What are the top things to do in Chicago?

The top things to do in Chicago are: Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower) Chicago River The Magnificent Mile Navy Pier Chicago Riverwalk

What are the top activities in Chicago?

Top activities in Chicago include: Chicago Architecture River Cruise Lake Michigan Skyline Cruise in Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour

What are the top things to do near Chicago?

Check out things to do near Chicago: Illinois Nashville Duluth Pittsburgh Toronto

What do I need to know before visiting Chicago?

Check out these top Chicago travel ideas: Tour Guide York Chan's Guide to Chicago's Chinatown 4 Best Weekend Getaways from Chicago 6 Best Girls’ Weekend Getaways Don’t-Miss Dishes in Chicago How to Beat the Crowds in Chicago

What is Chicago famous for?

Chicago is famous for its architecture—skyscrapers like the Willis Tower and John Hancock Center dominate its skyline, and architectural boat tours chart the Chicago River. The Windy City is also known for its signature bites like deep-dish pizza, its world-class museums, dynamic and diverse neighborhoods, and views overlooking Lake Michigan.

How can I spend a day in Chicago?

If you have just one day in Chicago, start at the Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower for panoramic city views. Stroll through the Loop to Millennium Park and pose near "The Bean" before exploring the Art Institute of Chicago. Be sure to try Chicago's famous deep-dish pizza before leaving.

How can I have fun in Chicago?

For a fun-filled day in Chicago, visit the attractions of Navy Pier, embark on a sightseeing boat tour of Lake Michigan, or head to the 360 Chicago Observation Deck for aerial views. Alternatively, go on a Segway tour of the Lakefront—and even see a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

What is the number 1 attraction in Chicago?

Chicago's number-one attraction is Millennium Park. This relaxing green space, steps from Lake Michigan, is home to many famous public artworks, including Anish Kapoor's "Cloud Gate"—better known as "The Bean." Right next door is the Art Institute of Chicago, where you can continue your cultural immersion indoors.

What is there to do in Chicago in the winter?

Chicago is known for its snowy winters. For a winter-wonderland experience, discover the ice rink in Millennium Park or hit the Soldier Field Sledding Hill. Then, warm up in a top-rated museum, like the Art Institute of Chicago or Field Museum. End the evening with a musical or comedy show.

Things to do in Chicago

The Third Coast's greatest city

Located along the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago—the largest city in Illinois and the third largest in the United States—offers a wealth of art, music, historical, and architectural experiences. Culture lovers can stroll through Millennium Park and the Loop to view outdoor art (including the iconic “Bean”), tour world-class museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago, or cruise the Chicago River to see modern landmark gems. To meet the locals, buy a ticket for a ball game; catch some live blues or jazz (both of which have deep roots in Chicago) at a club; or laugh at the comedy acts at Second City, where many top comedians launched their careers.

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Top 15 attractions in Chicago

Tours & Tickets

Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

21,646

Once the world’s tallest building, Willis Tower is still way up in the clouds. Though it functions as an office building, the skyscraper’s 103rd-floor Skydeck Chicago draws 1.7 million annual visitors for a trip out onto The Ledge, an enclosed glass balcony extending 4 feet (1.2 meters) out over the city, as well as panoramic views that—on clear days—extend as far as Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin.More

Tours & Tickets

Chicago River

16,470

Winding its way through the heart of the Windy City, the Chicago River flows past some of the city’s most notable architecture, including the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), Wrigley Building, and Navy Pier. The river also offers opportunities for exploration, such as river cruises, kayaking, and canoeing, along a revamped riverfront.More

Tours & Tickets

The Magnificent Mile

11,037

Fashion, architecture, and history in Chicago come together on this renowned stretch of Michigan Avenue nicknamed the Magnificent Mile. As you walk from the Chicago River to Oak Street, you’ll pass several Windy City landmarks, including the Water Tower, John Hancock Center, and Tribune Tower, as well as numerous luxury brand retailers.More

Tours & Tickets

Navy Pier

16,543

Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular tourist destinations—and with good reason. The 3,300-foot (1,010-meter) pier jutting into the waters of Lake Michigan, originally constructed in 1916 as a freight dock and public space, encompasses almost 50 acres (20 hectares) of exhibits, rides, parks, and family attractions.More

Tours & Tickets

Chicago Riverwalk

12,909

Connecting Lake Michigan to downtown, the Chicago Riverwalk is an open-air pedestrian-friendly walkway that runs along the Chicago River. Composed of six main sections, the Riverwalk is a main hub for entertainment. Head to the Marina Plaza section for restaurants, outdoor seating, and boat access. Take a stroll through a series of piers and floating wetland gardens at the Riverbank, or head to the Water Plaza where the kids can splash in water fountains.More

Tours & Tickets

Millennium Park

9,507

Located just a block away from Lake Michigan in the heart of downtown Chicago, Millennium Park showcases world-class art, music, architecture, and landscape design. Completed in 2004, the 24.5-acre (10-hectare) park is one of Chicago’s most popular destinations, drawing 25 million visitors per year.More

Tours & Tickets

Chicago Loop

6,218

Chicago’s central business district, the Loop, is home to many of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, from museums and skyscrapers to parks and outdoor sculptures. Renowned for highlights like Grant Park, City Hall, and the Willis Tower, the Loop attracts both locals and visitors with its culture and entertainment offerings.More

Tours & Tickets

Art Institute of Chicago

2,918

Located in Chicago’s Grant Park, the Art Institute showcases 300,000 works of art ranging from ancient works to pieces created by today’s foremost artists. More than 1.5 million visitors from across the globe flock to the museum annually, making it one of Chicago’s most-visited destinations.More

Tours & Tickets

Wrigley Building

8,271

The 1920s were an important time for Chicago architecture, and when the Wrigley Building opened in 1925, it set the pace for the city’s development. When owner William Wrigley Jr. (of the Wrigley gum company) scouted locations for the building that would become his company’s headquarters, he chose a unique triangle shape of land that eventually became the bustling Magnificent Mile.More

Tours & Tickets

#10

Tours & Tickets

360 Chicago Observation Deck (Formerly John Hancock Observatory)

2,591

Formerly known as the John Hancock Observatory, 360 Chicago offers an interactive experience of the Windy City’s history and culture on the way up to its 94th-floor observation deck. From here, sweeping views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan are enhanced by Tilt—moving glass lookouts that that literally tilt you out 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the Magnificent Mile.More

Tours & Tickets

#11

Tours & Tickets

Tribune Tower

12,060

Once home to the Chicago Tribune, this neo-Gothic landmark was built as a result of the International Design Competition in 1922. Before this 462-foot (141-meter) building was constructed, reporters from the paper brought back pieces of rock from important landmarks around the world like the Taj Mahal, the Hagia Sophia, the Great Wall of China, and more.More

Tours & Tickets

#12

Tours & Tickets

Grant Park

5,147

Known as “Chicago’s Front Yard,” Grant Park stretches over 300 acres (121 hectares), and is the city’s primary downtown park. Located in the Loop, Grant Park is sandwiched between Lake Michigan and soaring skyscrapers. Its cultural highlights include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum Campus, and Millennium Park.More

Tours & Tickets

#13

Tours & Tickets

Marina City

6,990

A distinctive feature of the Chicago skyline since the 1960s, the twin concrete columns of Marina City were once the tallest residential buildings in the world. Their scalloped “corn cob” exterior made them instantly recognizable and a popular setting in movies like Batman Begins,Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and The Blues Brothers.More

Tours & Tickets

#14

Tours & Tickets

Field Museum

2,774

With more than 20 million artifacts, the Field Museum is an engaging museum filled with both interactive and imaginative displays. The big attraction is the Tyrannosaurus rex named "Sue," a 13 foot (4 meter) tall, 41 ft (13 m) long beast who menaces the grand space with ferocious aplomb. The most complete T-Rex ever discovered, it takes its name from Sue Hendrickson, the fossil-hunter who found the 90 percent complete skeleton in South Dakota in 1990.Dinosaurs loom large in the Field Museum. At the Evolving Planet exhibit, you can also watch staff paleontologists clean up fossils, learn about the evolution of the massive reptiles, and even learn about Homo sapien's evolutionary ties to the extinct beasts. Away from the prehistoric giants, the “Inside Ancient Egypt” exhibit recreates an Egyptian burial chamber on three levels. The mastaba (tomb) contains 23 actual mummies. The bottom level, with its twisting caverns, is especially worthwhile. Those reeds growing in the stream are real.Other displays worth your time include “Underground Adventure,” a vast exhibit exploring the habitats of animals and insects that live underground, and the “Pawnee Earth Lodge,” which allows visitors to explore a complete dwelling of the Great Plains tribe.More

Tours & Tickets

#15

Tours & Tickets

Chicago Theatre

7,182

The historic Chicago Theatre, which dates back to 1921, is a popular downtown architectural landmark. With its famous dazzling marquee, French baroque architecture, and lobby modeled on a Versailles chapel, this picturesque structure today hosts concerts and comedy shows, as well as daily tours of its spectacular interior.More

Tours & Tickets

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Top activities in Chicago

Chicago Architecture River Cruise

10131

From

HK$404.27

Lake Michigan Skyline Cruise in Chicago

554

From

HK$280.40

Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago

3967

From

HK$280.97

Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

1388

From

HK$390.14

Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour

1823

From

HK$369.27

Chicago CityPASS

394

From

HK$1,075.70

360 CHICAGO Observation Deck Admission (Hancock Center)

500

From

HK$240.83

30 Minute Lake Michigan Speedboat Ride

206

From

HK$292.12

90-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour

3265

From

HK$337.16

Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour

1136

From

HK$337.16

Chicago Signature Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan

216

From

HK$1,096.09

Chicago Favorites Ultimate Food & Walking Tour

687

From

HK$642.13

Private 45-Minute Chicago Skyline Helicopter Tour

From

HK$6,815.43

per group

Chicago Premier Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan

227

From

HK$1,513.04

Chicago Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan

161

From

HK$679.86

Chicago in a Day: Food, History and Architecture Walking Tour

476

From

HK$780.84

~~HK$867.62~~ HK$86.78 savings

Premier Chicago River Dinner Cruise

From

HK$1,589.79

Skyline Tour Aboard 148 Ft. Schooner Windy - Chicago's Official Tall Ship

342

From

HK$473.63

45-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour from Magnificent Mile

474

From

HK$216.75

Chicago Food Tasting Tour with Secret Food Tours

309

From

HK$705.39

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Explore our promoted experiences

2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Chicago

2 hours
Free Cancellation

From

HK$521.79

Educational Tour and Sail Aboard Chicago's Official Flagship Windy 148' Schooner

1 hour 15 minutes
Free Cancellation

From

HK$313.08

Skip the Line: American Writers Museum Admission Ticket

Free Cancellation

From

HK$112.39

Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Chicago Neighborhoods with Lunch and Dinner

8 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation

From

HK$1,404.83

Chicago’s Famous Friday Night Pirates Pub Sail Aboard 148' Tall Ship Windy

2 hours
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HK$714.46

BYOB Spray Paint 'n' Sip at Studio W.I.P. Chicago

1 hour 30 minutes

From

HK$321.10

Medieval Torture Museum Ticket with Audio Guide and Ghost Hunting

1 hour 30 minutes
Free Cancellation

From

HK$269.65

Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

1388

1 hour
Free Cancellation

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HK$390.14

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What people are saying about Chicago

Chicago Architecture River Cruise

Patricia_M

, May 2023

Interesting and...

Interesting and impressive to see Chicago from the water.

Small-Group Sightseeing Boat Tour in Chicago

Jake_M

, May 2023

Amazing Experience!!!

This is a great way to see Chicago from a new perspective.

Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Jonathan_M

, May 2023

Best deal in the city

The only way to see Chicago when you first get in, the big bus is a great deal.

Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago

Lesli_V

, May 2023

Awesome guide!

What a great way to see the Loop and learn some grim history.

Chicago Sunset Cruise

Jeffrey_K

, May 2023

Sunset cruise

I would recommend this to anyone coming to visit Chicago!

Chicago in a Day: Food, History and Architecture Walking Tour

Michael_E

, May 2023

Dash is the man!!

I’m recommending this to all my family and friends to visit the city.

Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago

Monica_M

, May 2023

Pick Baylor as your tour guide!

Not only did we get to walk some of the most historical sites in Chicago, we got a quick history of Al Capones rise and fall- while learning about Chicago’s darker past.