Art Institute of Chicago Tickets
Official Art Institute of Chicago tickets cost $32 for adults and $26 for seniors 65+, children under 14 are free, and Chicago residents pay $20. Advance tickets are encouraged but not required; the museum is closed on Tuesdays and open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Tours and tickets from resellers start at $61.50 on Viator (5 compared, checked October 17, 2026).
- Adult ticket
- $32 ($20 Chicago residents)
- Under 14
- Free
- Closed
- Tuesdays
- Late opening
- Thursdays until 8 pm
Art Institute of Chicago tours compared
The 5 most-reviewed Art Institute of Chicago tours and tickets on Viator, with starting prices for one adult. Some of these tours are fully sold out on up to 1 of the next 14 days, so book ahead.
| Tour | From | vs official | Rating | Skip the line | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip-the-line: Art Institute of Chicago Guided Tour | $71.40 | 2.2× | 5.0 (672 reviews) | yes | See on Viator |
| Art Institute of Chicago Skip-the-Line Exclusive Guided Tour | $90.10 | 2.8× | 5.0 (358 reviews) | yes | See on Viator |
| Skip the Line Chicago Art Institute Tour Semi-Private 12ppl Max | $90.10 | 2.8× | 5.0 (252 reviews) | yes | See on Viator |
| Art Institute of Chicago Private Expert Guided Tour | $215.00 | 6.7× | 5.0 (135 reviews) | yes | See on Viator |
| Chicago Art Institute Ticket and Audio Tour | $61.50 | +92% | 3.5 (4 reviews) | not stated | See on Viator |
Prices from Viator, checked October 17, 2026. "Not stated" means the tour listing doesn't say; read it before you book. Prices change by date.
Getting there
Around Art Institute of Chicago:
- Adams/Wabash station (subway) · 850 ft · about 4 min walk
- Van Buren Street station (train) · 1000 ft · about 5 min walk
- Monroe station (subway) · 0.3 mi · about 7 min walk
- 25 bus stops within 0.3 miles
- 116 public parking lots and garages within 0.6 miles, at least 9,641 spaces
- Hotels nearby: University Club of Chicago (750 ft), Chicago Athletic Association Hotel (900 ft), The Palmer House Hilton (0.2 mi)
- Closest airports: Chicago Midway International (MDW) 9.3 mi · Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) 16.0 mi
Directions in Google Maps · View on OpenStreetMap
Straight-line distances from the venue. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Hotels, food and bars near Art Institute of Chicago
The closest hotel to Art Institute of Chicago is University Club of Chicago, 750 ft away (about 4 min walk). 5 hotels are within 0.3 miles. There are 83 places to eat within 0.3 miles, mostly sandwich, donut and Mexican. 8 bars and pubs are within the same distance.
Hotels
- University Club of Chicago · 750 ft · about 4 min walk
- Chicago Athletic Association Hotel · 900 ft · about 5 min walk
- The Palmer House Hilton · 0.2 mi · about 6 min walk
- Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown · 0.2 mi · about 6 min walk
- Hampton Majestic Chicago Theatre District · 0.3 mi · about 8 min walk
- Congress Plaza Hotel · 0.3 mi · about 9 min walk
- The Standard Club · 0.3 mi · about 9 min walk
- Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotel, The Loop (Pineapple Hospitality) · 0.4 mi · about 9 min walk
Places to eat
- Terzo Piano · Italian · 250 ft · about 2 min walk
- Cafe Moderno · restaurant · 250 ft · about 2 min walk
- Starbucks · coffee · 450 ft · about 3 min walk
- Potbelly · sandwich · 450 ft · about 3 min walk
- Chick-fil-A · chicken · 450 ft · about 3 min walk
- Jollibee · burger · 500 ft · about 3 min walk
- Russian Tea Time · Russian · 500 ft · about 3 min walk
- Kong Dog · hot dog · 550 ft · about 3 min walk
Bars and pubs
- Game Room · 850 ft · about 5 min walk
- Drawing Room · 900 ft · about 5 min walk
- 2Twenty2 Tavern · 900 ft · about 5 min walk
- Lobby Bar at Palmer House · 0.2 mi · about 6 min walk
Straight-line distances from the venue. Places from OpenStreetMap contributors; opening hours change, so check before you go.
Events near Art Institute of Chicago in the next two weeks
- Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks · Sat, Oct 17, 6:00 pm · from $24.00
- Mudtomb / Between The Killings / Protrusion / Adversary Enfleshed / Durt Nap · Sat, Oct 17, 6:00 pm
- Pandemonium · Sat, Oct 17, 6:30 pm
- Disney Worlds Collide – Descendants, ZOMBIES and Camp Rock · Mon, Oct 19, 7:00 pm · from $29.68
- Chicago Real Estate Rumble · Thu, Oct 22, 11:00 am · from $276.07
- Premium Tailgate Party: Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots · Thu, Oct 22, 3:00 pm · from $100.00
Official ticket types and prices
Prices as published by the official seller. “See official site” means the seller only shows that price when you book.
| Ticket | Adult | Senior | Child | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Admission | $32 | $26 (65+) | Free | Museum and all nonticketed exhibitions |
| Chicago Residents | $20 | $14 | Free | General admission |
| Illinois Residents | $27 | $21 | Free | General admission |
| Fast Pass | $40 | $34 | Free | Skip general admission lines; expedited access to ticketed special exhibitions |
Reservations and timed entry
No timed entry required; tickets can be bought on-site. Advance tickets (incl. free Illinois-resident tickets) encouraged.
When tickets sell out
No official sell-out statement for general admission; advance tickets ‘encouraged but not required’.
Discounts and free entry
Free every day for children under 14, Chicago teens under 18, LINK/WIC cardholders and households, Illinois educators, University Partner students, members; active-duty military free year-round (Blue Star Museums, households Armed Forces Day-Labor Day). Illinois residents free on set dates (e.g. third Thursday of each month 5-8 PM; Wed Nov 11 11-5; weekdays Dec 2-18). Bank of America cardholders free first full weekend of each month. CityPASS saves up to 50%.
Opening hours
Mon 11-5; Tue closed; Wed 11-5; Thu 11-8; Fri-Sun 11-5. Members-only hour 10-11 daily. Open regular hours on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4 and Labor Day.
How long to plan
Free guided tours daily at 1:00 and 3:00 (English).
Travel tips
- Two entrances: 111 S. Michigan Ave. and the Modern Wing at 159 E. Monroe St., in the Loop next to Millennium Park.
Accessibility
Free manual wheelchairs at both checkrooms, no reservation; personal wheelchairs welcome; resources for visitors with autism/sensory-processing disorders and other disabilities (see artic.edu/visit/accessibility).
Before you go
- Bags/backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches must be checked (free checkroom); smaller backpacks may need to be worn on the front.
- No food, beverages, flowers or balloons in galleries, and the checkroom won’t accept them.
- Closed Tuesdays.
Best time to visit
Thursday evenings to 8 PM; members-only 10-11 AM.
Good to know
How much is admission to the Art Institute of Chicago?
Is the Art Institute open on Tuesday?
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
When is the Art Institute free?
Can I bring a backpack?
Are special exhibitions included?
How do I get to Art Institute of Chicago by public transit?
What is the closest airport to Art Institute of Chicago?
Is there parking near Art Institute of Chicago?
Sources: artic.edu, sales.artic.edu, citypass.com. Official facts checked October 17, 2026.