Free Chicago

by Citysearch_Staff - 0 Reviews - 2,644 Lists

Updated: June 20, 2001

No cash? No problem. There's plenty to do in Chicago for free.

On this page:Free Events, Free Attractions, Free Museum Days, Free Art.

Free Events

  1. 1 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Big Chicks
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    5024 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640 (map)

    Not only is there free parking at this Uptown tavern, but every Sunday, the owner fires up the grill for the ever-popular free cookout.

  2. 2 3 Star Rating: Average Kincade's
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    950-2 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

    This popular jock hangout offers a free buffet from 5pm to 7pm.

Free Attractions

  1. 3 Newberry Library
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    60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610 (map)

  2. 4 4 Star Rating: Recommended Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
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    800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607 (map)

  3. 5 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Museum of Broadcast Communications
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    400 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610 (map)

    Remember "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" or the "Don't squeeze the Charmin" guy? Enjoy these pre-MTV memories at this free museum.

  4. 6 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Chicago Cultural Ctr
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    78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 (map)

  5. 7 4 Star Rating: Recommended Lincoln Park Conservatory
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    2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

  6. 8 4 Star Rating: Recommended Lincoln Park Zoo
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    2200 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

    Kid-friendly and free, this zoo is one of Chicago's favorite family attractions.

  7. 9 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Navy Pier
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    600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

  8. 10 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Brookfield Zoo
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    8401 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513 (map)

    A new polar bear cub is the star at this world-class zoo, free Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of January, February, March, October, November and December.

  9. 11 3.5 Star Rating: Average Garfield Park
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    100 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624 (map)

  10. 12 3.5 Star Rating: Average Chicago Fed Visitors Center
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    230 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60690 (map)

    This center is all about money, but it won't cost you any.

  11. 13 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Shedd Aquarium
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    1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 (map)

    Experience the world of Jacques Cousteau free September through February (aquarium only, but not the oceanarium).

Free Museum Days

  1. 14 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
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    2430 North Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

    Modern technology coexists with nature in this brain-expanding Lincoln Park museum, free on Tuesdays.

  2. 15 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Museum of Contemporary Art
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    220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

    This modern art museum is contradictory, erratic, controversial, provocative, contentious and wonderful, and it's free on Tuesdays.

  3. 16 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Dusable Museum
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    740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637 (map)

    This beacon of history and culture is free on Sundays.

  4. 17 Spertus Museum
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    618 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 (map)

    Discover the history and culture of Judaism at this South Loop museum, free on Fridays.

  5. 18 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Chicago History Museum
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    1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

    Chicago's virtual attic documents the city's rise from frontier outpost to mega-metropolis, and it's all free for the looking and learning on Mondays.

  6. 19 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Chicago Children's Museum
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    700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

    Bring the gang free on Thursday evenings to this top-notch children's museum overlooking Lake Michigan in Navy Pier.

  7. 20 4 Star Rating: Recommended Glessner House Museum
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    1800 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 (map)

    Visit this Romanesque-style fortress free on Wednesdays.

  8. 21 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended The Art Institute of Chicago
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    111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 (map)

    Get in free on Tuesdays to see one of the world's great art collections.

  9. 22 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Museum of Science and Industry
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    57th St and Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637 (map)

    Free days for 2002 are June 3-4 and all Mondays and Tuesdays from Aug. 19-Dec.17.

Free Art

  1. 23 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended National Museum Of Mexican Art
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    1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608 (map)

  2. 24 Four Seasons Mural
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    1 First National Plaza 70 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603 (map)

    Brave the lunch crowds--or go after-hours--to behold this downtown mural depicting community life by French artist Marc Chagall.

  3. 25 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Richard J Daley Ctr
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    55 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

  4. 26 Associated Press
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    100 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

  5. 27 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Skokie Sculpture Park
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    3300 Dempster Street, Skokie, IL 60076 (map)

    Sculptures of all kinds greet you on a pleasant, grassy-park walkway in Skokie.

  6. 28 4 Star Rating: Recommended Smart Museum Of Art
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    5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 (map)