1. Navy Pier

    1. Navy Pier

    0

    Chicago, IL

    Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Updated 2 months ago

    Navy Pier Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Navy Pier

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Navy pier
    Maria B.

    So I went to the Navy pier at night and although it was closed security did let us like walk along the side and it was really cool to see the lake at night. I did eventually get to go to the pier the next day and it was an amazing experience. As a Midwest girly it's always nice to see the lakes up close.

    Crystal H.

    We had a great time at the Navy Pier during our visit to Chicago. We walked around and got to see all the beautiful architecture that surrounds the area and later went inside to explore the shops and restaurants. There is so much to do. They have nice attractions like indoor rollerblading, rides and more.

    Sunset view :)
    Stephanie W.

    Navy pier is an interesting place, and a quintessential American visit spot since it's actually the beginning of the famous route 66 that runs from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles! The pier itself is very long -- if you walk all the way through the shopping area in the middle or along either side of the pier, it takes a solid 30 min or so because it is so long. Inside the shopping area, there are lots of souvenier shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. There is also a hotel in the middle, maybe two hotels actually? I wasn't sure, but there was definitely a check in desk for a fancy looking one. There are some public bathrooms throughout the place too that are fairly clean! At the end of the pier there are some benches where you can sit and look out over Lake Michigan which is so big, it feels like you're looking at an ocean. They have the little coin pay binoculars as well. Lots of folks were here just sitting and hanging out, some couples were here maybe on dates, and some friends etc. just running around and skateboarding etc. It's definitely a chill place to gather. The sunset here is just stunning too, since the sun sets over the high rises in downtown in the distance and casts really pretty colors and light over everything. It's definitely a great place to just walk around, especially in the evenings (before it gets too dark). You can easily come here on the public buses too (it's the end of the line). Would recommend a visit when in Chicago!

    Ferris wheel
    Alejandro C.

    Navy Pier is a winner for families! We spent the whole day here and never ran out of things to do. The food variety is unbeatable -- every taste and every picky eater in our group was covered. The rides were a huge hit with the kids, and there's genuinely something for everyone, from the little ones to the grown-ups. Pro tip for fellow parents: the FlyOver attraction is fun, but it's pricey per person, so build that into your budget if you're rolling deep with the family. Everything else is well worth it. We'll absolutely be back!

    Lydia F.

    I loved Navy Pier. The views of the lake were amazing. We went on a day where it wasn't too busy. The pier has shops, food, and a carnival at the end. It was fun to walk up and down with a view of the buildings on the way back. We had access here for the river cruise and were able to take the bus from our stay on the Loop I thoughy about going on the Ferris wheel, but it was a bit too pricey, and we already had tickets to the sears tower, so that was enough being high up. I definitely would have tried it I'd we hadn't already booked other activities.

    Ariel W.

    One of the highlights of any trip to Chicago is a visit to Navy Pier--a destination where history, culture, and entertainment come together along the shores of Lake Michigan. Originally designed by architect Charles Sumner Frost, the pier opened in 1916 as Municipal Pier. Built at a cost of $4.5 million atop 20,000 timber pilings imported from Oregon, its design was inspired by Daniel Burnham's visionary Plan of Chicago. It was intended to serve as both a shipping hub and a recreational centerpiece for the city. In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier to honor the naval personnel stationed there during World War I. During both world wars, it played a significant role in military operations--housing barracks, a Red Cross station, and training facilities. In World War II alone, more than 60,000 service members trained here, including 15,000 pilots. In a fascinating and little-known chapter, converted Great Lakes steamers were used as makeshift aircraft carriers; many training mishaps sent planes to the bottom of Lake Michigan, where they still rest today. After the war, the pier entered a new phase. In 1946, it temporarily became home to what is now the University of Illinois Chicago, serving returning veterans on the GI Bill. Over the decades, Navy Pier continued to evolve--from hosting the massive SS Aquarama passenger ship in the 1950s to welcoming Queen Elizabeth II during her 1959 goodwill visit marking the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1977 and underwent major renovations in 1994. Since 2011, it has operated as a nonprofit dedicated to public programming and community engagement. Today, Navy Pier remains one of Chicago's most beloved attractions, offering something for everyone. A standout experience is the Centennial Wheel, which provides breathtaking panoramic views of the skyline and Lake Michigan. The ride is both relaxing and exhilarating--a must-do while visiting. There's no shortage of things to see and do. Families will enjoy the Chicago Children's Museum, while theater lovers can catch a performance at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. From immersive film experiences to classic amusements like the carousel, the pier offers entertainment for all ages. Dining options are just as diverse, with everything from casual bites to full-service restaurants serving seafood, pizza, and international cuisine--there's truly something for every taste. Whether you're taking a leisurely stroll, enjoying the lakefront views, or spending the day exploring its many attractions, Navy Pier is a wonderful place to relax and soak in the energy of the city. Its blend of history, scenery, and entertainment makes it an unforgettable destination for both locals and visitors. My visit left me with lasting memories, and I can't wait to return to this iconic gem in the heart of the Windy City.

    Shantell P.

    Laughter was the highlight of the day. We had to laugh to keep from being a smidge upset that almost everything was closed. But what did I expect during a pandemic, right? I guess it would've been better if I hadn't have anticipated going to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant only to find out it was closed as well. There were so many wonders from past vacations that I wanted to introduced to my husband; unfortunately, the only piece of goodness that we got to share from the past were the breathtaking views. We got to see the flowers and fountains in The Crystal Gardens, however, we didn't get to ride the Ferris wheel due to the long wait. The churro ice cream and good vibes were plenty to round out my navy pier exploration. There's plenty of walking, a few places for treats and eats and also rides that are kid friendly.

    Wendy F.

    Beautiful place! Tons of shops to look at and places to eat. Theres a couple of stands along the lake and the views are spectacular. Tons of activities for the kids and family as well. When you walk to the end, you see an amazing view of the city.

    Outside
    Denny J.

    Amazing and beautiful. You can take a nice long walk, look at the boats, eat, drink, take in the sights. There are no bikes allowed so the pace is casual and relaxing. It all ends with a tribute and statue to The Bob Newhart Show. You young folks google that now! This is a place you should visit for sure.

    Max S.

    The Navy Pier is a nice long walk, lined with restaurants, bars, a children's museum, carousel, Ferris wheel, and interesting sculpture. At the end is a large anchor sculpture. On the side is a metal sculpture of a man sitting on a couch with room enough for a selfie. You also get an opportunity to take in the fresh air and ocean view. On the way to the end of the pier, I noticed many restaurants and bars to grab a drink or food. You can also purchase a tickets to take a boat ride. It wasn't until I took the other walkway on the other side that I saw the small amusement park. Because I came in the morning, during the week, it was nice and quiet. None of the restaurants or bars were open yet, and there were only a handful of small parties on the pier.

    Sheyenne H.

    Came here to see a play at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It towards the end of the pier. I commuted this time and got to stroll inside the complex. I enjoyed the exhibits and displays as well as the small shops and kiosks. There are also lots of food options. I opted for IDOF and TeAmo for a light snack after the show. On a good day, one can walk outside as well and enjoy the cool breeze of the lake.

    Melissa J.

    What can I say, Navy Pier is iconic year round, even on a chilly afternoon in April. There is plenty to do for all ages, from The Children's Museum to speed board tours, lounging in the sun, riding the Ferris wheel or peddling g your own pedi cab for 4, not to mention the food and bar options too. So bundle up, put on your walking shoes and explore all things Chicago on the water, don't forget your souvenirs.

    Marquese C.

    Navy pier was cool. Go and ride the huge Farris wheel it offers great views of the city and water. Lots of food options available here as well. Navy Pier is a must see when in the Chi!

    See all

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Wonderful experience, beautiful views, I especially loved that it wasn't saturated with souvenir stands.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Laura D.
    45
    13
    12

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alisa J.
    243
    2065
    7163

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B B.
    13
    62
    4

    11 months ago

    Navy Pier has something for everyone. There are restaurants, shopping, entertainment, etc.; something for people of all ages.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mari H.
    814
    819
    5441

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joseph G.
    2198
    2906
    40320

    6 years ago

    Helpful 31
    Thanks 0
    Love this 32
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma N.
    111
    384
    1638

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A.C V.
    1
    55
    33

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steven W.
    210
    190
    156

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judit C.
    410
    378
    14804

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian V.
    0
    65
    217

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike F.
    2090
    979
    11335

    4 years ago

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 0
    Love this 29
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 4 of 38

    Navy Pier Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Navy Pier

    Is the carousel reopened and how much is it?

    Last I knew the carousel was open. However I don't know how much it costs.

    Is the carousel still there?

    Yes

    Wanted to check out the garden is that free?

    Yes, it is ?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Navy Pier

    Fun to walk around the shops inside and of course ride the Ferris wheel and walk along the pier outside.

    Mentioned in 455 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Skydeck - NEVER FORGET (look closely)

    Skydeck

    3.5(955 reviews)
    1.8 miThe Loop

    We started our Chicago adventures by visiting the sky deck and Willis Tower. We had a great time…read morelearning about the history of Chicago. We purchased city pass tickets since we were visiting for a couple of days and chose the sky deck as one of our activities. They recommend making a reservation through the app so you can book the time you'd like to visit. Once we were in we went through the experience where we got to see exhibits and take fun pictures throughout. From there we took the elevator to the 103 floor to see the sky deck. The views of the city are super beautiful and of course we have to get our fun photos from the ledge!

    The overall experience and the downstairs museum detailing the city's history (with its great…read moredisplays and model train) are wonderful. However, the operations leave a lot to be desired. While a 90-second time limit makes sense on a packed day, on a slow day with only 10-20 people in line and 4 decks available, they should easily extend it. Instead, they cram multiple groups into one deck--forcing our party of four adults to share tight space with two strangers--and strictly require everyone to enter simultaneously. By the time you get settled and overcome any nerves, your 90 seconds are already up. We would have rated our experience much higher, but an employee soured the end of our visit. When we politely asked him to take a photo, he rudely and repeatedly barked that he would only do so if we left immediately afterward, even though we had timed our visit and were barely over the limit. Great attraction, but better customer service and flexibility are desperately needed.

    Photos
    Skydeck - Use your phone flash!

    Use your phone flash!

    Skydeck - Read sign if it's not obvious.

    Read sign if it's not obvious.

    Skydeck - Our friend living his best life

    See all

    Our friend living his best life

    Willis Tower - Entrance

    Willis Tower

    3.8(1.5k reviews)
    1.8 miThe Loop

    We visited Willis Tower during our December trip to Chicago…read more We didn't book the ticket in advance because it was cloudy the day before. When we arrived in the morning, the cashier told us that we should wait in the afternoon and hopefully, the sky cleared up. So, we bought the 2pm tickets. Luckily, the fog was gone by 2 pm and the sky cleared up. There were lots of photo props before we entered the elevator. Once we were at the top, there were several spots to experience the Ledge but we had to line up. The line looked long but it moved relatively quick because each family was only given 90 seconds to take pictures on there. Yeah, it was way too little time but you can actually rejoin the line if you're still want to take more picture. Overall, it was a very cool experience to be standing on the glass floor on Ledge!

    I last visit the Sears Tower in 2014 so it was nice to come back and see all that has changed! The…read morestaff were all welcoming and friendly. The food options located in the building are excellent and provide great service as well. I visited the Skydeck which was amazing! I enjoyed learning about the history of Chicago's architecture and taking in the views of the city from the skydeck.

    Photos
    Willis Tower - Chamber music in the sky

    Chamber music in the sky

    Willis Tower - I was too afraid to step all the was back to the outer wall. Others were posing and having a blast. I'd do it again!

    I was too afraid to step all the was back to the outer wall. Others were posing and having a blast. I'd do it again!

    Willis Tower - Lots of fun photo ops while heading up to the tower.

    See all

    Lots of fun photo ops while heading up to the tower.

    Navy Pier - landmarks - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...