Sights and landmarks in Chicago

1,032 sights worth seeing in Chicago: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 1,032.

Photo: Photo taken in 1998 by Wikipedia user Soakologist . No rights claimed or…, Public domain

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The Skydeck
Once the tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower (officially renamed the Willis Tower) now has to settle for second-highest in the Americas alone, behind New York City's One World Trade Center (and even those are after a semantic battle with Toronto and the CN Tower). The Hancock Observatory (see Near North) has a nicer view of the city, but the Sears Tower offers an incredible view of its own from "The Ledge", which lets visitors walk out in a transparent balcony suspended 1,353 feet above the street. To avoid the crowds, visit after 4PM.
Apr-Sep 9AM-10PM, Oct-Mar 10AM-8PM; open every day of the year, including holidays$22, $11 children; express line tickets $30 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeViewpointNear North
360 Chicago
Hancock Observatory
360-degree view from the 94th floor. Not quite as high as the Sears Tower Skydeck, but with a better view, and from January to March, an ice-skating rink! For drinks, see the Signature Room below.
9AM-11PM$22 adults (12 and over), $15 children (3-11) · Wheelchair accessible
SeeNature museumNear South
Field Museum of Natural History
The largest museum on the campus; highlights include SUE, the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in the world, and the man-eating Tsavo lions. Part of the collection came directly from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, adding a layer of intrigue to all of those dusty old animals. Another highlight is the great, kid-friendly Egyptian exhibit, and the Hall of Gems will impress, too. Traveling exhibitions tend to be excellent, so this is one place where it's worth shelling out for the extra shows.
9AM-5PM daily, last admission 4PM; closed Dec 25General admission $30 adults, $23 children, $27 students; Admission including some/all special exhibits is $43 adults, $32 children, $38 students · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArt museumLoop
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the premier museums in the U.S. — and with the opening of the sensational new Modern Wing, it's one of the largest, too. Set aside a whole day and arrive early! Iconic pieces on display include "American Gothic" by Grant Wood (the stoic farm couple), "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper (the late-night diner), Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte". The Art Institute also boasts the world's best collection of Impressionist painting outside of France. But there's a lot more to discover, including a great selection of early 20th-century painting, architecture, and photography, as well as archaeological finds covering 5,000 years of art and cultural history.
10:30AM-5PM, Thu to 8PM; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day$32 adult, $26 children over 13 and seniors, free children 13 and under; free to Illinois residents Th after 5PM
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Millennium Park
Long before it opened, Millennium Park had become notorious for delays and cost-overruns, missing its titular date by a wide margin. However, when it was finally finished in 2004, the biggest shock of all came when it turned out to be quite nice. Aside from plenty of grass and open space, it has modern sculptures in steel and glass, including Chicago's newest must-photo for visitors, The Bean (properly known as Cloud Gate), and the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion for outdoor concerts. Kids will love getting wet in the Crown Fountain (mid-April to the end of summer) at Michigan and Monroe, in which the giant projected faces of Chicago residents spit water into a shallow reflecting pool where everyone is welcome to splash around. Look for tents offering guides to the park near the entrances at Randolph and/or Washington. From mid-November to early March there is an ice skating rink open to the public (weather permitting) on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets. The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opens at noon on weekdays and 10AM on Saturdays and Sundays with free admission (skate rental is $12, locker rental is $1).
6AM-11PM dailyFree
SeeMusic museumNear South
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation
Chess Records Studio
A major blues hotspot where Muddy Waters, Ahmad Jamal, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Etta James, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Ramsey Lewis, and many other greats recorded during Chicago's bluesiest period. The Rolling Stones also recorded here, paying tribute in their instrumental "2120 S Michigan Avenue." Public tours.
Mon-Fri noon-3PM, Sat noon-2PM
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Grant Park
Right at the center of Chicago, this has been a park space for almost the entire history of the city. Most citywide events and festivals (see below) are held in Grant Park and the Petrillo Bandshell. The centerpiece of the park is Buckingham Fountain (10AM-11PM), which is sometimes accompanied by music and colored lights (8-11PM, May-Sep). There are also tennis courts, softball fields, and a walking trail near the lake. Millennium Park is to the north and the Museum Campus is to the south, so there is a large area to wander.
6AM-11PM dailyEntrance to the park and most events & festivals is generally free, although some concerts do have an admission charge; in that case, admission to other areas of the park is still free · Built 1844 · Heritage listed
SeeHistoric buildingNear North
Water Tower
In 1871, when Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over the lantern in her barn — or was framed for the act, depending on who you ask — the Gothic Revival spires of Water Tower were only two years old. Today, along with the Pumping Station on the other side of the street, the Water Tower is the last, dream-like symbol of the Old Chicago that disappeared in the Fire. Surrounded by hotels and colossal department stores, it's also the icon of the new city that arose. At night, the Water Tower is lit from within, and it's a memorable sight. Inside, the vintage machinery is long gone (along with the water), and the plain interior is occasionally used as a gallery space.
Open now · closes 7 pm
SeeHistoric siteLoop
Aon Center
1136 ft. Built as the Standard Oil Building, the Aon Center is America's sixth tallest building from base to roof, after the Empire State Building in New York City, and fifteenth tallest in the world by architectural detail. It was built in 1972 by architect Edward Stone and initially was faced with marble, but the windy city began to blow the marble off the sides of the building. The entire building had to be refaced with granite — a costly job at one-half of the entire building costs! A walk around the base can be particularly gratifying to admire the uninterrupted views straight up the shear walls and the "musical sculptures.".
SeeAttractionNear North
Navy Pier
Built in 1916, Navy Pier has had many different uses over the years; in 1994, it became a tourist attraction, with more than 50 acres of restaurants, shops, and activities by Lake Michigan. It's an easy place to entertain children. Unless otherwise noted, all of the attractions are open during Navy Pier operating hours. Several buses reach Navy Pier, including #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, and #124 Navy Pier Express from the two Metra stations in the Loop.
Open 10AM daily; closes in summer Sun-Thu 10PM, Fri Sat midnight, fall/spring Sun-Thu 8PM, Fri Sat 10PM, winter Mon-Thu 8PM, Fri Sat 10PM, Sun 7PMParking available $19-23 per day · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistory museumNear West Side
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
UIC was built on top of the original Hull House, where the prolific writer and reformer Jane Addams lived and worked to help people in need. This museum is dedicated to her memory in two surviving buildings from the complex, now absorbed into the UIC campus, and features exhibits on local history and social justice throughout the world. Occasionally hosts speakers during the day, and offer a free soup lunch during the discussion.
Tue-Fri 10AM-4:50PM, Sat 10AM-3PMfree
SeeHistoric siteNear North
Marina City
No tours available, unless you're cheeky enough to fill out a fake rental application (24 hours in advance), but these iconic twin buildings are worth a photo. (You might recognize them from the cover of Wilcos Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, among many others.) Designed to be "a city within a city," they include a wildly overpriced bowling alley and the House of Blues (see Drink below). If you like Marina City, be sure to visit the South Loop for two more of architect Bertrand Goldbergs corncob structures.
Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-2PM
SeeLincoln Park-Old Town
Lincoln Park Zoo
Few things in Chicago are finer than the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's world-class, yet admission is free; its winding, expansive grounds have the charm of age, yet its facilities are modern and the animals are healthy, happy, and personable. The brand new Great Ape House is one to see, and the Farm in the Zoo features plenty for kids to do, but everyone has their own favorites (penguins).
Daily 9AM-6PM, winter 9AM-5PM, summer weekends 9AM-7PMFree · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
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Aqua
823 ft. The biggest American project ever to be headed by a woman, Jeanne Gang's skyscraper was named the world's best new building by Emporis when it opened in 2009 (four spots ahead of the Trump Tower across the river). Its most distinguishing feature is its series of undulating balconies, which extend as far as twelve feet from the building's walls, giving the building a surreal "rippling" effect. It uses an unforgettable curtain wall that compliments wavy balconies. Though impressive from any angle, it's best viewed relative to the water — either from a boat tour or the riverwalk over in the Near North.
SeeHistoric siteNear North
Tribune Tower
Built in 1925, the walls of the Tribune Tower contain rocks from many famous world landmarks, including: the Taj Mahal, the Parthenon, the Great Pyramid, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, and from the New York World Trade Center, demolished in 2001. The Tribune Tower even managed to get its hands on a moon rock, but so far NASA hasn't allowed it to add the rock to the wall.
SeeArt galleryLoop
Chicago Cultural Center
Built in 1897 as Chicago's first public library, the building now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries, and exhibit halls. Worth a visit to see the beautiful interior — the ceiling of Preston Bradley Hall includes a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome, and the north wing includes the impressive Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda. Of late, amid various city-approved art and music events, some surprisingly good theater has been performed here.
Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-5PM, closed holidaysFree
SeeNear South
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Home to a massive collection of marine life from throughout the world, among the very best you'll ever see. The Pacific Northwest-themed Oceanarium features otters, beluga whales, and a panoramic view of Lake Michigan, although you'll need to arrive extremely early for the (free) dolphin show. The terrific new Wild Reef exhibit offers floor-to-ceiling windows for an extraordinary view of a Philippine coral reef environment, complete with dozens of sharks.
Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat Sun 9AM-6PM; July/August 8AM-6PMAdmission from $37.20 adults and $27.95 children, plus extra for special exhibits · Wheelchair accessible
SeePlanetariumNear South
Adler Planetarium
It's the smallest of the three museums, but the oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere still packs a lot of fun. There are some interactive exhibits on the second floor, a scale model of the solar system, a few space rocks, and two high-tech dome theaters with nifty "star shows" throughout the day. Adler After Dark, on the third Thursday of each month, runs 6PM-10PM and features cocktails, a DJ, and wild, unfettered use of telescopes.
Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat Sun 10AM-4:30PMGeneral admission $19 adult, $8 children or $35/$28 including shows
SeeHistoric siteBronzeville
S.R. Crown Hall
A major architectural landmark designed by Mies van der Rohe.
Locked on weekends, tours available by appointmentHeritage listed
SeeArt museumNear North
Museum of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art from around the world. The MCA has a great location and plenty of financial backing, but it's still fighting for recognition in the museum world; while not an upper-tier institution as yet, that has resulted in some interesting exhibitions. There isn't much of a permanent collection, so check what's on before you go. Also, Marisol is the museums' Latin- inspired all day café, that's quickly become a draw in a part of Streeterville, not exactly known for its cuisine.
Tue Fri 10AM-9PM, Wed Thu Sat Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon closedSuggested admission $15 adults, $8 students/teachers/seniors, free for youth 18 and under. Tuesdays only: free for IL residents · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHyde Park
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
No tour of Chicago's museums is complete without a visit to this one. Spend hours upon hours looking at really cool stuff you never even knew you didn't know about. So much to do, so little time. You can return for free the following day if you take your ticket to "Will Call" on the way out on your first day. Great for kids, with many hands-on exhibits and the famous Coal Mine; adults will enjoy the display of the German U-boat 'U-505'. The immense, beautiful building was itself built as part of the White City in 1893, and is the last of the grand buildings left in Hyde Park.
9:30AM-4PM daily; some days until 5:30PM, including most of summer; closed 25 Dec$25.95 adult, $14.95 child
SeeHistory museumLincoln Park-Old Town
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Historical Society
A creative urban history museum. Exhibits include The Pioneer, the first railroad locomotive to operate in Chicago, and the bed upon which Abraham Lincoln died; more fun for kids is the Chicago-style Hot Dog showcase, which supplies all the giant plastic ingredients you'll need to turn yourself (or your little brother) into a life-sized hot dog (no ketchup, of course). They also host regular tours of different CTA lines and walking tours of Lincoln Park and Old Town.
Mon-Sat 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sun noon-5PM$14 adults, children 12 and under are free · Wheelchair accessible
SeeLincoln Park-Old Town
Lincoln Park
The 1.5-mile-long park from which the neighborhood draws its name is dotted with statues of people with ties to Chicago or Germany (like Goethe), and features plenty of paths for running wide-open green space for sports, and even a rowing lagoon to the west.
Open now · closes 11 pm
SeeLocal museumNear North
Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
A small museum spread over the five floors of the southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Visitors can see displays on the history of Chicago's famously abused river, and also check out the machinery used for raising the bridge. Tower tours are Fridays and Saturdays at 11AM and 2:30PM beginning in June, book online. The bridge lift times depends on tides, but is usually between 10AM and 1PM on W and Su.
Mid-May to Oct: Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM;$5 - $10 donation recommended, tower tours $15
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Federal Reserve Bank Money Museum
Currency wonks can study various denominations and practice counterfeit detections. Guided tours every day at 1PM.
Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM, except bank holidaysFree · Free entry
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Oriental Institute Museum
The University of Chicago Oriental Institute has one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archeology in the world, which is moreover free, small, very well exhibited, and basically started by Indiana Jones. Some highlights include: much of the Assyrian "Fortress of Sargon," a colossal statue of King Tutankhamun, and the Mummy and Coffin of Meresamun. Visitors with a strong interest may want to devote several hours to pore over the dense exhibits, but the small museum can be quickly skimmed in 15 minutes.
Tue,Thu-Sat 10AM-6PM, Wed 10AM-8:30PM, Sun noon-6PMFree, suggested donation $7, $4 child
SeeNear South
Northerly Island Park
A 40-acre park on the southern portion of Northerly Island that opened in September 2015. The park features a nature trail, pedestrian/bike path, 5 acre lagoon and an excellent view of the Chicago skyline.
6AM-11PMFree
SeeHyde Park
Frederick C. Robie House
This fabulously impractical house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the world's most famous examples of the Midwestern "Prairie School" of architecture, which aimed to create buildings with prominent horizontal lines evocative of the prairie landscape. The interior is bizarre, intended to remind its inhabitants of a ship, and is surrounded by stained art glass windows. You must take an official tour to see the interior, which lasts about an hour. Tours of the surrounding historic neighborhood are offered as well — it is best to make reservations online beforehand. Be sure to take a gander at the University of Chicago's Business School across the street, which was designed to emulate the style of the Robie House in a more modern fashion. It is one of eight buildings by Wright that is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tours Thu-Mon 11AM-3PM every 30 minutes$17, $14 seniors/students/military, children under 4 free
SeeNear North
Trump Tower
1362 ft. The Trump Hotel and luxury residential building is both the newest member of the Chicago skyline, completed at the beginning of 2009, and the tallest after the Sears Tower — indeed, it is the fourth tallest in the United States. The Donald intended for it to be the tallest in the world, but decided to scale back following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The design features three prominent setbacks at the height of nearby buildings: the Wrigley Building, Marina City, and 330 N Wabash, which, combined with its singularly reflective exterior, allow this supertall to blend into the skyline, almost to the point where you could overlook it. As intended, the building reflects and interacts with the Chicago skyline, rather than imposing itself upon it with its great height. Regardless, you will not likely miss this building, and it's plenty interesting to examine — its asymmetric form ensures that you will see something quite different from any different vantage point.
SeeHyde Park Not mapped
Main Campus
One of the world's great universities, the University of Chicago's Gothic campus exudes academic rigor and intellectual intensity, known to students as "the place where fun goes to die." Its imposing gray buildings make it a must-see for architecture fans. Even if you are not a prospective student, you can take advantage of its free campus tours.
Tours: Mar–Nov Mon-Fri 10:30AM, 2:30PM; Dec–Feb Mon-Fri 10:30AM
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AT&T Corporate Center
1007 ft. Built by Adrian Smith in 1989, the granite-clad AT&T Corporate Center is one of the city's more distinctive skyscrapers for its massive size, spiked roof pinnacles, and a style evocative of both Gothic and Japanese architectural styles. It's not well-known, but it is the eighth tallest building in the U.S.
SeeLibraryNear North
Newberry Library
The oldest public library in Chicago, although not part of the city library system. The collection focuses on the humanities, American and European history, and the age of exploration. Occasional author events are held.
Reading rooms Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM; Exhibition galleries Tue-Thu 10AM-7PM, Fri Sat 10AM-5PM; Bookshop Wed-Sat 10AM-12:30PM 1:30-4PMFree
SeeHyde Park
Obama Presidential Center
A museum, library, and education project in Chicago to commemorate the presidency of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.
Campus: 6AM-9PM; museum and forum building: Mon 1-8PM, Tue-Sun 10AM-5PMAdult $30, child (3-11) $23; Illinois resident $26, resident child $15
SeeChildren museumNear North
Chicago Children's Museum
Hands-on exhibits for kids, including the popular Dinosaur Expedition.
10AM-5PM; Thu to 8PMAdmission $8, free Thursday after 5PM, free for children on the first Monday of every month · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistoric siteLoop
The Reliance Building
Root/Atwood, 1890/1895
A then-unprecedented amount of glass was used in this early skyscraper, bewildering a public still used to masonry walls. Note the difference between the first two floors and the ones above: hold-outs among the previous building's tenants forced developers to build the foundation and the first two floors under the top three floors from the old building, and then knock off the top three when their leases had expired. It was restored when it became the Hotel Burnham (see below) in 1999, and can be explored with a stop at the Atwood Cafe (also below).
SeeHistoric buildingLoop
Monadnock Building
Burnham & Root, 1891
Named appropriately for a mountain in New Hampshire, the Monadnock was the last tall building to be supported by its own walls (not a metal frame, although the 1893 addition by Holabird & Roche does use one). It's a masterpiece of simplicity and power in form. The block-long hallway that serves as a lobby has incredible ambiance: it's always kept at a level of brightness that suggests gas lamps, and the small stores on the first floor (a coffee shop, a shoe-shine, a restaurant) are all turn-of-the-century tile-and-polish.
Heritage listed
SeeHistory museumNear West Side
National Hellenic Museum
Now housed in a beautiful glass building, the National Hellenic Museum sits neatly at the start of Greektown's best restaurants. Partnered with the Field Museum, they host many actual Greek relics and also support Greek and Greek-American artists.
Thu-Sun 10AM-4PM$10/adult, $8/concession, $7/child
SeeHistory museumWicker Park
The Polish Museum of America
Library and exhibitions on Polish heritage, both in Chicago and in Poland. It is home to the largest collection of memorabilia relating to Ignace Paderewski, and the museum is purportedly haunted by the once famous pianist.
Fri-Wed 11AM-4PM$5 adults, $4 children
SeeNature museumLincoln Park-Old Town
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Carefully positioned within walking distance of the Lincoln Park Zoo in hopes of being parents' second stop while they're in the area, the Notebaert Nature Museum is... okay. Exhibits are geared toward kids and are sometimes hands-on. The only consistent must-see is the butterfly haven.
Mon-Fri 9AM-4:30PM, Sat Sun 10AM-5PMAdults $9, children 3-12 $6, Th free · Entry 9 USD
SeeHistoric siteLoop
Crain Communications Building
Diamond Bldg
582 ft. Anyone who has seen Adventures in Babysitting should immediately recognize this 1984 building, as its slanted roof (lit up at night) played a very important role in the film's climax. It's a hard building to miss, as it is just across the street from Millennium Park.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chicago (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.