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Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Photo: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory Buff

Soldier Field

1410 Special Olympics Drive · Chicago, IL

Why you should go…

Soldier Field opened in 1924 on Chicago's lakefront and was renamed in 1925 for U.S. soldiers who died in World War I. Its Doric colonnades still rise above the east and west sides, kept when the interior was rebuilt in 2002 and 2003. The Chicago Bears have played here since 1971, and Chicago Fire FC and stadium concerts share the calendar. Public stadium tours take you through the visitors' locker room, a suite, the colonnades and onto the field.

  • #nfl stadium
  • #chicago bears
  • #stadium tour
  • #lakefront
  • #war memorial

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Soldier Field, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Field Museum

    $25–$50

    Meet SUE the T. rex and roam ancient Egypt in one of the world's great natural history museums.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Shedd Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Belugas, dolphins, and 32,000 aquatic animals on the Museum Campus lakefront.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Eat & Drink
    Date Night

    Chicago Oyster House

    $50+

    South Loop seafood and steak restaurant near McCormick Place known for fresh oysters and prime steaks.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Buckingham Fountain

    Free

    Grant Park's grand 1927 fountain fires its center jet skyward every hour, with music-and-lights shows after dusk.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Foodie Favorite

    Chinatown

    Free

    You walk under the Wentworth Avenue gate to dim sum houses, tea and ceramics shops, zodiac statues and the Nine Dragon Wall.

    1.0 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Chicago Cultural Center

    Free

    You look up at a Tiffany stained-glass dome and catch free art shows, concerts and tours in the Loop's 1897 People's Palace.

    1.6 mi awayMore like this