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Shedd Aquarium

See penguins fly through chilly waters, spot sleek sharks cruising overhead, and count the suckers on an octopus’s arms. At Shedd Aquarium, look nature in the eye, investigate, and discover the wonder of the aquatic animal world.

Chicago CityPASS includes:

General Admission Plus a 4-D Experience – All-access admission includes all exhibits, Animal Spotlights, and seasonal Stingray Touch, plus a 4-D Experience (subject to availability).

Chicago C3 includes:

General Admission – All-access admission includes all exhibits, Animal Spotlights, and seasonal Stingray Touch.

Highlights

  1. 01.

    Step between two distinctly rich environments, freshwater and saltwater, and experience what life looks like beneath the water’s surface in the new Wonder of Water exhibit.

  2. 02.

    Travel through the Amazon River Basin in Amazon Rising, where you’ll encounter ancient arapaima, elusive electric eels, and a massive anaconda, perfectly adapted for life in a seasonally changing aquatic environment.

  3. 03.

    Splash into a coral reef and get a diver’s-eye view of a diverse marine metropolis, including sharks and stingrays, in the award-winning Wild Reef exhibit.

Visit Shedd Aquarium with CityPASS®

CityPASS® tickets offer multiple great ways to see Shedd Aquarium. No matter which you choose, you'll save.

Compare All Chicago Tickets

Advice for Visitors

Tips

Best Time to Visit

Monday through Thursday and mornings before 11am are least crowded.

The aquarium is evolving! Shedd is in the process of creating dynamic new exhibits and experiences that will provide greater and more accessible entry points to connect with aquatic life. During this transformation, select experiences may be unavailable to guests. Learn more about Shedd's Experience Evolution.

Be sure to stop at the Shedd Store where you'll find something for everyone, including sustainably made toys, plushes, apparel, accessories, water bottles, mugs and much more. Your purchases directly support Shedd’s mission to spark compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world.

To get the full experience, allow about two and a half hours for your visit. If you're short on time, don't miss the sharks in Wild Reef.

Shedd Aquarium holds free hours for Illinois residents throughout the year. If you're planning on visiting during one of these times, we recommend making reservations in advance, as the aquarium is busier than usual and can sell out.

Learn more on the CityPASS Blog about what you'll see at Shedd Aquarium.

Attraction Features

Amenities

Dining: Bubble Net food court, Soundings Café, Deep Ocean Café (seasonal), Popcorn Kiosk, Farmer's Fridge and vending machines; Any food or drink you bring or purchase must be consumed in designated dining areas. Explore the dining options.

Gift Shops: Shedd Store. Or, shop online here.

Accessibility

Shedd’s exhibits, restrooms, and most behind-the-scenes program locations are fully accessible. Learn more.

Parking/Transportation

Learn about getting to Shedd, including parking, transportation and directions. Valet parking is available most weekends.

Offers & Upgrades

10% Off Your Purchase

Get 10% off your purchase of $50 or more at the Shedd Store.

$2 Off a Virtual Reality Experience

Take a 3-D live-action journey with a 360-degree Virtual Reality Experience. When you strap on the goggles and enter the pod, you can swim with a humpback whale mom and her calf, dive with sharks, or travel with dolphins along a coral reef. Space is limited so check availability when you arrive at the Aquarium. CityPASS guests receive a $2 discount.

$2 Off 4-D Experience

Add a 4-D Experience at a discounted price!

20% Off a Must-See Tour

Experience the best of Shedd on this 75-minute "Must See" guided tour. Explore the Aquarium — and go behind the scenes! — with an enthusiastic guide. Sit in the best seats in the house for an Animal Spotlight; chat with an animal-care expert; touch a slimy, soft sea jelly; and enjoy more can’t-miss experiences. Have a limited time to see everything at Shedd? The Must See Tour is the perfect way to hit several highlights in just over an hour.

Contact Information & Hours

  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Museum Campus Chicago
  • 1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Drive
  • Chicago, IL 60605

Hours vary by day and season; check hours here when planning your visit.

Ticket sales end two hours before close; last entry is 45 minutes before close.

Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Read reviews from CityPASS® travelers.

Chicago CityPASS
Vacationing with a family of 5
We have purchased CityPASS now for three cities: Southern California, New York and now Chicago. We have a family of 5 and this makes planning so easy and affordable!! Not to mention not standing in line for tickets!!!
Chicago CityPASS
The CityPASS was the perfect way to plan our stay in Chicago. I was able to show my daughter my favorite places in Chicago, and a few others as well. The CityPASS provided a better price, and skipping to the front of the line was like icing on the cake!.
Wonderful week in Chicago!
After doing much research about CityPASS and other group admission passes of the like, I knew I had to get the CityPASS. Chicago CityPASS gets you into 5 of the top sightseeing places - with an upgraded admission!
Great Price
My family came to visit us from Colombia. It was their first time in the states and I wanted to make sure their first vacation was more than what they expected it to be. When I came across the Chicago CityPASS online I knew it was just what I needed to make their trip memorable.
CityPASS Saved My Vacation and Marriage
We used Chicago CityPASS recently and it was a not only a vacation saver but a marriage saver. My husband and I would typically argue about which way to go and what to do next. The CityPASS was easy to use and offered detailed information as well as discounts.
Chicago CityPASS is rated 4.7 out of 5 by 14576.
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Half and Half.... I bought the City Pass because some of the things we did were things I did when I was a kid. I enjoyed the Skydeck experience- that was a bucket list item for me. The Shoreline Architecture Boat tour was my favorite and the Field Museum was pretty good. The Museum of Science and Industry was the most disappointing part of the trip. So much of the activities/displays were broken. The aquarium was not bad, but for the money I spent I would rather limit it to 3 instead of 5 and do more Chicago history and culture stuff than the tourist trap activities.
Date published: 2026-07-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Amazing experience Truly amazing and must have. So many hidden benefits from this. Worth getting it We had a very smooth experience with this pass On busy days or weekends, try to make reservations 48 hours prior that’s the only thing I would recommend
Date published: 2026-07-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from CityPASS is AWESOME! Yes, yes, YESSS!!!!! Use CityPASS!!!! I used CityPASS for the first time during my trip to Chicago, and I was honestly a little skeptical because I have always booked through the direct vendor and the the price seemed almost too good to be true for everything it included, BUT it turned out to be one of the best purchases I made! As a first-time visitor to Chicago, CityPASS made it easy and affordable to experience so many of the city's top attractions. The entire process was simple, and everything worked exactly as promised. What really stood out was the customer service. They were friendly, responsive, and more than willing to accommodate my schedule by helping me change and adjust reservation times when needed. I would highly recommend CityPASS to anyone visiting Chicago. It saved me money, made planning easy, and helped make my first trip an amazing experience!
Date published: 2026-07-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP IN MY LIFE My City CHICAGO is sooo beautiful.! I love the city most, so so beautiful, CityPASS is sooo helpful
Date published: 2026-07-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A great time I bought the city pass for our trip to Chicago. It was so nice and all the drivers were helpful . Enjoyed the bus tour.
Date published: 2026-07-13
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All images courtesy of Shedd Aquarium / Header image: Brenna Hernandez