Rainy Day & Indoor Activities in Chicago.
Stay dry with world-class museums, retro arcades, indoor markets, and cozy escapes.
Updated for right now · 16 dated listings
Want a tailored indoor & dry schedule?
Our AI maps out verified venues, coordinates, and exact start times in Chicago.
Upcoming Events & Happenings
Exhibition: Embroidered Traditions from Morocco to Afghanistan
Art Institute of Chicago exhibition.
Exhibition: Self, Made: Fourteen Modern Artists from the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection
Art Institute of Chicago exhibition.
Exhibition: Beatriz González: In Series and Full Color
Art Institute of Chicago exhibition.
Exhibition: The Seasons: Time, Change, and the Natural World
Art Institute of Chicago exhibition.
Hand-Picked Venues & Spots in Chicago
Willis Tower
Soar to the highest US observation deck
The Willis Tower, originally known as the Sears Tower, is a 110-story, 1,451-foot skyscraper in Chicago's Loop. Designed by Bruce Graham and Fazlur Rahman Khan,
Art Institute of Chicago
World-class art museum
The Art Institute of Chicago is a private nonprofit art museum in Grant Park, founded in 1879. It ranks among the oldest and largest art museums in the United S
Trump International Hotel and Tower
Iconic riverfront tower with luxury hotel
The Trump International Hotel and Tower is a 100-story skyscraper in downtown Chicago. Designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, it wa
John Hancock Center
Sky-high views and thrill-seeking TILT platform
The John Hancock Center, officially 875 North Michigan Avenue, is a 100-story skyscraper in Chicago's Magnificent Mile district. Designed by Bruce Graham and Fa
Field Museum of Natural History
One of the largest natural history museums in the world
The Field Museum of Natural History is a private–public institution in Chicago and one of the largest natural history museums globally. It operates in close par
Museum of Science and Industry
Historic palace with a captured German submarine
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is a private non-profit science museum housed in the Palace of Fine Arts, built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposi
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
World-class collection of Near Eastern antiquities
The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia and North Africa (ISAC) is a research institute and museum of the University of Chicago, located in H
Adler Planetarium
America's first planetarium
The Adler Planetarium is a municipal astronomy museum and the first planetarium in the United States, founded in 1930 by Max Adler. Located on the northeastern
Barack Obama Presidential Center
First fully digitized presidential library and museum
The Barack Obama Presidential Center is a museum, library, and education project on Chicago's South Side, located in Jackson Park adjacent to the University of
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Modern art by the lake
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is one of the world's largest contemporary art venues, established in 1967 near Water Tower Place in the Near North Side.
Chicago Theatre
Iconic 1921 theater with landmark marquee
The Chicago Theatre, originally the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, opened in 1921 on North State Street in the Loop. It served as the flagship for the Balaba
Museum Campus
America's first planetarium and four other major attractions
Museum Campus is a 57-acre park in Chicago along Lake Michigan. It encompasses five major attractions: the Adler Planetarium, America's first planetarium; the S
Harold Washington Library Center
Central Chicago Public Library
The Harold Washington Library Center serves as the main branch of the Chicago Public Library system, located just south of the Loop at 400 South State Street. N
Civic Opera House
Second-largest opera auditorium in North America
The Civic Opera House, part of the Art Deco Civic Opera Building that opened in 1929, seats 3,276 in its main performance space. This venue, originally built fo
The Second City
Improv comedy powerhouse since 1959
The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise and the oldest continuously operating improv theater troupe based in Chicago. Founded in 1959, it has be
Harris Theater
Underground theater hosting dance and music
The Harris Theater is a 1,499-seat performing arts venue located along the northern edge of Millennium Park in Chicago. Built in 2002–2003, it sits largely unde
Recently Concluded in Chicago
Exhibition: Beyond Form: Abstraction at Midcentury
Art Institute of Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do in Chicago when it rains?
Visit world-class indoor art galleries, cozy indie bookstore cafes, retro gaming arcades, indoor food halls, and science centers.