can park on the street for about $2.50 an hour or pay $30 for event parking, both suck as there is minimal space and quite a walk to the entrance, parking needs improvement big time. 2. Vaccination is required now and they check your card and ID 3. Definitely use a locker if you have kids 4. If you come during a weekday there are very few people and lots of time to explore all the exhibits

  • 5/5 Charles D. 2 years ago on Google
    Shedd aquarium was GREAT! The exhibits were clean and interesting with a representation of life from around the world. There were dolphin shows and beluga whales and plenty of shops for souvenirs and eating. The staff and employees were helpful and friendly.

  • 5/5 Jane H. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing aquarium. The animals looks healthy and well taken care of. The exhibits were clean and just about everyone were wearing masks. I felt safe and it was a wonderful visit!!

  • 5/5 Mark S. 2 years ago on Google
    The most fun I’ve ever had at an aquarium. Lots of interesting exhibits. The 4D movie was icing on the cake(Sharks!). Dolphins chatted with it his, Seas Lions we’re fun to watch. I’ll be back

  • 5/5 Jose H. 2 years ago on Google
    Really great experience. My girlfriend and I have not gone to Shedd Aquarium ever since we were kids and going back really felt great and nostalgic. The marine life was so beautiful and at times it didn't seem real given the size of some of these sea creatures. We really enjoyed coming here and reliving memories and best of all it was free!!! (That week for Illinois residents) Would definitely recommend for all ages and anyone that is coming to Chicago or looking for something to do in the city.

  • 4/5 Son N. 2 years ago on Google
    It will take more than an hour for this trip. Not too big, but exciting enough. I love the dolphin show. The coffee restaurant had a fantastic view. They don't really check your time range ticket. So don't worry if you're late for few minutes.

  • 4/5 Breanna H. 1 year ago on Google
    My husband and I had a nice time at the aquarium. We were lucky to see them feed the sea lion. Which was a cool experience. We also watched the dolphin show and that was fun. We were bummed that the sea otters weren’t out. The aquarium is confusing to find your way around. The area with the colorful wish and jellyfish was a high volume spot and it caused a big hold up of people. We did get a couple snacks and that was way over priced so I recommend bringing your own or eating beforehand.

  • 5/5 Lauren Uchalik (. 1 year ago on Google
    Great experience here. Our visit time was scheduled for 11, we got there about 5 min before and were directed to what looked like a super long line but we got right in with our regular tickets. The different exhibits were easy to navigate. We especially liked the part where you can pet a sturgeon. There was a feeding of the Beluga Whales at 12:15 and a dolphin spotlight at 12:30 which are worth the wait. Definitely will bring our niece and nephews back!

  • 5/5 Edgard O. 8 months ago on Google
    Excellent venue to visit ,our crew got lucky ,there was a special jazz band event after 6 pm, and the entire place had a unique vibe. Aquarium exhibits were clean and informative, give yourselves 2-3 hours to spend enjoying the activities. I would suggest buying a city pass for $134 to enjoy 5 different attractions when visiting Chicago.

  • 5/5 Dawn T. 8 months ago on Google
    This is a fantastic aquarium! A great variety of sealife, fish, reptiles, amphibians in nice settings. The keepers and staff are friendly and informative. The 4D octopus movie was a fun experience too. And it's a decent sized building that's easy to get through in a couple of hours without getting tired out.

  • 4/5 Justin Z. 7 months ago on Google
    We have frequented the Shedd Aquarium numerous times over the past years; it's an enjoyable spot for children. The museum has consistently undergone renovations, yet it remains smaller in comparison to other prominent aquariums in the US and worldwide. However, it's worth noting that the admission fee is one of the steepest among Chicago's museums.

  • 5/5 Danielle Defayette S. 7 months ago on Google
    We LOVED the Shedd Aquarium during our trip to Chicago. It was definitely a highlight and would recommend to anyone visiting the city for the first time. We took our five year old to see the aquarium and it was a great experience for him. We saw dolphins, penguins, beluga whales, sea otters, and so many other under water creatures. We spent about 2 hours there and absolutely could have been there longer!

  • 5/5 Jennifer L. 8 months ago on Google
    Amazing aquarium! Was genuinely impressed with all the areas. We loved seeing the beluga whales, penguins, sea lions, dolphins, various fish and Amazon animals. Worth the price of entry. Purchase tickets online before arrival to have a speedy entry.

  • 5/5 Jeffery B. 7 months ago on Google
    I went to this aquarium because my brother's family has a yearly pass for his entire family. We went there on a Friday and it was very busy since it was summer time. I believe three of the exhibits were closed. One of the main shows was with dolphins and it was very cool. We got to see all the exhibits that were open in a very timely manner. We even enjoyed some ice cream from one of the food trucks outside. I highly recommend this museum, it has all the good stuff you'd expect from a high quality museum.

  • 4/5 The Great S. 5 months ago on Google
    Overall I loived our experience there and my kids were very impressed (and worn out) by the end. My only issue is the city "Free Pass". I wa told by my brother that I should wait to go because through his local library he could get us a FREE pass to the Aquarium. So after weeks of waiting we finally got it and all that you get for FREE is the lobby!! I can literally come in off the street and have the same experience without this worthless pass. The whole point is to get your toes dipped into the proverbial pool so you see what you can't get and pay for admission anyway!

  • 5/5 D K. 4 months ago on Google
    Amazing place to visit. We visit a lot, the exhibits never grow old. The aquarium has dolphin shows and you can touch the stingrays. Great place for kids and adults alike. It's a nice relaxing day, however, we don't come on free days to any of the museums. It's just too crowded then, we'd rather pay to have a little less stress. It's a bit pricey, but for the amount of exhibits, it's worth it. You can easily spend hours at this museum.

  • 5/5 Sam A. 4 months ago on Google
    Amazing. It's not a boring Aquarium with only fish tanks like many. It has animal shows, penguins, dolphins and beluga whales. Just be aware there are so many kids running around and your kid can easily get lost.

  • 1/5 Karen R. 1 month ago on Google • 14 reviews New
    We drove 3.5 hours to visit Chicago, thought our kids would love the aquarium while we were there. Definitely not worth the money. Wish we would’ve done something else with the $275 we spent to go see such few animals. Good experience, wouldn’t go again though. 🤷🏼‍♀️


Call (312) 939-2438 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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