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Navy Pier

Waterfronts & promenades ·Chicago ·Open now
4.5104K
#2Waterfronts & promenades in the USTravelers' Choice 2026
  • Ideal for kids
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About

Navy Pier is a roughly one-kilometre recreation pier on Lake Michigan in Chicago’s Streeterville neighbourhood, with more than 20 hectares of parks, restaurants, shops, cultural venues and family attractions.

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Navy Pier

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What's on here

Winter Fireworks Winter Fireworks 28 Nov – 26 Dec

Why go

  • The roughly 60-metre Centennial Wheel offers a 12-minute ride with three revolutions.
  • Sightseeing and dinner cruises depart from the pier, as does the tall ship Windy.

Opening hours

Today11:00 – 20:00Show all
Monday11:00 – 20:00
Tuesday11:00 – 20:00
Wednesday11:00 – 20:00
Thursday11:00 – 20:00
Friday11:00 – 22:00
Saturday11:00 – 22:00
Sunday11:00 – 20:00

Don't miss

  • Eastern HallLook for the eastern Hall’s dome, which rises more than 30 metres above ground.At the eastern end of the pier
  • Polk Bros Park and FountainThe entrance park hosts concerts and film screenings beside Polk Bros Fountain.At the entrance
  • USS Chicago anchorThe anchor commemorates the pier’s wartime training role.At the pier’s far end
  • Chicago Shakespeare TheaterInclude the pier’s theater in a visit focused on culture.On Navy Pier

With kids

  • The Chicago Children’s Museum is on the pier.
  • Outdoor park rides include the Pepsi Wave Swinger, Light Tower Ride, Teacups and a carousel.
  • A Drop Tower ride joined the attractions in 2021.
  • The pier hosts children’s activities.

Tips for your visit

  • Groups of 20 or more can get discounted tickets to pier-produced events and attractions, including the Centennial Wheel.
  • Annual pass holders get parking discounts and free Centennial Wheel tickets.

Know before you go

  • The pier hosts fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday nights in summer and Saturday nights in fall.

History

Excursion boats docked here from the start, alongside playgrounds, picnic areas, restaurants and a dance hall. The pier’s three-part building has neoclassical decoration depicting lake plants and animals, with semicircular windows offering a 180-degree view of Lake Michigan. The eastern Hall hosted entertainment and local political life. In the 1986 film The Color of Money, the halls portrayed Atlantic City during the 9-Ball Championship scenes.

  1. 1914–1916Construction began in 1914 under architect and engineer Charles Sumner Frost, following Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett’s plans for Chicago.
  2. 1916Municipal Pier opened to the public on July 15 as a dock and a venue for recreation, expositions and pageants.
  3. 1921The Pageant of Progress drew one million visitors in fifteen days.
  4. 1927The city renamed it Navy Pier to honor naval veterans of World War I.
  5. World War IIAbout 10,000 people worked, trained and lived at the Navy training centre. USS Wolverine and USS Sable qualified 18,000 naval aviators, with more than 116,000 carrier landings at the pier’s docks.
Show all
  1. 1946–1965The University of Illinois held classes at the pier, including for returning service members.
  2. 1974Restoration of the pier’s buildings began.
  3. 1977–1979Navy Pier became a Chicago Landmark in 1977 and joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
  4. 1995The pier reopened as a mixed-use destination on July 12.
  5. 2013–2014The Centennial Vision redevelopment began in winter 2013–2014 to improve public spaces and expand evening and year-round activity.
  6. 2016For its 100th anniversary, the pier unveiled the Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. The redevelopment improved the family pavilion and south arcade. The Polk Family Foundation donated $20 million to the redevelopment.

How to get there

  • BusCTA routes 2, 29, 65, 66 and 124 serve Navy Pier. Buses connect it with Metra and rail stations and “L” stops.
  • CarThe address is 600 E. Grand Avenue, at the end of Illinois Street. Two parking garages and valet parking are on site.
  • BoatSeasonal water taxis connect Navy Pier with other destinations.
  • BikeA Divvy bike-share station and kiosk are in Polk Bros Park at Streeter and Grand.
  • BusIf arriving on a sightseeing bus tour, Navy Pier is a pickup and drop-off point.

Shorts

Interesting facts5

1/5
  1. 20,000 wooden

    The concrete deck rests on 20,000 wooden piles driven 6–9 metres into the lake bed.

    Jetée Navy - Wikipedia

  2. The two western towers were designed to hold water tanks for the fire protection system.

    Jetée Navy - Wikipedia
  3. 15,800 square

    Festival Halls A and B can be configured as a sporting arena covering about 15,800 square metres.

    Navy Pier - Wikipedia

  4. The Burnham Plan proposed five piers for cargo, passengers and recreation.

    Jetée Navy - Wikipedia
  5. 0.4 hectares

    Crystal Gardens occupies about 0.4 hectares beneath a six-storey glass atrium with an arched ceiling about 15 metres high.

    Navy Pier - Wikipedia

Sources: Navy Pier - Wikipedia · Chicago/Near North - Wikivoyage (see) · Home | Chicago's Waterfront Destination | Navy … · Buy Tickets | Navy Pier · Chicago Children's Museum | Navy Pier · Navy Pier - Wikipedia · Jetée Navy - Wikipedia · checked 27 Sep 2026

Where
600 E Grand Ave, IL, Chicago

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

Can I stay overnight at Navy Pier?

Yes. The pier has the 223-room Sable hotel.

Does Navy Pier have a marina?

Yes. It has an all-transient marina for visiting boats.

Is the IMAX cinema at Navy Pier still open?

No. The cinema closed permanently in 2021.

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