Best Things to Do in Chicago: A Local's 13 Picks

At a glance

• Where: Chicago, Illinois, mostly along Lake Michigan and the Chicago River
• Free picks: Millennium Park, Navy Pier entry, Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory
• Best base: The Loop, Magnificent Mile or River North, all walkable and on CTA lines
• Hours and prices: Typically as listed below; check each official site before you go

The best things to do in Chicago, Illinois, start with Millennium Park, the Field Museum, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo and the views from Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO. Most sit within a short ride of downtown, and four of the thirteen picks below cost nothing to enter. Every place here is inside the city limits, and each was checked against its own official site.

The short version of this guide: spend your first day downtown, your second on the lakefront museums, and your third on the North Side with the zoo. Then use the neighborhood sections near the end to decide where to eat and wander.

How we chose

We picked places a Chicagoan would send a visiting friend, then kept only the ones we could confirm are open on their own official sites. Each pick lists what to do, roughly how long to give it and one local tip. Hours and prices change, so we give them as "typically" and you should check the official site before you go. We left out anything we could not confirm and anything outside the city limits.

What are the first things to do in Chicago?

The first things to do in Chicago are the downtown lakefront anchors: Millennium Park, Navy Pier and the Museum Campus. They are close together, and they cover the park, the pier and the big museums.

1. Millennium Park (The Loop)

Millennium Park is the Loop's free public park, at about 201 E. Randolph Street, and it is typically open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with free admission, according to the Millennium Park Foundation. Walk it, sit on the lawn and look at the skyline.

Plan on 1 to 2 hours. Local tip: go early in the morning. The park is open from 6 a.m., and the paths are far quieter than at midday. Official site: Millennium Park Foundation. More on the district in our Loop guide.

2. Navy Pier (Streeterville)

Navy Pier, at 600 E. Grand Avenue in Streeterville, is free to enter, and each attraction sets its own prices. Ride the Centennial Wheel, walk out over Lake Michigan and watch the skyline from the end of the pier.

Plan on 2 to 3 hours. Local tip: the Pier's winter schedule is shorter, and only some rides run, though the Centennial Wheel keeps going daily. Typical hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the fall and winter. It closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Check Navy Pier hours. See also Streeterville.

3. Field Museum (South Loop, Museum Campus)

The Field Museum, at 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m., and general admission starts around $30 for guests and $21 for Chicago residents. Its collection holds nearly 40 million objects, and only a fraction is on display.

Plan on 3 to 4 hours. Local tip: Illinois residents get in free on Free Wednesdays, and if you are visiting, those days are the busiest, so go right at opening. The museum closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Official site: Field Museum. Area guide: South Loop.

4. Adler Planetarium (South Loop, Museum Campus)

The Adler Planetarium, at 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, is a short walk from the Field Museum and typically opens at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. depending on the weekday, closing at 4 p.m. most days. On Wednesdays it runs an evening session, typically 4 to 10 p.m., with timed tickets.

Plan on 2 to 3 hours. Local tip: the planetarium sits on the lake's edge, and the views of the skyline from outside are free. General admission typically starts at about $25, City of Chicago residents typically get $5 off, and Illinois residents get in free on select Illinois Resident Discount Days. Check the Adler's visit page.

5. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Hyde Park)

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, at 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park, sits on the lakefront on the South Side. The U-505 submarine and the Giant Dome Theater are among its main draws.

Plan on 4 hours or more. Local tip: the Griffin Museum lists Illinois Free Days, which tend to cluster in the winter months, and a General Admission discount for Chicago residents, so check the calendar before buying tickets. Hours and base prices change, so confirm on the official site. Area guide: Hyde Park.

What are the best free things to do in Chicago?

The best free things to do in Chicago are Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Millennium Park and the entry to Navy Pier. Two of them are on the North Side, in the same park.

6. Lincoln Park Zoo (Lincoln Park)

Lincoln Park Zoo, at 2400 N. Cannon Drive, is free every day, with no reservations needed, and it is open 365 days a year. The gates are typically open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the buildings typically close at 4:30 or 5 p.m.

Plan on 2 to 3 hours. Local tip: because it is open every day of the year, the zoo is a reliable backup on holidays when museums close. Official site: Lincoln Park Zoo.

7. Lincoln Park Conservatory (Lincoln Park)

Lincoln Park Conservatory, at 2391 N. Stockton Drive, is free and has four display houses: the Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House and Show House. The Chicago Park District lists it as typically open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday, with timed entry at times.

Plan on 45 minutes. Local tip: it is a few minutes' walk from the zoo, so do both in one trip, and it is a warm place to be on a cold day. Check the Park District page for current hours. See Lincoln Park.

Where are the best views in Chicago?

For the skyline from above, a local sends you to the glass Ledge at Skydeck Chicago in the Loop and the TILT ride at 360 CHICAGO on Michigan Avenue. Both are indoors and open year-round.

8. Skydeck Chicago (The Loop)

Skydeck Chicago, at 233 S. Wacker Drive in Willis Tower, is open 365 days a year, and in winter it is typically open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., or 9 p.m. on Saturdays. The Ledge is a set of glass boxes that extend 4.3 feet out from the 103rd floor, about 1,353 feet in the air.

Plan on 1 to 1.5 hours. Local tip: last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and a clear morning gives the longest view over Lake Michigan. Buy tickets on the Skydeck site.

9. 360 CHICAGO (Magnificent Mile)

360 CHICAGO, on the 94th floor at 875 N. Michigan Avenue, is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. General admission starts at about $27 for adults online and is higher at the door. TILT is the extra attraction: it tips riders outward over the city, and riders must be at least 42 inches tall.

Plan on 1 to 1.5 hours. Local tip: because it is open until 11 p.m., it is the better pick for a night skyline. Book online for the lower price at 360chicago.com. More in our Magnificent Mile guide.

What are the best things to do in Chicago for architecture and art?

The best architecture and art stops are the Chicago Architecture Center river cruise, the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Art on theMART projection.

10. Chicago Architecture Center river cruise (The Loop)

The Chicago Architecture Center, at 111 E. Wacker Drive, runs a 90-minute docent-led river cruise on a boat called the First Lady. The cruise is seasonal, typically running from mid-March to late November, so winter visitors should plan around it. The building is typically open Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Plan on 1.5 hours for the cruise. Local tip: the river is where Chicago's skyline makes the most sense, because the cruise runs between the towers rather than looking at them from a distance. Check prices and times at architecture.org.

11. Richard H. Driehaus Museum (River North)

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum, at 50 E. Erie Street in River North, is a Gilded Age mansion that now holds changing exhibitions. It is typically open Wednesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is typically $23 for adults, $18 for seniors and $13 for students, and children 12 and under are free.

Plan on 1.5 hours. Local tip: Wednesday is the late night, with the last entry at 6 p.m. Details at the Driehaus Museum. Area guide: River North.

12. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (Streeterville)

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, at 220 E. Chicago Avenue, is typically open Tuesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday. Adult admission is typically $22, or $19 for Chicago residents, and visitors 18 and under are free.

Plan on 2 hours. Local tip: Illinois residents get free admission on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. Check the MCA visit page.

13. Art on theMART (River North)

Art on theMART is a large video projection on the river-facing side of theMART, beside the Chicago River in River North. It runs in seasons, and the fall season typically shows Thursday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. for about 30 minutes.

Plan on 30 minutes. Local tip: watch from the Chicago Riverwalk across the river, and note it is not a nightly show, so check the schedule at artonthemart.com.

Where should I base myself?

Base yourself in the Loop, the Magnificent Mile or River North, because all three are walkable and sit on CTA rail lines. The Loop puts you beside Millennium Park and the Skydeck, the Magnificent Mile beside 360 CHICAGO, and River North beside the river and the galleries. For meals, browse food and dining listings.

Save this: a three-day route

1. Day one, downtown: Millennium Park at opening, Skydeck Chicago, then the Chicago Architecture Center river cruise (in season).
2. Day two, the lakefront: Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, then Navy Pier in the evening.
3. Day three, the North Side: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, then 360 CHICAGO for the night view.
4. Spare half day: the Driehaus Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago or the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

Chicago weather changes the plan, so check the weather page before you pick outdoor stops. For what is on during your dates, see events this weekend.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top things to do in Chicago for first-time visitors?

The top things to do in Chicago for first-time visitors are Millennium Park, the Field Museum, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo and a view from Skydeck Chicago or 360 CHICAGO. Together they cover the park, the museums, the lakefront and the skyline.

What are the best free things to do in Chicago?

Millennium Park, Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory are free to enter, and so is entry to Navy Pier. Individual rides and attractions at Navy Pier set their own prices.

Is Lincoln Park Zoo free?

Yes, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is free to enter and needs no reservations. It is open 365 days a year, with gates typically open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How many days do you need in Chicago?

Three days covers the main sights: downtown on day one, the Museum Campus and Navy Pier on day two, and Lincoln Park on day three. Add a half day for one more museum if you want a slower pace.

Which Chicago attractions are open in winter?

Skydeck Chicago, 360 CHICAGO, the Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo and Navy Pier are all open in winter. Navy Pier runs shorter hours and fewer rides, though the Centennial Wheel keeps running daily.