Tourist Attractions & Monuments Chicago

Timetable

The vast majority of Chicago's attractions and museums are open every day of the week, generally from 9am to 5pm, all year round, with the exception of certain public holidays, notably December 25, January¹ and Thanksgiving. If you visit the city between May and October, you can expect quite a few visitors, especially during the summer months. From November to March, the city remains lively, but welcomes far fewer tourists. It's true that the idea of spending winter in the Windy City dampens the spirits of many visitors!

To be booked

Apart from your accommodation, which you should book as early as possible, you can visit Chicago without the need for a military organization. If you're only there for a few days and it falls on a weekend, it may be wise to buy your ticket for the Willis Tower observatory, since you can select the day of your visit on the website, but it's really not a must. On the other hand, if you want to attend the Lollapalooza festival at the end of July/beginning of August, book your tickets as early as possible, as they go like hotcakes!

Budget & Tips

Admission to museums, whether in Chicago, Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Madison or Detroit, is around US$15. Viewpoints and guided tours are more expensive; for example, you'll have to pay US$30 to visit the Willis Tower observatory or the 360 Chicago observatory. Your total expenditure will depend on the number of cultural activities you wish to take part in during your visit.

Be aware that free events are organized every summer in the city's parks: open-air films, festivals, sports sessions... Visit TimeOut Chicago(www.timeout.com/chicago) or Choose Chicago(www.choosechicago.com) to find out what's on during your visit.

Main events

Chicago is bustling with activity, especially during the summer festival season. But you'll find plenty to keep you busy all year round!

In spring, there's the festive St. Patrick's Day parade, with thousands of people dressed in green. Even the Chicago River is dressed in emerald green! In May, Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican heritage in the United States, particularly in the Pilsen district.

When summer comes, the city is in a festive mood! The festivities kick off with the Chicago Blues Festival, followed by the Pride Parade, which celebrates the LGBT community in a colorful parade. Taste of Chicago delights gourmets, while Lollapalooza delights fans of rock'n'roll and many other genres. In late August or early September, the Chicago Jazz Festival welcomes international artists. And throughout the summer, Grant Park hosts classical music at the Grant Park Music Festival.

Then comes autumn, with its Indian summer and two of the most important events of the year for Americans: Halloween and Thanksgiving. For the latter, a big parade with giant balloons is organized on State Street. The end of the year approaches, and with it preparations for Christmas: the mayor lights the tree in Millennium Park, store windows are illuminated and, on December 31, fireworks are launched from the river to ring in the New Year.

Guided tours

There's no shortage of guided tours of Chicago, and the good thing is that almost every theme is available. Taking part in one of them is an excellent way to get to grips with the city. To find out more about Chicago's architecture, the Chicago Architecture Center(www.architecture.org) is the place to go, offering some 80 themed tours. And one of the most popular is, of course, the Mafia. Untouchable Tours(www.gangstertour.com) takes a closer look at this part of Chicago's history. For foodies, Chicago Food Planet's guided tours(www.chicagofoodplanet.com) will let you discover the best of Chicago's culinary scene in record time! Then, the tours organized by Chicago Greeters(www.chicagogreeter.com) will give you the opportunity to explore some of Chicago's neighborhoods alongside passionate locals, who love to share their city so much that they do it voluntarily! Finally, in the summertime, it's unthinkable not to take part in a cruise on the Chicago River, and Chicago's First Lady(www.cruisechicago.com) does it right, with its emphasis on the architectural aspect.

Smokers

The city of Chicago has put in place a host of measures to discourage smoking. Cigarettes (electronic or otherwise) are banned from all city parks, as well as from beaches, stadiums and swimming pools. Smoking is not permitted within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of the entrance to a building or in any common space, including outdoor spaces, that is part of a public or residential building. However, with the legalization of marijuana in 2020, it's not uncommon to smell it in public spaces...