Looking for great date ideas in Chicago? I have put together the ultimate list of the best Chicago date ideas in 2024 – from free and cheap date ideas to special date ideas for those looking to impress.
Whether looking for unique and fun first or second date ideas or the most romantic things to do in Chicago for couples on a date night, you will find the perfect spot for every type of date.
Best Date Ideas in Chicago (2024)
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you make a booking using my links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Most Romantic Chicago Date Ideas
These romantic date ideas are perfect for an anniversary date, birthday, Valentine’s Day or other special date.
Take a Helicopter Tour
If you are able to splurge, a helicopter tour is the ultimate date activity.
Relax in Thermal Baths at AIRE Ancient Baths
Relax and enjoy thermal baths, massages and exclusive rituals with your loved one at AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago. Inspired by the tradition of baths from ancient Roman, Greek and Ottoman civilizations, AIRE Chicago is located in a restored historical building lit by candlelight in River West.
Where: AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago, 800 West Superior St., Chicago, IL 60642
Take a Candle Making Class
Looking for a unique and romantic date night during the weekend? Join this Couples Candle Making Class at Above Average Candle Studio (3414 West Foster Avenue) where you and your date can create a signature scented candle together or this candlemaking class in downtown Chicago at Reggie Hathorn (900 North Michigan Avenue, Level 6).
Take an Architecture River Cruise
An architecture river cruise is a must on any Chicago bucket list for locals and visitors alike.
Listen to Music at an Intimate Candlelight Concert
Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts is a series of special classical music concerts that take place in beautiful venues bathed in candlelight. Some upcoming concerts include:
Featuring Mozart, Bach, and Timeless Composers
A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings
Candlelight: A Tribute to U2
Candlelight: A Tribute to Rihanna
You can find the full list of current candlelight concerts in Chicago here.
Ride the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier
Head to Navy Pier before sunset to ride the large Ferris wheel and enjoy the beautiful skyline views (click here to purchase a fast pass ticket and skip the long line).
Navy Pier offers other fun date activities including the new Flyover Chicago, an immersive flyover experience.
Unique Date Ideas in Chicago
Titanic: The Exhibition
Titanic: The Exhibition is a unique date idea in the Chicago suburbs. This interactive experience allows you to step inside recreations of the Titanic’s interior. Immerse yourself in the stories of its passengers, see hundreds of artifacts, and discover the tale of the design, creation, launch, maiden voyage, and tragedy of the historic ship.
Where: 4963 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, IL 60077 (about 17 miles from downtown Chicago)
Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop
Grab some spray paint and unleash your inner street artist at a Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip Urban Art Workshop. This interactive spray paint workshop will teach you the ins and outs of working with spray paint and other elements of graffiti and street art as you create your own painted mural.
Where: Studio W.I.P. at The Chicago Kedzie Plaza, 800 North Kedzie Avenue, Unit 208
Hold and Feed a Bunny
Looking for a unique thing to do in Chicago? Visit the Cuddle Bunny in Chicago, where visitors can pet and feed bunnies. Cuddle Bunny also hosts special events like yoga and story time.
Where: Cuddle Bunny, 2901 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Where: 917 W 18th St, Chicago
Dine in the Dark While Blindfolded
Looking for a unique dining experience? Dining in the Dark (Hubbard Inn, 110 W Hubbard) is a gastronomical experience that invites you to explore the full potential of your taste buds in a uniquely entertaining atmosphere. While blindfolded, you’ll enjoy delectable surprise dishes and feast on an entire meal without using your sight, thereby enhancing your other senses. There are three menus to choose from including a vegan option.
Fun Chicago Date Ideas
Visit an Escape Room
An escape room is a fun date activity. You and your date will work together to find clues, solve puzzles, and complete a mission with this escape room game.
Watch a Drunk Shakespeare Play
Join The Drunk Shakespeare Society for an unforgettable evening of Shakespearean revelry. Set within a speakeasy, five actors attempt to perform a Shakespearean play after one of them downs multiple shots of various alcohols. Every show is different depending on who is drinking and what they’re drinking. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
Where: The Lounge At The Lion, 182 North Wabash Avenue
See a Magic Show
Take your date to a magic show. Chicago Magic Lounge (5050 North Clark Street) gets rave reviews. Another great magic shows is Trickery Chicago Magic Show (3453 N Halsted Street).
Laugh at a Comedy Show
If you want to make your date laugh, take them to one of Chicago’s many comedy clubs. Second City (230 W North Ave) is known for its many famous alums, including Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell.
Other great comedy clubs include iO Chicago (1501 N Kingsbury St) and Laugh Factory Chicago (3175 N Broadway).
Museum of Illusions
The Museum of Illusions Chicago (25 E Washington St) offers an interactive, immersive and fun experience. Visitors can engage in over 80 astonishing and mind-bending exhibits that will teach you about vision, perception, the human brain and science. You can buy a timed entry ticket here.
Visit the Color Factory
Color Factory (320 W Jackson Blvd), an interactive art museum located on the lower level of Willis Tower, is a sensory celebration of color, with interactive installations, immersive rooms and carefully curated moments inspired by the city of Chicago including its signature ball pit and confetti room.
Play Games at a Barcade
Chicago has several arcade bars where you can have drinks while playing arcade games including Logan Arcade (2410 W Fullerton Ave), Emporium Logan Square (2363 N Milwaukee Ave), Emporium Wicker Park (1366 N Milwaukee Ave), Headquarters Beercade (213 W Institute Pl) and Replay Lincoln Park (2833 N Sheffield Ave).
Play Indoor Mini Golf
Play mini golf with drinks at one of the several indoor miniature golf courses in the Chicago area.
Free or Cheap Date Ideas in Chicago
Visit a Conservatory
There are two conservatories in Chicago that make for a great warm escape on a cold or rainy day.
The Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave) is one of the largest and most stunning botanical conservatories in the US. Often referred to as “landscape art under glass,” the Garfield Park Conservatory showcases thousands of plant species from around the world throughout eight indoor display gardens.
The Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Drive) is a free public conservatory full of tropical palms and plants.
Look for Street Art
Another fun active date activity is walking around the city looking for street art.
One of the most famous murals in Chicago is Greetings From Chicago Mural at 2226 N Milwaukee Ave, in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. You can see this mural and other street art on this street art tour.
Relax on the Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk is one of the best free date spots in Chicago both in the daytime and the evening. There are several restaurants, bars and other places to sit and relax while boat and people watching. The Riverwalk is located along the south bank of the Chicago River from Lake Michigan to west of Franklin Street – you can find a map of attractions here.
Watch Digital Art at Art on theMart
Art on theMART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, projecting contemporary artwork across the 2.5-acre river-façade of theMART. Free 30-minute program of projections are shown twice nightly. Spectators can watch the show from the jetty section of the Chicago Riverwalk on Wacker Drive between Wells Street and Franklin Street.
Walk the Lakefront Trail
What is more romantic than a walk on the beach? Couples can walk along the Lakefront Trail, a paved path on a 18-mile-long stretch along Lake Michigan.
Even if the weather is too cold to enjoy the beach, the Lakefront Trail has some of the best spots to sit down, relax and enjoy Chicago skyline views.
Here is a map of the Lakefront Trail as well as its access points.
Take a Water Taxi to Chinatown
A great cheap date idea is to take a water taxi to Chinatown. In addition to eating and walking around Chinatown, you can relax and enjoy Ping Tom Memorial Park, which has unique skyline views.
Visit Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is one of a few free admission zoos in the United States and is a fun spot for a day date. You can also visit the zoo in the evening for special after hour events throughout the year as well as ZooLights during the Christmas holiday season.
More Great Date Ideas in Chicago
Still looking for date ideas? Here are more good date ideas in Chicago.
Enjoy the Views from 360 Chicago
360 CHICAGO (formerly John Hancock Observatory) on the 94th floor of the 875 North Michigan Avenue (the building formerly known as the John Hancock Center) has an observatory with great panoramic views of Chicago. The highlight is TILT an enclosed moving platform that tilts you out over Michigan Avenue. Click here to buy a skip the line ticket). You can also visit BAR 94 which has a full 360-degree view of Chicago.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave) is a great choice for a daytime date but it has extended hours (until 8 p.m.) on Thursdays. In addition to its large permanent collection of art from around the world, you can see rotating exhibitions.
Click here to buy a skip the line ticket if you want to avoid long lines.
Adler Planetarium
Look at the stars inside the Adler Planetarium. Experience hands-on, minds-on activities, experiences, and shows about the universe and see their award-winning sky shows. The Planetarium is open late every Wednesday night (until 10:00 pm). Wednesdays are also free Museum Entry for Illinois residents with proof of residency.
Tip: If you are visiting a few museums and indoor attractions, consider purchasing a Chicago CityPASS or Go Chicago Card to save money on entrance fees.
Go Indoor Skydiving
Go indoor skydiving at iFLY Chicago – Lincoln Park (800 W Scott St).
Have Dinner at an Intimate Restaurant
Some of the most romantic restaurants in Chicago to take your date include:
– North Pond (2610 N Cannon Dr) – Michelin star restaurant inside Lincoln Park with beautiful views.
– Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf (218 W Kinzie St) – Upscale steakhouse in an ornate, dimly lit wood and brick setting.
– Ella Elli (1349 W Cornelia Ave) – Italian-Mediterranean sharing plates and classic cocktails in an intimate setting.
– Tango Sur (3763 N Southport Ave) – Argentinian steakhouse that is dark and candlelight.
Have Drinks on a Rooftop
Have dinner and drinks at one of the city’s many rooftop bars and restaurants while enjoying amazing views. The best rooftops in Chicago include:
View this post on Instagram
– LH ON 22 (85 East Wacker Drive) – Enjoy classic cocktails and small bites from the outdoor LH terrace of LondonHouse Chicago which offers great views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile.
– Cindy’s (12 S Michigan Ave) – Restaurant and bar on the rooftop of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel located across Millennium Park which offers panoramic instagram worthy views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.
– The J. Parker (1816 N Clark St) on the rooftop of the Hotel Lincoln with great views of Lincoln Park.
– Kennedy Rooftop (1551 W North Ave) on top of the Hyatt Place Wicker Park, has amazing skyline views.
Chicago Holiday Date Ideas
These are the best Chicago date ideas during the Christmas holiday season.
Watch Free Winter Fireworks and Drone Shows Over Lake Michigan
Watch free winter fireworks and drones shows at Navy Pier this December. Drones shows will take place on Friday, December 6 and 13, 2024 from 9:00 pm – 9:10 pm. Fireworks shows will take place every Saturday night (9:00 pm – 9:10 pm) from December 7-21, 2024.
You don’t have to visit Navy Pier to enjoy the fireworks, you can also see them from the lakefront or from a fireworks cruise.
Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience
For those that are young at heart, Winterland: An Immersive Holiday Experience (Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611) is a whimsical holiday wonderland filled with festive delights and sparkling lights.
Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier
Light Up the Lake (Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611) features free outdoor holiday lights and other fun activities and attractions such as axe throwing and a new ice slide.
Chicago Winter Date Ideas
Below are some more date ideas in Chicago during the winter.
Go Outdoor Ice Skating
Hold hands while outdoor ice skating and enjoying the beautiful city skyline. McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (right in front of The Bean) and nearby skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park are both great spots for an ice skating date in downtown Chicago.
Eat and Drink in an Igloo
View this post on Instagram
Have a cozy dinner and drinks date in an outdoor igloo. Here are some of the best outdoor igloos in Chicago open this winter (advance reservations may be required).
I|O at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago (127 West Huron Street)
London House (85 E Wacker Dr 22nd Floor)
Go Outdoor Curling
Take your date to play curling. Curling is a winter sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice or a lane towards a target. Below is a list of places offering outdoor curling (along with drinks):
Gwen’s Winter Curl & Chill – Upstairs at The Gwen (521 North Rush Street)
Harry Caray’s Tavern – Navy Pier (700 E. Grand Ave)
Kaiser Tiger (1415 West Randolph St)
What are your favorite date spots in Chicago?
Planning a trip to Chicago? Check out my Chicago guides and itineraries:
- Weekend in Chicago: 3 Day Itinerary (According to a Local)
- The Perfect Itinerary for One Day in Chicago
- Most Instagrammable Places in Chicago
- Best Free Things to Do in Chicago
