Anyone with an interest in art or design must visit Chicago's Art Institute, which has a remarkable Impressionist/fin de siécle collection (Seurat's 'La Grande Jatte...', numerous Monets, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gaugin...), an excellent display on the evolution of American art (which exhibits paintings with contemporaneous furniture, ceramics and other items), and such classics of modern painting as 'American Gothic' and... more

Expensive admission but Thursday late-day is free and the Chicago Visitors Bureau may have deals. Stop at the information counter for highlights. There's even a recommended "If you only have an hour" list! If possible, visit the website for podcasts, etc. before your visit. If a docent is giving a tour or a talk in the new Modern Wing, you... more

The Art Institute of Chicago - go early, stay late. This museum has such an extensive art collection - Toulous-Lautrec, van Gogh, Pissarro, Gauguin, Cezanne, Miro, Piccaso, Ernst, Degas, Rodin Monet, Renior, Dali, Matisse just to name a few. Not to mention the various other collections: Roman, African, Asian artifacts; Prints and Drawings, Photography, Film, Video and New Media. My... more

When I heard that the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute was designed by Renzo Piano I had to see it. I was familiar with his work on the new San Francisco Academy of Sciences which I absolutely love. The new modern wing is a light filled space. Many of the gallery windows frame the amazing view of Millennium... more

If you are a lover of art, make time for this museum. The Monet room alone is worth the trip. I have been to musems in many cities and this is one of the best. In addition to looking on our own, we took a free tour with one of the docents, and it was wonderful. more

Newly completed, this is worth the trip alone. Must be one of the most extensive collections of contemporary art in the world. Prepare to have your mind blown. The building is amazing, the connection to Milennium Park over a huge pedestrian bridge is phenomenal and the collection itself unparalled. Do yourself a favor and don't miss it. more

The Art Institute Museum has long been one of the first places I visit when I am in Chicago. The collection of Impressionist works is top tier - frankly, it's a cut above even the Musee D'Orsay in Paris, also one of my favorites. The collection of Chicago architectural elements is dazzling, and sad, too: What fools we were in... more

I wish we could have stayed longer in Chicago- had we doneso we might have returned to the museum/ institute a second time. We went on a free Thursday night- and perhaps had we gone sooner it wouldn't have been so crowded. that said, the fact that a museum, gallery was crowded is a good thing! They had architectual models... more

For any of you that are interested, my 3 top ranked museums in Chicago (and I've visited each more than once): 1. Art Institute 2. Field Museum (close second) 3. Museum of Science and Industry. The Art Institute is my favorite due to the extensive collection of masterpieces (Monet fans, rejoice) as well as the unique collections that make the... more