Things to Do in Chicago
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Things to Do in Chicago
| Name | Category | Location |
|
18th Street
Pilsen's main commercial strip is loaded with tempting restaurants... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Pilsen |
|
311 South Wacker
The first of three towers intended for the site, this pale pink... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
33 West Kinzie Street
At Dearborn and Kinzie streets is a splendid ornamental brickwork... |
Architectural Sites | River North |
|
333 West Wacker Drive
This green-glazed beauty doesn't follow the rules. Its riverside... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
860-880 N. Lake Shore Drive
These twin apartment towers overlooking Lake Michigan were an... |
Architectural Sites | River North |
|
| ||
Adler Planetarium
Navigate your way through the solar system with interactive and... |
Museums / Galleries | South Loop |
|
Alta Vista Terrace
On the 3800 block of North Alta Vista Terrace sits Grace Street... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Lakeview |
|
Andersonville
Just north of Uptown there's a neighborhood that still shows... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
|
Aon
With the open space of Millennium Park at its doorstep, the Aon... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Aragon Ballroom
Just outside the Lawrence train station a large sign heralds... |
Arts / Performance Venues | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
|
Argyle Strip
The Far North's Argyle Strip is also called Little Saigon (and... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
The Art Institute of Chicago
Come for the sterling collection of Impressionists (an entire... |
Museums / Galleries | The Loop |
Auditorium Theatre
Hunkered down across from Grant Park, this 110,000-ton granite-and-limestone... |
Arts / Performance Venues, Architectural Sites | The Loop |
Bahá'i Temple House of Worship
Your mouth is sure to drop to the floor the first time you lay... |
Religious Sites | Wilmette |
|
Bank of America Theatre
On Monroe, just before State Street sits the ornate Bank of America... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Barbara's Bookstore
A small local chain popular among book lovers and independent... |
Stores / Malls | University Village |
|
Belmont Avenue
This strip, from Lake Shore Drive to Sheffield, has a different... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Lakeview |
|
Bloomingdale's
Built in 1912 in an Islamic, Eastern style, the former Medinah... |
Architectural Sites | River North |
|
Boystown
Just beyond Wrigleyvielle is the community of Boystown, as locals... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Lakeview |
Brookfield Zoo
Spend the day among nearly 3,000 animals at this gigantic zoo... |
Zoos / Aquariums | Brookfield |
|
Cadillac Palace Theatre
Opened in 1926 as a vaudeville venue, the theater was designed... |
Arts / Performance Venues | The Loop |
|
Cantigny Park
The 500 acres of this estate offers multiple attractions: an... |
Parks | Wheaton |
|
Carbide and Carbon Building
Designed in 1929 by Daniel and Hubert Burnham, sons of the renowned... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Charnley-Persky House Museum Foundation
Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Charnley-Persky House with his... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Chase
This building's graceful swoop—a novelty when it went up—continues... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Chicago Antique Market
The Chicago Antique Market, a seasonal indoor-outdoor flea market... |
Markets / Bazaars | West Loop |
Chicago Botanic Garden
Among the 23 different gardens are a three-island Japanese garden... |
Gardens / Arboretums | Glencoe |
|
Chicago Children's Museum
"Hands-on" is the operative concept for this brightly colored... |
Museums / Galleries | Near North |
Chicago Cultural Center
Built in 1897 as the city's original public library, this huge... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
Chicago History Museum
The museum went through a major rehaul in late 2006 when it changed... |
Museums / Galleries | Lincoln Park |
|
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association
Orchestra Hall, home to the acclaimed Chicago Symphony Orchestra... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Chicago Temple
The Gothic-inspired headquarters of the First United Methodist... |
Religious Sites | The Loop |
|
Chinatown Gate
South of the Prairie Avenue district, this Chinese microcosm... |
Architectural Sites | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Chinatown Square
Located on Princeton and Archer, this large, local enclave is... |
Public Art (Mural / Sculpture / Statue), Squares | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Civic Opera House
The handsome home of the Lyric Opera of Chicago is grand indeed... |
Arts / Performance Venues | The Loop |
|
Clarke House Museum
This Greek Revival structure dates from 1836, making it Chicago's... |
Museums / Galleries | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Cubby Bear Lounge
Diagonally across the street from Wrigley Field is this Chicago... |
Restaurants | Lakeview |
|
Cuneo Museum and Gardens
Samuel Insull, partner of Thomas Edison and founder of Commonwealth... |
Houses / Mansions | Vernon Hills |
|
The Dearborn Station
Chicago's oldest standing passenger train station, a South Loop... |
Architectural Sites | South Loop |
|
DePaul University
One of the largest Catholic universities in the country, the... |
Educational Institutions | Lincoln Park |
|
Devon Avenue
Chicagoans flock here to quell cravings for Indian food, or... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
|
Division Street
At the southern border of Wicker Park, Division Street has become... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Donohue Building
The first major printing facility in Printers Row, this 1883... |
Architectural Sites | South Loop |
|
Double Door
Near the intersection of North Avenue and Milwaukee this legendary... |
Arts / Performance Venues | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
The DuSable Museum of African-American History
The DuSable is a colorful—and haunting—exploration... |
Museums / Galleries | Hyde Park |
|
Earwax Cafe
This vegan- and vegetarian-friendly hangout is considered very... |
Restaurants | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Ernest Hemingway Birthplace
Part of the literary legacy of Oak Park, this three-story, turreted... |
Historic Districts / Sites | Oak Park |
|
Ernest Hemingway Museum
How did the author's first 20 years in Oak Park affect his later... |
Museums / Galleries | Oak Park |
|
Facets Multimedia
Film buffs shouldn't leave Lincoln Park without visiting this... |
Arts / Performance Venues | Lincoln Park |
|
Federal Center and Plaza
Actually the Federal Center is three separate buildings—the... |
Government Buildings | The Loop |
|
The Field Museum
More than 6 acres of exhibits fill this gigantic world-class... |
Museums / Galleries | South Loop |
|
Fine Arts Building
This creaky building was constructed in 1895 to house the showrooms... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Flatiron Arts Building
Opposite the Northwest Tower across the busy North Milwaukee-Damen... |
Architectural Sites | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Ford Center for the Performing Arts-Oriental Theatre
The opulent interior of Buddhas and elephant-type chairs looked... |
Arts / Performance Venues | The Loop |
|
The Fourth Presbyterian Church Of Chicago
A welcome visual and physical oasis amid the high-rise hubbub... |
Religious Sites | Near North |
|
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Wright designed and built his house when he was only 22, in 1889... |
Houses / Mansions | Oak Park |
Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House
Long and low, the 9,000-square-foot Robie House is one of the... |
Houses / Mansions | Hyde Park |
|
The Franklin Building
Built in 1888 and initially the home of the Franklin Company... |
Architectural Sites | South Loop |
|
Fulton Market
The stylish Fulton Market district runs along Fulton Market and... |
Markets / Bazaars | West Loop |
|
Garfield Park Conservatory
Escape winter's cold or revel in summer sunshine inside this... |
Parks | West Loop |
Glessner House Museum
This fortresslike, Romanesque Revival 1886 residence is the only... |
Houses / Mansions | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Graceland Cemetery
On Clark Street by Irving Park Road is Graceland Cemetery, which... |
Cemeteries | Lakeview |
|
Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain
Two of Chicago's greatest treasures reside in Grant Park—the... |
Parks | South Loop |
|
Greektown
This small strip of the West Loop may as well be half a world... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | West Loop |
|
Green City Market
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings from May to September the... |
Markets / Bazaars | Lincoln Park |
|
Halsted Street
Halsted near 18th Street was once home to a cluster of art galleries... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Pilsen |
|
Harold Washington Library Center
The library, named for the first African-American mayor of Chicago... |
Libraries | The Loop |
|
Heller House
When he designed this house in 1897, Frank Lloyd Wright was still... |
Houses / Mansions | Hyde Park |
|
Hilton Chicago
An inn, this isn't. When it opened in 1927, the world's largest... |
Hotels | South Loop |
|
Historic Water Tower
This famous Michigan Avenue structure, completed in 1867, was... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Hyatt Place
At 48 stories, the headquarters of this hospitality group is... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Hyde Park Historical Society
To get a good overview of the neighborhood, stop by the Hyde... |
Information Centers | Hyde Park |
|
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
In the 1970s, a group of neo-Nazis planned a march in the predominantly... |
Educational Institutions | Skokie |
|
Inland Steel Building
A runt compared to today's tall buildings, this crisp, sparkling... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Jackson Park
This Hyde Park gem was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (who... |
Parks | Hyde Park |
|
James R. Thompson Center
People either hate or love the center: former governor James... |
Government Buildings | The Loop |
|
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
The redbrick Victorian Hull House was the birthplace of social... |
Museums / Galleries | University Village |
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Built in 1930, the Shedd is one of the most popular aquariums... |
Zoos / Aquariums | South Loop |
John Hancock Observatory
Designed by the same team that designed the Willis (formerly... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Lakeview Homes
On the side streets heading east and west of Boystown you'll... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Lakeview |
|
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Antiques hunters with fat wallets may want to check the schedule... |
Stores / Malls | West Loop |
|
Lincoln Park Conservatory
Green grows on green in the lush tropical main room of this refreshing... |
Gardens / Arboretums | Lincoln Park |
Lincoln Park Zoo
At this urban zoo you can face off with lions (separated by a... |
Zoos / Aquariums | Lincoln Park |
|
Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Square has long been known for its Teutonic heritage... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
|
Macy's
On State Street—the Loop's most famous thoroughfare—is... |
Stores / Malls | The Loop |
Magnificent Mile
Originally designed by 19th-century architect Daniel Burnham... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Near North |
|
Marina City
Likened to everything from corncobs to the towers of Antonio... |
Architectural Sites | River North |
|
Mario's Italian Lemonade
If you visit Taylor Street from May to early September, be sure... |
Quick Bites | Little Italy |
|
The Marquette Building
Like a slipcover over a sofa, the clean, geometric facade of... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art
Among the most notable sights on the Northwestern University... |
Museums / Galleries | Evanston |
|
Maxwell Street Market
The famous Sunday flea market, begun in the 1880s by Jewish immigrants... |
Markets / Bazaars | University Village |
|
The Merchandise Mart
The huge Merchandise Mart, on the river between Orleans and Wells... |
Stores / Malls | River North |
|
Metro
Fans, dressed in black with tattoos and body piercing, stand... |
Arts / Performance Venues | Lakeview |
|
Michigan Avenue Bridge
Chicago is a city of bridges, and this is one of its most graceful... |
Bridges / Tunnels | Near North |
Millennium Park
The Bean, the fountains, the Disney-esque music pavilion—all... |
Parks | The Loop |
|
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Founded in 1977, the museum houses more than 10,000 Native American... |
Museums / Galleries | Evanston |
|
Monadnock Building
Built in two segments a few years apart, the Monadnock captures... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Morton Arboretum
Take a quiet hike around woodlands, wetlands, and display gardens... |
Gardens / Arboretums | Lisle |
Museum of Contemporary Art
A group of art patrons who felt the great Art Institute was unresponsive... |
Museums / Galleries | Near North |
|
Museum of Contemporary Photography
"Contemporary" is defined here as anything after 1936. More than... |
Museums / Galleries | South Loop |
Museum of Science and Industry
The beloved MSI is one of the most-visited sites in Chicago... |
Museums / Galleries | Hyde Park |
|
National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame
Founded by George Randazzo in 1978, the NIASHF's mission is to... |
Sports Venues | Little Italy |
National Museum of Mexican Art
Formerly the Mexican Fine Arts Museum Center, this is the largest... |
Museums / Galleries | Pilsen |
|
National Veterans Art Museum
The chimelike sounds of more than 58,000 imprinted dog tags hanging... |
Architectural Sites | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Navy Pier
No matter the season, Navy Pier is a fun place to spend a few... |
Pedestrian Malls | Near North |
|
NBC Tower
This 1989 limestone-and-granite edifice by Skidmore, Owings &... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Nine Dragon Wall
One of three replicas outside China, the wall is modeled after... |
Architectural Sites | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
North Avenue Baths Building
The beautiful facade is a clue to the building's past life, when... |
Architectural Sites | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
North Avenue Beach
The beautiful people strut their stuff along the lake at this... |
Beaches | Lincoln Park |
|
Northwest Tower Building
This striking triangular Art Deco building is the anchor of the... |
Architectural Sites | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Northwestern University
The private university founded here in 1851 by town namesake... |
Educational Institutions | Evanston |
|
Old Town
You can hear the laughs emanating from Wells Street in Old Town... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Lincoln Park |
|
Oriental Institute
This gem began with artifacts collected by University of Chicago... |
Museums / Galleries | Hyde Park |
|
Oz Park
Film fans—and younger visitors—will relish a chance... |
Public Art (Mural / Sculpture / Statue) | Lincoln Park |
|
Park Hyatt Chicago
A relative newcomer to the neighborhood (2000), this high-end... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Patterson-McCormick Mansion
On the northwest corner of Astor and Burton streets in the swanky... |
Houses / Mansions | Near North |
|
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Walk among hundreds of Midwest species of butterflies and learn... |
Museums / Galleries | Lincoln Park |
|
Pilsen Murals
The murals of Pilsen give this neighborhood its distinctive flair... |
Public Art (Mural / Sculpture / Statue) | Pilsen |
|
Ping Tom Memorial Park
Four pillars carved with dragon designs grace the entrance of... |
Parks | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
The Polish Museum of America
Chicago has the largest Polish population of any city outside... |
Museums / Galleries | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Pontiac Building
An early Chicago School skyscraper—note its classic rectangular... |
Architectural Sites | South Loop |
|
Printers Row
The Printers Row district is bounded by Congress Parkway on the... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | South Loop |
|
Promontory Point
Part of Burnham Park, this man-made peninsula, which projects... |
Parks | Hyde Park |
|
The Promontory
The tan brick building, designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1949... |
Architectural Sites | Hyde Park |
|
Prudential Plaza
There are two architecturally notable buildings at the plaza... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Quinn Chapel
This church is one of Chicago's African-American cornerstones... |
Religious Sites | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Ravinia Park
If you enjoy music under the stars, the outdoor concerts at Ravinia... |
Parks | Highland Park |
|
Reliance Building
The clearly expressed, gleaming verticality that characterizes... |
Hotels | The Loop |
|
Richard J. Daley Center
Named for the late mayor Richard J. Daley, this boldly plain... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
River North Gallery District
Dozens of art galleries show every kind of work imaginable in... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | River North |
|
Riviera Theatre
South of the Aragon is the marquee of the Riviera Theatre, a... |
Arts / Performance Venues | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
The Rookery
This 11-story structure, with its eclectically ornamented facade... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Saint Gabriel Catholic Church
A tower, arched doorways, and a large round window form bold... |
Religious Sites | Hyde Park |
|
Santa Fe Building
Also known as the Railway Exchange Building, this structure was... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Second Presbyterian Church
Two blocks west of the Wheeler Mansion on Michigan Avenue is... |
Religious Sites | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii
Completed in 1923 and built to accommodate the area's growing... |
Religious Sites | University Village |
|
Smart Museum of Art
If you want to see art masterpieces but don't want to spend a... |
Museums / Galleries | Hyde Park |
|
Smurfit-Stone Building
Some wags have said this building, with its diamond-shape top... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Soldier Field
Opened in 1924 as the Municipal Grant Park Stadium, the facility... |
Sports Venues | South Loop |
|
South Shore Cultural Center
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this opulent... |
Architectural Sites | Hyde Park |
|
Southport Neighbors Association
There's not a Gap or Pottery Barn in sight; rather, the streets... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Lakeview |
|
Spertus Museum
This museum addresses an intellectual puzzle: What does it mean... |
Museums / Galleries | South Loop |
|
St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church
Located on Polk Street, this gorgeous Greek Revival building... |
Religious Sites | Little Italy |
|
St. Valentine's Day Massacre site
On Clark Street near Dickens, there's a rather inconspicuous... |
Historic Districts / Sites | Lincoln Park |
|
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
You might sight a celebrity or two on Halsted Street if you time... |
Arts / Performance Venues | Lincoln Park |
|
Subterranean
Across the street from the North Avenue Baths Building is a bar... |
Historic Districts / Sites | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Sullivan Center
Built in 1899, the old-fashioned department store's flagship... |
Stores / Malls | The Loop |
|
Swedish American Museum Center
Though this tiny and welcoming museum does have changing exhibits... |
Museums / Galleries | Far North and Far Northwest Sides |
|
Taylor Street Archives
In the mid-19th century, when Italians started to migrate to... |
Neighborhoods / Streets | Little Italy |
|
Tree Studios
Built in 1894 with a courtyard and annexes constructed in 1911... |
Stores / Malls | River North |
Tribune Tower
In 1922, after rejecting a slew of functional modern designs... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Trump International Hotel & Tower
The Chicago Sun-Times Building was torn down to make way for... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
Modern and contemporary art fans head out to this small museum... |
Museums / Galleries | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Ukrainian Village Landmark District
For a glimpse of how the working class lived at the turn of the... |
Historic Districts / Sites | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
University of Chicago
Higher education dominates the physical and cultural landscape... |
Educational Institutions | Hyde Park |
|
Water Tower Park
This Chicago icon is west of the Mag Mile, at Pearson Street... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Water Works Pumping Station
Water is still pumped to some of the city residents at a rate... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
|
Wheeler Mansion
At the intersection of Calumet and Cullerton avenues is the Wheeler... |
Houses / Mansions | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
|
Wicker Park
South of the North Damen-Milwaukee intersection is this triangular... |
Neighborhoods / Streets, Parks | Wicker Park and Bucktown |
|
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation
This is the former Chess Records building where a cadre of music... |
Tours | Prairie Avenue and Chinatown |
Willis Tower
In Chicago, size matters. This soaring 110-story skyscraper... |
Architectural Sites | The Loop |
|
Wrigley Building
The gleaming white Wrigley Building sports a clock tower inspired... |
Architectural Sites | Near North |
Wrigley Field
The venerable, ivy-covered home of the Chicago Cubs is the nation's... |
Sports Venues | Lakeview |
Travel Deals in Chicago
- U.S. City Flight Sale (R/T incl. Tax) CheapOair
- Next Week: 'South Pacific' in Chicago, Reg. $43 Cadillac Palace Theatre
- Chicago Fares to/from Los Angeles (each way) — $99 Virgin America
- Chicago Fares to/from San Francisco (each way) — $99 Virgin America