Hours

Tickets

Map

Museum Guidelines

Events

Audio Guide

Museum Hours

Please note that the museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days.

Visitors enjoy free admission from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. every Thursday and Friday, Memorial Day through Labor Day, during Target Free Summer Evenings.

Admission Fees

Chicago Resident Admission
Chicago residents receive a $2 discount on admission in recognition of the significant support given to the museum through local property taxes. Proof of residency is required. Discount only available at museum admission desks.

Learn more about our admission changes.

Buy Tickets

Purchase admission tickets online, by calling (877) 307-4242 Monday–Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (CST) or Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (CST), or by visiting any museum admission counter.

Families can visit the Art Institute for free with the Kraft Great Kids Passport from the Chicago Public Library. Passports are valid for general admission and for most special exhibitions.

Map

Download the Floor Plan.
Learn more about museum access.

Museum Guidelines

Our guidelines help protect the museum’s collection and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Please follow security officers’ instructions and remember that touching the collection is strictly prohibited.

Please plan ahead, as the following items are not allowed in the galleries:

• Art materials other than pencil (including ink pens)
• Backpacks and backpack baby carriers
• Bags, camera bags or purses larger than 13”x17”
• Shopping bags
• Flowers or balloons
• Food or drink
• Toys
• Tripods, flash attachments and video cameras
• Umbrellas (small umbrellas can be stowed in bags)
• Wrapped packages (gifts)

The following items cannot be checked:

• Flowers or balloons
• Food or drink

Checkroom

• Complimentary
• Courtesy bags are available to carry valuable items with you.
• All bags are subject to security inspection.

The checkrooms are for patrons only. The Art Institute of Chicago reserves the right to refuse to check any item. The checkrooms stop accepting items 15 minutes prior to closing. The Art Institute of Chicago is not responsible for items lost, damaged, or unclaimed.

Photography

Please refrain from any photography of loan and temporary exhibitions. You are welcome to take photographs of the permanent collection, taken in existing light, on condition that they are for personal, nondistributional, noncommercial use. Flashes, tripods and video cameras are prohibited.

Members of the media should contact our Marketing and Public Affairs Department at (312) 443-3626 or aicpublicaffairs@artic.edu.

Sketching

Please check with museum staff on areas where sketching may be allowed. Only pencil drawing is allowed.

An application is necessary for permission to copy in the galleries, and is available through the department of Protection Services. Call (312) 443-3396 or e-mail teamdops@artic.edu.

Strollers

The museum is accessible for stroller use; however, they may be restricted in special exhibitions due to space limitations. Please feel free to call prior to your visit (312) 443-3600.

Please turn off cell phones or pagers in the museum.
The use of mobile telephones is limited to non-gallery spaces within the museum.

Visitor Comments

Please share your experience with us at visitorcomments@artic.edu. Please do not send attachments to this e-mail address, as they are automatically discarded.

Yellow Book is the directory partner to the Art Institute.

Exhibitions, Gallery Talks, Lectures, and Performances

Gallery Audio Guide

The gallery audio guide is a comprehensive overview that lets you explore the museum at your own pace. With its random-access format, the guide allows you to enter a gallery number into a small MP3 player to enjoy commentary on the collection. It can be rented at the admission counter at Michigan Avenue. The guide is available for $7 ($ 5 for members) and is free to visitors with visual and hearing impairments.

Exhibition audio tours are available for some exhibitions and include the gallery audio guide. The tour is available for $6 ($5 for members) and is free to visitors with visual and hearing impairments.

Enrich Your Visit