THE 10 BEST Museums in Chicago
Museums in Chicago
Category types
Museums
Awards
Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
Traveller rating
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346 results sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Recommended Museum Tickets and Passes (14)
Revenue impacts these recommendations, learn more.
Natural History Museums • Science Museums
South Loop
Admission tickets from HK$234
Speciality Museums • Art Museums
Near North Side
Speciality Museums • Observatories & Planetariums
South Loop
Speciality Museums • History Museums
Downtown / The Loop
Admission tickets from HK$129
Speciality Museums • Natural History Museums
Lincoln Park
Art Museums
Streeterville
Admission tickets from HK$177
Art Galleries • Shopping Malls
Magnificent Mile
Speciality Museums • Science Museums
Gold Coast
Speciality Museums • Historic Sites
South Loop
Speciality Museums • Art Museums
West Loop
Speciality Museums • Science Museums
Downtown / The Loop
Art Galleries • Speciality Museums
Downtown / The Loop
Speciality Museums • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Downtown / The Loop
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Showing results 1-30 of 346
What travellers are saying
- GabrielWestminster, CO56 contributionsI absolutely loved this place so much, every time I come back to visit I will absolutely make time to visit, there is so much to see. I highly recommend going in the early morning so there isn’t such a crowd and you can move at your own pace without people getting in your way. There are plenty of classics, originals, and artists you haven’t heard of, it’s great. A must see for sure and the gift shop has copies of what you have seen so you can bring them home.Written 20 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- PrairiePaddlerWisconsin382 contributionsWe went to the Griffin Museum specifically to see the "007 Science" temporary exhibition of gadgetry used in the James Bond film franchise. As a former CIA employee I am a fan of and have seen much this material on display in museums around the country. This particular exhibit does a good job of telling the story through the lens of technology, making the point that Fleming's books and the visualization of his stories on film, often previewed emerging or horizon technologies, many of which are commonplace today. That said, much of the interpretation relied on the granular fine text in the labels. I would have sought a way to bring the character of "Q" to life in some fashion to narrate the story in a visual and interactive way and better tie it together, rather than relying on narrative text to make the scientific points. The graphics and AV are generally pretty good. Noticeably absent among the vehicles on display is the most important of them all, the Aston Martin DB5 from "Goldfinger" which has been on view elsewhere. I also would like to have seen the storyline include attention to how the stunts and exotic plots and locations in the Bond films pushed the envelope on motion picture technology.
The Griffin as it is now known is a very old school museum trying to catapult itself into the 21st Century and offerings like the Bond exhibit are a great way to do that. There's absolutely a need for imaginative kids to be able to climb into trains and planes, and newer permanent exhibits with modern graphics and interactives explore forward-looking topics like climate change. On the day of our visit we saw lots of happy families having a great time, and that's the best review any museum can aspire to.
Props, too, to the museum sending out an email on the day of our visit providing GPS instructions to take us directly to their parking garage. Well done.Written 14 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - MJDLondon, UK25 contributionsReally interesting and informative. Chicago has such a rich history in architecture, and diving into the art deco lobbies is a fascinating slice of the larger legacy.Written 18 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Elias47 contributionsWe had a great time strolling through the Field Museum. It’s conveniently located in Chicago’s Museum Campus and provides a perfect shelter during those rainy days. We thoroughly enjoyed the various animals (especially the bird section is incredible), as well as the dinosaur exhibit. Sue the T. rex is – of course – a major highlight, but the collection has many other beautiful fossils on display.
We also visited a couple of temporary exhibits, which were both educational and interactive, adding more value to our visit. The museum provides an on-site restaurant which offers a nice spot to pause with a drink or snack.
All in all, definitely recommended activity when you’re visiting Chicago!Written 6 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Trail562540802521 contributionSuper cool place makes me glad I didn’t live in the past, cool artifacts, and really immersive. Really opens your eyes to how people were tortured back in the dayWritten 19 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DesignerIndiana697 contributionsWhat a treat to visit the luxuriuous mansion as by todays standards can still be called extravagent yet comfortable. The artwork, marbles, woodwork, flooring, marquetry, collectables and artisans of that time period created a home worthy of a tour any time in history. To think something this historic could have been in ruins if not preservation and wealthy donors.
Pay the extra 5 dollars for the private tour. The information is valuable as well as interesting.
What a gem right in the heart of the city. The many fireplaces are a work of art not to be missed. We happened to be here at Christmas and the collections of collections are endless. What a fun hour we had.Written 4 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Robert CamperConcord, NH105 contributionsAs we were planning our trip to Chicago I wanted something to teach us a bit about Chicago. As awesome as the other museums were, most could be anywhere in the country, but we traveled to Chicago, and I wanted to include something to learn about the city. And that is why this got 5 stars. My wife and I both said "We should have done this first." We had heard about the Chicago fire, but this one explained what it really was. We knew about music in Chicago, but this had a whole display about it. It really gave us insight into what made this city special. It is not huge, not overloaded with stuff, but a solid museum to teach a bit about the city we were spending a week in. It also was not crowded, after a week in other museums, it was great to have a less crowded, quieter, slower place to spend a couple hours. If you are from out of town, or don't know much about the city of Chicago, this should be on your "to do" list of things to see.Written 9 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Amilcar GuzmanHarwood Heights, IL1,161 contributionsTop notch museum in the heart of downtown Chicago. Also a hidden gem in terms of historical greatness in the city. Amazing vibes!Written 20 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Elias47 contributionsWe spend a morning at the Adler Planetarium and, while we had fun, we did leave slightly unsatisfied.
The museum is nicely organized, with exhibits grouped by themes like planets, moon missions, and scientific instruments. However, the balance felt a bit off. While there was an overwhelming number of scientific instruments on display, we were hoping for a deeper dive into the solar system and its planets. Perhaps our expectations didn’t fully align with the museum’s focus.
That said, the exhibits, both interactive and static, were thoughtfully presented and still managed to teach us a few new things. The two Sky Shows we attended (Skywatch Live and Planet Nine) were interesting and immersive. Definitely recommend to catch at least one of these on your visit, but be sure to reserve your seat early, as they sell out quickly.
Overall, the Adler Planetarium offers an enjoyable experience that left us curious and wanting to learn more. Isn’t that exactly what a museum should strive for?Written 6 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PJA070413Arlington, VA158 contributionsThe Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) seems like a "hidden gem" of a museum if you have any interest in ancient history and culture. I came here a day after I visited the Field Museum, which is amazing and has far more extensive collections than ISAC, but was very crowded and harder to navigate. The ISAC is much smaller and more focused in its exhibits, and I found it to be a much more pleasant and interesting place to learn about the earliest days of civilization. So if this area of history interests you, I recommend you consider a visit to ISAC. Be aware that this museum is away from the main tourist areas of downtown Chicago (about 8 miles south of Millennium Park) and is located on the campus of the University of Chicago. There is also Museum of Science and Industry nearby. Chicago's electric commuter rail line (which is called the Metra or "M" train) has a stop not too far from the university campus, but I recommend that you take a taxi or ride share to go directly to and from the museum in this area of south Chicago. The campus is close to Lake Shore Drive and it is about a 20-30 minute drive from Millennium Park by that route.Written 19 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MaddyLondon, UK21 contributionsWe had a lovely visit to the museum. It has a range of interesting exhibits and interactive activities. We spent 2 hours there and could have spent longer! The staff were also lovely.Written 24 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- epsharonMuskego, WI502 contributionsThis is a fun museum to go to with kids. But plan on only an hour to finish even going through it kind of slowly. Lots of great picture opportunities. But I'd say if you are paying full price, it is grossly overpriced. It's a lot of money for a 1 hour museum. Best bet is to buy a gift card during their Black Friday sale which is 50% off. And be sure to make a reservation if going on a weekend.Written 4 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Colleen H11 contributionsMy kids are 9 and 11. That being said, I think they were the oldest kids there that day. It is definitely geared toward younger kids. But my kids still found plenty of things to do. The construction/building area was great, the giant climbing structure was cool and I enjoyed a game of bags with my oldest. It wasn't that long ago that my kids were the little ones. And gosh, I know for sure they would have been obsessed with every single feature there. We had a nice time overall with my kids at this age.Written 9 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jennifer C31 contributionsWe had a great time with our two kids, ages 5 and 6. We all loved the butterfly pavilion and there were lots of other hands on activities.Written 28 June 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- breggieAsheville, NC970 contributionsSo wonderfully positive and educative to me. A combination of art, history and assimilation of cultures made it satisfying and worthwhile to me.
And it is free and did not even have the obligatory “donate please” stuff of such places.
Set in Pilsen in a Latino area and fun to stroll the area, see the street murals and eat great food nearby!Written 30 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
