Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago (must see)

Climb the grand staircase, stride past the stone-faced lions who鈥檝e seen it all, and step into the Midwest鈥檚 reigning heavyweight of art鈥擳he Art Institute of Chicago! Housed in a sprawling Beaux-Arts palace, this museum is practically an all-you-can-absorb buffet of global creativity. And just when you think you鈥檝e got your bearings, bam鈥攖here鈥檚 the Modern Wing, sleek and gleaming like a spaceship, courtesy of the very same Renzo Piano.

Inside, the European Collection marches through history like a very well-dressed parade鈥攆rom medieval saints to moody 1950s portraits, with Renaissance drama and Baroque flair in between. But the real crowd magnet is nearly 400 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. Monet, Van Gogh, C茅zanne鈥攖hey鈥檙e all here, casually hanging out like it鈥檚 no big deal. Over in the American wing, about 5,500 works stretch across centuries, from colonial portraits to early 20th-century boldness. And if you鈥檙e into decor with a past, the Terra Foundation鈥檚 loans serve up silver, ceramics, and furniture that could easily outclass anybody's grandma鈥檚 best set.

Also, don鈥檛 skip the local favorites: the pint-sized perfection of the Thorne Miniature Rooms (imagine dollhouses with Ivy League degrees), or Chagall鈥檚鈥淎merican Windows,鈥� where stained glass sings in color.

Coming here, you're in for more than just a gallery stroll but a full-on, globe-spanning, time-traveling art adventure. From Greek gods to Japanese screens, African masks to Warhol prints, there鈥檚 something for every curious eye. And yes, the photography collection alone could fill a day. So, do come in, wander wide, and let the lions keep watch while you get your culture fix.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Art Institute of Chicago
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

Create Your Own Walk in Chicago

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Chicago Chinatown Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Chicago Old Town Walking Tour

Settled in 1850 by German immigrants, Chicago鈥檚 Old Town neighborhood is a popular destination for locals and visitors who cater to the entertainment venues, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and boutiques 鈥� all of which have turned an area once referred to as the 鈥淐abbage Patch鈥� into an attraction that rivals Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Magnificent Mile.

Start your Old Town walking... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Loop District Architecture Walking Tour

The Chicago Loop District鈥攅ssentially the city鈥檚 historic downtown鈥攈as long been a stage for architectural innovation and an open-air museum of American architecture.

The construction boom started after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of the central business district, gave architects a blank canvas to rebuild the city from the ground up. What followed was a surge of... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles

University of Chicago Walking Tour

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Set in the heart of Chicago鈥檚 famous eclectic neighborhood, Hyde Park, the campus is worth a visit as it offers a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

Chicago Navy Pier Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

Millennium and Grant Parks Walking Tour

The city of Chicago is renowned for its outdoor green spaces. One such 鈥渇orever free and open鈥� space, is called Grant Park and was established in 1844. In fact, upon foundation, it was called Lake Park, but was renamed in 1901 after the American Civil War General and United States President, Ulysses S. Grant.

Popularly referred to as 鈥淐hicago's front lawn,鈥� this lakefront park is... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

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