Art Institute of Chicago vs Navy Pier: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Art Institute of Chicago first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 83 against 82 for Navy Pier, and it has 46 ranked ways to see it versus 58. Navy Pier is the cheaper entry at $28, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Chicago, pair them: plan Navy Pier in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago

Navy Pier in Chicago, United States

Navy Pier

Side by side

Art Institute of Chicago compared with Navy Pier in Chicago
Art Institute of ChicagoNavy Pier
Ranked experiences4658
Top Outty Ranking8990
Average ranking (top 10)8382
Cheapest experience$32$28
Average time needed2.4h2.1h
Free cancellation100% of options92% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Art Institute of Chicago

  1. 1. Skip-the-line: Art Institute of Chicago Guided Tour

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $71 · 2.5h

  2. 2. Chicago City Minibus Tour

    Outty Ranking 87 · from $50 · 2h

  3. 3. Art Institute of Chicago Skip-the-Line Exclusive Guided Tour

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $90 · 2.5h

  4. 4. Chicago City Tour with Architecture River Cruise Option

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $50 · 2h

  5. 5. Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 83 · from $38 · 2h

All 46 Art Institute of Chicago experiences

Best ways to see Navy Pier

  1. 1. Chicago Bike & Classic Food Tour: Bikes, Bites & Views - Adults

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $89 · 4.5h

  2. 2. Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $37 · 1.5h

  3. 3. Chicago Architecture River Cruise

    Outty Ranking 87 · from $39 · 1h

  4. 4. Chicago's Ultimate City Bike Tour of Top Downtown Attractions

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $59 · 3h

  5. 5. Chicago City Tour with Architecture River Cruise Option

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $50 · 2h

All 58 Navy Pier experiences

Frequently asked questions

Art Institute of Chicago or Navy Pier: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Art Institute of Chicago first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 83 against 82 for Navy Pier, and it has 46 ranked ways to see it versus 58. Navy Pier is the cheaper entry at $28, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Chicago, pair them: plan Navy Pier in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Art Institute of Chicago or Navy Pier?

Ranked experiences at Art Institute of Chicago start from $32 and at Navy Pier from $28 per person.

How long do you need at Art Institute of Chicago and Navy Pier?

Experiences at Art Institute of Chicago run 2.4 hours on average and at Navy Pier 2.1 hours, so both fit in one day in Chicago with a break in between.

Can you do Art Institute of Chicago and Navy Pier on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Art Institute of Chicago options and 92% of Navy Pier options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Art Institute of Chicago: Skip-the-line: Art Institute of Chicago Guided Tour (Outty Ranking 89, from $71). For Navy Pier: Chicago Bike & Classic Food Tour: Bikes, Bites & Views - Adults (Outty Ranking 90, from $89).

More Chicago matchups

Best things to do in ChicagoChicago city guideChicago tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works