By number of visitors, the busiest attraction in Chicago is the Shedd Aquarium, the third largest in its category in the Western Hemisphere.
The Shedd Aquarium itself beckons quietly for a full-day visit and can be found along with other attractions on the Museum Campus.
At the aquarium, you'll walk through several popular underwater tunnels, with individual tanks completely surrounding you.
What to see at the aquarium?
The aquarium has many tanks totaling over 19 million gallons of salt and fresh water and is divided into several main circuits:
- Wild Reef - the most popular section with the largest tank, where you will be enchanted by the majestic beauty of the sharks.
- Polar Play Zone - an exposition focusing on the seas and oceans in the polar regions, with many penguins, dolphins, jellyfish and beluga whales
- Oceans - the largest aquariums including many animals living in the open ocean, in the shallows and on coral reefs. You'll see thousands of colourful fish or giant octopuses
- Rivers - one of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the world, dedicated to freshwater river fish from rivers around the world
- Island and Lakes - Here you will see fish or amphibians living mainly in lakes or around islands. Popular animals include caimans
- At Home at the Great Lakes - aquariums focusing on life in the adjacent Lake Michigan
For descriptions of the aquarium's various components, visit sheddaquarium.org/exhibits.
Oceanarium
The Abbott Oceanarium is a special section focusing on life in the waters around the U.S. Pacific West Coast.
You'll see beluga whales, dolphins and sea lions here, and the regular shows where trained animals perform various acrobatic stunts are particularly popular.
Detailed descriptions of each show can be found at sheddaquarium.org/abbott-oceanarium.
Entrance fees and opening hours
Open every day of the year. Summer hours are 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and in the winter it closes at 5:00 pm. For a detailed schedule, visit sheddaquarium.org/plan-and-visit.
We recommend booking tickets online. Only a certain number of people can visit the aquarium each day, and you may not be able to get into the aquarium at all during exposed periods (summer weekends, Christmas, etc.) if you would like to purchase your ticket at the door.
Reserve your tickets through the official website: sheddaquarium.org/purchase.
Ticket prices vary depending on the season, but also on the specific day of the week.
- The cheapest from Monday to Thursday - from 36,95 usd for adults, or from 27,70 usd for children up to 11 years old.
- Most expensive on weekends, Fridays and public holidays - from 40,95 usd for adults, or from 30,70 usd for children up to 11 years
For a complete calendar with current prices, visit sheddaquarium.org/tickets.
How to get there
The Shedd Aquarium is located in southeast Downtown on the shores of Lake Michigan.
There is no subway station within convenient walking distance, but you can get there on the following bus lines:
- 130 - nearest subway station Roosevelt (Red, Green, Orange Line), Downtown, Union Station
- 146 - nearest subway station Roosvelt (Red, Green, Orange Line), Downtown, North Chicago
Use the Solidarity Drive/Aquarium stop.
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