For the American traveler, Chicago IL is rife with exciting activities! From catching breathtaking views of local landmarks to savoring traditional cuisine and world-renowned hospitality, there are plenty of amazing experiences not to be missed out on. Here’s a list of 10 must-see attractions guaranteed to make your trip unforgettable!
Best Thing to Do in Chicago IL
Millennium Park
- Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (72494)
- Phone: +1 312-742-1168
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PMTuesday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PMWednesday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PMThursday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PMFriday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM

5 Replies to 10 Best Things To Do in Chicago IL As a U.S Citizen
Leave Reply
TOP 10 Fun Things to Do in Chicago IL

Navy Pier
- Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (66148)
- Phone: +1 312-595-7437
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Reviews:
Ferris wheel was very fun. There were other carnival ride options as well. Great food options too!. Great options for boat tours. We had kids and did a quick 40 min boat tour. Overall, navy pier seems to amaze me everything I go. Been going since I was a kid and was able to share this with my kids for the first time.By Matthew Alvarez (6 months ago)Gorgeous place! We didn’t realize how big it is, and how many shops there are!
We came for the “Light up the Lake Event”. It was awesome! Indoor so no worries about weather. The pier is free, but would definitely buy tickets in advance for the lights.
We rode the ferris wheel and it was so much fun! The view is gorgeous!
By brittny92 (2 months ago)Beautiful in the day time and even more beautiful at night. We visited on the weekend and it’s a place for everyone to walk, hangout, eat, relax, ride the Ferris wheel and lots to do. It gets packed and busy but fun for sure. I recommend this place.. one of the must visit in Chicago places. Fire work show was awesome as well it was not a disappointment. Was worth staying there till 10pm.By Salim Khodari (7 months ago)Our experience was very nice despite the hot weather. The staff was friendly and very informative. The Chicago Architect boat ride was fun. 1 The narrator was very informative and very friendly. I will not recommend taking this ride during 12 to 4 PM if the sun is out brightly. You will be sitting directly in the sun. There is some shade on the boat but you have to get there early.By Alma L Scott (7 months ago)A must place to visit….
Free sightseeing place to roam around and explore…Hours are different in google… They are open till 10PM ( We were told by an employee working there)
We had city pass to redeem at Centennial wheel. Which saved us sometime…
Centennial wheel was amazing… very nice for people to look around the surroundings and beautiful Lake Michigan
Navy pier is a huge area.. more than 5 mile if we just walk around…
Lot of food options, restrooms available, scenic views, a place to view fireworks for free when scheduled, Gift shops available, different rides for adults and kids are available…. and many more things to do…
Ship docker/anchors with lot of party boats are seen…
By AP SAI (6 months ago)
Lincoln Park Zoo
- Address: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (28480)
- Phone: +1 312-742-2000
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
The zoo is free and is in the nice Lincoln Park area. Great views nearby and it is at a relatively convenient location with respect to the main attractions downtown. It is a little over an hour of leisurely walk from the Millennium station. The zoo is not large so there are not many animals to been with. I was able to see some animals but a few were not available. I did not check out the farm, train, food options or the gift shop, so no comment on those.By Feryal Alayont (6 months ago)Small zoo with it’s own charm! I think it’s one of the few zoos in the US that has free admission and they do accept donations from visitors. It’s a nice place to just walk around and see animals although there were a few areas where I didn’t see animals in them. There are also rides for kids and food available in the main court. It’s not the biggest zoo you can be in but it’s definitely worth the time to see what they have; and the best part about it is that it’s free.By Lennon Garcia (3 months ago)I was shocked this is free entertainment. Our local zoo is a $25 per person which is fine to help out the animals but it is quite nice that this zoo is able to keep it free. Go NOW if you haven’t seen the baby lion. One of the cutest things I have seen!! It is a smaller zoo but had a perfect variety of animals. I really enjoyed visiting.By TJ Berch (4 months ago)Wow were we impressed! When we heard “free zoo” we thought the grounds might be run down and there wouldn’t be many animals, we were so wrong! The grounds are kept very nicely and we saw SO many of the animals out considering it was a chilly day. Highly recommend this zoo if you’re visiting from elsewhere. I’ve been to many zoos in the U.S. and this is definitely at the top of my list now!By Kimberly T. (2 weeks ago)Fantastic.
Will go again.
Clean.
There are a lot of places to use facilities all around Zoo.
Lot’s of Great experiences. Can get very close to the animals.
Free to get into (can leave a donation in a box, if you like) for all ages.
A great way to spend a day (if not too warm!).
Food & drink a wee bit more expensive, but you can bring your own, there are places to sit (with tables).
151 (as of 24/06/2022) bus stops right outside.
Have Fun.By Patricia Farrell (7 months ago)
The Art Institute of Chicago
- Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (28409)
Shedd Aquarium
- Address: 1200 S Dusable Lk Shr Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (27945)
Skydeck Chicago
- Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (25499)
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
- Address: 5700 S Dusable Lk Shr Dr, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (25171)
Cloud Gate
- Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (24585)
Field Museum
- Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (21245)
Willis Tower
- Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (20810)
Grant Park
- Address: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (18872)

That’s it for our list of the best things to do in Chicago IL! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy traveling!
Such an amazing place to visit and a must in your in the Chicago area. Great place to capture amazing photos of the famous Bean and downtown area. I really enjoyed hitting the ice skating ring for a few laps. I highly recommend coming here to visit a iconic piece of Chicago.
It is a really good touristy place for everyone to come and hangout with their friends/family/partner. I went during Thanksgiving as well as New Year’s day. The snow never stop anyone there are always people around the park. Also, overview of the Chicago skyline is must to watch and nearby to all other attractions nearby.
Beautiful place!!! You can spent so much time taking pictures around the bean but we also enjoyed the ice skaters. It was not too cold so we could spend quite a while around. Lots of nice places close too.
If you’re going to Chicago, then you definitely need to stop by Millennium Park and visit Cloud Gate (The Bean). It’s such an amazing place to visit and spend an afternoon walking around the park or simply have nice picnic. Great atmosphere! Highly recommend it.
We are never tired of this place. It’s almost like a ritual to visit this place whenever we are on a trip to Chicago irrespective of the season. Be it watching the reflections of the majestic Chicago skyline on Cloud gate AKA Bean or the nearby Crown Fountain or catching bands perform in the pavilion, or the Christmas tree during holiday season, or taking a stroll upto the Buckingham fountain in nearby Grant park, or the Ice-skating rink, there are lots of things to see/experience here. Absolutely must visit. Roadside Parking is a hit or miss here depending on the crowd.