Art Institute of Chicago Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Art Institute of Chicago. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Chicago City Tour with Architecture River Cruise Option

• Chicago City Minibus Tour

• Skip-the-line: Art Institute of Chicago Guided Tour

• Private Art Institute of Chicago Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

• Skip the Line Art Institute of Chicago Tour Semi-Private 8ppl Max

Admission tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago are US$32 for adults, and US$26 for children, students, and seniors. Children under 13 can visit for free. For an extra US$8, you can secure a Fast Pass and skip the ticket lines. Purchase a Chicago CityPASS for included admission to the Art Institute and other major city attractions over nine days.

Yes, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the city's leading cultural institutions and a must-visit for art lovers. The almost 300,000-strong permanent collection is brimming with household name artists and masterpieces, so secure skip-the-line tickets in advance to maximize your time and consider a guided tour to brush up on your art knowledge and make sure you don't miss anything.

Per one customer who booked the Private Art Institute of Chicago Skip-the-Line Guided Tour, "Heath was masterful! Weaving together hundreds of years of art history with culture, some politics, and a little self-reflection. From details about artists' lives, to changes in popular culture, to specifics of paintings and everything in between and around them, Heath delivered a captivating and exciting trip through the Institute."

No. Most adults have to pay to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, although kids under 14 and Chicagoans under 18 go free all year. Certain days are free for Illinois residents during winter, while active-duty military, Illinois educators, and students at some partner institutions enjoy free entry year-round.

Most adults will want to spend at least 2–3 hours, but an hour is generally enough time for kids. The Art Institute of Chicago displays thousands of works from its collection of almost 300,000 pieces alongside multiple special exhibitions, so you could spend days here and still not see it all.

Not always. A general admission ticket to the Art Institute of Chicago includes access to non-ticketed special exhibitions, but you need to buy an additional ticket for some special exhibitions. Members of the Art Institute of Chicago enjoy free admission to both the museum and ticketed special exhibitions.

Yes. A general admission ticket to the Art Institute of Chicago is valid for the full day that it’s issued, meaning you can go out for lunch, fresh air, or a stroll in Millennium Park, then come back and see more art. Just be sure to keep hold of your ticket.

Flowers, balloons, and food and drinks other than water bottles are not allowed anywhere in the museum. Weapons, toys, tripods, video cameras, selfie sticks, wrapped gifts, pens, art materials, shopping bags, large bags, backpacks, and tall umbrellas are not allowed in the galleries, while water bottles must always be carried in bags.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Chicago:

• Chicago Riverwalk

• Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

• The Magnificent Mile

• Chicago River

• Navy Pier

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Chicago.