Chicago, Illinois is full of incredible things to do. The city is versatile and hosts activities to suit any preference. I recently explored the city with my Mom and Sisters, and I’m sharing 12 Chicago Attractions you HAVE to see! Use this list as a starting point and let me help you plan the BEST trip to Chicago!
As you read you’ll notice that I share a little bit about each place – I make an effort to share some background, fun facts, and what to expect. These details are in black text.
I then share a personal anecdote- a little bit about my experience, things I enjoyed or disliked, and other suggestions. These details are in maroon text.
12 Chicago Attractions
Millennium Park
One cool things about Chicago is its protected lakeshore. Multiple parks separate Lake Michigan from the hustle and bustle of the city. One of Chicago’s most renowned is Millennium Park.
Cloud Gate (AKA the Bean)
Free – 6am- 11pm Daily.
Even if you have very little knowledge of Chicago you have seen the giant “bean” that sits in Millennium Park. Formally known as Cloud Gate, this massive structure is designed to be an interactive outdoor art instillation. The reflective shell connects the viewer with the city, the sky, and the people around them.
As one of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions, Cloud Gate is ALWAYS busy. Each time we passed by there were hoards of people. On our second day we chose to arrive at Millennium Park for sunrise. In addition to seeing the structure in various light we had the opportunity to capture some photos unobstructed.
Cloud Gate is 33 feet tall, 42 feet wide, 66 feet long and weighs 110 tons.
Art Institute of Chicago
$32 for Adults (prices vary for students, seniors, children, Chicago/Illinois residents) – 11am to 8pm on Thursday, 11am to 5pm Friday to Monday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Also located in Millennium Park, the Arts Institute of Chicago is a massive museum holding thousands of art pieces. With works by historical artists like van Gogh, Warhol, Seurat, etc. the Chicago Art Institute draws onlookers from across the world.
We spent just under two hours exploring the Art Institute of Chicago. When we first arrived we planned to see each room; we quickly realized how expansive the museum was. Even at a quick pace, it could have taken us all day to see everything. We ended up choosing a few things we wanted to see and used the museum map to bounce around.
Willis Tower – Skydeck Chicago
$30-44 Depending on when you visit – 9am to 10pm Daily.
Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) is the tallest building in Chicago at 103 stories plus a 200 foot spire. From 1974-1998 Willis Tower was the tallest building in the world! Skydeck is the 103rd floor and provides visitors with 36o degree views of Chicago. This unique attraction also hosts a neat feature called “The Ledge”- several fiberglass boxes extend from the building allowing you to look 103 floors straight down!
Skydeck was one of the top Chicago Attractions I wanted to experience. Several photos of the Ledge came up during my travel planning and wanted to see it for myself. We spent about an hour at Willis Tower. When we arrived and scanned our tickets there was a short informational area detailing the history of Architecture in Chicago. It was neat to see replicas of some of the most iconic Chicago buildings. After taking a high-speed elevator to the top floor we spent about 20 minutes admiring the city.
In order to experience The Ledge you have to stand in a stanchioned line. The line moves surprisingly quickly- but so will your opportunity to be in one of the glass boxes! Once at the front of the line you’re directed to a box and a monitor takes your photo. Once the photo is taken you are given 90 seconds to take as many photos as you would like, or to just experience The Ledge. You can get in line as many times as you would like.
Theaters in Chicago
Theater in Chicago is incredibly popular. With five high-profile theaters in Downtown, the odds of finding something you would like to see are high. Be sure to check out broadwayinchicago.com before your trip to see what’s playing while you’re there.
While in Chicago we took in “The Book of Mormon” at Cadillac Palace Theater. This was a fun way to spend an evening during our Chicago girls trip.
The Chicago Theater is located right next to a Metro station.
We used our Chicago CityPASS to see The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and to experience Skydeck Chicago, and the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Boat Tour.
For more information, read my related post- Chicago CityPASS: An Honest Review
Chicago Riverwalk
Free – 6am to 11pm Daily.
The Chicago Riverwalk is a 1.25 mile paved trail that goes alongside the Chicago River. At any point along the trail you can admire the unique architecture of the city in addition to beautiful views of the waterway. There are several benches and seating areas that would make for a great spot to grab a bite to eat.
At several moments over our three day adventure we spent time on the Riverwalk. We went intentionally to see it, but also found ourselves taking the Riverwalk to get from one attraction to another. If you’re visiting Chicago- your trip isn’t complete without enjoying this space.
Navy Pier
Free to visit (Attractions at additional cost) – See hours below.
Navy Pier was built in 1916 and was originally a center for shipping/receiving and recreation. Over the years the space was transformed and renovated to become entirely public space. In 2016 Centennial Wheel was constructed to celebrate 100 years. Today Navy Pier is host to large public spaces, food and drink, family-friendly activities, community events, and more! For additional information about Navy Pier CLICK HERE. (Don’t forget to check the events calendar before you visit!)
We added visiting Navy Pier to our Chicago Riverwalk itinerary item. We spent about two hours walking the Riverwalk, admiring the city from Navy Pier, and watching the boats on Lake Michigan. Centennial Wheel and the other rides are open 11am-9pm on Sunday-Thursday and 11am-10pm on Friday-Saturday; we visited in the morning so we didn’t experience these attractions. If I visit Chicago again I would love to visit Navy Pier in the evening- they regularly have fireworks!
Chicago Cultural Center
Free – 10am-5pm daily (closed on Mondays).
The Chicago Cultural Center is located in Downtown Chicago just across from Millennium Park. The building was constructed in 1897 and originally functioned as a public library; it was established as the Cultural Center in 1991. This Chicago cornerstone has many draws including magnificent architecture, rich history, and many events and exhibitions.
On the day we were visiting the Cultural Center we watched these Virtual Tours while eating breakfast. These videos explain the history of the building in addition to detailing the unique architectural aspects. It was fun to have some background prior to visiting. We found ourselves recognizing things, and pointing out details to each other that we had learned about earlier in the day. We spent about an hour here and found it to be more than enough time to admire the architecture and enjoy the art exhibits and installations.
Architecture River Tour
$47 (Tickets may be more expensive at premium times) – Tours run from 10am to 7:30pm Daily.
Chicago has several Architecture River Tours; the tour company we chose to go though (and that was part of CityPASS) was Shoreline Sightseeing. While they have several tours, the most popular is the Architecture River Tour. This tour is 75 minutes and provides great detail about Chicago’s history and Architecture.
Prior to leaving an Architecture River Tour was suggested by MANY people. After visiting I completely understand why! This was one of our favorite Chicago Attractions- we enjoyed learning about the unique buildings that boarder the Chicago River. Our tour guide was Keegan and he did a wonderful job of educating us while keeping us entertained throughout the trip!
Museum of Science and Industry
$25 – 9:30am-4:00pm Daily.
Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is a little further from Downtown than many of the other attractions. However, if you’re interested in science and interactive exhibits it is worth the trip! The Museum of Science and Industry hosts over 20 exhibits at a time, there really is something for everyone. $25 covers the entry to the museum, but be prepared to pay additionally for some exhibits or experiences.
I have to admit- I was a little skeptical about this museum prior to our trip. As an Athletic Trainer I do have an interest in biology and human physiology, but most of my science knowledge ends there. Once we were there I found the exhibits to be interesting and I found myself enjoying the museum immensely. We spent about 2.5 hours exploring the Museum of Science and Industry.
My favorite exhibit was the U-505 submarine. I loved learning naval history about WW2, and I was fascinated to see the massive submarine- one of few on display in the world.
Shedd Aquarium
$35-$45 – 9am-5pm Weekdays, 9am-6pm Weekends and Holidays.
Shedd Aquarium is home to thousands of plant and animal species making up dozens of different exhibits. There are four levels to this aquarium so be sure to leave plenty of time! This is one of the 8 Chicago Attractions available through CityPASS.
We spent around 2 hours at Shedd Aquarium and had a great time. The was staff is knowledgable and the exhibits are unique and interesting. We got the Aquarium around 9 on a weekend and found that it began to get busy closer to 11am.
Lincoln Park
Free – 6am-11pm Daily.
In addition to including one of Chicago’s largest parks, Lincoln Park is also a neighborhood. This area of town in brimming with culture and awesome things to do a few of which include: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, the Chicago History Museum, and more!
We spent a few hours enjoying Lincoln Park while we were in Chicago. This park is full of great trails and unbeatable views of Lake Michigan.
Chicago Athletic Events
Varying Prices – Varying Times
The City of Chicago is home to a plethora of popular sports teams. No matter what your preference there is something for you in Chicago. Sports teams include: the Chicago Cubs (baseball), the Chicago White Sox (baseball), the Chicago Bulls (mens basketball), the Chicago Sky (Womens basketball), the Chicago Bears (football), the Chicago Black Hawks (hockey), the Chicago Wolves (hockey), the Chicago Fire (soccer), and the Chicago Red Stars (soccer). More information HERE!
Although we didn’t catch a sporting event while visiting, we did stop at the home of the Chicago Cubs- Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field is the oldest ballpark in the National League. Growing up, our local softball and baseball programs were the “Cubs” so this was a fun place to visit.
Chicago is an incredible city and the attractions are unparalleled. We had an incredible time during our three day adventure and I already can’t wait to go back!
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