Top 20 Free Things to Do in Chicago

Fodor's Travel: With free admission every day of the year, the Lincoln Park Zoo is a beloved Chicago institution. There’s a lot to see in the 35-acre park.

Fodor's Travel: As part of the Millennium Park Summer Film series, visitors can head to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion to catch a flick on the 40-foot screen.

Fodor's Travel: Free year-round, the Chicago Botanic Garden is home to 26 gardens and four natural areas spread across 385 acres and nine islands.

Fodor's Travel: Take a trip to Two Brothers Brewery in Warrenville for a 45-minute free tour at select times on Saturdays and Sundays—no reservation required.

Fodor's Travel: On select weekday evenings, rock, pop, and indie performers take the stage as part of the Downtown Sound and Loops and Variations programs.

Fodor's Travel: Go to take in the scenery, read one of the more than two million books, or admire the center’s public art collection.

Fodor's Travel: Known for sending numerous comedic actors along to successful careers at Saturday Night Live and beyond, you can get all the laughs you want without paying for a ticket.

Fodor's Travel: The architectural masterpiece, featuring a Carrara marble lobby and large windows, opened in 1897 and hosts more than 700 free exhibits, screenings, performances, and lectures every year.

Fodor's Travel: Learn about the Windy City from a local by taking a free, two- to four-hour guided tour with Chicago Greeter.

Fodor's Travel: Over two million spectators line Lake Michigan every year to see this free, two-day spectacular in August. The Chicago Air & Water Show is the largest and oldest free air and water show in the U.S.

Fodor's Travel: The Chicago Blues Festival lasts for three days and has featured the legendary B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Etta James in past years.

Fodor's Travel: Explore an original settlement house dating back to 1889 at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, with a rotating crop of exhibits and film screenings throughout the year.

Fodor's Travel: Located right on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier not only provides visitors with stunning lakefront and skyline views, but it also has a number of free activities offered year-round.

Fodor's Travel: The city's free festivals like the Fiestas Puertorriqueñas (Puerto Rican Festival) highlight unique characteristics of the parts of Chicago, with special themes, traditions, music , and food.

Fodor's Travel: Members of Chicago Shakespeare Theater take the stage at 18 different parks throughout the city each summer to perform a new production.

Fodor's Travel: North Avenue Beach and Oak Street Beach tend to be the most popular in the city, but all beaches are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Fodor's Travel: The Navy Pier fireworks are synched with music, so if you want to get close enough to hear, watch from the pier. You can also catch great views of the sky by heading south to Buckingham Fountain.

Fodor's Travel: In March, one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parades winds its way up Columbus Drive. Before it starts, head to the Chicago River to watch the water turn a bright shade of green.

Fodor's Travel: From November through March, "the Bean" is your backdrop as you skate around the McCormick Tribune Rink off of Michigan Avenue.

Fodor's Travel: This festive German marketplace is the perfect location to soak up some holiday spirit. Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, the Chicago version of the festival dates back to 1996.