Nicole Sampson | Feb 28, 2018

We went on one of their free days. We paid $3 extra to reserve tickets online & skip the line. Totally worth it. The parking there was around $20 so we used an app to find cheaper parking nearby & walked. It was $8 and about a 30-minute walk with kids. We got to see one of the shows with the dolphins, whales, etc. & it was great, and free too! Very fun & educational. Everything was fairly easy to find with the map, and the staff members were helpful. They were walking around everywhere so they were easy to find. We really enjoyed the Wild Reef area about the Philippines. There were even areas where the kids could do hands-on stuff like touch some sea stars. It was also fun to see the dolphins, sharks, etc. under the water. It was nice, too, that they let you bring food & drinks in. They don't want you taking any of it out during a show if you're sitting in one of the first 3 rows, though. Anyway, we had a great time & our son loved it!

Shan Rime | Feb 21, 2018

The aquarium is very clean, organized, and climate controlled. They have lockers you can rent for $0.75 to offload handbags camera cases and unneeded layers of clothing .It is a great place to get grounded again with my life by patiently strolling through the many exhibits and beholding how it eventually consumes me and makes me feel good. It took me a while 2 let go of all the tension but as I watched all the fish swimming and let my thoughts dissolve into the Rhythm I realized that I was then feeling very happy and light-hearted. My favorite part was the Tarpon. It is a silverfish in the big tropical tank that look like they have Chrome plated armor on them. If you wait and watch them as they circle around in the large aquarium they will swim through the light and you will discover how beautiful and radiant they really are. I also really like the beluga whales , they move so gracefully, beautiful soft white bodies flowing through the water like cushions. The dolphins are fun to watch, they are very playful and fickle and often swim together with a partner in tandem it's a fantastic thing to see. The parking is a little ways from the museums and the aquarium but it is well worth the walk. Dress very warmly in the winter taking care to cover your ears and face the wind from the lake is usually below zero and it penetrates right through thin layers of clothing. Enjoy the Chicago skyline and Lake view while you're walking from the garage to the aquarium.

Sumy Guzman | Feb 27, 2018

Awesome aquarium! Get there early to see everything! Free dolphin show and beluga feeding with price of admission. Stop by the touch pool to pet the stingrays and shark. Tip: Wear comfortable shoes. Leave pepper spray at home or in your vehicle because it will be confiscated at the entrance. If you are a resident of Illinois, check out their website for "free resident days." The Shedd also has engagement packages where you can propose to your significant other utilizing the aquarium animals to bring the ring to you. Check website for details.

Amber Raflik | Feb 11, 2018

Honestly, at $40, I was expecting a little more. I do like the habitats for the animals' benefit though. They seem well cared for and comfortable. Decent pricing in the Sound Cafe for the good quality food and friendly service. Both ladies did great! (2/11/18 at around 12pm). I don't think we will return, but glad to have experienced it once.

Sarah F | Jan 28, 2018

Love this aquarium! Well laid out. Exhibits are well maintained. Animals are well taken care of. I emailed a question about a condition that I noticed on one of the fish and got a prompt and thorough answer from their veterinary staff. You can see everything in a half-day if you have other items on the agenda. A full day would be pretty leisurely.

Ray FIZZLE | Mar 26, 2018

Really nice aquarium to bring the family. Prices are on the higher end, but it is on the the Chicago lakefront. It is well kept and the staff is very helpful. Parking can be expensive and very limited. Be sure to keep an eye out and visit during the least crowded times for the best experience. I recommend going all in and getting the 4d show and Oceanic Experience (dolphin show). Well worth it to see the amazing creatures in action.

Mamata Das | Mar 14, 2018

This is undoubtedly one of the best acquariums I have ever seen in my life. It has a good collection of Amazon forest life which shows how reptiles, frogs, fish, marine weeds live and survive. The aquamarine life in Indian rivers, Latin America, Egyptian Nile has been beautifully showcased. The most amazing part was the whale show, the way they play with each other, smile, interact with people makes the whole place come alive with their innocence and smiles. It's the best place to hang around with your kids for sure

August Duwell | Mar 26, 2018

Absolutely beautiful aquarium with fantastic exhibit variety. My personal favorite is the Amazon rainforest focused. They also have exhibits for African lakes, Caribbean reefs, amphibians, hammerhead and other sharks, and many more! It would take probably a full day if you really wanted an in depth experience of the entire place. The dolphin show is great and they also have movies and other short events held throughout the say that you can pay for or sometimes even attend at no additional charge with a membership. Must see tourist destination! It is ranked in the top 5 best aquariums in America and is probably close to number one.

Jasha Anderson | May 4, 2018

The Shedd Aquarium is an awesome place to go! I had so much fun. They have some free options once you're inside and cool exhibits. Make sure you catch the Dolphin Show. Excellent! I took some friends from out of town and they loved it! Just a little tip, if you are from Chicago and you have a Link Card it's automatically free for you. You just have to show up with your card and your family and you're in. You also have the option of getting passes from the library but if you have a Link Card you don't need passes.

Rob Hydell | Apr 19, 2018

If you go out to the zoo bring a picnic and enjoy the amazing view of the city and the lake from out back of this location. I included a bunch of pictures of the view so you can see what I am talking about This place is pretty awesome for the middle of country (usually the good aquariums are in near the ocean in my opinion). If you are a local and have some volunteer time on your hands I highly recommend you reach out to them to volunteer. You get free admission to all the museums in the city and free passes for your friends and family. Not to mention you get to see the cool inner workings of the aquarium. It's really quite cool and you get to give back to the community as well.

Ben Gamble | Apr 27, 2018

Took my girlfriend and her kid to visit here. It was really fun and the kiddo had a blast. The employees were amazing to her and very thoughtful. If you have a kid, I would recommend going here for sure. As for adults, it isn't much different from other aquariums I have been in in my lifetime and is a bit expensive at $40~ a head for adults. (I think the exact price was 38-39?) That being said, there is a nice selection of fish and is still a fun visit. Do yourself a favor, if there is a taco stand outside when you visit, eat there! The guy there makes AMAZING burritos and is so friendly.

Matthew Collazo | Apr 25, 2018

What a magical place! Here there's an adventure waiting for children and adults alike! The place is so big and filled with attractions you can make an entire day out of it! I went to explore because I don't remember having gone here before, and man did it surpass my expectations. Not only were the employees knowledgeable and kind, they also genuinely seemed to be enjoying their job. It was nice to see. The facility itself is clean and definitely worth every penny. There are exhibits, movies, live shows... You name it, they've got it. Enough learning and fun for both a developing mind and a curious parent. I had a brilliant time photographing so much aquatic life I almost forgot to stop and take in the sights myself! I saw dolphins, whales, penguins, fish, frogs, and so much more. I highly recommend this place, as I'll probably visit at least once more this year. My recommendation: get Chicago's City Pass. I skipped a 2 hour admissions line and didn't have to buy the expensive ~$40 ticket. It gets you into Chicago's iconic attractions quickly at a value price with tons of perks. I saw 2 movies at the aquarium in 4d and it was glorious. They came with my pass.

Myra Longaker | Apr 12, 2018

Really great Aquarium. Amazing Building!! The architect and details are Mind blowing. Id give it a 5 star. But. The otter is well advertised but Not easy to see. Still had a Wonderful time. Incredible to think this place literally brought back FL. Ocean water from Key West when it opened in 1930.. did it for several years. Wow!

Michael Thompson | May 31, 2018

Great aquarium experience. My kids and wife had a really fun time. We spent about 5 hours walking around and checking out as many exhibits as we could. We'll have to come back to see the sections we missed. The cafe was really good with mostly healthy options that everyone enjoyed. I would highly recommend checking out the Dolphin show. It's free with paid admission and well worth your time. The kids had a blast.

Amanda Tzanov | May 29, 2018

Nice place for a family outing. We have a membership this year and it was really nice not having to go through the normal line. Many cool fish to see and exhibits to explore. Food is expensive. We ate a stand outside in the park area that was decent. The dolphin show was nice and exhibited other animals as well. The wild reef area with the huge aquarium and sharks is really cool!

Snow White | Jul 1, 2018

We had a corporate event here and it was a huge hit. Staff was very accommodating to work with and the venue was stunning. Guests loved seeing all the aquarium attractions up close and also being able to go mingle outside with a beautiful view of the city as the backdrop. The catered food was delicious and well stocked throughout the night. The dessert bar was a delight as the guests could choose their own toppings to place on their cake of choice that was waiting for them in martini glasses. The aquarium has large spaces so no one ever felt crowded. Highly recommend as a venue for a private party!

Rob Hydell | Jun 29, 2018

If you go out to the aquarium bring a picnic and enjoy the amazing view of the city and the lake from out back of this location. I included a bunch of pictures of the view so you can see what I am talking about This place is pretty awesome for the middle of country (usually the good aquariums are in near the ocean in my opinion). If you are a local and have some volunteer time on your hands I highly recommend you reach out to them to volunteer. You get free admission to all the museums in the city and free passes for your friends and family. Not to mention you get to see the cool inner workings of the aquarium. It's really quite cool and you get to give back to the community as well.

Rakesh Sukumar | Jul 14, 2018

Fantastic aquatic life from fish to penguins. The beluga whale is a very good attraction here.. make sure to catch the dolphin show. It is a must see. Fantastic variety of sea life from all over the world. This will be a very good educational experience for kids.. lots of opportunities to learn about the different fish and sea creatures.

Carolyn Ohms | Jul 1, 2018

Nice exhibits and shows. However, Shedd needs to update its crowd management. I purchased tickets online and we got in quick, but if you need to buy tickets at the aquarium or can't use your e ticket, there's a long, slow line. I feel that there's room for improvement there. Props for ability to reserve admission to shows once you do have your ticket (no additional fee). But I think you should be able to do that online if you have an e ticket, or in main entry instead of being required to do that by schlepping to Soundings Cafe. Like the ticket line, trying to get something to eat is a process mired in the 20th century. At Soundings Cafe we waited 20-25 minutes to place an order in a line that moved at a glacial pace. At the height of lunch rush on a busy holiday weekend, there is literally one person who takes your order and payment. How about ability to order electronically from a kiosk or your phone. Since this is revenue function, would think they would want to streamline. The food is okay, about what you would expect from a venue like an aquarium or museum. But really, the food could be better and more inspired. The bathrooms have an odor that is unpleasant and not just a temporary, passing odor. I think that they should clean the traps. With facilities as heavily trafficked as restrooms at the Shedd, I think they should schedule more frequent cleanings of the traps. My eight year old and I had fun, and the Shedd was a nice way to spend the day out of the crazy heat.

Olivia Lettsome | Jul 11, 2018

It was awesome and very well kept. Parking was a bit of an inconvenience and expensive it was 20 bucks for 4 hours. But the cost of food inside and gift shops wasn't that bad. I really like the message of using garbage found in the oceans to create art. It's a very intelligent way of expressing our footprint on nature. I truly feel like all the money that was put towards going to the aquarium does go to making the world a better place!