Besides Christmas time, summer is my favorite time of year in Chicago. As the threat of last minute snowstorms that spring sometimes likes to bestow upon the city fades away, the winter coats can be stored away—finally, this time—and the preparation for sunshine and humidity ensues.
Summer is the time when the streets that had looked deserted in the sub-negative temperatures of the winter are suddenly filled with the residents and visitors of this massive city, all enjoying the warmth that seemed would never come.
There is a lot to do during these few months of beautiful weather. And in this ultimate guide, you will find a list of the best things to do in Chicago during the summer.
If you’re planning a visit to Chicago this summer, read on! If you’re from Chicagoland and feel like there’s nothing to do—you’re doing it wrong, so read on!
[This post contains affiliate links.]
See also: Writer’s Travel Guide to Chicago
Table of Contents
Outdoor Summer Attractions in Chicago
1. Walk, bike, run or rollerblade along Michigan Lake
With 18 miles of pathway stretching along the lakeshore, you can easily spend a whole day on the Lakefront Trail. Not only will you get some exercise and sunshine, but you can also enjoy the amazing views of the lake on one side and Chicago’s iconic skyline on the other.
If needed, you can rent a bike from a private company or the city bikes (the blue Divvy bikes). You can find Divvy stations all over the city, and a daylong pass is $15 (or $3 for 30 minutes).
The issue is, you have to return the bikes after a certain amount of time to a Divvy station, which can be hard to find sometimes. So alternatively, you can just rent out a bike for half a day, which is a bit more expensive but much easier and more convenient.
I’d suggest starting in Evanston, riding along to lake toward Navy Pier, making a pit stop there, and continuing south. Growing up, this was a summer tradition for my family.
Alternatively, if you’re already in Chicago, you can start from Navy Pier (lots of bike rentals there) and bike down south towards Museum Campus. Here you can take a picture of the skyline from outside the Adler Planetarium, which is one of the best views of the city, in my opinion.
2. Navy Pier
This boardwalk can get really crowded with tourists during the summer, but there’s a lot to do here! Watch the boats on the lake, eat a meal, escape to the Crystal Gardens or simply stroll around the pier. Navy Pier also is home to the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and even a movie theater.
There are also lots of fun carnival rides on the pier. Although it’s expensive, you should invest in a ride on the Centennial Ferris wheel if you’re from out of town.
Why?
Because of it’s history: Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 was where the very first Ferris wheel was unveiled.
The Ferris wheel that stands on Navy Pier now isn’t the original one (in fact, a new one recently replaced an older one in 2017). But it’s still cool to say you rode a Ferris wheel in the city where it was experienced by the public for the very first time.
And the beautiful bird’s eye view of the skyline and Lake Michigan doesn’t hurt either.
Get an express ticket for the Ferris wheel here.
3. Fireworks over the lake!
Not a fan of being stuck in a crowd of people under the scorching hot sun? Then head to Navy Pier at night instead! Make sure to go on a Saturday or Wednesday, when you can enjoy a free fireworks show from May-August. Find the schedule for 2022 here.
You can also watch the fireworks somewhere along the lake. Find a piece of grassy ground and roll out your blanket to lie on as you enjoy the show.
Or, watch the show from the water! You can choose between a boat cruise on the lake or river to watch the fireworks show. If you have a higher budget, you can enjoy a buffet dinner on your fireworks cruise.
4. Boat rides on the lake
Seeing the Chicago skyline from a boat on the lake is a worthwhile experience, and there are tons of different options you can choose from based on your budget and interests.
You can do anything from a speedboat tour to even a tall ship pirate tour!
Are you looking for a date idea in Chicago this summer? Why not try the romantic sunset cruise?
Have a larger budget to spend? Make a reservation on The Odyssey. You can choose from brunch, lunch and dinner options, all while enjoying a cruise on Lake Michigan.
Have an even larger budget? Book a private sunset sail on Lake Michigan.
There are lots of boat tour options here in Chicago, so make sure you book at least one!
5. The Bean (Cloud Gate)
Okay, so a selfie with the Bean in Millennium Park is probably the most basic thing to do in Chicago, and you’ll largely be in company with visitors from the suburbs or hoards of other tourists.
But if you’re visiting Chicago for the first time, you’ll regret not snapping a pic of the large, mirrored bean structure that reflects the mix of modern, glass skyscrapers and tall, historic buildings that surround it.
6. Millennium Park
Even if you’re a Chicago native, Millennium Park is a great place to just hang out during the summer.
One of my favorite places in the city is the Lurie Garden, located just past the Bean. It’s a beautiful flower garden that is guarded off by tall bushes, but the impressive buildings surrounding Millennium Park are still visible above. It’s an almost surreal place, with the sights and sounds of nature contrasting heavily with the sights and sounds of a busy city in the near distance.
On really hot days, splash around in the water at the Crown Fountain. It doubles as an interactive work of art and a video sculpture in addition to being a fountain you can cool off in.
7. Pritzker Pavilion: Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Also located in Millennium Park is the Pritzker Pavilion, which in itself is a marvelous architectural feat worth seeing. The stage resembles gigantic, metal waves that beautifully reflect light shone on it.
On the massive lawn that stretches out towards the stage and with a metal crisscrossing canopy overhead, you can become a part of the audience of the Music Series.
The concerts take place every Monday and Thursday from June 20 to August 18, 2022.
8. Pritzker Pavilion: Millennium Park Summer Film Series
Can’t get enough of the Pritzker Pavilion? Not only does it host concerts, but also free movie screenings on summer nights. The Film Series runs on Tuesdays from July 12 to August 20, 2022. See the full schedule of movies here.
9. Pritzker Pavilion: Millennium Park Summer Workouts
Are you more of a morning bird than a night owl? No problem; the Great Lawn of the Prizker Pavilion has got something for you too!
Instead of lying down a blanket for a concert or movie, lie down a yoga mat for a free morning workout!
On Saturday mornings from May 28 to September 3, 2022, join other early risers for tai chi, yoga, pilates and Zumba. See the full schedule here.
10. Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain
Grant Park is located just south of Millennium Park, and it is called Chicago’s “Front Yard.” Its most visit-worthy feature is the Buckingham Fountain. This massive 3-level rococo fountain is turned on during summer months (May to mid-October) from 8 am to 11 pm.
Every 20 minutes there’s a major water display with water shooting 150 feet into the air. At night, enjoy a light and music display that accompanies the water display. The final major water display is at 10:35 pm.
11. Maggie Daley Park
This park is where you can find the ribbon ice skating in the winter, but in the summer it transforms into a path you can skate or rollerblade on! There’s also a large variety of different playgrounds for kids of all ages and outdoor rock climbing walls.
12. Chicago River Boat Tour
The Lake Michigan boat tours are great at giving you a nice view of the city’s skyline, but being inside of that skyline on the Chicago River is awesome experience too. There are various different companies offering a wide variety of river cruises.
If you’re into architecture, you know that Chicago is THE city to go to. For this reason, there are Chicago River boat tours specifically geared towards those who want to marvel at and learn about the impressive structures that tower over the river.
Check out this Architectural Tour, which goes both on the river and the lakefront. It’s one of the most popular cruise options in Chicago!
If you’d prefer enjoying a meal on the river, this brunch, lunch or dinner river cruise is on a boat with a glass-enclosed dining area, so you can enjoy delicious food inside while getting a great view of the city’s architecture.
13. Chicago River kayaking
Do you get sick of just sitting on a boat doing nothing? Get some exercise in and rent a kayak for the river instead! There are tons of places to rent a kayak along the river, and you can even take a guided kayak tour. Seeing Chicago from the water is the best way to experience the city in the summer!
14. Rent a boat
Alternatively, if you want to have the freedom of exploring the city’s waters by yourself but want something bigger than a kayak, you have lots of options.
You can rent anything from a sailboat to an Island Party Boat.
15. Rent a paddleboard
Can’t get enough of water sports, especially on those hottest, most humid days? That’s understandable, as the breeze from the lake and a dip in the cool waters is the perfect cure!
Paddleboards are another great option that have gained popularity in recent years. You can rent one of them from different points across the city.
16. Go to the beach and take dip in the lake
On the hottest and most humid days, you’ll want to be close to some cold water you can take a dip in to cool off. Trust me, you don’t want to be wandering around the scorching hot metal buildings and concrete sidewalks absorbing all that heat.
The many free beaches create a sandy border between the sleek skyline of Chicago’s downtown and the vast lake created by an ancient glacier. Sure, they’re definitely not even close contenders to beautiful tropical beaches found elsewhere in the world. But it’s a cool feeling to lie on the sand and feel like you’re somewhere tropical, and then to turn around and see the urban skyline behind you.
Among the most popular beaches are Montrose Avenue Beach (the largest and located in Uptown) and North Avenue Beach (located in Lincoln Park).
17. Beach Volleyball
Is lying on the beach doing nothing or swimming in cold water not your thing? You can still enjoy the beaches of Chicago this summer with some volleyball!
Many of the beaches have nets set up so you can easily start a game of beach volleyball. You can also find beach volleyball meet up groups online or even tournaments if you’re more serious about the sport.
18. Chicago Riverwalk
If you’re someone who gets seasick easily and don’t want to get on a boat, you can still enjoy the Chicago River by stepping down to the river walk.
The Riverwalk East was newly renovated a few years ago, so make sure to check that out! You can lounge on the seating provided by the various vendors located on the river walk or take a stroll along the river to its end, where it empties into Lake Michigan.
19. The 606 urban hiking trail
Tired of suggestions for places to get exercise by a body of water? No worries, I’ve got another option for you!
The 606, or Bloomingdale Trail, is one of the coolest urban hiking trails you can come across. The trail is 3 miles long and elevated, and the most unique thing about it is that it used to be a rail line.
If you get tired, you can hop off it (not literally- please use one of the 12 ramps) and explore the four neighborhoods that it runs on top of. There are plenty of places to get food or a drink to reenergize and complete the whole trail!
20. Humboldt Park
One of the neighborhoods that the 606 goes through is Humboldt Park, and I’d suggest stopping by to visit the park of Humboldt Park!
It’s a humongous park that has lots of nature paths and trails to escape to from the bustle of the city, and it even has Chicago’s only inland beach! You can either lay out to tan on the sand or swim in the lagoon here.
21. Jackson Park
Another large, beautiful park worth the visit is Jackson Park. It’s located right by the Musuem of Science and Industry, and both are worth the visit despite being far from the Loop (downtown area). Jackson Park was the location of the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1890.
In early summer/late spring, catch the Cherry Blossom trees in bloom in the Garden of the Pheonix- an island Japanese Garden. Head to the Park District website to check on the status of the trees.
When you’re done, head across Lake Shore Drive to 63rd Street Beach to get views of the skyline from the south. This beach also gets a lot less crowded than the beaches on the north side of Chicago in the summer.
22. Green City Market
This farmers market is great way to get local and sustainable produce and products, and you can find it at two locations this summer!
Lincoln Park: This outdoor market runs from May to October every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm. Not only can you purchase sustainable, fresh food from this farmers market, but there will also be live music!
West Loop: The market in the West Loop location runs from June to October every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm.
23. Lincoln Park Conservatory
This glass-domed conservatory is like an escape to another world. Step inside leaving the modern skyline behind and into a tropical forest with thousands of plants.
Not only is this calm oasis beautiful, but it’s also free (donations are accepted)!
24. Immersive Frida Kahlo Exhibit
New to Chicago in 2022, this incredible multimedia art exhibit will be the highlight of your summer! It brings to life Frida Kahlo’s paintings and will make you feel like you’re inside the paintings.
Buy your tickets here.
25. Lincoln Park Zoo
My favorite part about Lincoln Park Zoo is the great views of the city you can find around there. Make sure to snap a pic at the Nature Boardwalk, which has an awesome view of the Chicago skyline from the north.
The zoo itself is quite small, but it’s free! So there’s no reason to pass up on it if you’re down to spend time with animals and nice views
26. Brookfield Zoo Summer Nights
Brookfield Zoo is another zoo in Chicago, and although it’s not free like Lincoln Park Zoo, it’s way bigger!
There’s also some great summer events going there like the Brookfield Zoo Summer Nights, where you can spend an evening with the animals.
If you’re looking for an adults-only night event, make sure to check out the Zoo Brew and Wines in the Wild.
See the full schedule of events here.
27. Chicago SummerDance
Through out the summer, from July 6 to September 17, 2022, you can participate in free live music dancing in parks around the city!
28. Chinatown
You can visit Chinatown anytime of year and enjoy it, but summertime holds fun events in this part of the city!
If you’re around Chicago July 30, 2022, make sure to visit Chinatown for the Chinese Dragon Boat Race!
29. Jazzin’ at the Shedd
If you’re a fan of marine life and jazz, then Chicago has got something for you this summer!
Plan your visit to the Shedd Aquarium on a Wednesday night for a jazz concert! The program runs from 5-10 pm, and you can find more info and tickets here.
30. Chicago style hot dog
It’s not a successful Chicago summer day without some original Chicago style hotdogs in your belly.
Whether you enjoy one out at a ball game (Chicago has two baseball teams: the Cubs and the White Sox, take your pick) or sitting down along the lake, Chicago hot dogs are always a good idea.
If you want to experience a real Chicago hot dog, don’t put ketchup on it. The tomatoes will do.
I personally like Portillo’s Hot Dogs (which also has amazing Italian Beef), but there’s tons of other great options.
Tours:
There’s plenty to feast your eyes on by wandering around the city for free, but there are also plenty of different tours you can take through the city.
It’s always nice to take a tour so that you don’t have to worry about directions or making plans for the day, and this way you can learn more about the city you’re in!
31. Brewery Tour
Chicago has some great local breweries. So why not check some of them out and enjoy one (or a few) of their cold beers on a hot summer day?
Goose Island Brewery and Half Acre Brewery are some good options if you want to visit a brewery for a tour on your own.
Or, you can also take a tour to three different breweries while being transported between them in a barrel shaped bus! Check the Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour out here!
32. Food Tour
True, you can take walking food tours around Chicago any time of year, but summer is the best time! You don’t want to do it in sub-zero temperatures…
There are so many food tours to take, like authentic Chicago food tours. But there are other unique food tours organized in Chicago- for example, check out the Underground Donut Tour!
33. Walking Tour
Again, you can take a large variety of walking tours any time of year, but you’ll enjoy it most in the summer! There tons of other walking tours that will give you some history or other fun facts about the city.
Some of the more unique ones include the Gangsters and Ghosts Tour and the Chicago Architecture Walking Tour.
See some other themed walking tours in Chicago.
34. Take a “lazy” tour of the city
You may not want to be walking a lot in hot weather. Understandable.
You can still have a tour of the city by choosing a more “lazy” option, like a bus tour of the city. It’s a hop on, hop off tour that you can take at your own pace.
Festivals:
While many festivals were cancelled last year, it does look like 2022 will be the year they return to Chicago!
There are so many different types of festivals in Chicago during the summertime. Food festivals, music festivals and everything in between: here are the most popular festivals going down this summer!
35. Food Truck Fest (June 24-25)
Indulge in yummy food truck food while supporting small local businesses at this summer event. It will be on June 24-25, 2022, at 1700 S Wabash Ave.
36. Blues Festival (June 9-12)
Chicago is THE place for jazz and blues music, so don’t miss this festival if you’re a music fan! Best of all, the event is free!
37. Printer’s Row Lit Fest (September 10-11)
This is the largest outdoor free literary event in the Midwest, so if you’re a book nerd, you can’t miss this one!
It’s located in Printer’s Row, which was very fittingly used to the bookmaking hub of the city.
38. Randolph Street Market Festival (July 30-31, September 24-25)
This is a great place to find great and unique finds! It’s supposed the largest and liveliest urban antique market in the U.S. This festival continues into the fall as well, but I thought I’d still include it in my list of things to do in Chicago in 2022.
39. Taste of Chicago (July 8-10)
If you love food, you’ll love Taste of Chicago. This is the largest food festival in the world and the largest festival in Chicago. Located in Grant Park, admission is free and you can purchase food by buying tickets at the festival.
40. Pitchfork (July 15-17)
This independently run music festival is hosted in Union Park and will have over 40 bands performing. Check out the full lineup here.
41. Chicago Craft Beer Festival (May 20-22)
70 specialty beers crafted from more than 35 local, regional and national breweries will be available for sampling at this festival, so this will be heaven for beer lovers!
42. Lollapalooza (July 28-31)
This hugely popular music festival began in 1991 and still continues strong to this day. There’s a large variety of musical performances ranging from rock to hip hop to electronic music. See the lineup here.
43. Chicago Air and Water Show (August 20-21)
This is an event not to be missed! It’s the largest free show of its kind, with spectacular performances by stunts from pilots overhead and boats out on the lake. The best place to view the show is on North Avenue Beach.
44. Chicago Jazz Festival (September 1-4)
Summer may almost be over by the end of August, but there’s still one more large scale summer festival in Chicago! On Labor Day Weekend, make sure to attend one of many jazz concerts taking place at Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center and other venues. It’s free!
Indoor activities:
Chicago weather can be quite unpredictable. It can be beautiful sunny 70 degree weather one day, and then snowing the next day.
If you end up visiting Chicago during a summer day when it’s gloomy, rainy or scorching hot, have no fear! There’s still a ton for you to do indoors where you can stay dry or cool.
45. 360 Chicago
This observation deck is located in the iconic John Hancock building. It also has a thrill ride called TILT, which is a platform that tilts from the side of the building from the 94thfloor- not for those who have a fear of heights!
It’s best to go up there during the summer when the trees from Chicago’s many parks are green and lush. Coupled with a beautiful sunny day, these make for the best pictures!
Get your tickets here. Alternatively, if you’re planning to visit multiple attractions in Chicago this summer, get the Chicago City Pass. It’s worth it!
46. Skydeck Chicago
Another place to get a bird’s eye view of Chicago in the summer is at Chicago’s tallest building- Willis Tower (formerly called and still to most Chicagoans, the Sears Tower).
Test your bravery here as well by stepping into a glass box attached to the side of the building at 1,353 feet in the air.
Psst…the Skydeck is in the Chicago City Pass! Bundle and save!
47. Museums
I always feel guilty being indoors when it’s a beautiful summer day, but Chicago’s many museums are worth the sacrifice. Some of the most famous and world-renowned museums include:
The Art Institute of Chicago
Shedd Aquarium
Field Museum
Adler Planetarium
Musuem of Science and Industry
If you want to visit a lot of these museums and other attractions throughout the city, I’d suggest you save money and get the Chicago City Pass. Get the pass for five attractions and save 49%!
Outskirts of Chicago:
I’d also like to add a few suggestions for things to do that aren’t in Chicago, but are in the suburbs of Chicago and worth the minor venture out of the city in the summer.
48. Ravinia
Fun Fact: the Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in U.S., open since 1904. And it’s still going strong.
It holds over 140 different concert outdoors all summer long, and it hosts a very wide and diverse variety of different music.
Bring a blanket to sit on, a picnic and bottle of wine to feast on and enjoy a summer evening of music.
49. Chicago Botanic Gardens
The Chicago Botanic Gardens are actually located in the northern suburb Glencoe, but it’s definitely worth going to. The one million people that visit it every year agree.
The Botanic Garden is huge, spanning across 385 acres with six miles of lake shoreline, nine islands, 27 gardens and four natural areas.
It’s also free, although parking is a bit pricey at $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends and holidays.
[Pro Tip: we would always park for free at a trail close by and then bike to the Botanic Garden.]
50. Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is located in a western suburb of Chicago: Lisle. It’s another great place to get your nature fix. It’s even bigger than the Botanic Gardens, spanning across 1,700 acres of land.
This huge public garden has an outdoor museum, hiking trails, bike paths and lots of different events, especially for kids.
It also has one of the largest restored prairies in the Chicagoland area (the whole area used to be praireland).
Whew! That’s a lot of things we went through!
As you can see there is SO MUCH to do in Chicago this summer 2022. So what are you waiting for?
Head on over and experience all that this great city has to offer!
Make sure to share this list with the people you want to experience Chicago’s summer activities with and to make a Chicago summer bucket list with.
Are you or someone you know a writer who is visiting Chicago this summer? Check out my Writer’s Travel Guide to Chicago.
Don’t forget to connect with Voyage Scribe on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!
This is a great list ,very comprehensive and useful .thanks for sharing
Awesome! I visited Chicago in summer in september and I loved it! There are so many things to do and the weather was super nice! Thank you for your recos as there are some activities that you recommended that I have never done!
This is an amazing guide! I heard Chicago in the summer is so much fun! I visited during spring a few years ago, but it for a work trip and I didn’t get to see and do the things that were on my bucket list. Hopefully, I can make a trip happen this summer! 🙂
The one of the best things about Ravinia is you can take a train from Chicago to the venue, and the station is literally just outside the entrance gates. This is perfect if you’re spending a weekend in the city and want to pop out for a concert!
I spent a couple of days in Chicago a few years ago, and agree that the architectural boat tour is fabulous. It was a great thing to do on the first day, because I learned of so many places to check out from the tour guide, so I knew where I wanted to head back “on land.” Do they still have the Segway tours? I absolutely loved doing that.
Yes, I’m sure they still do! At least, I saw them around before Covid. Great idea to do the tour on the first day!
Chicago is a great city. And all of these sights/attractions look awesome to see. Thanks!
I visited Chicago back in 2007 but I had no idea that there is so many other things to do. Great post! Will use it as a guidance when visiting next time.
This is an awesome list! I grew up in Chicago but then moved away before high school, and just recently visited in the winter with my husband and kids. It was a nostalgic visit, but sooo cold! I cant wait to come back and check out some of these things in the summer!
Haha yeah Chicago can get really cold! Summertime has a lot more stuff to do so I hope you make back this summer 🙂
I have always wanted to see Chicago! Now I have a great list of must do items. You have so many great items listed I’ll
have to plan for longer than a weekend!
I love how meaningful some walking tours can be. I would definitely go for one.
Chicago looks like an amazing city and you’ve shared so many wonderful ideas! I’d love to visit Navy Pier and do a boat ride. Will definitely keep your insight in mind!
I LOVE this guide and how helpful, and at the same time, easy to follow! I have been to Chicago a couple of times, but apparently, I still need to go back a couple of times to explore all you have on this list. Thanks for sharing and I am saving this for my next trip!
What an extensive list of things to do in Chicago! I haven’t been yet, but I’ve been thinking about using a flight credit to head out that way this summer. Especially grateful for the list of seasonal festivals/entertainment! Thanks for the info!
Great article — soo much to do! I’m hoping to be in Chicago mid-July so this was the perfect article for me.
It’s hard to get bored in Chicago in the summer! Enjoy your trip 🙂