What to do in Central Chicago, IL

Activities, attractions and tours

Want to get a great view of Chicago? Walk up the Adler Planetarium pier at sunset and enjoy the show. Don't leave straight after the sun sets, let the lights come out and take it all in!
Want to get a great view of Chicago? Walk up the Adler Planetarium pier at sunset and enjoy the show. Don't leave straight after the sun sets, let the lights come out and take it all in!
Central Chicago
Iconic signage in Chicago. It's best to go when it's all lit up for the best shots. It was quite a rainy night in Chicago when I tried to take this shot.
The lighthouse just off the end of navy pier in Chicago.

Places to Visit in Central Chicago

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Central Chicago, Chicago while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Central Chicago attractions from NZ$4, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Central Chicago tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 199 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Central Chicago. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

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Top places to visit

1. McCormick Place

McCormick Place is both the biggest convention center in Chicago and the biggest one anywhere in the U.S. This vast, sprawling complex is an impressive feat of architecture and engineering that was founded well over half a century ago. Attend an event here to get a sense of its incredible scale.
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McCormick Place showing a high rise building and a city

2. Navy Pier

Navy Pier has been many things to Chicago, since it first struck out its 1006 metres into Lake Michigan in 1916. It was once a transport hub, a navy training centre, and even a place for the city to cool down in the days before air-conditioning. Now it’s the capital of fun for Chicagoans, home to circuses, fun fairs, fireworks and flower shows. It's one of the city's most popular attractions when summer arrives, and its twice-weekly firework shows begin. It's also a great launching off point for getting all nautical along Lake Michigan's 483-kilometre length.
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Navy Pier featuring a sunset and rides

3. Soldier Field

Soldier Field has been one of Chicago’s most well-known landmarks since its construction in 1924 and is the oldest NFL stadium in the country.
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Soldier Field showing a city and landscape views

4. Millennium Park

You may know Chicago as the Windy City. But its motto is actually Urbs in Horto - or 'City in a Garden.' And parks, large and small, abound in this surprisingly spacious city on Lake Michigan's shore. But none is quite like the Millennium Park, which was added to Chicago's long park list just this side of the new millennium (2004 to be exact – punctuality isn't big with Chicagoans). Less a park, more a 'new kind of town square', Millennium Park is a very 21st-century blend of art, open-spaces, dramatic vistas and engrossing events.
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Reflection of a Chicago buildings in a mirror of Chicago Bean, Millennium Park, Chicago city, USA., Shutterstock ID 1129809965, Purchase Order: SP-2109, Order Number: SP-2109 Qantas AU US Sale New Ads

5. Chicago Riverwalk

Get a sense of the culture and character of the Windy City by wandering along the Chicago Riverwalk. This scenic stretch of the city follows the banks of the Chicago River from near the edge of Lake Michigan through Downtown to where the river splits. As you follow the walkway, pass impressive bridges, fascinating museums and trendy dining spots.
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Chicago Riverwalk showing a city, a river or creek and a ferry

6. Grant Park

Grant Park is one of Chicago’s most loved and diverse public parks, with a host of family-friendly attractions and activities. It spreads across 319 acres (129 hectares) between Michigan Avenue and the banks of Lake Michigan. Grant Park is a scenic area blessed with everything from concert venues and museums to public art, statues and well-groomed lawns. Walk along wide tree-lined promenades dissecting the park.
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Grant Park showing landscape views, a park and a city

7. Willis Tower

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Chicago

8. Art Institute of Chicago

5,000 years of creativity and 260,000 works of art. The numbers are big, and so is the museum housing them. The Art Institute of Chicago is the second largest art museum in the US. And it has done a fantastic job in gathering the finest art collections in the world – from across the globe and throughout history – and bringing them here to the windy shores of Lake Michigan. You may come to Chicago to get to know a city that's forged its own path, half-way between the East and West US coasts. But the Art Institute also lets you explore the brilliance of artistic endeavours from not just Chicago, but everywhere (and every-when) else.
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Art Institute of Chicago featuring interior views and heritage elements

Recommended things to do in Central Chicago

Number of things to do
199
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
eSIM: Airalo United States Package: NZ$4
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Central Chicago

Discover the most popular places to visit in Central Chicago

Scene of Chicago street bridge with traffic among modern buildings of Downtown Chicago at Michigan avenue in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Business and Modern Transportation concept

Michigan Avenue

5/5(5 reviews)

You can find the perfect gifts to bring home when you visit Michigan Avenue, a popular shopping spot in Chicago. Amble around this vibrant area's riverfront and enjoy its top-notch restaurants.

Michigan Avenue
McCormick Place showing a high rise building and a city

McCormick Place

4.5/5(21 reviews)

Attend an event at the United States’ largest convention center, which features hyper-modern facilities and huge exhibition spaces connected by promenades and sky bridges.

McCormick Place
Navy Pier featuring a sunset and rides

Navy Pier

4.5/5(64 reviews)

One of Chicago’s most popular attractions, especially on a hot day, with its fun fair, boats, circus and theatre.

Navy Pier
Soldier Field featuring a city, modern architecture and a high-rise building

Soldier Field

4/5(13 reviews)

Events center, NFL stadium and historic landmark all in one, this waterfront field is one of Chicago’s most popular destinations.

Soldier Field
Millennium Park showing modern architecture, a city and street scenes

Millennium Park

4.5/5(73 reviews)

See mind-bending sculptures, a musically-inspired lawn and giant water fountains that double-up as video screens.

Millennium Park
Chicago Riverwalk featuring a bay or harbour, a city and a river or creek

Chicago Riverwalk

4.5/5(26 reviews)

Stroll along the waterfront of the Chicago River to pass some of the city’s most appealing attractions and appreciate how a once grim area has been successfully revamped.

Chicago Riverwalk
Grant Park showing a garden and night scenes

Grant Park

4.5/5(47 reviews)

Chicago’s front yard is a pretty landscaped park, which is home to public art displays, museums, themed gardens and international music festivals.

Grant Park
John G.Shedd Aquarium view from Michigan Lake in Chicago City

Shedd Aquarium

4/5(8 reviews)

Make time in your itinerary to visit the sea life who live at Shedd Aquarium during your visit to Chicago. Amble around this vibrant area's lakeside or experience its acclaimed theatre scene.

Shedd Aquarium
Willis Tower showing city views, a high-rise building and a city

Willis Tower

4.5/5(39 reviews)

The Willis Tower is at its best when you're dangled over one of its glass-bottomed balconies 396 metres above Chicago.

Willis Tower

Explore areas of Central Chicago

Magnificent Mile - River North

Magnificent Mile

An avenue brimming with superb shops and restaurants, the Magnificent Mile more than lives up to its name.

Magnificent Mile
River North showing railway items, street scenes and a city

River North

Known for its fantastic nightlife, stunning river views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in River North. Top attractions like Merchandise Mart and Bally's Casino Chicago are major draws. Catch the metro at Merchandise Mart Station or Chicago Station (Brown Line) to see more of the city.

River North
Beautiful fireworks

Theatre District

While you're in Theatre District, take in top sights like Michigan Avenue or State Street, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Washington Station or Monroe Station (Blue Line).

Theatre District
Navy Pier which includes wild flowers and general coastal views as well as a couple

Streeterville

Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier are just a few worthwhile attractions to visit in Streeterville. Travellers also love the fascinating museums, panoramic lake views and popular shops.

Streeterville
Chicago_NearNorthSide_137043_09

Near North Side

4.5/5(114 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums, panoramic lake views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Near North Side. Top attractions like Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier are major draws. Catch the metro at Clark-Division Station or Chicago Station (Brown Line) to see more of the city.

Near North Side
Gold Coast which includes street scenes as well as a couple

Gold Coast

Enjoy upscale shopping, varied dining experiences and waterfront walks at this affluent suburb set on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Gold Coast

 

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Day trip destinations from Central Chicago

Chicago which includes a high-rise building and a city as well as a family

Chicago

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