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Top things to do in Chicago

Chicago Architecture Center

Unlock the stories behind Chicago’s world-famous skyline at the Chicago Architecture Center. Dive into interactive exhibits, then step out on guided walking tours like Must-See Chicago or Walk Through Time. Perfect for architecture lovers and curious explorers, these experiences reveal the design genius that shaped the Windy City.

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Chicago Architecture Center
Guests exploring architectural models at the Chicago Architectural Center.
Guests exploring architectural models at the Chicago Architectural Center.
Guests exploring a detailed Chicago city model at the Chicago Architectural Center.
Guided group walking under Calder's Flamingo sculpture in Chicago.
Exterior facade of the Chicago Architecture Center with people walking by.
Group enjoying a guided walking tour at the Chicago Architectural Center, Chicago.
Guests exploring Chicago city model at the Chicago Architectural Center.
Chicago Architectural Center exhibit with city model and skyline display.
Guests interacting with a city model at the Chicago Architectural Center exhibit.
Chicago Architecture Center facade illuminated at night with people walking by.
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
Flexible duration
  • Explore two floors of immersive exhibits at Chicago’s premier cultural destination, where the skyline and neighborhoods are vividly recreated.

  • See the City Model Experience, featuring supersized scale models of over 4,000 Chicago buildings.

  • Take a self-paced tour of permanent and temporary exhibits for a deeper dive into the city’s architectural history.

  • Upgrade your visit with a guided walking tour for added context and expert storytelling.

  • Choose between discovering must-see city landmarks or tracing Chicago’s architectural evolution on a small-group, certified-guide tour.

More details

  • Explore two floors of immersive exhibits at Chicago’s premier cultural destination, where the skyline and neighborhoods are vividly recreated.

  • See the City Model Experience, featuring supersized scale models of over 4,000 Chicago buildings.

  • Take a self-paced tour of permanent and temporary exhibits for a deeper dive into the city’s architectural history.

  • Upgrade your visit with a guided walking tour for added context and expert storytelling.

  • Choose between discovering must-see city landmarks or tracing Chicago’s architectural evolution on a small-group, certified-guide tour.

from
$15
Guided group walking under Calder's Flamingo sculpture in Chicago.
Wrigley Building with American flag in downtown Chicago.
Millennium Park entrance with Chicago skyline in the background.
Group enjoying a guided walking tour at the Chicago Architectural Center, Chicago.
Guests interacting with a city model at the Chicago Architectural Center exhibit.
Downtown Chicago skyline viewed from Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois.
Tour guide explaining architecture to a group in Chicago's city center.
Guests exploring Chicago city model at the Chicago Architectural Center.
Chicago Architecture Center facade illuminated at night with people walking by.
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
1 hr 30 min
  • See Chicago’s must-see landmarks on a guided walking tour through downtown, plus included entry to the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC).

  • Stroll past the city’s greatest hits, from the exuberant Wrigley Building to Millennium Park, the city's front lawn.

  • Enjoy historic stories, fun facts, and photo ops as you explore a rich mix of architecture styles, from the historic Art Deco facades to modern skyscrapers.

  • Wrap up with same-day or flexible access (within seven days) to the CAC and explore engaging exhibits, including supersized scale models of Chicago's skyline.

More details

  • See Chicago’s must-see landmarks on a guided walking tour through downtown, plus included entry to the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC).

  • Stroll past the city’s greatest hits, from the exuberant Wrigley Building to Millennium Park, the city's front lawn.

  • Enjoy historic stories, fun facts, and photo ops as you explore a rich mix of architecture styles, from the historic Art Deco facades to modern skyscrapers.

  • Wrap up with same-day or flexible access (within seven days) to the CAC and explore engaging exhibits, including supersized scale models of Chicago's skyline.

from
$35
Skyscrapers at 111 E. Wacker Dr. in Chicago with clear blue sky.
Tour guide explaining architecture to a group in Chicago's city center.
Carbide & Carbon Building facade in Chicago with art deco details.
NBC Tower in Chicago against a clear blue sky.
Chicago theater marquee near the Page Brothers Building, Chicago.
Street view of ABC Building in Chicago with pedestrians and nearby shops.
St Regis building under construction in Chicago with surrounding skyscrapers.
Virgin Hotel building exterior in downtown Chicago against a clear sky.
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
1 hr 30 min
  • Trace Chicago’s architectural evolution on a guided 90-minute walking tour, from 1870s reconstruction to today’s glass-and-steel marvels.

  • Enjoy the intimacy of a small group (limited to 15) and ask questions as your Chicago Architecture Center-certified guide brings each building’s design and era to life.

  • See key architectural milestones such as early steel-frame structures, Art Deco icons like the Carbide & Carbon Building, and contemporary towers including Aqua.

  • Your ticket includes flexible entry to the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) with seven-day validity from your tour date.

  • Explore detailed scale models, interactive exhibits, and inspiring design-innovations at your own pace.

More details

  • Trace Chicago’s architectural evolution on a guided 90-minute walking tour, from 1870s reconstruction to today’s glass-and-steel marvels.

  • Enjoy the intimacy of a small group (limited to 15) and ask questions as your Chicago Architecture Center-certified guide brings each building’s design and era to life.

  • See key architectural milestones such as early steel-frame structures, Art Deco icons like the Carbide & Carbon Building, and contemporary towers including Aqua.

  • Your ticket includes flexible entry to the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) with seven-day validity from your tour date.

  • Explore detailed scale models, interactive exhibits, and inspiring design-innovations at your own pace.

from
$35
Family enjoying Chicago skyline view from observation deck.
Children building with LEGO bricks at a Chicago attraction.
People relaxing and working in a modern lounge with colorful decor in Chicago.
Tourists smiling in front of Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago.
Family observing fish at Shedd Aquarium, Chicago.
Group enjoying a bowling game in Chicago.
Children exploring dinosaur exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum.
Chicago exhibit with visitors engaging in interactive displays and reading, promoting city exploration.
Family enjoying the view from Chicago's Skydeck with city skyline in the background.
Visitors watching a moon projection with a rabbit drawing at a Chicago planetarium.
Child playing with toy car at Chicago children's museum exhibit.
Ziplining over a scenic lake in Chicago with a city pass.
Visitors exploring a mirror maze in Chicago with the All-Inclusive City Pass.
Child and adult building with wood at Chicago children's museum workshop.
Big Bus Chicago tour crossing a bridge with city buildings in the background.
Big Bus Chicago tour passing by the Art Institute with city skyline in the background.
Ferris wheel and carousel at Navy Pier, Chicago, with visitors enjoying the attractions.
Speedboat on Lake Michigan with Chicago skyline in the background.
Ernest Hemingway Birthplace in Chicago with historic house in background.
Victorian house in Chicago with two people approaching the entrance.
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
Flexible duration
1 more
  • Choose 2-7 attractions from a curated list of 39 top Chicago experiences-museums, architecture tours, river cruises, and more; and visit them on your own schedule.

  • Choose from Chicago's top attractions like the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium to build your perfect sightseeing lineup!

  • Add hop-on-hop-off bus tours, scenic river cruises, guided walking adventures, and more to explore the city the way you like!

  • Your pass kicks in the moment you tap your QR code at your first attraction, giving you 30 consecutive days to redeem the rest.

More details

  • Choose 2-7 attractions from a curated list of 39 top Chicago experiences-museums, architecture tours, river cruises, and more; and visit them on your own schedule.

  • Choose from Chicago's top attractions like the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium to build your perfect sightseeing lineup!

  • Add hop-on-hop-off bus tours, scenic river cruises, guided walking adventures, and more to explore the city the way you like!

  • Your pass kicks in the moment you tap your QR code at your first attraction, giving you 30 consecutive days to redeem the rest.

from
$84
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