Tourist Attractions in Chicago

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Chicago

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Chicago

Chicago is more commonly thought of as the major industrial and financial core of the United States, and if you believe old American films, as the lair of the powerful Italian mafia led by Al Capone. However, the modern metropolis is one of the centres of tourism in the United States, which is visited by several million people a year.

Chicago has many parks, museums, modern shopping centres and trendy restaurants. The city builds on the shores of Lake Michigan. It boasts a well-maintained coastal strip and excellent city beaches. Sunbathing, lying on the golden sand against the background of glass skyscrapers, enjoy bathing and sunshine, but in five minutes be ready to plunge into the dynamic life of the metropolis – what could be better for an active and inquisitive tourist.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Chicago

Millennium Park

 4.7/5

78645 reviews

A 100 thousand m² urban green oasis in the centre of Chicago. It was created at the beginning of the 21st century and almost immediately gained popularity for its original design, convenience and beauty of landscapes. Unusual sculptures, art objects and installations are scattered throughout the park. Exhibitions of contemporary art are held on the territory. Under the park is a railway station and a large underground car park.

Open time

Monday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Crown Fountain

 4.7/5

4709 reviews

The unique fountain in Millennium Park, designed by Jaume Plens, is a real engineering feat. The structure is a video installation placed on large screens-facades from which jets of water spurt out. The image on the screens is constantly changing and is reflected in the water surface of the black marble pool. The realisation of this solution required quite complex technical research.

Open time

Cloud Gate

 4.7/5

28551 reviews

A sculpture on the territory of Millennium Park. Locals have nicknamed it the “mirror bean”, because the contours of the structure really resemble a bean bean. The object has become one of the symbols of progressive Chicago, the avant-garde of modern art and a territory of inspiration for ultra-fashionable artists. The sculpture was designed by Anish Kapoor, a master craftsman invited from London.

Open time

Navy Pier

 4.6/5

73296 reviews

A promenade stretching along Lake Michigan for several hundred metres. The pier was built in the early 20th century for purely practical purposes – to provide logistics along the river and lake. In parallel, tourist ferries were launched. Very soon the inhabitants took a liking to this place and started to organise picnics there. Over time, cafes, landscaped children’s playgrounds, gardens, shops and attractions appeared.

Open time

Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Magnificent Mile

 0/5

Paris has the Champs Elysees, New York has Fifth Avenue, and Chicago has the Magnificent Mile. This is a shopping street, one of the sections of Michigan Avenue, around which the most prestigious areas of the city are located. In these places property costs fabulous money. On the Magnificent Mile are concentrated shops, hotels and restaurants, there are always a lot of people – both residents and visitors to Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago

 4.8/5

31262 reviews

School and museum founded in 1879 by an organisation of American artists. In 1893, the organisation received a new building, which it still occupies. The museum exhibits a rich collection of Impressionists (Monet, Renoir, Cézanne) as well as works by Picasso, Matisse, Warhol and many other worthy masters. Also on view at the Art Institute of Chicago are exhibitions of weaponry, photography, African art, and Asian culture.

Open time

Monday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

 4.7/5

28090 reviews

An unusual museum and at the same time a research centre for the Western Hemisphere. It is housed in the premises built for the opening of the World Exhibition in 1893. The exhibits are shown in dynamics, many of them are life-size. For children, there is a scaled-down replica of a railway, which functions like a real one, and a doll’s palace.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Field Museum

 4.7/5

23772 reviews

A museum complex on the shore of Lake Michigan, which houses collections dedicated to the natural history of the planet. The exposition has about 20 million specimens, so even a cursory inspection will take several days. The space of the museum is divided into thematic areas: anthropology, geology, zoology. A valuable relic of the Field Museum is the largest preserved Tyrannosaurus skeleton.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Adler Planetarium

 4.3/5

2090 reviews

Space theatre and museum built with funds from the retired businessman Max Adler. The first visitors were admitted to the planetarium in 1930. Thanks to the generous cash infusion of the former businessman, navigational and astronomical machinery was purchased in ample quantities for the exhibit. The Chicago Planetarium is the first planetarium in the United States.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Shedd Aquarium

 4.6/5

29132 reviews

A huge aquarium on the Chicago Museum Campus. It is considered one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. It contains huge whales, sharks, penguins, crocodiles, octopuses and quite a variety of fish. In addition to sea creatures, the Shedd Aquarium is home to iguanas, snakes, birds, otters, sea lions – a total of more than 2,000 species of animals and 25,000 individuals.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Chicago Cultural Center

 4.7/5

5214 reviews

A complex where exhibitions, presentations, screenings and other cultural events are constantly taking place. It also hosts the Chicago Children’s Choir. The centre opened at the end of the XIX century. At first it housed the Chicago Public Library and the Veterans Union. Later, both organisations moved to other locations, and the building became the city’s cultural centre, open to all comers.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Chicago Theatre

 4.7/5

8381 reviews

A cultural monument of the early 20th century, one of the important centres of art in Chicago. From the very opening, the theatre was used very widely, concerts, magic shows, theatrical productions, and comedians’ performances were held there. Many people always gathered for the performances, as the venue quickly gained the people’s love. Nowadays, the popularity of the theatre remains at a high level, and artists from all over the States come here to tour.

Open time

Willis Tower

 4.5/5

21182 reviews

Chicago skyscraper, which was considered the tallest in the world until 2009 (then Sears Tower took over). It should be noted that Chicago has always built the tallest skyscrapers in America. Willis Tower consists of 110 floors, the height of the building is 442 metres, and together with the antennas on the roof – 527 metres. The main architect of this grandiose project was Bruce Graham. The structure is supported up to the 90th floor by a system of powerful internal supports.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

875 North Michigan Avenue

 4.7/5

18599 reviews

A 100-storey skyscraper, another grandiose “high-rise” in Chicago. The name “Big John” is firmly attached to the skyscraper among locals. Construction was completed by 1970. On the 94th floor there is an observation deck, from where you can look at Chicago from a really “mind-blowing” angle. Inside the skyscraper is divided into business and residential areas.

Open time

Wrigley Field

 4.8/5

31293 reviews

Arena for the games of the most popular sport in the United States. The stadium always gathers full stands of fans during numerous cup games. For about 100 years Wrigley Field has been the home field of the Chicago Cubs. The stadium is an open space with bleachers set up around the perimeter. On the roofs of the surrounding houses, enterprising owners have also organised seats for spectators.

Open time

Lincoln Park Zoo

 4.6/5

31685 reviews

Zoo on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the oldest in the New World. It opened in the middle of the 19th century. Now the zoo is one of the most popular attractions of Chicago, it works without weekends on a very convenient schedule. A comfortable and natural habitat is created for the animals, sometimes it seems that they just wander among the trees and can easily approach visitors.

Open time

Buckingham Fountain

 4.7/5

14743 reviews

A picturesque architectural composition on the grounds of Grat Park. The fountain was built on private funds of one of the bankers. The sculptural group is made in the rococo style and from afar resembles a wedding cake. Four layers of this “cake” symbolise the states surrounding Michigan, and the water jets are the lake itself. During the warmer months of the year, light shows are organised here, with several light sources taking part.

Open time

Chicago Water Tower

 4.8/5

67 reviews

One of the city’s oldest structures, surviving from 1869. The tower survived the “great fire” of 1871, during which almost the entire town was destroyed. Several times it was tried to be demolished, but the residents stood up for the structure. It is believed that the tower is haunted by the ghost of the caretaker. During the fire, he climbed to the top and hanged himself to avoid an agonising death by fire.

Open time

Chicago River

 4.7/5

201 reviews

The river connects the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, the total length of the riverbed is just over 250 kilometres. As a result of the rapid industrial development of Chicago in the 19th century, the waters of the river were heavily polluted, and epidemics broke out in the city after heavy rains and flooding. In 1900, the channel was diverted to the Mississippi River basin. There are 38 drawbridges spanning the Chicago River within the city limits.

Chicago

 0/5

The largest freshwater lake in the United States, part of the Great Lakes system. Michigan is entirely within the United States, unlike the other lakes. It is called the “third coast of the United States” after the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as it has excellent sandy beaches. You can swim in the lake all summer long, even at the end of August the water is still warm enough.