The Art Institute of Chicago is an absolute must-see for any visitor to the Windy City. It is conveniently located at 111 S. Michigan Avenue in the heart of downtown Chicago. If you are traveling on a budget, hotels in Chicago near the Art Institute of Chicago that cater to cost-conscious visitors are perfect bases from which to explore this gallery and other sites. No matter what aspect of the world of art interests you, this institution has something spectacular for you to see: ancient Egyptian bronzes, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Greek vases, 19th century British photography, modern American textiles, masterpieces by the most famous names in 20th century sculpture – it’s all here.
For a general overview, take the Highlights of the Art Institute tour. It is free, and is available on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. If you have time for nothing else, go to the anthology of Impressionist Art and see one of the world’s largest collections of paintings by Eduard Manet. The galleries of European and American Contemporary Art include priceless works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Grant Wood, and Edward Hopper. Don’t miss the Great Hall of European arms and armor. It displays 1500 weapons and other artifacts from the 15th to the 19th century, as well as stained glass by Marc Chagall. Kids will love the Kraft Education Center.