Taking one of the very first places on the list of the best free things to do in Chicago is Chicago Cultural Center. One of the city's most visited sights and the center of culture for the downtown Loop district is the Chicago Cultural Center. The magnificent landmark structure, which occupies a full city block, is home to the biggest Tiffany stained glass dome in the world and hosts more than 700 humanities activities annually, many of which are free and accessible to the general public.

You may swing by for a short dose of culture or spend hours enjoying the architectural magnificence of this Chicago treasure. Performances are also held in the Chicago Cultural Center for significant yearly occasions like the World Music Festival and the Chicago Gospel Music Festival. Let's look at the Chicago Cultural Center's full program and the activities that are offered for free there.

The Chicago Cultural Center's elegant design, complete with a Tiffany glass dome, mother-of-pearl mosaics, and a lobby made of Carrara marble, serves as the ideal setting for the imaginative programs it presents. The enormous monuments of ancient Greece and Rome as well as the intricately crafted architecture of the Italian Renaissance served as inspiration for the building's Classical Revival design.

Location: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, 60602
Web: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_culturalcenter.html
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Mon–Thu 9am–7pm; Fri 9am–6pm; Sat 9am–6pm; Sun 10am–6pm

Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to becoming the hub of Chicago's wildlife in a city where skyscrapers are constructed daily. Here, kids learn to appreciate animals, adults rediscover what it's like to wonder, and nature is prioritized rather than just a getaway.

Just a few minutes north of Chicago's downtown is where you'll find the zoo, off Lake Shore Drive. Seasons affect the hours. Everyone can visit the Lincoln Park Zoo. You may discover tips on how travelers with impairments can maximize their experience. The Patio at Café Brauer, Bird's Eye Bar & Grill, and Park Place Café are all great places to eat while picking up a memento.

Your visit will be enhanced by regular events and activities. Choose a self-guided tour if you want to explore the zoo at your own pace. All tours begin and conclude at the gift shop, which is located close to the zoo's heart. It is advised to visit early in the morning, on weekdays, and in the fall and winter months for a less busy experience.

Location: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago
Web: http://lpzoo.org/
Phone numbers: 312-742-2000
Opening time: 10am–5pm daily

One of the biggest and most beautiful botanical conservatories in the country is the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. It is one of the best free things to do in Chicago. The Conservatory, sometimes known as "landscape art behind glass," features eight indoor display gardens that house thousands of plant species from all over the world.

Visitors may take advantage of the lush vegetation and warm temperatures all year round indoors, as well as the more than 10 acres of outdoor gardens, kid-friendly nature play areas, water lily ponds, and other amenities. You will enjoy your visit to the Garfield Park Conservatory, whether you come to escape the bustle of the city or join us for a forthcoming program or event.

The Garfield Park Conservatory offers large horticultural collections, educational activities, and community engagement initiatives, alongside the Lincoln Park Conservatory on Chicago's north side. People have been known to unlawfully discard their pets, frequently lizards and other reptiles, in the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Location: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago
Web: https://garfieldconservatory.org/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Mon, Tue 9am–5pm; Wed 9am–8pm; Thu–Sun 9am–5pm.

Chicago's Loop neighborhood is home to Millennium Park, a public park run by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs. The park, which is an important municipal hub close to the city's Lake Michigan waterfront and occupies a 24.5-acre (9.9 hectare) piece of northwestern Grant Park, was created to commemorate the third millennium.

Prior to its 2004 opening, the location was home to a park, the Illinois Central train yards, and parking lots. The park is bordered by East Monroe Drive, Columbus Drive, Randolph Street, and Michigan Avenue and offers a variety of outdoor areas, events, and public art. The Cloud Gate sculpture, sometimes known as "The Bean," the Crown Fountain, and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, all created by Frank Gehry, are all located in this park.

Even in the winter months, there are many reasons to visit the Millennium park, since it offers a wide range of free programs throughout the summer. Visit local artists' sculpture installations, watch skaters spin by on the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, or go for a stroll around the 3.5-acre Lurie Garden's dormant but still magnificent landscapes.

Location: 55 N Michigan Ave, Chicago
Web: http://millenniumpark.org/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Daily 8am–9pm.

Grant Park is a sizable urban park that spans 319 acres (1.29 km2) in Chicago, Illinois's Loop neighborhood. The park's attractions include Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum Campus, all of which are situated inside the city's central business area.

Its previous name, Lake Park, came from the city's inception and was changed to Ulysses S. Grant Park in 1901. The park's acreage has been increased multiple times by land reclamation, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it served as the focal point of several conflicts over the use of open space. There are performance spaces, gardens, works of art, athletic, and harbor amenities in the park.

Numerous significant yearly events are held there, as well as open meetings. The 319-acre Grant Park, sometimes known as "Chicago's front yard," contains the Art Institute of Chicago, Buckingham Fountain, a number of public art exhibits, and Museum Campus.

The park may get congested during the busiest festival season in the summer, when it welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests for occasions like Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago, but it is blissfully empty throughout the winter. You may meander through the North Rose Gardens, stop at the figure of Abraham Lincoln who is seated, or explore the Agora sculptures by Magdalena Abakanowicz at the southern end of the park.

Location: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago
Web: http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/grant-park
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Daily 6am-11pm.

Transport: El stop: Red to Monroe; Blue to Washington; Orange, Green, Pink, Purple (rush hrs), Brown to Randolph. Bus: 3, 4, 6, 10.

Visiting Smart Museum of Art is also one of the best free things to do in Chicago. An art gallery called the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art is situated on the University of Chicago campus in Chicago, Illinois. Over 15,000 items are part of the permanent collection. The public is welcome and there is no charge for admission.

Edward Larrabee Barnes, an architect, created the Smart Museum and the nearby Cochrane-Woods Art Center. The collection of the Smart Museum has about 15,000 items, many of which are utilized in exhibitions and University of Chicago courses. The Smart Museum of Art is the type of location where you can easily spend a few hours soaking in all the work on show.

It has a collection fine art artifacts, which includes ancient Chinese artworks and thought-provoking modern pieces. The galleries of this museum, which is on the campus of the University of Chicago, are always free to visit, and you could run across some academics browsing the collection.

Location: 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, 60637
Web: http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Tue, Wed 10am–5pm; Thu 10am–8pm; Fri–Sun 10am–5pm

Navy Pier, which was finished in 1916, is unquestionably one of Chicago's top tourist destinations. This year-round destination that extends into Lake Michigan comes to life in the summer with daily cruises departing, live music performances, fireworks displays, and theater. Even in the fall and winter, Navy Pier is bustling with unique events, sights, and things to do for people of all ages and interests.

Here's only a small sample of the enjoyment available at Navy Pier. The Centennial Wheel is the tallest Ferris wheel ever, reaching over 200 feet, and has year-round, climate-controlled gondolas. As a reminder of the city's 1893 World's Fair, it is a beloved piece of Chicago history and an iconic element of the city's skyline.

At this popular tourist destination, which is crowded with eateries, pubs, boat cruises, and a huge Ferris wheel, it's feasible to spend a lot of money. However, travelers may also stop at Navy Pier to just take in the sights, which include some breathtaking views of the Chicago cityscape and the waters of Lake Michigan.

Location: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago
Web: http://navypier.com/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Sun–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri–Sat 11am–10pm

One of the biggest Latino cultural groups in the country is right here in Pilsen, so look no further. The National Museum of Mexican Art, formerly the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, is a museum dedicated to the art and culture of Mexico, Latin America, and the Chicano people. Helen Valdez and Carlos Tortolero created the museum in 1982.

The structure was inaugurated on March 27, 1987, and it is situated in Harrison Park in the Pilsen section of Chicago, Illinois. The American Alliance of Museums has recognized the museum as the sole Latino museum. The museum's goal is to present Mexican culture as a whole, without borders (without borders). The museum bills itself as the biggest center for Latino culture in the country.

The museum's permanent collection includes well-known pieces created by Mexican artists as well as historical objects from Mexico. In five sections, the ongoing exhibit examines Mexico's history: Mexico before Cuauhtémoc, Mexico throughout the Colonial Period, Mexico from Independence to Revolution, Mexico from the Post-Mexican Revolution to the Present, and Mexico's Experience in the United States.

Location: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, 60608
Web: http://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Tue–Sun 10am–5pm

It's not always simple to stand out from the throng and create an imprint on Chicago's famous skyline. But the Harold Washington Library hasn't had any trouble accomplishing that. The Chicago Public Library's main branch has nine levels filled with books, computer laboratories, meeting spaces, and other amenities.

On the ninth level, you may visit the library's exhibit hall to see art on show, take in the Winter Garden's skylights, or visit the modest Harold Washington Museum to see items relating to the building's namesake. But the decoration does more than merely adorn the building's façade. In addition, the Harold Washington Library needs your attention for a useful reason.

It intends to tell a tale in a brazenly Postmodern way. Numerous symbols that express the building's purpose, celebrate its setting, and honor its forebears in architecture are amusingly displayed throughout the structure. Some people may claim that you can read it like a book.

Location: 400 S State St, Chicago
Web: http://chipublib.org/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Mon–Thu 9am–9pm; Fri, Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 1–5pm

As soon as you enter, a different location and time are brought to you! You will travel to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, located in the center of Lincoln Park, where you will see old ferns and tropical palms. The Conservatory's four display houses—the Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House, and Show House—offer visitors a taste of the tropics.

The Conservatory was created to both exhibit exotic plants and nurture the thousands of plants required for use in the parks. The millions of people who live in and visit Chicago continue to benefit from this historic facility's ability to go away to nature.

Lincoln Park Conservatory is constantly lush and green, regardless of the season. A stroll around the conservatory, which is close to the Lincoln Park Zoo, is the ideal way to end an afternoon spent ogling animals, reptiles, and birds. Come for a walk and let yourself to get carried away. Free entry is offered. Prior to your visit, be sure to book a free timed reservation online.

Location: 2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago
Web: http://chicagoparkdistrict.com/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Daily 9am–5pm

On the grounds of DePaul University, in the center of Lincoln Park, sits the renowned DePaul Art Museum (DPAM). With a permanent collection of almost 4,000 artifacts and 3-6 shows per year, DPAM is free and accessible to anyone. It specializes in modern and contemporary art from the local, national, and worldwide scenes.

The goal is to foster human connections via art and ideas while offering a welcoming forum for creative voices connecting regional and global issues. You may get to this art museum on the DePaul University campus by getting off the train at the Fullerton Red, Brown, and Purple Line station.

Usually two or more modest shows, including substantial sculptures, images, paintings, and installations created by renowned and up-and-coming artists, are on view concurrently. Do not be reluctant to enter because admission is free (but donations are appreciated). The museum also offers outstanding publications and fantastic student materials, and they are prepared to respond to your inquiries at any moment throughout your stay.

Location: 935 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, 60614
Web: http://museums.depaul.edu/
Ticket: Free
Opening time: Wed, Thu 11am–7pm; Fri 11am–5pm; Sat, Sun 12pm–5pm