Things to Do in Chicago: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
Wondering what to do in Chicago? Start on the water: the 90-minute architecture river cruise is the city's number-one experience (about $45–60), and it pairs naturally with the Willis Tower Skydeck or 360 Chicago the same afternoon. Give yourself two to three days — day one for the river, the Loop and Millennium Park, day two for the Art Institute, Field Museum or Shedd Aquarium, day three for a deep-dish food tour and a gangster history bus. Plenty is free: Cloud Gate (the Bean), the Riverwalk, the 18-mile Lakefront Trail and Lincoln Park Zoo cost nothing. Below you can compare every Chicago tour and ticket by rating and price, with free cancellation on most.
524 tours · prices per person, book with partner
All experiences in Chicago — FAQ
What are the top things to do in Chicago?
By traveller reviews: the Chicago Architecture River Cruise, the Willis Tower Skydeck Ledge, 360 Chicago and its TILT platform, Millennium Park and the Bean, the Art Institute, a deep-dish food tour, a Crime and Mob bus tour, a Lake Michigan sunset cruise, Navy Pier and the Field Museum. Compare all of them below.
How many days do you need in Chicago?
Two to three days covers the essentials: the river cruise, an observation deck and Millennium Park on day one, museums on day two, food and history tours on day three. With four or more days add neighbourhoods like Wicker Park and Pilsen, a Cubs game at Wrigley Field or a day trip to Oak Park or Milwaukee.
What can you do in Chicago for free?
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate, the Chicago Riverwalk, the Lakefront Trail and beaches, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago Cultural Center with its Tiffany dome, Garfield Park Conservatory, Buckingham Fountain and walking onto Navy Pier are all free. Paid experiences worth the money are the architecture cruise and one observation deck.
Do Chicago tours offer free cancellation?
Most experiences listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time. The policy is shown on each tour before you book.