Cloud Gate (The Bean)

Although much newer than Chicago’s other landmarks—which include the Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, the historic Tribune Tower, and Wrigley Field—Cloud Gate is arguably more famous. No trip to Chicago is complete without seeing the sculpture and exploring Millennium Park’s other highlights. The Bean is a popular stop on myriad sightseeing tours, from hop-on hop-off bus and bike tours to Segway and self-led walking tours. You can even book a photoshoot to strike a pose right in front of the icon.

• The Bean and the other highlights of Millennium Park are free to visit.

• Don’t visit The Bean without a good camera; it’s a favorite subject of photographers, thanks to its reflective properties and distinctive shape.

• Pets are not permitted in Millennium Park, although service animals are allowed to enter.

• The Bean (and other areas of Millennium Park) are wheelchair-accessible.

The Bean is at 201 E. Randolph Street, between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Avenue, in Millennium Park. If you’re using public transport, take the Brown, Pink, Orange, Green, and Purple lines of the L to Washington/Wabash Station, or take Metra commuter trains to Millennium Station; both are just minutes away. Buses, taxis, and rideshare services also serve the area.

Millennium Park—including The Bean—is open daily from early morning until late evening. The best time to visit it is on a bright and sunny day, so you can see the best of the artwork’s reflective properties, although it can also look magical encrusted with a thin layer of snow in the winter. Just aim to visit on weekdays and early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds.

Chicago has a long history of commissioning instantly iconic public artworks; The Bean is just the beginning. Begin with neighboring sculptures such as the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, which displays large faces of Chicagos and shoots water jets. Then, continue to Alexander Calder’s Flamingo (an enormous, sweeping red sculpture in Federal Plaza) and The Picasso (a monumental sculpture by Picasso in Daley Plaza).