Navy Pier is a mile-long pier that overlooks Lake Michigan. This attraction has an amusement park with a giant Ferris wheel, a Children’s museum, and several places to eat. There are also daily fireworks shows and sightseeing ships that operate year-round.
The Field Museum was founded in 1893 and is home to some of the world's most interesting artifacts. The museum’s exhibits include Sue, the largest and most comprehensive Tyrannosaurus rex collection in the world, and Inside Ancient Egypt. Visitors also have access to the 3D Theater, a Dining Hall, and a Museum Store.
Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. Here, you can see over 32,000 animals that belong to 1,500 species, including dolphins, otters, penguins, and more. Tickets are available for the aquarium's shows, including the aquatic show in Amphitheater, or people can take a guided tour or participate in a Behind-the-Scenes Tour.
Millennium Park is a popular public park home to the famous The Bean, an artistic sculpture that reflects the city's skyline. There are also gardens, walking and biking paths, and play areas for children. This park is pet-friendly and has several restaurants and often has music concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
The Museum of Science & Industry features a vast array of exhibits demonstrating scientific principles in action. Exhibits include the Apollo 8 spacecraft, Humans in Space, a U-505 submarine exhibit, and more. The museum can take several hours to explore, and there is a café inside the building.
The Adler Planetarium is America’s first planetarium and features exhibits about space and astronomy. Guests can watch sky shows, step into the world of the universe, and take a dusk or dawn tour of the skyline. People can also visit the cafe or browse the shop for space-related souvenirs.
Wrigley Field is home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team and is one of the country's oldest baseball parks. Visitors can watch daily guided tours and see the scoreboard from 1937, the player’s locker rooms, and get a taste of the history of the club. There are also several places to grab food or drinks before or after the game.
Chicago’s public transportation system(paid) is cheap and easy to use and a great option for those looking to save costs. Taxis or car rentals are also available with a need for a budget change. With public transportation, visitors can use the CTA subway trains or buses.
If you have extra time, you can also visit popular places such as the Chicago Riverwalk, Willis Tower SkyDeck, Art Institute of Chicago, and Lincoln Park Zoo. If you have less time, try cutting down your itinerary-items or attractions and plan your visit in proximity.
Chicago is served by two airports. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is located 17 miles from downtown Chicago, and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is located about 12 miles from downtown. Both airports regularly provide transport and ample parking, and taxis, shuttles, or ridesharing services are available to move from the airports to Chicago centre.