Things to Do in Chicago

Things to Do in Chicago, IL - Chicago Attractions

Things to Do in Chicago

Popular things to do

Ways to tour Chicago

Book these experiences for a close-up look at Chicago.

BEST SELLER
Chicago Architecture River Cruise
2,644
City Tours
from $44.69 per adult
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90-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour
378
City Tours
from $40.00 per adult
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Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago
1,330
City Tours
from $27.00 per adult
BEST SELLER
Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour
179
City Tours
from $40.00 per adult
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Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise
55
City Tours
from $27.25 per adult
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45-Minute Chicago Architecture Boat Tour from Chicago Riverwalk
10
Water Tours
from $23.00 per adult
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Chicago Sunset Cruise
24
Adventure Tours
from $40.00 per adult
BEST SELLER
Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour
605
Bus Tours
from $45.00 per adult
BEST SELLER
Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
658
Bus Tours
from $26.10 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Chicago Architecture Boat Tour
324
Day Cruises
from $32.00 per adult

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Top Attractions in Chicago

1. The Art Institute of Chicago

Art Museums

Grant Park

The first was major retrospective of the Chicago influenced works of John Singer Sargent, who had many patrons among…

2. Museum of Science and Industry

Science Museums

Hyde Park

It’s hosted in a historic building which has been internally redesign to accommodate huge equipment like an airplane, a…

3. 360 Chicago Observation Deck

Architectural Buildings • Observation Decks & Towers

Near North Side

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Open now

Soaring 1,000 feet over North Michigan Avenue and located on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center, the newly named…

4. Cloud Gate

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

Millennium Park

Young and old, Hispanic and Asian, cross -cultural and cross-gender, the object known affectionately as "the bean…

5. Millennium Park

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks

Millennium Park

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Open now

It extends from the puffed, exploding steel wings surrounding the stage like a magnificent Star Wars creature!

6. Field Museum

Natural History Museums • Science Museums

South Loop

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Open now

Admission tickets from $26.00

This museum is a voyage around the world of today and up to 4 billion years ago.

7. Wrigley Field

Arenas & Stadiums

North Side

Wrigley Field represents the history of a great American Tradition.

8. The Magnificent Mile

Neighborhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Near North Side

By GlobetrottingSwede

This avenue has it all: historical buildings, modern skyscrapers, world famous brand stores, American brand stores…

9. Chicago Riverwalk

Historic Walking Areas

Downtown / The Loop

Begun years ago, the Chicago River has been turned into an almost pristine waterway.

10. Lincoln Park Zoo

Zoos

North Side

The zoo has world class habitats for it collection of animals, and is itself surrounded by Lincoln Park.

11. Chicago Cultural Center

Art Galleries • Architectural Buildings

Downtown / The Loop

As the original Chicago Public Library, it is step in history.

12. Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Speciality Museums • Art Museums

Near North Side

By spearshaker69

The Driehaus Museum is a carefully preserved mansion featuring the most luxurious furnishings and decorative arts…

13. Garfield Park Conservatory

Historic Sites • Gardens

East Garfield Park

By O4746LPsarahv

The theme is designed to show how plants can take material from the air, the soil or water and, combined with energy…

14. Shedd Aquarium

Aquariums

South Loop

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Open now

This legendary aquarium, which opened in 1930, is round, and features "wings" of exhibits.

15. Lakefront Trail

Biking Trails • Hiking Trails

Near North Side

The trail is 18 plus miles and passes through four major Chicago parks and several of its greatest neighborhoods.

16. The Loop

Neighborhoods

Downtown / The Loop

It has been carved in the history of Chicago and will be passed on to the next generation!

17. Buckingham Fountain

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Fountains

Grant Park

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Open now

It has been designated as a Chicago Landmark and a contributing feature within Grant Park’s listing on the National…

18. Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Downtown / The Loop

The Willis Tower gives a physical presence to Chicago's skyline that creates a focal point for all the other buildings…

19. Lincoln Park

Parks

North Side

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Open now

Nestled between some of Chicago's iconic neighborhoods and Lake Michigan.

20. Chicago Skyline

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Downtown / The Loop

As a city of the last 150 years the sky is filled with Deco wonders and modern reflections.

21. United Center

Arenas & Stadiums

Near West Side

It hosts more than 200 events per year and has drawn over 20 million visitors since opening.

22. The Chicago Theatre

Theaters

Downtown / The Loop

Built in 1921, from 1925 to 1945 the Chicago Theatre was a dominant movie theater enterprise.

23. Chicago History Museum

History Museums

North Side

The Chicago History Museum is an institution that has evolved with the great metropolis, in this building complex at…

24. Lincoln Park Conservatory

Gardens

North Side

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Open now

By yougetwhatyoudeserve

It encapsulates many tropical plants which whose survival in the Chicago winter is made possible in this glasshouse…

25. Goose Island Beer Co.

Breweries

Near West Side

By tonytigerjaz

Goose Island Brewery is a brewery in Chicago, that began as a single brewpub opened in 1988 in Lincoln Park, and named…

26. American Writers Museum

Speciality Museums

Downtown / The Loop

Admission tickets from $14.00

This new museum on Michigan Ave. in Chicago is the ONLY museum dedicated to American writers in the country.

27. Maggie Daley Park

Parks • Playgrounds

Downtown / The Loop

It continues the city's success in transforming formerly under utilized park property to give its residents the best…

28. Navy Pier

Amusement & Theme Parks • Piers & Boardwalks

Near North Side

Navy Pier is a Chicago landmark that originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreational facility.

29. Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House

Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

Hyde Park

Admission tickets from $27.00

By arthistory4me

The house is Frank Lloyd Wright's final prairie style architectural house and it encapsulates the finest elements of…

30. The Rookery Building

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Downtown / The Loop

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Open now

The building dates back to 1885 and was the product of some of the country’s finest architects, like Daniel Burnham and…

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Holiday & Seasonal Tours

Theaters

City Tours

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Frequently Asked Questions about Chicago

The top attractions to visit in Chicago are:

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The best outdoor activities in Chicago according to Tripadvisor travelers are:

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The best day trips from Chicago according to Tripadvisor travelers are:

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The most popular things to do in Chicago with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:

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