12 Free Things to Do in Chicago

Many visitors to Chicago make Millennium Park their first stop. It’s filled with blooming gardens and tree-lined promenades, where you can enjoy a variety of art exhibitions throughout the year. Check out the Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean”. This giant stainless steel sculpture is great for selfies against the reflection of the city’s skyscrapers on its mirror-like surface. Chicago’s other great public parks include the lakefront Grant Park and Maggie Daley Park, with its famous quarter-mile ice skating ribbon.

Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo is usually top of the list for families looking for a free place to spend a day out. The zoo's great collection includes cold climate animals such as polar bears, snow leopards, and penguins. You can also view gorillas at the large Regenstein Center for African Apes, which mimics their natural western lowland habitats. The highly popular Kovler Seal Pool is where you can learn about animal conservation and watch harbour seals put on a show.

Enjoy a budget-friendly Chicago sightseeing trip, on foot, along the Chicago Riverwalk. The river flows through the heart of the city and leads you down a scenic waterfront pathway on the south bank. The Riverwalk runs for around 1.25 miles starting at the Lake Shore Drive and heading up to Lake Street, with many options for dining and refreshments. This area is also known for its green lawns and other scenic spots, such as bridges that can be ideal for shots against Chicago’s high-rise urban landscape.

Escape the hubbub of the city and head down to Central Park Avenue to enjoy one of Chicago’s beautiful green oases. The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of America’s largest botanical conservatories, showcasing beautiful natural landscapes under a glass roof. In its collection, you can admire thousands of different plant species from around the world. Families with kids can freely enjoy play spaces or relax around water gardens and ponds. You can also find a fishing lagoon, as well as sports facilities onsite.

You can enjoy some of Chicago’s great art galleries and museums at no extra cost. Some of the free-admission museums in The Loop include the DePaul Art Museum, near the Fullerton subway station, displaying contemporary artworks like paintings by Andy Warhol. At the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art on Greenwood Avenue you can enjoy an eclectic showcase of the best contemporary artworks by its students. At the National Museum of Mexican Art, beside Harrison Park, you can admire a rich collection of Mexican arts and cultural objects.

You can find this favourite spot among Chicago’s rich collection of beautiful green oases in Glencoe, around a half-hour’s drive north from The Loop. The botanic garden spans over 380 acres, which are filled with 25 display gardens and 4 natural habitats. Among the favourites are its aquatic garden, the bonsai gallery, the Regenstein fruit and vegetable garden, and the beautiful and zen-like Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden. The Model Railroad Garden can be a soothing visual feast, which families with kids will love.

Chicago’s Navy Pier is a great spot where families can enjoy a host of recreational activities based on their own budget preferences. Admission to this pier on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan is free. The pier juts out into the lake and is filled with gardens, shopping arcades, spots for dining and drinking, and the Centennial Wheel. You can splurge as much as you like and ride the Ferris wheel (from around $16 a ride), or simply enjoy the vibes and views at no cost. Its Summer Fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday are for all to enjoy.

Lake Michigan has a collection of beautiful sandy beaches, and Chicago is home to one of the best. Head down to North Lake Shore Drive for one of the city’s beautiful open spaces that is North Avenue Beach. It’s a great spot for families with kids and can be an alternative recreational spot to the livelier Navy Pier, which is just a short drive south from here. You can bask under the summer sun on the warm, soft sand while watching the kids play. The water can be very cold, though – possibly too cold for swimming.

The Crown Fountain is an interactive monument at the corner of The Art Institute in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The fountain consists of a 232-ft-long shallow reflecting pool with a 50-ft glass block tower at each end. The LED screens behind the glass towers project rotating images of Chicago citizens who become virtual gargoyles for a few seconds – spouting water from their mouths.

While the photos are displayed year-round, the fountain’s water feature only operates from mid-spring to mid-fall. Families and visitors use the space as a refreshing inner-city sanctuary on hot and humid Chicago days.

Enjoy free admission to one of Chicago’s most stunning old landmarks. The Chicago Cultural Center opened back in 1897 as Chicago’s first public library. It features a neoclassical design, with 2 brilliant stained glass domes. Inside, you can enjoy a variety of free cultural exhibitions and art performances throughout the year. You can expect a little bit of art, some educational and interactive exhibits that kids can enjoy, movie screenings, as well as Chicago ragtime and jazz performances.

Just south of The Loop, and as a favourite budget-friendly stop on the way to Chicago’s Chinatown, the Harold Washington Library Center is an eye-catcher with its beautiful postmodern architectural styling. Step inside, and you can discover the vast central library. Spread over 10 floors, sections include the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium and exhibition halls, its popular library section and spaces for teens, the Thomas Hughes Children’s library, and a host of general information services. Some simply visit the landmark for its palatial features and serene ambiance.

The 606 on Chicago's west side is where you can put on some comfy shoes and explore with local runners, walkers, and cyclists. Once a rail line, The 606 is a 2.7-mile elevated, paved trail dotted with parks, lookout points, and public art. Highlights include Damen Arts Plaza for urban art, Park No. 567 for live music in summer, and Walsh Park for outdoor sports and pet-friendly spaces.

You can access the trail from Chicago's trendiest neighbourhoods – Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park. Bikes are rentable at a Divvy station, Chicago's affordable bike-share system.