Book Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance to dodge queues – but don’t fret about not getting in.
Art Institute of Chicago visitor numbers
The Art Institute of Chicago is justifiably one of Chicago’s top attractions. The city’s premier art institution welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors a year.
But do these visitor numbers mean you’re not going to get in if you don’t book in advance?
Why book skip-the-line Art Institute of Chicago guided tour?
- 🎨 Discover masterpieces from Monet to Warhol with expert commentary
- ⏩ Skip the ticket queue and dive straight into the galleries
- 🧠 Learn the stories behind world-renowned works of art
- 🏛️ Explore one of the most prestigious art museums in the United States
- 👥 Small group experience ensures personal attention and space to explore
The reasons for buying advance tickets
The Art Institute of Chicago recommends that you buy tickets in advance. This is common amongst attractions around the world, albeit for different reasons. Some just want to bank the money as soon as possible, some want to manage the queues.
But for a select few attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle in Scotland and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, there’s a more important reason. With these, if you don’t buy a ticket in advance, you’re probably not getting in.
Do you REALLY need to buy Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance?
The Art Institute of Chicago is in the second category. It’s a massive complex, looking like a neo-classical temple at the front, but stretching a long way back beyond the façade. This means it can accommodate a hell of a lot of visitors.
It’s extremely rare for the Art Institute of Chicago to turn visitors away due to a lack of advance-purchased ticket.
Five great things to do in Chicago
- 🏙️ Marvel at the skyscrapers – on a Chicago River architecture cruise.
- 🖼️ Take an interiors architecture tour – to see stunning glass art and mosaics.
- 🍕 Taste Chicago’s favourite dishes – on a city favourites food tour.
- 🌆 Visit the Willis Tower observation deck – and see the city from above.
- 🕵️ Discover Chicago’s gangster heritage – on a crime and mob tour.
Why you should buy Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance
However, buying an Art Institute of Chicago ticket in advance can save you the frustration of having to wait in a queue. On busy days, it can be an annoying wait.
Personally, I’d just buy the ticket online on the morning you’re planning to visit. There’s little point tying down your itinerary by booking several days in advance.
How much do Art Institute of Chicago tickets cost?
General admission tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago cost $32 for adults, but children get free entry. Seniors, teens and students pay $26. Buy in advance, and you skip the ticket-buying line.
These prices are correct as of August 2025, but may increase in future.
Where to spend your time in the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is theoretically all about the prodigious European masters collection. Focus, however, instead on the American sections – which include Grant Wood’s American Gothic – and the extraordinary Thorne Miniature Rooms. These 68 exquisitely detailed models cover eight centuries of interior design across three continents.
More Chicago travel
For more Chicago activity and experience ideas, head here.
Other Chicago travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Ten reasons why Chicago is the best city in the US.
- Falling instantly in love with Chicago.
- The joy of visiting Chicago third time round.
- Touring Chicago’s gangster heritage.
- Why you should do a Chicago architecture walking tour as well as a cruise.
Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. If you book through them, I earn a small commission.
