All vacations are essentially about the experience – the sights, sounds, and tastes of the attractions you visit and the streets you walk. The way you felt at the top of the Ferris wheel, or the awe you experienced looking down from the top of a 96-story building. Beautiful memories, but all memories fade. You want the pictures you take to be the kind of shots you might frame, the ones you’ll treasure years later. To help you out on your quest to find the perfect photography subjects, we put together a list of the top places to take pictures in Chicago.
Best Ways to See Famous Chicago Landmarks
There’s plenty of great places to snap the perfect instagram photo of famous Chicago landmarks during your trip. Here are a few fun ways to help you get around while sightseeing...
- Hop On Hop Off Chicago Bus Tour
- Architecture River Cruise
- Bike Rental from Bike and Roll Chicago
Here's some more info on fun Chicago sightseeing tours. Many of the photo opps we listed below are located near some of the top attractions in the Chicago – so you can combine the best sights with the best things to do. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more.
Best Places to Take Pictures in Chicago 1. The Bean in Millenium Park
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We’ve all heard of the Bean – a shiny, silver, kidney bean-shaped sculpture in the heart of Millennium Park. It’s actually called “Cloud Gate” because of its reflective qualities, but has been affectionately renamed for obvious reasons. It’s a strange experience to walk up to the Bean and see yourself and the sky above reflected in distorted proportions, but it’s certainly worth a visit. It’s one of the most famous Chicago landmarks to get your picture taken in front of, too, because it’s instantly recognizable. Afterwards, visit the nearby
Art Institute of Chicago to see more modern art sculpture.
2. The View from 360 CHICAGO
The view from the 360 CHICAGO Observatory.
While it’s not the tallest skyscraper in the city (the Willis Tower wins in that category) the
open-air sky walk on the 94th floor of 360 CHICAGO provides the perfect line of sight to get those fantastic panoramic photos. This one of the few places in the country where you can take a picture of four states at once! You can also take photos from the 96th floor restaurant, which helps if you’re looking for late-night shots of the skyline, as the sky walk is only open until 10:30. (They also have some really tasty cocktails, I can tell you from personal experience.)
3. The Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza
Image credit: J. Crocker.
An icon of twentieth century art innovation, Picasso is known for his use of abstract shapes and re-interpretation of form. This untitled sculpture (usually just called the Chicago Picasso) was actually commissioned specifically by the architects of the Daley Center and has never been displayed anywhere else. For this reason alone, you need to snap a shot of this one-of-a-kind statue. Plus, how many museums let you take photos of Picasso’s work? Daley Plaza is on the Loop, near a number of popular Chicago attractions, so it’s a good central place to start your day.
4. Sue the Dinosaur at The Field Museum
Isn't she terrifying?
As one of the finest natural history museums in the country, The
Field Museum certainly has plenty of things to photograph. But museums are often known for one iconic piece or exhibit, and Sue the Dinosaur is that mascot for the Field Museum. She’s actually a T. Rex, and is the largest and best-preserved example of her species ever to be uncovered. While we don’t actually know the gender of the skeleton, it was named Sue after her discoverer, Sue Hendrickson. A shot of Sue is post-card territory.
5. The Chicago Tribune Tower
A view from below of the Tribune Tower; image by Ricke Aiello
The home of
The Chicago Tribune, this neo-Gothic building is regarded as one of the city’s architectural masterpieces. It was built in 1922 as the winning entry in a competition to create the most unique office building in the world – an honor it arguably still holds. There are some gorgeous details on the ground floor, including the engraving and stonework around the doors, but the best shots come from afar. Stand on a nearby bridge across the Chicago River, or take an
Architecture River Cruise to get the inside scoop in addition to the photo op.
6. The Chicago Skyline
This may seem like a big giant “duh,” but it needed to be said. Along with New York and San Francisco, Chicago is one of the most famous skylines in the nation. Of course, it can be hard to get a good shot of the city when you’re standing in the middle of Randolph Street, so I’d recommend giving yourself a bit of distance. The steps of the
Adler Planetarium actually provide an excellent view of the Skyline from multiple angles, with the Museum Campus located just far enough away from downtown to provide that extra bit of perspective.
7. The Lurie Garden
Image credit: Señor Codo
A lesser-known botanical garden in the Chicago area, the Lurie Garden is the perfect place to take photos of a wide variety of plant and wildlife. It was designed to demonstrate the ways in which urban spaces could be re-claimed to provide healthy habitats for local flora and fauna. The Garden is located in Millennium Park, and is free to the public. There’s even a small, cool stream that’s perfect to dip your toes in on a hot summer day. A good place to practice taking photographs with your macro mode turned on.
8. The Storefronts along the Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile, several blocks along Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River to Oak Street, is the fashion and shopping capitol of the Midwest. You’ll be able to find everything from H&M to Neiman Marcus, in addition to restaurants, gourmet food stores, and home furnishing stores. The best part from the photographer’s perspective is that each and every one of these stores is competing for the attention of tourists and locals alike, and so they spend a tremendous amount of time and artistic effort in making their storefronts attractive and unique. Even the Target has a visually stunning storefront! It’s a fun place to snap pictures of what is essentially public visual art.
9. Wrigley Field
The famous sign - Wrigley Field
As the second-oldest baseball stadium in the country, Wrigley Field is a historical institution and a must see Chicago landmark. It has been home to the Chicago Cubs since 1916, and much of the exterior architecture reflects its heritage. Of course, a lot of the interior has been updated very recently to accommodate modern MLB standards, but plenty of historical elements remain -- including the old fashioned scoreboard on the side, proclaiming your presence in Wrigley Field. Even if you’re not a Cubs fan, it’s an iconic building in American professional sports.
10. Lake Michigan
The second largest Great Lake, Lake Michigan is actually so large you can’t see the other side (it even has tides!). So taking a picture can be a bit intimidating in terms of choosing your angle, say, on a beach. I've tried and it kind of just looks like an ocean. I’ve got a solution for you – go higher up. One of the best places to get a shot of Lake Michigan is from the top of the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. The wheel intentionally moves slowly enough to allow riders to take shots of the city, the Pier, and the Lake itself, so it’s the perfect opportunity to get one of those glittering lakeview shots.
Let's Recap
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does contain a bunch of our favorite places to take pictures in Chicago. From the most popular attractions to skyline views and scenic parks, there’s something to suit every taste when it comes to Chicago photo opportunities. Remember, a number of these famous Chicago landmarks and attractions are available with the Go Chicago Card, where you can save on combined admission prices vs. paying at the gate.
The view from Skydeck Chicago (at the Willis Tower).
Image credit: Magnificent Mile Facebook page.