Things to do in  Illinois

Linking Lake Michigan to downtown, the Chicago Riverwalk is an open-air, pedestrian-friendly walkway that runs along the Chicago River. A popular hub for entertainment and recreation, the Riverwalk hosts a number of bars and restaurants, features fountains and public artworks, and is a departure point for river tours. It also offers views of many top Chicago landmarks, including the Wrigley Building, the Marina City towers, and the Merchandise Mart.

Chicago fashion, architecture, and history all come together on this renowned stretch of Michigan Avenue, nicknamed the Magnificent Mile. Located in downtown Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, stretching from the Chicago River to Oak Street, the thoroughfare passes several major Windy City landmarks, including the Chicago Water Tower, John Hancock Center, and Tribune Tower, as well as numerous luxury brand retailers.

Once the world’s tallest building, Willis Tower—formerly Sears Tower—is now renowned for having the highest public viewing area in the United States. From Skydeck Chicago’s 103rd floor, you can enjoy a panorama of Chicago, and, on clear days, views of Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Stick around to visit the museum, and if you dare, The Ledge—an enclosed glass balcony extending 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) from the tower.

As indispensable to the Windy City as deep-dish pizza or Wrigley Field, the Chicago River is an attraction in its own right. It runs straight through the city’s downtown loop, affording front-seat views of architectural icons such as Tribune Tower or the Jewelers Building from its pedestrian waterfront, known as the Chicago Riverwalk. Along with Lake Michigan, the river gives this landlocked city an airy, almost coastal feel.

The 1920s were a pivotal decade for Chicago’s architectural scene, and when the Wrigley Building opened in 1924, it set the pace for the city’s development. When owner William Wrigley Jr. (of the Wrigley gum company) scouted locations for his company’s headquarters, he chose a unique triangle shape of land—it would eventually become the heart of the bustling Magnificent Mile.

Navy Pier is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chicago—and with good reason. Jutting straight into the waters of Lake Michigan, the pier is one of the city's largest entertainment complexes, with almost 50 acres (20 hectares) of exhibits, rides, parks, and family attractions. For those seeking a calmer experience, Navy Pier is also an excellent spot to appreciate the lakefront and skyline views.

Located in Chicago’s Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago ranks among the city’s top museums. Its vast collection comprises some 300,000 works, ranging from ancient artifacts to 19th- and 20th-century icons by Georgia O’Keeffe, Georges Seurat, Edward Hopper, and beyond. More than 1.5 million visitors from across the globe flock to the museum annually, making it one of Chicago’s most-visited tourist attractions.

In a city famous for its architecture, Marina City still stands out. The Chicago landmark features two concrete towers whose grooved surfaces are reminiscent of corn on the cob, and which once numbered among the tallest high-rises in the world. Today, the mixed-use residential and commercial space contains restaurants, bars, apartments, and shops, and is an unmissable part of the Chicago skyline.

Chicagoans take their baseball seriously—so it's no surprise that one of the best places to see a Major League Baseball game in the United States is at the home of the Chicago Cubs: Wrigley Field. Built in 1914 and known as the “Friendly Confines” due to its intimate scale and inviting feel, Wrigley Field is the oldest National League baseball stadium. It should be on the bucket list of any visiting baseball fan.

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago and along the Lake Michigan waterfront, Millennium Park showcases world-class public art (including Anish Kapoor’s iconic Cloud Gate, aka The Bean), architecture, and landscape design. Completed in 2004, the 24.5-acre (10-hectare) park is now one of Chicago’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing some 25 million visitors per year. It hosts a range of festivals throughout the year, including events at the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Once home to the Chicago Tribune newspaper, this neo-Gothic landmark was built as a result of the 1922 International Design Competition. Before the construction of the 36-story building, the paper’s reporters brought back pieces of rock from important landmarks around the world, including the Taj Mahal, the Hagia Sophia, the Great Wall of China, and more—they are now embedded in the outer first-floor wall, a part of the tower’s enduring legacy.

Established in 1921, the Chicago Theatre isn’t just one of downtown Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks—it’s also a highlight of the city’s cultural scene. Located in the Loop, the theater is instantly recognizable for its glittering marquee, and it boasts a lavish interior to match. Today, the venue hosts a wide range of performances and events, from concerts and film screenings to stand-up comedy performances and beyond.

Known as Chicago’s Front Yard, Grant Park stretches across 300 acres (121 hectares) and is the city’s primary downtown green space. It’s in the Loop, sandwiched between Lake Michigan and soaring skyscrapers, and houses numerous cultural attractions. Highlights include its Museum Campus, Millennium Park with its shiny bean-shaped sculpture, the centuries- and globe-spanning Art Institute of Chicago museum, and the Petrillo Music Shell and Jay Pritzker Pavilion, both premier outdoor venues for concerts, festivals, and events.

The first planetarium in the western hemisphere, this premier attraction for astronomy enthusiasts was built in 1930 as part of Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus. Its family-friendly planetarium shows, celestial artifacts, and Grainger Sky Theater attract visitors of all ages, and permanent exhibits span from antique telescopes to cutting-edge space visualizations. The planetarium’s seven sky shows are its biggest draw, focusing on everything from the local night sky to the far reaches of the universe.

Opened in 1897 as Chicago’s first public library, the Chicago Cultural Center is the city’s hub for arts and cultural events—it’s also one of the city’s most beloved architectural monuments. (Look up inside, and you’ll see two spectacular stained-glass domes.) The center is among Chicago’s most popular venues, hosting more than 1,000 free concerts, films, art exhibits, and other cultural events each year.