Cheap Things to Do in Chicago, IL

Free for IL residents first Sunday and Monday of each month. On Navy Pier.

700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 · Daily 10am-5pm, Thu until 8pm · Ages 0–10

Free. Every single day. 365 days a year. One of the last free zoos in the country.

2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Daily 10am-5pm (summer hours extended to 6:30pm)

Free. Climbing walls, slides, skating ribbon in winter. Regularly called the best playground in the country.

337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Daily 6am-11pm

Free to walk around. Free fountain for kids. Fireworks Wed + Sat nights in summer.

600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 · Sun-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm (seasonal)

Completely free. Kids dig in soil, play in a stream, climb a vine sculpture.

300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624 · Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, Wed until 8pm

Entire floor dedicated to kids. Free storytime, crafts, STEM -- daily.

400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605 · Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm

Renovated playground, splash pad, free Park District programs. Toddler and big-kid areas separate.

1425 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Park open 6am-11pm, fieldhouse hours vary

Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion statues. Free playground behind them.

2021 N Burling St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Daily 6am-11pm

Walk through a greenhouse full of live butterflies. Small enough for toddlers to handle.

2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 · Daily 10am-5pm · Ages 0+

Free 1.25-mile riverwalk. Play fountains in summer. Kayak rentals. Architecture boat tours.

E Riverwalk S, Chicago, IL 60601 · Daily 6am-11pm (May-Oct for full amenities)

1,700 acres. Tree-climbing structures, splash pad, hedge maze. 25 miles from downtown.

4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532 · Daily 9am-5pm (extended summer hours to 7pm)

Free. 46 acres of actual prairie, wetland, and forest inside city limits.

5801 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60646 · Trails: daily 8am-5pm, Nature Center: daily 10am-4pm

Free on Tuesdays. First museum in the US dedicated to African American history.

740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637 · Wed-Sun 10am-4pm, Tue free day 10am-4pm

50+ free pools across Chicago. Indoor pools open year-round. No membership needed.

Multiple locations citywide · Hours vary by location and session -- check Park District schedule

Best for under-8s. Water play, grocery store, construction zone. 17 exhibits.

2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, IL 60026 · Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm · Ages 0–8

Giant faces spit water on your kids. Free. They will get soaked.

201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · May-Oct, fountain active 6am-11pm

Free zoo inside a city park. Ducks, alpacas, goats. Fieldhouse with free programs.

2500 W Lunt Ave, Chicago, IL 60645 · Park: 6am-11pm, Zoo: daily 9am-4pm, Fieldhouse varies

Free kids zone at the Sunday market. Face painting, crafts, music.

3107 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647 · Sundays 10am-3pm, May-Oct

Free skate park. Concrete ramps, rails, quarter pipes. Helmets recommended.

360 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 6am-11pm · Ages 8+

Free. 91-acre peninsula. Prairie trails, skyline views, bird watching.

1521 S Linn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 6am-11pm

Sky shows for kids as young as 4. The rooftop terrace has the best skyline view in Chicago.

1300 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 9am-5pm · Ages 3+

Free ice skating under the Bean. Just bring your own skates or rent there.

201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602 · Daily 12pm-8pm (seasonal, Nov-Mar)

Not a rink -- a winding quarter-mile skating path. Free with your own skates.

337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Daily 12pm-8pm (seasonal, Nov-Mar)

NHL-size ice rink, indoor pool, basketball, tennis -- all Park District prices.

3843 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 · Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm

Recently renovated courts. Best public outdoor basketball on the South Side. Free.

1440 W 84th St, Chicago, IL 60620 · Daily 6am-11pm

219 acres. Basketball, soccer, tennis, pool, baseball -- all free. Most complete free sports park in the city.

1400 N Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Park: 6am-11pm, Fieldhouse: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm

Free open gym hours. Bocce ball courts. Strong youth sports programs.

2333 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 · Park: 6am-11pm, Fieldhouse: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm

Free lakefront tennis. No reservation. Batting cages and driving range nearby too.

3700 N Recreation Dr, Chicago, IL 60613 · Daily dawn to dusk

Olympic-size 50-meter pool. Free. Open year-round. Park District prices.

4100 N Long Ave, Chicago, IL 60641 · Hours vary by session -- check Park District schedule

372 acres. Free pool, basketball, tennis, baseball. DuSable Museum is on the grounds.

5531 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Chicago, IL 60637 · Park: 6am-11pm, Pool: summer only 11am-7pm

Free open fields near the Nature Museum. No reservation. Pickup and league play.

2045 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614 · Daily dawn to dusk

Free outdoor gym equipment at multiple parks. QR codes link to guided workouts.

1805 N Humboldt Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647 · Daily 6am-11pm

Free outdoor climbing up to 40 feet. Bouldering, lead, and top-rope. Downtown.

337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Seasonal, daily 10am-7pm (weather permitting)

Free tennis with the skyline behind you. Six courts. First come, first served.

337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Daily dawn to dusk

Free beach, free fitness court, kayak rentals. Less crowded than North Ave Beach.

3100 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60616 · Beach: Memorial Day-Labor Day 11am-7pm daily

Free outdoor pool, basketball, river kayaking. The Chinatown park nobody talks about.

1700 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 · Park: 6am-11pm, Pool: summer only 11am-7pm

Lighted tennis courts. Good pickup basketball. Free. North Side.

2741 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 · Park: 6am-11pm, Courts: lighted until 10pm

18.5 miles along the lake. Free. Separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.

Multiple access points along Lake Michigan · Open 24 hours

Free sand volleyball courts on the lakefront. Permit for organized groups; pickup is free.

1603 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614 · Beach: Memorial Day-Labor Day 11am-7pm

Free outdoor pool on the South Side. Open 7 days a week in summer 2026.

2725 W 41st St, Chicago, IL 60632 · Summer only: daily 11am-7pm

Indoor turf fields. Drop-in soccer $15. Leagues available. Open year-round.

3900 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618 · Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm

Free open gym hours. Basketball, volleyball, badminton. Lakeview location.

833 W Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613 · Fieldhouse: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm

Free beach, bird sanctuary, dog beach, kayak rentals. Less touristy than North Ave.

4400 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60640 · Beach: Memorial Day-Labor Day 11am-7pm

Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and dozens more started here. $10 shows available nightly.

1616 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Shows nightly, box office opens at noon

Al Capone's hangout. Jazz 7 nights. Cash only. No talking during sets.

4802 N Broadway Ave, Chicago, IL 60640 · Daily 4pm-4am (5am on Sat)

Free concerts all summer. Frank Gehry bandshell. Bring a blanket and a picnic.

201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Park open daily 6am-11pm, concerts typically 6:30pm-9pm

Two stages, simultaneous blues bands, until 5am Saturdays. Open since 1968.

2548 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Mon-Thu 7pm-4am, Fri 7pm-5am, Sat 7pm-5am, Sun 7pm-4am

Improvised Shakespeare Company performs here. Cheaper and weirder than Second City.

1501 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642 · Shows nightly, schedule varies

311 seats, full bar, $16 tickets. Touring headliners most nights.

3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Show times vary, check schedule

Free Monday shows. Dive bar vibe. The underground music scene runs through here since 1992.

1035 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Mon-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun varies

100 capacity. Prohibition-era bar. Shows sell out fast. Regulars are fiercely loyal.

1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642 · Wed-Sat shows, doors vary

In the Second City building. Stand-up format. $15-40. Zanies is next door.

1608 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Show times vary, check schedule

Buddy Guy's own club. Live blues nightly. The man himself plays every January.

700 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 · Mon-Thu 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-3am, Sun 12pm-2am

500 capacity. Sister venue to Schubas. Best mid-size room on the North Side.

2424 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 · Show nights, doors vary

165 capacity. The room where everyone plays before they blow up. $10-20.

3159 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Show nights, doors vary

Smashing Pumpkins played their first big shows here. 1,100 capacity. Still going since 1982.

3730 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613 · Show nights, doors vary

The building tour that launched a thousand architecture buffs. Boat tours from $47.

111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 · Daily 10am-5pm, boat tours seasonal

Live jazz since 1951. Two sets nightly. $10-15 cover. Downtown location.

11 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611 · Mon-Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am

Free on Tuesdays for IL residents. Rooftop sculpture garden. Wednesday late nights.

220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 · Tue 10am-9pm, Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon

Free skate park in Grant Park. Concrete ramps, rails, quarter pipes. All skill levels.

360 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 6am-11pm

1892 opera house turned concert hall. Ornate interior. Czech and Mexican neighborhood heritage.

1807 S Allport St, Chicago, IL 60608 · Show nights, doors vary

Old railway turned elevated trail — connects three neighborhoods on foot or bike, free.

1805 N Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 · Daily 6am-11pm

$2 tacos from sidewalk stands — best Mexican food neighborhood in Chicago.

18th St between Ashland and Western, Chicago, IL 60608 · Varies by vendor, most active lunch through dinner

Cocktail bar hidden inside a hair salon — you have to know it's there.

3462 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657 · Check social media for hours

$4 boat ride to Chinatown — cheaper and more fun than a rideshare.

Michigan Ave at Riverwalk, Chicago, IL 60601 · Mon-Fri 6:30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm (seasonal)

Free folk and roots music festival in Humboldt Park — summer weekend.

Humboldt Park, 1400 N Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Weekend event, check schedule

Dry cleaner and tailor in Rogers Park. Suits, dresses, leather, delicates. Hemming from $12, suit jacket alterations from $30. Precise work, reasonable prices.

7100 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm

Lakeview dry cleaner on Broadway. Suits, shirts, dresses, comforters. Same-day if you drop off before 10am. $5-8 per garment. Also does minor alterations.

3000 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm

Self-service laundromat in Lakeview on Broadway. Multiple machine sizes, clean. Small loads from $2.50, large from $6. Wash-and-fold drop-off available.

3475 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Daily 6am-10pm

Dry cleaning and shoe repair in one shop on the far South Side. Heel replacement, sole repair, shoe stretching, leather conditioning. Shoe repair $15-50. Hard to find a shop that still does cobbler work this well.

10457 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60655 · Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-3pm

Custom tailor in Lakeview offering suit alterations, hemming, tapering, and custom fitting. Pants hemming starts around $12, suit jacket sleeves from $25, full suit alterations from $60. Known for precise work on both men's and women's garments. Walk-ins welcome but appointments recommended for custom work.

3748 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613 · Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

Tailor and dry cleaner in Lincoln Square. Simple hems to wedding dress alterations. Pants hemming from $10, dress alterations from $30.

2722 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm

Longtime neighborhood dry cleaner in North Center with a 4.2-star rating and a loyal following. Handles suits, shirts, dresses, comforters, and household items. Same-day service available on drop-offs before 9am. Basic dry cleaning from $5 per garment. Also does minor alterations and wedding dress preservation.

4335 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 · Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm

Self-service laundromat in Wicker Park on North Ave. Large-capacity machines, free Wi-Fi. Small loads from $3, jumbo $7-8. Wash-and-fold drop-off at $1.50/lb.

1648 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Daily 6am-10pm

Family-run tailor and dry cleaner in Logan Square with a 4.7-star rating. Handles everything from basic hems to suit alterations and bridal gowns. Pants hemming from $10, suit jacket sleeves from $20. Known for careful work and honest pricing. Walk-ins welcome.

3253 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Highly rated tailor on the Southport corridor with a 4.9-star rating. Specializes in same-day and next-day turnaround for basic alterations. Pants hemming from $12, waist adjustments from $18, full suit alterations from $50. Walk-ins welcome for most jobs. A go-to for Lakeview residents who need something done fast.

3517 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

Modern self-service laundromat in Lakeview with eco-friendly detergent dispensers, large-capacity machines, and a clean waiting area. Small loads from $2.75, triple-load machines $5.50. Wash-and-fold drop-off at $1.75 per pound. Free Wi-Fi. Open seven days a week with extended hours.

1101 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Daily 6am-11pm

Old-school cobbler in Andersonville. Heel replacements, resoling, shoe stretching, zipper repair, leather conditioning. Heel caps $10, half-soles $35, full resoling $50. Quick turnaround on basic repairs.

5309 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Neighborhood pet grooming salon in Bucktown with self-wash stations and full-service grooming. Self-wash from $20 (includes shampoo, towels, and dryers). Full grooming for small dogs from $50, large dogs from $80. No appointment needed for self-wash. A low-key, friendly shop that does not try to upsell you.

1656 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622 · Tue-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Self-service laundromat in Pilsen with Spanish-speaking staff, multiple machine sizes, late hours. Small loads from $2.50, large from $6.50. Wash-and-fold available. Clean, well-lit.

1827 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608 · Daily 6am-10pm

A long-running cobbler shop in Hyde Park serving the University of Chicago neighborhood. Handles resoling, heel replacement, shoe stretching, zipper repair, and leather conditioning. Full resoling from $45, heel caps from $10. Also repairs bags and belts. Quick turnaround on basic jobs.

1512 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615 · Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm