Chicago Visitor Information

Top Attractions in Chicago
Explore Chicago! This friendly city is full of top choices for visitors year round. And we’ve made it easy for you to find the things that you like to do. Visit the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau for entertainment and site seeing options. Below is sample of some of the things to do.

Navy Pier
With more than 50 acres of parks, shops and restaurants along the lakefront, Navy Pier's attractions include the IMAX Theatre, the Ferris Wheel, the Chicago Children's Museum and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Millennium Park
This new cultural hot spot features a spectacular elliptical sculpture by Anish Kapoor, the beautifully landscaped Lurie Garden, the Frank Gehry designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and a digitally - animated water fountain created by Jaume Plensa.

Lincoln Park Zoo
Visit one of the last free zoos in the country with an exciting African Journey exhibit, experience the newly renovated Farm-in-the-Zoo, or enjoy a magical ride on the Ameritech Endangered Species Carousel.

John G. Shedd Aquarium
From beluga whales to frolicking sea otters, and lively penguins to exotic fish, the Shedd is the world's largest indoor aquarium offering more than 8,000 aquatic animals.

Art Institute of Chicago
A cultural gem which boasts one of the nation's largest collections of Impressionist works, the Art Institute offers an extensive permanent collection of paintings, drawings, photography and textiles as well as rotating special exhibits.

Museum of Science and Industry
More than 800 interactive exhibits are open to touch, create and explore at this museum for all ages. The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the Western hemisphere.

The Field Museum
Learn about different worlds, cultures and environments through the various permanent exhibits found at The Field Museum. Discover Sue, the largest and most complete T.Rex ever found or descend into an Egyptian tomb. Be dazzled by sparkling gems or come close to the man-eating lions of Tsavo.

Sears Tower Skydeck
Breath-taking 360-degree views from North America's tallest building. At 103 stories high, the Skydeck offers an unparalleled view of Chicago and four surrounding states.

Chicago Cultural Center
See the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome at this architectural showplace for the performing, literary and visual arts. Here you can enjoy a wealth of exciting, free exhibits.

Chicago Children's Museum
Hands-on exhibits and new activities daily make every visit special for kids and adults.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago's acclaimed symphony led by Daniel Baremboim performs more than 200 concerts annually from September - June.

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
The Adler fuels the imagination of its visitors with all-new exhibits and state-of-the-art computer technology in the world's first Star Rider Theater.

The Hancock Observatory
The 94th-floor observatory, more than 1,000 feet above Chicago, features an open-air Skywalk, Sky Tours, which takes you on a personal audio tour of Chicago, and Soundscope 3-D "talking" telescopes.

Museum of Contemporary Art
Known as Chicago's largest museum for contemporary art, the museum highlights today's most innovative and exciting artists.

Chicago History Museum
Visit the oldest cultural institution and keeper of Chicago's memories.

City Tours
AAO-HNSF meeting attendees and their guests may take advantage of specially planned tours of Chicago area attractions. Detailed ticket and tour descriptions, fees, and purchasing information are available at www.choosechicago.com. The following is a sample of the tours available in Chicago!

Chicago Architecture Foundation’s extremely popular Devil in the White City Tour tells the story of the remarkable events that occurred in Chicago in 1893; the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the emergence of America’s first mass murderer. The Devil in the White City Companion Bus Tour is based upon Erik Larson's bestselling book and is intended to accompany, or be a companion, to it in the sense that it expands upon many of its elements.

Go behind the scenes of Wrigley Field! This historic ballpark, home of the Chicago Cubs, is truly a gem on the North Side of the city. It’s the oldest ball park in the National League, the outfield brick walls are lined with beautiful green ivy, and the field still uses a man-operated scoreboard. Annually the Chicago Cubs offer tours of the ball park from April – Sept.

The Behind the Emerald Curtain Tour is an exclusive one-of-a-kind look at the mega-hit Broadway musical Wicked. Cast members from the production take visitors on a magical journey behind the scenes of this Broadway musical phenomenon. Participants will receive a sneak peek featuring actual props, masks and the Tony Award-winning costumes and sets. The tour also includes a question-and-answer portion with current cast members.

The Chicago Theatre Tour encompasses many of the beautiful architectural highlights of the building including the grand lobby, majestic auditorium and backstage. When stepping back stage you'll find autographs and colorful murals on the walls of dressing rooms and corridors from famed performers like Julie Andrews, Sammy Davis Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Tom Jones, Annie Lennox, Dean Martin, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, and many more!

Catch the enthusiasm of city-wise locals who volunteer to share their knowledge and love of the city through visits on foot and public transportation with the Chicago Greeter Program. Enjoy the local points of interest on these two to four-hour visits as well as some of the Greeters' favorite spots. Navigate the many neighborhoods of the City with your Greeter on complimentary public transportation for the ultimate Chicago experience. These tours are free but reservations must be made in advance!

From historical statues and monuments to contemporary pieces of artwork, the Chicago Public Art Tour illustrates why the city is considered "an open-air museum." Follow a Chicago Public Art Program staff member to South, West or Near North neighborhoods to discuss the role that public art plays there, and visit a broad range of artworks representing distinct eras and artistic genres. The tours are scheduled every other Wednesday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.