guide to the field museum

Guide to the Field Museum

By Dom Bewley

Explore the history of our planet at the Field Museum! Bursting with fantastic exhibits, wonderous sights, and plenty of hands-on experiences, it's one of America's best museums. Kids and grown-ups alike can get lost for hours in its history-soaked walls.

Come face-to-face with the world's largest dinosaur, experience a bug's life, and learn about ancient civilizations. If you're in Chicago and looking for some culture to invigorate you, the Field Museum has got you covered.

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Image courtesy of Carlos Yudica/Shutterstock

How to get Field Museum tickets?

We've got you covered – Field Museum tickets are available with the below money-saving options, so you can choose the attraction pass that's right for you:

1. All-Inclusive Pass – All you can do. Includes admission to over 25 attractions.

2. Explorer Pass – Choose as you go. Includes admission of up to 7 attractions.

Tips for visiting the Field Museum

  • When you arrive at the Field Museum, you may enter through the main South entrance on McFetridge Drive. The East entrance is also open and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
  • It is no longer a requirement to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or wear masks for museum visitors. However, we strongly encourage guests to wear masks while in the building.
  • Wear some comfortable shoes, because you'll be doing a lot of walking and standing. It's a museum, after all, and there are lots of things to see!

When is the best time to visit the Field Museum?

The Field Museum is an indoor experience, so no matter the weather, your discoveries will be undisturbed. As such, feel free to visit any time of year!

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Image courtesy of Vlad G/Shutterstock

What is there to see and do at the Field Museum?

From fossilized dinosaurs to 10,000 years of Chinese history, you'll be doing a lot of learning and discovering at the Field Museum. But don't worry, all that information is given a fun twist, with plenty of interactive to get your hands on, and surprising things at every turn.

Field Museum highlights

Máximo – meet Máximo the Titanosaur - the largest dinosaur ever discovered.

Cyrus Tang Hall of China – explore a culture of deep tradition and dynamic change, and travel across thousands of years of Chinese history.

Underground Adventure – in this immersive exhibition, you'll shrink to the size of a bug and explore the world at one hundred times its normal size.

Inside Ancient Egypt – walk along the Nile River to see how the ancient Egyptians celebrated life--and death.

Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet – check out 4 billion years of life on Earth, walk among dinosaurs, and see scientists prepping fossils in the lab.

DNA Discovery Center – watch actual research in the making as you observe and interact with DNA-extracting scientists.

Grainger Hall of Gems – see exquisite rare jewels sparkle and gold objects gleam in one of the world's largest collections of gems and stones.

What attractions are near the Field Museum?

  • The Adler Planetarium is a short walk from the Field Museum, as both are located in Soldier Field.
  • The Museum of Contemporary Photography is a 5-10 minute walk from the museum.
  • The Arie Crown Theater is a 10-minute walk through Soldier Field.
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Image courtesy of Creativity lover/Shutterstock

Where is there to eat nearby?

  • Fancy some delicious authentic pizza? Check out Giodano's, which is just a few minutes walk from the museum.
  • Want to have your pizza in a pub environment, and wash it down with a refreshing beer? Flo & Santos has got you covered.
  • Want something spicy? Check out the Mexican affair at La Cantina.
  • In the market for some dumplings? Qing Xiang Yuan has plenty to offer.

Need to know

  • Your pass includes all general admission exhibitions and one ticketed exhibition.
  • For more information, visit the Field Museum website.

Directions and Address

The Field Museum

1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60605

United States

Image of Indoors, Museum, Person,

Image courtesy of James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

Closest Subway Stops

Museum Campus/11th St., or 18th St.

Save on Tickets with Go City

Remember, Go City is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility, which can include Field Museum tickets, plus admission to your choice of other top attractions. You'll make great savings on entry to top museums, tours, and activities vs. paying at the gate. Visit multiple attractions for one low price.

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do in Chicago for Pride Day

The Chicago Pride Parade is one of the most highly attended festivals of its kind on the planet, pulling in something like a million revelers every year. No surprise really, given Chicago is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the States, its Northalsted neighborhood (aka Boystown) a vibrant community hub that was the first in the country to be officially recognized as a gay village. The city’s colorful month-long June Pride party is, as you might expect, a fairly flamboyant affair, taking in karaoke nights, drag brunches, art shows, skate parties, marching bands, club nights and much more. Raise your rainbow flag and read on for our guide to some of the best things to do in Chicago during Pride month. Spend the Day in Boystown There’s no better way to familiarize yourself with Chicago’s LGBTQ+ history and culture than with a visit to the Legacy Walk in Boystown. Take a stroll along the North Halsted Street Corridor between Belmont Avenue and Grace Street, where this unique open-air museum takes the form of 35-or-so steel ‘rainbow pylons’. Each standing 25 feet tall, the pylons act as monuments to those legends who helped shape the LGBTQ+ movement in Chicago and beyond, with bronze plaques commemorating individuals including James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, Harvey Milk, Oscar Wilde, Jose Sarria and Freddie Mercury, plus pivotal events like the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Afterwards, make time to check out some of the neighborhood’s other beloved LGBTQ+ hotspots, including the Center on Halsted, a community hub that’s home to the Hoover-Leppen Theater and Billie Jean King Recreation Hall among other facilities. Head up to the roof for tip-top neighborhood views that become yet more colorful during Pride month, thanks to the increased proliferation of rainbow flags and bunting that decorate the streets below. Hungry? You’re in luck. Boystown also happens to be home to some of the best brunch spots in town. Hit up local institution Drew’s on Halsted for eggs every which way accompanied by breakfast martinis and live DJs. Or mosey on over to the smart, literary Wilde Bar & Restaurant, named after guess who? Of course, the LGBTQ+ nightlife in this lively enclave is just about as good as it gets, running the gamut from karaoke parties to dive bars, drag nights and hedonistic all-night dance parties. Try Sidetrack, The Closet, Roscoe's, Hydrate and the Kit Kat Lounge for some of the very best. LGBTQ+ Art & Culture There’s plenty more going across Chicago through the month of June. Check press listings for comedy, cabaret and drag performances hosted by the likes of Boystown stalwarts the Newport Theater, Dorothy and the Whiskey Girl Tavern.  Many of the city’s largest cultural institutions also run LGBTQ-themed programs and exhibitions during Pride month. For example, the Field Museum, one of the biggest and best natural history museums in the world, hosts an annual drag pageant as well as events around the role of sex and gender in the natural world.  Meanwhile, the American Writers Museum runs readings, workshops and tours spotlighting the work of LGBTQ+ authors whose writings are exhibited here, including the likes of James Baldwin, Maurice Sendak and Susan Sontag. There are events for kids at Chicago Public Library branches including Logan Square and South Shore, with drag and rainbow story times to keep the little ‘uns entertained, and an annual party down at Navy Pier, which is usually held the day before the Pride march. It’s an all-day event that features live music, marching bands, DJs and more, and is conveniently close to all those seaside fairground rides for a spot of old-school fun and relaxation between bouts of dancing! General admission to a number of these attractions (plus many more tours and activities around Chicago) are included with a Go Chicago pass. You could save up to 50% on entry to the likes of Navy Pier, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, 360 Chicago and more. Note that additional tickets may be required for entry to some Pride-themed events. Find out more about the Go Chicago pass and get yours here. The Pride Parade and Festival As the climax of Chicago’s Pride month approaches, all attention turns towards Chicago Pride Fest and the annual parade. The Parade takes place on the last Sunday of June with Pride Fest traditionally falling on the Friday and Saturday of the same weekend (or sometimes the weekend before). Pride Fest gets the party started in earnest with two days of live performances across three stages, everything from international pop stars to the very best of Chicago’s DJ and drag scenes. Add to that 150+ food and beverage vendors and you have all the ingredients you require for a top shindig. The festival takes place on Halsted Street, from Addison to Grace St, and is free to enter, though there’s a suggested $15 donation to help pay performers and festival workers, as well as supporting local community programs. Big-name stars to grace the stages here include M People’s Heather Small, Natasha Bedingfeld, Chaka Khan, and the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. Find out more about this year’s Pride Fest, including the entertainment line-up, here. The main event takes place on the last Sunday of the month, and draws the biggest crowds of the month. The Chicago Pride Parade sets off from around Sheridan and Broadway at 11AM, painting a rainbow across Northalsted as it weaves its way along and around Halsted to Lincoln Park – a distance of over six kilometers. Nab your spot to watch as dozens of flamboyant floats, revelers in outlandish costumes and live performers cruise past, complete with marching bands, stilt walkers, drag kings and queens, and more. The area surrounding Belmont and Addison stations tends to get the most busy, so arrive early if you want a decent view, or bodyswerve it altogether if claustrophobic crowds ain’t your thang. Rest assured there are plenty less densely packed locations: you’ll find for example that you have a little more breathing space towards the start of the route, and on its east side. Find about more about this year’s Chicago Pride Parade here. Save on Chicago’s Most Popular Attractions Don’t miss the opportunity to check out some of Chicago’s top tours, activities and attractions while you’re in town. You could save up to 50% with a Go Chicago pass. Find out more and choose yours here.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Night time view of the Navy Pier Ferris wheel in Chicago
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Things to do in Chicago at Night Time

A mighty metropolis renowned for its world-class museums, fine restaurants and frankly epic city skyline, the Windy City is, if anything, even more thrilling at night. There’s an absolute abundance of attractions and activities worth staying up late for, from galleries and ghost tours to deep dish pizza and old-school jazz joints. Hop aboard for our whistle stop guide to some of the best things you can do in Chicago at night time. Skyline Views Chicago’s sensational skyline is the envy of cities across the States. Take a leisurely evening stroll along Lake Shore Drive or the Chicago Riverwalk and you’ll soon find out why. We’re talking soaring skyscrapers that include the awesome Willis Tower (for many years the tallest building on the planet, fact fans) and the iconic neo-gothic Tribune Tower. Incredible enough to look at during the day, these architectural titans really come into their own by night, lighting up to produce one of the world’s most recognizable cityscapes. See them from the water on a night cruise of Lake Michigan, when widescreen views of the illuminated city reflect beautifully in the glassy waters that lap the shoreline. Head in the Clouds You’ve checked it out from ground level, now take in birds’ eye views from atop some of the Western world’s loftiest skyscrapers. You need nerves of steel to ascend to Skydeck Chicago atop the Willis Tower. At 1,353 feet and 103 floors up, it’s only the highest observation deck in the United States. No wonder then that you can see four states from up here, as well as Chicago landmarks including Navy Pier, Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile. Daredevils/masochists can even step out onto The Ledge to see the lights of the Windy City twinkling far beneath their feet. A little closer to terra firma at a mere 1,030 feet up, 360 Chicago adds the option to experience TILT, a sky-high thrill ride in which willing victims participants climb onto a moving glass platform which then – yup, you guessed it – tilts riders forward to a perilous angle over the city. Very much not for the faint of heart.  Bean There, Done That For a unique perspective on the iconic Chicago skyline, hit up The Bean on the AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park. This huge stainless steel sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor – officially named Cloud Gate, but more commonly known as The Bean due to its shape – has quickly become a Windy City icon. Visit at night, when the bright lights of the Michigan Avenue skyscrapers reflect on its gleaming surface, creating hallucinatory magic-mirror cityscapes that bend, twist and morph as you walk around and underneath it. Check listings for al fresco evening concerts elsewhere in Millennium Park during summer. Take a Tour There are dozens of ways to get under the skin of night time Chicago without, you know, the tedium and inconvenience of poring over a guidebook for hours. Take to the skies on a twilight helicopter tour over Lake Michigan and that famous city skyline; hear all about the Windy City’s ghosts and gangsters on a spooky walking tour; or – perhaps best of all – join a foodie tour that gives you the chance to tuck into unmissable local delicacies such as Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and deep dish pizza. Yum. Museum Lates Chicago has a frankly superb selection of museums and galleries, many of which have regular late opening hours, allowing you to ogle Old Masters, contemporary masterpieces and ancient artifacts in relative peace and quiet. Hit up the Art Institute of Chicago on Thursday evenings, when you can check out significant pieces from Hopper, van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, O’Keeffe and more until 8PM. Other Windy City institutions including the Chicago History Museum and Museum of Science & Industry run ‘happy hour’ events that run as late as 10PM, and the Adler Planetarium’s late Wednesday openings provide a stellar option for whiling away chilly winter evenings. Animal Magic Museums and galleries a little too stuffy for you? Fear not! Take an evening walk on Chicago’s wild side at the Lincoln Park Zoo where, on balmy summer evenings, the park stays open late for adult-only events that include the likes of wine festivals and craft beer tasting. There’s nothing quite like the roar of a nearby African lion or cackle of a laughing kookaburra to get the party started. Meanwhile over at the Shedd Aquarium, night time events for adults include animal encounters, cocktail evenings and salsa classes, though not necessarily all at the same time. Navy Pier A tad nippy in winter, but a vibrant waterfront treasure on summer nights, Navy Pier is where it’s at for old-school seaside-style vibes. That’s largely thanks to the fab Ferris wheel that dominates the shoreline here, but after-dark firework displays, buzzy rooftop bars, live music, fab fast food joints and delectable dessert stores all add to the fiesta atmosphere. Grab an original rainbow ice cream (that’s orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, chocolate and strawberry stacked high on a cone) and tuck in as the sun sets over the water. All That Jazz Hipster joints abound in downtown Chicago, and the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, with its distinctive lime green neon sign, should be at the top of every bucket list. This century-old Chicago institution was once a favorite of Al Capone and his band of bootleggers, who used tunnels underneath the bar to smuggle booze during Prohibition. So grab a seat in Capone’s old booth, order up a Manhattan, and enjoy some of the finest jazz acts in town, just like Big Al used to do. Blues fans are also well-served in Chicago, thanks to the likes of Kingston Mines, Buddy Guy’s Legends and the House of Blues, while scuzz-rockers can get their fix at hipper-than-thou dive bars including Pilsen’s beloved Skylark and the Rainbo Club in Wicker Park. Save on attractions in Chicago Save on admission to Chicago attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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