Chicago is a beautiful and vibrant city in the Midwest of the United States. With more than three million people, this city is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States. It’s popularly known as the Windy City and after dark, Chicago has plenty to offer. Enjoy a sporting event, marvel at views of the city’s skyline, dine at fine restaurants or attend a concert, here are 20 things to do in Chicago at night.
Contents
- Chicago At Night
- Top Tours
- 20 Fun Things To Do In Chicago At Night
- 1- Climb Willis Tower Skydeck
- 2- Take a Night Tour
- 3- Enjoy A Night Cruise
- 4- Attend A Sporting Event
- 5- See The Buckingham Fountain
- 6- Attend A Live Concert
- 7- Get A Taste Of Chicago
- 8- Discover The Art Institute of Chicago
- 9- View The City From The Sky
- 10- See A Show At The Chicago Theatre
- 11- Admire The Art On The Mart
- 12- Enjoy A Drink In A Rooftop Bar
- 13- 360 Chicago
- 14- Alder Planetarium
- 15- Visit The Museum Of Contemporary Art
- 16- Explore Navy Pier
- 17- Party In A Nightclub
- 18- Spend The Night At A Museum
- 19- Stroll The Chicago Riverwalk
- 20- Play The Escape Game
Chicago At Night
Top Tours
- Chicago Night Crimes Bus Tour – discover the scary side of the Windy City.
- Chicago’s Famous Friday Night Pirates Pub Sail – entertainment and fun aboard 148′ Tall Ship Windy.
- Big Bus Chicago Sunset Tour – explore at your own leisure.
20 Fun Things To Do In Chicago At Night
1- Climb Willis Tower Skydeck
At 412.4 m (1,353 ft), the Willis Tower Skydeck is the country’s highest observation deck, attracting an average of 1.7 million visitors every year.
It’s the country’s third-tallest building and an Illinois landmark.
As part of its design, the Skydeck features a 4 m retractable glass box known as the Ledge, which stretches out into thin air, offering views of the streets below.
From this observatory, you can see four states at once, including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana, and enjoy the city’s beauty when the lights come on at night.
Willis Tower Skydeck is at 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606.
2- Take a Night Tour
Taking a stroll around Chicago at night will reveal many unique places to stop for refreshments, entertainment, or relaxation.
When it comes to getting a good idea of where to go in Chicago at night, an organised night tour is a great option.
These tours may include pub walks, bus tours and architectural boat tours or segway tours.
On an architectural tour, you will see all three branches of the Chicago River and the city’s gleaming skyscrapers lit up at night.
Plus, several attractions and landmarks are available if you would rather explore the city on foot. You can also indulge your taste buds at some of the city’s most prestigious restaurants if you get hungry while touring this amazing city.
3- Enjoy A Night Cruise
Night cruises around Chicago offer a unique perspective of the city, with the lights of the buildings illuminating the night sky.
Try the Chicago Architecture River Cruise to see the city’s famed architecture like the Wrigley Building, Navy Pier, and the John Hancock Building.
Other options include the Chicago Sunset Cruise, which also offers a unique view often missed by visitors.
You may consider taking other evening cruises around the Chicago River, some of which provide dining options, live music, and dancing while you learn about the architectural highlights of the city from your tour guide.
Top tour: Chicago Signature Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan.
4- Attend A Sporting Event
If you enjoy watching professional sports, you will find this city perfect as there are plenty of sporting games to choose from for all seasons.
Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, support the Chicago Blackhawks.
From October through April, basketball fans may catch the Chicago Bulls in action in their home stadium, the United Center.
You don’t have to be a football enthusiast to enjoy a live NFL game.
Chicago Bears, who play at Soldier Field during the season, have a chaotic atmosphere that can only be fully appreciated by attending a game.
Top tickets: Chicago White Sox Baseball Game Ticket at Guaranteed Rate Field.
5- See The Buckingham Fountain
This historic landmark is one of the most visited attractions in Chicago, drawing in thousands of visitors each year.
This majestic attraction uses as much as 15,000 gallons of water per minute.
It operates from May to mid-October, with regular water shows at night.
Once the sun goes down, visitors can head over to the Buckingham Fountain to experience one of the most beautiful fountain displays in the world.
The Buckingham Fountain is at 301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605.
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6- Attend A Live Concert
There are several options for music in the Windy City, from local jazz bands to renowned symphonies such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
There are around 100 concerts held at the Symphony Center in downtown Chicago every year where you might get a chance to enjoy some of the world’s most famous performers.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra is at 220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
7- Get A Taste Of Chicago
Chicago has some talented chefs, who prepare a range of cuisine from pizza to Michelin-starred meals.
The city has 24 Michelin-starred restaurants ranging from Mexican to the latest project of former Grace chef Curtis Duffy.
The Windy City is also a cool spot for casual fare like deep-dish pizzas, juicy burgers, Chicago-style hot dogs and dipped Italian beef sandwiches.
For dessert, look for tea merchants, confectioners and bakeries.
It’s difficult to go wrong on a night out in Chicago, as there are so many dining options to choose from.
8- Discover The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago was established in 1879 and is one of the USA’s oldest and largest art museums.
This renowned museum houses an extraordinary collection of artifacts from worldwide, different cultures and time.
The large collection of exhibits here is ever-changing, so this is a place you might consider visiting several times.
There are also dining options on-site for those who would like to combine a meal and visit the art museum.
The Art Insitute of Chicago is at 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603.
9- View The City From The Sky
A helicopter tour of the city is one of the best ways to experience the architecture and city lights.
You’ll fly over Lake Michigan and see the city’s landmarks from a different perspective during the flight.
Several companies in and around the city offer helicopter tours to visitors, lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
A helicopter tour is an exciting option to get a bird’s eye view of the city.
10- See A Show At The Chicago Theatre
The Chicago Theatre is one of Chicago’s most prominent entertainment destinations.
This theatre has a seating capacity of 3,553 and every year hosts hundreds of concerts, comedy shows, special events, and tours.
Visitors are allowed to stand on the historic Chicago Theater stage, explore the rehearsal space, or see the signatures of notable artists on the dressing room walls.
If you don’t want to watch a show, you can take a stroll through the theatre’s massive lobby, spectacular stairway, and majestic auditorium.
The theatre is surrounded by clubs and restaurants, making planning a night out in the area easy.
The Chicago Theatre is at 175 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601.
Looking for something different? How about The Magic Parlour, Starring Dennis Watkins?
11- Admire The Art On The Mart
Art on theMART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, rising up to 25 floors and covering almost two city blocks.
Since its inception, Art on theMART has served as a public platform for famous local, national, and international multi-disciplinary artists to showcase their work.
It’s also a meeting place for interior designers, contractors, as well as buyers, and sellers.
Visitors can see the projections for free from the Chicago Riverwalk jetty area between Wells and Franklin streets.
Art on theMart is at 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Suite 470, Chicago, IL 60654.
12- Enjoy A Drink In A Rooftop Bar
Several rooftop bars in Chicago are known for their breathtaking bird’s-eye views.
At the top of the list, Offshore Rooftop & Bar is as big as a football field. The bar is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest rooftop bar in the world.
It offers a fantastic view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, Californian cuisine and excellent cocktails.
At the Peninsula Hotel’s Z Bar, take in the city from every angle while at Upstairs at the Gwen, listen to live music while admiring the city skyline.
You can watch the Chicago River meander by at Raised, a garden-themed bar just over Wacker Drive.
These are just a few options out of Chicago’s many available rooftop bars. You may also like this Private Speakeasy Pub Crawl with a Local Historian.
13- 360 Chicago
360 Chicago is an observatory deck located on the 94th floor of the 100-story John Hancock Center, offering spectacular views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan every evening.
Here, you can find various interactive displays and also access information about the city.
360 Chicago also has an enclosed moving platform called TILT, which extends from the building and tilts to an angle of 35°, providing views of the streets below.
After a thrilling ride on this platform, there’s a cafe and bar on-site where guests can relax and have a drink while slowly taking in the beautiful views around them.
360 Chicago at 875 N Michigan Ave 94th floor, Chicago, IL 60611.
14- Alder Planetarium
The Alder Planetarium is an astronomy and space science museum offering live performances, guest lectures, and exhibitions.
The planetarium hosts Adler After Dark on the third Thursday of each month, and this is the only time visitors can see the night sky through the large Doane Observatory telescope.
This observatory telescope is so powerful that it provides amazingly clear views of our celestial neighbours.
Café Galileo is on-site to serve refreshments as visitors enjoy the planetarium’s nighttime views.
Before visiting, check the schedule on their website, and keep in mind that telescope viewings are weather-dependent.
Alder Planetarium is at 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605.
15- Visit The Museum Of Contemporary Art
The Museum Of Contemporary Art (MCA) dates back to 1967 and is an impressive contemporary art museum.
A wide variety of exhibitions, from paintings to sculptures to photography to videos, are available at the MCA.
The MCA’s mission is to encourage experimental works across all mediums and collect contemporary art for future generations.
During July and August, visitors are granted free admission while children under 18 can enter free any time of the year.
The MCA is at 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
Another museum that is open at night is the Get Lit After Hours Experience at the American Writers Museum.
The Navy Pier is a 1,010 m (3,300 ft) pier on Lake Michigan and a top spot to visit if you have young children, as there are many activities to keep everyone entertained throughout the night.
Ride the Centennial Wheel or take a spin on an old-fashioned carousel.
This popular lakefront attraction features boat cruises, classic restaurants, shopping opportunities, exhibitions and is the main departure point for many cruises.
Navy Pier is at 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Top tour: Experience Wed & Sat Chicago Fireworks Aboard Tall Ship Windy from Navy Pier.
17- Party In A Nightclub
For a fun evening, dance the night away at one of the many nightclubs in Chicago.
Pop into the Underground, one of the city’s most famous nightclubs, regularly visited by celebrities, or head to the classic Green Mill Cocktail Lounge for a fun night out.
Other excellent options include the Smart Bar, which features some of the top DJs from across the world, or the Sound Bar, which has two levels, nine full-service bars, and a 372-square-meter (4,000-square-foot) dance floor.
The vibrant and energetic club atmosphere will keep you entertained wherever you visit.
Top tour: Ultimate Girl’s Night Out in Chicago: Sparkling Wine, Photo Shoot, Burlesque.
18- Spend The Night At A Museum
Chicago is a city of museums and many of the major museums in Chicago offer after-hours, adults-only events with cocktails, unique tours, and fewer people seeing the exhibitions.
Admire the collections of the Field Museum Of Natural History, or the National Museum of Mexican Art, which exhibits Mexican, Latino, and Chicano art and culture.
There are around 60 museums in Chicago, with the majority of them providing after-hours visits to a limited number of guests.
There are also museums where kids can sleep over, such as the Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Contemporary Art.
19- Stroll The Chicago Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk provides an excellent opportunity to take in the massive skyscrapers constantly illuminated at night.
The Riverwalk is a hidden treasure in downtown Chicago and is six blocks along the Chicago River with restaurants, bars, river-side seats and rest areas.
The Chicago Riverwalk is a 1.25-mile promenade located at Riverwalk, Chicago, IL 60601.
20- Play The Escape Game
The Escape Game is a fun and unique experience that allows you to use your grey cells in collaboration with family, friends, or other players to uncover clues, solve puzzles and complete a mission.
It’s 60 minutes of excitement and you can choose from five missions: Gold Rush, Prison Break, The Heist, Special Ops, and Mission: Mars.
The Escape Games is a fun, hands-on experience and a race against the clock as you test your teamwork and puzzle-solving skills.
The Escape Game is at 42 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611.
