Welcome to Shedd Aquarium, which serves as your portal to the aquatic animal world in Chicago. Discover playful penguins, colorful coral and beautiful belugas as you journey through oceans, lakes, rivers and reefs.
Chicago residents: $19.95 Adult General Admission every day.
General Admission: Adult and children
(3-11) prices vary - guests can save on Shedd admission by booking in advance. Learn more.
Please be aware of ticket scams.
Shedd will not accept tickets sold by non-authorized sellers. You should only purchase
tickets directly from Shedd Aquarium or our approved Shedd Ticket Partners:
CityPASS, Go City Chicago, and these select hotel partners.
Ticketing questions can be directed to Guest Relations by
calling 312-939-2438 between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (CT) or emailing [email protected] before you buy.
Know Before You Go
Advance tickets highly recommended: Secure your spot by booking your tickets in advance. Find the dates you are looking for with ease, knowing first-hand when dates are sold out.
Accessibility offerings: At the information desk, wheelchairs, assistive listening devices and noise-cancelling headphones are available on a first-come, first-served basis. See details on Shedd’s accessibility offerings.
Restaurants:Bubble Net food court and Soundings Café's hours vary on weekdays and weekends. Any food or drink you bring with you or purchase from machines must be consumed in designated areas.
Experience Evolution: Shedd is in the process of creating dynamic new exhibits and experiences. During this transformation, select experiences may be unavailable to guests.
Re-entry: Guests cannot re-enter after exiting the building.
Code of Conduct: To help everyone
enjoy their visit, please review our Code of Conduct before arriving. It outlines what’s expected of all
guests, and what’s not allowed inside the aquarium.
Animal Chats: Check the calendar so you don't miss our daily Animal Chats to learn about birds, mammals, fishes and more!
Animal Spotlights: Join us throughout the day as our animal care experts highlight amazing animal adaptations during these 10-minute presentations in the Abbott Oceanarium.
Download the Shedd Go! App: Use the Shedd Go app to access the map, learn additional animal facts and explore exhibits. Available for Android and iOS.
All Museum Campus parking is owned by the Chicago Park District and managed by Standard Parking. Parking rates typically are higher during special events, and access may be restricted to special event ticketholders.
Street parking Please
note, until further notice, there will only be garage parking on the Museum
Campus, no street parking on Solidarity Drive. If you choose to visit Shedd
Aquarium, we strongly recommend arriving via public transportation.
Lot parking The Museum Campus also has several lots where you can park. Current rates, which can change without notice are:
Soldier Field north garage Up to 4 hours, $25 4 to 12 hours, $30 12 to 24 hours, $50 Special event, pay on the way in, $30
East museum lot $30
Adler lot Early bird, before 9:30 a.m., $12 Daily, $25 Night rate, after 4:30 p.m., $15
Valet parking Available most weekends for aquarium guests for $35 a vehicle, subject to limited availability. Take advantage of this service at the guest drop-off area on the south side of the aquarium, off Solidarity Drive. Please note that we cannot offer valet parking on certain Bears home-game days.
Reserve a space with SpotHero We recommend booking parking in advance through SpotHero. You can visit the Shedd Aquarium SpotHero parking page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up. New to SpotHero? Download the SpotHero app and enter code SHEDDCHI for 5% off your first spot!
Please arrive during the time frame you select during your ticket
purchase. If you need to change your arrival time after your purchase, you can exchange your ticket for a different date or time here for a $5 exchange fee. Or you can call 312-939-2438 between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (CT) for assistance.
No, Chicago resident prices are not impacted by the plan-ahead pricing tool. Chicago residents enjoy a daily low price on general admission, with a set price of $19.95/adult.
Shedd members should reserve their tickets in advance, but the price of a membership and the associated benefits are not impacted by the plan-ahead pricing tool.
You have the freedom to change the date or time of your visit after purchasing tickets. Should you select a new date or time with a higher admission cost, you will simply need to pay the difference to confirm the change. No refunds will be issued if you exchange to a less-expensive visit date and time.
Prices may increase closer to your visit date. They will never go down, though they may start below current general admission prices. That is why it is always best to plan a visit further in advance so that you will have the greatest opportunity to save money.
At this time, the plan-ahead pricing tool only impacts general admission costs and select aquarium events such as Jazzin’ at the Shedd for non-Chicago resident guests. Costs for Extraordinary Experiences and other programs are not impacted.
