No trip to Chicago is complete without visiting The Art Institute of Chicago — One of the largest art museums in the world. The Art Institute of Chicago is considered a world-class art museum housing one of the largest permanent collections of Impressionist paintings in the United States. If you are someone who loves exploring art museums, Visiting The Art Institute of Chicago can increase your love and enthusiasm for artworks and artists.
Exploring the collection at The Art Institute of Chicago is a unique experience until you don’t carry your heavy luggage while touring the museum. In other words, To experience and explore artifacts, objects, exhibits, and everything inside the Museum you must free yourself from luggage worries and extra weight on your shoulder. And this is something we have expertise in, and we are here to find luggage storage that lets you enjoy your trip instead of lugging luggage around the streets of Chicago.
Don’t worry! your luggage problem got solutions all around the city of Chicago. There are a few different options to store and we are going to cover them all, but before that let’s take a look at the Art Institute of Chicago and its history.
About The Art Institute of Chicago
Located in the heart of the city — The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. With nearly 1.5 million visitors the Art Institute of Chicago is consistently rated one of TripAdvisor’s Top US Attractions. The museum has a great collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, early twentieth-century European paintings and sculptures, contemporary art, Japanese prints, photography, and much more. If you are in Chicago to explore culture and history, the first place to visit is obviously the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879, and in 1893 the museum moved into its current building. The museum received its largest gift of art in 2015, Collectors Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson donated a “collection which includes works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Jeff Koons, Charles Ray, Richard Prince, Cindy Sherman, Roy Lichtenstein, and Gerhard Richter. Today it has a collection of over 260,000 artworks collected from different parts of the world. The Art Institute is located in Chicago’s Grant Park and it is accessible from both the Van Buren and Millennium stations. One can reach the museum within 10-15 minutes of Downtown Chicago.
Luggage Storage near The Art Institute of Chicago
If you’re taking your luggage to the museum, don’t be surprised if you find that the museum doesn’t offer luggage storage, because it doesn’t actually have one. Well, the good thing is that there are checkrooms for all visitors but bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed inside the galleries. If you’re carrying your laptop backpack or small suitcase you don’t have to worry but if you have luggage don’t even think about storing it while you’re taking a tour. As Chicago isn’t open to luggage due to security, you will not get many options outside. You can only store luggage at Union Station or Greyhound Bus terminal.
But what if you get unlimited capacity for your luggage storage? Yes, that’s possible with companies like BagsAway and Stasher. This is a great alternative if you’re struggling to find secure luggage storage. These companies offer multiple bag-drop stores and locations around the city which makes it so easy and convenient to store and collect your luggage at your convenience. And then you get other advantages such as insurance on your luggage, flexible pricing, and other things as well. If you’re after the ultimate solution for your luggage consider any of these available options near the Art Institute of Chicago and be free to explore Chicago your way.
How much Does it Cost to Store Luggage?
Well, if you store your personal items and small bags within the museum, you don’t have to pay anything. For small bags and personal items, the checkrooms of The Art Institute are free and ideal but for luggage, you need to pay much more than you expect. Storing luggage at Union Station costs $20 per item, You are lucky if you have a valid ticket for the Amartak trains because the cost will be reduced to $10 per item per day. You can store your baggage for $8 per bag for up to 24 hours with Greyhound at their Chicago terminal.
What about the pricing of the companies we were talking about? Well, Well, it is neither very expensive nor very cheap. It’s quite affordable compared to traditional lockers. They have different pricing and it depends on the duration of the service you want. If you want to store for a short duration of 1-2 hours you have to pay an hourly rate of $1-3 per item, but if you want to store for a day instead then you can expect a fixed charge of $6-10 per item. While comparing different providers we found that BagsAway has the cheapest per-day rate which costs you $5.95 per day. While the pricing of other storage providers is slightly up or down but they all have similar pricing which is affordable and flexible.
More Details about The Art Insitute of Chicago
Attraction: The Art Insitute of Chicago
Location: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago
Opening Hours: Monday 11:00 am – 05:00 pm, Thursday 11:00 am – 08:00 pm, and Friday–Sunday 11:00 am – 05:00 pm. (Tuesday-Wednesday Closed)
Parking: Paid parking is available via SpotHero
Contact: +1 312-443-3600
More Info: https://www.artic.edu/
Lost & Found: Lost & found support is as important as storing your luggage. But unfortunately, there isn’t any information on lost & found on the website the museum but you may contact them using their phone or email to report if you need.
What to Expect at The Art Institute of Chicago?
The Art Institute of Chicago features nearly 300,000 artworks from all over the world in its permanent collection, you will find everything from American art created a few decades ago to masterpieces from Ancient and Byzantine times. If you’re someone with an interest in architecture and design, Make sure you explore the Department of Architecture and Design inside the museum which holds more than 140,000 works and covers landscape architecture, structural engineering, and industrial design. The museum is not just about the artwork but it offers much more than that and it has something for everyone. It offers a great opportunity for visitors to explore arts & history, and innovative art techniques.
One of the main highlights of The Art Institute of Chicago is the collection of Ancient and Byzantine art, which spans nearly 4,000 years of art and history showcasing Greek, Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian sculpture, mosaics, pottery, jewelry, glass, and bronze as well as a robust and well-maintained collection of ancient coins. You will get to see around 5,000 works in the collection which takes you through the history of arts at different times and civilizations. Asian art exhibit gallery is something not to miss which features 35,000 objects from China, Korea, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and the Near and Middle East and showcases bronzes, ceramics, and jades as well as textiles, screens, woodcuts, and sculptures.
The Art Institute of Chicago has all other facilities to offer the ultimate convenience to its visitors. It offers a range of accessibility accommodations, resources, and programs designed specifically for adults and children with disabilities. There are many areas inside the museum to sit and rest, there are two stores inside the museum where you can buy some gifts as well. Photography for personal use is allowed inside the museum but don’t carry your tripod and other large photography equipment. There isn’t a café or restaurant but other facilities such as paid parking, and washrooms are available inside the museum.
Best Places to Stay near The Art Institute of Chicago
If you couldn’t find any suitable luggage storage yet then don’t worry! Checking into a hotel is the next option. You can store your luggage safely and you can have a great experience staying close to the attraction as well. But keep in mind that not all hotels provide facilities for luggage storage, only some of them do have dedicated baggage storage which is available for guests. If you are looking for a hotel close to the Art Institute of Chicago, here are the top hotels you can check out.
HI Chicago Hostel
One of the best budget-friendly stays close to The Art Institute of Chicago, It’s a 3-minute walk from Harrison subway station, and this trendy hostel in The Loop is a 9-minute stroll from Grant Park and a 15-minute walk from the observation deck of Willis Tower. You’ll find some of the city’s favorite places to eat, drink, play, and explore. It doesn’t offer much but it’s also an affordable hotel. It costs around $80 per night.
Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago
A two-star hotel that offers everything you need. It is a 5-minute walk from Harrison Metro Station, It takes only a few minutes to reach the museum from the hotel. It is 1.3 miles from Millennium Park and 2 miles from the John Hancock Center. Amenities include a Thai restaurant, an eatery offering regional fare, and a laid-back bar. There’s also an airport shuttle. It costs around $150 per night but depends on the booking sites.
The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
Located at a distance of 500m from the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the best hotels in Downtown Chicago. This hotel is a 7-minute walk from the Art Institute of Chicago. It features an on-site restaurant with a wine bar. Doesn’t have dedicated luggage storage but you can take your luggage inside like any other hotel. Elegant rooms with free Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, and cable TV; suites add separate living rooms with dining tables and sitting areas. It costs around $150 per night.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Where to Store Luggage near The Art Institute of Chicago?
The Art Institute of Chicago doesn’t have luggage storage but it has checkrooms where personal items and small backpacks can be stored. Alternatively, You can leave your luggage at Union Station or you can store luggage with companies like BagsAway.
How much does it cost to store luggage near The Art Institute of Chicago?
To store inside the museum’s checkrooms cost nothing, it’s free for all visitors. To store luggage you can expect to pay $20 per item at Union Station. Storage companies will charge $6-10 per item per day or $1-2 per hour.
Can I check my coat and bag at The Art Institute of Chicago?
Yes, our checkrooms are currently open and free for all visitors. Bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked, you can’t also store food, beverages, or flowers.
What is the Art Institute of Chicago famous for?
The Art Institute of Chicago is known for its greatest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, It has a collection of more than 300,000 pieces of art, including some of the world’s most revered masterpieces.
How much does it cost to get into the Chicago art Institute?
It costs $19 – $25 to get into The Art Institute of Chicago. These charges are for general admission but there are discounts for Chicago residents and the residents of Illinois.