Top things to do in Chicago in April

By Ian Packham
Published: July 18, 2024
Visitors relaxing in front of the bean sculpture

Whilst still chilly, Chicago in April blooms both literally and metaphorically. Its parks are enlivened by the arrival of the first flowers of the spring and the start of the baseball season ensures there’s plenty to keep sports lovers entertained too.

Brace yourself though, even its fans would describe Chicago weather in April as indecisive, shifting from days hot enough to swing by the city beaches to those that would drive even the hardiest of urban explorers to the warmth of exhibition spaces such as the Field Museum.

On average, you’ll need to be prepared for temperatures ranging between 39 and 57°F. Bring a windcheater as the ‘windy city’ lives up to this moniker in April, although this does blow showers through quickly to leave 13 hours of sunshine a day.

Chicago sunny day activities

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With the sun on your back Chicago in April is the ideal time to explore the city from the water. Although Lake Michigan – the USA’s largest lake – might be your first thought, cruising along the three branches of the Chicago River will reveal much of the city’s history, from the great fire of 1871 to the Willis (Sears) Tower, the tallest building in the world for 25 years and still the second-tallest in the western hemisphere. As a result, its 103 story Skydeck provides unrivalled views, especially from its protruding glass boxes together known as The Ledge.

Rated as one of the most walkable cities in America, the architectural landmarks of the city are also eminently explorable by bike. Take advantage of half-day (four hour) bike rental and you can cover much more ground than would ever be possible on foot, with dedicated cycling tracks linking up many of the attractions lining the shoreline, including the Centennial Wheel and other rides at Navy Pier and 31st Street Beach.

Grant Park, and its western extension Millennium Park, are also popular spots on warmer days. Often called ‘Chicago’s front yard’ and renamed in honor of President Ulysses S Grant, this 320 acre urban oasis includes several major attractions. Tulips and other bulbs are a major April draw, alongside year-round works of public art including a memorial to Abraham Lincoln, who served Illinois in the House of Representatives before becoming president.

Rainy day activities in Chicago

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Wondering what to do in Chicago in April if the weather isn’t playing ball? Thankfully, Chicago in April has plenty of covered attractions to look out for without having to resort to second best.

Occupying an entire city block within Grant Park is the Art Institute of Chicago. Fronted by majestic bronze lions, it is one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the world, having been established in 1879. Amongst no fewer than 300,000 artworks are some of the US’s most important works, including American Gothic by Grant Wood and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks.

Equally grand in outlook is the lakefront’s Shedd Aquarium. Not just for kids, this gateway to the world’s waterways comprises sections recreating the globe’s most important ecosystems, from coral reefs to the poles. Containing 5 million gallons of water, it’s home to around 32,000 individual animals, of which crowd pleasers include the Beluga whales and bonnethead sharks.

Only in town for a couple of months, from March through May, the FRIENDS Experience – or ‘The One in Chicago’ – brings the world of Central Perk to The Shops at Northbridge shopping mall on North Michigan Avenue. Twelve rooms from the sitcom are brought to life, alongside memorabilia such as Monica’s purple door, and even a display of Rachel’s changing haircuts – yes, really!

One off events in Chicago in April

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If you thought the city’s culinary scene began and ended with Chicago-style pizza, think again during Restaurant Week – which now lasts for a gut-busting 17 days straight. Participating restaurants put on special fixed-price menus, with multi-course meals available for as little as $40 for a dinner reservation in some of the city’s top picks.

For something a little different, why not time your vacation in Chicago to coincide with International Tom Hanks Day? It may have started as a prank in 2004, but today the Saturday closest to April 1 has movie fans meet up to watch the great man’s back catalogue and buy raffle tickets in the hope of winning signed memorabilia, with all the proceeds going to charity.

Alternatively, you could book your place at the Chicago Latin Film Festival (CLFF) to participate in deciding who takes home the Audience Choice Award. Each edition screens around 100 movies, with the festival’s emphasis placed on the artistic and educational rather than box office potential, meaning you’ll see movies here you might see nowhere else.

Best of the rest

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Home to Major League Baseball teams the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, visit Chicago in April and you’ll see the crowds returning to Wrigley Field on the northern side of the city and Guaranteed Rate Field on the southern side of the city, providing two opportunities for visitors to take in the vibrancy of America’s national pastime.

Author – and Nobel Prize for Literature winner – Ernest Hemingway was a huge fan. Born in Oak Park, now a central park of the city, in 1899 his attractive birthplace is now a museum dedicated to his life and works, with the house set up as Hemingway would have known it during his childhood.

The nearby American Writers Museum celebrates the written word in all its forms and genres, and manages to achieve the near impossible in discussing the important role of writers in the history and culture of the entire country through a range of interactive exhibits.

Save on attraction admission in Chicago in April

With so many things to do in Chicago in April costs can soon rack up. However, it’s simple to take control of your vacation budget and save whilst you’re doing it by opting to travel with Go City. Our passes give incredible saving rates on admission to many of the top attractions in the city, ensuring you can have the vacation of your dreams without the bank statements of your nightmares!

Take a look at how former Go City users have fared by checking out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook, where you can also join in the conversation by adding your own vacation snaps. Don’t forget to smile!

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

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A visitor viewing the art museums of Chicago
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Best art galleries in Chicago

A haven for art lovers, Chicago had more galleries than anywhere in the United States bar New York. Its artistic heritage goes right back to the early days of the city, and has escaped its gallery walls to spread across its streets. Chase Tower Plaza provides a home for Marc Chagall’s Four Seasons mural, Daley Plaza a 50 foot sculpture by Picasso, Brunswick Plaza Miro’s Chicago and Millennium Park Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate – otherwise known as ‘the bean’. What’s particularly wonderful about the best art galleries in Chicago is that they encompass all artistic styles and ages – from contemporary photography to outsider art. Nor is it limited to the second city’s grand institutions. Chicago’s smaller independently run art galleries have equally captivating collections. Where should you spend your time as an art lover in Chicago? The answer lies within the next 800 words. Art Institute of Chicago Founded in 1866, the Art Institute of Chicago is the gallery from which much of the city’s pleasure in artistic pursuits has developed. Its collection is both expansive and world class, totaling some 300,000 individual objects from ancient Middle Eastern artefacts to modern textiles. Some of its most famous residents include Hopper’s Nighthawks and Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, alongside Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Museum of Contemporary Art Whilst it cannot compete with the 5000 years of human endeavor covered by the Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art more than holds its own with its rotating series of exhibitions focused on the art of the latter twentieth century to the present day. Its box-like gallery space provides a home for works including Andy Warhol’s Vote McGovern – a ghoulish image of President Richard Nixon. Borrowing much of the art that hangs on its walls both nationally and internationally, a visit is never the same twice. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery It’s only because of Zolla/Lieberman Gallery that the River North Art District exists. When it arrived in 1976, the area was a down-on-its-luck industrial district whose industry had long gone, leaving ‘Smokey Hollow’ all but derelict. Since its first show, the gallery has sought a path which isn’t restricted by either genre or the status of its artist. It supports a great deal of new talent as well as those who have already made their name. Each exhibition lasts just a couple of months. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art It was the early 1990s which witnessed the birth of Intuit, a gallery created to celebrate and promote the work of outsider and folk artists. It means that many of the 1100 pieces in its permanent collection were created by self-taught artists who felt in some way marginalized, providing a fascinating insight into the thoughts of populations often underrepresented within artistic communities. Their artists may not be household names, but that’s not to say you won’t find something thought-provoking or touching should you choose to visit when in Chicago. Rhona Hoffman Gallery The West Town district’s Rhona Hoffman Gallery is one of Chicago’s small art galleries with a big personality. Heavily involved in community events such as EXPO Chicago, its main remit is to bring young and emerging artists to new audiences. Global in scope, it has historically lent towards female artists, with notables it has championed including Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger. As a mixed media gallery, expect anything from video installations to sculpture. Stephen Daiter Gallery Another River North pick, Stephen Daiter Gallery dedicates itself to twentieth century photography from America and Europe. From traditional portraits and still lives to experimental styles and photojournalism, it focuses on the very best vintage photography from the Bauhaus school to the homegrown Chicago School of Design. Its contemporary program brings it right up to date. Vertical Gallery One of the newest kids on the block, Vertical Gallery was the dream of Patrick Hull, former Vice President, Marketing & Sales at Birkenstock USA and opened in 2013. Aiming to rival all the east or west coasts can offer when it comes to street art and pop culture, it has become the jumping off point for several artists entering larger galleries in Chicago and beyond. If their work doesn’t bring a wry smile to your face, you’ll be one of very few who leave unimpressed. Chicago Truborn Literally unmissable due to its front facing multi story mural, Chicago Truborn was unveiled in 2011 as a place to see art in an unintimidating environment. A must-visit Chicago gallery for anyone who’s ever considered becoming a collector, Truborn’s art is some of the most affordable in the city, although this shouldn’t suggest its artists are somehow less talented. What’s more, there’s a new exhibition every five weeks to look forward to from the hottest crop of street, urban and graffiti artists. Corbett vs Dempsey The Corbett in question here has taught at the Art Institute of Chicago for more than 40 years, whilst Dempsey has had an illustrious career as the house manager of a Chicago film center. The result is a gallery just as eclectic. The mix of brick, plaster and polished floors shows off the contemporary paintings well, with film and musical works creating a very special ambience. There’s also an art bookshop and record store selling the gallery’s Corbett vs Dempsey label, whose list contains the likes of Sun Ra. Chicago Gamespace Much has been made of the artistic integrity of video games in recent years, and Chicago Gamespace came about as a living museum of the most important arcade games – most of which can be played. As well as a permanent collection of machines from Pac-Man to Mortal Kombat, the walls hang with stills and origin artworks, with prints available from the onsite shop. Roughly a mile west of Chicago History Museum and the animals of Lincoln Park Zoo, the only downside is that Chicago Gamespace is only open on Sunday afternoons. See the best art galleries in Chicago with Go City What unites the best art galleries in Chicago isn’t the size of their permanent collections or the focus of their curatorial teams, but the energy and love they put into sharing their art with the public. Big and small, classic and contemporary, together they form one of the most important cultural gatherings in the entire country. Head to Chicago with Go City and you can bask in reduced admission to many of the windy city’s top attractions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Ian Packham
Three friends enjoy a walk in Chicago
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Best walks in Chicago

Think of Chicago and your thoughts either go to the racier parts of the musical and movie that share the city’s name, or major downtown landmarks. After all, there’s the views from the Skydeck of Willis Tower to look forward to, alongside the photographic opportunities around the Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park. However, Chicago also has a wilder side. And it’s one that’s easily enjoyed on foot. From strolls of just a couple of hours to full-day hikes, we’ve brought together the very best walks in Chicago just for you! North Shore Channel Trail A multi-use trail – meaning you’ll more than likely encounter cyclists, joggers and skaters too – the North Shore Channel Trail picks up in the Lincoln Square area of Chicago’s North Side and follows a canal-like channel dug in the early 1900s towards its outlet at Wilmette. Passing through Stokie, its easy 13 mile total length takes in the 60 artworks of Stokie Northshore Sculpture Park and Evaston Ecology Center within the Ladd Arboretum as well as the beauty of the city’s north. The 606 Providing new opportunities for hiking around Chicago, the 606 was created out of an unused rail line cutting west-east through the Humboldt Park and West Loop neighborhoods for a little under three miles. Its former life as a railroad track means the gradient is almost undetectable, making it a great pick for families with young children in pushchairs and strollers. It’s also very readily accessible thanks to several entry and exit points. Also known as the Bloomingdale Trail after the name of the former rail line, this elevated greenway and linear park may remind some of New York’s Highline, though the 606 is almost twice as long. It takes its new name from the area’s zip code numbers. Lakeshore Trail With walking boots in hand – or on foot – you won’t want to miss perhaps the most scenic walking trail in Chicago, the 18 mile Lakeshore Trail. Taking in a mix of urban splendor, parkland, beaches and lagoons, it’s a highly-rated way of exploring the shores of Lake Michigan however much you decide to walk of it. And let’s face it, with the wealth of attractions on the trail’s doorstep, from North Avenue Beach to Centennial Wheel and the Shedd Aquarium, it could easily take you two or three days to tackle its entire length, recently split between designated walking and cycling trails. Deer Grove Situated on Chicago’s northern outskirts, Deer Grove’s two adjoining segments, Deer Grove East and Forest Preserve, form a winding system of footpaths. Those closest to the main entrances are paved, and total around four miles, whilst unsurfaced trails lead about the trees, prairies and ponds for a further ten miles across 2000 acres. The birdlife here is some of the best in the region, with other species of wildlife to look out for including the white-tailed deer after which the preserve is named. Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve A thirty minute drive outside of the city, which may not sit comfortably with everyone’s idea of walking trips, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve has around 11 miles of mapped trails to choose between once you’ve arrived. Although it contains a small (artificial) cascade tumbling over some low rocks, it actually takes its name from a district board of commissioners’ president. One for nature lovers, its woodlands contain three quarters of all the plant species found in the region, alongside a long list of birds, fish, amphibians and mammals. Deep within its 2500 acres you’ll also find St Patrick Cemetery, which few others visit even on the busiest of days. The Magnificent Mile For urban exploration in its truest sense right at the heart of downtown Chicago there’s the Magnificent Mile. The honorary title given to the upper section of North Michigan Avenue, it runs from the Chicago River to Oak Street. Lined with mid-range and luxury stores, hotels and restaurants, it has some of the highest real estate figures in the US. It also boasts some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the John Hancock Center – home to the 360 CHICAGO viewing platform. On the face of it, walking its length shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes, but with so many store windows to check out and buildings to take in, it can take much longer than that. Save your stroll along the Magnificent Mile for later in the day, and if your feet are feeling tired, you can always make use of the Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing buses which ply the route instead. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Follow Route 55 southwest with the help of a motor engine and in around an hour you’ll reach Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Covering 19,000 acres of federally protected land, the prairie has over 20 miles of mixed use trails in addition to 12 miles of paths saved for hikers alone. Created out of an old army ammunition store with the aim of maintaining the region’s traditional prairie lands, since 2015 it has also been the home of one of the only wild-roaming bison herds in the country, totaling around 50 animals. They are allowed to move across roughly 10% of the prairie’s total area and are docile unless threatened. Morton Arboretum Walks If you’re a little nervous about heading into the wilds, Morton Arboretum makes for a great alternative. Forty-five minutes from the downtown neighborhoods, it has its own restored tallgrass prairie (minus the bison) as well as 16 miles of surfaced paths through burr reed marsh, woodland and landscapes of marginal lakes. Summer and fall see the arboretum host Theater-Hikes, where visitors walk between outdoor performances, whilst the Christmas period is given over to annual illuminations. Don’t miss anything with Go City The best walks in Chicago combine aspects of all the city has to offer to tourists young and old. Varying in length, difficulty and setting, they provide a different and often unique way of exploring the windy city. Travel with Go City and there’s also the chance to save when you stroll and stride. Many of the best walking trails in Chicago pass by the city’s bucket list attractions, so why not take a breather, skip the lines and save big on admission all at the same time?
Ian Packham
Museum of Illusions
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Two playful Chicago stops: Legoland Discovery Center vs Museum of Illusions

Bricks and rides in Schaumburg or mind‑bending rooms downtown? See how these family-friendly favorites stack up for fun, access and practical planning.

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