By Liam Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities in the US and one of the best destinations to travel to in the country. However, Chicago is by no means a cheap city to visit, as the average nightly price of a double hotel room is $257. So, it’s only natural that we discuss some of the best free things to do in Chicago.
Chicago, especially for residents, is full of free things to do. I lived in Chicago in 2024 and felt lucky to be able to run along Lake Michigan whenever the weather permitted. Chicago also has some world class museums that are free for Illinois residents on certain days. Plus, when the weather is nice, there are plenty of outdoor spaces and festivals for locals and tourists to enjoy without spending a dime.
Here are 11 of the best free things to do in Chicago:
Free Things to do in Chicago – #1. Lakefront Trail
The Lakefront Trail extends 18.5 miles from Edgewater all the way down to the South Shore neighborhood on the South Side. This paved trail is great for walking, running and biking. It also offers some of the best views in the city.
From the Lakefront Trail, you can see breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and Chicago’s impressive skyline. Along the path, there are parks worth visiting like Lincoln Park, Burnham Park and Jackson Park. Plus, the trail is an access point for the lake and its beaches.
Running on the Lakefront Trail was my favorite activity in Chicago, along with sampling all of the cheap food the city has to offer.
Free Things to do in Chicago – #2. Riverwalk
One of the best places to admire Chicago’s architecture is on the Chicago Riverwalk. The path, along the Chicago River, is a nice place to walk and a romantic spot for a date. It is a bit over a mile long and there are also some bars and restaurants to stop at along the route.
The Riverwalk is located in the Loop, which is Chicago’s downtown, and walking on it is one of the best free things to do in Chicago. Some famous buildings along the Riverwalk include the Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, Trump Tower and Marina City.
Marina City is the set of “honeycomb” buildings on Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album cover. I particularly like walking along the Riverwalk at night when all of the buildings are lit up.
#3. National Museum of Mexican Art/Pilsen
The National Museum of Mexican Art is completely free and relies solely on donations to operate. It has an impressive collection of Mexican art from both sides of the border and makes the trip to Pilsen worth it alone. It has 22,000 works, making it one of the largest collections of Mexican art in the US.
Despite recent gentrification, Pilsen, on Chicago’s Lower West Side is still a heavily Mexican-American neighborhood. Around the time of Day of the Dead, it gets incredibly lively. There are plenty of free activities, like the annual Xicago celebration at the museum and the Race of the Dead 5k.
Pilsen has been designated as the Chicago Arts District and there are plenty of galleries in the area. Another free art related activity in Pilsen is checking out the 16th Street Murals.
#4. Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is one of the best free things to do in Chicago and is also the city’s biggest park. You That said, there is something for everyone in Lincoln Park. The Lakefront Trail passes through the park and during the Summer, North Avenue Beach is a popular spot.
There are volleyball courts at North Avenue Beach and basketball, soccer and baseball fields elsewhere in the park. Lincoln Park also has a beautiful conservatory, which is free! However, advance reservations are required. Plus, Lincoln Park Zoo is also free for visitors.
Make sure to check out the serene Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool near the zoo and conservatory. There is also a farmers market, called Green City Market, in Lincoln Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to October.
#5. Beaches
Along with North Street Beach, there are plenty beaches to enjoy in Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan. All of the 26 miles of lakefront in Chicago are free to access, making heading to the beach one of the best free things to do in Chicago. The beaches get very lively in the Summertime, which is one of the best times to be in the city.
However, dogs are not allowed at most beaches, except the designated areas at Montrose Harbor, Belmont Harbor and Foster Avenue. The popular beaches on the north side, like North Avenue, Montrose Beach and Oak Street Beach tend to get crowded, so consider checking out some lesser-known ones.
Loyola Beach, in Edgewater, and Oakwood Beach, on the South Side, are two alternative options.
#6. Concerts
Good weather in Chicago means outdoor live music. Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Pitchfork (RIP) are all famous Chicago festivals. While paid music festivals are pricy, there are plenty of free concerts in the city.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, in Streeterville, hosts Tuesdays on the Terrace during the Summer. Each Tuesday, Chicago artists from a range of genres play free shows for anyone to enjoy. Grant Park Music Festival, at Pritzker Pavilion, also features plenty of classical music concerts throughout the Summer.
The Millennium Park Summer Music Series is also at Pritzker Pavilion and there are free concerts there every Monday and Thursday during the Summer. Make sure to check out the Chicago Show Calendar, which includes free shows.
#7. Millennium and Grant Parks
The Pritzker Pavilion is not the only reason to head to Chicago’s downtown Millennium Park. The famous Cloud Gate, also known as the Bean, is in Millennium Park and an iconic tourist stop in Chicago.
Other attractions which make Millennium Park one of the best free things to do in Chicago are the Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden and the Maggie Daley Ice Rink. All of the above are free but you would have to make a reservation at Maggie Daley and pay for rentals if you don’t have your own skates. There’s also the free Millennium Park Film Series at Pritzker Pavilion on Tuesday nights throughout the Summer.
Meanwhile, Grant Park is directly south of Millennium Park. It hosts a few festivals throughout the Summer and is famous for its Buckingham Fountain.
#8. Pub Trivia
Whaddyaknow has free pub trivia across the city throughout the week. When I lived in Chicago, I went to the Green Lady in Lakeview every Thursday for bar trivia.
It’s an especially good activity when the weather is bad, which is pretty frequent! Twice a year, Whaddyaknow hosts the Chicago Tournament of Champions. Two to four teams from each bar get to the TOC by showing up and putting up big scores over the course of the 10 week qualifying period. Also, the top 25 teams at the Tournament of Champions win cash prizes.
#9. The 606
One of the best free things to do in Chicago is going on the 606, which opened in 2015. Officially called the Bloomingdale Trail, the 606 is the second longest former elevated railway trail in the world.
You can walk, run and bike on the trail which traverses the Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Bucktown neighborhoods. The 606 is also close to Wicker Park, which is one of Chicago’s trendiest neighborhoods. Myopic Books, in Wicker Park, is my favorite book store in the entire city.
Humboldt Park is one of the largest parks on the West Side of Chicago. Meanwhile, Logan Square is known for having some of the best restaurants in Chicago.
Best Free Things to Do in Chicago – #10. Free Festivals
We’ve already talked about the Millennium Park Music Series and Grant Park Music Festival but there are plenty of other free festivals in Chicago. Some of the most iconic ones include the Chicago Air and Water Show, Blues Festival and House Music Festival.
The Chicago Air and Water show, in August, is the largest free show of its type in the country. Also consider some of Chicago’s other renowned festivals like the Chicago Jazz Festival, Chinatown Summer Fair and Christkindlmarket.
There are plenty of ethnic festivals as well, like the Taste of Polonia, Lincoln Park Greek Festival and El Grito Festival, celebrating Mexican Independence Day. Check out this list to see all of the festivals happening in Chicago throughout 2025.
Best Free Things to Do in Chicago – #11. Fireworks
While entering Navy Pier is free, most of the attractions are not cheap. One ferris wheel ride is $21 alone. However, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, there are free fireworks shows on the lake you can view from Navy Pier.
On Wednesdays, the fireworks start at 9 pm and they start an hour later on Saturdays. According to USA Today, Navy Pier is the best place to see fireworks in the entire country. Of course, there are also fireworks on July 4th, no matter what day it falls on, and New Year’s Eve.
Plus, Milton Lee Olive Park is close to Navy Pier and it is one of my favorite parks in the entire city. It has excellent skyline and lake views.