Every museum is worth the visit, especially when it is for free! Agree, yes? Here, we’ve sorted all the free museums in Chicago, though some need a valid Illinois ID. But hey, tourists are still welcome to some!
ALWAYS FREE
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9am-7pm; Fri-Sat, 9am-6pm; Sun, 10am-6pm
The Edgewater Historical Society and Museum
5358 N Ashland Ave
Hours: Sat-Sun, 1-4pm
Money Museum
230 S Lasalle St
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
Hours: Every day, 10am-4:30pm and extended hours seasonally
Ukrainian National Museum
2249 W Superior St
Hours: Thurs-Sun, 11-4pm
Museum of Contemporary Photography
600 S Michigan Ave
Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat, 10am-5pm; Thurs, 10am-8pm; Sun, noon-5pm
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W 19th St
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm
Smart Museum of Art
5550 S Greenwood Ave
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-3pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-3pmEADING
DePaul Art Museum
935 W Fullerton Ave
Hours: Wed-Thurs, 11am-7pm; Fri, 11am-5pm; Sat-Sun, noon-5pm
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
3015 W Division St
Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat, 10am-1pm
National Veterans Art Museum
4041 N Milwaukee Ave
Hours: Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm
Notes: On the second floor
Chicago Design Museum
108 N State St
Hours: Tues-Sat, noon-7pm
Notes: On the third floor
SEASONALLY FREE
Charnley-Persky House Museum
1365 N Astor St
Hours: Noon tours are free every Wednesday, April-October
FREE ON SELECT DAYS
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore Dr
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9:30-4pm
Note: Free on select days. Check it here.
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore Dr
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9am-5pm
Note: Free on select days throughout the year. Check it here.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Dr
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9am-6pm
Note: Free on select Mondays and Tuesdays. Only applicable to Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, and Amazon Rising.
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:30am-4:30pm; Sun, noon-5pm
Note: Free on select days throughout the year. Check it here.
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lakeshore Dr
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:30-4pm; Sat-Sun, 9:30am-4:30pm
Note: Free on select days throughout the year. Check it here.
FREE ON TUESDAYS
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N Lake Shore Dr
Tuesday hours: 10am-4pm
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E Chicago Ave
Tuesday hours: 10am-8pm
Loyola University Museum of Art
820 N Michigan Ave
Tuesday hours: 11am-8pm
Swedish American Museum
5211 N Clark St
Tuesday hours: 10am-4pm
Note: Free on the second Tuesday of each month
FREE ON WEDNESDAYS
Clarke House Museum
1827 S Indiana Ave
Wednesday hours: Tours of Chicago’s oldest house led by trained docents are available at noon and 2pm.
Note: Does not apply to groups of 10 or more
Glessner House Museum
1800 S Prairie Ave
Wednesday hours: Tours led by trained docents are available at 1pm and 3pm.
Note: Does not apply to groups of 10 or more
Charnley-Persky House Museum
1365 N Astor St
Wednesday hours: Noon tours are free.
FREE ON THURSDAYS
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
Thursday hours: Free hours for Illinois residents run 5-8pm.
Note: Children under the age of 14 are always free, as are several outdoor spaces.
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier
700 E Grand Ave
Thursday hours: Target Free Family night from 5-8pm
FREE ON SATURDAYS
Dank Museum
4740 N Western Ave
Saturday hours: 11am-3pm, or by appointment
Note: This is part of the Dank Haus German American Cultural Center.
FREE ON SUNDAYS
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier
700 E Grand Ave
Sunday hours: 10am-7pm
Note: The first Sunday of each month is free for visitors age 15 and under.
Dusable Museum of African American History
740 E 56th Pl
Sunday hours: Noon-5pm
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
376 N Michigan Ave
Sunday hours: 10am-5pm
