FAQs

What are the Art Institute’s hours?
The museum is open to the public Monday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., and Friday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member-only viewing.

We are currently closed on Tuesdays.

Is the Museum Shop open?
The Museum Shop and Modern Shop are open during all member and public hours: Monday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Is the museum open on holidays?
The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. It is open on all other holidays.

When are your free hours?
Our next free hours for Illinois residents will be Free Thursday Evenings, June 5–September 25, 2025, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

If you reserve your free tickets online in advance, your resident status will be verified using the zip code associated with the billing address provided.

Learn more about our ongoing free admission opportunities, including for the following groups:

• Kids under 14
• Chicago teens under 18
• Students who attend one of our University Partner schools
• LINK and WIC cardholders
• Illinois educators
• Active-duty military and their families (Armed Services Day–Labor Day)
  

How much does it cost to go to the Art Institute?
The cost of your general admission ticket depends on if you live in Chicago, someplace else in Illinois, or elsewhere, and if you’re a student or a senior. Please refer to our ticketing chart. And remember, admission is always free for members and children under 14.

Do general admission and Fast Pass tickets include access to special exhibitions?
Both general admission and Fast Pass tickets allow you to see all of the museum’s nonticketed exhibitions. Both general admission and Fast Pass tickets allow you to see all of the museum’s nonticketed special exhibitions. Occasionally, exhibitions—like Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds and the upcoming Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World—require an additional paid ticket that you can add to your order when checking out online or on-site.

Do CityPASS® tickets include access to special exhibitions?
CityPASS® tickets allow visitors to access all nonticketed exhibitions—and to bypass the general admission lines at entrances. Simply present the QR code from your CityPASS® confirmation email at the ticket-scanning podiums to enter the galleries. Learn more about saving up to 49% off admission with CityPASS® tickets.  

Occasionally exhibitions require an additional ticket,like Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds and the upcoming Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World. CityPASS® holders who would like to add special exhibition tickets to their order in advance of their visit are able to email ticketing@artic.edu. Otherwise, we suggest arriving at the museum early (the museum opens at 11:00 a.m.) to purchase special exhibition tickets, as we expect this highly anticipated exhibition to be quite popular.

Do tickets allow reentry?
Yes, a ticket is good for the full day for which it is issued. That means you can visit for a while, leave to relax in one of our gardens or take a stroll in Millennium Park, and then come back in for more art.

Do members need tickets?
No, members never need tickets and never have to wait in admission lines. Simply show your member card and photo ID at the ticket-scanning podiums to enter the galleries.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance of my visit?
Ordering advance tickets, including free tickets for Illinois residents, is encouraged.

What about free tickets? Can I get those online in advance?
Illinois residents and Chicago teens can reserve their tickets online in advance. Free tickets for children can also be reserved online. However, to receive some free ticket types—for Illinois educators, WIC/LINK cardholders, University Partners, Corporate Partners, members of the military and their families—visitors should stop by the admissions desks on the day of your visit.

Do I have to pay for tickets for my kids?
Admission for children under 14 and Chicago teens under 18 is always free. Please reserve free tickets in advance online.

When does the Art Institute offer free admission?
Our next free hours for Illinois residents will be Free Thursday Evenings, June 5–September 25, 2025, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

Learn more about our ongoing free admission opportunities, including for the following groups:

• Kids under 14
• Chicago teens under 18
• Students who attend one of our University Partner schools
• LINK and WIC cardholders
• Illinois educators
• Active-duty military and their families (Armed Services Day–Labor Day)

Does free admission include access to special exhibitions?
Free tickets include access to all nonticketed exhibitions but not ticketed exhibitions. Illinois residents, Chicago teens, and those including child tickets can add a special exhibition ticket when they reserve ahead online. (Exhibition tickets for children up to age 14 are free but still need to be reserved.) Those not able to get their tickets in advance are encouraged to inquire about the availability of special exhibition tickets when they check in. We suggest arriving at the museum early—the museum opens at 11:00 a.m.—as ticketed exhibitions tend to be quite popular.

Are there any rules to visiting or how tickets can be used?
By visiting or communicating with the museum, you agree to comply with our visiting terms and conditions.

Please note that contributions are not refundable or transferable. All categories, benefits, and prices are subject to change. Membership benefits may not be refunded, resold, exchanged, or transferred. General admission tickets and membership benefits may not be used for group visits or for commercial purposes. Any unauthorized use may result in a membership or general admission tickets being revoked.

TICKETS

Does Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds require an extra ticket?
Yes, visitors with general admission or Fast Pass tickets, as well as Illinois residents visiting during Free Thursday evenings, will need a separate $5 exhibition ticket to experience Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds. 

We recommend getting your Kahlo ticket in advance of your visit, as we expect this highly anticipated exhibition to sell out daily.

Members do not need tickets or a reservation time.

Does my CityPASS ticket include access to Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris?
CityPASS tickets allow visitors to access all of the museum’s nonticketed special exhibitions but do not include entry to ticketed ones like Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris. CityPASS holders who would like to add Kahlo tickets to their order in advance of their visit can email ticketing@artic.edu and will be sent a link to purchase Kahlo tickets online. Otherwise, we suggest arriving at the museum early (the museum opens at 11:00 a.m.) to purchase Kahlo tickets as we expect this highly anticipated exhibition to sell out daily.

Does free admission include access to special exhibitions?
Free tickets include access to all nonticketed exhibitions but not ticketed exhibitions like Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris. 

Illinois residents, Chicago teens, and those including child tickets can add a special exhibition ticket when they reserve ahead online. (Exhibition tickets for children up to age 14 are free but still need to be reserved.) 

Those not able to get their tickets in advance are encouraged to inquire about the availability of special exhibition tickets when they check in. We suggest arriving at the museum early—the museum opens at 11:00 a.m.—as we expect this highly anticipated exhibition to sell out daily.

How do I see Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris if it’s sold out?
If Kahlo tickets are sold out on the day that you are visiting or would like to visit, consider joining as a member. Members do not need tickets to visit the museum or special exhibitions, including Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris, plus they enjoy a host of benefits like special viewing hours, exclusive lectures, and discounts in the shops and cafés.

Does a Fast Pass ticket get me into the Kahlo show any quicker than general admission?
Fast Pass ticket holders receive expedited access to the exhibition because they are able to join the virtual member line.

MEMBERS

Do members need tickets or reservations to see Kahlo?
No, members do not need tickets to visit the museum or any special exhibitions including Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris—just have your member card ready to enter the museum and again at the exhibition entrance. Plus, members enjoy expedited access in the exhibition’s virtual line, which they should join as soon as they arrive at the museum.

Please note that all Kahlo ticket holders and members need to be in the virtual exhibition line one hour before the museum closes each day.

Do members need to join the virtual line?
Yes, members need to join the virtual line but enjoy expedited access in line. Membership staff is happy to support you if you need assistance or have any questions.

Do members have special viewing hours?
Yes, members have exclusive access to Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris during two member preview days before the exhibition opens to the public, Thursday, March 27, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., and Friday, March 28, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Members also enjoy member-only viewing hours of Kahlo—and the entire museum—10:00–11:00 a.m. every day that we are open, Wednesday–Monday.

VIRTUAL LINE AND ENTRY

Is there timed entry for the Kahlo exhibition?
No, there is not timed entry, but we are using a virtual line, as we have for many popular exhibitions, to manage capacity in the space. Entry is first-come, first-served each day via the virtual line.

Members and Fast Pass ticket holders who have also purchased a Kahlo ticket receive expedited access once they have joined the exhibition’s virtual line.

Learn more about the virtual line process.

LOCATION

Where is the exhibition located?
Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris is in Gallery 289, on the second level of the Modern Wing near the Modern Bar. It is easiest to get to this space via the Modern Wing entrance, where you can take either stairs or the elevator to the second floor.

If you enter at Michigan Avenue, you’ll pass the Grand Staircase, through the glass doors, and continue through the galleries of Indian and Southeast Asian art. Take a left as you reach the arts of the ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine worlds, and walk through the glass doors of the Modern Wing. From there you can take either stairs or the elevator to the second floor.

EVENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS

Are there events featuring the exhibition?
Yes, we’re thrilled to offer member previews and lectures as well as public events throughout the run of the exhibition. If you are a member registering for a member lecture, please have your member ID handy. And if any questions arise during or about registration, please email membership@artic.edu or stop by a membership desk during your next visit.

What if the program I want to attend is sold out?
We record most of our on-site programs and post those videos on our YouTube channel. Generally events are available a couple weeks after they occur.

Is there an audio tour?
No, there is not an exhibition audio tour. But you might want to consider exploring the Surrealism tour before or after your exhibition experience. To access this audio tour—and all our audio tour content—simply download our free app, available for iOS and for Android mobile devices. Just be sure to bring headphones to listen while you’re in the galleries. 

You can also learn more about the exhibition with this article written by the exhibition’s co-curators.

GROUP VISITS

How do I visit Kahlo with a group?

Each member of the group will need a Kahlo ticket and must join the virtual line individually. To help us manage the number of visitors in the space and offer shorter wait times, group sizes are limited to 15. Due to capacity restrictions, your group may have to enter the exhibition in smaller groups.  

Please note that group-led tours of the exhibition are prohibited.

Can I get to the museum on public transportation?
Yes, CTA buses, EL trains, and the Metra commuter rail are all great options to get you to the museum.

What’s the best route when driving?
Get driving directions from various city locations.

Where can I park?
There are many underground lots only a block away, including parking found via SpotHero. Members receive a discount on parking at the nearby Millennium Garages.

Is there a bike-sharing program I could use?
Divvy is Chicago’s bike-sharing program, and several stations are located near the Art Institute. Learn more.

What is a virtual line?
A virtual line is a waitlist that you join via your smartphone and that advances your spot in line while you do other things. We use virtual lines to help manage capacity in some of our more popular ticketed exhibitions. They allow visitors spend the time they would have spent standing in a physical line more enjoyably—visiting old favorites or other current exhibitions or grabbing a coffee or a bite to eat in one of the museum’s cafés.

Please note that when a virtual line is being used for an exhibition that all ticket holders and members need to be in that exhibition’s virtual line one hour before the museum closes each day.

How do I join the virtual line?
Using the camera on your smartphone, scan the QR code located on signs near the museum entrances. This will prompt you to join the virtual line by selecting the exhibition and then entering the number of guests in your party. You’ll receive a text message confirming that you have joined the virtual line and another one letting you know when it’s your turn to enter the exhibition. Please note that there may be a slight wait outside the exhibition entrance.

I don’t have a smartphone. How can I join the virtual line?
If you do not have a smartphone, connect with a museum representative for assistance.

How long should I expect to wait?
We expect wait times for Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris to range from 30 to 90 minutes. Weekends, especially holiday weekends, may have longer wait times, while Mondays and Wednesdays tend to be less busy days. We recommend arriving at the museum early and joining the virtual line as soon as you arrive. The museum opens at 10:00 a.m. for members and 11:00 a.m. for the public. 

How do I know when I’m at the front of the line?
After you join the virtual line, you will receive a text message confirming that you are in the virtual line. When it’s your turn to enter the exhibition, you’ll receive another text message letting you know it’s time to head to the exhibition. The Kahlo show is in Gallery 289, on the second level of the Modern Wing near the Modern Bar. 

What is My Museum Tour?
It is a free online tool that allows users to create their own self-guided tour, choosing from artworks that are currently on view.

Where can I find My Museum Tour?
My Museum Tour is available on our website at  www.artic.edu/my-museum-tour.

How does My Museum Tour work?
Using My Museum Tour is easy—there’s no app to download, no program to log into. Just open the My Museum Tour on your phone, tablet, or computer.

• First you select your artworks. You can do this by searching for a particular work, artist, or keyword; browsing themes; or selecting from a list of select artworks. Each tour can include up to 6 artworks.
• After you choose your artworks, you can add a title for your tour and add notes to each artwork you’ve selected. My Museum Tour then puts it all together in an online format, ordering the works for the most direct route through the galleries. Additionally, you will receive an email with a link to your online tour as well as a pdf attachment of your tour that can be printed out and brought with you to the museum.
• Tours can be made in advance of your visit, or you can make one as you experience the galleries.
• My Museum Tour also includes a selection of ready-made tours with themes like Surrealism, fashion, Black artists, Ferris Bueller, and more. These are accessible at any time on our website.

How can I access the tour I made?
Your tour will be accessible online at any time using the link provided. Your pdf also has a QR code on the cover you can use to pull up the tour on your device.

Can I edit my tour once it’s been made?
No, tours can not be edited after they are completed, but there are no limits on the number of tours you are able to create!

Can I print out a pdf of my tour at the museum?
No, on-site printing is not available at this time. 

How do I print out my tour at home?
We recommend you print out the pdf of your museum tour directly from the email attachment. After opening the pdf in your email, select “US Letter” for your paper size and “1-sided printing” in the print dialog box. Be sure that “landscape” is selected for the orientation.

The PDF will print on two pages. Fold the page that includes the cover—with your tour title and the Art Institute logo—in half along the dotted line so the printed side is facing out. Fold the second page in half along the dotted line so the printed side is facing in. Then simply tuck the second page inside the first page—and your tour is ready to use and share!

Can I share my tour with others?
Yes, in fact, we encourage sharing! Pass on the link to the online version of your tour, share the pdf, or simply give someone the printed version of the tour. 

Have other questions?
Email mymuseumtour@artic.edu.

Does the museum have a gift shop?
Yes, the museum has two on-site stores, the Museum Shop, just inside the Michigan Avenue entrance, and the Modern Shop, just inside the Modern Wing entrance. Both shops are open during all member and public hours: Monday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday 10 am.–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. There is also an online store.

Does the museum have any place to eat?
Yes, we have two dining spaces that are open to all visitors: the Café offers an array of fresh seasonal dishes, including sandwiches, salads, and desserts, and the Modern Bar offers lighter fare plus a full coffee, tea, and beverage menu.

Additionally, the Member Bar at Terzo Piano, a space for our Art Institute members, provides free coffee and tea as well as wine, beer, and light snacks for purchase. Learn more about our dining options.

Can I bring my own food into the cafés?
No, tables and seating in our dining spaces are reserved for café patrons; outside food and beverages are not permitted.

Do I need to be vaccinated to visit the museum?
No, in accordance with City of Chicago guidelines, proof of vaccination is no longer required to visit the museum.

Do I need to wear a face covering?
No, visitors are no longer required to wear masks during their visit.

Are there other restrictions to visiting?
Any visitors who are disrespectful or discourteous to other guests, staff, or volunteers—or engage in behaviors that are disruptive of others’ enjoyment of the museum, such as playing music or video, staging unauthorized performances, using sound amplification devices (excluding assistive-listening devices), blocking pathways, soliciting, leafleting, signature gathering, or picketing—may be asked to leave. Learn more about our Visitor Policies.

Please reference our member FAQs.

Is accessible parking available?
Accessible parking is located in several garages near the Art Institute. Please note that they no longer accept oversized vans.

Millennium Park Garage
Entrance at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street, with 6’ 8’ clearance in some sections and an elevator at the exit

East Monroe Street Garage
Entrance at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street, with 6’ 8” clearance and exit ramps at Monroe Street

Grant Park North Garage
Entrance at Michigan Avenue between Madison and Randolph, with 6’ 6” clearance for vans and an elevator at the exit

Do you have wheelchairs and strollers?
Manually operated wheelchairs and strollers are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at both of the museum’s checkrooms—no reservation required. Personal wheelchairs and strollers are always welcome.

Are audio tours available?
Please note that the museum’s full catalog of audio tour content is available on our free app; we do not offer rentable devices. The free app is available to download via the App Store or Google Play. Just remember to bring your headphones to listen while you’re in the galleries so that you don’t disturb other visitors.

Do you have a map of the museum?
View and download a floor plan here.

Do you welcome service animals?
Yes, service animals are welcome at the museum. For inquiries regarding emotional support animals, please contact access@artic.edu.

Can I check my coat and bag?
Yes, our checkrooms are free for all visitors. Bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked, but we cannot accept food, beverages, flowers, or balloons.

What items are not allowed in the galleries?

• Weapons, firearms, and hazardous materials, including pepper spray, mace, flammable liquids, adhesives, aerosols, fuels, fireworks, toxic chemicals, and explosives
• Food and drinks other than water in a bottle with a closeable lid
• Bags, backpacks (including backpack baby carriers), camera bags, shopping bags, and purses larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches
• Art materials other than pencils and sketchbooks
• Bicycles, sports equipment, recreational equipment such as scooters, skateboards, shoes with wheels, and roller blades
• Large objects, such as flags, banners, signs, frames, and artwork
• Tripods, flash attachments, and selfie sticks
• Flowers, balloons, toys, and wrapped packages
• Umbrellas that are too large to be stowed in bags
• Pets or other animals (except service animals which must be leashed and attached at all times)
• Any other item that could put the art, staff, or visitors at risk, to be determined at the sole discretion of the museum

Can I bring a water bottle into the galleries?
Water bottles are allowed in the museum and can be filled at the water bottle–filling stations that have replaced all water fountains. Bottles must be stowed safely in a bag when visitors are in any space that houses art. If you do not have a bag, the museum will provide one.

Can I go on a tour?
Yes, free guided tours are offered at 1:00 and 3:00 every day the museum is open. Tours are also available at 6:00 on Thursday. Tours are also offered in Spanish on Friday and Saturday at 2:00 and in American Sign Language on the third Saturday of every month at 2:00. See our calendar for more details on tours and all our events.

The museum’s free downloadable app also offers a variety of self-guided tours, and our online highlights provide another way of enjoying the collection.

If you’re looking to book a tour for an adult group, we invite you to learn more about our group tour offerings. We offer guided options through our external partners as well as ways to lead your own museum experience.

Which exhibitions will be on view during my visit?
See a list of current and future exhibitions.

How will I know what artworks I can see during my visit?
The Art Institute is an active lending institution. For the most up-to-date information about gallery closures and significant works of art that may not be on view, please check our Collection Updates page.

When are the gardens open?
The museum’s North and South Gardens are usually open throughout the summer months, Thursday–Monday, during museum hours. The gardens regularly close for major special events that bring increased crowds downtown, such as the NASCAR Street Race, Lollapalooza, and the Democratic National Convention.

How long has the museum had its lions?
Made in 1893 by American artist Edward Kemeys, the museum’s beloved bronze lion sculptures have stood guard outside the museum since May 1894. In late summer 2022, the pair were removed from their plinths to undergo conservation treatment off-site. The treatment included a thorough steam cleaning and the application of protective wax coating, and the lions returned home, looking cleaner and greener than ever!

Can I take pictures in the galleries?
We encourage you to take pictures of the collection and special exhibitions for personal use. Non-flash photography is permitted in all permanent galleries. Signs indicate the few works that are not allowed to be photographed due to a lender requirement.

Are there restrictions on the type of equipment that is permitted?

• Equipment must not exceed the size of a SLR camera designed for personal use.
• Flash, tripods, monopods, handheld microphones, selfie sticks, and other extraneous equipment are not allowed anywhere in the museum, its gardens, or public spaces.
• All imaging documentation must be for personal, nondistributional, noncommercial use only.

Are selfie sticks permitted in the galleries?
No, for the safety of the artwork and other patrons, selfie sticks are not allowed.

How do I arrange a photo shoot or filming at the museum?
Members of the media should contact our Department of Public Affairs at (312) 443-3363 or aic.publicaffairs@artic.edu to arrange shoots for still photography and film.

Is sketching allowed in the museum?
Sketching with pencils only is allowed in all galleries, including special exhibitions, provided there are no restrictions by lenders. Please check with a security officer in your gallery to confirm that sketching in that space is permitted; officers have the discretion to disallow sketching if the galleries are crowded or if sketching is creating a disturbance. If a work of art is not framed or protected by a vitrine or case, sketchers are asked to remain at least five feet away from the art. Paper and pads must be no larger than 13 x 17 inches. Easels, stools, or anything that interferes with movement in the gallery are not permitted.

How can I get a job at the Art Institute?
See a list of job opportunities available at the museum and the School of the Art Institute.

Do I have to have an art degree to get a job at the museum?
There are many different types of jobs at the museum—curatorial, teaching, marketing, accounting, security, human resources, facilities management, library sciences, and retail, just to name a few. Different positions require different skills and abilities, and for many positions, a major in art history or fine art is not required. To explore the variety of positions currently available at the Art Institute, please visit our employment page.

Can you tell me the value of my artwork?
The Art Institute is not permitted to conduct appraisals or authentications of artwork. Here is a list of a few organizations that do.

Can you give me information about an artist or a work of art?
The Ryerson and Burnham Libraries have numerous resources for conducting your art research.

I have a work of art that I want to sell/give to the Art Institute.
The Art Institute welcomes bequests and promised gifts of works of art. We ask that you notify the museum of your intentions beforehand so that the appropriate curatorial department can review and advise you as to whether your work is a good fit for the collection. 

To have your donation considered, please provide the following information:

• Your name and address
• The title of the artwork and the artist’s name
• Provenance (history of ownership)
• Description of the size and condition
• Photographs of the artwork

This information may be emailed to artdonations@artic.edu.

Can I buy a print of a certain work of art?
The Museum Shop offers many posters and prints.

Can I hold a party at the Art Institute?
We do host events at the Art Institute of Chicago. We invite you to browse our various spaces and to fill out our inquiry form to learn more about rental opportunities.

Can we exchange links?
The Art Institute welcomes you to provide a link to its site, providing you adhere to the link-exchange policy.

I lost an item during my visit. How can I see if it’s been found?
If you left something behind, please fill out this form, and we’ll check if it’s among our found items.

I have a question that isn’t answered here. How can I contact the museum?
We’re happy to answer your questions by phone or email.