Today I will be sharing with you the top 5 free things to do in Chicago. There are tons of free attractions in Chicago, including free walking tours, the free Chicago zoo, and more! All of these free attractions are perfect, no matter who you are with, with kids or on the weekend. When we went to Chicago, it was in May, so the weather was perfect.
Lincoln Park Zoo
The Lincoln Park Zoo is free in Chicago. In my opinion, it is the best free attraction in Chicago. The zoo is open 365 days a year. Wondering what type of animal the Lincoln Park Zoo has? According to their website, “Hundreds of animals from around the world – from bushbabies to black rhinos – reside at the Lincoln Park Zoo.”
In addition to their conservation efforts, the Lincoln Park Zoo is known for its fabulous events! You can check them all out here. One of the most popular events at the Lincoln Park Zoo is zoo lights. Zoo Lights is the perfect thing to bring the kids to!
For a full map of the FREE Lincoln Park Zoo, click here.
Millennium Park
Millennium Park holds one of Chicago’s most well known free tourist attractions, the Bean. Did you come to Chicago if you didn’t get a picture of it?
Millennium Park is filled with tons of free things to do in Chicago, even events that are perfect for kids! You can find a full list of events here.
There is parking located near Millennium Park, but I would suggest to uber or walk to the park. Attractions at Millennium Park include Cloud Gate, aka Chicago Bean, Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, Boeing Garden, and more. I would also recommend you wear comfy shoes and take some time to explore all that Millennium Park has to offer.
Lincoln Park Conservatory
Another great free attraction in Lincoln Park is the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The conservatory is described on their website always to be green and lush, no matter what time of year it is. “Designed both to showcase exotic plants and grow the thousands of plants needed for use in the parks, the Conservatory offers visitors a tropical experience within its four display houses: Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House, and Show House, which is home to the annual flower shows.”
We enjoyed walking around the conservatory and looking at all the different types of plants filled inside. We met a lovely photographer inside who took some great photos of us. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a great place to take pictures because of the beautiful scenery inside. The whole area is just gorgeous.
Click to read the Ultimate Food Guide to Chicago
Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center is a free Chicago museum. The building itself is filled with historical info and more about Chicago. A huge plus of the Cultural Center is that they offer free walking tours. The Chicago Cultural Center also features the largest Tiffany dome in the world, which is pretty neat. The exhibits here are fascinating, and there are children workshops, which means there is something for everyone here! Click here to view all the events that the Chicago Cultural Center offers.
Buckingham Fountain
The gorgeous Buckingham Fountain in Chicago is located right next to the water. The fountain gives a lovely view of the windy city and the lake. The Buckingham Fountain at night is an extraordinary sight to see. At sundown, the fountain plays a water shoe featuring music and lights. There are also tons of benches to sit and enjoy the show at.
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