My Favorite Free Things to Do in Chicago

I’m a Chicago, Illinois local who loves finding fun and free things to do around the city. And trust me, there are quite a few!

The abundance of free activities and popular attractions is what makes Chicago such a fun destination to live in and visit.

My guide covers free attractions for all ages and interests plus my favorite free activities, as well as several hidden gems that may even surprise long-time locals!

18 Best Free Things to Do in Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago’s zoo is full of diverse animal habitats and interactive experiences in the heart of Lincoln Park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 742-2000 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri, 8 am – 7 pm Sat-Sun

The Lincoln Park Zoo is arguably Chicago’s best free attraction. I love visiting this zoo and always take friends and family here when they come to visit me. 

The zoo is pretty large and houses around 200 species of animals and 16 exhibits in total. It’s a great attraction for visitors of all ages. Enjoy interactive experiences like the Endangered Species Carousel, seal training and feeding, and exploring the park at your own pace. 

Lincoln Park Zoo is located in Lincoln Park, which is the largest park in Chicago. Ticketed entry isn’t needed for free admission. All you need to do is walk on in. The zoo does have parking, but I recommend taking public transportation, as zoo parking is overpriced and street parking can be unpredictable.

Chicago Cultural Center

A center for arts, culture, and public events in downtown Chicago. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 744-5000 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily 

The Chicago Cultural Center is often overlooked, but it’s one of the coolest attractions in the city. It’s located in the Loop, just across the street from Millennium Park. The cultural center is home to several art galleries, two enormous stained-glass domes, and an awesome local gift shop.

Visiting the Cultural Center is a great way to see Chicago architecture. Free cultural exhibits and other free events are commonly hosted here, like music and dance performances. You can also enjoy a free tour if you’re interested. 

Millennium Park

Chicago’s most iconic park, home to Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) and other attractions.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 650-8298 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily

Millennium Park is an iconic park, home to one of Chicago’s most famous landmarks: Cloud Gate, better known as “The Bean.” You can enjoy other Chicago attractions here, like Crown Fountain and Lurie Garden. 

Jay Pritzker Pavilion, one of the city’s best music venues, often hosts free live music. Free festivals and events are commonly held in this park, such as the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, and Grant Park Music Festival. 

📚 Related Reading: Millennium Park is located in the Chicago Loop, which is one of the best places to stay for first-time visitors. This is also the best place to stay if you’re only in Chicago for a day.

Grant Park

“Chicago’s front yard” is where you’ll find landmarks, museums, and endless green space.

📍 Google Maps 

Grant Park is the larger park that houses Millennium Park in the Loop. It’s over 300 acres large and home to some of the best things to do in Chicago. 

These attractions include Buckingham Fountain, tons of open green space, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Free events like the Grant Park Music Festival and Taste of Chicago take place in the park throughout the year. 

Grant Park is sandwiched between city blocks to the west and Lake Michigan to the east. This means you can also access the Lakefront Trail, Navy Pier, and Museum Campus from here. 

👉 Pro Tip: The Art Institute is free for Illinois residents on select weekdays throughout the year. It’s also free year-round for kids under 14, Chicago teens, and active-duty service members.

Lakefront Trail

An 18-mile urban trail that snakes along Chicago’s Lake Michigan coastline, perfect for walking, running, and biking. 

📍 Google Maps

Hitting the Lakefront Trail is one of my favorite free activities in Chicago. It’s an 18-mile-long pedestrian trail that hugs the city’s lakefront.

This is the perfect place to enjoy beautiful views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. You can also reach Chicago beaches via the Lakefront Trail, like North Avenue Beach.  

The Lakefront Trail is totally free to access and makes for a fun activity if you visit during the spring through fall. I recommend walking or renting a Divvy bike, a low-cost way to get around. 

👉 Our Chicago packing list covers Lake Michigan essentials and more. You can also get a free, printable version of our Chicago packing list here!

Chicago Riverwalk

An urban trail located in the heart of downtown Chicago, perfect for sightseeing and people-watching.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily 

The Chicago Riverwalk is another awesome pedestrian trail that visitors (and locals!) should take advantage of. This walkway sits along the Chicago River in the heart of the city. Walking here is great for sightseeing in Chicago on a budget. 

The Riverwalk is just over a mile long and allows you to admire Chicago’s architecture and skyline up close. Shops, cafes, and restaurants dot the Riverwalk, and it’s the perfect place for people-watching. I recommend picking up some food to go and finding a spot to sit along the river. 

📚Related Reading: Chicago River Tours

ART on THE MART

The world’s largest digital art installation is the perfect evening event along the Chicago Riverwalk.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: Showtimes Vary 

ART on THE MART is one of my go-to free attractions. It’s a massive digital art display that gets projected on the facade of the Merchandise Mart. This contemporary art show takes place almost every evening throughout the year. 

You can watch ART on THE MART from the Chicago Riverwalk and even enjoy a drink or food at ​​Brews & Bites Riverwalk. This is a great evening activity for groups and couples.

Maggie Daley Park

A massive playground in Grant Park where kids can play, let loose, and explore.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 742-3918 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 9 pm daily 

Visiting Maggie Daley Park is one of Chicago’s top kid-friendly activities. It’s located east of Millennium Park in Grant Park and contains a play garden, rock climbing wall, picnic areas, and pathways for your kids to run, scooter, bike, and more. Wintertime brings a fun ice skating ribbon rink.

Overall, Maggie Daley Park is a great spot for kids to play and parents to relax and take in the Chicago skyline. It’s also good for people of all ages to enjoy recreational activities like tennis, mini golf, and more.

Navy Pier

A downtown Chicago pier full of rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 595-7437 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Sun-Thu, 11 am – 10 pm Fri & Sat 

Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s top attractions. It was formerly a Navy port during WWII, but today, it’s a lively hub for museums, shops, restaurants, and rides. Navy Pier is the perfect place to enjoy free events and things to do. 

Events like free movies and workout classes are commonly held here. The summer season brings free fireworks. I recommend checking out the Navy Pier calendar to discover all the budget-friendly things to do. The Chicago Children’s Museum is a free museum that’s also located at Navy Pier.

Harold Washington Library Center

One of the largest public libraries in the world, home to a peaceful winter garden space.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 747-4300 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 8 pm Mon-Thu, 9 am – 5 pm Fri & Sat, 1 pm – 5 pm Sun 

The Harold Washington Library Center is a massive Chicago public library located in the Loop. The library itself can be cool to wander, but I recommend hitting the elevators and heading straight to the ninth floor. Here, you’ll find the Winter Garden. 

The Winter Garden is a beautiful space to sit and relax with a book or study. It’s a hidden gem and totally free to visit. There’s also a small museum inside that covers the legacy of Chicago Mayor, Harold Washington. 

Lincoln Park Conservatory

A vibrant greenhouse with a diverse range of plant life located in Lincoln Park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 773 883 7275 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm Wed-Sun, Closed Mon & Tue 

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is another free Lincoln Park attraction that’s located right next to the Lincoln Park Zoo. This botanic garden is a beautiful space to escape into an oasis of plants and greenery. It’s not super large and can be explored in an hour. 

Be sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time online. Again, admission is free but you have to reserve a timeslot. 

👉 Pro Tip: The Garfield Park Conservatory is another Chicago botanic garden located just outside Chicago in Garfield Park. 

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

A small, but peaceful lily pond in Lincoln Park, perfect for a little escape from the city bustle. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (773) 883-7275 | Website

⚠️ Closure Note: This attraction is temporarily closed.

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is a small but serene garden located next to the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Here, you can meditate by the lily pond, appreciate the landscape art around you, and just enjoy an escape from the city. The garden was designed by architect Alfred Caldwell and is meant to resemble a Midwestern prairie. 

National Museum of Mexican Art

This Pilsen museum is home to one of the largest collections of Mexican art in America.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 738-1503 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tue-Sun, Closed Mon

The National Museum of Mexican Art is a lesser-known Chicago museum but it’s absolutely worth checking out. It’s located in the Pilsen neighborhood (which made our 2023 list of the best places to visit in the USA!). 

Wander and enjoy one of the largest collections of Mexican art in the country. The permanent collection includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, and more. Music, dance, film, and theater events take place here as well. It’s one of the best free museums you’ll find in Chicago.

Poetry Foundation

A serene cultural center and library dedicated to poetry, located in River North. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 787-7070 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Wed-Sat, Closed Sun-Tue

The Poetry Foundation is a unique hidden gem in downtown Chicago’s River North neighborhood that literary enthusiasts will love. The building of the Poetry Foundation is peaceful, open, and airy. Yet, it feels cozy all the same, with floor-to-ceiling collections of poetry books. 

A multitude of readings, workshops, and events are hosted here. I recommend visiting for a quiet, calming escape from the city to immerse yourself in words. Just be mindful of the volume of your voice here, as it’s meant to be a quiet space. 

Museum Of Contemporary Photography

A contemporary photography museum containing over 17,000 works.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 663-5554 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat, 10 am – 8 pm Thu, Closed Sun

The Museum of Contemporary Photography is located a few minutes south of the Art Institute across from Grant Park. The museum is pretty small and can be enjoyed within an hour.

Overall, this is a nice free museum to visit for a change of pace from other art museums. The rotating and permanent collections of contemporary photography are interesting. Online reservations are technically encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome if the museum’s not too busy. 

Smart Museum of Art

A modern art museum in Hyde Park with a focus on Asian and European artwork.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (773) 702-0200 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm Tue-Sun, Closed Mon 

Smart Museum of Art is a small but interesting modern art museum located on the University of Chicago’s campus. It features work by a mix of Asian, European, and Chicago artists in its permanent collection and rotating exhibits. There’s also a sculpture garden to wander outside. 

Note that although the museum is free to visit, you’ll have to pay for metered parking if you drive. 

City Gallery at the Historic Water Tower

A downtown landmark with a small photography gallery inside.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 742-0808 | Website 

⚠️ Closure Note: City Gallery at the Historic Water Tower is temporarily closed until further notice.

Hundreds of visitors and locals alike pass the Historic Water Tower on N Michigan Avenue every day. But few know that there’s a free art gallery inside. The small gallery features the work of local Chicago photographers. Stop in for a quick look around and admire the architecture of this iconic landmark. 

Note that The City Gallery is temporarily closed. Check the Chicago.gov website for updates.

👉 Pro Tip: The Historic Water Tower is in the same area as the John Hancock Building and Museum of Contemporary Art. This area is a great spot to begin your Chicago itinerary.

Clarke House Museum

Chicago’s oldest surviving home, which visitors can tour and learn about its history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (312) 744-5000 | Website 

⚠️ Closure Note: Clarke House Museum is temporarily closed until further notice.

Clarke-Ford House is the oldest surviving home in Chicago, located in the South Loop. This Greek Revival building from the 1800s has been turned into a home museum, which can be visited for free. 

The home showcases what domestic life would have looked and felt like before the Civil War. The ornately decorated rooms are fun to explore through a free tour, but be sure to wander around the gardens that surround the home, too.

Note that the Clarke House Museum is temporarily closed for repairs. Check the Chicago.gov website for updates.

***

Did you discover anything new? The diverse range of budget-friendly activities makes Chicago a great place to visit and live. Check out our guide on the best things to do for more fun attractions in the Windy City!