# Things to Do in Chicago

Museums, architecture, and lakefront icons across downtown Chicago and the Museum Campus. · community starter list

Looking for things to do in Chicago? This list of 9 includes Art Institute of Chicago (Loop, Chicago). The order here is where we started — no votes have been cast yet, so voting decides it from here.

**Where:** [Third Platz](/.md) / [United States](/united-states.md) / Chicago
**Updated:** 2026-08-25 16:17:56

1. **[Art Institute of Chicago](/e/art-institute-of-chicago---1289.md)** (attraction) — One of the country's great encyclopedic art museums, famed for its Impressionist holdings and American Gothic. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-art-institute-of-chicago, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Institute_of_Chicago
2. **[Skydeck Chicago](/e/skydeck-chicago---1290.md)** (attraction) — Glass Ledge boxes cantilevered off the 103rd floor of Willis Tower; timed-entry tickets, open year-round. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skydeck_Chicago, https://theskydeck.com/
3. **[Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise](/e/chicago-architecture-center-river-cruise---1291.md)** (activity) — Docent-led boat tour past 50-plus riverfront landmarks; seasonal, running roughly mid-March through late November. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Architecture_Center, https://www.architecture.org/city-tours/river-cruise
4. **[Chicago Riverwalk](/e/chicago-riverwalk---1292.md)** (attraction) — Free public walkway along the river's south bank, lined with cafes, kayak rentals, and a string of themed public-space "rooms." — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Riverwalk, https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/chicagoriverwalk/home.html
5. **[Field Museum](/e/field-museum---1293.md)** (attraction) — Natural history museum on Museum Campus; SUE the T. rex is included in general admission, but traveling shows like the 3D theater cost extra. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_Museum_of_Natural_History, https://www.fieldmuseum.org/tickets
6. **[Shedd Aquarium](/e/shedd-aquarium---1294.md)** (attraction) — Historic Beaux-Arts aquarium on the Museum Campus lakefront, with habitats spanning Pacific Northwest waters, Caribbean reefs and the Amazon. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shedd_Aquarium, https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit
7. **[Adler Planetarium](/e/adler-planetarium---1295.md)** (attraction) — The first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, on the tip of Museum Campus with skyline views over the lake. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adler_Planetarium, https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/visit/
8. **[Navy Pier](/e/navy-pier---1296.md)** (attraction) — Free-to-enter lakefront pier with a Ferris wheel, gardens, and boat cruises; individual rides and attractions are ticketed separately. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Pier, https://navypier.org/
9. **[Wrigley Field Tours](/e/wrigley-field-tours---1297.md)** (activity) — Behind-the-scenes tour of the ivy-walled, 1914 home of the Cubs; non-gameday tours reach the field and dugout, gameday tours see less. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrigley_Field, https://www.mlb.com/cubs/ballpark/tours

## Related lists

### Nearby
- [Things to Do in Los Angeles](/united-states-los-angeles/things-to-do---168.md) — Los Angeles
- [Things to Do in New York City](/united-states-new-york-city/things-to-do---137.md) — New York City
- [Things to Do in San Francisco](/united-states-san-francisco/things-to-do---208.md) — San Francisco

### More in Chicago
- [Best Cafes in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/best-cafes---202.md) — Chicago
- [Top 10 Restaurants in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/top-10-restaurants---203.md) — Chicago
- [Best Parks in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/best-parks---205.md) — Chicago

### Same topic, elsewhere
- [Things to Do in Istanbul](/turkey-istanbul/things-to-do---140.md) — Istanbul
- [Things to Do in Mumbai](/india-mumbai/things-to-do---142.md) — Mumbai
- [Things to Do in Toronto](/canada-toronto/things-to-do---144.md) — Toronto

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