Grant Park vs Navy Pier: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Grant Park first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 83 against 82 for Navy Pier, and it has 53 ranked ways to see it versus 57. With a full day in Chicago, pair them: plan Navy Pier in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Side by side

Grant Park compared with Navy Pier in Chicago
Grant ParkNavy Pier
Ranked experiences5357
Top Outty Ranking9090
Average ranking (top 10)8382
Cheapest experience$10$10
Average time needed2.5h2.1h
Free cancellation100% of options92% of options
Free to visitYesNo

Best ways to see Grant Park

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

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $89 · 4.5h

  2. 2. Chicago City Minibus Tour

    Outty Ranking 87 · from $50 · 2h

  3. 3. 2-Hour Chicago Lakefront & Museum Campus Segway Tour

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $70 · 2h

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

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $11 · 3h

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

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $50 · 2h

All 53 Grant Park 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 $11 · 3h

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

    Outty Ranking 85 · from $50 · 2h

All 57 Navy Pier experiences

Frequently asked questions

Grant Park or Navy Pier: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Grant Park first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 83 against 82 for Navy Pier, and it has 53 ranked ways to see it versus 57. 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, Grant Park or Navy Pier?

Ranked experiences at Grant Park start from $10 and at Navy Pier from $10 per person. Grant Park can also be visited for free; paid options add guides, skip-the-line access or transport.

How long do you need at Grant Park and Navy Pier?

Experiences at Grant Park run 2.5 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 Grant Park 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 Grant Park options and 92% of Navy Pier options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Grant Park: Chicago Bike & Classic Food Tour: Bikes, Bites & Views - Adults (Outty Ranking 90, from $89). For Navy Pier: Chicago Bike & Classic Food Tour: Bikes, Bites & Views - Adults (Outty Ranking 90, from $89).