25+ Cheap & Free Things to Do in Chicago Alone

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My fellow budget solo traveler — we’ve united! I heard you were planning your first trip to Chicago and needed help finding some budget-friendly things to do.

Well let me tell you, you’re in the right place!

I’ve been to Chicago five times and it’s quickly become my favorite city.

Unlike NYC, LA, SF, Paris, or other expensive tourist destinations, I think Chicago has a fair number of budget-friendly activities.

It takes a bit of research and digging, but you can absolutely have a good time without spending a penny (or a nickel, more accurately).

I’ve got to set your expectations before we get to the good stuff. This guide is a bit different than your typical “10 free things to do in Chicago.”

I find that those articles heavily rely on sculptures and landmarks which are cool and all, but let’s be honest. You want something to actually DO, not just see.

So, with my version, I made it a mission to create the perfect list of 29 cheap and free things to do in Chicago alone. Hopefully I’m able to help you discover some new things that you haven’t yet heard about or tried.

Ready, friend? Let’s travel to Chicago!

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT FREE THINGS TO DO IN CHICAGO.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN CHICAGO

DIP YOUR TOES IN THE WATER AT A BEACH

Did you know Chicago has beaches?

Like, with REAL sand and water? I feel like I never see people visit the beaches in travel vlogs. But, friend — please don’t be one of those people who skips them.

This is one of my favorite things about the city. You have the perfect balance of nature (besides mountains) and urban living.

Now, here’s the thing… there are numerous beaches in the city, from the north all the way down to the south. It can be a bit paralyzing deciding which to visit — especially on a short trip.

My favorite is Ohio Street Beach. Oak Street Beach (just 20 minutes south), is nice as well, but the latter doesn’t tend to get as crowded.

Many locals will suggest Montrose Beach or North Avenue Beach. Based on my research, they look like they’re worth visiting. I just haven’t been yet, so I unfortunately don’t have any input.

GO ON A SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR

There are two great things about these: they’re self-paced, so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with a traditional tour group. Plus, they’re FREE!

I suggest doing this on the first day of your trip to get your bearings early on.

You can totally do it whenever you want, but I’ve found it’s better to do it earlier. Consider combining this with the next activity, which is to pick a neighborhood to explore.

Here’s an awesome self-guided walking tour of Chicago. It’ll guide you through the entire downtown area and you can set your hotel as the starting point.

CHOOSE A NEIGHBORHOOD TO EXPLORE

This is one of my favorite things to do in any city, regardless of price.

But Chicago is a special place for this activity because, as you may know, Chicago is a city of distinct neighborhoods.

Here are some neighborhoods worth checking out:

• Wicker Park: cool boutiques, street art and a great bar scene
• Chinatown: a century-old neighborhood that reminds you of Asia. Amazing shops, restaurants, and nature areas
• Andersonville: home to one of Chicago’s biggest LGBTQ+ communities
• Logan Square: a hippy neighborhood excellent for nightlife, dining and live entertainment
• Gold Coast: a rich neighborhood with designer shopping, great restaurants and aesthetic streets

I wrote a detailed section below for Lincoln Park since there’s a considerable number of free activities to do in the neighborhood.

HANG OUT IN LINCOLN PARK

Lincoln Park may be one of the wealthier neighborhoods in Chicago, but that certainly doesn’t mean you can find budget-friendly things to do.

In fact, the neighborhood has two of the best free activities in the city:

• Lincoln Park Conservatory: a free Victorian glass house and botanical garden. Admission is free, but you must book a timed-entry ticket in advance.
• Replay: a bar in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood that has countless free arcade games.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A FREE WALKING PATH

Chicago has several free walking paths to check out on your solo trip.

These are the three most popular:

• The 606 / Bloomingdale Trail: an elevated recreational trail and park that stretches a 2.7 miles across Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square and Humboldt Park.
• Lakefront Trail: an 18.5-mile shared-use path crossing the Lake Michigan shoreline. If you want to bike or scoot the trail, consider renting an electric Divvy bike or scooter (operated by Lyft). Click here for more information.
• Riverwalk: a pedestrian-only walkway with restaurants, attractions and architecture tours. Also here is Art on theMART, the world’s largest digital art projection. It projects contemporary art across the Chicago Riverwalk.

HANG OUT IN MILLENNIUM PARK

Before you say anything, let me stop you in your tracks.

You’re probably expecting me to say something along the lines of, um, something called The Bean.

While you can totally see the large stainless steel sculpture in all its one-of-a-kind glory, there are other places worth visiting in the area.

Millennium Park itself is free to visit, but there are several free activities to do:

• Millennium Park Summer Music Series: an annual event that hosts free outdoor concerts in Chicago on select Mondays and Thursdays.
• Millennium Park Summer Film Series: held every summer on Tuesdays, this is ****a yearly summer event where visitors and residents can gather at Jay Pritzker Pavilion and watch free movies. Movies begin in the evening.
• Millennium Park Summer Workouts: is a free series of workouts on Saturdays from May to September. Engage in various workouts including pilates, yoga, and Zumba.
• Lurie Garden: Millennium Park’s “secret garden,” this is a beautiful place to slow down, unwind, and reflect.

Check out this guide to learn more about these activities.

ATTEND A FREE EVENT

I don’t know how much I can emphasize this, but Chicago is more affordable than its peers.

The city hosts an unbelievable number of free events. I think there might be more free ones than paid ones!

That’s perfect for us solo travelers who’d rather NOT burn holes in our wallets.

Read below for some of the many free events in Chicago.

FREE MUSIC EVENTS

• Grant Park Music Festival
• Chicago Blues Festival
• Chicago Gospel Music Festival
• Chicago House Music Festival and Conference
• Chicago Jazz Festival
• World Music Festival Chicago
• Chicago SummerDance

OTHER FREE EVENTS

• Bank of America Chicago Marathon
• Chicago Air and Water Show
• Chicago Auto Show
• Arts in the Dark Parade
• Chicago Ducky Derby
• Faces of Fitness Chicago
• St. Patrick’s Day River Dyeing

And that’s (surprisingly) not all!

There are a lot more free events that are hosted throughout the year. I suggest following a few local Chicago accounts and creators to stay in the know about them.

Some of my favorites on Instagram are chicago.by.ren, chicago_forfree, and alanainwanderland.

They all regularly share events + happenings in the city including, of course, free ones for us budget travelers. Also consider checking the do312 website or Eventbrite for more free events.

Trust me, no matter WHEN you visit — whether it’s in the middle of winter (which I’d advise against, as winters are harsh here) or beginning of summer — you’ll be sure to find at least a handful of free activities.

RELAX SOMEWHERE FOR FREE

Chicago has several places where you relax for completely free. Check them out below:

• Harold Washington Library Center: this public Chicago library branch houses a stunning winter garden. Consider grabbing a book and reading for an hour or so.
• Obama Presidential Center: a large cultural building for entertainment and recreation. While the museum requires a paid ticket, there several free activities like the walking trails and gardens.
• Chicago Cultural Center: a free landmark building featuring the world’s largest stained-glass Tiffany dome, music events, art exhibitions, and more. Entrance is free — just walk in!
• 3 Arts Club Cafe at RH Chicago: a year-round, beautifully decorated skylit garden inside the Restoration Hardware store in Gold Cost. The food is on the costlier side, so consider just enjoying the environment if you don’t want to spend any money.
• Poetry Foundation: this culture center is located in River North. It’s a free space for poets, poetry lovers, and creatives. Pop in and read some of the poetry for a bit.
• LH Rooftop: find this rooftop bar and restaurant on the twenty-second floor of the LondonHouse Hilton hotel. While people usually grab something to eat or drink here, feel free to enjoy the skyline views at no cost.
• The Terrace at Willis Tower: located on the fourth floor of Willis Tower (which locals still adamantly call Sears Tower), this free rooftop is open to the public during the warmer months.

SPEND A FEW HOURS AT A FREE MUSEUM

For a city with so many museums, you’d probably expect most to require paid admission.

And while many of the biggest ones do — like the Art Institute and Museum of Science & Industry — there’s a good number of free ones in Chicago.

I intentionally made this the last thing in this section because you probably expected me to mention museums.

Not everyone is a big fan of them, which I completely understand (and even used to relate to at one point).

That said, if you’re open to visiting a few on your trip, here are some worth checking out:

• National Museum of Mexican Art
• National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
• Chicago Cultural Center
• Mindworks: The Science of Thinking
• National Veterans Art Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Photography
• Smart Museum of Art
• DePaul Art Museum
• Hyde Park Art Center
• Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

TRAVEL TIP: if you’re an Illinois resident, you can get free admission into numerous Chicago attractions on certain days, including the Art Institute, Field Museum, and Museum of Science & Industry. Perfect for my Illinois readers! Just be sure to check online before you go and book in advance, as tickets often sell out.

CHEAP THINGS TO DO IN CHICAGO ALONE

I know this guide is focused on FREE Chicago activities, but just in case you’re open to spending a little money, I’ve got some great recommendations.

I’m aware that a “cheap” activity could look fairly different depending on your financial circumstance.

I personally think anything around $30 is considered low-cost, so consider using that as a gauge for the affordability of the following activities.

I won’t list any museums, considering I already listed a decent number of them earlier in the guide. Just know that most museums are priced fairly, relative to the quality of the galleries and exhibits.

WANDER AROUND GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY

Garfield Park Conservatory is located in the Garfield Park neighborhood.

As one of the largest botanical conservatories in the US, it costs around $10 to visit and is open year-round. Perfect if you’re visiting during the colder months!

The conservatory is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so keep that in mind when creating your itinerary.

TAKE AN ARCHITECTURE RIVER CRUISE

The arguably best activity in Chicago doesn’t have to cost $60.

I generally recommend that first-timers take the First Lady cruise, but there are cheaper alternatives worth trying, like this 45-minute on Get Your Guide for $28.

Operated by Wendella, it’s almost the same thing as the CAC cruise, except cheaper and a bit more family-oriented. I doubt that would negatively impact your experience, so don’t worry.

LEARN TO KAYAK ON THE CHICAGO RIVER

When doing research for this post, I discovered a kayaking lesson on Get Your Guide. I know I’ve mentioned GYG several times now, but I promise I just really love them.

With this 69-minute lesson, you’ll learn how to kayak on the Chicago River with a friendly instructor. I’ve never seen anyone do this before, but it looks quite fun.

And it’s only $35, so you’re definitely getting a good deal.

CHECK OUT CHICAGO’S ENTERTAINMENT SCENE

If you didn’t know, Chicago has quite the entertainment scene. Here are a few things to check out:

• See a comedy show at The Second City, The iO Theater, or Laugh Factory
• See jazz show at Andy’s, Jazz Showcase, or The Green Mill
• See a Cubs game at Wrigley Field

HAVE A PICNIC

There is a large number of public parks in Chicago. Like, seriously, the options are practically limitless.

If you’re looking for a low-cost activity, consider grabbing a cheap meal from a grocery store or restaurant and having a picnic.

Some of the best parks in Chicago:

• Ping Tom Memorial Park
• Horner Park
• Lincoln Park
• Lake Shore Park

FINAL THOUGHTS: FREE THINGS TO DO IN CHICAGO

In this post, I shared my favorite cheap and free things to do in Chicago alone.

I know traveling can get expensive, especially when visiting a major city, but you shouldn’t let that get in the way of you having an amazing solo trip to The Windy City.

I hope you decided to add some of these free solo activities to your itinerary.

Quick note: if you’re open to a few paid activities and experiences, I suggest buying an attraction pass from CityPASS or Go City.

These often give you a bang for your buck if you plan strategically. I’ve bought both and have been satisfied with my experience. Use my Attraction Pass Decision Tool in the TSS Freebie Library to fully take advantage of these passes.

I also have a guide where I share over 30 ways to save money when traveling. Be sure to check that out for more money-saving travel tips!

Now, friend, it’s your turn! I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• Have you been to Chicago before? What was your favorite free activity?
• Are you a Chicago local? What free solo activities do you suggest I add to this guide?
• What was your favorite activity mentioned in this guide? Did you add it to your upcoming Chicago solo travel itinerary?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.