Must See Tour
Experience the best of Shedd on this 75-minute, Must See guided tour.
Go behind the scenes at Shedd, sit in the best seats in the house for an Animal Spotlight and afterwards chat with an animal care expert. (The only way to guarantee seats on busier days!)
Take a look at the alluring sharks of the Wild Reef. Visit the Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales.
Led by an enthusiastic guide, encounter the aquatic animals that call Shedd home like never before. These experiences guaranteed, plus more to spark your curiosity on every tour!
Have a limited time to see everything at Shedd? The Must See Tour is the perfect way to hit the highlights in just a little over an hour.
Dates and Times
Dates and Times
Daily at 11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Additional 3 p.m. tour and 6 p.m. tour on select days.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour.
Duration
The tour will last 75 minutes
Ages
6 years and older. Participants 6 to 17 years old must be accompanied by a participating adult. For the safety of the animals, no one under the age of 6 may attend the tour.
Price
Adults (12 and older): $75.00
Children (6-11): $65.00
Members (6 and older): $60.00
Admission to the aquarium is included with the purchase of a tour.
“I appreciated the insight to the details of the architecture of the building, and my [kids] loved seeing behind the scenes, especially getting to see the sharks from a different vantage point. We all appreciated seeing the extent of the mechanics and hard work that goes into keeping up the exhibits! We had a great experience from beginning to end.”
Highlights
- Oceanarium Amphitheater: Front row reserved seats for an Animal Spotlight, and afterwards chat with an animal care expert
- Wild Reef: A behind-the-scenes look at Shedd's 400,000 gallon shark habitat
- And much more on every tour!
Schedule
11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an additional 3 p.m. tour on select days. Guests should plan to arrive 15 minutes early.
Requirements
Guests ages 6–17 must be accompanied by a participating adult, age 18 or older.
Please wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet. Be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes; sneakers are recommended. For your safety, please do not wear heels or flip-flops on this tour.
Guests will need to understand information and instructions given in English or arrange for a paying translator to participate.
A waiver must be signed by all participants, including a parent or guardian for any participant 17 years or younger.
We recommend guests with shellfish and seafood allergies do not participate in this tour.
Accessibility
We believe there should be no boundaries to your Shedd Aquarium experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please email or call us at 312-692-3355.
Program includes
- Use of stairs; elevators are available
- Walking/standing for 65 minutes
- Sitting for 10 minutes
- Wet and potentially slippery floors
- Very light and very dark spaces
- Loud noises
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Parking is available on the Museum Campus in several lots. See more information about parking at Shedd here. Metered parking may also be available on Solidarity Drive up to 10 hours, but only after 8 a.m. Shedd is not responsible for cars ticketed or towed by the City of Chicago. Parking is not permitted on the aquarium's service entrance. Vehicles parked at the service entrance or the bus turnaround may be subject to towing. To learn more about parking on the Museum Campus, visit soldierfieldparking.com.
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Please meet at the Extraordinary Experiences kiosk in the main galleries a minimum of 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Please note, late comers may not be able to join the encounter and will forfeit the program. Please be on time for your experience.
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Those in your party who are not participating in the experience are not permitted to follow along and are not allowed in the behind-the-scenes areas. Please arrange a time and place to meet with your party after your experience.
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Please wear comfortable clothing and something you don’t mind getting dirty or wet. Be sure to wear rubber sole shoes- sneakers are recommended. For your safety, please do not wear heels or flip-flops on this tour.
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Pictures will be allowed at the appropriate time and will be guided by Shedd team members.
Gift certificates
Behind the scenes tours are an extraordinary gift idea! Purchase a gift certificate online, redeemable for Extraordinary Experiences, general admission, or membership. Or call us at 312-692-3355. Certain restrictions apply.
Pricing
Adults (12 and older): $75.00
Children (6 - 11): $65.00
Members (6 and older): $60.00
Admission to the aquarium is included with the purchase of a tour.
Entry
Participating guests should meet at the Extraordinary Experiences kiosk on the day of their visit.
Questions?
E-mail us or call 312-692-3355 with questions. We are unable to take reservations by email.
Accessibility Needs
If you have any accessibility needs, please contact us in advance of your reservation.
Photography
Photography and video recording are not allowed during this experience.
Refund Policy
No refunds. Participants who need to reschedule may do so up to 10 days before their scheduled experience. Otherwise, date and time exchanges cannot be accommodated. For additional details, see our refund and cancellation policy.