360 CHICAGO Observation Deck

Windy City’s extraordinary observatory on the 94th floor of the historic John Hancock Center offers 360-degree views of the iconic Chicago, Illinois skyline and beyond. When the weather is clear, you can see up to 80 kilometers and all the way to four different states. Check out the newly opened TILT experience, which has you step up to a full-length window that slowly tilts from the building right out over the city at a 30-degree angle.

• Web:

  360chicago.com

• Address:

  875 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago

• Phone:

  +1 888 875 8439

• Opening hours:

  Daily 9am–11pm; admission ends 10:30pm

• More info:

  94th Floor

• Subway:

  CTA buses run along Michigan Avenue 24 hours a day. CTA Red Line train stop, located right on Chicago and State.

Adler Planetarium

Built in 1930, The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago, Illinois, was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and is the oldest in existence today. From daily programs to exhibitions and special lectures, there are admission passes to fit your individual interests.

• Web:

  www.adlerplanetarium.org

• Address:

  1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

• Phone:

  +1 312 922 7827

• Opening hours:

  Daily 9am–4pm

• Subway:

  Take the CTA to Roosevelt or the Metra to Museum Campus

Architectural River Cruise

It’s one thing to gaze at Chicago’s famed skyline, and another altogether to view it on Chicago, Illinois’ popular architecture tour, the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. See the city’s iconic structures from the perspective of the Chicago River, where the skyline unfolds before you as you learn about each building’s architectural features and place in local history.

• Web:

  www.cruisechicago.com

• Address:

  Michigan Avenue & The River, Chicago

• Phone:

  +1 847 358 1330

• More info:

  Cruises leave from Chicago Riverwalk

Art Institute of Chicago

With over 300,000 works of art in its collection, the museum has something for everyone, and continues to be ranked among the world's best. Look for Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” or Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Sky above Clouds” — just a few of the beloved American paintings in the collection. The museum has the largest Impressionist collection outside of Paris, including works by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Georges Seurat, as well as a remarkable international modern and contemporary collections, with art and artifacts spanning 5,000 BC to the present.

• Web:

  www.artic.edu

• Address:

  111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago

• Phone:

  +1 312 443 3600

• Opening hours:

  Mon 11am–5pm, Tue & Wed closed, Thu 11am–8pm, Fri–Sun 11am–5pm

Auditorium Building & Theatre

This historic Chicago landmark has a story to tell, and is still a functioning theater where you can watch ballet, concerts and drama performances. The Auditorium Building was designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler and completed in 1889.

• Web:

  auditoriumtheatre.org

• Address:

  50 East Congress Parkway, Chicago

• Phone:

  +1 312 922 2110

Big Bus Tours

With a flexible hop-on, hop-off policy, engaging guides and comfortable, open-top buses, exploring Chicago’s best attractions and sights is as easy as it gets with Big Bus Tours. Choose a one-, or multi-day ticket, and you’ll get the time and the insider’s knowledge to size up the city on your own schedule. Big Bus Tours also offers handicap accessibility, pre-recorded Spanish audio tours and even a free cup of hand-roasted coffee from one of Chicago’s finest, Corner Bakery. No worries if you want to spend hours at landmark attractions such as Navy Pier or Millennium Park; stops are frequent and many, making it possible for you to experience the key destinations in Chicago on your own terms.

• Web:

  www.bigbustours.com/en/chicago/chicago-bus-tours

• More info:

  Tours begin at 98 East Upper Wacker Drive

Chicago's North Shore

Bordering Chicago, north along the shores of Lake Michigan, find numerous attractions including the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Baha’i House of Worship and the Illinois Holocaust Museum. Chicago’s elevated train brings you to Evanston, a lively city that’s home to Northwestern University.

• Web:

  www.visittheusa.com/destination/chicagos-north-shore

DuPage

Just 20 miles from Chicago, discover a tapestry of charming small towns with lush trails, family-friendly museums, zoos, parks and outdoor recreation. Enjoy fine dining, shopping and upscale accommodation, along with easy access to Route 66 and O’Hare International Airport.

• Web:

  www.visittheusa.com/experience/beyond-chicagos-skyline-luxury-dupage-county

Heritage Corridor & Route 66

Travel back in time on Route 66, nicknamed ‘America’s Main Street’. Revisit history along the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which is lined with state parks, historic sites and landscapes from rolling hills to bluffs. Discover the steep sandstone canyons and wooded trails of Starved Rock State Park.

• Web:

  www.visittheusa.com/experience/illinois-heritage-corridor-road-trip

Rockford

Just 60 minutes from Chicago O’Hare Airport, Rockford is the place to slow down and relax. Explore the Anderson Japanese Gardens, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House and the Coronado Theater. Kayak on the Rock River and play golf on 11 courses.

• Web:

  www.visittheusa.com/destination/rockford

Blues Festival (June)

The annual Blues Festival is Chicago's biggest music festival, and the largest one in the entire world to not charge an admission fee. Attendees number in the hundreds of thousands.

• Web:

  bluesfestivalguide.com

• Address:

  Millennium Park

• Tickets:

  Free admission

Chicago Gourmet (September)

A celebration of all things food, Chicago Gourmet features lectures and workshops by prominent chefs, seminars on wine and mixology, VIP culinary experiences, and delightful tastings.

• Web:

  www.chicagogourmet.org

• Address:

  Millennium Park

Chicago International Film Festival (October)

The Chicago International Film Festival brings motion pictures from the across the world (and the state of Illinois) to the Windy City, showcasing the best of the world's cinematographic endeavor within a space of 2 exciting weeks.

• Web:

  www.chicagofilmfestival.com

Chicago Jazz Festival (August–September)

A Labor Day weekend celebration of the jazz genre featuring performers from all across the nation.

• Web:

  www.jazzinchicago.org/chicagojazzfest

• Address:

  Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park

Chicago Marathon (October)

With up to 45,000 yearly participants, the Chicago Marathon is among the global six World Marathon Majors.

• Web:

  www.chicagomarathon.com

• Opening hours:

  October 8th

Christkindlmarket Chicago (November–December)

Following the European (German) tradition of open-air Christmas markets, Chicago now boasts one of its own, with an additional location in Naperville.

• Web:

  www.christkindlmarket.com