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Location
What you should know
Best time
Arrive early, ideally around 9:30 AM or before 10:30 AM, to experience the aquarium with minimal crowds and toddler groups. Early arrival provides a much more peaceful viewing experience.
Visitor tip
Don't miss the dolphin show - it's a highlighted attraction and highly recommended by visitors, though be aware of surge pricing for out-of-state residents which can reach $50+ per person.
Visitor tip
The river and lake exhibits are particularly unique and showcase impressive fish diversity. Prioritize these sections to see what makes Abbott Oceanarium distinctive from other aquariums.
What visitors say
What a great place to experience all that Chicago has to offer! Located in a very walkable neighborhood of the South Loop, the Shedd Aquarium is top notch and a must see attraction for locals and tourists alike.
Excellent deep sea viewing experience. Tip is to come here EARLY. We came at 9:30 am and nearly had the entire place to us. After 10:30 am, you'll see many toddlers coming in with big families.
Dolphin show was amazing and a can’t miss. It is expensive- especially with the surge pricing for out of state residents. We paid 50$ per person. The river and lake exhibits were particularly unique - very cool to see the acknowledgment…
From 23 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- Offers a dolphin show that visitors describe as a must-see attraction, featuring marine mammal performances
- Features specialized river and lake exhibits that showcase fish diversity, including acknowledgment of freshwater ecosystems alongside marine environments
- Early morning visits (arriving by 9:30 AM) provide significantly fewer crowds compared to mid-morning hours (after 10:30 AM), allowing for a more intimate viewing experience
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