Give the Gift of Knowledge this Holiday Season 🌎 Gift Cards for the Curious Traveler

Art Institute of Chicago Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Showcasing iconic highlights and uncovering unexpected delights
From US$322 privately
Book a Tour
Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
Art Institute of Chicago
Photos & Highlights
  • Hosted by a local expert, you’ll enjoy a journey through the museum's vast Beaux-Arts complex, which houses over 260,000 works from all over the world
  • Examine iconic works from renowned artists such as van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Seurat, Hopper, Dali, O'Keeffe, Warhol, and more
Tour Description
Experience the Art Institute of Chicago like never before with a guided tour. Our expert will lead you through the museum's remarkable history and architecture, introducing you to the diverse collections and their historical context. From the iconic works of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist era to the stunning Asian and American collections, you'll discover a world of art that spans five millennia.

Explore lesser-known but equally impressive Medieval and Renaissance collections, and discover hidden gems in the Byzantine and Ancient Galleries. With personalized attention and tailored insights, this is the ultimate way to immerse yourself in the world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago. 
Experts
Samantha Samantha
Local Guide
Sally Sally
Historian
Sarah Sarah
Art Historian
Joe Joe
Local Guide
Your tour begins with an orientation to this overwhelming labyrinth of collections; you'll learn about its founding patrons and deep ties to the history and culture of Chicago. After discussing your party’s unique interests and priorities, we set off into the galleries. During this 3-hour crash course, the identity of each artwork will be placed in context both geographically and thematically. Our route may take a number of twists and turns throughout the museum according to your group's interests. 

Impressionists and Modern Art

The most popular collections within the museum are the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist pieces, so your expert will make sure to discuss a few works within this sphere in detail. With selections from Toulouse-Lautrec to Mary Cassatt, we will select carefully to enable a rich narrative within this era. A must-see in the Art Institute is A Sunday on La Grand Jatte by George Seurat, an example of what is now known as pointillism. If your group is interested, we will devote time to the works of van Gogh, Cézanne, Gaugin, and other famous artists within this collection. From there, we may continue onto the modern collections, picking out revered Picasso’s before studying Chagall’s stained glass.

Asian and American Art Collections

The Asian Collection, designed by Japanese architect Tado Ando, is another highlight of our tour. You’ll experience works spanning nearly five millennia from China, Korea, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and the Near and Middle East. From there, venture into the American Art collection, which is home to iconic pieces like Hopper's Nighthawks and Grant Wood's American Gothic.

Medieval and Renaissance Art 

Your journey continues through the Medieval and Renaissance Art collection, which has recently been restored and offers a beautiful contrast to the more popular styles on show. We may even venture into the Byzantine and Ancient Galleries to examine less familiar periods of art.

Take Aways

Our tour will leave you with an increased awareness of the Art Institute's importance for the city of Chicago and its place on the world stage. You'll gain a fuller appreciation of the museum's eclecticism, architecture, and the movements and eras of art contained therein. Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Art Institute of Chicago.
What are skip-the-line tickets?
For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to skip the ticket office line upon arrival at the venue. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.   

Where You'll Start
(4.86) 75 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Sally was an excellent tour guide - extremely knowledgeable and very well prepared. She made the experience unique and enjoyable. Thank you Sally!
Thank you for tailoring the tour to our preferences!! We really enjoyed it.
We thoroughly Sally. She was very informative.