A world-class venue for the arts, music and theatre
Chicago is a city that likes to make a statement. So when the year 2000 was approaching the city decided to celebrate in style. That’s what Millennium Park is all about. It’s a place to come and relax, to listen to music, grab some refreshments and watch the world go by.
The park sits on top of a garage and a commuter train station, so people say it’s the world’s largest rooftop garden. It’s certainly a thriving and dynamic place to be. And our Chicago Bus Tour stops right outside. If you want to explore the rest of the city from here, the BP Pedestrian Bridge takes you to the lakefront and beyond.
A fountain with a difference
Fancy cooling off? The Crown Fountain is an interactive piece of public art that uses video and water to create some stunning – and hilarious – effects. Don’t get too close, unless you want to get splashed of course. The fountains here use over 1 million LEDs, and the displays at night can be breathtaking.
Don’t miss The Bean
One of the highlights at Millennium Park is the world famous Cloud Gate, regularly nicknamed ‘The Bean’. It’s an outdoor installation by British artist Anish Kapoor. Made from polished stainless steel, it’s designed to reflect the surrounding city and sky.
Other interesting facts about Millennium Park
- The Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Great Lawn seats up to 13,000 visitors
- Free concerts and events happen here throughout the year
- The original budget for the park was $150 million – the final cost was $475 million
- The park has its own 2,218-space parking garage
