Cloud Gate (The Bean), Chicago: 2026 visitor guide

Planning to see Cloud Gate, The Bean, in Chicago? This visitor guide offers practical tips and essential information for your 2026 visit to the much-photographed landmark.

When I first walked into Millennium Park on a crisp Chicago morning, Cloud Gate caught me completely off guard. Not because I didn’t know it was there – everyone knows about “The Bean” – but because the photos simply don’t prepare you for how massive and oddly mesmerising it actually is. At 110 tonnes of polished stainless steel reflecting the entire Chicago skyline back at itself, it’s hard to look away. What struck me most was watching people touch it, walk under it, and photograph themselves in its warped reflection, completely absorbed in the experience. It’s public art that genuinely invites interaction rather than just observation.

Quick answer: How much does Cloud Gate cost?

Cloud Gate is completely free to visit. There’s no admission fee, no booking required, and you can visit any time Millennium Park is open. The sculpture sits in an open plaza that’s accessible to everyone, and you can spend as long as you like taking photos, walking underneath it, and exploring it from different angles.

At a glance

How much does Cloud Gate cost?

This is refreshingly straightforward: Cloud Gate costs nothing to visit. Zero. Nought. It’s located in Millennium Park, which has free admission for all visitors.

There are no hidden charges, no timed entry slots to book, and no premium viewing areas. You simply walk into the park and there it is. The sculpture is outdoors in AT&T Plaza, completely open to the public.

This free access applies year-round, every day of the week. Whether you visit at dawn when the park opens or late evening before closing, admission remains free.

What you won’t have to pay for

Is Cloud Gate free to enter?

Yes, Cloud Gate is entirely free to enter and experience. There are no tickets to purchase, no advance bookings required, and no charges of any kind.

The sculpture is situated in Millennium Park, which is a public park with free admission. This isn’t one of those situations where the park is free but you need a ticket for specific attractions – Cloud Gate is genuinely open-access public art.

You won’t find ticket booths, admission desks, or staff controlling access to the sculpture. It’s completely open, and you’re welcome to approach it, walk around it, go underneath it, and photograph it as much as you like.

The only potential cost you might encounter is parking if you drive to the park, but accessing Cloud Gate itself is completely free.

What time does Cloud Gate open?

Cloud Gate is accessible whenever Millennium Park is open, which is daily from 6am to 11pm throughout the year.

Opening hours

Last entry to the park is at 10:30pm.

The Welcome Centre in Millennium Park operates shorter hours (9am-5pm, or until the end of park events), but the sculpture itself is accessible during all park opening hours.

The park remains open on all major holidays, including Christmas and Thanksgiving, though the Welcome Centre may have reduced hours or be closed on those days.

Do I need to book Cloud Gate tickets in advance?

No. There are no tickets to book for Cloud Gate, and no advance reservations required.

You can simply turn up whenever the park is open and walk straight to the sculpture. There’s no ticketing system, no timed entry slots, and no need to plan ahead beyond checking the park’s opening hours. This means you can drop by on the way from seeing the Tribune Tower or the Tiffany glass dome in Preston Bradley Hall on the way to the Field Museum or Shedd Aquarium.

If you’re passing through Chicago with a few spare hours after your gangster tour or river kayaking experience, you can pop in without any prior planning. The only consideration is that it can get extremely busy during peak tourist season (May-September) and around holidays, so you might need to wait for a clear photo opportunity. But there are no restrictions on how long you can spend there.

Even during the busiest periods, you won’t be turned away – though you might have to share your reflection with a few dozen other visitors.

History: From controversy to icon

Cloud Gate has an interesting backstory that’s worth knowing before you visit. British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor designed the sculpture, which was his first permanent public outdoor work in the United States. The piece was selected in 1999 from proposals by 30 different artists.

Construction proved more challenging than anticipated. The sculpture is made of 168 highly polished stainless steel plates welded together, with the seams ground and polished until they’re invisible. It was originally estimated to weigh 60 tonnes, but the final piece came in at 110 tonnes – nearly double. This caused significant structural concerns for the roof of Millennium Hall restaurant below, which had to be reinforced.

The sculpture was unveiled in an incomplete, unpolished form during Millennium Park’s grand opening in July 2004, then covered again to finish the work. It wasn’t formally dedicated until May 2006.

Kapoor was inspired by liquid mercury, and the reflective surface was designed to capture and distort the Chicago skyline and clouds overhead. The 12-foot-high arch underneath creates what he called a “gate” – hence the official name – and forms a concave chamber where visitors can see their reflections multiply and warp.

Locals immediately nicknamed it “The Bean” due to its shape. Kapoor initially disliked the nickname but has since warmed to it, and it’s now the name most commonly used by Chicagoans and visitors alike.

The sculpture cost approximately $23 million to fabricate and install, funded through private donations and AT&T’s sponsorship of the plaza. It measures 66 feet long, 33 feet high, and 42 feet wide.

Inside: What to see at Cloud Gate

Cloud Gate is deceptively simple – it’s essentially a large reflective bean – but there’s more to explore than you might expect.

The exterior surface reflects the surrounding cityscape with fascinating distortions. From different angles, you’ll see warped views of Chicago’s skyline, the park, nearby buildings, and the sky. The reflection changes throughout the day as light shifts, making morning, afternoon, and evening visits completely different experiences.

Walk around the sculpture to see how the reflections change. The sides curve differently, creating varied distortions of the skyline and your own reflection. Many visitors spend ages here, trying to capture that perfect selfie where the entire city seems to wrap around them.

The real surprise is underneath. The 12-foot-high arch leads to a concave chamber called the “omphalos” (Greek for navel). This is where things get genuinely strange. The inward curve creates a focal point that distorts reflections dramatically – you’ll see yourself repeated and warped across the ceiling, stretched and compressed in ways that are surprisingly disorienting. It’s particularly popular with children, who often lie on the ground looking up at the kaleidoscope of reflections.

The polished surface invites touch, and the steel feels surprisingly smooth and warm (or cold, depending on the weather). You’ll see people constantly touching it, leaving fingerprints that are regularly cleaned by park staff.

Photography is one of the main draws. Everyone attempts the classic under-the-Bean selfie, trying to capture themselves reflected in the curved ceiling with the Chicago skyline behind them. It’s trickier than it looks to get a good shot, but that’s part of the fun.

What’s included with your ticket?

Since there are no tickets, everything is included simply by visiting:

• Unlimited viewing time at Cloud Gate
• Access to walk around the entire sculpture
• Entry underneath the arch
• Photography for personal use (commercial photography may require permits)
• Access to AT&T Plaza and surrounding areas
• The ability to touch the sculpture (though staff regularly clean fingerprints)
• Free access to the rest of Millennium Park, including Crown Fountain, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, and other public art installations

Things to do near Cloud Gate

1. Art Institute of Chicago (0.2 miles, 4-minute walk)

One of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States, housed partly in a beautiful 1893 Beaux-Arts building. The collection includes iconic works like Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte,” Grant Wood’s “American Gothic,” and extensive Impressionist holdings. Allow 2-4 hours. It’s worth buying Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance, but rarely essential.

2. Willis Tower Skydeck (1.1 miles, 25-minute walk or 8-minute drive)

Chicago’s highest observation deck at 1,353 feet (103rd floor), featuring “The Ledge” – glass boxes extending from the building where you can look straight down to the streets below. The Willis Tower Skydeck views span four states on clear days. Allow 1-2 hours.

3. Navy Pier (1.2 miles, 25-minute walk or 10-minute drive)

A historic pier jutting into Lake Michigan, now a major entertainment destination. Home to the 200-foot Centennial Wheel, carousel, restaurants, and the Chicago Children’s Museum. The pier itself is free; individual attractions charge separately. Allow 2-4 hours.

4. 360 Chicago Observation Deck (0.7 miles, 15-minute walk or 5-minute drive)

Located on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly John Hancock Center), offering panoramic city and lake views. Features “TILT” – a moving platform that tilts visitors out over the street. £22/$30 (adults); £15/$20 (children 3-11); free for under-3s. Allow 1-1.5 hours.

5. Chicago Riverwalk (0.3 miles, 6-minute walk)

A scenic pedestrian path along the Chicago River with restaurants, bars, and public art. Free to access, with optional architecture boat tours and kayak rentals available for additional fees. Great for a stroll or outdoor dining. Allow 30 minutes-2 hours, but more if nipping into the Chicago Architecture Center.

Practical tips

• Location: Cloud Gate sits in AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza. The park is bordered by Michigan Avenue (west), Columbus Drive (east), Randolph Street (north), and Monroe Street (south).
• Getting there: The park is extremely well-connected. By CTA train, exit at Washington/Wabash (elevated lines) or Lake/Red Line or Washington/Blue Line (subway) and walk east. Multiple bus routes serve the area (3, 4, 6, J14, 20, 56, 60, 124, 146, 147, 151, 157). If driving, parking is available at Grant Park North Garage, Grant Park South Garage, and Millennium Park Garage, though it’s pricey (check millenniumgarages.com for rates).
• Time needed: Most people spend 15-30 minutes at Cloud Gate itself, though you could easily linger for an hour trying to get the perfect photo. Factor in extra time to explore the rest of Millennium Park.
• Photography: Personal photography is welcome and encouraged. Professional/commercial shoots typically require permits. Early morning (6-8am) offers the best chance for photos without crowds. The sculpture is lit at night, creating completely different photographic opportunities.
• Accessibility: The plaza and area around Cloud Gate are fully wheelchair accessible with paved pathways and ramps. The space underneath the arch is also accessible.
• Crowds: Summer weekends (May-September) are absolutely rammed. If you want space to photograph the sculpture without people, visit very early morning or late evening. Weekday mornings outside peak season are quieter. The sculpture gets cleaned regularly, usually early morning, so it looks best shortly after opening.
• Weather: Cloud Gate is outdoors and fully exposed to the elements. Chicago weather can be brutal – summer can be hot and humid, winter bitterly cold and windy. Dress accordingly. The sculpture looks particularly dramatic after rain or during snow.
• Youth escort policy: Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult (21+) after 6pm Friday through Sunday. Adults may escort up to four young people.
• What to skip: Don’t bother with the obviously Photoshopped professional photos that street photographers try to sell you. Your phone will do just fine.
• Nearby facilities: Restrooms are available at the lower level of Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Momentum Coffee is located directly under Cloud Gate if you need refreshments. The Welcome Centre (open 9am-5pm) has maps and information.

FAQs

Can I touch Cloud Gate?
Yes, touching the sculpture is permitted and even encouraged as part of the interactive experience. Park staff regularly clean the surface to remove fingerprints.

Is Cloud Gate the official name or is it The Bean?
The official name is “Cloud Gate,” but everyone in Chicago calls it “The Bean.” Even artist Anish Kapoor has accepted the nickname.

Can I visit Cloud Gate in winter?
Yes, Millennium Park and Cloud Gate are open year-round. The sculpture looks particularly striking covered in snow or ice, though it can be extremely cold.

Are there toilets near Cloud Gate?
Yes, public restrooms are located at the lower level of Jay Pritzker Pavilion within Millennium Park, open during park hours.

Can I bring food and drink?
Yes, you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages into the park. Alcohol is also permitted in most areas, though there are restrictions during certain events.

Is Cloud Gate suitable for children?
Absolutely. Children typically love the warped reflections, especially underneath the arch. It’s completely safe and interactive.

How close is Cloud Gate to the Art Institute?
Extremely close – about a 4-minute walk. They’re connected by the Nichols Bridgeway, a pedestrian bridge designed by Renzo Piano.

Can I bring a professional camera?
Yes, though professional/commercial photography may require permits from the Chicago Park District. Personal photography, even with professional equipment, is fine.

Does Cloud Gate ever close for maintenance?
The sculpture is occasionally closed for cleaning and polishing, typically in the early morning hours. These closures are usually brief and announced in advance.

Can I propose at Cloud Gate?
Many people do. It’s a public space with no restrictions, and the reflective setting makes for memorable proposal photos. Just be prepared for an audience.

More Chicago travel

Other Chicago travel articles on Planet Whitley include:

• Why you should do a Chicago architecture walking tour as well as a cruise.
• The best places in Chicago for Frank Lloyd-Wright architecture.
• Why a guided tour is the best way to see Oak Park in Chicago.
• Experiencing different pizza styles in Chicago’s West Loop.
• A guide to Chicago’s best neighbourhoods for visitors.