I finally visited this landmark for "Caroling at Cloud Gate". Great music, great views, and I was able to grab some fun shots of the sculpture. If you're going for photography, try to make a trip out at night where you can get the lit up skyline reflected in the polished surface of "The Bean". read more

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I was so excited to finally see the "bean" when my husband and I visited Chicago. I am just fascinated by this piece of art. You can't come to the city and not enjoy seeing your reflection and the skyline on the bean. Such a simple but fascinating piece of work. It's a must see if you visit Chicago! read more

Cloud Gate - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Let's be honest, this is a bonafide tourist attraction. Tons of out-of-towners, tour groups, school field trips etc. But if it's your first time in Chicago, it's definitely worth a visit at least once. The reflections, shape, and size of the structure needs to be seen and experienced, even if you're just walking by on Michigan Ave. to get somewhere else. There's truly nothing else like it! To avoid the crowds, get there early. read more

I always say when you travel places always stay away from the tourist hot spots. You seriously don't want to run into a huge crowd and have everyone be in your picture.. If you should go try to avoid tourist. Millennium Park opens at 8am and closes at 11pm. To avoid insanity go as early as 7:30am and no one will be there and go at 10:30pm for night shoots if you don't want hundreds of people in your picture. read more

Long before selfies existed, there was Cloud Gate...aka the Bean. Yet another super touristy thing to do in Chicago that's totally cool once you go. Aside from being bean shaped, which is great because I love beans, the reflections of the skyline and surrounding park are really trippy. Every angle closer or farther away will change your perspective and view. Of course, you need to take a picture of yourself taking a picture. It's way too fun not to do. read more

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This is a very beautiful park! So I thought it was called the bean, but it's actually called Cloud Gate. Maybe it's the center of the clouds? Or the future? ‍ read more

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I looked into this ultra shinny bean and there I was with 84390857239 other me's and 84390857239 Jonny's. I was captured, intrigued, mesmerized to say the least, but eventually I was able to look beyond the hundreds of me's. Luckily, we were here on a December morning which allowed us to have the ultimate photo shoot as there were no other people competing for a closeup. The bean should be renamed to the Cloud Date being that it is the ultimate date spot. I had been here before but never with the boyfriend and with him around I couldn't help being anything other than mushy. I'm almost convinced I was covered in love dust when the bf and I walked across Millennium Park.. If the weather hadn't been so cold I might have kissed him a million and one times, but because of the low Chicago temperature the PDA was kept at a minimum. So if you're looking to score, bring a date and a beverage (vodka in a flask works perfectly). The Chicago skyline seen through the bean will romanticize everything. But beware, if the weather's cold be ready for some snuggling action but if the weather's hot be ready for an intense make out sesh! read more

Cloud Gate - Hi kicks - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Anyone en route to Chicago is (or should be) excited about seeing "The Bean," It's an iconic monument, filmed in many movies, and well-photographed. It's a tourist attraction, yes, but in my opinion, it's also a lot more. Millennium Park, and really, the whole little mile radius around "The Bean" is just quaint and beautiful. You can rent bikes for about $10, the only issue being that you have to check them in every 30 minutes or you get charged extra, but a perfect little day was well spent riding the bikes and becoming familiar with Chicago, Navy Pier, etc. Overall, you can't miss this spot. P.S. - Houston has the sister-bean, if you're ever in Texas to check it out! read more

The Cloud Gate or the bean is a neat little experience in Chicago. It pretty much became Chicago's landmark and it's free so you can come here to take pictures. Don't get too excited, there's not much to do with this but take pictures and the area doesnt really have anything else to do but go on a picnic and take more pictures. I got bored after about ten minutes of being here. I mean, you can only take so many pictures... read more

Cloud Gate - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super cool bean. I would definitely recommend stopping by and checking out the reflections. If you go directly underneath the reflection is unwarped. I have been to Chicago many times, but hadn't stopped by until this last time. It's near the Maggie Daley Park and not too far from Lakefront. Check it out. read more

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I always thought this sculpture was called The Bean - I learned something new, haha! Every time I see pictures from Chicago, this definitely shows up every single time...so when we decided to visit Chicago with our newborn baby, we just had to come here and take some pictures as well! We had a lot of fun hanging out in the Millennium Park - definitely will be coming back again on our next trip! read more

Must see landmark in Chicago...smack dab in the middle of Millennium park...beautiful anytime of year. #SandyFLL read more

I've "bean" wanting to check this piece of public art out forever. On my recent trip to Chicago, we had to come back twice to the Cloud Gate because it's that awesome. The skyline behind on the other side of Michigan Avenue is amazing and you can see it facing it straight on, or reflecting off the bean. Love it! This still piece of public art is probably the most interactive. Clever. read more

Cloud Gate - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cloud gate which is also referred to as "the Bean" is a reflective piece of art that is so large that if you can walk underneath. It is located on the west side of Millennium park on the east side of Michigan Ave between the Art Institute and Randolph St. There is usually a crowd of people gathered around this landmark because it is so unique and definitely a photo opportunity. This thing is so shiny it's like a giant blob of curved mirror. It's something to stop and see if you happen to be nearby and it's makes for some great photos too. Be creative, take a selfie in the reflection! read more

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How cool is this. You can see the reflection for the Chicago Skyline in the Bean shaped mirrored monument. Very touristy but very cool for some great pictures of you or your family along with the skyline. read more

Cloud Gate - Family - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Of all the famous beans I've come across (L.L., Frances and Mr.), this was by far the coolest. It's obviously just a giant mirrored blob, but it's fun. There's all kinds of angles you can work to get different pictures. People stand around in awe of the thing, half expecting our alien overlords to descend from inside. Speaking of inside, the (far-less photographed) area underneath the sculpture is one of the most interesting parts. While I was here, I accidentally ended up in the background of a quinceañera photoshoot. So, sorry and mazel tov, Marguerita. read more

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Absolutely amazing. Photos do not do it justice. Unless you take an amazing photo like I did HAHA ;) You must see the bean during the day and after dark so come twice. The mirrored reflection of Chitown's skyline is beautiful both day and night. If you do one thing and one thing only in Chicago... see the Bean. read more

Cloud Gate - Winter at the Bean. - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicagoans call it "The Bean." Got it? Tourist trap but yes I have posed for pictures in front of it. Keep an eye on your wallet and purse while visiting. read more

I'd seen this piece in pictures and videos for years now but never set foot near it until recently. When I was in Bilbao a couple of years ago, some of Anish Kapur's work was inside the Guggenheim Bilbao designed by Frank Gehry. In Chicago, they sit near each other. In Bilbao, the Gehry is the clearly more dominant piece while in Chicago I feel Cloud Gate owns the title. Possibly one of the most iconic symbols of art in the city proper if not the world. read more

Definitely one of my highlights when we visited Chicago about a week ago. This is one of the "tourist" places we had to go to. Nothing like the pictures because you need to experience this in person. The way the "Bean" is shaped with the design of the mirror-like cover makes it easy for one to take a "selfie". Best time to come here is probably during the winter time as you can see the skating rink steps away from the Bean down below. You can also walk under it and experience the curve-shaped Bean. If you're in Chicago, be sure to make it a must to stop by this place because you won't regret it. read more

Cloud Gate - The Bean - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Le Tour d'Eiffel. Big Ben. the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. the Liberty Bell. the Golden Gate Bridge. niagara falls. the Cloud Gate aka the Bean is definitely on this list of must-see's. of all the tourist attractions i visited in chicago, from the (Sears) tower to the MJ statue at the United Center, the Cloud Gate at Millenium Park was one of my favorites. it overlooks a plaza where people are ice-skating on a snowy winter holiday, there's the Pritzker orchestra pavillion nearby, and the shops, hotels, and river are a short walk away. make no mistake, all roads lead to the Cloud Gate. bring a loved one and enjoy the photo op. -civilities. read more

Cloud Gate - Vader. - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tourist review. My favorite thing in Chicago and probably my favorite piece of art. I don't know what it is about it. Go with low expectations but the size is impressive. Originally influenced by mercury and it is magnificent. I don't know what it is. Maybe in different angles you're able to see yourself or something so simple can gather so many people. **it can be a heavily populated area so prepare for crowds. read more

this is a must when in Chicago, the bean itself is nothing super crazy impressive, but for the brag rights it is a must for sure. there is a whole lot of people here during the day time and it is not easy to take photos while everyone is swarming about however it is worth the visit. the park where the cloud is located is also amazing in itself, this is a place where you can walk around and see so much more art and fun, there are faire happening close by and some amazing things all over, the view of the city surroundings is pretty great around here. just come by when in Chicago. read more

One of the most sought after spot in the Millennium Park. It's a pretty damm interesting steel sculpture which attracts so much attention. Though it's name is cloud gate but it is known more as the steel bean. It looks like a steel mirror to me and it's fun to take pictures around it. The bean is designed by the world renowned sculpture artist Anish Kapoor. read more

Cloud Gate - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is Chicago! Whenever I talk to tourists downtown (I stalk people with maps out or ask people if they want to get in the picture that they're taking), I often ask it they've been to Millennium Park and specifically to the "Bean". This is one of my favorite places to visit to eat a sack lunch on a nice day or just walk by while getting away from work at lunchtime. If I take someone's picture, I'll usually ask them where they're from and often spend a few minutes either talking about their state/country or about what else they should do while in Chicago. I've met people from all over the world and been able to toss out my few words of Korean or Chinese a few times. Yes, I told you that I was a stalker! :-) I seriously think that the Bean is the new symbol of Chicago. I think that it overtook Navy Pier and the Willis (Sears) Tower as a place that you must see. read more

I thought it may be overrated, but I actually really enjoyed coming to "the bean." It's a very cool structure and you can go underneath it as well. I went during labor day, so it was pretty crowded when we went around lunch time. A trick that we found is to go early in the morning when no one is around. It's pretty cool to get a picture with the bean and NO ONE else is in the picture. We arrived at 7am and there were only a few people around. Each of my three friends got to snap solo photos with it. We also went under the bean and it looks like a warped mirror. And then if you get a picture on the side of the structure, you get a nice view of the city in the reflection. I know people don't like waking up early for a vacation, but it's worth it! Go and then get breakfast coffee at intelligentsia down the block read more

Cloud Gate - Crowded bean on Labor Day weekend - Saturday - Public Art Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I can finally say I've bean here! The Bean is definitely a must-go when visiting Chicago. I stayed at the Central Loop hotel, and I was thrilled to find out that the Bean was within walking distance. The Bean is also very close to the Art Institute, another popular tourist attraction. I came during mid-December, and if you're interested in ice skating, there's a rink right next to it! I would recommend paying the Bean a visit during the day and at night...the reflection of the city is to die for. I seriously couldn't get enough. Such a beautiful sculpture in the heart of a beautiful city. read more

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Greetings, from the other "Beantown". Cloud Gate or The Bean as it is also known is as tourist trap as you can get but did you really visit Chicago if you don't grab a selfie? The Bean is in Millennium Park and is surround by many other attractions that you can go to and look at. It's quite the structure to look at. It's big, shiny, reflective, and it's just there. Don't be shy - take out your camera and snap a few photos of yourself. Everyone else is doing it! read more

So while planning our Windy City visit, we made the standard list of places to go...you know, all the major touristy locations, i.e. The Willis Tower, The Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier, various pizzerias, etc. One thing we hadn't even given any thought to was "The Bean", which at least two or three separate people told my wife was a 'must-see' attraction. "You got to see the Bean, it's so cool, it'll be the best thing you see in the city, etc". You get the idea. I guess it was pretty cool but maybe these people talking to the missus (as well as the online reviews I read) sort of blew the thing up a bit too much for us. I mean it is a pretty sweet sculpture and I'm glad I got a chance to see it but we both felt a bit underwhelmed. We looked at it from all the possible angles, it was a bright, sunny day, the crowds weren't crazy and still...I just don't know. Perhaps we were both missing something. It's not the view from the top of the Hancock Building or van Gogh's "Self Portrait" in the Art Institute. It's just sorta cool and something I'm glad I saw and took a few pictures of but was pretty much done with after five or ten minutes. It's just steps away from the amazing Art Institute so I'm sure I'll see it again but would I make another special trip just to look at it? Meh. Maybe it was the hype and maybe we're just creatively bankrupt cynics but I'd have to probably say "no". Sorry, Bean! You're cool just not THAT cool. read more

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This is also something that I visited on my first trip to Chicago but who wouldn't want to see this thing every time you're in town?!!!! It's fun to look at and take pictures with/of. Brilliance is how I define this piece of art. It's really left it's mark. read more

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So if I took a carnival mirror and extended it to a bean shape you would get the The Cloud Gate! No but seriously, the thing is pretty cool. It's located in Millennium Park and you'll see it surrounded by a bunch of tourists that look like they want to mug the thing. read more

This is a tourist must! This is located in Millennium Park. The bean is so cool to see in person. I have seen this in pictures but seeing it in person so way much cooler! read more

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I came here a few weeks ago just as a tourist thing to do. There was definitely a lot of people here including a Youtuber, Cathy Nguyen. I think a good number of people here who were wandering around were also waiting for their turn at wildberry for brunch/lunch. This is part of the giant park so it's in walking distance to two ice rinks, navy pier, Chicago art institute and buckingham fountain. There's bikes rentals near by if you wan to rent them to view the park faster. read more

The Cloud Gate, aka the Bean, is a must see if you are near Millennium Park. Even though I have seen it many times, I always seem to end up back here snapping pictures of the Chicago skyline and shameless selfies during every downtown Chicago trip regardless of the season. It is in my top two favorite pieces of public art that I have seen with my own eyes. I love how it perfectly reflects the Chicago skyline without distortion. There is always a crowd around the Bean, but people are generally pretty friendly in letting you have a turn and taking photos of you with this ridiculously large metallic object. It's fun to visit the structure with friends who have never seen it. Sure, it is basically a tourist attraction but I still find it pretty awesome. I love shiny objects! ;) read more

What can I really say about the magical Bean? It brings people together, and that's what counts. In honor of my one year work anniversary here in Chicago, I've decided to show a little love to the clouds above here in Millennium Park. This shiny, iconic structure smacked in the heart of downtown Chicago attracts locals, tourists, suburbians, freakshows, and everything in between. That is the beauty of it. Every time I've had a visitor to Chicago, there's always one thing they need to do- "we want to see the bean." Sure, why not? In summer it's crowded, in the winter it's covered with a patch of snow. If you go early morning between 6:00 - 7:00, it's virtually empty and tranquil. Must take photos: - One with the bean in the background - A mirror pic with the reflection on the side (don't touch it though, it's nasty) - One facing the inside and making it look like a kaleidoscope Thanks Bean for reminding me of this fantastic city that I live in. read more

There's a lot of people in Millennium Park. The place is totally amazing. We take a picture with this larger than life shiny bean in front of the tall buildings. It was so crowded.The cloud gate is a public shiny kidney bean-shaped by an Indian. This is the centerpiece of AT and T Plaza at Millennium Park. I was very amazed by this beautiful place. The immense mirrored sculpture is made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together and placed on the ground.its about 10 meters tall,with a base of about 20 by 13 meters. Thats what it takes-smaller is not possible. It's striking:the city of Chicago is the right place for Cloud Gate,with a very simple surrounding geography. It is gorgeous night and day,when the weather is good and when it is not.If you want,you can even walk underneath to hide everything read more

I fell in love with this place. The place is amazing and it's huge. Lots of walking but worth it to see the park. I'm impressed with the bean; the cloud gate how it's made a become well known. It is one on the most visited landmark in Chicago. What I like too is that there are more nearby things to do here, like the museum, buckingham fountain, the waterfalls, restaurant and shops. This place is good for walking or running. read more

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Who doesn't love the Bean? I've lived here for years, I can see it out my window, I walk past it all the time, and I still look at it with some measure of awe. I love the Chicago skyline, and the bean somehow makes it look even better. The people watching is great - I was just here yesterday and a wedding party was having photos done. It's amazing what weird things people do for photo ops and to see their reflection. Endless entertainment. The bean is a great equalizer - complete strangers standing near each other will start talking about the bean - it's just that cool. It's beautiful in all 4 seasons, because it's truly a reflection of the City and its residents and visitors. My favorite is early, early in the morning, just before sunrise during the off season. You get the whole bean to yourself, and some quiet time to reflect on the reflections. It's pretty awesome. read more

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Being a Tourist in the state of Chicago, you have to make it to The Cloud Gate aka "The Bean". We made the mistake of coming here late in the day and on a weekend so it was pretty packed. It is definitely a must see landmark. Plus, you're in Chicago so why not?! We wanted to take pictures with our legs on it but several parts of "The Bean" needed to be cleaned and wiped down. It's still worth it plus you can walk around Millineum Park for other things like rock climbing and etc! But foreal go because it's truly beautiful. read more

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It's just a gigantic shiny bean, but seriously...it's such a cool piece of art! :) As a former photographer, I can definitely appreciate the bean because you can take some great shots from many different angles! I love the distorted reflections you can see of yourself and others - so unique! The bean is situated right in the midst of Millennium Park, so you can also check out the waterfalls and pretty view right next to it. Also, the Art Institute is right next door! This is an awesome Chicago attraction that shouldn't be missed! read more