The Art Institute of Chicago: Tickets and Info
This website offers official tickets for this venue. Please note, however, that it is not the official website of the venue.
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The Art Institute of Chicago: Fast Pass
Highlights
Experience convenient entry by bypassing general admission queues.
Marvel at masterpieces from celebrated artists worldwide.
Gain entry to all galleries and non-ticketed exhibits.
Join complimentary daily tours offered in English and Spanish.
Access a free audio guide app with insightful background stories.
The Art Institute of Chicago: Skip-The-Line & Semi-Private Tour
Highlights
Avoid the main queues with priority access.
Experience a semi-private tour lasting about two to two and a half hours.
Benefit from insights provided by a professional, licensed guide.
Discover masterpieces from notable artists across many eras.
Explore the museum’s unique American perspective compared to European galleries.
The Art Institute of Chicago: Skip The Line Ticket + Exclusive Guided Tour
Highlights
Avoid waiting in long lines with priority access.
Experience an in-depth guided visit led by an art historian.
Explore famous artworks by renowned artists including Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Dalí.
Participate in an intimate tour limited to 12 attendees or fewer.
Discover both international masterpieces and notable American art pieces.
Chicago C3 CityPASS
Highlights
Choose any three popular Chicago attractions for entry.
Enjoy reduced prices compared to purchasing tickets individually.
The pass is valid for nine consecutive days from first use.
Includes a variety of iconic landmarks and experiences.
Convenient digital ticketing with smartphone entry.
Chicago CityPASS
Highlights
Enjoy discounted admission for five major Chicago sights.
Access iconic locations such as the Shedd Aquarium and Skydeck Chicago with priority entry.
Select three attractions from a diverse list including museums, observation decks, and river tours.
Use your pass within nine days starting the day you visit the first attraction.
Manage your visit details and reservations easily through the My CityPASS® App.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Discover the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the United States’ oldest and largest art museums, featuring an extensive collection that spans over 5,000 years of artistic achievement. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Grant Park, the museum showcases iconic masterpieces alongside diverse global artworks. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a curious traveler, exploring this cultural landmark promises a memorable experience. Secure your tickets today to begin your journey through art history and contemporary creativity.
About The Art Institute of Chicago
Established in 1879, The Art Institute of Chicago stands as one of the most prominent and historic art museums in the United States. Located in the heart of Chicago’s Grant Park, the museum houses an extensive collection of over 300,000 artworks spanning more than 5,000 years of artistic expression from cultures worldwide. Its landmark building, originally constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, features the acclaimed Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano.
The Art Institute is renowned not only for its vast collection, including masterpieces by artists such as Georges Seurat and Pablo Picasso, but also for its role as a major research institution with conservation laboratories and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a leading educational center in visual arts.
Address: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603, USA
Number of Annual Visitors: Approx. 1.5 million
Founded: 1879
Why Visit The Art Institute of Chicago?
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces: Explore an exceptional collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, featuring iconic works such as Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist. These masterpieces illustrate pivotal moments in art history and offer visitors a chance to engage with influential visual narratives that shaped modern art.
Ancient and Byzantine Art Collections: Delve into nearly 5,000 years of human history through the museum’s Ancient and Byzantine collection. This remarkable assortment includes Greek, Roman, and Egyptian sculptures and mosaics, providing insight into early civilizations and their artistic achievements, enriching visitors’ understanding of cultural development.
Modern Wing and Contemporary Art: The Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano, houses early 20th-century European art along with contemporary works, photography, and design. This architectural marvel not only enhances the museum’s exhibition space but also offers an immersive environment to experience evolving artistic expressions and innovative design trends.
African and Indian Art of the Americas Galleries: Discover rich cultural traditions through the African and Indian Art of the Americas galleries. Visitors can view diverse artifacts like ceramics, textiles, masks, and jewelry that highlight the creativity and heritage of indigenous and African communities, offering a broader perspective on global artistic practices.
Architecture and Design Collection: Admire one of the most comprehensive architecture and design collections in the United States, featuring over 140,000 works including contributions from Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier. This collection appeals to both art enthusiasts and architectural aficionados interested in the evolution of structural and decorative design.
Timings
Here are the standard public hours for the Art Institute of Chicago:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM
Thursday: 11 AM – 8 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Members: Art Institute members get exclusive access for the first hour of every day, from 10 AM to 11 AM, except on Tuesdays.
How To Get There?
- Address
- By Public Transportation
- By Car
The museum has two primary entrances.
Michigan Avenue Entrance: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
Modern Wing Entrance: 159 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603
“L” Train: Several Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) “L” train lines serve the museum. The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple lines stop at Adams/Wabash, which is one block west of the museum. The Red and Blue lines stop at Monroe, just a few blocks away.
Metra: Commuter trains arrive at Millennium Station and Van Buren Street Station, both of which are within a one-to-two-block walk of the museum.
Bus: Multiple CTA bus routes stop directly in front of the museum on Michigan Avenue.
The Art Institute is easily reachable via major expressways. Parking is available in various garages near the museum, including the Millennium Park Garage, Grant Park North Garage, and Grant Park South Garage. Limited street parking is also an option.
Things to Know Before Visiting The Art Institute of Chicago
The museum is open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Thursdays, the museum has extended hours and remains open until 8:00 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Members of the Art Institute have the exclusive benefit of early entry, with access to the museum from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. daily before general admission begins.
The museum can get very busy, especially on weekends and Thursday evenings. For a more relaxed experience, consider visiting on a weekday morning.
The museum is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. Ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms are located throughout the building, and complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Children are welcome at the museum, and the Art Institute has family-friendly resources, including a family room. However, some special exhibitions may have content or age recommendations.
The museum is extensive, so it’s a good idea to plan your route in advance. You can use the museum’s free mobile app or a physical map to help you navigate and prioritize the collections you want to see.
Non-flash photography is generally permitted for personal, non-commercial use in the galleries. However, photography and video recording are strictly prohibited in some special exhibitions, and you should always look for signage indicating any restrictions.
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, the museum is easily reachable via multiple public transportation options, including CTA “L” trains and buses, as well as Metra commuter trains.
The Art Institute has on-site cafés and restaurants for dining. Outside food and beverages are not allowed inside the galleries, but you can bring your own food to enjoy in designated outdoor public spaces like Millennium Park.
Additional Information
The Art Institute is the second-largest art museum in the United States, so a visit can easily take several hours to a full day to explore.
The museum’s collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art is considered to be one of the finest outside of Paris.
The two iconic bronze lions at the Michigan Avenue entrance were sculpted by Edward Kemeys and have stood guard since 1894.
The museum offers guided tours daily, which are a great way to get an introduction to the collection.
The free Art Institute of Chicago mobile app can be a valuable tool for navigating the museum and accessing audio tours of key artworks.
Museum Shops
The Art Institute has two distinct museum shops for visitors to browse.
The main Museum Shop, located in the Michigan Avenue lobby, features a wide array of art books, exhibition catalogs, and unique reproductions of classic artworks. You can also find art-inspired jewelry, apparel, and gifts here.
The second shop, situated in the Modern Wing, specializes in contemporary art and design-related merchandise. Both shops offer a way for visitors to take a piece of their experience home and support the museum’s collections and programs.
Accessibility Facilities at The Art Institute of Chicago
Entrances and Ramps: Both the Michigan Avenue and Modern Wing entrances are wheelchair accessible. The Modern Wing entrance on East Monroe Street has a dedicated drop-off lane.
Wheelchairs and Mobility Devices: The museum is fully accessible, with elevators and ramps throughout the building. Manually operated wheelchairs are available for free at both coat checks on a first-come, first-served basis. Personal manual and electric wheelchairs, single-seat scooters, and walkers are also permitted in all areas of the museum.
Elevators and Seating: Elevators provide access to all public levels of the museum. Designated wheelchair seating areas are available in all auditoriums.
Tactile Experiences: The museum offers a Multisensory Gallery where visitors can explore objects through touch, sound, and other senses. “TacTiles” kits, which are tactile reproductions of select artworks, are available for loan.
Audio Resources: The official Art Institute of Chicago mobile app offers verbal description tours for visitors with low vision or blindness. Braille is also available on some artwork labels.
Assistive Listening Devices: All auditoriums are equipped with an assistive listening system with t-coil compatibility. Devices are available free of charge.
Captioning and ASL: Most public lectures and films have open or closed captioning. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for public programs can be requested with at least two weeks’ notice. The museum also offers interactive ASL tours of the collection.
Service Animals: Service animals are welcome in all public areas of the museum.
Interesting Facts about The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute was founded in 1879 and first opened in its current location in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition.
The museum’s building was designed by the architectural firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge.
The collection of works by Claude Monet is one of the largest in the world outside of Paris.
The museum holds one of the most famous American paintings, Grant Wood’s American Gothic.
It houses the largest collection of miniature rooms in the world, known as the Thorne Miniature Rooms.
The museum’s Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano, opened in 2009.
The Art Institute is also a school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the leading art and design schools in the country.
One of the most popular paintings is Georges Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte – 1884.
The museum acquired Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks just months after it was painted in 1942.
The Art Institute’s collection includes over 300,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years of human history.
There is a Self-Portrait by Vincent van Gogh, a painting of his bedroom in Arles, and a section of his famous Starry Night on display.
The museum has an extensive collection of arms and armor, including full suits of armor from the 16th century.
The Art Institute of Chicago – Highlights in Pictures
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