Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The City Guide app will be sunsetting on December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
To-Do: Chicago
Skydeck Chicago is one of To-Do: Chicago.

1. Skydeck Chicago

8.4
233 S Wacker Dr (btwn Adams St & Jackson Blvd), Chicago, IL
Scenic Lookout · The Loop · 392 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: Superman can leap "the tallest building in a single bound", quite a feat at the Willis Tower, which is 1,450 feet (443 meters) high or 1,730 feet (520 meters) including the twin antenna towers.

Willis Tower is one of To-Do: Chicago.

2. Willis Tower

8.6
233 S Wacker Dr (btwn W Adams St & W Jackson Blvd), Chicago, IL
Structure · The Loop · 308 tips and reviews

Team CocoTeam Coco: "The Willis Tower used to be known as The Sears Tower. They changed the name after people kept showing up in the lobby trying to buy washing machine and ratchet sets." - Conan O'Brien

The Spirit by by Omri & Julie Rotblatt-Amrany (Michael Jordan Statue) is one of To-Do: Chicago.

3. The Spirit by by Omri & Julie Rotblatt-Amrany (Michael Jordan Statue)

8.5
United Center (Gate 4), Chicago, IL
Outdoor Sculpture · Near West Side · 31 tips and reviews

4. The Oriental Institute

9.1
1155 E 58th St (btwn Woodlawn Ave & University Ave), Chicago, IL
History Museum · Hyde Park · 25 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: One of Chicago’s Always Free Attractions, the museum has a collection of treasures from the Middle East such as a 5,000 year old mummy, a 40-ton Assyrian sculpture & a 17-foot tall statue of King Tut. Read more.

DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is one of To-Do: Chicago.

5. DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center

9.2
740 E 56th Pl (S Cottage Grove Ave), Chicago, IL
History Museum · Washington Park · 32 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: Mosaic portraits in Founders Hall celebrate Dr. Margaret Burroughs, co-founder of the museum, Harold Washington, Chicago’s first African American Mayor, and DuSable, Founder of Chicago. Read more.

Quimby's is one of To-Do: Chicago.

6. Quimby's

8.5
1854 W North Ave (at N Wolcott Av), Chicago, IL
Bookstore · Bucktown · 32 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: Quimby’s features one-of-a-kind publications such as small and independent press books, magazines, zines, and underground comics, like Chicago cartoonist Chris Ware's Quimby the Mouse.

Adler Planetarium is one of To-Do: Chicago.

7. Adler Planetarium

8.7
1300 S Lake Shore Dr (at Solidarity Dr), Chicago, IL
Planetarium · Museum Campus · 171 tips and reviews
Chicago Cultural Center is one of To-Do: Chicago.

8. Chicago Cultural Center

9.1
78 E Washington St (btwn N Michigan & N Garland Ct.), Chicago, IL
Museum · The Loop · 153 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: The Chicago Cultural Center was the backdrop for several scenes from The Untouchables, including Frank Nitti’s (Billy Drago) dramatic demise at the hand of federal agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Kostner).

Buddy Guy's Legends is one of To-Do: Chicago.

9. Buddy Guy's Legends

8.7
700 S Wabash Ave (at Balbo Dr.), Chicago, IL
Music Venue · South Loop · 140 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: Local and international legends play here, and Buddy Guy himself graces the stage of his authentic blues club, where memorabilia like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker’s guitars complete the atmosphere. Read more.

Chicago Architecture Foundation is one of To-Do: Chicago.

10. Chicago Architecture Foundation

224 S Michigan Ave (at E Jackson Blvd), Chicago, IL
Museum · The Loop · 51 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Bungalows By Bus Tour features the Chicago bungalows built between 1910-1940, & the Frank Lloyd Wright Bus Tour shows samples of his unique architecture in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District

Magnolia Bakery is one of To-Do: Chicago.

11. Magnolia Bakery

8.0
108 N State St (btwn W Randolph St & W Washington St), Chicago, IL
Bakery · The Loop · 157 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: It's easy to see how the sweets here became a New York—and now international—addiction: It'd be healthier to mainline sugar than to eat one of these cupcakes. Read more.

875 North Michigan Avenue is one of To-Do: Chicago.

12. 875 North Michigan Avenue

875 N Michigan Ave (btwn Delaware Pl & Chestnut St), Chicago, IL
Structure · Streeterville · 206 tips and reviews

Bloomingdale'sBloomingdale's: 96th floor, John Hancock Center: it doesn’t get any taller than this! Splendid views from every single spot – and don’t forget the ladies’ room vista.

Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise is one of To-Do: Chicago.

13. Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise

9.4
112 E Wacker Dr (at Michigan Ave), Chicago, IL
Tour Provider · The Loop · 105 tips and reviews

L H.L Hess: This was a great tour — totally worth it. Not just for tourists, either; it's genuinely interesting and lovely.

360 CHICAGO is one of To-Do: Chicago.

14. 360 CHICAGO

8.9
875 N Michigan Ave Fl 94 (btwn Delaware Pl & Chestnut St), Chicago, IL
Scenic Lookout · Streeterville · 167 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Located on the 94th floor of the building 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile, it's the city's only open-air skywalk. Here you'll see an incredible 360-degree view of Chicago, WI, IN & parts of IL.

Garfield Park Conservatory is one of To-Do: Chicago.

15. Garfield Park Conservatory

9.4
300 N Central Park Ave (at Lake St), Chicago, IL
Garden · East Garfield Park · 75 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: Often referred to as “landscape art under glass,” the free admission conservatory occupies approximately 4.5 acres inside and out, where thousands of plant species are on display. Read more.

Merz Apothecary is one of To-Do: Chicago.

16. Merz Apothecary

8.7
4716 N Lincoln Ave (at W Leland Ave), Chicago, IL
Pharmacy · Ravenswood · 18 tips and reviews

Explore ChicagoExplore Chicago: Around since 1875, this apothecary's original location is stacked floor-to-ceiling with every medicine, scent and homeopathic brand you can think of. It's one of Lincoln Square's many hip boutiques. Read more.