Looking for indoor things to do in Chicago on a rainy day or on a cold snowy winter day? I have put together the ultimate list of the best indoor activities in Chicago.
Best Indoor Activities in Chicago (2024)
These are the best indoor attractions in Chicago that are worth visiting any time of the year (even when the weather is nice).
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you.
Tip: If you are visiting a few museums and indoor attractions, consider purchasing a Chicago CityPASS or Go Chicago Card to save money on entrance fees.
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave) is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States and is frequently found on lists of the top museums in the world. In addition to its large permanent collection of art from around the world, you can see rotating exhibitions. (Click here to buy a fast pass ticket if you want to avoid long lines).
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S Lake Shore Drive) is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere with 14 acres of hands-on exhibits including a 40-foot tornado, a World War II German submarine and a human-sized hamster wheel. (Click here to purchase a skip the line ticket.)
Field Museum
The Field Museum (Museum Campus, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr) is one of the largest natural history museums in the world with more than 40 million specimens and artifacts. Inside the museum you will see Maximo, the Titanosaur, the largest dinosaur that ever lived. (Click here to purchase an Early Access VIP Tour if you want to avoid crowds).
360 CHICAGO Observation Deck
360 CHICAGO (formerly John Hancock Observatory), a public observatory on the 94th Floor of 875 N Michigan offers breathtaking 360 degrees views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. Visibility can be limited on a rainy day but the views should be great on a cold sunny day.
The 360 Chicago observation deck is also home of TILT – Chicago’s highest thrill ride – an enclosed moving platform that literally tilts you out over Michigan Avenue from the 94th Floor.
Click here to buy a skip the line ticket.
Skydeck Chicago
Skydeck Chicago in Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) (233 S Wacker Dr) has returned with a transformed experience that will allow you to see, hear & be immersed in Chicago from street to sky. Skydeck offers spectacular views spanning up to four states. Make sure to visit The Ledge, a glass balcony extending four feet outside the 103rd floor of Willis Tower. Visibility might be limited on a rainy day but the views should be great on a cold sunny day.
Click here to buy a skip the line ticket if you want to avoid long lines.
Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave) is one of the largest and most stunning botanical conservatories in the US. Often referred to as “landscape art under glass,” the Garfield Park Conservatory showcases thousands of plant species from around the world throughout eight indoor display gardens.
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
The The Richard H. Driehaus Museum (40 East Erie Street) is a museum of art, architecture, and design of the late 19th century to the present which is presented as an immersive experience in the 1883 Nickerson Mansion, one of the last remaining mansions of Chicago’s Gilded Age.
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Drive) is one of the best and most visited aquariums in the United States.
Titanic: The Exhibition
Titanic: The Exhibition is ending its limited time run in the Chicago area soon. This interactive experience allows you to step inside recreations of the Titanic’s interior. Immerse yourself in the stories of its passengers, see hundreds of artifacts, and discover the tale of the design, creation, launch, maiden voyage, and tragedy of the historic ship.
Where: 4963 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, IL 60077 (about 17 miles from downtown Chicago)
Cost: Price varies. Click here for full prices and to purchase tickets in advance.
Chicago Holiday Indoor Attractions
Below are the best Chicago holiday indoor attractions.
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience (Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611) is a whimsical holiday wonderland filled with festive delights and sparkling lights. This immersive journey
Cost: $15.00 for adults and $12.50 for children 12 and under. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.
Free Indoor Things to do in Chicago
Below are the best free Chicago indoor attractions.
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St) is a free municipal cultural center. The stunning landmark building, opened in 1897, is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, and presents hundreds of free cultural exhibits and performances annually.
Lincoln Park Conservatory
The Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Drive), a public conservatory full of tropical palms and plants, is the perfect warm escape on a cold or rainy day.
Free Museums in Chicago
Chicago has more free museums that you might want to check out on a cold or rainy day. (Read: Free Things to Do in Chicago)
• Mindworks: The Science of Thinking, a science museum where visitors can take part in research studies and earn prizes.
• National Museum of Mexican Art
• National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC)
• Design Museum of Chicago
• Oriental Institute Museum
• Smart Museum of Art
• DePaul University Art Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Photography
• Chicago Fed’s Money Museum
Chicago Indoor Activities for Toddlers and Kids
While older kids will enjoy the museums listed above, these indoor attractions are especially geared towards babies, toddlers and younger kids.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.) is a natural history museum operated by the Chicago Academy of Sciences which focuses on the natural history of the Chicago region, and offers educational programs for children and adults. It is also known for its live butterfly house.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier (700 East Grand Avenue) is a children’s museum geared for ages 0-10 where play and learning connect. The Chicago Children’s Museum has many hands-on exhibits including The “Dinosaur Expedition,” where kids dig for bones and conduct archaeological research.
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute (820 N. Orleans St.) is an interactive pop-up sensory play experience all about slime with a slime bar, a slime waterfall, ASMR experiences and more.
Visit the Museum of Ice Cream
Museum of Ice Cream (435 North Michigan Ave) is one of Chicago’s newest attractions. Step into an ice cream wonderland that is bound to ignite your senses through a theatrical experience with unlimited ice cream treats as you journey through 14 installations. Ride on the pink Sprink-L line, put your golf skills to the test on the Putt-Putt course, or take a dip in a pool filled with millions of sprinkles. You can see full prices and purchase tickets in advance here.
Fun Indoor Things to do in Chicago
Flyover Chicago
Flyover Chicago at Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s newest attractions. The immersive flyover experience shares Chicago’s story with a 9-minute flying journey through the city’s most iconic places. Motion seats, scents, mists and music work together to capture the feeling of flight as you explore Chicago from above.
Listen to Music at an Intimate Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight.
You can find the full list of candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
Take a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop
Grab some spray paint and unleash your inner street artist at a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop. This interactive spray paint workshop will teach you the ins and outs of working with spray paint and other elements of graffiti and street art as you create your own painted mural.
Where: Studio W.I.P. at The Chicago Kedzie Plaza, 800 North Kedzie Avenue, Unit 208, 60651
When: various times on Wednesdays – Sundays
Cost: $40 per person for adults. Click here to purchase tickets.
Art of the Future – Holographic Art Gallery Chicago
The Art of the Future – Holographic Art Gallery (108 North State Street) is an exhibition at Block 37 featuring augmented reality holograms and artwork. Fully immerse yourself in the people, technology and stories surrounding the NFT world.
Museum of Illusions Chicago
The Museum of Illusions Chicago (25 E Washington St) offers an interactive, immersive and fun experience for both adults and kids. Visitors can engage in over 80 astonishing and mind-bending exhibits that will teach you about vision, perception, the human brain and science. You can buy a timed entry ticket here.
Color Factory
Color Factory (320 W Jackson Blvd) is a new interactive art museum located on the lower level of Willis Tower. The Color Factory is a sensory celebration of color, with interactive installations, immersive rooms and carefully curated moments inspired by the city of Chicago including its signature ball pit and confetti room.
WNDR Museum
The WNDR Museum (130 W Monroe St) is an ever-evolving immersive art & technology experience in Chicago that is designed to ignite the curiosity that exists within and around each of us. WNDR reimagines the traditional museum experience through interactive, immersive experiences from artist, collectives, and studios locally and globally.
Chicago Sports Museum
Chicago sports fans will enjoy the interactive Chicago Sports Museum (Water Tower Place, Level 7, 835 North Michigan Avenue). It combines hi-tech interactive experiences-including skill challenges and simulated experiences-with unique sports memorabilia and a collection of game-used treasures and other artifacts.
Hold and Feed a Bunny
Looking for a unique indoor thing to do in Chicago? Visit the Cuddle Bunny (2901 N Clark St), where visitors can pet and feed bunnies. Cuddle Bunny also hosts special events like yoga and story time. You can read more about the experience here.
Go Indoor Skydiving
Go indoor skydiving at iFLY Chicago – Lincoln Park (800 W Scott St, Chicago, IL).
Visit an Escape Room
If you have a group, why not go to an escape room. You and your team will work together to find clues, overcome challenges, and ultimately complete a mission. Conveniently located in River North, The Escape Game’s 60-minute adventures play like Hollywood blockbusters with twists, turns, and jaw-dropping surprises around every corner.
Play Indoor Mini Golf
Play mini-golf while having drinks. There are three indoor miniature golf courses in the city:
Big Mini Putt Club (Wicker Park) (1302 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622)
Big Mini Putt Club (Lakeview) (3655 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613)
Puttery (932 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607)
Play Games at a Barcade
Chicago has several arcade bars where you can have drinks while playing arcade games including Logan Arcade (2410 W Fullerton Ave), Emporium Logan Square (2363 N Milwaukee Ave), Emporium Wicker Park (1366 N Milwaukee Ave), Headquarters Beercade (213 W Institute Pl) and Replay Lincoln Park (2833 N Sheffield Ave).
More Indoor Things to Do in Chicago
Still looking for indoor activities? Here are more indoor things to do in Chicago:
• Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)
• American Writers Museum in Chicago
• Chicago Architecture Center
• Chicago History Museum
• Medieval Torture Museum
• International Museum of Surgical Science
• National Hellenic Museum in Greektown
• Swedish American Museum
• DuSable Museum of African American History
• Explore the Chicago Pedway, a huge indoor walkway system that connects several buildings in downtown Chicago.
• Shop or window shop inside the Merchandise Mart, the world’s largest commercial building which houses architectural and interior design vendors and traders in addition to restaurants, office space and a few other stores.
• Read or study in the Harold Washington Library (400 S. State Street), the central library for the Chicago Public Library System. In addition to work space, the large building contains a beautiful rooftop winter-garden to enjoy some sun.
For even more indoor Chicago attractions, see the complete list of all Chicago museums and cultural attractions here.
What are your favorite indoor attractions in Chicago?
Visiting Chicago for the first time? Check out my Chicago travel guides:
