Things To Do in Chicago
From the towering skyscrapers of the Loop to the city's colorful mosaic of unique neighborhoods, Chicago buzzes with energy and excitement. Whether you're visiting for business or pleasure, you will find world-class dining, shopping, entertainment, and hotels and accommodations here in the largest and most-visited city in the Midwest.
As the official Chicago visitors' site, Choose Chicago is your guide. Use our Events Calendar to find comedy shows, pro sports games and more. Check out our listings to discover new restaurants and browse our Itineraries to take in all the sights — from Willis Tower Skydeck to 360 CHICAGO and everything in between.
Navy Pier
Historic Navy Pier is Chicago's lakefront playground with over 50 acres of parks, shops, restaurants, entertainment and attractions. Navy Pier is the Midwest's #1 attractions with more than 8 million visitors a year. Enjoy a ride on the Ferris Wheel, musical carousel, Wave Swinger and miniature golf course. Visit the Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago Shakespeare Theater or the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre. Take a ride on a tour boat or dining cruise ship.
Millennium Park
With 25 acres of awe-inspiring landscape, breathtaking architecture and an iconic collection of public art, Millennium Park is Chicago’s premier green space. Millennium Park celebrated its 10th anniversary season last year and in 2015 will continue to present dozens of free events and programs including art installations, outdoor concerts, films screenings, alfresco workouts and more. Visit "The Bean" and take a picture in front of the massive, stainless steel structure, escape into Lurie Garden, a four-seasons urban oasis that pays homage to Chicago's motto — "Urbs in Horto," and stand beneath Crown Fountain, two 50-foot towers that reflect the faces of Chicago. Before leaving, see the architecturally-stunning Jay Pritzker Pavilion and grab a bite at the on-site restaurant Park Grill or picnic on the main plaza.
Grant Park
Often referred to as “Chicago’s front yard,” Grant Park is over 300-acres of carefully landscaped green space separating the city’s downtown area from Lake Michigan. The Park was an important part of Daniel Burnham’s vision of a free and open lakefront that “by right belongs to the people.” As an area mostly clear of commercial space, the park hosts some of the city’s most popular attractions including: Buckingham Fountain, Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel in Hyde Park
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, with its Interreligious Center, serves as the hub of spiritual life at the University of Chicago, offering diverse religious events and ceremonies on a daily basis, as well as regular interreligious gatherings. In addition, Rockefeller hosts major performing arts and academic events, and serves as the locus for University-wide gatherings and celebrations of many different kinds.
Chicago Sports Museum
The 8,000 square foot Chicago Sports Museum offers a highly interactive experience for visitors to explore the legends and lore of Chicago sports. It combines hi-tech interactive experiences—including skill challenges and simulated experiences—with unique sports memorabilia and an impressive collection of game-used treasures and other artifacts.
Midwest Buddhist Temple
The Midwest Buddhist Temple was formally founded on July 10, 1944, with a simple but inspirational service at the South Parkway Community Hall on Chicago's South Side. In November 1971, the present temple, the Temple of Enlightenment, was dedicated. The temple is now in integral part of the community, and the solemn tolling of the temple bell is a familiar sound in the air.
Chinatown Square
Chinatown Square is a two-story outdoor mall. In the heart of it is the Pan Asian Cultural Center and 12 beautiful, bronze zodiac figures. The "Chinese in America" Mural is also located here and describes the history of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. as well as Chinese cultural beliefs. It contains 100,000 individually cut pieces of hand-painted glass from China made specifically for this mural.
Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is the only surviving lighthouse in Chicago and one of only two remaining in Illinois. Built in 1893, the Lighthouse symbolically marks the Chicago Harbor; a historically pivotal point where the nation's maritime transportation network connected the Great Lakes, the East Coast, and ultimately the Gulf Coast.
Heritage Museum of Asian Art
The Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s collection showcases a variety of art forms spanning many cultures and time periods of Asia. Highlights of the collection include jade dating from the Neolithic to the Qing, Neolithic pottery, imperial porcelains, Chinese snuff bottles, scholar’s objects, textiles, bronzes and more.