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Art Institute of Chicago

ArchitectureArtPhotographyClosed · Opens 11amFrom $32Adams/Wabash ('L' – Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple lines)

Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States, occupying a Beaux-Arts building raised in Grant Park for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Its nearly 300,000-work collection spans ancient Egypt to the present and is stewarded by eleven curatorial departments, with world-famous holdings in French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism and in twentieth-century American painting. Renzo Piano's Modern Wing, opened in 2009, added a light-filled home for contemporary art, design and photography plus the Nichols Bridgeway to Millennium Park. More than thirty special exhibitions a year sit alongside the permanent galleries.

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

Nearest station: Adams/Wabash ('L' – Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple lines), Monroe (CTA Red Line), Van Buren Street (Metra Electric / South Shore Line)

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Hours

Mon11:00–17:00
TueClosed
WedToday11:00–17:00
Thu11:00–20:00
Fri11:00–17:00
Sat11:00–17:00
Sun11:00–17:00

Admission

From $32

Illinois residents save $5 and Chicago residents save $12; seniors 65+ and students with ID pay a reduced rate. Always free for children under 14, Chicago teens under 18, active-duty military, Illinois educators, and LINK/WIC cardholders. Free evenings for Illinois residents on Third Thursdays, 5-8pm.

Nearby

Chicago Architecture Center

Architecture11 min walk

Museum of Contemporary Photography

ArtFree13 min walk

Shedd Aquarium

Children19 min walk

Field Museum

History19 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Art Institute of Chicago cost?
Standard adult admission to Art Institute of Chicago is $32. Illinois residents save $5 and Chicago residents save $12; seniors 65+ and students with ID pay a reduced rate. Always free for children under 14, Chicago teens under 18, active-duty military, Illinois educators, and LINK/WIC cardholders. Free evenings for Illinois residents on Third Thursdays, 5-8pm.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Art Institute of Chicago?
Art Institute of Chicago is open Monday and Wednesday 11am-5pm, Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm. Closed Tuesdays. The first hour each open day (10-11am) is reserved for members. Closed Thanksgiving Day (26 November 2026), Christmas Day and New Year's Day.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Art Institute of Chicago?
Art Institute of Chicago is located at 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603, United States, in the Grant Park / Loop area of Chicago. The nearest stations are Adams/Wabash ('L' – Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple lines), Monroe (CTA Red Line), Van Buren Street (Metra Electric / South Shore Line).
What can I see at Art Institute of Chicago?
Beaux-Arts landmark guarded by bronze lions, home to American Gothic, Nighthawks and La Grande Jatte. Current highlights include Willem de Kooning Drawing, Beyond Form: Abstraction at Midcentury, Body and Being in African Art.
Do I need to book Art Institute of Chicago in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Art Institute of Chicago?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Diego Delso, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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