Best Free Things to Do in Chicago
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Sights & Landmarks
Cloud Gate
18,006 reviews
"A visit to the Millennium Park at Christmas is a delight ... That magnificent silver Bean floats over the ice rink and at Christmas there is a fantastic tree all within an easy walk from the mile and central city.""Cloud Gate is a marvellous place, it’s design is perfect to take pictures and while walking below, you get tricked by your eyes - beautiful physical phenomenon :-) it is definitely worth visiting"
Nature & Parks
Millennium Park
24,619 reviews
"Enjoy great views of downtown (and the skating rink in winter) from its platform, stroll the area to view regularly-changing public art exhibits, the Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, and fabulous Frank Gehry desig...""Just off the lake, great for biking and walking amazing view of the city skyline, wonderful way to spend a day in Chicago during the summer exploring the Cloud Gate, the beautifully landscaped gardens..."
Other
The Magnificent Mile
15,634 reviews
"The Magnificent Mlle is certainly magnificent with the high end stores and other shops along with the historic and new architecture for which Chicago is so justly proud.""The impressive wide streets are spotlessly clean the Mag Mile has a great variety of shops, restaurants museums and landmarks on offer, it more than lives up to it's name."
Sights & Landmarks
Chicago Riverwalk
2,929 reviews
"Enjoy the magic of the city, stunning architecture, while enjoying food, drink, and a stroll along the Chicago River, while pleasure boats float by.""Whether your enjoying a nice walk down the river or stopping at one of the many fine options for food and drink on a beautiful summer day or perhaps sitting in the heated outdoor "igloos" a City Winery during the..."
Zoos & Aquariums
Lincoln Park Zoo
5,852 reviews
"It houses about 1100 animals from 200 different species, from big cats, gorillas and monkeys to penguins and reptiles.""Besides the freedom to be a ‘kid’ again by riding the carousel and going through the corn maze, there were informative talks staggered throughout the night at various animal exhibits."
Museums
Chicago Cultural Center
2,991 reviews
"Aside from being a beautiful building filled with finely executed mosaic work, a lovely marble staircase and an always interesting array of changing exhibits; the Cultural Center also has a free weekly recital und...""I listened to a wonderful harp trio performing in Preston Bradley Hall; admired multiple exhibit halls (fantastic modern art from/about Puerto Rico!); also got many detailed, picturesque handouts and information b..."
Nature & Parks
Lakefront Trail
2,415 reviews
"Rent a divvy bike from one of the many stops (we picked up and dropped off from Ohio Street) and head north to Lincoln Park and beyond, or south towards Roosevelt to experience all that Millennium Park has to offer.""You'll see some of the city's iconic tourist attractions, including Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Lincoln Park Zoo, North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach, Grant Park, McCormick Place, Museum of Science and Industry, Ja..."
Other
The Loop
1,237 reviews
"Don't forget a selfie in front of the Chicago Theater, peek in on the Palmer House Hilton's gorgeous lobby and peacock doors, enjoy the metalwork at the old Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Fields store.""... Chicago Board of Trade, Art Institute of Chicago, Buckingham Fountain, Chicago Cultural Center, Palmer House, Rookery Building, Grant Park, Millennium Park, Civic Opera House, City Hall and Chicago Riverwalk."
Sights & Landmarks
Buckingham Fountain
3,360 reviews
"Located in the center of Grant Park, between Queen's Landing and Congress Parkway, near the intersection of Columbus Drive and Ida B. Wells Drive, off Lake Shore Drive, overlooking Lake Michigan, the Chicago Landm...""The Buckingham Fountain at night, with a light show is simply amazing and something that you just love to see, the kids are blown away by it and it leaves the whole family feeling like the trip was well worth the..."
Nature & Parks
Lincoln Park
854 reviews
"Its most popular attractions are the Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, North Pond Sanctuary and Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond.""The park houses a wonderful nature walk surrounding a lagoon, the fantastic Cafe Brauer, the only free zoo left in the US, and much open public space that is used by visitors for everything from sports to bar-b-qu..."
Sights & Landmarks
Chicago Skyline
685 reviews
"Most visitors single out Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier, Montrose Point, U.S. Cellular Field, the John Hancock Center Observatory and the Ashland L Station on the CTA Green/Pink Line near the United Center.""A few good spots to view the skyline include Navy Pier, Grant Park, the Nature Boardwalk in Lincoln Park, some of the skyscraper observation decks, and even from the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, if you want to..."
Fun & Games
Maggie Daley Park
1,312 reviews
"This park is directly adjacent to Millenium Park and features trails, rock-climbing walls, a children's playground, stunning views of Lake Michigan, and a beautiful pedestrian bridge connecting to Millenium.""Lots of slides and swings of all kinds and shapes, mini golf courts, climbing, rollers, water pipes and lot of other things dedicated for children of all ages."
Water & Amusement Parks
Navy Pier
14,878 reviews
"It offers a ton of lovely shops, places to eat, a beautiful tropical house to explore with fun water features, merrigo round, ferris wheel, and a lovely Pier that showcases beautiful foliage, sights and sounds of...""Close to the Loop and Millennium Park, Navy Pier provides dining, shopping, Imax movie screens, live theater, a beer garden and more!"
Museums
Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank
510 reviews
"It was very informative and the best part about it ...... FREE!!!! Get your FREE printed photo at the end and also your FREE bag of shredded money .""If you love rare bill,then the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum, is an exciting place to visit.Did you know that, there are only three thousand dollar bills that exist today."
Sights & Landmarks
Crown Fountain
2,118 reviews
"It’s one of a kind and if it’s summer you’ll really love the kids running through the shallow pool waiting for the blast of water coming from between the lips of Chicago faces.""It is one of my most favorite attraction in Millennium park whenever those fountains work I love to see those faces (and facial expressions change and spit those fountains Children simply crazy about itrunning aro..."
Sights & Landmarks
University of Chicago
460 reviews
"Exploring the museums on campus, the Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Site P-1 where the first atomic reactor was secretly built and miles of paths, trails and parkways through beautiful architecture...Makes for...""This world class University offers many special museums and a chance to walk the Midway and streets of Hyde Park as you bump shoulders with students and faculty."
Sights & Landmarks
Tribune Tower
625 reviews
"In addition, there are stones from the Taj Mahal, the Parthenon, Hagia Sophia, Corregidor, Westminster, the Alamo, the Great Pyramid, Notre Dame de Paris, Abraham Lincoln's tomb, the Great Wall of China and Indepe...""The Tribune Tower is a beautiful historical neo-Gothic skyscraper located on North Michigan Avenue – another example of the wonderful Chicago architecture."
Nature & Parks
Grant Park
909 reviews
"Located in the center of the city there is so much to see in it: the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain and more.""... to visit either of these destinations in opposite directions, The Park has wonderful gigantic statues as well as beautiful small fountains along with magnificent Buckingham fountain- surely worth a visit!"
Sights & Landmarks
Wrigley Building
302 reviews
"The glazed terra cotta structure was designed by the architechural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White using the shape of the Giralda tower of Seville's Cathedral combined with French Renaissance details.""It was the first air-conditioned office building in the city and used to be the tallest one in Chicago for a while."
Museums
National Museum of Mexican Art
236 reviews
"The main part of the museum was a huge hit with the younger people and had a lot of really interesting pieces that reveal the incredible diversity of artwork by Mexican artists.""In an immaculate building in the heart of Pilsen, you'll find a building with a wealth of art of all types of media by Mexican artists that celebrates Mexican history and culture."
Sights & Landmarks
Michigan Avenue Bridge
970 reviews
"The location is significant in the early history of Chicago, connecting on the north side near the 1780s homesite of Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable and on the south the early 19th century site of Fort Dearborn.""The bridge lies at the foot of the Magnificent Mile, Chicago's shopping district, with the iconic Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower at one end and the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive at the other."
Museums
Oriental Institute Museum
551 reviews
"An internationally recognized research center for ancient Near Eastern or Oriental studies and archaeology museum, its collection of Near Eastern and Southwest Asian and Egyptian artifacts is one of the finest in...""Founded for the university by professor James Henry Breasted with funds donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr., it conducts research on ancient civilizations throughout the Near East, including at its facility, Chicag..."
Shopping
Macy's on State Street
1,302 reviews
"Macy correctly left the Marshall Field's plaques on the building, The Walnut room is a great place for lunch and still hosts the famous Christmas Tree, although it is now a big ad for Macy's.""Some stunning features and great history - Marshall Fields did a great job with world's first department store"
Shopping
Water Tower Place
783 reviews
"Within a reasonable walking distance from both our hotel on the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago train station.""Built in 1976, the signature attraction in the massive and luxurious complex is the shopping center, which features over 100 shops, galleries, restaurants, a theater, even a sports museum, all arranged around a ch..."