10 Days in Chicago: A Journey Through Art and Culture

Manuel León Achon

29 Sep 2023

Experience the vibrant city of Chicago through its iconic landmarks, museums, and parks. Explore the Civic Opera House, Millennium Park, and The Art Institute of Chicago. Immerse yourself in the rich history of Pullman National Historical Park and Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Indulge in the beauty of nature at Lurie Garden and Northerly Island. Join us on this 10-day adventure in the Windy City!

Trip to Chicago

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1

$ 15

North America's 2nd-largest opera venue has over 3,500 seats & houses the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

8 - 10 min

Directions

2.5 acres of Millennium Park dedicated to eco-friendly botanical landscaping with city views.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

Wide ice-skating track snaking around a rock-climbing facility in a park overlooked by skyscrapers.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

18 - 22 min

Directions

540-plus-acre city park featuring a beach, gardens & indoor/outdoor fitness facilities.

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

Day 2

$ 5

Part of Burnham Park, this scenic man-made peninsula & picnic spot juts into Lake Michigan.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

9 - 11 min

Directions

312-acre centerpiece of Downtown housing some of the city's busiest attractions.

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

6 - 9 min

Directions

Museum offering programs & events, with a U.S.-focused permanent collection & rotating exhibits.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

12 - 17 min

Directions

24.5-acre green space with a video display, the reflective "Bean" sculpture & an outdoor theater.

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

9 - 14 min

Directions

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

Exhibits on the city's river & movable bridges & their significance to the city.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

Day 3

$ 20

Planned 19th-century settlement for Pullman company workers, with preserved houses, factory & hotel.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

24 - 29 min

Directions

Nonprofit visual arts center exhibiting work by emerging or under-recognized contemporary artists.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

12 - 15 min

Directions

Lake island & park, home to Huntington Bank Pavilion amphitheater, nature trails & skyline vistas.

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

•

Free

11 - 14 min

Directions

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

Free

9 - 11 min

Directions

Huge building featuring high-end home design & furniture showrooms, plus a lineup of trade shows.

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

Day 4

$63

Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works from all over the world, spanning many centuries.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$63

9 - 14 min

Directions

Among the world’s largest, Grant Park’s 3-level rococo fountain (1927) offers light & water shows.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

12 - 18 min

Directions

57-acre grounds with the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium & Field Museum, plus dining & lake beach.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

Free

Day 5

$63

103rd floor of the Willis Tower with clear observation boxes & views extending to four states.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

$63

5 - 8 min

Directions

Art deco skyscraper, once Chicago's tallest, topped with a statue of Roman goddess Ceres.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

Built in 1893, this notable site was at the time the largest office building in the world.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

8 - 11 min

Directions

Untitled 50-ft., 160-ton Cor-Ten steel sculpture by artist Pablo Picasso, dedicated in 1967.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

2 - 3 min

Directions

Daley Center's open-air courtyard with a huge Picasso sculpture, benches & seasonal farmer's market.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

Long-standing drawbridge honoring a founder of Chicago & decorated with sculptures & plaques.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

Day 6

$ 5

Public sculpture with 2 50-ft. LED towers & a reflecting pool, by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

3 - 4 min

Directions

Huge outdoor sculpture shaped like a bean & allowing for views from its many mirrored sides.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

Free art & shows in an 1897 Beaux-Arts building with vaulted lobby, mosaics & 2 stained-glass domes.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

8 - 12 min

Directions

Beloved 1924 addition to the city skyline, whose clock tower stands 425 ft above street level.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

An 1800s Catholic church with a vaulted ceiling & colorful stained glass, offering guided tours.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

•

Free

11 - 14 min

Directions

Small, free zoo with lions, primates, reptiles, a children's area & an interactive farm exhibit.

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

Thousands of exotic plants in an 1890 glass structure, plus outdoor gardens & fountains.

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

•

Free

Day 7

$63

$ 15

Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$63

16 - 20 min

Directions

Scenic burial grounds with many trees, plus tours of the tombs & headstones of notable figures.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

8 - 10 min

Directions

Seasonal sand beach offering an enclosed dog area, water sports & a festive bar/restaurant.

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

•

Free

24 - 29 min

Directions

Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University

Galleries of rotating fine-art exhibits, a diverse permanent collection, films & cultural programs.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

Day 8

$ 10

Sandy, north-facing public beach on Lake Michigan, popular for open-water swimming & skyline views.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

12 - 18 min

Directions

Neo-Gothic skyscraper influenced by Rouen Cathedral & decorated with rocks from world landmarks.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

9 - 11 min

Directions

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

11 - 16 min

Directions

Prairie-style garden with trails, filled with native plants & home to birds, frogs & other wildlife.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

Oz-themed playground/park with statues of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion & Dorothy.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

Day 9

$ 15

Secluded urban oasis on the water with city skyline views, serene paths & circular fountains.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

9 - 11 min

Directions

Riverside pedestrian path featuring city views & dining, plus bridges, fishing piers & boat docks.

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

7 - 9 min

Directions

This sandy city beach on Lake Michigan allows swimming when lifeguards are present.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

13 - 16 min

Directions

Celebrating Nordic culture & history with various programs including exhibits, tours & a kids' area.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

•

Free

Day 10

$ 25

Garfield Park Conservatory - Reservations Required

184-acre park with a swimming pool, fishing lagoon, athletic fields & tennis courts.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

Created on a former rail line, this elevated, 2.7 mile landscaped trail draws runners & bikers.

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

8 - 10 min

Directions

National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

15 - 18 min

Directions

Mansion where Jane Addams began the settlement-house movement & now a museum with exhibits & tours.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

6 - 8 min

Directions

Chinatown park on the Chicago River with Chinese-style landscaping, a playground & kayak rentals.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

7 - 9 min

Directions

S. R. Crown Hall (IIT College of Architecture)

Landmark glass-&-steel building designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1956, offering frequent tours.

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

•

Free

Budget breakdown: $298 In total

Activities & Food:$188

Transport:$110