This post covers tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago, including 9 tips for discounts as well as tips to help you plan your visit.
TICKETS
This section will give you an overview of ticket types and ticket prices.
TIP: To get a discount of up to 55% on your tickets, check out the attraction discount passes below.
General Admission
This gives you access to all permanent exhibitions and collections.
- Adult: $25
- Teen (14-17) and Students: $19
- Children under 14: FREE
- Click here to get your tickets.
Fast Pass Admission
This gives you general admission access with the chance to skip the admission line and lines to special exhibitions.
- Adult: $35
- Teen (14-17) and Students: $29
- Children under 14: FREE
- Click here to get your tickets.
14 DISCOUNTS
This section includes the various discounts available for Art Institute Chicago tickets so you don't have to pay full price.
1. Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
Admission to the Art Institute is included in all of Chicago's tourist passes, which give you bulk discounts on multiple attractions.
You could save up to 50% on different museums and activities around town.
Here are a handful of additional locations you can visit and activities available at no extra cost with some of these passes:
- LEGOLAND
- Field Museum
- Brookfield Zoo
- Shedd Aquarium
- Skydeck Chicago
- Adler Planetarium
- Architecture Cruise
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
- Museum of Science and Industry
- And more!
If you want to learn more about attraction discount passes that can save you 50% on Chicago activities, check out our full post.
2. Go City Chicago Explorer Pass
The Chicago Explorer Pass will give you admission to 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions at a discount of up to 40%.
Art Institute Chicago fast pass tickets are included in the list of over 25 Chicago museums, attractions, and tours.
You can also choose a hop-on hop-off bus tour, Field Museum, or Museum of Science and Industry.
3. Go City Chicago All-Inclusive Pass
The Go City Chicago all-inclusive pass lets you choose from 29 popular attractions in the city - you can visit as many places as you can in 1, 2, 3, or 5 calendar days in a row. This gives you up to a 55% discount, depending on how many attractions you see.
Tickets to the Art Institute are included.
4. Chicago CityPASS
The CityPass booklet is a pre-packaged discount bundle that includes 5 popular tourist attractions at a discount of 53%.
For more information, read the full tourist attraction discount pass comparison on our blog.
5. Chicago Top 3 Attractions Pass
This is one of the newest passes in Chicago, and it includes access to the following 3 attractions:
- The Art Institute of Chicago: Fast Pass
- The Field Museum of Natural History: General Admission
- 360 Chicago Observation Deck
- 10% off additional activities
Purchase this pass or learn more.
6. Combo Packages
In addition to the various tourist passes covering admission to this attraction, there are also combination packages you can use to save money on tickets.
- The Art Institute of Chicago: Fast Pass + The Field Museum of Natural History
- The Art Institute of Chicago: Fast Pass + 360 Chicago Observation Deck
7. Free Admission Days for Illinois Residents
Free days entitle Illinois residents with a valid state ID to the general admission to the museum on Thursdays between 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Illinois residents also get $3 off regular ticket prices at all other times.
Admission is also sometimes free on Mondays and Fridays during the off-peak season (January - March).
8. Teacher Discounts
Illinois educators and teachers (K-12) receive free general admission with ID.
9. Military Discounts
Active-duty military personnel, veterans, and first responders get free general admission with ID.
In addition, the families of service members are also welcome for free from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.
10. City of Chicago Residents
City of Chicago Residents with ID receive $3 off tickets on all admission passes every day.
11. Student Discount
Students enrolled at a college or university are eligible for a discount of $6 off general admission prices.
12. Senior Discount
Senior citizens are eligible for a discount of $6 off general admission.
13. Coupon Sites
Check out discount sites such as Groupon or LivingSocial - they occasionally have great coupons for admission.
14. Museums for All
This program welcomes LINK and WIC cardholders and their family members to receive free admission to the museum.
This section will help you plan your visit including how to get there, when to go, and how long you should expect to stay.
If you want to find discounted tickets, check out the discounts section above.
How to Get There
Art Institute Chicago is located at 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603. It is easy to find, right next to Millennium Park.
We suggest using this Google link to get directions from your exact address to Michigan Avenue.
The modern wing can be accessed from 159 East Monroe Street.
If you use public transportation, there are several close bus and subway stops.
Train:
- Adams/Wabash stop for the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines
- Jackson for the Red Line
- Monroe for the Blue Line
Bus:
- Van Buren Street Stop
Let Us Bring You
Both our Loop and Millennium Park Tour and our Chicago Architecture Tour end within blocks of the museum.
Hop-On-Hop-Off:
The Chicago hop-on-hop-off buses stop right by Millennium Park, which gives you a convenient way to see more of the city and enjoy the Art Institute.
Best Times to Visit
The museum is open every day from 10:30 am - 5:00 pm. They’re closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
The Art Institute is busiest on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. We suggest visiting from Monday - Thursday.
If you can only go on the weekends there will be slightly fewer people before 12:00 pm or after 3:30 pm.
How long should I stay?
In general, visitors stay at the museum for 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
Can I bring my backpack?
Due to safety concerns, the Art Institute asks you to check backpacks, shopping bags, purses, or camera bags larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches.
It costs $1 per item to check your things in bag check.
TIP: If you want to store your bags while seeing multiple attractions in Chicago, check out our luggage storage tips.
Can I take photos?
You can take all the non-flash photos you like for personal use. There may be signs up next to temporary exhibitions that prohibit photography.
NOTE: Selfie sticks are prohibited in the museum.
Does the Art Institute of Chicago have free days?
Yes, this museum offers several ways to visit for free, especially if you're an Illinois resident. Check our discount section for more details.
How long does it take to go through the Art Institute of Chicago?
Most people will spend at least 60-90 minutes, but there's enough to see that you could stay here all day. We recommend setting aside at least 2-3 hours so you can take your time.
EXHIBITS AT THE ART INSTITUTE
This section gives you a look at a few of the great things you can find within the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room: Reconstruction at the Art Institute of Chicago
This room was originally built in 1893, demolished in 1972, and reconstructed at the Art Institute in 1976.
Chicago Public Sculpture Replicas
You can find a few small replicas of public sculptures including The Flamingo by Alexander Calder, an untitled piece by Picasso, and Monument with Standing Beast by Jean Dubuffet.
Claude Monet
You’ll find Claude Monet - as well as some other great impressionists like Renoir - in the Art Institute.
Water Lilies is one of his most famous works and hanging in the museum, as well as Arrival of the Normandy Train.
Vincent van Gogh
Fans of the works of van Gogh will enjoy the Art Institute Chicago. You can find two paintings: The Bedroom and Self-Portrait.
Edgar Degas
Degas is famous for his beautiful paintings of ballerinas. You can see a scene from an opera in Ballet at the Paris Opera.
Other Notable Artwork
- Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
- American Gothic by Grant Wood
- American Windows by Marc Chagall
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
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