5 Must-See Art And Architecture Spots In Chicago, According To A Local

Chicago is an underrated city in many ways, and that includes its art and architecture. The Windy City is home to some world-class museums, and it has a one-of-a-kind architectural history shaped by a unique landscape and local events such as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. After visiting Chicago frequently throughout my life, I finally took the plunge and moved here last year — and I couldn't be happier to be spending my weekends exploring all the city has to offer.

When it comes to art and architecture, I'm an enthusiastic hobbyist rather than a trained expert. I took a couple of art history classes in college, but haven't pursued further education in the field. However, I do love art museums and make it a point to visit them whenever I'm traveling — whether famous landmarks like the Louvre or lesser-known gems like Nashville's Frist Art Museum. Similarly, I'm a fan of architectural walking tours, both DIY and with a guide. If you're visiting Chicago for the first time, or you're looking to dive more into the city's artistic heritage, here are some must-visits.

You can find one of the best art museums in the world right in Chicago. Located by downtown Millennium Park, just a few minutes' walk away from the Bean, the Beaux Arts-style Art Institute of Chicago looks impressive even from the outside. Inside, the museum is giant. Almost a million feet of exhibit space spreads out over four floors, with around 10,000 pieces of art on view at any one time.

Art enthusiasts could easily spend a whole day exploring the museum — trust me, I have, and recommend it. But for visitors who don't want to dedicate their entire trip to recreating the Ferris Bueller art museum montage, I suggest going in with a plan. The museum hosts over 30 special exhibits a year, and it boasts a famous Impressionist collection with pieces by Georges Seurat, Gustave Caillebotte, and Claude Monet. There's nothing like seeing the pointillist masterpiece "A Sunday on la Grande Jatte" up close. And don't miss the Thorne Miniature Rooms — 68 tiny, dollhouse-like rooms showing a variety of interior design styles — in the basement.

Museum admission costs $32 for adults who don't live in Chicago, with discounts available for students, seniors, and teens. You can check the museum website for potential savings and free museum days, but know that some of these options are only available to Chicago or Illinois residents.

Taking an architecture boat tour down the Chicago River is a classic tourist activity for a reason. From the water, you can get a one-of-a-kind view of some of the city's most iconic buildings. Plus, you can enjoy a drink and feel the breeze in your hair while taking in some of Chicago's history with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic tour guide.

I took my first architecture boat tour on a class trip when I was 13 years old, and I was hooked. More recently, I went on a boat tour in the first half of 2026 when family came to visit, and it was so cool to see structures like Marina City (a.k.a. "the corncob towers") and the Navy Pier Ferris wheel from a different vantage point.

A boat tour is an ideal activity for warm weather, but they run rain, shine, or snow (barring extreme weather and the coldest parts of winter). Several companies offer these excursions at various price points and trip lengths, but all of Chicago's riverboat tour options provide views of the city skyline and iconic architecture. Prices start at about $28 per person for a 45-minute outing and increase from there.

The Chicago Cultural Center is a lesser-known attraction that happens to be 100% free. The Beaux-Arts-style building was constructed in 1897 as the city's first public library (it was re-established as the Chicago Cultural Center in 1991). Designed by the same architects as the Art Institute of Chicago, it's a similarly impressive sight with a limestone exterior and an opulent interior that features two glass domes and intricate mosaics.

The Tiffany glass dome is worth a visit alone: It contains 30,000 pieces of glass cut in the shape of fish scales and measures 38 feet in diameter, making it the largest Tiffany dome in the world. At the top, you'll see the signs of the zodiac rendered in colorful detail. Along with admiring the domes, murals, and building itself, visitors can view a series of rotating art exhibits on display, which often feature Chicago-area artists.

The Chicago Cultural Center is located right across from Millennium Park, a short walk from the Art Institute of Chicago. It's easy to pop in for a visit while exploring other downtown attractions. Plus, it's one of the best free things to do in Chicago for a budget-friendly vacation.

Much smaller than the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago focuses on pieces produced from the 1920s to the present. Its perspective is visible in the building itself, located downtown just a block from the Magnificent Mile. Built in the '90s, its facade is made of aluminum with a limestone base, making it look very different and yet in harmony with its neighbor, the historic limestone Water Tower.

You won't need to dedicate a whole day to exploring the museum; visitors typically spend one to three hours there. There are no permanent exhibits. Instead, it has a series of rotating options, which means you could see something new every time you go. I adored the "Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind" exhibit so much that I went twice. It ended in February 2026, but I'm looking forward to future offerings. The MCA has suggested admission prices for tickets: $19 for Chicago residents and $22 for non-Chicago residents. In other words, pay what you can.

While it's great to see the buildings from the water, it might be even better to see them from the ground. For one thing, you can go inside many of them to look at the lobbies and rotundas instead of viewing the exteriors only. When I took a tour, I loved the chance to peer within buildings I wouldn't have thought to enter on my own. It was a fun way to learn more about Chicago's history and explore places that feel hidden to the public, even if they technically aren't.

The Chicago Architecture Center offers many walking tours throughout the city. A few years ago, I took one focused on the Loop that covered gems like the Rookery, with a lobby designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Art Deco skyscraper of the Chicago Board of Trade Building. However, you can venture outside of downtown and set out on walking tours in different neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Hyde Park, and Uptown. Depending on the option you choose, tickets range from $15 to $45 per person, with most costing around $35.