Adler Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
4
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Adler Planetarium connects people to the universe and each other. Whether it is introducing a guest to the Ring Nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to a network of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, the Adler’s focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century. The museum typically hosts more than half a million visitors each year and reaches millions more through youth STEAM programs, neighborhood skywatching events, people-powered research, and other outreach efforts. Today, the Adler is bringing our unique approach—scientific exploration rooted in community and connection—to guests from around the world who can enjoy the digital Adler from their own homes, libraries, schools or offices. With the Adler’s support, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities gain the confidence to explore their universe together and return to their communities ready to think critically and creatively about any challenge that comes the
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Neighborhood: Burnham Park
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- Laurie CJonesboro, Arkansas55 contributionsPretty InterestingThis was pretty neat. My favorite part were the 2 movies we got to watch which were “The 9th Planet” and “The Solar System”. They were pretty entertaining and informative. My daughter had fun pretending to shoot into space. She landed a rocket on the space station. She drove a Mars rover. She pretended to be an astronaut. She did a lot of things more than once because there wasn’t a ton to do for a young child, but overall, it was pretty interesting.Hi there, thanks for the great review! We're glad to hear you and your daughter had fun on your visit, sounds like she really enjoyed Planet Explorers, our exhibit for little ones. We're always adding new things, so we hope you can come back and visit us again soon! Thanks again and take care.Written August 4, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 24, 2023
- patlv23Winnipeg, Canada962 contributionsFor space fansVisitors should note that planetarium shows are not all at the big dome. There are one or two smaller theaters, which is where we ended up. Not a problem as it was a fun show for the kids but keep note if you wanted to experience the bigger theater. Before/after watching show, there are many interesting displays to explore especially for outer space fans. A big bonus is that just outside the museum is a great view of the Chicago skyline. Plus a lakeside stroll is always nice. Of course, be ready for the usual exorbitant Chicago parking rates if you want to park close.Hey there, thanks for the great review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed our sky shows, exhibits, and our stellar view of the Chicago skyline! We're glad you enjoyed your sky show in the Space Theater, our smaller of the two dome theaters. On your next visit, if you're looking to experience a show in our bigger dome, be sure to book tickets in the Grainger Sky Theater next time! Thanks again, we hope to see you again soon! Take care.Written August 4, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2023Traveled with familyWritten June 24, 2023
- Melissa N15 contributionsWe LOVED it!Wow! My family (husband, 5 year old son) and I spent a wonderful morning here. We visited as part of the Chicago CityPASS which gave us two shows. We choose to see “Imagine the Moon” and “Destination- Solar System”. Both were great and captivated our young son! We also throughly enjoyed the children’s section on the planetarium. My husband and I enjoyed the other parts of the museum, but they were a little over our son’s head. We ate lunch at Cosmic Cafe. While the food wasn’t anything great and quite pricey, the view was AMAZING! We visited on a Sunday from around 9:45 to 1:00. It had the perfect amount of guests. We didn’t feel like it was empty, but we never had to wait. Our son could do the children’s activities multiple times. Most had a timer which reset the activity after a couple of minutes. I think this could be very helpful if the museum was busier, but often no one was waiting so he could go an activity again and again. The Bears were playing at 11:00 so I don’t know if this had anything to do with the light crowds at the Planetarium.Hi Melissa, thank you for the wonderful review! We are so glad you and your family had a blast during your visit and were able to explore both our exhibits and our sky shows. We hope you all can come back and see us again soon! Thanks again and take care.Written November 8, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 1, 2023
- 462lenazGermantown, Tennessee50 contributionsAwesome!Truly a great place to visit! My five year old had the best time. We had the city pass so we had admission +2 movies and everything was just so enjoyable. We spent over three hours and just had a great time.Hey there, thanks for the awesome review! We're so glad you and your little one enjoyed your visit to the Adler with CityPass. There's nothing like a day spent among the cosmos! 💫 We hope to see you again soon, thank you and take care!Written November 8, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 12, 2023
- FascinatedTravellerMontreal, Canada211 contributionsStellar evening!Finished the first day of our first visit to Chicago with an evening visit to the planetarium, thinking it would be a nice place to catch some shows and rest our feet. It turned out to be MUCH more than that - we really enjoyed the exhibits, the movies, the hands-on activities, and the breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline at night. The restaurant has views that are worth the detour!!!! Truly an amazing place!Hello, thank you so much for the five-star review! We're very happy that you were able to stop by during your trip to Chicago, and that you enjoyed your evening with us. We hope you had a fabulous visit in Chicago and that you can come back and see us again soon! Thank you again and take care.Written November 8, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 5, 2023
- SmokeyBloomington, Indiana457 contributionsOnce is EnoughI LOVE planetariums, and I'd been here years ago and wanted to go again. But other than the sky shows, there really wasn't much here to interest me. It's really geared more toward things for kids. And boy, were there kids there! Lots of kids, which is fine, of course. But most of them were too young to understand or be interested in things like the sky shows. So it was hard to enjoy them with the kids being restless and vocal. The cafe was a good place to have lunch with great views of the lake and the city skyline, and walking around outside of the planetarium was nice. I don't think I'll need to come back anymore, but it's a great place for a first visit.Visited November 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 18, 2023
- MildcheeseBedfordshire, United Kingdom157 contributionsQuite disappointingThere are some interesting areas of the planetarium but it was largely a let down. Loved the volunteers reciting facts, the meteorite and the initial solar system displays. But after that, there’s just way to much reading, wall after wall of information to read, I could do that online. There’s not sufficient immersive experience, things to watch or do. And don’t mention trying to buy a ticket - urgh.Visited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 3, 2023
- Sconnie75St. Petersburg, Florida8 contributionsWonderful museum.We got City Pass and picked the Adler as one of our destinations. Make SURE to pick what you want to see BEFORE you get to the museum. When we arrived, the last shows had sold out about a half hour before. Still enjoyed our visit. The view of the city at night from the planetarium is fantastic.Visited January 2024Traveled with familyWritten January 11, 2024
- Theresa SVero Beach, Florida37 contributionsNot for young childrenChildren ages 6 and 8 were really too young to enjoy. Several exhibits were broken. One of the theaters offering films had technical difficulties so we couldn’t see the film we chose “ free” with admission. I understand that this can happen but it just shortened our visit. Best to Uber, as parking is $30.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 18, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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2,187 reviews
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jgmiles
Reno, NV146 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Went to take grandchildren to the Adler Planetarium January 3rd, 2019.
How can people afford to come to this place???
1. Parking was difficult to find, unless you pay $25-30 for parking in the parking lot!
2. Ticket prices were outrageous.... We are seniors, brought our 2 grandchildren. Ticket w/ 2 shows over a $100. You were charged entry fee plus how many shows you want included.
3. I felt, the planetarium was a bit outdated w/ what they had to offer.
4. Food was not that good & expensive!
I don’t mind paying for admission to attractions, but I do mind, when the attration charges you a hefty entry fee & then nickel and dime you on top of the ridiculous admission fee.
How can people afford to come to this place???
1. Parking was difficult to find, unless you pay $25-30 for parking in the parking lot!
2. Ticket prices were outrageous.... We are seniors, brought our 2 grandchildren. Ticket w/ 2 shows over a $100. You were charged entry fee plus how many shows you want included.
3. I felt, the planetarium was a bit outdated w/ what they had to offer.
4. Food was not that good & expensive!
I don’t mind paying for admission to attractions, but I do mind, when the attration charges you a hefty entry fee & then nickel and dime you on top of the ridiculous admission fee.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review and feedback. We're sorry to hear that you found your experience at the Adler to be lackluster! If you're an Illinois resident, we highly recommend checking out the Adler during one of our Illinois Resident Discount Days—where Illinois residents can visit the Adler for free!
Written January 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matt W
Stone, UK6 contributions
Jul 2022
Visited using City Pass, which decided not to work for an hour. They told us to pay so that we could get booked in for the shows, and that there wouldn't be a problem getting refunded when City Pass was sorted out.
45 mins later, City Pass was sorted so we returned to Reception to scan the City Pass and sort the refund. They then told us they couldn't do the refund, and that we'd need to contact Customer Services by email.
Having contacted them twice by email, the refused to issue the refund when responding 1st time, and have refused to respond to my 2nd email.
Might be a good place to visit for the kids, but beware, they will take any opportunity to rob you blind and refuse afterwards to assist. Hugely disappointing, literally daylight robbery.
45 mins later, City Pass was sorted so we returned to Reception to scan the City Pass and sort the refund. They then told us they couldn't do the refund, and that we'd need to contact Customer Services by email.
Having contacted them twice by email, the refused to issue the refund when responding 1st time, and have refused to respond to my 2nd email.
Might be a good place to visit for the kids, but beware, they will take any opportunity to rob you blind and refuse afterwards to assist. Hugely disappointing, literally daylight robbery.
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, we're sorry to hear you had such a negative experience using City Pass to visit the Adler. Were you looking to get refunded for your City Pass? If so, unfortunately that is not something we can help with.
If there's anything we can do to help resolve this problem and improve for the future please feel free to email guestservices@adlerplanetarium.org and we will do our best to assist you.
Take care!
Written March 28, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,260 contributions
Nov 2022
Of the three museums on the Museum Campus in Chicago's Grant Park, the Adler Planetarium probably is the least visited compared to the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. And the Museum of Science and Industry farther south on Lake Shore Drive. But space exploration in recent years has sparked more interest. The Adler Planetarium is dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics. Founded in 1930, it is located on northeastern tip of Northerly Island on Lake Michigan, a brisk walk east of the Shedd. Added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, it has three theaters, space science exhibitions, including the Gemini 12 space capsule, and a collection of antique, scientific instruments and print materials. In addition, the Adler hosts the Doane Observatory, a research-active public observatory and the largest aperture telescope available to the public in the Chicago area. Visitors are encouraged to view the exhibit dedicated to retired NSAS astronaut Jim Lovell, the movie "The Ninth Planet" that highlights recent scientific discoveries about orbiting objects beyond Neptune, an informative display of the solar system, a fascinating look at Chicago's Big Sky and the Universe: A Walk Through Space and Time, witnessing how the universe has evolved over 13.7 billion years, from the Big Bang to this morning's sunrise. I recall a midnight astronomy class at the University of Illinois when our instructor pointed out each of the significant stars and major constellations. Our visit to the Adler brought back all of those fond memories. Very educational.
Written November 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Taylor, thanks for your great review! We're so glad you appreciated our exhibits, shows and museum history. We're always adding stellar new things to the museum, so come back again soon!
Written February 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Judy D
166 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
First, it was a huge hassle to get tickets. You had to purchase in advance....you could not just walk in and buy a ticket
My friend downloaded the QR code to buy tickets. Not very user friendly. As we were standing out there, trying to buy tickets with the help of the girl that would not not anyone in......many people walked away upon seeing what a hassle tickets were.
The inside really did nothing for me. I guess space is not really my thing
I could have lived without the whole experience
My friend downloaded the QR code to buy tickets. Not very user friendly. As we were standing out there, trying to buy tickets with the help of the girl that would not not anyone in......many people walked away upon seeing what a hassle tickets were.
The inside really did nothing for me. I guess space is not really my thing
I could have lived without the whole experience
Written December 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Judy, thanks for sharing your experience. We're sorry to hear you found it challenging to purchase your tickets. If you'd like to share more specifics about your experience so we may improve in the future, please email guestservices@adlerplanetarium.org.
Written February 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael L
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Family
I actually never went.
After reading. So many parent state his poor a value for the money it was, lack of parking, and lackluster shows and attractions I don’t gen bother
I can hear the first time in the mid 80s and now my 9 year old loves space. But $100 plus $25 parking and only open at night were major deterrents.
Maybe you can pack in newcomers for awhile but eventually enough will stop coming.
I’m from Iowa and can watch a mediocre star show and planetarium right in Des Moines for cheap
After reading. So many parent state his poor a value for the money it was, lack of parking, and lackluster shows and attractions I don’t gen bother
I can hear the first time in the mid 80s and now my 9 year old loves space. But $100 plus $25 parking and only open at night were major deterrents.
Maybe you can pack in newcomers for awhile but eventually enough will stop coming.
I’m from Iowa and can watch a mediocre star show and planetarium right in Des Moines for cheap
Written February 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Michael, we're sorry that you were deterred to visit us and didn't get a chance to experience the museum to see all that we have to offer. It sounds like you may have heard some incorrect information.
We are open from 9am–4pm everyday except Wednesdays, when open from 4pm–10pm so that guests may observe the night sky through our 24" telescope. Additionally, our most expensive ticket—which includes access to the entire museum and 2 of our sky shows—is only $40, so we're not sure where you heard that our tickets were $100.
We are proud to offer over 60,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space and two domed theaters showing 7 original sky shows—several of which have won or been nominated for awards. The Adler Planetarium prides itself on having something for everyone.
We hope that you will consider visiting us in the future so you can see our wonderful planetarium for yourself. Thank you for the feedback, take care!
Written June 7, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
avazacopoulos
Mexico City, Mexico122 contributions
Apr 2022 • Solo
If you have children and you want to occupy them for 2-3 hrs then go. Any other sane person stay away, although the museum is very well set up - It was booooring to death. Really limited is the exhibits, etc. Just go to the science museum - infinite better.
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, we're sorry your experience with the Adler was only worth two stars. If you have any specific feedback on how we might improve in the future, feel free to email guestservices@adlerplanetarium.org. Thanks and have a great day!
Written March 29, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matt A
Mundelein, IL3 contributions
Mar 2023
Hard to go wrong with any of the museums in Chicago but the Adler never disappoints. Stopped by this past weekend and had an excellent time seeing what's new since our last visit nearly a decade ago. Highly recommend any of the shows in the Sky on the upper level and I still get emotional walking through the moon landing exhibits. Great collection of artifacts and lots of interesting information to teach kids and adults alike.
Written March 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Matthew, we're so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit and got a chance to see our sky shows! We're always adding new things to the planetarium, so we hope you can come back and visit us again soon!
Thanks for the great review, have a wonderful rest of your day!
Written March 28, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ellen B
Bear, DE494 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
We saw The Ninth Plant and Destination Solar System while we were there. Plant Nine was pretty interesting, but “Destination” was a little too silly in parts
The Light Pollution and Jim Lovell exhibit were both very interesting, as was the solar system display. Worth the stop. It is probably a half day. With the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum on the same campus you can easy do 2 stops in one day
The Light Pollution and Jim Lovell exhibit were both very interesting, as was the solar system display. Worth the stop. It is probably a half day. With the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum on the same campus you can easy do 2 stops in one day
Written October 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey there, thanks for sharing your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed Planet Nine and our exhibits!—Captain Lovell's story is certainly remarkable. However, we are sorry to hear you didn't enjoy our show for younger audiences, Destination Solar System. Thanks for visiting!
Written February 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie
Cincinnati, OH9 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
The process of buying tickets was convoluted and needlessly complicated. The first to staff to “greet” us were so rude I contemplated just leaving without buying tickets even though my family and I had no other plans for the day. When I asked the ticket salesperson which show might be best for my preschool and school aged children, I was told in a very condescending tone “it’s science. We don’t make recommendations” - - oh, thanks.
The lines and layout of this place make it difficult to navigate. The whole experience was quite circuitous and ultimately, though my kids had fun, my taste for the place was soured before I regrettably purchased my ticket by the unfriendliness of the greeters, who seemed inconvenienced to be doing their job.
The lines and layout of this place make it difficult to navigate. The whole experience was quite circuitous and ultimately, though my kids had fun, my taste for the place was soured before I regrettably purchased my ticket by the unfriendliness of the greeters, who seemed inconvenienced to be doing their job.
Written March 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, we're very sorry to hear you had an unpleasant experience buying tickets and at the entrance.
We're always trying to improve, so if you have more specific feedback you'd like to share, please email guestservices@adlerplanetarium.org.
Whether or not you choose to reach out, we are glad to hear that your family had fun. We hope you have a great rest of your day.
Written March 28, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Melissa N
15 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Wow! My family (husband, 5 year old son) and I spent a wonderful morning here. We visited as part of the Chicago CityPASS which gave us two shows. We choose to see “Imagine the Moon” and “Destination- Solar System”. Both were great and captivated our young son! We also throughly enjoyed the children’s section on the planetarium. My husband and I enjoyed the other parts of the museum, but they were a little over our son’s head.
We ate lunch at Cosmic Cafe. While the food wasn’t anything great and quite pricey, the view was AMAZING!
We visited on a Sunday from around 9:45 to 1:00. It had the perfect amount of guests. We didn’t feel like it was empty, but we never had to wait. Our son could do the children’s activities multiple times. Most had a timer which reset the activity after a couple of minutes. I think this could be very helpful if the museum was busier, but often no one was waiting so he could go an activity again and again. The Bears were playing at 11:00 so I don’t know if this had anything to do with the light crowds at the Planetarium.
We ate lunch at Cosmic Cafe. While the food wasn’t anything great and quite pricey, the view was AMAZING!
We visited on a Sunday from around 9:45 to 1:00. It had the perfect amount of guests. We didn’t feel like it was empty, but we never had to wait. Our son could do the children’s activities multiple times. Most had a timer which reset the activity after a couple of minutes. I think this could be very helpful if the museum was busier, but often no one was waiting so he could go an activity again and again. The Bears were playing at 11:00 so I don’t know if this had anything to do with the light crowds at the Planetarium.
Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Melissa, thank you for the wonderful review! We are so glad you and your family had a blast during your visit and were able to explore both our exhibits and our sky shows.
We hope you all can come back and see us again soon! Thanks again and take care.
Written November 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patricia K
Villa Park, IL
Going Wedesday arriving chicago at5pm have a hard time walking long distances what kind of dinning is close or can you pack food to take
MrsPsPicks
Butler, PA473 contributions
Pack food to take, as it will be more reasonably priced than anything available.
Does the entry ticket allow exit and re-entry if I want to go out and come back later the same day?
Mark R
Lemont, IL87 contributions
I think they stamp your hand for reentry
Do they kick you out at closing?
vlowe1984
52 contributions
Yep just ushered us out of a side door !!
Ale61BuenosAires
Buenos Aires6,977 contributions
Hola, tengo una duda con respecto a los shows. Hay audífonos para escucharlos en diferentes idiomas o son solo en inglés? Tengo mucho interés en verlos pero necesito escucharlos en español. Gracias.
Mandy J
Batavia, IL171 contributions
Hola,
Debe ponerse en contacto con los servicios para los huespedes y tal vez puedan acomodarlo con los servicios de traduccion 312-922-7827
465benjaminp
35 contributions
Is there a place nearby to have a picnic lunch? Where is the best place to park? Thank you!
CJB4622
Atlanta, GA30 contributions
Yes, Northerly Island and Adler Planetrium
GiselaABM
Bogota, Colombia7 contributions
en un comentario reciente dicen que la Entrada al Adler Planetarium de Chicago es gratis, pero viendo su pagina web hay entradas de diferentes precios la mas barata es de 12 Us. será verdad que es gratuita?
Can you bring in your own food?
Catherine C
Chicago, IL90 contributions
Not a big cooler but they say bringing a “brown bag lunch” is permissible. It’s in the FAQ section on their website.
Eoin M
Ireland88 contributions
How long does it take to visit the planetarium? Would it take a half day or longer to see it properly? Hoping to visit in November but there is so much to see in Chicago! Any advice/tips are very welcome!
Kay R
39 contributions
Maybe if you read every single plaque, but no, this museum can definitely be seen in less than half a day. it is relatively small. We spent two hours, and that was enough. To be honest, of all the museums in Chicago, this is probably the weakest. Half a day would be too long. Next door is the Shedd Aquarium, much more entertaining, and I'm an astronomy buff. The Museum of Science and Industry has a pretty nice space area, but it's farther a way and requires a car. Great, great museum though but you could easily spend an entire day there and not see it all.
Other favorites:
If you're shopping on Michigan Ave, go to the top of Hancock Signature Room lounge (not the observation deck, have a drink and take in the view, the drinks are pricey, but no more than you'll pay to go to the observation deck and stay thirsty.)
If you like art, the Chicago Art Institute is one of the best in the world. (Great cafeteria in the basement, hit the side door if there's a line). Then walk the outdoor bridge over to the Cloudgate sculpture (or "the Bean") in Millennium Park. Not to be missed. Cindy's restaurant across the way is excellent, but reservations should be made well in advance if you can. Good bar, with fab views. Less pricey and more local fare would be Giordano's pizza near the Prudential building (you can see the building from the park) Get some Deep Dish Pizza. Everyone should have one at least once in their life.
If you want a true local experience, hit the Billy Goat Tavern under Michigan avenue near the river for a greasy burger, fries and a beer. It hasn't changed in at least 30 years, so it's also a time machine.
If you like healthier fare, just about anything can be found at Eataly, not for from Michigan Ave. Basically a big indoor collection of various food stands.
Head west on Grand and spend some time at Navy Pier, for our "total tourist" stop with small shops and novelty stores, and a Ferris Wheel (a Chicago creation).
If you're into Natural History, the Field Museum is great, but also somewhere you could spend a lot of time. If you're not a big reader, though, you can zip through.
If the weather is nice, take the architectural boat tour. Best way to see Chicago, but could be miserable in November. Or it could be glorious. The weather is unpredictable.
Go to Second City in Old Town for some of the best improv comedy in the world. (Get tickets online in advance, main stage if you can).
If you're super into views, go to the Sears (now Willis) Tower, but the Signature Room is just as good (without the info overload) and closer to the action.
There are some novelty tours popping up, (food, pastry, etc.) Check online. And if you're young and fun hit the bar at the Freehand Chicago, and check out their website. They have tours available open to all. If you're going to go to a lot of the museum/attractions consider an all access pass, details online.
These are the major stops, there are so many interesting neighborhoods and other places outside of downtown, but too many to mention here. Can you tell I love this town? I hope you have a great stay.
pallavinahata
Cumming, GA17 contributions
How to reserve shows online? I want to buy an all-access pass and lot of other reviewers mentioned to reserve the shows online before you go. I cannot find a place to do that. Do you need to that after the purchase?
Matthew C
Saint Louis, MO106 contributions
I don't remember being able to reserve shows online. You may not even need to. I just walked to the counter when I arrived, showed them my City Pass, and then they gave me a choice of shows and times I could go to. I reserved one at that point.
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