Best Museums in Chicago
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
Are you trying to determine the best museums to visit while you’re in Chicago? Planning a getaway is always fun and exciting – but it can be overwhelming, particularly when you’re trying to determine which tourist attractions are worth visiting. Here, we’ll clue you in on the museums that are a must-see when you’re in Chicago – if you can’t see all of them, at least select those which best align with your interests. You may also want to consider distance when prioritizing your museum list – the best museums in Chicago are listed by neighborhood below. The first 5 are located in downtown, whereas the last 2 are located in Hyde Park, which is about 6-8 miles away from the downtown museums.
Click on a museum below for more information:
Loop (Downtown)
South Loop (Downtown)
Hyde Park
Before diving into the museums, do you need to book a hotel? If so, click on the links below to start up your hotel search:
Loop (Downtown)
Art Institute
If there’s one museum you’ll want to see in Chicago, it’s this one. At the Art Institute, you’ll see works of European artists such as Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, and American artists such as O’Keefe and Warhol. In addition, the Art Institute has a large and vast collection of art on display, not only from the Americas and Europe, but also from Asia and Africa. There are multiple rooms of art to see throughout floors LL, 1, 2, and even part of 3. The Art Institute has such a variety of art from different eras that you may have to come back again (either on this vaca or the next)!
After you’ve seen the Art Institute, be sure to check out your reflection in the mirror-like structure, aka “the Bean”, located in nearby Millennium Park!
Location:
111 South Michigan Avenue
Next to Millennium Park
Loop area
Chicago
*Hours:
Monday - 11-5
Tuesday - CLOSED
Wednesday - 11-5
Thursday - 11-8
Friday – Sunday 11-5
Tours:
Guided Tours - Offered at 1pm and 3pm on the days the museum is open (also available in Spanish on Fridays & Saturdays at 2pm).
Self-Guided Tours - Available on the museum app
Dining:
The Café (Rubloff Building, Lower level) – sandwiches and salads
Modern Bar (Modern Wing, Second level) - Lighter fare as well as coffee, tea, and other beverages
Parking:
Millennium Lakeside and Millennium Park Garages - Enter from 5 S. Columbus Drive (located between Monroe & Randolph Streets)
Grant Park South Garage - Use center lane to enter at 325 S. Michigan Avenue (located between Van Buren St & Jackson Blvd)
Grant Park North Garage - Use center lane to enter at 25 N. Michigan Avenue (located between Monroe & Randolph Streets)
*Effective at the time of writing. Be sure to check the latest hours prior to your visit (if you don’t plan on purchasing tickets in advance).
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
American Writers Museum
The American Writers Museum is a small, yet unique museum which showcases American writers as well as their works. If you enjoy reading and writing - fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, short story or novel - this museum will appeal to you. One of the interesting exhibits you’ll find here is a timeline showcasing influential authors in American history. The museum also has interactive exhibits including one in which visitors can use typewriters to write a story or add to a story started by other museum guests. You can put yourself in a writer’s mind by playing word games and learning the habits that interest and inspire them. The museum also has an exhibit dedicated solely to Chicago area writers.
Once you’ve checked out the Writers Museum, head 2 blocks north on Michigan Ave to go Magnificent Mile shopping! Proceed another 1/2 mile to see the iconic John Hancock building!
Location:
180 N. Michigan Avenue (2nd Floor)
Loop area
Chicago
*Hours:
Thursday through Monday - 10-5
(Closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
Parking:
Grant Park North Garage - Use center lane to enter at 25 N. Michigan Avenue (located between Monroe and Randolph Streets)
*Effective at the time of writing. Be sure to check latest hours prior to visiting.
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
Chicago Architecture Center
Chicago has a rich architectural history, and no museum buff’s trip to Chicago would be complete without checking out the Architecture Center! Here you’ll learn about the architectural design and history of Chicago’s buildings. You’ll see an interactive model of the downtown skyline from which you can highlight individual buildings and areas of the city to discover more about them. You can also learn about some of the ongoing and future projects planned for the city. In addition, the museum has rotating architecture exhibits covering topics not only related to Chicago, but other parts of the world as well.
Location:
111 E. Wacker Drive
Loop area
Chicago
*Hours:
Friday through Monday - 10-4
(Closed Tuesday - Thursday)
Parking:
111 East Wacker Drive Parking Garage - parking is discounted with a validated parking sticker available at the Chicago Architecture Center box office.
*Effective at the time of writing. Be sure to check latest hours prior to visiting.
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
Chicago Architecture Center Boat Cruise
The Chicago Architecture Center (the museum described above) leads a 90-minute Boat Cruise which takes you along the Chicago River, complete with a tour guide who goes over the local architecture and history. Cruises are available from March through November.
You’ll notice that the boat dock is located along the Riverwalk, a walkway that hugs the Chicago River. This is a great place to take a stroll after your cruise and grab a coffee or a snack. There are also some great picture ops along the way to capture your memorable vacation in Chicago!
Location:
112 E. Wacker Drive - Boat Dock
Loop area
Chicago
The Boat Dock is located at 112 E. Wacker Drive at the Northeast corner of Michigan Avenue Bridge & Wacker Drive (across the street from the Chicago Architecture Center). Go down the stairs from the street level to get to the dockside cruise ticket office. Be sure to arrive ½ hour prior to your departure time.
Dining: A cash bar, as well as select beverages and snacks, are available on the cruise.
Parking:
111 East Wacker Drive Parking Garage - parking is discounted with a validated parking sticker available at the Dockside River Boat Cruise box office.
South Loop (Downtown)
Field Museum
The Field Museum is a natural history museum which has some fascinating exhibits such as Ancient Egypt, in which you can explore the replica of a tomb! The museum also has exhibits on additional African cultures, as well as Chinese, ancient American, and Pacific cultures. You can also learn about all the different types of dinosaurs that roamed the earth, including the star of the show, Sue the T-Rex. There are plenty of other great exhibits showcasing various mammals, plants, birds, and gems as well! In fact, there’s so much to see here that you may not get through everything in a single visit!
The Field Museum is part of Museum Campus, which is also home to the Shedd Aquarium and Alder Planetarium, and has great views of the city skyline. This is a great place to take pictures or simply relax by Lake Michigan!
Location:
1400 S. Dusable Lake Shore Drive
Museum Campus
South Loop area
Chicago
*Hours: Open daily from 9am-5pm
Tours: Guided tours are offered daily. The tour schedule varies, so visit the information desk on the main level for more information.
Dining:
The Field Bistro (Main Level) – Serves sandwiches, salads, pizza, as well as coffee and has a full bar. Grab-and-go options are available as well.
The Explorer Cafe (Ground Level) – Casual café serving family-friendly foods.
Parking: The following parking options are located nearby:
East Museum Lot – Next to the Field Museum. You’ll need to arrive through the main Museum Campus Drive entrance.
Soldier Field North Garage – You’ll need to arrive through the main Museum Campus Drive entrance.
Please note availability in these parking lots will be limited on game days at Soldier Field, which include April 13, May 10, and Nov 1. Bears games will begin in August (exact dates TBA).
*Effective at the time of writing. Be sure to check the latest hours prior to your visit (if you don’t plan on purchasing tickets in advance).
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
Hyde Park
Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is a large, three-floor museum with many exhibits to see. Walk right into a Pioneer Zephyr train that was built and began operating in the 1930s. See the restored U-505 Submarine and learn the intriguing story behind its capture by the US Navy during World War II. Walk into a Boeing 727, and learn about jet lag and other side effects we experience during flight. Explore many other interesting exhibits such as the Space Center, Science Storms, Farm Technology, Model Railroad, Bicycle History, and Model Ships.
If you want to see more, there are also extra exhibits available for an additional charge:
Coal Mine Tour
U-505 Boat on-board Tour
Giant Dome Theater Shows
Select Temporary Exhibits such as Bond
Virtual Reality / Flight and Motion Simulators
Location:
5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Hyde Park (south of Downtown)
Chicago
Hours: Hours are generally 9:30am -4pm, but can vary due to season or special events. Be sure to check the latest hours prior to visiting (if you don’t plan on purchasing tickets in advance).
Dining:
Museum Kitchen (Lower Level, Lower Court) – Sandwiches, salads, burgers, and pizza
Stan's Donuts (Lower Level, Lower Court) – Donuts, coffee, milkshakes and other beverages
One Small Snack (Lower Level, Space Center)– Café which offers grab and go options
Parking:
Garage - Entrance to the underground Museum of Science and Industry garage is located in the northwest corner of the building, at E. 57th Street and S. Cornell Ave.
Metered - available East and South of the museum on Columbia Drive.
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC)
Located on the University of Chicago campus, the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures contains artifacts from ancient cultures of the Middle East, including Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and Persia. While this museum is small, you’ll find fascinating archeological pieces here. You’ll get to see the tallest statue of King Tut in the Western Hemisphere! The museum also has an exhibit which includes large intricately carved panels from the walls of an Assyrian Royal Palace’s courtyard. In addition, you’ll get to see many other ancient artifacts such as coins, weights and measures, and legal documents written on clay tablets.
This museum is free, but it may challenging to make a special trip here since it is about 6-8 miles from the Chicago Downtown museums. However, be sure to visit if you’re planning to see the Museum of Science and Industry (the museum described above), as you’re only going to be a mile away!
Location:
1155 E 58th St.
University of Chicago Campus
Hyde Park (south of Downtown)
Chicago
*Hours: Typical hours are listed below, but check the museum’s website for any updated closures prior to your visit.
Tuesday through Thursday - 10-4
Saturday through Sunday - 10–4 (except June 7, the museum will be closed until 2)
Friday 10–8 (except March 7, the museum will be closed until 1)
Parking:
Street Parking
Public Garage – Campus North Garage on 5505 S Ellis Ave
© 2025 Best Museums in Chicago
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