There are amazing things to do alone in Chicago if you want to have a great time by yourself! Solo travel in Chicago is incredible because of all these fun activities.
If you're in the state of Illinois in the United States, Chicago is a place you should definitely see! It's one of the largest cities in the country and there are many things to do. The city is famous because of its incredible skyline, museums, and more.
If you're in the city by yourself, there are many fun activities you can do. This makes solo travel in Chicago incredible! For example, learn how to climb, or play sports with others. Or you can do a donut tour! But there are also great activities that allow you to learn about the city. Whatever you prefer, it's possible in the city!
It's a lovely city to be if you want to meet others. And the city also is perfect if you want to relax by yourself. There are many things to do alone in Chicago, so there will definitely be some activities you love!
1. Do a Pizza Tour
One of the most famous things about Chicago is the Chicago-style pizza.
This is a delicious type of pizza that you have to try when you are in the city.
A great way to try the different pizzas in the city is through the "West Loop Pizza Crawl". This is one of the best things to do alone in Chicago if you like food.
During this experience, you'll explore West Loop and you'll go to 4 different pizza places. Between the places, you walk.
A local guide leads you around and shows you the different places.
At each place, you'll try out different styles of pizza.
In total, you'll get to know 10 different styles of pizza, including the Chicago deep dish! This is amazing for solo travel in Chicago.
2. Take Part in a Chicago Lakefront Segway Tour: Great Thing To Do Alone in Chicago To Explore the City
Do you want to explore the city of Chicago? But do you want to do this in a unique way?
Then a Chicago Lakefront Segway Tour is for you!
This is one of the best things to do alone in Chicago to see the city for sure.
During the tour, you'll see Chicago's lakefront, the parks, the skyline of the city, and more, which is great!
Along the way, a guide tells you all about the places you visit.
A segway is a great way to do a tour. You can cover larger distances and it is very fun to ride one. This is so much fun for solo travel in Chicago!
Also, as you do this tour with other people, you can meet new people at the same time, which is great.
3. Tour the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the best places in the city if you want to see art.
That's why I recommend going here during solo travel in Chicago!
At the museum, you find a large collection of art from all over the world. Moreover, the artworks are from all periods of time.
And there are many types of artworks here. For example, there are paintings, sculptures, and more!
This makes the place very interesting to visit!
One of the best things to do alone in Chicago is to do an audio tour of the museum.
The museum has audio tours that can lead you through the museum's collection. That way you can also learn more about the works you find in the museum, which is great!
4. Go on a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: Perfect Thing To Do Alone in Chicago To See the Sights
Another one of the best things to do in Chicago is to do a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Chicago!
During this activity, you can ride a bus through the city.
With this tour, you visit the city's main sights, which is great! At every stop, you can go out and discover that particular part of the city. Then when you finished, you can board the bus again!
Along the way you get a lot of information about the places you visit during the bus tour. So this is very interesting and perfect if you want to learn something.
This is one of the best ways to get to know the city during solo travel in Chicago!
5. Attend an Event at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Another one of the best things to do alone in Chicago is to attend a talk at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
During this, you can learn more about the awesome collection of the museum!
And what's great is that you can also meet other people that attend the lecture at the same time. This makes it possible to make some friends as well.
This is definitely great for solo travel in Chicago if you like contemporary art!
6. Do a Guided Architecture Cruise on the Chicago River
A guided architecture cruise on the Chicago River is also one of the best things to do alone in Chicago!
This is an amazing activity where you can learn more about the buildings of the city.
You board a boat and see the skyscrapers from the Chicago River during this tour.
Along the way, a live guide explains everything there is to know about the buildings.
Not only is this a very interesting activity, but it is also an activity where you can make some friends.
The cruise takes about 1.5 hours in total.
7. Do a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Chicago
You can do a self-guided GPS walking tour of Chicago. This can be very interesting for solo travel in Chicago if you want to see the sights.
For this, you only need your phone and of you go! You follow an audio guide that leads you through the city.
You can choose which tour you like to do and see some of the city's highlights.
What's great about this activity, is that you can completely focus on what the city has to offer. This allows you to take in more of the city than you would do otherwise!
8. Play Sand Volleyball With a Group: Perfect Thing To Do Alone in Chicago To Make Friends
Another great activity during solo travel in Chicago is playing sand volleyball!
If you want to be active when you are in the city, this is a lovely activity.
One of the best ways to do this is through the Meetup group "Oak Park Sand Volleyball".
This group organizes games in Oak Park that you can attend! It's one of the most fun things to do alone in Chicago.
What's great is that these events are suitable for all levels and ages, so everyone can come and play!
9. Relax at the Garfield Park Conservatory
If you want to relax when you are in the city of Chicago, you should definitely go to Garfield Park Conservatory.
This is a very large and beautiful botanical conservatory.
At this place, you find a lot of different plants that are stunning to see.
You can go here for a relaxing walk, which is great to do alone. When walking here, you can completely focus on nature!
If you like nature, you should definitely see this place.
10. Do a Graffiti Workshop: Fun Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Love Being Creative
Another one of the best things to do alone in Chicago is to do the "Spray 'n' Sip Graffiti Workshop".
During this experience, you go to a studio where you can learn more about the art of graffiti.
You get instructions from artists from Chicago and can spray some cans yourself.
At the end of the workshop, you leave with your own graffiti artwork, which is great!
You can learn all sorts of techniques, which is great.
What's great is that you do this experience with others. This allows you to meet other people and you may make some new friends at this place!
11. Explore Nature in and Near Chicago With a Group
There is a lot of great nature in and near the city that is great to explore!
You could do this yourself, or you can do it with other people. And doing it with others is great for solo travel in Chicago!
One of the best ways to explore nature is with a group.
The Meetup group "Chicago Wilderness! Hiking, Nature and Social Group" organizes events for this that are great to attend!
During these events, you explore the outdoors and you can meet some people, which is great! Also, this allows you to make some new friends when you are in the city!
Furthermore, during the events, you go hiking at a beautiful place in or near the city of Chicago.
The distance that you cover during these hikes ranges from 5 to 12 miles (or 8 - 19 kilometers).
12. Walk the Chicago Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk is a public space along the Chicago River. If you're looking for relaxing things to do alone in Chicago this is great.
You find here a lot of things to do. There are bars, restaurants, parks, and more things.
Also, you can walk here, which is a great experience.
Doing so allows you to completely relax when you are in the city.
There is beautiful nature here, and you can get views of the skyscrapers in Chicago, which is great!
It is definitely amazing if you want to relax!
13. Take Part in a Food Walking Tour: Great Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Love Food
Doing a food walking tour in Chicago is another one of the best things to do alone in Chicago!
During this walking tour, you'll get to know the food scene of the city, which is great!
You walk from one establishment to the next and at each stop, you can taste something else!
The tastings are very delicious and a great way to eat when you are alone in Chicago.
One of the dishes you try during this tour is the Chicago-style pizza, which is great!
What's great as well is that you do this tour with an expert guide that can tell you more about the history of the city.
So you can learn more about Chicago's food and the city's history!
What's great as well is that you do this tour with a group. This is a great way to have food when you are doing solo travel in Chicago!
14. Do Activities With Other Women in Chicago
If you want to do something in the city with other women, but it doesn't matter what, this is the activity for you!
The Meetup group "Girls (Women) in Chicago" organizes fun events that are great when you are alone in the city!
The purpose of the group is to have fun and make new friends while exploring the city.
Each event is different, which is great! This allows you to choose an activity you like and do that one. At the events, you'll have a very social time, which is great.
15. Do a Tour of the Field Museum
When you are in the city, you should definitely visit the Field Museum.
This is a great natural history museum. And it is one of the largest of its kind in the world, which is amazing.
You find here a very interesting museum that focuses on natural history. You can see here artifacts, fossils, and more!
One of the best things to do alone in Chicago is to do a tour of the museum.
During a public tour, you can learn more about the museum's highlights! And at the same time, you can interact with other people that do the tour!
When you want to do a tour of the museum, check their website before visiting if the tours are available!
16. Learn How to Climb: Nice Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Like Being Active
One of the best things to do in the city is to learn how to climb.
Climbing is a great way to get active when you are doing solo travel in Chicago.
The best place to do this is at First Ascent Climbing.
You find here climbing walls that are very fun to ascend!
If you are a beginner or you are new to the place, you can get a special introduction, which is great!
17. Explore the City During a Bike Tour
Exploring the city by bike is one of the most fun ways to see the city!
Doing a bike tour of Chicago allows you to cover a very large part of the city in a short amount of time!
The total tour takes about 4 hours and along the way, you'll learn about the places you visit from a local guide!
You go to several neighborhoods and you'll visit some very historic places, which is great!
Also, you can do this tour with other people, which allows you to make some new friends!
18. Play Sports Together with a Group: Amazing Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Want To Meet Others
If you want to socialize and get active when you are in the city, this is the activity for you!
At Chicago Sport & Social Club, you can play a large variety of sports together with others, which is great!
The sports that you can play here include ping pong, soccer, tennis, and more.
If this sounds like something for you, then you should definitely join the club! It's one of the best things to do alone in Chicago if you like sports.
19. Take Part in a Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour
If you want to learn about the darker side of the city of Chicago, this tour is for you!
During the "Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour", you'll learn more about the dark history of the city.
You'll learn about the historic stories of gangsters and ghosts in the city. And you visit specific places that related to those stories.
For example, you go to a place where gangsters, such as Al Pacone, partied and hang out!
The tour takes about 2 hours in total, and a local guide shows you the way!
Also, you'll do this tour with other people, which allows you to make friends during solo travel in Chicago!
20. See a Show at the Chicago Theatre
Another one of the best things to do alone in Chicago is to see a show at the Chicago Theatre!
The Chicago Theatre is a historic place where plays, magic shows, concerts, and more take place.
During solo travel in Chicago, it is great to attend such an event here.
Going here alone allows you to completely focus on the event, which adds to the experience!
Besides that, the theater looks very beautiful. It's great to see it from the outside as well.
21. Do a Donut Tour in Chicago
Doing a Donut Tour in Chicago is another lovely solo activity in Chicago!
During this tour, you'll explore the city's donuts!
Together with a local guide and others in a group, you visit many places related to donuts.
For example, you'll go to Doughnut Vault where you can have delicious donuts! And you visit several other donut shops, which is great.
Along the way, you'll learn about the history of the city and all the places you visit!
What's great is that you do this tour with other people. This is very fun during a solo trip to Chicago!
22. Participate in Cooking Classes at the Chopping Block: Great Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Love Food
Having dinner during solo travel can be boring. But a great way to make it more interesting is through cooking classes!
One of the best places for this is The Chopping Block.
Their classes allow you to cook something delicious, while you'll learn new skills! If you like food, doing classes here is one of the most fun things to do alone in Chicago for sure.
Furthermore, you do this in the company of several other people, which is great!
23. Play Pickleball
You might not know about the game of pickleball, but it is great.
When you are doing solo travel in Chicago, you should definitely play it!
Pickleball is a paddle sport that looks a bit like tennis and ping pong.
The Meetup group "Pickleball in Chicago" is great for getting to know the sport!
This group organizes events that you can attend!
What's great is everyone can take part in the events, even if you don't have any experience! So it's one of the most fun things to do alone in Chicago for everyone!
24. Rent a Bike and Explore the City on Your Own
Another one of the best things to do in Chicago is quite simple but very fun!
You can rent a bike somewhere in the city and go biking through the city.
There are many bike lanes and paths, which is great.
If you explore the city by bike, you are able to cover large distances and see a lot of the city.
This way, you can also see some of the sights in the city.
25. Relax at the Chicago Botanic Garden
One of the most relaxing places in the city is the Chicago Botanic Garden. This is perfect for solo travel in Chicago if you want to relax.
There you find 27 different gardens that are all different.
In each garden, you can discover new plants and flowers, which is great!
Also, there are many walking paths in the gardens that make it possible to go for a relaxing walk.
It is one of the best things to do alone in Chicago because you can completely focus on the nature of the garden.
26. Do an Indoor Skydiving Experience: Amazing Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Want To Have Fun
You can do a Chicago indoor skydiving experience by yourself!
During this experience, you can experience the feeling of skydiving from a plane. But, you don't have to jump from a place during this activity.
Instead, you float on a stream of air while an instructor helps you.
In total, you can do 2 flights of 1 minute. And these flights are very fun during solo travel in Chicago.
Also, what's great is that you don't need to have experience to do the flights!
27. Visit the National Museum of Mexican Art
The National Museum of Mexican Art is a wonderful fine arts museum in the city. If you love art, going here is one of the most interesting things to do alone in Chicago. This museum focuses on Mexican, Chicago, and Latino art. And there is a large permanent collection of works.
Seeing the permanent collection by yourself is very interesting. When you go here by yourself, you can completely focus on what you see as there are no distractions.
Also, there are often exhibitions at the museum for a limited amount of time. These can be great to attend as well!
28. Do a Lake Michigan Skyline Sightseeing Cruise: Nice Thing To Do Alone in Chicago To Learn About the City
Doing a Lake Michigan skyline cruise can be great during solo travel in Chicago.
This is a cruise on Lake Michigan from where you can have an amazing view of the skyline of Chicago.
Also, you can see some of the most famous sights and great architecture of the city during this tour.
While you see this, you can get live commentary, which is very interesting!
29. Play Games With a Group in Chicago
Here's one of the best things to do alone in Chicago if you like to play games.
You can join the "Chicago Game Lovers" Meetup group.
This is a very large group with thousands of members. And the group organizes all kinds of events through which you can play games with others and have a fun time.
For example, there are board games events.
Moreover, these events take place at a lot of different places in the city. For example, they take place at local bars. And there is likely an event taking place near you.
30. Join a Film Club in Chicago
Do you like movies? Then, going to an event of the "Chicago Film Club Meetup Group" can be great during solo travel in Chicago.
Through this group, you can connect with other people to see movies together. Moreover, the type of film that this group focuses on is classic films.
The events take place at movie theaters in the city. And during the events, you can see the movie together and talk about it afterward, which is great!
31. Do a Guided Tram Tour of the Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is a wonderful place with beautiful nature. There is a varied collection of trees and a lot of other nature at this place.
In total, there are more than 200,000 plants and more than 4,000 species of trees.
When you're in the city, you can do a guided tram tour of the arboretum, which is very interesting.
During this tour, you ride a special tram through the arboretum and learn a lot of things at the same time. Also, you can see a lot of the arboretum's nature during this 1-hour tour. So for those who love nature, this tour is one of the most amazing things to do alone in Chicago.
32. Join a Group and Socialize and Have Coffee: Amazing Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Want To Make Friends
If you want to socialize with others, this is a great activity during solo travel in Chicago for sure.
Through the "Coffee Tea and Talk" Meetup group, you can go to special meetups to meet new people and make new friends.
These meetups take place at coffee shops in the city and you can have a cup of coffee or tea, which is great.
Also, what's great is that the events each time take place at a different coffee shop in Chicago. That means that you can get to know the city's coffee shops through this group as well!
33. Do a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Soldier Field
The Soldier Field is a stadium that is in use for a variety of things. One of these is to serve as the home of the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Fire FC. Two professional sports teams.
That's why, if you like sports, it is a lot of fun to do a tour of the Soldier Field.
You can do a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium and see a lot of areas of the stadium. For example, you'll go to the skyline suite during this tour. Also, you get information about the stadium along the way and learn about its history.
34. Go to the Chicago Cultural Center and Do a Building Tour
The Chicago Cultural Center is a historic place where a lot of exhibitions take place that can be great to go to.
Moreover, the building dates back to the year 1897 and has an amazing design. For example, there is a very beautiful glass dome and there are a lot of decorations.
You can do a building tour of the Chicago Cultural Center, which is a free docent-led tour. Through these tours, you can learn about the history and architecture of the center. So if you like history and architecture, this tour is one of the most interesting things to do alone in Chicago.
35. Join a Park Tour at the Lincoln Park Conservatory
The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a conservatory and botanical garden in Lincoln Park.
You can find the Lily Pool very close to this place. This is a very beautiful place with nature as well.
One of the most interesting things to do alone in Chicago is a tour of the Lincoln Park Conservatory and Lily Pool.
During such a tour, an expert guide shows you the highlights of the nature and gives you a lot of information. For example, you can learn about the history of the place during these tours.
Also, you can do other special types of tours at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. These tours can also be great for solo travel in Chicago.
36. Do a Guided Tour of the Robie House: Nice Thing To Do Alone in Chicago If You Like Architecture
You can do a tour of the Robie House, which is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
During a guided tour of the building, you can see the interior and learn about the architecture from a guide.
Also, you can do a self-guided audio tour of the building, which can be great too!
37. Do a Tour of the Wrigley Field
If you like baseball, doing a tour of Wrigley Field is perfect for solo travel in Chicago. Wrigley Field is a stadium where the Chicago Cubs, a professional baseball team, plays.
During a public guided tour of the stadium, you can see a lot of places that the regular public doesn't see. For example, you can visit the Press Box during this tour.
Also, you can learn about the history of the stadium through this tour, which can be very interesting. And each tour takes about 90 minutes.
38. Join a Group and Check out Indie and Local Music Events With Others
If you like music, then this is one of the best things to do alone in Chicago. The "Chicago Indie and Local Music Meetup" group can be great to join if you like independent and local music.
This group hosts meetups via which you can explore the indie music of Chicago with others. These meetups take place at various venues and through them, you can enjoy the music with a group.
These music meetups are a lot of fun and a great way to make some new friends in Chicago.
39. Join a Guided Tour of the Glessner House
The Glessner House is a historic building of the 19th century. The architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed it and it is a beautiful place.
Nowadays, it is a house museum where you can join public guided tours. If you're looking for interesting activities for solo travel in Chicago, this is great.
Through these tours, you can see the house's interior and all the historic objects inside it. For example, you can see old furniture and American art inside.
40. Do a Guided Tour of the Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is a very large aquarium that has more than 30,000 animals. Moreover, there are more than 1400 different species of animals, which is amazing!
Doing a tour of the aquarium is for sure one of the most interesting things to do alone in Chicago!
During a tour, you can see the animals of the aquarium in an even better way.
Also, you can talk to an animal care expert and learn a lot of new things from the expert guide.
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