25 unexpected things to do in Chicago for FREE

You already know you can walk the Lakefront Trail, visit Millennium Park and take a selfie at “The Bean” without spending a dime. But Chicago has a much more interesting list of free things to do if you know where to look.

Want to see a piece of the Berlin Wall? Search for migrating birds in a hidden lakefront sanctuary? Wander through a Japanese garden with roots in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition? Or see what $1 million in cash actually looks like?

Here are 25 unexpected Chicago experiences that won't cost you a penny.

1. See a castle in the middle of a park

The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park is a hidden Prairie School masterpiece that feels more like a Japanese garden than Chicago. Follow the winding paths, cross the stone bridges and look for turtles, birds and other wildlife. It is one of those places longtime Chicagoans still love introducing to people who have never been.

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2. Watch airplanes practically land on your head

Head to Montrose Beach and look toward the sky. Depending on the runway configuration and wind, you can watch planes approaching O'Hare from a surprisingly close vantage point. It is especially entertaining with a coffee in hand and a little airplane-tracking app on your phone.

3. Visit the city's “floating garden”

The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo is more than a pretty place to walk. The boardwalk crosses a restored ecosystem surrounding a pond, with native plants, birds, turtles and an impressive skyline backdrop. It's a remarkably peaceful escape considering you're steps from some of the city's busiest streets.

4. Explore Chinatown beyond the restaurants

Chicago's Chinatown is worth exploring even when you're not hungry. Wander around the neighborhood to discover ornate architecture, public art, cultural landmarks and the Chinatown Square zodiac sculptures. It is an easy way to spend an afternoon seeing a very different side of Chicago.

5. See a piece of the Berlin Wall

Chicago has a piece of the actual Berlin Wall hiding in plain sight. One section is displayed near Western Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue, offering an unexpected connection to world history in the middle of a Chicago neighborhood. It's an easy stop if you're exploring Wicker Park or Bucktown.

6. Go on an art hunt at O'Hare

You don't need a plane ticket to appreciate the public art at O'Hare International Airport. The airport has an impressive collection of sculptures, murals, mosaics and other installations throughout its terminals. Check out the public areas and turn your next airport errand into a free art outing.

7. Visit a cemetery where Chicago history is buried

Graceland Cemetery is one of the city's most fascinating free walks. The beautifully landscaped grounds are the final resting place of architects, industrialists, politicians and other Chicago figures. The elaborate monuments and mausoleums are worth seeing even if you're not a history buff.

8. Find the Magic Hedge

Birders know this one, but many Chicagoans don't. Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, affectionately known as the Magic Hedge, attracts migrating birds during spring and fall. Bring binoculars if you have them, but even without them, the unexpected wildlife in this lakefront oasis is worth the trip.

9. Visit a Japanese garden with a 1893 connection

The Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park is a tranquil Japanese garden with a fascinating Chicago connection. Its history dates back to the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Today, it offers one of the city's most peaceful free walks, surrounded by trees, water and carefully landscaped grounds.

10. Look up at the world's largest Tiffany glass dome

Walk into the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington St. and look up. Preston Bradley Hall's spectacular Tiffany glass dome is one of the city's great architectural surprises. The building itself is free to enter and often hosts exhibitions and cultural programs.

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11. Watch Chicago's bridges open for boats

Chicago's movable bridges are engineering marvels, and they're still working. When a bridge is raised for boat traffic, stop and watch. Bridges along the Chicago River can provide an unexpectedly entertaining few minutes of free Chicago theater.

12. Walk through Pullman, a neighborhood built as a company town

Head south to Pullman and step into one of Chicago's most fascinating chapters. The historic neighborhood was built as a planned company town in the 19th century. You can walk the streets, admire the architecture and explore the grounds of Pullman National Historical Park without paying admission.

13. See the “Leaning Tower” of Niles

Chicago's suburbs count, too. The Leaning Tower of Niles is a half-size replica of Italy's famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. You don't have to travel to Tuscany — or even downtown Chicago — to see it.

14. Walk around Promontory Point

Head to Hyde Park for a walk around Promontory Point, where limestone steps meet Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline stretches across the water. It's one of the city's most distinctive places to watch the sunset, have a picnic or simply sit and stare at the lake.

15. Go mural hunting in Rogers Park

Chicago's mural scene isn't limited to Pilsen. Rogers Park has an impressive collection of public art, including murals throughout the neighborhood. Turn it into a self-guided walking tour and see how many colorful works you can find.

16. Explore the city's historic elevated train stations

Instead of treating the 'L' as simply transportation, take a ride and pay attention to the stations. Chicago's elevated system is part of the city's architectural identity, and some of the older stations and tracks provide fascinating glimpses of the city that you simply can't get from a car.

17. Find the Wild Mile

The Wild Mile along the North Branch of the Chicago River is one of the city's most unusual environmental projects. Floating gardens and native plantings have transformed part of the river into habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife. It's a fascinating place to see how nature and the city can coexist.

18. Explore the Chicago River's wild side

For a different river experience, head to River Park on the North Side and walk along the river. Away from the downtown skyscrapers and tour boats, the landscape becomes surprisingly natural, with trails, trees, wetlands and wildlife.

19. See Chicago's skyline from Northerly Island

Northerly Island offers something that feels far removed from downtown. Walk along its trails and open spaces with the skyline behind you and Lake Michigan beside you. It is one of the easiest places in the city to feel as though you've escaped the city.

20. Visit the Harold Washington Library's Winter Garden

The Harold Washington Library Center downtown is worth a visit even if you don't need a book. Head upstairs to the Winter Garden, a dramatic glass-enclosed space beneath the building's famous rooftop. It's a surprisingly beautiful place to sit, read or simply look up.

21. Hunt for Chicago's strangest public sculptures

Chicago's public art collection isn't limited to Picasso and “The Bean.” Look for the unusual, abstract and downright puzzling sculptures scattered throughout the city. Make your own scavenger hunt and see how many you can find.

22. Walk through the city looking for architectural details

Pick a street in the Loop and walk it slowly while looking up. Compare Art Deco, Beaux-Arts, Chicago School, Gothic Revival and contemporary architecture within just a few blocks. Chicago essentially gives you a free architecture lesson every time you walk downtown.

23. Go stargazing along the lakefront

Chicago may not have the darkest skies, but on a clear night you can still see far more than you might expect. Find a lakefront park away from the brightest downtown lights, give your eyes time to adjust and look for the moon, planets and major constellations.

24. Explore Jackson Park's hidden corners

Jackson Park deserves more than a quick visit. Beyond the Garden of the Phoenix, explore the lagoon, bridges, paths and landscapes that were shaped in part by the legacy of the 1893 World's Fair. It is one of those Chicago places where history and nature overlap.

25. See $1 million in cash — and take home shredded money

Want to see what $1 million actually looks like without having $1 million? Head to the Chicago Fed Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 S. LaSalle St. The free museum features exhibits about money, banking and the Federal Reserve, along with displays that let visitors see what huge amounts of currency look like. The museum also offers visitors the chance to take home a memorable souvenir: a small bag of shredded U.S. currency that can no longer be used. The Money Museum is open to the public on weekdays, although visitors should check current requirements before going because it is located inside an active Federal Reserve facility. 

The best part of this list is that none of these experiences requires a pricey ticket. They simply require curiosity and maybe a good pair of walking shoes.

Because the real secret to enjoying Chicago for free is realizing that some of the city's most fascinating attractions are hiding in plain sight.