Art Institute of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois

Address111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

HoursMon, Wed, Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thu 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; closed Tuesdays; members-only hour 10–11 a.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day (official)

PricesAdult $32 · Seniors (65+) $26 · Students $26 · Teens (14–17) $26 · Children under 14 free · Chicago residents: Adult $20 · Illinois residents: Adult $27

Price notesPrices from the museum's official visit page. LINK/WIC cardholders are free every day including special exhibitions; Illinois-resident free hours and the Chicago Public Library Explore More Illinois pass: see Perks.

Age notesChildren under 14 are always free, and Chicago teens under 18 are always free (official). The Ryan Learning Center runs family programs for younger children.

BookingAdvance online tickets are encouraged; Illinois-resident free hours can be reserved online in advance.

Suggested timeAbout 3 hours

ParkingMillennium and Grant Park garages nearby (paid); rates not confirmed on the museum's pages fetched.

AccessibilityNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED IN PART (official accessibility subpage 'Visitors Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision', read in this pass; the museum's general accessibility landing page was not opened in this pass and its wheelchair/entrance detail remains still-pending): artwork labels carry key information in Braille; the free official app offers a Multisensory Tour with audio descriptions of selected works and 'The Verbal Description Tour: The Essentials' for blind or partially sighted visitors, and supports Bluetooth audio output for compatible hearing aids and other receivers. TacTiles Kits — tactile reproductions of collection works with color photographs, large-type print descriptions and Braille descriptions — are available free of charge from the Ryan Learning Center, Wednesday-Monday 11:00-3:00 (closed Tuesdays); use outside those hours can be requested via access@artic.edu, which is also the contact for program accessibility accommodations (as far in advance as possible).

Sensory notesNEW, PAGE-VERIFIED (same subpage): the Ryan Learning Center's Multisensory Gallery lets visitors explore materials that make up works of art through touch, sound and close looking, with a Materials Wall covering materials connected to 14 collection artworks (including porcelain, cotton, paper, oil paint, earthenware, egg tempera, glass, bronze, limestone, marble and walnut) and Rubbing Pattern Designs for 8 artworks. Art in the galleries themselves may not be touched; the gallery simulates the experience through play.

Verified perk: Museums for AllLINK and WIC cardholders and anyone in their households receive free general admission AND free admission to all ticketed special exhibitions, every day; present the card plus photo ID at the admissions desk.

Verified perk: Free Hours for Illinois ResidentsFree admission on the third Thursday of every month, 5:00–8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, November 11, 11:00–5:00; and weekdays December 2–18, 11:00–5:00 (until 8:00 on Thursdays). Reserve online in advance; residency is verified by billing ZIP code.

Verified perk: Explore More Illinois (Chicago Public Library)Chicago Public Library cardholders 18 and older can reserve free general admission passes through Explore More Illinois by logging in at chipublib.org/digitalpasses.

Verified perk: Always-Free GroupsAdmission is always free for children under 14, Chicago teens under 18, Illinois educators (voucher + educator ID), and active-duty military (Blue Star Museums; households included Armed Forces Day–Labor Day).