- All-Inclusive
- Family-friendly
- Indoors
Up to 3 hours
Shedd Aquarium
Up to 3 hours
Shedd Aquarium is one of the top places to visit in Chicago – a must-see attraction located on the shores of Lake Michigan and filled with thousands of fascinating marine animals from a range of diverse habitats.
Go City® makes visiting attractions simple
One pass. Instant entry. Guaranteed savings.
- 4.4Trustpilot score
- 1M+Passes used in 2025
- Scan to enter attractions
What visitors are saying
4.2The Best thing in the aquarium was dolphin show and big beautiful white cute dolphins were there and white and black small dolphins dancing and playing in the water looks amazing to watch and a large variety of different Species of aquatic animals were there and Go city pass is absolutely worth to git to explore around Chicago.
Oct 23, 2025The Shedd Aquarium is the reason I purchased the GoCity tickets and it did not disappoint.
Jul 31, 2026The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
Jun 17, 2026We paid the additional cost to see a 4d penguin film - it was worth the additional cost.
Jul 15, 2026- Explore Chicago with Go City®Your Chicago pass includes dozens of other top attractions, all for one money-saving price
- This attraction is available on
Overview
Go on a wild underwater adventure at Shedd Aquarium. This attraction is ideal for all the family and perfect for fans of sharks, stingrays, and everything in between.
You’ll see incredible creatures from freshwater, marine, terrestrial, and even aerial environments at the Shedd’s award-winning exhibits. Get nose-to-nose with sharks in the wild reef, dolphins and beluga whales in the oceanarium, and much more.
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago also does its bit for conservation and research, focusing primarily on animals and habitats in the Great Lakes and the Caribbean. Learn more about the important work they do at their range of talks and animal presentations. There’s also the chance to get your hands wet at the Stingray Touch exhibition which runs between May and September.
Shedd Aquarium highlights
Abbot Oceanarium
Immerse yourself in the magnificent, vibrant ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. Meet dolphins, beluga whales, sea otters and much more.
Plankton Revealed
Check out the microscopic but mighty in this insightful exhibition. Floating at the bottom of the food chain, plankton may be small but you'll learn about how this nutrient-rich food source plays a big part in ocean life. This is Shedd Aquarium's first bilingual exhibit, with signage translated into Spanish.
Wild Reef
Find yourself among the sharks as you explore a unique underwater world filled with color and movement. Learn about how Shedd works to restore precious coral reefs around the world and listen to the amazing tales of how a Philippine fishing village saved their reef.
Islands and Lakes
Explore these unique ecosystems, filled with beauty that can be found nowhere else. Look out for alligators, turtles and cichlids.
Oceans
Octopuses, horn sharks and moray eels are just a few of the fascinating creatures you'll spot beneath the ocean's surface. Take a stroll through the immersive Kelp Forest to see what mysterious animals you can find hiding among the macroalgae.
At Home on the Great Lakes
Discover the underwater world found right on Chicago's doorstep. The Great Lakes are home to more than 3,500 plant and animal species and this exhibit gives you the chance to meet our animal neighbors and understand how we can help protect the Great Lakes both for wildlife and for people.
Polar Play Zone
Kids can hop into a penguin suit and try out life like a bird in the Icy South or dip their hands into the sea star touch pool for a hands-on experience.
Facts
Sea lions' flippers aren’t just for swimming. On land, these incredible creatures use their flippers to run – faster than the average human.
Sea otters are secret hoarders, they store their favorite things in their ‘pockets’ – an area of loose skin located in their armpits.
Jellyfish aren’t fish at all as they have no bones, brains, blood.
The massive bullfrog is the largest of its species in North America and their call can be heard for more than half a mile.
What's included
With us, there are no entry fees on the day – all you've got to do is show your pass.
Access all habitats, animal presentations, and exhibits.
Learn about Shedd's important conservation work.
Explore this attraction and 36 more, all for one low price
View all attractionsWhere you'll be
On Chicago's Museum Campus 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive,, Chicago, USHow to get there
Take CTA: Red, Orange, or Green Line to the Roosevelt Road/Museum Campus stop. Take CTA bus #146 from points north or south as well as from the Roosevelt Road "L" stop.
Standard opening hours
Upcoming schedule changes
Find out more
For more information, visit the Shedd Aquarium website.
Amazing
Dámaris ·Amazing views and experience even that it was a little bit scary
Just packed
leanne ·it was so packt -can't see anything. some large fish had little space and looked sad
Review
Winderful beautiful experience . Wonderful trip addition we loved it
shedd aquarium
Philip bergner ·my wife and daughter it was their first experience they got to pet stingrays that made their day
Aquarium is a must see
Joseph ambrose ·Shedd aquarium was nothing short of amazing my family really enjoyed the buluga experience it was wonderful. It was quick and easy to enter. This aquarium is huge and a must see.
So much to see
momof3 ·Wish we had more time. Did not get to the wild reef. Did not allocated enough time for the aquarium. So much to see. Loved every minute. Could have spent all day with the Belugas.
Build your unique Chicago itinerary with our trip planner
We’ll give you the best route to check off all your must-sees, museums, landmarks and more
How it works
The Go Chicago pass makes sightseeing easy
Buy
Pick your pass. We have different types to suit your preferences.
Scan
Download our highly-rated app to scan in at each attraction.
Save
Enjoy guaranteed savings (or we'll refund you the difference!).
We're kind of popular, but don't just take our word for it.
Have a 5% discount, on us!
Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.