Free Chicago

by Citysearch_Staff - 0 Reviews - 28 Lists

Updated: March 12, 2009

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

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

Free Attractions

  1. 1 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.

  2. 2 5 Star Rating: Highly 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.

  3. 3 Garfield Park
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    100 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624 (map)

  4. 4 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.

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Navy Pier
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    600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

  6. 6 Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
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    800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607 (map)

  7. 7 4 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.

  8. 8 4 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).

  9. 9 Lincoln Park Conservatory
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    2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

  10. 10 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Chicago Cultural Ctr
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    78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 (map)

  11. 11 Newberry Library
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    60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610 (map)

Free Art

  1. 12 National Museum Of Mexican Art
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    1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608 (map)

  2. 13 Smart Museum Of Art
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    5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 (map)

  3. 14 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Richard J Daley Ctr
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    55 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

  4. 15 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.

  5. 16 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. 17 Associated Press
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    100 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

Free Events

  1. 18 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.

  2. 19 4 Star Rating: 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.

Free Museum Days

  1. 20 5 Star Rating: Highly 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. 21 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.

  3. 22 4 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.

  4. 23 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.

  5. 24 Glessner House Museum
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    1800 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 (map)

    Visit this Romanesque-style fortress free on Wednesdays.

  6. 25 5 Star Rating: Highly 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.

  7. 26 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.

  8. 27 4 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.

  9. 28 5 Star Rating: Highly 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.

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