Discover Places to Visit in Chicago Tourist Places & Top Attractions 2025

With a population of over three million people, Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the third largest city in the United States. For culture enthusiasts, Chicago is viewed as a massive creative space, with the city offering everything from museums to a vibrant live music scene to stellar architecture, and miles of serenity with multiple water bodies and large green spaces. However, with so many Chicago tourist attractions, making an itinerary can be overwhelming for visitors. So, to make things easier, here is a list of some of the top places to visit in Chicago. 

This One’s For Music Lovers: Millennium Park

Some live music under the sky is the pinnacle of an American summer, which is in part why Millennium Park’s Summer Music Series continues to be a favourite among both locals and visitors. Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a must-visit for live musical performances from a variety of genres like jazz, indie rock, and vintage reggae. There are installations of brilliant architecture like the Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate that are also encompassed in the campus. In addition to offering climbing walls, skating ribbons, and enormous playground settings at Maggie Daley Park, Millennium Park both features lengths of swaying prairie grasslands and native plants at Lurie Garden. 

Explore Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory

Don’t we all love animals? While there are many places to go in Chicago, one must visit Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory. At the Lincoln Park Zoo, you can get up close and personal with penguins, lions, tigers, bears, howler monkeys, great apes, rhinos, zebras and giraffes and rhinos among others. You can get a complete Madagascar experience for free. There’s also Lincoln Park Conservatory, where you will find four sections which include the Palm House, the Fern Room, the Orchid Room, and the Display House. All four spaces provide serenity with circular paths, forest floors, and beautiful flower exhibits.  

Take The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise 

While there are many places to visit in Chicago, the Architecture Foundation River Cruise is a must for a proper history lesson about the city’s architecture. Architecture Foundation River Cruise, also known as Chicago’s First Lady Cruises, is the best way to view the city’s impressive buildings by the waterways. Taking you on a  90-minute tour of more than 50 buildings, the cruise provides an excellent look at the city’s waterfront. On the cruise, tour guides are available who tell you the histories of various architectural eras that contributed to the city’s skyline.

Behold An Amazing Sight – Buckingham Fountain

There are many places to see in Chicago, but none compare to Buckingham Fountain. It is considered to be one of the biggest fountains in the entire world. Situated at Grant Park, the fountain is open to tourists and locals every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., usually from early May to mid-October, based on the weather conditions. The Fountain’s main show presents a water display for 20 minutes straight on an hourly basis. While the fountain runs, a  centre jet shoots water 150 feet into the air during the main show. Additionally, there’s also a magnificent light and music show that starts at dusk and runs for 20 minutes. 

Art Lovers Don’t Forget To Visit The Art Institute of Chicago

The enormous Art Institute of Chicago houses one of the nation’s most remarkable collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art, with nearly 300,000 pieces in its archive. You will find many Chicago places to visit, but this museum features artwork right from the Byzantine era to paintings that were created just a few years ago.  Art aficionados from around the world praise the museum’s impressionist collection, which includes works by famous artists such as van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. 

Explore Navy Pier 

When it comes to places to visit in Chicago, Navy Pier is at the top of the list. Navy Pier, which stretches out onto Lake Michigan, provides plenty of family-friendly recreational activities. The first thing that you’ll see when you step onto the pier is the 196-foot-tall Ferris wheel. After enjoying the Ferris wheel ride, you may also attend a show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and grab a couple of cold ones at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. Before going to Navy Pier, check out their website for a list of upcoming events. Navy Pier hosts concerts, plays, and spectacular fireworks shows. 

A Must Visit – University of Chicago

While making your “places to visit in Chicago” list, be sure to add the University of Chicago. It is a public research university located in the Hyde Park neighbourhood of Chicago, near Lake Michigan. It presently houses over 7,000 undergraduate students, 10,000 graduates and nearly 2,400 full-time academic staff. Visitors are warmly invited to explore the campus, especially during the spring season when flowers bloom all over campus. 

Conclusion

As you can see there are so many things to do and places to visit in Chicago. With its one-of-a-kind experiences in art, music, and architecture, the city will immerse you in Chicago’s regional cultural and artistic scene. Besides that, Chicago is a city that will make you fall in love with it while also making you feel at home. 

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