Things to do in Illinois

Q: What are the top things to do in Illinois?

The top things to do in Illinois are: Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower) Chicago River The Magnificent Mile Navy Pier Chicago Riverwalk

Q: What are the top activities in Illinois?

Top activities in Illinois include: Chicago Architecture River Cruise 90-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour Lake Michigan Skyline Cruise in Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago

Q: What are the top things to do near Illinois?

Check out things to do near Illinois: Chicago Minnesota Ontario Missouri Duluth

Where skyscrapers and prairies meet

Illinois’ shining star is Chicago. The third-largest city in the United States, Chicago is a blockbuster metropolis with record-breaking skyscrapers, world-renowned museums, and eclectic neighborhoods, all offset by the glimmering sweep of Lake Michigan. But there are many things to do in Illinois beyond that undeniably major attraction, from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield to the dramatic scenery of Starved Rock State Park and the Prairie-style homes that dot the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail.

Learn more

Why you are seeing these recommendations

Top 15 attractions in Illinois

Tours & Tickets

Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

21,426

Once the world’s tallest building, Willis Tower is still way up in the clouds. Though it functions as an office building, the skyscraper’s 103rd-floor Skydeck Chicago draws 1.7 million annual visitors for a trip out onto The Ledge, an enclosed glass balcony extending 4 feet (1.2 meters) out over the city, as well as panoramic views that—on clear days—extend as far as Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin.More

Tours & Tickets

Chicago River

16,131

Winding its way through the heart of the Windy City, the Chicago River flows past some of the city’s most notable architecture, including the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), Wrigley Building, and Navy Pier. The river also offers opportunities for exploration, such as river cruises, kayaking, and canoeing, along a revamped riverfront.More

Tours & Tickets

The Magnificent Mile

10,725

Fashion, architecture, and history in Chicago come together on this renowned stretch of Michigan Avenue nicknamed the Magnificent Mile. As you walk from the Chicago River to Oak Street, you’ll pass several Windy City landmarks, including the Water Tower, John Hancock Center, and Tribune Tower, as well as numerous luxury brand retailers.More

Tours & Tickets

Navy Pier

16,689

Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular tourist destinations—and with good reason. The 3,300-foot (1,010-meter) pier jutting into the waters of Lake Michigan, originally constructed in 1916 as a freight dock and public space, encompasses almost 50 acres (20 hectares) of exhibits, rides, parks, and family attractions.More

Tours & Tickets

Chicago Riverwalk

12,615

Connecting Lake Michigan to downtown, the Chicago Riverwalk is an open-air pedestrian-friendly walkway that runs along the Chicago River. Composed of six main sections, the Riverwalk is a main hub for entertainment. Head to the Marina Plaza section for restaurants, outdoor seating, and boat access. Take a stroll through a series of piers and floating wetland gardens at the Riverbank, or head to the Water Plaza where the kids can splash in water fountains.More

Tours & Tickets

Millennium Park

9,587

Located just a block away from Lake Michigan in the heart of downtown Chicago, Millennium Park showcases world-class art, music, architecture, and landscape design. Completed in 2004, the 24.5-acre (10-hectare) park is one of Chicago’s most popular destinations, drawing 25 million visitors per year.More

Tours & Tickets

Chicago Loop

6,283

Chicago’s central business district, the Loop, is home to many of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, from museums and skyscrapers to parks and outdoor sculptures. Renowned for highlights like Grant Park, City Hall, and the Willis Tower, the Loop attracts both locals and visitors with its culture and entertainment offerings.More

Tours & Tickets

360 Chicago Observation Deck (Formerly John Hancock Observatory)

2,103

Formerly known as the John Hancock Observatory, 360 Chicago offers an interactive experience of the Windy City’s history and culture on the way up to its 94th-floor observation deck. From here, sweeping views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan are enhanced by Tilt—moving glass lookouts that that literally tilt you out 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the Magnificent Mile.More

Tours & Tickets

Art Institute of Chicago

2,940

Located in Chicago’s Grant Park, the Art Institute showcases 300,000 works of art ranging from ancient works to pieces created by today’s foremost artists. More than 1.5 million visitors from across the globe flock to the museum annually, making it one of Chicago’s most-visited destinations.More

Tours & Tickets

#10

Tours & Tickets

Wrigley Building

7,810

The 1920s were an important time for Chicago architecture, and when the Wrigley Building opened in 1925, it set the pace for the city’s development. When owner William Wrigley Jr. (of the Wrigley gum company) scouted locations for the building that would become his company’s headquarters, he chose a unique triangle shape of land that eventually became the bustling Magnificent Mile.More

Tours & Tickets

#11

Tours & Tickets

Tribune Tower

12,149

Once home to the Chicago Tribune, this neo-Gothic landmark was built as a result of the International Design Competition in 1922. Before this 462-foot (141-meter) building was constructed, reporters from the paper brought back pieces of rock from important landmarks around the world like the Taj Mahal, the Hagia Sophia, the Great Wall of China, and more.More

Tours & Tickets

#12

Tours & Tickets

Grant Park

5,192

Known as “Chicago’s Front Yard,” Grant Park stretches over 300 acres (121 hectares), and is the city’s primary downtown park. Located in the Loop, Grant Park is sandwiched between Lake Michigan and soaring skyscrapers. Its cultural highlights include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum Campus, and Millennium Park.More

Tours & Tickets

#13

Tours & Tickets

Marina City

6,612

A distinctive feature of the Chicago skyline since the 1960s, the twin concrete columns of Marina City were once the tallest residential buildings in the world. Their scalloped “corn cob” exterior made them instantly recognizable and a popular setting in movies like Batman Begins,Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and The Blues Brothers.More

Tours & Tickets

#14

Tours & Tickets

Field Museum

2,791

With more than 20 million artifacts, the Field Museum is an engaging museum filled with both interactive and imaginative displays. The big attraction is the Tyrannosaurus rex named "Sue," a 13 foot (4 meter) tall, 41 ft (13 m) long beast who menaces the grand space with ferocious aplomb. The most complete T-Rex ever discovered, it takes its name from Sue Hendrickson, the fossil-hunter who found the 90 percent complete skeleton in South Dakota in 1990.Dinosaurs loom large in the Field Museum. At the Evolving Planet exhibit, you can also watch staff paleontologists clean up fossils, learn about the evolution of the massive reptiles, and even learn about Homo sapien's evolutionary ties to the extinct beasts. Away from the prehistoric giants, the “Inside Ancient Egypt” exhibit recreates an Egyptian burial chamber on three levels. The mastaba (tomb) contains 23 actual mummies. The bottom level, with its twisting caverns, is especially worthwhile. Those reeds growing in the stream are real.Other displays worth your time include “Underground Adventure,” a vast exhibit exploring the habitats of animals and insects that live underground, and the “Pawnee Earth Lodge,” which allows visitors to explore a complete dwelling of the Great Plains tribe.More

Tours & Tickets

#15

Tours & Tickets

Chicago Theatre

7,250

The historic Chicago Theatre, which dates back to 1921, is a popular downtown architectural landmark. With its famous dazzling marquee, French baroque architecture, and lobby modeled on a Versailles chapel, this picturesque structure today hosts concerts and comedy shows, as well as daily tours of its spectacular interior.More

Tours & Tickets

See more Illinois attractions

Explore Illinois by interest

Top activities in Illinois

Chicago Architecture River Cruise

10212

From

USD50.36

90-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour

3342

From

USD42.00

Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour

1165

From

USD42.00

Lake Michigan Skyline Cruise in Chicago

566

From

USD34.93

Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago

3999

From

USD35.00

Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

1397

From

USD48.60

Chicago CityPASS

400

From

USD134.00

Chicago Signature Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan

220

From

USD136.54

Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour

1840

From

USD46.00

Chicago Favorites Ultimate Food & Walking Tour

687

From

USD79.99

Private 45-Minute Chicago Skyline Helicopter Tour

From

USD849.00

per group

Chicago Premier Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan

230

From

USD188.48

Premier Chicago River Dinner Cruise

From

USD198.04

Chicago in a Day: Food, History and Architecture Walking Tour

489

From

USD97.27

~~USD108.08~~ USD10.81 savings

Skyline Tour Aboard 148 Ft. Schooner Windy - Chicago's Official Tall Ship

347

From

USD59.00

Chicago Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan

163

From

USD68.78

30 Minute Lake Michigan Speedboat Ride

209

From

USD36.39

Chicago Food Tasting Tour with Secret Food Tours

315

From

USD87.87

BYOB Spray Paint 'n' Sip at Studio W.I.P. Chicago

226

From

USD40.00

Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour

165

From

USD99.60

See all experiences

Explore our promoted experiences

2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Chicago

2 hours
Free Cancellation

From

USD65.00

Educational Tour and Sail Aboard Chicago's Official Flagship Windy 148' Schooner

1 hour 15 minutes
Free Cancellation

From

USD39.00

Skip the Line: American Writers Museum Admission Ticket

Free Cancellation

From

USD14.00

Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Chicago Neighborhoods with Lunch and Dinner

8 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation

From

USD175.00

Chicago’s Famous Friday Night Pirates Pub Sail Aboard 148' Tall Ship Windy

2 hours
Free Cancellation

From

USD89.00

BYOB Spray Paint 'n' Sip at Studio W.I.P. Chicago

1 hour 30 minutes

From

USD40.00

Medieval Torture Museum Ticket with Audio Guide and Ghost Hunting

1 hour 30 minutes
Free Cancellation

From

USD33.59

Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

1397

1 hour
Free Cancellation

From

USD48.60

Operators have paid Viator more to have their experiences featured here

All about Illinois

When to visit

After the frigid, snowy winter months, it’s little wonder that summer feels like one long celebration in Illinois. In Chicago, that means the arrival of outdoor festival season, major events like Pride and the Fourth of July, and reasons to hit Lake Michigan’s beaches (it isn’t called the inland sea for nothing). Fall brings harvest celebrations and Halloween festivities to the state, as well as events like the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, making it another great time of year to visit.

Getting around

O’Hare and Midway Airports make flying into Chicago simple. The major hub that it is, Chicago itself is served by numerous subway (or “L”) lines, buses, commuter trains, and even water taxis, making it easy to get out and explore. Amtrak train services also connect the city with other Illinois destinations, including Peoria, Bloomington, and Springfield, while Greyhound buses provide an affordable way to travel around the state.

Traveler tips

The Mississippi River forms Illinois’ western border, running for 575 miles (925 kilometers)—more distance than in any other state. Discover the famed waterway on a road trip along the Great River Road, while exploring green spaces like Mississippi Palisades State Park or visiting historic riverside towns like Galena.

Currency

US Dollar ($)

Time Zone

CDT (UTC -6)

Country Code

Language(s)

English

Illinois information

Number of Attractions	62
Number of Tours	426
Number of Reviews	38,790
Currency	USD

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

What are the top things to do in Illinois?

The top things to do in Illinois are:

What are the top activities in Illinois?

Top activities in Illinois include:

What are the top things to do near Illinois?

Check out things to do near Illinois:

Things to do in Illinois

Where skyscrapers and prairies meet

Top 15 attractions in Illinois

Explore Illinois by interest

Top activities in Illinois

Explore our promoted experiences

All about Illinois

When to visit

Getting around

Traveler tips

People Also Ask

Illinois information

Number of Attractions

Number of Tours

Number of Reviews

Currency

More Tours in Illinois

Things to do near Illinois

Recommended for Illinois

Trending attractions

Popular on Viator