The 14 Best Museum Tickets in Chicago

1.Medieval Torture Museum Ticket with Audio Guide and Ghost Hunting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 962 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Our pick

Walk through Chicago’s 6,000-square-foot Medieval Torture Museum at your own pace. Your ticket includes a mobile audio guide and ghost-hunting app, with hundreds of torture, restraint, interrogation, and execution displays. Expect dim lighting, realistic wax figures, hands-on exhibits, and a decidedly adult atmosphere.

“It was an eye-opening experience to see some of the gruesome torture devices! Crazy that these things were actually used on people in midieval times.”

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2.Field Museum of Natural History Ticket or VIP Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 717 reviews · 1 day · from $29

Spend a full day at Chicago’s Field Museum with general admission, a Discovery Pass, All-Access Pass, or Early Access VIP Tour. See Sue, Maximo, the Lions of Tsavo, ancient artifacts, gems, and a full-size mastaba tomb. The VIP option includes a one-hour docent-led dinosaur tour for up to 20 people.

“It is an impressive museum and the people working there were friendly and helpful.”

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3.Field Museum of Natural History Admission Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 489 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $29

Spend about four hours exploring Chicago’s Field Museum, from SUE the T. rex and 23 Egyptian mummies to ancient American cultures, jewels, dinosaurs, and interactive exhibits. Admission includes ticketed exhibits and free docent-led tours. Food and 3D films cost extra.

“The Field Museum is great! You can easily spend all day there. I highly recommend one if the free tours done by volunteer docents.”

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4.Museum of Ice Cream Chicago Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 396 reviews · 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $43

Enter Chicago’s Museum of Ice Cream at a reserved time for 14 playful installations, unlimited ice cream samples, sweet-themed mini golf, photo spots, a hidden speakeasy, and the famous sprinkle pool. Plan on 45 to 90 minutes. Children two and under enter free.

“I did have a fun time!!! It was my 36th birthday and I love ice cream.. which it why I was a little disappointed, the tour guide said there was 10 new different ice cream flavors we could try... I only had 4!!! Then the had an bar where u could have drinks (alcohol) which would have been great except you had to pay for it!!! Then same of the games didn't even work!!! Overall I can't give this a good review unfortunately this was a hugh let down from my expectations”

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5.2-Hour Chicago Lakefront & Museum Campus Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 345 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $64

Ride a Segway from Grant Park to Buckingham Fountain, Soldier Field, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the lakefront. English-speaking guides such as Kevin, Michael, Colton, Shannon, and Marshall lead small groups of up to eight, with training, helmets, photo stops, and Chicago stories along the way.

“Great staff that made it fun and easy to learn to ride a segway and explore the lakefront and museum campus. Our guide, Marshall, was great! He provided fun facts and history along the tour, offered to take photos, and was always alert to ensure everyone's safety. Highly recommend!”

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6.Museum of Ice Cream Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 325 reviews · 1h 30m · from $33

Step into the Chicago Museum of Ice Cream at Tribune Tower for 90 minutes of hands-on fun. You’ll visit 14 ice-cream-themed installations, sample unlimited treats, ride the pink Sprink-L line, play mini golf, and finish in a pool of millions of sprinkles. English-speaking staff, WiFi, and wheelchair access are included.

“The museum doesn’t check in your ticket from the app but they will have your information on their tablets! Easy and convenient!”

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7.Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 294 reviews · 1 day · from $25

Use a timed ticket to explore Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry for one full day. Test weather forces, walk through a digestive system, see Apollo 8, board a 727, and explore hundreds of hands-on displays. U-505, Coal Mine, and Spider-Man require separate tickets.

“We had so much fun. It was so interesting 10/10 experience, would def recommend!!”

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8.Chicago Landmarks & Museum Campus Small Group Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 230 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

Ride a Segway through Grant Park, past Buckingham Fountain, Soldier Field, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago’s lakefront. Your guide trains you one-on-one before the ride, then shares city stories and photo stops. Groups are capped at eight, with guides such as Kevin, Tammy, Jeremy, and Marshall.

“Matt was FANTASTIC! He led an info-packed tour that was fun & silly. He even got our grumpy teenagers to smile & loosen up. He gave great instruction for how to ride a Segway so that anyone who can stand would be able to use one. I highly recommend this tour & we hope to see Matt on a future tour!”

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9.Field Museum of Natural History All-Access Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 135 reviews · 1 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $41

Explore Chicago’s Field Museum at your own pace with access to more than 35 permanent halls and ticketed exhibitions, including SUE the T. rex, Ancient Egypt, Evolving Planet, the Hall of Gems, and Ancient Americas. Free docent-led tours are available, while the 3D movie costs extra.

“Great experience visiting the Field Museum with my husband and our tween daughters. Everything was easy and well organized. Our 11-year-old was especially fascinated by Sue the T. rex, which was a highlight of the visit. A fun, educational stop for families—highly recommend!”

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10.Museum of Illusions Timed Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 134 reviews · from $40

Step into Chicago’s Museum of Illusions in the Loop for 45 to 60 minutes of hands-on optical tricks. Defy gravity, shrink in the Ames Room, walk on walls, meet your clones, and test memory in the Smart Playroom. English-speaking staff can help with photos, and children four and under enter free.

“It was great i came at ten and nobody was here. So the guide took my photo since i was traveling solo.”

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11.American Writers Museum Flexible Date Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 107 reviews · 14 days · from $16Best value

Visit Chicago’s American Writers Museum on your chosen date or within the next 14 days. Explore American writing from five centuries, type on vintage machines, follow an interactive timeline, and enjoy exhibits on Chicago writers, children’s literature, language, and the writing process.

“I was visiting Chicago and wanted to visit a different type of museum and the American Writers Museum fit the bill. If you love history, libraries and books, this is a can’t miss stop.”

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12.Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art: General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 91 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $22

Visit Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art on your own schedule with mobile admission to its changing exhibitions. Plan for 1 to 3 hours, check which galleries are open, and allow extra time for the cafe, outdoor seating, Lake Michigan views, and well-stocked shop.

“Museum easy to go around and easy accessible to exhibits (as opposed to the Chicago Art Institute). The bookstore is very well stocked with books and other items unfortunately there were no prints or posters of the current exhibits.”

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13.Field Museum of Natural History Early Access Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $73

Enter Chicago’s Field Museum at 8:00 a.m., before the public, for a roughly one-hour docent-led visit focused on Evolving Planet and SUE the T. rex. Guides such as Katie, Jacob, Eleanor, and Demetric bring the fossils to life. Afterward, explore the museum on your own through the day.

“With the early access, for an hour, we were the only visitors in the museum. It was definitely worth it. We had a guided tour of the part we were the most interested in, which was the fossils. This to me is the only way to visit if you know this may be you're only time to experience the Field Museum.”

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14.Candle Making Experience Near Museums & Millennium Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

At Embers + Apothecary Co. in Printers Row, you’ll blend a personal scent from more than 50 single-note fragrances, pour it into an 11.5-ounce vessel, and enjoy trivia or karaoke while it sets. English instruction, mobile tickets, and groups of up to 16 keep the class easy to join.

“I went on a quiet afternoon with my 8-year-old daughter. We had a blast going through all the individual fragrances, selecting our favorites, and then creating our unique blends for our candles. It was an enjoyable experience, the candles smell fantastic, and look lovely.”

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