Do you need to buy Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance? Booking ahead is recommended to avoid long lines, but the museum rarely sells out.
Art Institute of Chicago visitor numbers
The Art Institute of Chicago is justifiably one of Chicago’s top attractions and one of the greatest art museums in the US. 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 were checked and verified in January 2026, 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.
Things to do near the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago sits at the edge of Grant Park, with several of the city’s best known cultural and architectural attractions within easy walking distance. These nearby sights work well before or after a museum visit.
Millennium Park
Directly across Michigan Avenue from the Art Institute, Millennium Park is home to Cloud Gate, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and a series of landscaped public spaces. It is one of the most visited areas in the city.
Chicago Cultural Center
Just north of Millennium Park, this former public library is known for its grand interiors, including an impressive stained glass dome. It regularly hosts exhibitions and performances in an architectural setting.
Chicago Architecture Center
A short walk north towards the river, this centre focuses on the city’s architectural history and skyline. Its exhibitions provide useful context for many of the buildings you will see nearby.
Shedd Aquarium
Located to the south within the Museum Campus, Shedd Aquarium is one of Chicago’s largest family attractions, with extensive marine life exhibits overlooking Lake Michigan.
Grant Park
Stretching south from the Art Institute, Grant Park links several major attractions and offers open green space between the museum and the lakefront, making it a natural extension to a visit.
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.
