Adler Planetarium Skyline View

Adler Planetarium (Northerly Island / Museum Campus)

A free spot with the entire skyline across the water

Hours

Lakefront always open. Planetarium: Fri-Mon 9am-4pm, Wed 4pm-10pm, Tue/Thu 11am-4pm (mornings for school groups); last entry an hour before close (official site)

Tickets

The view is free; planetarium admission from about $25 per adult, dome shows extra (third-party guides)

Address

1300 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr: the lawn and lakeside path in front of the planetarium, at the end of the causeway past the Shedd

Follow the causeway past the Shedd toward the lake and at the end sits a 12-sided stone building: the Adler, America's first planetarium, opened in 1930. Most people with cameras come for what's in front of it. Across the yachts of Monroe Harbor, the Loop's towers stretch in one line from end to end, and a lot of Chicago postcards are shot from around here. At sunset the glass catches the glow, then the windows light up one by one, all for free. Inside are space exhibits and dome shows.