Art Institute of Chicago

The museum holds one of the world’s finest collections of American and European art, with special impressionist and post-impressionist works. Walk among the galleries and recognize paintings from art history textbooks such as Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, and George Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. The building is a work of art constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, which later became the World Fair.

You may visit the museum independently or as part of a group walking or Segway tour. Purchase skip-the-line access to spend more time browsing the collections than waiting in line. The Chicago CityPASS and Chicago Explorer Pass cards grant admission to the museum. It’s also a stop on a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus.

• Wheelchairs and strollers are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Purchase Art Institute of Chicago tickets online (recommended) or on-site.

• Hearing-assist devices are available at the Michigan Avenue checkroom.sign language tours and tours with sighted guides are available with advance notice.

• Dining options include a cafe, outdoor dining, and an upscale Italian restaurant.

• If you tire of paintings and sculptures, check out the Thorne miniature rooms or stained glass window by Marc Chagall.

The museum is located in downtown Chicago adjacent to Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park. There are two easily accessible entrances: one from the historic main building at 111 S. Michigan Avenue and one from the Modern Wing at 159 E. Monroe Street. Several parking garages are nearby, or you can choose valet service. A number of city bus and L Train routes pass within a block or two.

The museum is open daily from 10:30am–5pm, except Thursdays, when it is open until 8pm. General admission is free to all Illinois residents every Thursday evening from 5–8pm. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

The institute’s works of art aren’t confined to walled buildings—they extend into several outdoor spaces as well. You’ll find traditional flower gardens, mature trees, shade-loving plants, succulents, and more on the grounds, plus one-of-a-kind sculptures, outdoor installations, and reused architectural fragments. The perfect place to take a break from the hubbub inside, the gardens provide a much-appreciated respite to museum visitors looking to take a quick breather.

No. Most adults have to pay to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, although kids under 14 and Chicagoans under 18 go free all year. Certain days are free for Illinois residents during winter, while active-duty military, Illinois educators, and students at some partner institutions enjoy free entry year-round.

Yes, the Art Institute of Chicago is most definitely worth visiting. The second largest art museum in the US, it hosts works by Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Jackson Pollock, and many other boldface names.

Most adults will want to spend at least 2–3 hours, but an hour is generally enough time for kids. The Art Institute of Chicago displays thousands of works from its collection of almost 300,000 pieces alongside multiple special exhibitions, so you could spend days here and still not see it all.

Not always. A general admission ticket to the Art Institute of Chicago includes access to non-ticketed special exhibitions, but you need to buy an additional ticket for some special exhibitions. Members of the Art Institute of Chicago enjoy free admission to both the museum and ticketed special exhibitions.

Yes. A general admission ticket to the Art Institute of Chicago is valid for the full day that it’s issued, meaning you can go out for lunch, fresh air, or a stroll in Millennium Park, then come back and see more art. Just be sure to keep hold of your ticket.

Flowers, balloons, and food and drinks other than water bottles are not allowed anywhere in the museum. Weapons, toys, tripods, video cameras, selfie sticks, wrapped gifts, pens, art materials, shopping bags, large bags, backpacks, and tall umbrellas are not allowed in the galleries, while water bottles must always be carried in bags.