The BEST Things To Do In Chicago, Illinois 📍

Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks.

Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works from all over the world, spanning many centuries.

Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

Price Range: €€€

Huge outdoor sculpture shaped like a bean & allowing for views from its many mirrored sides.

Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

103rd floor of the Willis Tower with clear observation boxes & views extending to four states.

Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

State-of-the-art indoor aquarium, famous for its variety of habitats & views of Lake Michigan.

Address: 1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

Price Range: €€€

State-of-the-art museum of science & invention, with the world's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

Price Range: €€€

57-acre grounds with the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium & Field Museum, plus dining & lake beach.

Address: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Iconic, 110-story skyscraper featuring expansive views of Chicago from its 103rd-story Skydeck.

Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Skyscraper observation deck offering panoramic city views from 1,000 feet up, plus food & drink.

Address: 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Observatory on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building with a tilting glass lookout 1000ft up.

Address: 875 N Michigan Ave 94th floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Among the world’s largest, Grant Park’s 3-level rococo fountain (1927) offers light & water shows.

Address: 301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

184-acre park with a swimming pool, fishing lagoon, athletic fields & tennis courts.

Address: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624, United States

Popular recreational area with winter ice skating, a climbing wall & playground equipment.

Address: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Family museum on Navy Pier with lots of interactive exhibits, including many for young kids.

Address: 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Price Range: €€€

Downtown museum showcasing post-World War II paintings, sculptures, photos, videos & performances.

Address: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Address: 177 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Free art & shows in an 1897 Beaux-Arts building with vaulted lobby, mosaics & 2 stained-glass domes.

Address: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Public sculpture with 2 50-ft. LED towers & a reflecting pool, by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa.

Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Long-standing drawbridge honoring a founder of Chicago & decorated with sculptures & plaques.

Address: 333 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Beloved 1924 addition to the city skyline, whose clock tower stands 425 ft above street level.

Address: 400-410 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Thousands of exotic plants in an 1890 glass structure, plus outdoor gardens & fountains.

Address: 2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Chinatown park on the Chicago River with Chinese-style landscaping, a playground & kayak rentals.

Address: 1700 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

Suburban recreational area with soccer & baseball fields, tennis courts & playgrounds, plus a beach.

Address: 1400 N Humboldt Dr, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

Multi-sensory, contemporary installations by artists including Yayoi Kusama.

Address: 1130 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Some 18,000 paintings, photographs, sculptures & more are housed at this art museum.

Address: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States

Address: 47 W Polk St suite l5 basement, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

This smaller park at the entrance to Navy Pier features a big fountain, promenade & rolling lawn.

Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Interactive exhibits & high-tech sky shows entertain stargazers, lakefront views are a bonus.

Address: 1300 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

Photos, artifacts, newsreels & dioramas bring to life historical events, architecture & culture.

Address: 1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Created on a former rail line, this elevated, 2.7 mile landscaped trail draws runners & bikers.

Address: 1805 N Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Nonprofit promoting the city's built environment through tours, exhibitions & events.

Address: 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Price Range: €€

91-acre peninsula with skyline views, hiking, fishing & playing plus a fieldhouse & live music acts.

Address: 1521 S Linn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

Sizable park with playgrounds, multiple athletic fields, community events & cultural programming.

Address: 2741 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, United States

Jumbo, nearly 200-acre park featuring gymnasiums, a beach, sports fields & picnic areas.

Address: 9801 S Ave G, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Fishing for bass & catfish, plus walking trails, picnic areas & roaming deer in protected woodland.

Address: N Cook County, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

Small sandy patch popular for lake swimming, with lifeguards on duty & changing rooms nearby.

Address: 1400 N Humboldt Dr, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

Paintings, sculptures & exhibits help tell the history of surgery from ancient times to the present.

Address: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

This 2.7-mile elevated former rail track is open to both cyclists & walkers.

Address: 1802 W Bloomingdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Restored 19th-century mansion with notable Gilded Age architectural features & antiques.

Address: 50 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

This expansive tract features a variety of nature habitats, plus areas for picnicking & hiking.

Address: N East River Rd, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

Created by a famous landscape architect, this park has ball fields, a theater, a pool & golf course.

Address: 500 S Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60644, United States

Untitled 50-ft., 160-ton Cor-Ten steel sculpture by artist Pablo Picasso, dedicated in 1967.

Address: 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

46-acre nature preserve with hiking trails, a birding area & a center with educational programs.

Address: 5801 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60646, United States

Prairie-style garden with trails, filled with native plants & home to birds, frogs & other wildlife.

Address: 2121 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Neo-Gothic skyscraper influenced by Rouen Cathedral & decorated with rocks from world landmarks.

Address: 435 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Address: 111 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Address: 800 W Scott St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

Modern literary center with immersive displays on famed writers like Emily Dickinson & Jack Kerouac.

Address: 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Address: 6100 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60639, United States

Address: 806 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Nature & recreation area featuring paths amid woods & wildlife, plus a picnic pavilion.

Address: 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States

Planned 19th-century settlement for Pullman company workers, with preserved houses, factory & hotel.

Address: 610 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628, United States

Vibrant nature park featuring hiking paths, marshes, waterfowl, picnic spots & open spaces.

Address: 11251-11249 S Ave E, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Address: 100 Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624, United States

Chicago-focused gallery, specializing in photos, inside a 19th-century Gothic limestone landmark.

Address: 806 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Park & field house offering sports facilities & programs, plus an ADA-accessible playground & pool.

Address: 2732 N Avers Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Recreational spot with a massive natural lake popular for fishing, boating, picnicking & hunting.

Address: 12949 S Avenue O, Chicago, IL 60633, United States

39-acre park on the Chicago River with an outdoor pool, playground, roller hockey rink & lagoon.

Address: 4222 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States

An 18.5-acre park with an indoor gym, a pool, baseball fields, horseshoe pits & other sport areas.

Address: 6935 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

4-acre urban botanic garden featuring a playground, splash pad, dog park & lighted fountains.

Address: 450 E Benton Pl, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Community park featuring a pool, athletic fields & a playground, plus a WWII tank & seasonal events.

Address: 2526 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

Secluded urban oasis on the water with city skyline views, serene paths & circular fountains.

Address: E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Family-friendly, 8.5-acre park featuring outdoor paths & sports facilities plus a field house & gym.

Address: 4438 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60639, United States

Museum offering programs & events, with a U.S.-focused permanent collection & rotating exhibits.

Address: 600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

Fields, tennis courts, gardens, a gymnasium, a sleek playground, an outdoor pool & an ice rink.

Address: 3721 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655, United States

280.13-acre open space with an off-road bike park, nature areas for bird watching & hiking trails.

Address: 11559 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Sizable park with an indoor pool & auditorium, plus athletic fields & playgrounds.

Address: 1333 N Laramie Ave, Chicago, IL 60651, United States

Alexander Calder's large abstract sculpture, or stabile, was unveiled to the public in 1974.

Address: 210 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60604, United States

Address: 2206 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

Riverside park on old amusement park grounds, with a dock, a dirtbike-riding area & soccer field.

Address: 3400 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618, United States

Address: 3015 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

This serene section of Lincoln Park stars a lily pool & also boasts lush landscaping & a pavilion.

Address: 125 W Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Public park & fieldhouse offering sports fields, tennis courts, a playground, indoor pool & gym.

Address: 2318 N Lavergne Ave, Chicago, IL 60639, United States

Address: 1000 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Address: 8029 W Forest Preserve Ave, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

Open park featuring a historic fieldhouse with an assembly hall, sports fields & a playground.

Address: 3420 N Long Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, United States

This gathering place boasts an organic greenhouse, orchard, perennial garden & athletic fields.

Address: 3501 N Kilbourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, United States

This recreational park provides multiple athletic fields, playgrounds, a spray pool & paved trails.

Address: 5430 N Olcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States

Urban picnic venue featuring a shelter in the middle of a tree-lined field, plus restrooms.

Address: 4498 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States

7-acre park includes a sports field & tennis courts, outdoor pool, recreational center & playground.

Address: 4822 N Long Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States

This 9-acre park features a recreation center, playground, tennis courts & 3 baseball fields.

Address: 9625 S Longwood Dr, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

23-acre park featuring outdoor sports areas & a pool plus a fieldhouse, game room, classes & camps.

Address: 49 E 95th St, Chicago, IL 60619, United States

Curved row of Doric-style columns framing a fountain, commemorating the founders of Wrigley Park.

Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Address: 6343 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

Address: 260 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Address: 3020 N Oak Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

Address: 11320 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

Address: 3035 E 130th St, Chicago, IL 60633, United States

Address: 5701 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60644, United States

Neighborhood hub since 1904 with gyms & gardens plus several outdoor sports facilities on 23 acres.

Address: 8930 S Muskegon Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Address: 10540 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

2.5 acres of Millennium Park dedicated to eco-friendly botanical landscaping with city views.

Address: 220 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Mansion where Jane Addams began the settlement-house movement & now a museum with exhibits & tours.

Address: 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Address: 2460 W 102nd St, Chicago, IL 60655, United States

Address: 401 W 123rd St, Chicago, IL 60628, United States

Steel-framed skyscraper completed in 1895 & considered a masterpiece of Chicago School architecture.

Address: 140 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

Address: 6871 W Belden Ave, Chicago, IL 60707, United States

Address: 610 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628, United States

Address: 2240 N Kilbourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60639, United States

Address: 124 N Streeter Dr, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Intimate city park featuring a playlot for children & picnic tables, surrounded by shade trees.

Address: 2554 W Moffat St, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Address: 2945 N Kenosha Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, United States

Address: Chicago Harbor, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

Address: 1518 W 102nd Pl, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

Local hub for various ball sports with a playground, seasonal spray pool & children's programs.

Address: 5421 N Menard Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States

Address: 8900 S Green Bay Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Address: 410 Michigan Ave #800, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

African-American-focused museum with guided tours through hands-on exhibits aimed at kids 3 to 9.

Address: 9301 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Address: 400 N McClurg Ct, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Address: 5749 W Midway Park, Chicago, IL 60644, United States

Address: 965 W 95th St, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

Bronze of the 16th US president, designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens & set in a leafy park.

Address: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Address: 13000 S Eberhart Ave, Chicago, IL 60827, United States

Tree-lined corner section of Millennium Park that features the Millennium Monument peristyle.

Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Address: 3325 E 108th St, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Address: 11500 S Homewood Ave, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

Address: 11141 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60628, United States

Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Address: 2617 W 105th St, Chicago, IL 60655, United States

Address: 3359 W 115th St, Chicago, IL 60655, United States

Address: 11132 S St Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60628, United States

Address: 10714 S Sawyer Ave, Chicago, IL 60655, United States

Address: 345 E Eastgate Pl, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

Address: 11600 S Torrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60617, United States

Museum dedicated to the history, art & culture of Lithuanians at home, in the U.S. & abroad.

Address: 6500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States

Address: 939 E 132nd St, Chicago, IL 60827, United States

Address: 10621 S Seeley Ave, Chicago, IL 60643, United States

Address: 290 River Esplanade, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Address: 180 N Stetson Ave suite 600-1, Chicago, IL 60601, United States