Visitors to Chicago, Illinois do not need to break the bank to spend time in this popular, midwest city. While in Chicago, vacationers or residents can take part in Chicago's many free events, admissions and tours. Whether you are visiting Chicago for its architecture, dining, museums or parks, travelers to the area can take part in free admission to Chicago-area museums, free guided tours and even an 11-week dance festival in the summer.
Open year round at 10 a.m. daily, Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo is free every day for residents or visitors to the Chicago area. In the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day), the museum is open until 5 p.m. during the week and 6:30 p.m. on the weekends. Exhibits and shows are also free year-round.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
312-742-2000
lpzoo.com
An 11-week dance festival that takes place in Grant Park's Spirit of Music Garden, Chicago SummerDance occurs every summer during pre-determined dates in June, July and August. Dancers and dance instructors arrive on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and every Sunday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m. One hour dance lessons are followed by two-hours of open-air dancing, weather permitting.
Chicago SummerDance
Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden
601 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
312-742-4007
Hosted by Chicago-resident volunteers and sponsored by the Chicago Office of Tourism's Department of Cultural Affairs, the Chicago Greeter program offers free walking tours of Chicago's residential and city landmarks. Groups of six or fewer are welcome, and visitors must register within one week to 10 business days of their visit.
Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center
77 E. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60602
312-744-8000
chicagogreeter.com
Thanks to Target's sponsorship, children under 15 are offered free admission to the Chicago Children's Museum on the first Sunday of the month. Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m., all ages receive free admission to the the museum as part of a Kraft-sponsored program.
Chicago Children's Museum
700 E. Grand Avenue, #127
Chicago, IL 60611
312-527-1000
chicagochildrensmuseum.org
Local residents or visitors to the Chicago area can gain free admission to the Chicago History Museum every Monday. The museum offers a full-day of free admission, which includes exhibits and tours. Monday's operating hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
312-642-4600
chicagohistory.org
Admission is free on Tuesdays to Chicago's innovative and evocative Museum of Contemporary Art. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, and all ages are welcome.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-280-2660
mcachicago.org
Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden, which is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, is free for visitor and residents. Guests can spend time enjoying over the luscious gardens and exhibits year-round.
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
847-835-5440
chicagobotanic.org
Free and always open to the public, Chicago's Archicenter is dedicated to teaching Chicago-area visitors and residents about the city's architecture. Sponsored by the Chicago Architectural Foundation, the Archicenter is open every week from Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m.. to 4 p.m. Exhibits, lectures, galleries, tours and learning studios are offered.
Archicenter
224 S Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60604
312-922-3432
architecture.org/cac.ht
