10 Rainy Day Date Ideas in Chicago

Explore galleries together for hours at the Art Institute of Chicago, with plenty to look at and discuss on a rainy day. Free guided tours run daily in English at 1pm and 3pm, or follow the self-guided "What to See in an Hour" tour on your phone.

On-site cafes let you take a break without heading back into the rain. The museum is closed Tuesdays, with late hours until 8pm on Thursdays.

Let current exhibitions start the conversation at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Two shows are currently on view: Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón, and City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago.

Stay for a drink or meal at chef Jason Hammel's Marisol Restaurant and Bar inside the museum. The museum is closed Mondays and stays open until 9pm on Tuesdays. Advance online tickets are encouraged.

Spend a wet afternoon wandering through natural history at the Field Museum on Museum Campus. Current offerings include the 3D film T.REX: The Story of SUE, the Pokemon Fossil Museum, and After the Age of Dinosaurs.

Check the Tickets and Pricing page before visiting, since general admission is free on some days.

Sit close beneath a dome full of sky at Adler Planetarium. The newest show, Worlds Beyond Earth, takes you past Saturn's rings, buried oceans, and volcanoes.

Wednesday nights offer late hours and free admission for Illinois residents, making them an affordable first-date option. Adult tickets start at $25 on other days.

Talk about buildings and design at the Chicago Architecture Center, an indoor stop for a rainy-day date. The center also runs walking tours covering Gold Coast Astor Street, River North, and Northwestern University, plus a river cruise aboard First Lady.

It is open until 5pm Sunday through Thursday and until 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Make a rainy evening a film date at Music Box Theatre, an art-house cinema in Lakeview with a golden main auditorium and clouds projected across the ceiling.

Have a cinema-inspired cocktail in the lounge and popcorn topped with real butter. Weekend matinees cost $7 for members.

Spend a full indoor day exploring science together at the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park, also known as the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Anne Frank The Exhibition is free through October 2026.

Advance online tickets are encouraged, so arrange them before you go.

Wander about two acres of public greenhouse on a free rainy-day date at Garfield Park Conservatory in East Garfield Park. Plant collections from around the world fill the glass houses, with seasonal flower shows and evening events offering reasons to return.

Reserve online before visiting. The conservatory is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, with extended hours until 8pm on Wednesdays.

Start a date with a game of ping pong at SPiN Chicago in River North. A farm-to-table kitchen and cocktails let you play and eat in the same place.

Table time costs $29 an hour Monday through Thursday. If you want the date to run longer, Billy Goat Tavern is a short walk away.

For a more offbeat rainy-day outing, explore Insect Asylum in Avondale. The nonprofit museum holds more than 5,000 preserved and live insects and taxidermy specimens, with a small shop too.

Classes include butterfly pinning, owl pellet dissection, and beetle pinning. Walk-ins and appointments are both welcome.