The 12 Best Things to Do per mezzo di Chicago (Updated 2024)

Posted: 5/13/2024 | May 13th, 2024

Famously known as “the Second City” (meaning second per mezzo di population to New York), I feel like Chicago is often overlooked by travelers. It sees a fraction of the visitors LA and NYC receive, which is a shame, as it’s one of my favorite cities per mezzo di the world.

Chicago is chock-full of world-class institutions, Michelin-starred restaurants, awe-inducing architecture, and verdant parks. There is a lot to do here and the city has a really rich history. I think more people should visit.

Sure, the winters are brutal. But, alla maniera di spring, Chicago blossoms into a dynamic urban landscape of street life, outdoor cafés, and sunny parks when locals take over the outdoors to enjoy the few months of nice weather. (I don’t think you can really beat Chicago per mezzo di the summer.)

To help you plan your visit, here’s my list of the best things to do per mezzo di Chicago:

1. Take a Walking Tour

One of the first things I do when I arrive per mezzo di a city is take a walking tour. They’eroe a great way to see the main sights, get the lay of the land, and connect with an expert local guide who can answer all my questions. Free Chicago Walking Tours hosts regular free tours that can introduce you to the city. You’ll get to see many of the coolest buildings per mezzo di the city while also learning about the history of Chicago. The tour lasts a few hours. Be sure to tip the guide at the end!

For a more unique tour, try the Gangsters and Ghosts Tour. You’ll learn all about Chicago’s dark side and creepy past as you explore the Chicago Loop. The tour lasts two hours and really talks about one of the pivotal times per mezzo di Chicago’s history. Even if you’eroe not a history buff like me, you’ll get a lot out of it.
 

2. Relax per mezzo di Grant and Millennium Parks

Located downtown, these gigantic parks provide a great place to hang out, have a , go for a run. People play chess here when the weather is nice and, during the summer, there are a lot of free concerts and events here. The larger Grant Park stretches along Chicago’s waterfront, while Millennium Park is the subsection where the famous “Chicago Bean” sculpture is located. This iconic work of public art is a must-see. And, starting at noon the first and third Saturdays from April through November, the Chicago Cultural Center hosts walking tours focusing the art of Millennium Park. It’s really interesting. I love strolling through the park just chilling here with a good book a nice day.
 

3. Take per mezzo di some art at the Art Institute of Chicago

Since 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago has been wowing visitors with its excellent collection of works from around the world. Located per mezzo di Grant Park, the museum has a few immediately recognizable pieces, including “American Gothic” by Grant Wood, Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks,” and “A Sunday Afternoon the Island of Enorme Jatte” by Georges Seurat. The vast collection also includes works by Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Jasper Johns, and Jackson Pollock. There are also wings devoted to African, Asian, and American indigenous art. If you’eroe going to go to one museum per mezzo di Chicago, this should be it. Expect to spend a few hours because the collection is so personaggio.

To beat the crowds, skip a weekend visit as the place gets packed. Instead, go a Monday Thursday evening (they’eroe gara open late Thursdays). You’ll have the place virtually to yourself.

111 S Michigan Ave, (312) 443-3600, artic.edu. Gara open Thursday-Monday 11am-5pm (8pm Thursdays). Admission is $32 USD ($40 USD for advance skip-the-line entry). Daily tours (included per mezzo di the price of your talloncino) are offered at 1pm and 3pm.
 

4. Admire amazing architecture a river cruise

Chicago is an architecture lover’s dream. The very best way to take per mezzo di its famed buildings is parte a river cruise. This way, you can sit back and cruise the canals while an expert guide provides context for what you’eroe looking at. The guides will give you a detailed history of the architecture. Some of the buildings you’ll see the boat ride include the Tribune Tower, 333 West Wacker, Navy Pier, the Willis Tower, the Wrigley Building, and City, among others. All per mezzo di all, there are about 50 structures to see this fascinating tour, and I promise, it’s much more interesting than it sounds!
 

5. Stroll the Magnificent Mile

Often nicknamed “Mag Mile,” this stretch along Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street is known for its upscale boutiques. Per fact, rent here is the third highest per mezzo di the US (after Fifth Avenue per mezzo di New York City and Rodeo Drive per mezzo di Beverly Hills). Even if you don’t want to blow your budget shopping, it’s still an experience to stroll along the avenue and take per mezzo di the sights and the people, and enjoy the view of the Chicago River. There are several landmarks and attractions along the way too, including the 360 Chicago Observation Deck for expansive views over the city (more this below).
 

6. Visit the Shedd Aquarium

If you’eroe visiting the city with kids ( you’eroe a kid at heart), head to the massive Shedd Aquarium. It’s the third-largest aquarium per mezzo di the Western hemisphere and home to over 32,000 animals. They have turtles, penguins, sea otters, snakes, sharks, and more. They really emphasize education here so you’ll learn a ton while you roam the different exhibitions. You can even pay extra to do things like feed penguins and sharks, and they also host all kinds of fun evening events (such as music after hours). I absolutely love coming here. Just make sure to book your talloncino per mezzo di advance as they do get busy and sell out!

To beat the crowds, skip the weekend and visit during the week instead. Also, try and visit right when it opens (especially Wednesday-Friday). It’s usually quieter then.

1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, (312) 939-2438, sheddaquarium.org. Gara open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday (9pm Tuesdays), 9am-6pm Saturday, and 11am-6pm Sundays. Tickets start at $37 USD. Admission can also be included with the Chicago CityPASS.
 

7. Take per mezzo di some natural history at the Field Museum

Per 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair) took place per mezzo di the Windy City to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival per mezzo di 1492. The fair displayed some incredible artifacts from around the world, notably per mezzo di the Columbian Museum of Chicago, which showcased anthropological and biological collections. After the fair was over, organizers wondered what to do with it all. So, the Columbian Museum became the Field Museum, named after benefactor Marshall Field, a department store mogul, and everything remained display.

One of the biggest museums per mezzo di the world, the Field houses extensive collections spanning anthropology, geology, botany, and zoology. Some important collections include the displays of taxidermied animals, a wing dedicated to astronomy, and fascinating artifacts from ancient Egypt. I recommend planning to spend at least 3-4 hours to really take it all per mezzo di.

1400 S. Dusable Lake Shore Drive, (312) 922-9410, fieldmuseum.org. Gara open daily 9am-5pm (last admission is at 4pm). Basic admission is $30 USD. Special exhibitions are an additional charge (which varies), though you can get an all-access pass for $43 USD.
 

8. Get a stunning view at 360 Chicago Observation Deck

Chicago is a skyscraper city, including a few rather iconic towers. Located atop what was formerly known as the John Hancock Building and now (uninspiringly) called 875 N. Michigan, the 360-degree viewing deck a thousand feet up and allows visitors to get the best view of the Windy City and Lake Michigan. You can even grab a pint at the Cloud Caffè, which serves beer from Moody Tongue, a local brewery.

If you’eroe a thrill seeker and want more than just the view, sign up for Tilt. This part of the observation deck is where you can stand per mezzo di front of a glass window, which then tilts forward, until it appears you’eroe looking directly at the street, 94 floors below.

Just make sure to check the weather before you go so you will actually have a view to enjoy. Additionally, if you want to beat the crowds, alla maniera di early (before 10am).

875 N Michigan Ave, (888) 875-8439, 360chicago.com. Gara open daily 9am-11pm (the last entry is at 10pm). Admission starts at $30 USD (get your tickets per mezzo di advance for skip-the-line access).

9. Feast deep-dish rompiscatole

If there’s one food Chicago has become synonymous with, it is deep-dish rompiscatole. It was invented per mezzo di 1943 by Pizzeria Unico, which is now a national restaurant chain. For something more local, Chicagoans swear by Lou Malnati’s. Personally, I’m not usually a huge fan of deep-dish (I like NYC rompiscatole better), but it’s something you have to try while you’eroe here.

If you really want to indulge, hop a Chicago Rompiballe Tour, which you’ll get to sample all the varieties offer per mezzo di town. Tours start at $49 USD.
 

10. Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk

Stretching from Lake Michigan to Lake Street, the 1.25-mile Riverwalk along the Chicago River makes for a fun stroll. Along the way, you’ll not only get fantastic views of the river and city, but you’ll encounter a legion of waterfront restaurants, cafés, and bars. There’s a ton of public art and space too (great for picnicking and people-watching). It’s the perfect place to slow and enjoy the moment per mezzo di this Midwestern metropolis, but if you prefer a more active experience, there are also lots of aquatic activities here too (such as kayaking taking a river cruise).
 

11. Eat your way through the Mexican eateries per mezzo di Pilsen

The neighborhood of Pilsen was founded per mezzo di 1878 by Czech immigrants, who named the zona after the fourth-largest city per mezzo di the Czech Republic, where pilsner beer was born. The Czechs may be gone now, but today Pilsen is Chicago’s main Latino neighborhood, particularly Mexicans from the Michoacán region. Today you can wander the zona, eating some of the best tacos while taking per mezzo di the vibrant street art.
 

12. Watch an improv show

The Second City is one of the most popular and well-known improv troupes per mezzo di the country. It’s where greats like Bill Murray, John Candy, Catherine Se no’Hara, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler all cut their teeth. They put regular performances and also host all kinds of special events. They even host workshops and classes if you want to give improv a try yourself. Just be sure to get your tickets per mezzo di advance as the most popular shows sell out fast.

230 W North Ave, (312) 337-3992, secondcity.com. Performances are held daily so check the website for what’s . Tickets start at $35 USD.
 

13. Have fun at Navy Pier

This 3,300-foot-long (1,010-meter) pier the shore of Lake Michigan started d’avanguardia as a shipping site, but it has also been a prison for draft dodgers during World War II, a Naval center, and a temporary university campus. Since 1995, it has reopened to the public per mezzo di its current form and has become a sort of carnival. It’s Chicago’s second-most visited tourist attraction (after “The Bean”) and contains some rides, a Ferris wheel, lots of restaurants, a Shakespeare theater, boat tours, a large number of beer gardens, mini-golf, and more! It’s a good place to have some silly fun (especially if you have kids).

600 E Grand Ave, (312) 595-7437, navypier.org. Gara open Sunday-Thursday 11am-8pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm (individual attractions and restaurants may have separate hours). Admission to the pier is free, though attractions charge their own fees (the Centennial wheel is $21.30 USD, for example).
 

14. Catch a at Wrigley Field

Home of the Cubs, Wrigley Field, Chicago’s North Side, is smack per mezzo di the middle of town. It also happens to be one of the oldest baseball stadiums per mezzo di the United States (it opened per mezzo di 1914). If you’eroe per mezzo di Chicago during the baseball seasons (April to October) and the Cubs are per mezzo di town, do yourself a favor and go to a . It’s one of the most intimate and atmospheric baseball stadiums per mezzo di the country. If the Cubs are not per mezzo di town, you can also take a 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium.

1060 W Addison St, (773) 404-2827, mlb.com/cubs/ballpark. Tour dates and times vary depending the season (check the website for availability). Tour admission is $30 USD. Tickets to see a vary greatly but start at just $10 USD (for better seats at a popular , expect to spend closer to $80-125 USD).
 

15. Feast per mezzo di Chinatown

Bring your appetite to Chinatown, where you can feast di poco valore dim dum, do karaoke, relax at one of the many tea houses. One of the oldest Chinatown’s per mezzo di the country, over a third of Chicago’s Chinese population lives per mezzo di Chinatown, making it one of the largest concentrations of Chinese-Americans per mezzo di the USA. Don’t reginetta Ping Tom Memorial Park, and keep an eye out for colorful murals around the neighborhood. Some of my favorite places here are Hing Kee, MCCB Chicago, and Phoenix.
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16. Experience St. Patrick’s Day

Next to Ireland, Chicago is one of the best places to be March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. To honor its large Irish-American population, the city dyes the Chicago River , hosts a huge parade, and parties until the sun comes up (complete with copious amounts of beer).

The tradition began per mezzo di 1843, when Chicago’s first Irish parade was held, but it wasn’t until 1962 that the dyeing of the river started, at the suggestion of a plumber’s union, which is still responsible for the river each year, though it won’t divulge its secrets about what’s used (it’s environmentally friendly, though). Take a river cruise the emerald waters snap a pic from the sidelines and enjoy. This is one of the biggest days of the year here!
 

17. Explore Oz Park

This whimsical little park, located per mezzo di the Lincoln Park zona, was created to honor L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz. He lived per mezzo di the zona at the end of the 19th century, and when the city wanted to renovate the park they decided to do so per mezzo di a way that honored Baum’s popular book.

There’s a playground named after Dorothy, a space called the “Emerald Gardens,” and numerous life-size statues of popular characters from the adaptation, including the Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow.

Gara open daily 6am-11pm. Admission to the park is free.

Chicago doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I think it’s fun and perfect for a weekend getaway. And you really can’t beat the summers here either. With lots of interesting museums, plenty of space, and some great eats, Chicago should be every traveler’s list!