Top 10 Things to Do In Chicago
I visited the ‘Windy City’ – Chicago – back in 2018 as part of my work trip (as I mostly do) to visit one of my best friends who stays in a suburb called Naperville. That trip was one of my favorite trips because I got to spend my first trip to USA with my dearest friend.
The Windy City
Situated on the banks of Lake Michigan, Chicago is one of the largest cities in the USA. The origin of the name Windy City is not clear; some say its because of the winds (obvious explanation) while others say its because of politics! Anyhow, Chicago is a lively city with some truly wonderful places to see and enjoy. It is known for its eclectic architecture, its skyscrapers and its museums. It is always bustling with activity and there’s an ever-present sound of ambulances in the background for some reason!
MY Top 10 List
There are many must-do or to-do lists on Chicago. My list is based on best of all worlds, a little of everything thrown in. Here’s MY top 10 things to do in Chicago.
- Visit the Chicago Bean (Millennium Park)
- Walk the Magnificent Mile
- Stroll through the Navy Pier, ride the Centennial Wheel
- Take the Chicago Architectural River Cruise
- Go to the Buckingham Fountain
- Be fascinated by the Shedd Aquarium
- Get a bird’s eye view of the city from the Skydeck
- Take a water taxi
- Have a deep dish pizza
- Visit the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago Bean / Millennium Park
The Chicago Bean, so nicknamed because of its shape, is officially named Cloud Gate. This is a steel structure whose extremely polished surface reflects Chicago’s skyline. The Bean was designed by Anish Kapoor as part of a design competition, and is the centerpiece of the AT&T plaza at Millennium Park (source: Wikipedia). Stroll through the park and then walk over to The Bean. You will be impressed by the shiny sculpture and Chicago’s warped skyline projected on its surface.
$$ Free
The Magnificent Mile
This is a stretch of road in Chicago which sports famous buildings and luxury shops. Take a walk and admire some of the tallest buildings ever, such as The John Hancock Center, The Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower etc. Stop and shop – if you dare! – at one of the most upscale shopping districts in the America. Apparently, the rent here is the third most expensive in the United States! (Source: Wikipedia)
$$ Free, except any shopping you do of course!
Navy Pier
This is one of Chicago’s must do things. The Navy Pier is a pier (of course) on Lake Michigan which houses amusement parks, attractions, exhibitions/shows, restaurants and shops. Soak up the culture, enjoy the view, be entertained and treat your tastebuds at this hotspot of activities. You can ride the Centennial Wheel too.
$$ 20
Chicago Architectural River Cruise
This 90-minute tour (general duration) is a guided tour which takes you through the Y-shaped river pointing out the various skyscrapers of the Chicago skyline, their history, the era of architecture and the famous buildings like Trump Tower, Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building etc. along the way. It is a fascinating tour where you learn so much but are still entertained while you move slowly up and down the river.
$$ 35-40
Buckingham Fountain
One of the largest fountains in the world, the Buckingham Fountain is a majestic tiered-cake shaped water feature. It’s unique characteristic is a 150-foot high water jet which shoots up in the air every hour for 20 minutes. In the evening, the fountain is lit up and there is a light and musical display along with the jet. Check out it’s timing and operating hours here.
$$ Free
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. It has an amazing diversity of fishes, amphibians, and other marine inhabitants like seahorse, jellyfish, seals, whales, whatnot! It has some truly enthralling and entertaining displays. I especially loved the dolphin show. Read about my visit here.
$$ 40
Skydeck / Willis Tower
The 103rd floor of the Willis Tower in Chicago has a 360 degree observation deck called the Skydeck. The best – and dangerous – part is the all-glass box ledge where you can step out for an exhilarating view 103 stories down! Experience that moment of fear just before you step out into seeming nothingness and look straight down to the road 1353 ft. below.
$$ 28-35
Water Taxi
These operate on Lake Michigan to and from Navy Pier. While the river cruise is a slow, leisurely ride through the river, a water taxi is quite exciting out on the lake with gulls and the boat at super speed!
$$ 10
Deep Dish Pizza
This is an iconic Chicago dish, so called because of its high sided crust which gives it an almost pie like appearance. The high sides enable enough space for generous amounts of sauce and toppings or rather fillings. It is a yummy treat! It will be available at most Italian joints in Chicago.
$$ 15-20
Art Institute of Chicago
It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. It hosts legendary artwork like Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Grant Wood’s American Hawk and such like. It contains nearly 300,000 works of art apart from special exhibitions (source: Wikipedia). It is also known as the place where Swami Vivekananda gave his famous speech, to commemorate which the speech is printed and highlighted on the steps of the Art Institute.
$$ 19
Honorary Mention
I was coincidentally in Chicago during the 4th of July weekend which is one of the biggest celebrations in the USA. On that day, I got to experience a quintessential american barbecue at the beach! It was a fun day.
It's a curated list but all expansive
These are the things which I did during my own 2 days’ visit of Chicago, except the last one. 3 days should be enough to cover everything easily and at a leisurely pace. I did them all except the last one because I ran out of time. This list was curated based on some of the famous attractions along with one museum – which I substituted for the aquarium – and some exciting activities. It covers walks, food, art and culture so it’s the best of all worlds. Be sure to do most of these things when in Chicago to get a taste of this vibrant city.