Shedd Aquarium in Bensenville

We had a blast during our day here. Great for the kids 6-8, teens 17-19, and adults. Exhibits and shows were great...prices reasonable and competitive with other city aquariums. Very interactive and spaced well. Will be back

Great aquarium to visit. Dolphin show was really cool to see. Great exhibits. Wish they would limit the number of field trips in a single day. When I came for my visit, there were a lot of different schools at one time, and it was very crowded and noisy.

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.

Cant help but come here when Im in the city. The staff are always friendly and willing to help. The snacks and food are better than youll find at most aquariums and museums. I just love seeing all the animals as well

Visited the aquarium to get inspiration to illustrate children book. I was amazed by the beautiful colors of sea creature!!! The moon jelly was absolutely beautiful!!! There are many colorful and fascinating fishes in this aquarium!! The outside was also beautiful. The fall trees have a beautiful color to the trees!!! Overall, it was a great visit and I got to see many amazing creatures!!!

Top notch aquarium. Numerous magical exhibits that excite and charm all ages. Dont miss the wild reef exhibit with beautiful coral, stunning fishes and impressive sharks. The hands-on stingray exhibit (open from May though Octoberis a treat. The Caribbean reef is a classic favorite. The beluga whales are serene. The 4D movies are engaging - currently playing movies about sharks, octopus or a small child friendly option. The oceanarium has live 8-10 minute long shows throughout the day. There is so much to see, you can easily spend the whole day here. Outside food is allowed. Parking tip - the Adler planetarium parking has a $12 early bird special if you arrive before 9:30am. There are some street parking spaces along Solidarity Drive as well but they fill up quickly. Otherwise, there is parking in the north garage which is listed on the Shedd website.

Excellent aquarium. A wide variety. Enjoyed the beluga and sharks. We had been there an hour and a half or so and I wanted to see the sharks, so we went in search. We not only found them, but a whole other section wed missed. We were on a schedule so we had to leave but we will go back.Honestly we have been to a few in the US and this may be my favorite.The only thing that was a little surprising was the $30 parking near there...but it is Chicago.

One of my favourite attractions in Chicago. It was also the most expensive, but definitely worth it. Prepare to spend there around 3 hours. I loved dolphin show, possibility to see animals from many perspectives. I saw species that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Very disappointed for the whole experience.It seems the system of operation needs to rearrange to be more efficient and time effective. It was very chaotic entering to the site. Don’t blame on those clerks, security checkpoint, they just fellow the rules.Even though you have your electronic pas, you have to wait for them to issue you a paper ticket. The waiting was 1 hour.Entering to the main floor- you smell butter popcorn , yes you can eat in the museum while you watch those creature swimming. The whole vibe wasn’t correct, dirty glass, smelly place, we didn’t get to enjoy the aquarium visit. Overall it has been overrated.How we they have a nice view of the Chicago skyline, have a Chicago style hot dog.

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,. wouldve 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.

Great place to visit with family and friends. You can see a variety of Aquatic creatures and learn a lot about them. The dolphin show is a must watch. You also have a lot of options for meals inside as you will definitely spend the entire day there.

Best place to be in Chicago! It takes a couple of hours to walk around but probably youll stay for longer. The building is beautiful, everything is well-arranged. The exhibition shows with the dolphins and sea lions are exciting! Once you are out you have a beautiful view to the lake and theres a nice walk through the park to downtown.

Shedd was a great experience! We took our two elementary aged kids with us and they enjoyed the experience, as well. There are so many different exhibits with fish, waterfowl, and other water dwellers. We especially enjoyed the central tank, which had a sea turtle, multiple rays, and tons of tropical fish.It was well kept, everyone inside was very friendly and eager to answer questions, and it was a great experience, overall!

It sure is the 3rd best aquarium behind, Georgia and Monterey bay! Too many kids, just know it’s gonna be packed on a Saturday, lively views of the city skyline. Museum campus has plenty of that. I did attend the weekend before school started up again in 2022 sooooo… was asking for it honestly.The 4D theater is a hit or miss. I didn’t like it.I love the beluga whales enclosure, sharks exhibit was on point.There’s a very captivating Caribbean reef division when you first walk in which is really nice.I love that this aquarium like the others had a waters of the world section same with local water sector.Another cool part of the aquarium was what happens when it rains in a dry forest, a rainy, lastly a forest after flooding. The ecosystem show is exuberant.Jelly fish branch was really cool to see. I think jellyfish are mesmerizing.

Amazing aquarium located right in the heart of Grant park. Just the right amount of people there (we went at 9:30am). The lower floors were an unexpected treat seeing the whales, sea lion, dolphins and penguins! The 4D show was great as well. Definitely worth the price of admission to go here.

Spacious museum, very neat, they kept vacuum the whole time, I guess because you can buy snacks (pop corns, chipsand drinks so I really like that, a good variety of animals, but I think this place needs better navigation, dolphin show was less than 5 minutes (they just jumped 4 timesother 3 min a guy was giving information about the aquarium and dolphins (I liked it but I really want to see more action like other aquariums). Also the show of the beluga was nice but really far away from people.

A wide collection of species from all over the world. It is a bit smaller than other aquariums Ive been to but its 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 dont miss out on the discounted/free days. Once you get there definitely check out the animal meet-n-greets (which are often freeor the aquatic mammal shows put on by the trainers. The 4D experience is alright, but to be honest not very much worth the price. Its about 15 min long and plays out like a documentary. You get 3D glasses but theyre not very good quality and they also use the same pair on multiple crowds. Not much goes on and if youre expecting to get splashed with water, its mostly just bubbles. As a chicago native I would always recommend this to someone visiting but just be prepared to spend a good amount.

$40 entry fee per person sounds steep until you realize you can easily spend over 2 hours just looking at fish and sealife!! Sections dedicated to the local Great Lakes region, an awesome Amazon exhibit. Saw some truly massive fish. Great place for singles, couples and families alike. They had dolphins, penguins and beluga whales!!! And shows.

Hands down BEST aquarium! Well worth the money. 4D show was worth it too. PSA: Buy tickets in advance it does sell out and gets very packed. The 4D show tickets can be redeemed inside without waiting in the long line outside. There is so much to do we spent between 4 to 5 hours there. Dolphin, sharks and beluga whales were the best.

Love this place! Well thought out/set up, lots of amazing exhibits, very educational. My favorite part is the underground viewing where you can see the dolphins, sharks, and whales swimming, plus the jellyfish! Highly recommend!

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!

Lucky day we got to go in for free, was very nice lovely collection of water creatures. Was really really packed but over all enjoyed the time spent in there. Definitely a must visit if you’re in are or in Chicago. Would’ve given it a 5 but the people ruined it. Oh and if you go and you are curious about the rainbow ice cream cone truck outside of the Shed… try it, it’s delicious!!!!

This is one of the best sights in Chicago for nature lovers. 🐟It is also very interesting for children because they can see whales, sharks, penguins, seahorses, etc. live and even touch a starfish. 🐟I went here with my family in the middle of the week around 7pm oclock and it was not a good time at all. Well, the afternoon is not a good time to visit the aquarium at all, because the lights of many aquariums are off in the afternoon and you can not see the beauty of sea creatures well.The best time to see all the sections here is about 3 to 5 hours, so it is better to go to the aquarium in the morning. 👍Parking lots around this building are also expensive and you may have to pay between $ 15 and $ 35 for parking.In general, if you visit this place in the morning, it will surely be a memorable experience for you. 👍

Great family outing! Countless fish, reptiles, and other underwater creatures to see! I absolutely love the munchroom! It allows visitors to bring and enjoy a bite without hurting your pocket 🤑. The entrance line gets long fast. I suggest arriving 15-30 minutes early to reduce the wait.

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.

Its 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.

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.

Aquarium was easy to access. Prices werent 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 didnt waste time going back and forth through the same areas.

Probably one of the best… if not the best aquarium we have ever been to! The kids had a blast and were so excited to see all of the different exhibits! The Stingray Touch was a huge hit!

I had so much fun! It’s is expensive but it’s definitely worth it! If you buy the city pass is cheaper so I strongly recommend that! The aquarium is huge so you need like 4-5 hours to see it all! The have sharks, otters, dolphins, etc! I was so happy! I would come back!! You can touch the stingrays!! And the sea stars! They also have a show where you can see the seal!

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.

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!

We really enjoyed this Aquarium. It is quite large and we spent about 4hrs exploring it. There are rotating shows highlighting Whales, Sea Lions and Dolphins. We also saw the 4d movie about octopus but the crab 🦀 stole the show! I highly recommend the Shedd Aquarium.

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.

This was my first time at the Shedd Aquarium, and it was amazing! I couldnt believe all of the different areas of the world that are represented here and the large variety of species that are on display and in the care of the facilities. I cant wait to go back and be in awe again!

Love the experience to be here, the sea animals are really such a beauty to watch them. Lots of different fish and sea animals to learn about. 4 D movie was also a great experience ti have. Dont miss it. Well maintained , nice and clean. Staffs are helpful.

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 Im 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.

I used the city pass to visit on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t extremely busy but we did have to wait a couple seconds to see certain tanks because it was blocked. I think it’s perfect for kids it was a lot of exhibits for them. The fish all looked healthy and wellKept. We came late so the cafe was closed soI have no experience with them. The 4D movie was pretty cool , and the theater was very clean.

Wow! I have not had so much fun for such a long time! I was really happy to go there. They have so many things to see! For example, you can touch rays in the summer, see a 4d movie, touch star fish and coral, you could also see lots of cool animal shows and loads more! So, I think now I have established my point, you can see how amazing this place is!

Great spot! So many different exhibits and shows. Definitely buy tickets in advance and get there early - it is always busy. The parking lot down the road has half price early bird parking before 9:30am.

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 didnt 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 residentsWould definitely recommend for all ages and anyone that is coming to Chicago or looking for something to do in the city.

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 dont really check your time range ticket. So dont worry if youre late for few minutes.

First time visiting and we had such a great time at this aquarium!! All exhibits were beautiful and very clean, and there was always staff around to help if you had any questions. I do recommend getting tickets in advance, we got there at the opening time for the museum and there was a line outside already just to get inside. There is also so much to see, it took us I would say a little over 3 hours, and we were able to walk the entire aquarium including being able to see the 4D shark show and a seal show. If you are visiting definitely recommend going to the Shedd aquarium.

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.

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

Brought my family here today, my 2.5 y/o LOVED IT! Three stars because parking sucksIn 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 ID3. Definitely use a locker if you have kids4. If you come during a weekday there are very few people and lots of time to explore all the exhibits

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!

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!

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

Came on a field trip with my sons 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 Im 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.