Hotels near Shedd Aquarium

The John G. Shedd Aquarium holds around 32,000 animals across habitats that range from Amazon flooded forests to Caribbean reefs and Pacific Northwest waters. The Abbott Oceanarium, with its curved wall of windows facing Lake Michigan, houses beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins against a backdrop that blurs the line between tank and lake.

Wild Reef recreates a Philippine coral system with sharks cruising overhead, and the Caribbean Reef tank in the historic rotunda is a perennial favourite with kids. It makes a polished, genuinely educational few hours and ranks among the best family attractions in the city.

Pro Tip: Book a timed entry online to skip the often-long ticket queue, and aim for the first or last slot when galleries are quietest. Combine it with the neighbouring Field Museum on a single Museum Campus pass.