Chicago, Illinois is the third-largest city in the United States and the largest in the Midwest. Chicago is known for its architecture, deep-dish pizza, and sports teams, but there is so much more to see and do when you visit. These are the best things to do when you travel to Chicago.
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Museums in Chicago
The Art Institute
The Art Institute is rated as Chicago’s number one museum and is one of the country’s largest and oldest art museums. It is located in Grant Park, central to downtown, and easy to get to by car or public transit.
Admission might seem expensive if you are not an art person, but everyone will find art here that they will enjoy. Some very well-known art is on display here, including Sunday Afternoon by George Seurat, American Gothic by Grant Wood, and Picasso’s Old Guitarist.
Visit the Art Institute with the Chicago CityPASS!
| Cost: $25 for adults; discounts for students, seniors, and Illinois/Chicago residents; children are free Website: Art Institute Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 |
Museum of Science & Industry
The MSI has the most interactive exhibits of any of the museums. There are three floors to explore, and most exhibitions are free. Museum workers and scientists are always around to answer any questions and provide fun games and interactive activities for kids.
Additionally, there is a gift shop with take-home science kits, books, and many science-based gifts. On the first floor is a food court with different options and a coffee shop. The museum is large, and you will be walking a lot, so a break to eat or drink will be worth it!
Visit the Museum of Science & Industry with the Chicago CityPASS!
The museum is located in a south neighborhood, best accessed by bus or car. Do not stray too far from the museum (or the adjacent college campus), and you will be safe.
| Cost: $22 for adults; $13 for children Website: Museum of Science and Industry Address: 5700 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637 |
Chicago History Museum
Chicago’s History Museum is located just north of the loop. The exhibits explore Chicago’s history and importance in the building of present-day America. From the first settlers hundreds of years ago to the Chicago Fire of 1871 to the city’s cultural significance, there is a lot to explore in the museum.
The museum is two floors, and the second floor has a beautiful gallery with artwork and an exhibit on Abraham Lincoln. Private and public events are held at the museum throughout the year. There is also a gift shop and a cafe.
| Cost: $19 for adults; discounts for students and seniors; children are free Website: Chicago History Museum Address: 1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 |
Chicago’s Museum Campus
Museum Campus is home to three museums located next to the lake, Grant Park, and Soldier Field. It is easy to get to by train, bus, and car. It is a bit of a walk from the L station to get here, but not bad for most people.
There are food booths set up throughout the area and tons of grassy space. There are even boats that you can take between the campus and Navy Pier. They are not expensive and a great way to see the city from the water.
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd is one of the largest aquariums in the United States. There are all kinds of exhibits, including reefs, oceans, and The Amazon. There is also one about wildlife in the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, which the museum is adjacent to. The cutest otters and penguins live at the museum along with millions of other sea animals and fish.
Some interactive exhibits allow you to touch the animals like stingrays and sea stars. There is also a 4-D theater, animal shows, and different experiences you can buy tickets for. These experiences include dolphin shows, shark feedings, and hanging out with penguins or otters.
| Cost: $40 for adults; $30 for children Website: Shedd Aquarium Address: 1200 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 |
Visit the Shedd Aquarium with the Chicago CityPASS!
Field Museum
The Field Museum is a vast National History Museum. There are exhibits in every country and period you could think of. Like most museums, there are tons of interactive exhibits for people of any age, some paid, some free. The ticketed events include 3D shows, an exhibition on the history of China, and others.
You could spend a whole day here and not see everything. If you are not a huge history buff, you could spend half a day here and see plenty, so grab a map and plan out what exhibits are most interesting to you.
| Cost: $26+ for adults; discounts for students, seniors, and children Website: Field Museum Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 |
Visit the Field Museum with the Chicago CityPASS!
Adler Planetarium
The Planetarium is at the tip of Northerly Island and at the east end of the Museum Campus. It is located at the end of a peninsula, so the views of the city and the water from the Planetarium are great!
The museum itself is small compared to the others, but there is a lot to see and learn. There are exhibits on everything, including astronomy, the planets, the moon, telescopes, and Chicago’s sky. The museum is great for kids who want a hands-on experience and adults who want a fun but detailed experience. There are a variety of shows to see in multiple theaters throughout the museum. One popular show is in a dome theater where the audience lays back and looks up into the sky.
| Cost: $19+ for adults; $8+ for children Website: Adler Planetarium Address: 1300 S Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605 |
Visit the Adler Planetarium with the Chicago CityPASS!
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chicago. It has everything, including restaurants, bars, amusement rides, boat tours, shopping, and great city views. It is easy to get here, especially by bus or car.
The Pier itself is part indoors, part outdoors, with many of the restaurants spanning both. The pier stretches over half a mile long, so take a walk outside if the weather is nice. The Pier itself is part indoors, part outdoors, with many of the restaurants spanning both.
The shops are great for tourists, as they are mostly Chicago souvenir shops. They also have booths in the front of the building that sell jewelry, purses, fun socks, and much more. There are also boats lined up along the lake that you can buy tickets to ride. Some rides are just for fun, and others will give an architectural tour of downtown.
| Cost: Free entry; some attractions may have an additional fee Website: Navy Pier Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 |
Chicago’s Observation Decks
Visit Chicago’s Observation Decks with the Chicago CityPASS!
Chicago has two observation decks that give breathtaking views of the city and the lake. Both offer daytime tickets, nighttime tickets, and double passes, so you can go twice (once at night, once during the day).
It can be pricey to get into either, especially if you are with a family or a large group, but the views are unbeatable if you can spend the money.
The Skydeck – The Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
The Willis Tower, also known as The Sears Tower, is the tallest building in Chicago. The Skydeck on the 103rd floor gives a great view of the entire city. The west side of the floor has an area with glass ledges jutting out where you can stand for pictures… just don’t look down!
The building is in a business area, so there are not any other tourist attractions nearby. However, getting here is very accessible by all public transit since it is in the city’s center. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants nearby.
Visit the Skydeck with the Chicago CityPASS!
| Cost: $26+ for adults; $18+ for children Website: Skydeck Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606 |
360 Chicago – John Hancock Building
The 360 Chicago deck is in the John Hancock building off of North Michigan Avenue. It is the fourth tallest building in Chicago, and the observation deck is located on the 94th floor.
The big attractions at 360 Chicago are the upscale bar and the Tilt ride. The bar is inside the observation deck, so you need to buy general admission to access it. The Tilt is a “high-thrill attraction” where you stand up against a window that tilts down towards the ground. It is similar to the ledges at the Sears Tower, but the Tilt costs money.
Michigan Avenue has plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment nearby, so you can make a full afternoon or evening out of your visit.
Visit 360 Chicago with the Chicago CityPASS!
| Cost: $25 for adults; $15 for children Website: 360 Chicago Address: 875 N Michigan Ave 94th floor, Chicago, IL 60611 |
Downtown Chicago
Millennium Park & The Bean
Millennium Park is on the east side of the Downtown Loop. The Bean, a famous symbol of Chicago, is located here. There is also an outdoor concert venue that holds a lot of summer concerts and other events.
Grant Park
Just south of Millennium Park is Grant Park. The park is where Lollapalooza, the city’s largest summer music festival, takes place. Grant Park is also home to The Art Institute and Buckingham Fountain.
Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile is part of North Michigan Avenue that includes tons of upscale shopping, dining, entertainment, and hotels. At the north end of the street is Water Tower Place. Water Tower Place has a shopping mall, hotel, condominiums, and a movie theater.
River Walk
Along the Chicago River is a walking path that many people use to get around and for exercise. The River Walk is a great way to get around the Loop to avoid stoplights and streets. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and boat tours along the walk if you are looking for things to do. It is also a great way to walk to Navy Pier if you are coming from The Loop.
Chicago’s Lakefront Trail
The walking/running/biking trail is 20 miles long adjacent to Lake Michigan. It spans almost the entire city, and it is a great place to walk or bike if you want to see the lake. The trail is an excellent way to get from north to south or vice versa, especially if you have a bike.
Chicago Sporting Events
Baseball
Chicago has two Major League Baseball teams that makeup one of the biggest rivalries in professional sports. The Cubs are on the Northside, and The White Sox are on the Southside.
It is unlikely that both teams are in town simultaneously unless they are playing each other. However, there is almost always one team here during the season, so it is easy to catch a game in the summer.
Chicago Cubs
Most people would prioritize visiting Wrigley Field if they could only see one game. Wrigley, home of The Cubs, is over one hundred years old and is one of the most famous ballparks in baseball.
The Cubs have been strong playoff contenders since 2016, when they won their first World Series in over one hundred years. This makes their tickets pretty expensive, and most games are sold out. If you are planning on catching a game here, plan ahead. There is also no public parking at Wrigley, so take public transit or get there really early to finding street or private parking.
The neighborhood, known as “Wrigleyville,” is full of bars, restaurants, and tons of people, especially on game days. It is a fun place to spend the afternoon before a game or the night after. If you visit the neighborhood on a non-game day, the bars have lots of food and drink specials.
Chicago White Sox
The other option is to visit Guaranteed Rate Field, home of The White Sox. Many people are hesitant to attend a game here since it is on the city’s “Southside,” which is thought to be dangerous.
However, the field is just south of the South Loop and Chinatown, so it is not too far south and is not in a violent neighborhood. Guaranteed Rate has a significant amount of parking which is how most people get to the games.
If you do not have a car or are coming from the city, taking the Redline is also an option. On game days, the train is packed with fans and everyday commuters alike. I have never felt unsafe going to a game here, even when I have taken the train alone as a young female college student. The parking lots have a great deal of security, and the ballpark is right off the highway. As the city’s less-victorious team (at least in recent years), tickets are much cheaper. They nearly always have specials or giveaways to draw in fans.
The stadium also serves some of the best and most unique food in baseball. They have specialty-loaded french fries with a bunch of toppings, a variety of tacos, and of course, some Chicago classics like beef, hot dogs, and pizza. Next to the field and one of the parking lots is the ChiSox bar and grill. They are open to fans before and after games, with post-game deals.
Football
The Chicago Bears are the city’s National Football League team. They play at Soldier Field starting in early August for preseason games. The season goes until late December or early January unless they make the playoffs.
Soldier Field is located on the lake in the South Loop neighborhood. There are no restaurants or bars located next to the field, but there are plenty in the South Loop neighborhood if you walk a few blocks west. The field has plenty of garage and outdoor parking available, along with plenty of bus and train routes nearby. Concerts and other sporting events like soccer and rugby are held here outside of football season.
Basketball
The Bulls are the city’s National Basketball Association team. They play at the United Center on the city’s west side. The neighborhood’s safety level is not the best, but it is safe to be there on game days with all the fans and security. There is not much to do in the area, so plan ahead if you are spending the day downtown. There are express buses that run from downtown when there are games, plus plenty of parking at the arena.
Hockey
A Blackhawks game at The United Center. The Blackhawks are the city’s National Hockey League team. Like The Bulls, The Hawks play at the United Center. This leaves little to do in the area, but there are plenty of concessions and activities inside the arena. There are express buses that run from downtown on game days, and parking is adequate. The Hawks were the best team in the NHL in the early 2010’s winning three championships. They have been a mid-level team since then, but the energy at games remains high as ever.
Soccer
The Chicago Fire FC is the city’s Major League Soccer team. The Fire is the most underrated major league sports team in the city, but they still have plenty of fans. They play at SeatGeek Stadium, which is located in the southwest suburbs near Midway Airport. There is not an easy or convenient way to get here on public transit, so plan ahead if you do want to catch a game.
The Holidays in Chicago
The Christkindlmarket
The Christkindlmarket is a seasonal market featuring tons of vendors from around the world, but mostly Germany. The little booths sell anything from food, desserts, ornaments, and spiced wine.
There are two locations, the main one being in The Daley Center in the downtown loop. This is the larger and busier market with significantly more vendors and more food options. The second is located in Wrigleyville, right outside of Wrigley Field. The Wrigley market is much smaller but also much less crowded. There is also an ice skating rink with skate rentals. There is no fee to enter either market, but it is worth getting a meal while you are there.
| Website: Christkindlmarket |
Shopping
There are many shopping options downtown. The biggest is The Magnificent Mile, also known as North Michigan Ave. There are hundreds of upscale stores on the street between Lake Shore Drive and the river. At the north end is Water Tower Place which houses the American Girl Store and over one hundred other stores.
If you are looking for department store shopping, especially during the holidays, Macy’s on State Street has eight floors. This includes the famous Walnut Room for dining, with a giant Christmas tree in the center during the holidays. The area surrounding Macy’s has many more shopping options, including Block 37, a large mall.
Ice skating
In the winter, Ice skating rinks are set up in both Maggie Daley and Millennium Parks. The two parks are adjacent to each other but offer different skating options.
Maggie Daley Park has a skating ribbon, which is longer than the traditional rink but has no ice center. Millennium Park has a conventional oval-shaped rink. Both offer skate rental, but there may be a wait at peak times.
Chicago’s Lights Festival
The Lights Festival is the start of the holiday season in Chicago, usually held the weekend before Thanksgiving. The main event is a parade down Michigan Avenue. Other events include a tree lighting, concerts, and other activities for families. If you want to attend any events held during the festival, plan ahead and get there early. The festival draws in thousands of people each year. There are more trains and buses running to accommodate the crowds. Parking can be found all around but will fill up quickly.
| Website: Lights Festival |
Other Places to Visit in Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo
Two miles north of downtown is Lincoln Park Zoo. Admission is free during regular hours, and there are plenty of animals to see. The south end of the zoo gives a great view of the downtown skyline. There is also a carousel in the zoo and gift shops, restaurants, and bars.
There are special events held here like craft beer nights, food tastings, and Zoo-lights. Zoo-lights is the holiday event when the entire zoo is covered in holiday lights. Zoo-lights is a free event but check their event calendar online before visiting because some events require a paid ticket.
| Cost: Free! Website: Lincoln Park Zoo Address: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 |
Chinatown
Chinatown is a neighborhood just south of downtown with shops and restaurants. The food is delicious, and it is a fun neighborhood to walk around. There is also The Chinese American Museum of Chicago if you want to learn some history.
Enjoy visiting Chicago!
Chicago is an amazing, diverse city, and visiting is well worth it. For more Midwest US travel, read about Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota here! For other great places to visit in the United States, read about St. Augustine, Florida!
*Everything is based on my own research and experiences. Prices are current as of publication. Nothing has been updated to reflect changes due to the COVID19 Pandemic. Always do your own research before visiting*