Things to do in Chicago
Let the Windy City blow you away. Start Downtown and check out the Chicago Cultural Center; admire the building itself and find out more at the Visitors' Center. Nearby is the must-see Millennium Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. Hop on a bus to the Museum Campus to explore the sea at the John G Shedd Aquarium and the sky at the Adler Planetarium. Then travel to Near North to Navy Pier and the towering John Hancock Observatory.
Museums and Galleries
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1. Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum - Museums and Galleries
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Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum on Museum Campus opened in 1930. It continues to fuel the imagination of visitors with new exhibits and state-of-the-art computer technology in the Sky Theater where you can choose which part of the universe to visit.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$10-US$25; 3-14 yrs US$6-US21; seniors US$8-US$23; discounts for Chicago residents
Opening hours
Daily 10am-4pm (till 4.30pm Sat & Sun & till 6pm mid Jun-mid Sep)
Address
1300, South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 60605
Telephone
+1 312 922 7827
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2. Museum of Contemporary Art - Museums and Galleries
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One of the nation's largest contemporary art museums, Chicago's cutting-edge Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) near North concentrates on surrealism, minimalism and photographic works. Rotating exhibits have included creations by notables like Claes Oldenburg and Alexander Calder.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$12; students and seniors US$7
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (until 8pm Tue)
Address
220, East Chicago Avenue, Near North, Chicago 60611
Telephone
+1 312 280 2660
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3. Museum of Science and Industry - Museums and Galleries
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Descend into a coal mine, walk through a human heart or a WWII German submarine at Hyde Park's Museum of Science and Industry. The twinkling of a magic, miniature fairy castle is beguiling. Permanent and visiting exhibits delight all ages.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$13; seniors US$12; 3-11 yrs US$9
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Address
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 60637
Telephone
+1 773 684 1414
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4. The Field Museum - Museums and Galleries
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The Field Museum on Museum Campus houses 65-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex 'Sue'. Check out city streets and beautiful Sahara in the 'Africa' exhibit and mummies in 'Inside Ancient Egypt'. 'Shrink' to insect size and burrow into the soil at Underground Adventure.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$23; concessions US$20
Opening hours
Daily 9am-5pm
Address
1400, South Lake Shore Drive, Museum Campus, Chicago 60605
Telephone
+1 312 922 9410
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5. Art Institute of Chicago - Museums and Galleries
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Bronze lions guard the Art Institute of Chicago's entrance, one of the world's finest art museums, downtown. Works by Monet, Cassatt, Renoir and Degas are on show, as are collections of African, Ancient American and 'modern' American art.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$18; concessions US$12; under-12s free; free Thu 5pm-8pm
Opening hours
Mon-Wed 10.30am-5pm; Thu & Fri 10.30am-9pm; Sat & Sun 10am-5pm
Address
111, South Michigan Avenue, Loop /Downtown, Chicago 60603
Telephone
+1 312 443 3600
Attractions
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6. Chicago Cultural Center - Attractions
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The three-storey Chicago Cultural Center is located on East Washington Street Downtown and boasts the world's largest Tiffany dome. This grand venue hosts numerous cultural events as well as being home to the Chicago Office of Tourism.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Mon-Thu 8am-7pm; Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 10am-6pm; closed holidays
Address
78, East Washington Street, Chicago 60602
Telephone
+1 312 744 6630
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7. John Hancock Center and Observatory - Attractions
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The towering John Hancock Center and Observatory, 344m (1,127ft), is shorter than the Sears Tower but less crowded and more scenic. On clear days, the Downtown observatory view takes in 129km (80 miles), four states and the Lake Michigan shoreline.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$15, seniors US$14, 4-11 yrs US$10
Opening hours
Daily 9am-11pm
Address
875, John Hancock Center, North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60661
Telephone
+1 888 875 8439
Transport
Chicago/State Subway
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8. Millennium Park - Attractions
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Chicago's 24.5-acre Millennium Park is a centre for art, music, architecture and landscape design and hosts a variety of events Downtown. Be mesmerised by 15.24m-tall (50 foot) glass fountains. Stroll the Lurie Gardens or pass Frank Gehry's groundbreaking concert venue.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
24 hours
Address
55, North Michigan Avenue, Loop/Downtown, Chicago 60602
Telephone
+1 312 742 1168
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9. The Skydeck - Attractions
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The Willis Tower is America's tallest building at 443m (1,454 feet), and visitors can ascend to the 103rd floor's Skydeck for views up to 80km. One of the world's fastest lifts (488m per minute) reaches the top in 70 seconds.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$14.95; 3-11 yrs US$10.50
Opening hours
Daily: Apr-Sep 9am-10pm; Oct-Mar 10am-8pm
Address
233, South Wacker Drive, West Loop, Chicago 60606
Telephone
+1 312 875 9696
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10. Navy Pier - Attractions
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A municipal pier dating to 1914 but renovated in the mid-90s, Navy Pier stretches 800 metres into Lake Michigan, and is full of shops, restaurants and entertainment. It includes a giant Ferris Wheel, Shakespeare Theater and a stained-glass museum.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Daily 10am-7pm but hours vary widely with seasons and days
Address
600, East Grand Avenue, Near North, Chicago 60611
Telephone
+1 312 595 7437 or +1 800 595 7437
Special things to do
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11. Chicago Neighborhood Tours - Special things to do
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Learn about its diverse neighbourhoods with Chicago Neighborhood Tours. For example, the late 19th-century Pullman Historic District was the nation's first industrial community. Built to house Pullman Palace Car workers, everything in this model town was company owned. Reservations necessary.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$30, seniors, students and children 8-18 US$25, special interest: US$50; seniors, students and children 8-18 US$45
Opening hours
Daily 10am
Address
78, Chicago Cultural Center, East Washington Street, Chicago 60602
Telephone
+1 312 742 1190
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12. John G. Shedd Aquarium - Special things to do
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At the faux-Greek-style John G Shedd Aquarium on Museum Campus, 8000 creatures from 650 species like sharks, dolphins, giant octopi and tiny clown fish live. There's an oceanarium and giant anacondas slither at Amazon Rising.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$24.95; 3-11s US$17.95
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-6pm; end of May to first week in Sep: daily 9am-6pm
Address
1200, South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 60605
Telephone
+1 312 939 2438
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13. Untouchable Tours - Special things to do
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Touring the haunts and infamous sites of 1920s gangsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger is a fun time for young and old alike. Untouchable Tours guides relate gangster lore, make bad jokes and pass around garlic in Little Italy.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
US$28; children US$24
Opening hours
Various
Address
Clark Street and Ohio Avenue, Chicago 60610
Telephone
+1 773 881 1195
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14. Lincoln Park Zoo - Special things to do
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Bordering Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park Zoo is a favourite with visitors and locals. Popular attractions include the Great Ape, elephant and lion houses. Small mammals and reptiles prefer the glass dome enclosure that simulates their river, jungle and forest habitats.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Apr-May & Sep-Oct 10am-5pm; Memorial Day-Labor Day Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat & Sun 10am-6.30pm; Nov-Mar 10am-4.30pm
Address
2200, North Cannon Street, Lincoln Park, Chicago 60614
Telephone
+1 312 742 2000
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15. Chicago Architectural Foundation Tours - Special things to do
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A multitude of Chicago Architectural Foundation Tours examine the city's fascinating architecture, particularly Downtown. One of the most interesting is the Architecture River Cruise. Floating down the Chicago River, you see and learn about 50 significant sites.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Various
Opening hours
Various
Address
Chicago Architecture Foundation ArchiCenter Shop & Tour Center, 224 South Michigan Avenue, Loop/Downtown, Chicago 60604
Telephone
+1 312 922 3432
