15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Chicago

the shores of the vast Lake Michigan, is known worldwide for its tall skyscrapers, beautiful waterways, and diverse cuisine. When tourists come here, the first thing they see is the skyscraper Willis Tower, which, on a cloudy day, offers a panoramic view of the entire city and the blue lake.

Here is Millennium Park, where the famous “Cloud Gate” or the bell-shaped steel sculpture is a favorite spot for selfie lovers. Next door is the Art Institute of Chicago—a collection of original paintings by Monet, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

Navy Pier is a large entertainment center. It has a Ferris wheel, theaters, and boat rides. Various marine animals can be seen in the Shed Aquarium. It is very popular with children. That is why in this blog post i will share 15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Chicago.

1. Millennium Park

Millennium Park is one of Chicago’s major tourist attractions. It opened to the public in 2004. The park is spread over approximately 25 acres. It is located in the “Loop” area of Chicago, very close to Lake Michigan. The most popular attraction in the park is the “Cloud Gate”, better known as the “Bean”. It is a large mirror-surfaced sculpture, where the city’s skyline and surroundings are reflected.

There is also a large open-air concert stage called the “Jay Pritzker Pavilion”. It hosts free concerts and movies during the summer. There is also a digital fountain called the “Crown Fountain”, where people’s faces appear on a large screen and water falls from their mouths, which is great fun for children. In the winter, you can do ice skating. There are walking paths, gardens, and seating areas around the park.

Entry fees to Millennium Park are completely free so that you can visit at any time of the day or evening. If you get off at Millennium Station on the metro, it will only take you 5 minutes to walk to the main entrance of the park from the station.

2. The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is the city’s most famous museum. It was founded in 1879. It is located right next to Millennium Park. It has more than 300,000 works of art. You can see paintings by famous painters Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Renoir here.

The most popular paintings in this museum are The Bedroom and A La Grande Jatte, and The Bedroom. There are separate galleries for American, European, Asian, and modern art. There are also ancient Egyptian and Greek sculptures.

There are separate educational workshops and guided tours for children and students. The museum is open 7 days a week, from 11 am to 5 pm (until 8 pm on Thursdays).

3. Navy Pier

Navy Pier is situated along the shores of Lake Michigan. It was built in 1916 to accommodate ships and cargo. It is now one of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions. Navy Pier is about 3,300 feet (about 1 kilometer) long. It is home to the massive Centennial Wheel (Ferris Wheel). It is 200 feet tall and offers views of the lake and the city. In addition to the Ferris Wheel, it is home to the Chicago Children’s Museum, which is a place for children to learn and play.

Navy Pier has many restaurants, cafes, and ice cream shops. Here you can see theater shows, such as plays by the Shakespeare Theater Company. There are fireworks shows every week in the summer. There are also live concerts, art festivals, and food fairs at various times.

You can take a lake cruise or a boat trip from Navy Pier. Many tour companies leave from here, which offer boat tours of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Navy Pier is open daily. Admission is free. However, separate tickets will be required for rides, museums, theaters, or boat tours.

4. Willis Tower Skydeck

Willis Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Chicago. It was previously known as the Sears Tower. The building was built in 1973. It is about 1,730 feet tall. The 103rd floor of the building is home to Skydeck Chicago, which offers a great view of the entire city. On a clear day, you can see four states—Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

The most popular part is “The Ledge.” It is a glass balcony that extends out from the building. Standing here, you feel like you are floating in the sky! Many tourists take pictures here. The Skydeck is open daily, usually from 9 am to 10 pm. Admission is required. Willis Tower is located in the city center, in the “The Loop” area. It is easily accessible by CTA trains and buses.

5. Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest museums in Chicago. It opened in 1933. The museum is located in the Hyde Park area, near Lake Michigan. It highlights various aspects of science in a fun and interactive way. There is a real submarine (U-505 German submarine). You can go inside it and see how a submarine works. There is also a mini-train model, which is made like the entire American train track.

There is also a storm tunnel, where you can see how a tornado or lightning strikes. You can also do many experiments yourself. There are great galleries for children called “Science Storms” and “YOU! The Experience”. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

6. Chicago Riverwalk

The Chicago Riverwalk is a beautiful riverside walkway in Chicago. It stretches for about 1.25 miles along the south bank of the Chicago River. Here, people walk, sit, relax, take pictures, and enjoy the beauty of the river. The Riverwalk has small restaurants, cafes, and bars. You can rent boats or kayaks from here to explore the river. During the summer, there are live music, art events, and various festivals.

There is a water plaza, gardens, fishing spots, and a children’s playground. The place looks wonderful both during the day and at night. It is free and open to everyone.

7. Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium is one of the most popular museums in Chicago. Shedd Aquarium was built in 1930. It is located on the Museum Campus, on the shores of Lake Michigan. There are about 32,000 aquatic animals here. Here you can see dolphins, penguins, sea otters, sharks, turtles, and a variety of colorful fish. The “Caribbean Reef” gallery has a large round aquarium where the fish roam.

There is also the “Amazon Rising” gallery, which highlights the aquatic animals and plants of the Amazon River. In the “Wild Reef” section, you can see sharks and coral reefs. There are interactive exhibits for children, they can learn about animals. The aquarium is usually open from 9 am to 5 pm. It is a great place to visit with the family.

8. Field Museum

The Field Museum is a famous natural history museum in Chicago. It is located on the Museum Campus, near to Lake Michigan. The museum was founded in 1893. It now has a collection of over 20 million items. The most popular attraction here is the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, named”Sue”. It is 40 feet long! There are also ancient Egyptian mummies, Chinese and African artifacts, and a dinosaur gallery.

In the “Inside Ancient Egypt” gallery, you will see a real pyramid-like environment, coffins, and archaeological objects. In the “Evolving Planet” exhibit, you will learn about the history of the Earth and the evolution of life. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For those who love history, science, and the ancient world, visiting the Field Museum is a must.

9. Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo is a popular and historic zoo in Chicago. It is located on the north side of the city, next to Lake Michigan. It was founded in 1868. It is one of the oldest zoos in America. The amazing thing is that it is completely free, meaning there are no entry fees. This zoo has more than 1,000 animals from about 200 species. You can see lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, penguins, gorillas, turtles, and many types of birds. There is a separate farm area for children, where they can spend time with cows, goats, and sheep.

Inside the zoo, there are beautiful gardens, picnic areas, and restaurants. There is the Regenstein Center for African Apes and Penguin Cove, which are very popular with visitors. Lincoln Park Zoo is open daily, usually from 10 am to evening.

10. Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago. It was built in 1914. It is the second-oldest baseball field in America. The stadium is known for its red signage, green infield, and old-fashioned design. Another special feature here is the ivy plants in its outfield. There are games here almost every day during the summer.

If you want, you can take the “Wrigley Field Tour”. This tour takes you around the field, dugouts, press box, and history. The stadium is located on the north side of Chicago, in the Wrigleyville area. You can reach the stadium by getting off at Addison Station on the CTA Red Line.

11. Magnificent Mile

Magnificent Mile is the most popular shopping and walking area in Chicago. It is a part of Michigan Avenue. This road is about 1 mile long and starts from the Chicago River and goes to Oak Street.

There are more than a hundred shops, brand showrooms, shopping malls, hotels, and restaurants on this road. You will find famous stores like Apple Store, Nike, Zara, H&M, Gucci, Louis Vuitton here. If you want, you can also spend time just walking around. There is also the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, which is located at the John Hancock Center. From here, you can see the beautiful city.

12. Adler Planetarium

Adler Planetarium is Chicago’s first astronomy museum. It was built in 1930. It was the first planetarium in the United States. It is located on the Museum Campus, on the shores of Lake Michigan. It also offers a great view of the city skyline. Here you can learn about space, planets, the moon, stars, and galaxies. There is a large dome theater, where you can travel to space through 3D shows. The “Mission Moon” exhibit features real moon rocks and astronauts’ equipment.

There are interactive galleries for children and adults, where you can learn something hands-on. The planetarium hosts various sky shows, workshops, and science programs. It is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. This is an excellent destination in Chicago for those interested in space and science.

13. Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center is a historic and cultural building in Chicago. It was built in 1897. It was formerly the Chicago Public Library. It is now a free arts and cultural center in the city. It hosts exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, photography, music, dance, and theater throughout the year. It also hosts live concerts and free performances, which are open to the public.

The biggest attraction of this building is its interior architecture. It has the world’s largest Tiffany glass dome, which is very beautiful and luminous. The marble walls and stairs inside the building are also very beautifully made. It can be entered daily from 10 am to 5 pm. No tickets are required.

14. 360 Chicago (John Hancock Observatory)

360 Chicago is a sightseeing spot in Chicago. It is located on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building, near the Magnificent Mile. From here, you can see the entire city, Lake Michigan, and four states. A special attraction here is TILT. It is a glass balcony that tilts outward. When you stand on it and look down, it feels like you are hanging in the air!

It takes 40 seconds to reach the observation deck by elevator. There is also the CloudBar, where you can sit and enjoy snacks and drinks. The place is open daily, from 9 am to 11 pm.

15. Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum is a great place to learn about Chicago’s history. It is located in Lincoln Park. The museum first opened in 1856. Here you can see various facts and things about Chicago, from old days to modern times.

There are separate galleries here on the Great Chicago Fire, Chicago-style hot dogs, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Chicago blues. There are also old clothes, pictures, cars, and various important historical objects. This museum has interactive displays. You can learn about history through lights, sounds, and videos by pressing buttons yourself. There is a separate section for children to learn, which is fun and educational. The museum is open daily, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.