Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Chicago?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Chicago?
Many visitors spend three to five days in Chicago during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, the theatre, and the restaurant scene.
Chicago is a booming metropolis that sits on the edge of Lake Michigan. It is a thriving and diverse city that has theater, shopping, and high-reaching skyscrapers. It's also home to the Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower), which at one time was the world's tallest building. Visitors appreciate the many museums, sporting events, and entertainment options around town.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Chicago? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Chicago?
With only three days, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, The popular city of Chicago has many activities and attractions for visitors. To fully embrace Chicago, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate at least 3 or as many as 5 days to browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, spend an evening at the theatre, and taste delicious cuisine. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Chicago
When visiting Chicago, you can't miss the Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower) as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
Don't miss an evening at the theater while in town. Whether it's a musical, opera, ballet, or a famous Broadway-style production, Chicago is known for its wide range of shows. Theater is big here with many of the major Broadway productions visiting the city. There is also an endless list of smaller, local theaters to choose from.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Chicago Scavenger Hunt by Operation City Quest ($10)
Chicago is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The city has many restaurants, sights, and hotels that are easily accessible on foot.
Chicago is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. There are countless landmarks, museums, and iconic sights in the area. Some of the most famous are the Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Notable landmarks include the famous Willis Tower - formerly the Sears Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the iconic Cloud Gate (the bean).
It's worth around 4 hours for Museum of Science and Industry. Entry is admission costs $21.95 for adults, $12.95 for children aged 3-11, with discounts available for seniors and military personnel. It's known for its wide range of interactive science and industry exhibits including a WWII submarine and a coal mine replica.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for Field Museum of Natural History, which is $26. It's great for families and is known for extensive natural history collections including the famous dinosaur fossil Sue.
You'll want to have around 3 hours for The Art Institute of Chicago. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its extensive collection of classic and modern artworks, including iconic paintings like American Gothic and Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. It's around $25 for adults, $19 for seniors and students, and free for children under 14 with a paying adult, with discounts available for Chicago residents.
It's worth around 2 hours for Adler Planetarium. Entry is around $19 for adults, $13 for children aged 3-11, with discounts for seniors and students; additional fees may apply for special shows or events.. It's known for immersive sky shows and interactive astronomy exhibits.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. It's a nice activity for backpackers and is known for showcasing innovative contemporary artworks and hosting dynamic exhibitions from a diverse range of artists. It's around $15 for adults, with discounts for students, seniors, and free admission for children under 12 on select days.
Chicago History Museum is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for families. Known for its extensive collection on Chicago's history, including exhibits about the Great Chicago Fire and city development, entry is $19.
It's worth around 1 hour for Buckingham Fountain. Entry is free. It's known for its grand water displays and nightly light and music shows.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 2-Hour Chicago Lakefront & Museum Campus Segway Tour ($67)
- Volo Auto Museum: Admission Ticket ($24)
- Field Museum of Natural History Admission Tickets ($29)
The delicious food of Chicago is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. With everything from award-winning luxury restaurants to local dives, this city has something for everyone. It also has very distinct local flavors and dishes that create an identity and bring great pride to the locals. While you're in town you have to try the famous deep dish pizza, Chicago style hot dogs, and Italian beef.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Downtown Classics Food Tour: Deep Dish, Beef Sandwich & More ($89)
- Field Museum Basic Admission Ticket with Tasting Experience ($55)
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago ($75)
Public transit in Chicago is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. There's a subway (the "L"), a commuter well, as well as buses and countless taxis available.
With its diverse attractions, Chicago awaits with plentiful neighborhoods, attractions, and activities. Set aside a day to explore the city's historical and cultural sites as well as the special neighborhoods that give the city its own personality. It is a quintessential big city with unique neighborhoods, a diverse population, and and all of the energy that comes with vibrant city life.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Chicago Theatre, which is $. It's great for couples and is known for its stunning marquee, historic architecture, and being a major cultural venue for live performances in Chicago.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Chicago Cultural Center. It's a nice activity for families and is known for its iconic stained glass domes, free art exhibitions, and diverse cultural programming. It's free.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for Navy Pier, which is free. It's great for families and couples and is known for its iconic Ferris wheel, lakefront attractions, boat tours, and vibrant dining and shopping experiences.
It's worth around 3 hours for Magnificent Mile. Entry is free. It's known for luxury shopping, iconic architecture, and vibrant city atmosphere.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Historical and Architectural Chicago Fireboat River & Lake Cruise ($45)
- Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady ($56)
- Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour ($37)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. It has a wide range of activities at night, with everything from theater and comedy clubs to dance venues, sporting events, and local bars. It's easy to fill many evenings with whatever activity appeals to you. Popular bars and clubs include the Smart Bar, Beauty Bar, and Le Nocturne.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Chicago Bar Crawl: Chi-Town Showdown ($15)
Is 4 days enough time in Chicago?
Four days in Chicago is often considered ideal, as many tourists spend at least 3 or as many as 5 days here. This amount of time is perfect if you want to browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, spend an evening at the theatre, and taste delicious cuisine. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.
Chicago’s Elevated Train
How to spend 4 days in Chicago
With 4 days in Chicago, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Shopping in Chicago is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There are countless neighborhoods that are filled with boutiques, local vendors, and art galleries. The city has some of the country's best shopping opportunities, and the most notable area is the famous Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile.
Live music is very popular in Chicago, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. The city is the birthplace of such interesting styles as modern gospel and the Chicago style blues.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Monday Night Concert Series ($81)
Is 5 days enough time in Chicago?
Five days provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Chicago at your own pace to browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, spend an evening at the theatre, and taste delicious cuisine. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.
Chicago
How to spend 5 days in Chicago
If you have more than 5 days in Chicago, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
The beautiful beaches await you in Chicago, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. While you don't immediately think of beaches when you think of Chicago, there are some nice beaches by the lake. If the weather is nice, it's a great area to spend some time.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Historical and Architectural Chicago Fireboat River & Lake Cruise ($45)
- Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady ($56)
- Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour ($37)
Chicago is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The water makes this city a truly unique place to explore, and the world class architecture is not to be missed.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Historic Homes and Cottages of Wicker Park Walking Tour ($45)
- Chicago Architecture and True Crime History Tour ($35)
- Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors ($35)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Chicago, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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