Art

Visit the famous Art Institute of Chicago for no admission charge on Thursday evenings. From photography to architecture to textiles, this museum houses a permanent collection that includes works by Eva Hesse, David Hockney, and Ellsworth Kelly.

Bike past giant red and pink painted steel horses or stroll by an apple rocket in stainless steel and bronze at the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, which combines original contemporary sculpture and two miles (3.2 kilometers) of walkways—all for free.

See major attractions in Chicago at about half the price with our partner, CityPass, which includes Traveler's picks for bars, restaurants, shopping, and neighborhoods.

The City Gallery is an old water tower now used as a venue for local photographers to display their work. Past exhibits include: "Connecting: Chicago Fashion Photography" and "No Ketchup, Photographs of Chicago Hot Dog Stands." Whatever the content, all photographs must be about Chicago and are on view for free to the public.

Admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Tuesdays. Stop in to see rotating exhibits from their permanent collection, including popular works by Alexander Calder.

Admission to exhibitions at the National Museum of Mexican Art is always free. As one of the largest organizations dedicated to Latino arts, the museum has everything from native folk art to existentialist works by Ester Hernández.

The DePaul University Art Museum has a diverse permanent collection on view, as well as many special exhibits, all free. Past exhibitions have featured the work of contemporary Iraqi artists—from paintings to sculpture—and showcased photographic works by Eugene Atget and Berenice Abbott.

The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art charges no admission and displays visionary art and works by self-taught artists.

Peruse the dynamic works of emerging and established artists at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, which is free to the public. Exhibitions have included "The Transportation of Place," by Andrea Robbins & Max Becher, and Paul Shambroom's "Evidence of Democracy."

The permanent collection at the University of Chicago's Smart Museum has over 10,000 objects ranging from ancient Chinese artifacts to works by Francisco Goya and Henri Matisse. Admission is free.