Booking choice: The lakefront bike tour, 3 hours. Book this See all the options below
At 1,208 acres, Lincoln Park is Chicago's largest public park, running from Grand Avenue to near Ardmore Avenue. It draws about 20 million visitors a year and is described as the second-most-visited city park in the United States.
The plan below starts at the zoo and works through gardens, the lakefront and two museums. If you prefer a guide, see our Lincoln Park tours guide.
The quick answer
Start at Lincoln Park Zoo (free, no reservation), then the Conservatory (free, but book a timed-entry ticket; closed Mon and Tue) and the Lily Pool in season. Walk the Nature Boardwalk to Cafe Brauer, head to North Avenue Beach, and finish at the Chicago History Museum or the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, both ticketed.
Is Lincoln Park Zoo free?
Yes. The zoo states admission is free with no reservations needed, and it is open 365 days a year.
Gates open at 8 a.m. and buildings at 10 a.m.; buildings close at 4:30 p.m. and gates at 5 p.m. The zoo lists over 170 species, including lions, gorillas, penguins, giraffes and snow leopards. Parking is a paid lot, card only.
How do I visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory?
Entry is free, but you need a timed-entry ticket booked ahead; it is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Inside are the Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House and Show House, warm and humid all year. A suggested donation is welcome. It sits at 2391 N Stockton Dr.
See the zoo, the Conservatory and North Avenue Beach on one guided lakefront ride, according to the listing.
Book thisWhen is the Lily Pool open?
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is open daily from 20 April to 20 November, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. or dusk, and it is free.
Redesigned by Alfred Caldwell in the Prairie School style in the 1930s, it is a National Historic Landmark. Enter by the Fullerton gate at 125 W. Fullerton Parkway. The east gravel path is partially ADA accessible; the west stone path has steps.
What is there to see along the Nature Boardwalk and Cafe Brauer?
The Nature Boardwalk loops the South Pond, which the zoo transformed in 2010, and Cafe Brauer sits on its shore.
Cafe Brauer is a 1908 Prairie School building by Dwight H. Perkins, now a cafe and ice-cream parlour on the ground floor. It is a good place to pause before heading east to the lake.
Walk from Oz Park to the Conservatory lawn and the Lily Pond with a guide, coffee and a treat, according to the listing.
Book thisWhich beach is in Lincoln Park?
North Avenue Beach is the best known; it opened in 1895 and is one of seven public beaches along the park.
Nearby, look for Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Standing Lincoln statue near Dearborn Parkway and North Avenue, restored in 1989 by the Lincoln Park Conservancy. Behind the Chicago History Museum stands the Couch Tomb, the last visible trace of the old City Cemetery. Our ghost tour guide tells its story.
Is the Chicago History Museum worth visiting?
Yes, especially for Lincoln fans: it holds Abraham Lincoln's deathbed. It is ticketed, online or at the door.
- Hours: Tue to Sat 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sun 12 to 5 p.m., closed Mondays except select days.
- Address: 1601 N. Clark St.
- Illinois resident free days in 2026 include 8 and 12 October and 11 and 19 November.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, at 2430 N. Cannon Dr., is also ticketed and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on most days. From 2 February 2026 the Butterfly Haven needs a separate add-on ticket for non-members.
Explore the lakefront at your own pace with a half-day or full-day bike, helmet and lock included per the listing.
Book thisHow do I get to Lincoln Park by public transit?
CTA buses 151 and 156 serve the zoo, about 2 miles from downtown.
If you are driving, the zoo's paid lot is at 2400 N. Cannon Drive. Many visitors simply walk or cycle north along the Lakefront Trail.
Looking for Linkin Park tickets?
You may be after the band: this site covers Chicago's Lincoln Park and sells no concert tickets.
Linkin Park named themselves after Santa Monica's Lincoln Park, now called Christine Emerson Reed Park, and spelled it Linkin to get their web domain. If you are in Chicago, though, the park here is well worth a day.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Lincoln Park?
About 1,208 acres, stretching around seven miles along Lake Michigan. It is Chicago's largest public park.
What is free in Lincoln Park?
The zoo, the Conservatory (with a timed-entry ticket) and the Lily Pool in season are free. The two museums are ticketed.
Which days is the Conservatory open?
It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on other days.
Can I see Lincoln's deathbed?
Yes, the Chicago History Museum holds Abraham Lincoln's deathbed. Admission is ticketed.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option, booked on GetYourGuide.
Lakefront Neighborhoods Bike Tour
- Bicycle, helmet and guide; child equipment available
- Meets at Bobby's Bike Hike, 540 N. Lake Shore Drive (entrance on Ohio Street)
- Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park on protected paths
Lincoln Park Walking Tour with Coffee & Treat
- Local guide, about 1.5 miles on foot
- Coffee and a treat from local venues
- Oz Park, Mid-North Historic District, Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond
