Museum Of Illusions Chicago
Museum Of Illusions Chicago
4.5
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown / The Loop
Often visitors' first stop in Chicago, The Loop is a good starting point to sample the city's energy and flavor. This central business district boasts Michelin-rated restaurants, upscale hotels, premier shopping, and enough arresting architecture to keep your camera busy for hours. You won’t find too many photo galleries of downtown Chicago without a shot of Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A stunning skyline coupled with cultural attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago present a Downtown where work and play peacefully coexist.
How to get there
- Randolph/Wabash • 3 min walk
- Lake • 3 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- Cheryl JIndianapolis, Indiana580 contributionsPricey but well run.It is really pricey for what you get. We took our time and was out under within the hour. BUT great for amazing picture taking opportunities. Lots and lots of laughs. And there are games to play in the gift shop that really enhanced our experience and you can buy them at a reasonable price too. It was crowded but not overly so. We generally only had to wait 1 to 2 groups before we had our turn with the popular picture taking opportunities. But its small so cant image fitting more people in anyway. Nice clean bathrooms at the end.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 13 November 2023
- Don R1 contributionCleveland Ohio to Chicago 1st VacationThe experience was amazing fun!! Even for someone my age (adult) lol it was excitingly educational challenging and fun!! The tunnell OMG had to go thru it twice because it was that fun!! scary but sooo much fun!! will visit again when in town and bring family with me!!Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 November 2023
- linettek20162 contributionsA different kind of museum!What a delightful hidden gem! We took our 11 year old granddaughter and all 3 of us had so much fun. It is an interactive museum for the young and old alike. There are plenty of employees there to help you and to suggest poses, take pictures on your phone and even edit them. Seth was exceptionally helpful! Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 29 December 2023
- Happiness539359984472 contributionsA Fun Visit with Cool IllusionsThe Museum of Illusions is so much fun. The exhibits are very cool and extremely interactive. We loved getting some cool photos and the staff were so friendly and helpful in assisting us. We truly enjoyed our visit!!!Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 30 December 2023
- RdennisjrGretna, Nebraska385 contributionsSurprised and delighted - a real winner!Absolutely stunning 90 minutes of entertainment. Really well designed layout, well made illusions, and a very user friendly staff who made great suggestions and were happy to take photos so we could both be in them. A worthy visit for both older kids and adults!Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 January 2024
- Explorer46664190801Asheville, North Carolina10 contributionsgreat place for some fun with friends and familyThis was a very interesting and fun place to visit. I went on a Wednesday morning with 4 other friends. Staff were very enthusiastic and engaging, particularly Emily and Andy. You could take as much time as you wanted at each exhibit. I understand weekends are more crowded.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 24 February 2024
- Cruiser450093677614 contributionsTons of Fun with Minimal TimeLooking to fill an extra hour of time in Chicago, among a variety of "small" museums in downtown Chicago, this one is a ton of fun with minimal time. We went on a Saturday afternoon & while there were plenty of people there, it never felt crowded & everyone was friendly about taking turns with the very, very interactive exhibits. Definitely come prepared to use you phone for photos.... a lot. Thankfully there's a bunch of really helpful staff on hand to help you strike the best poses & to take pics for you. You'll go through within about an hour & come out smiling!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 February 2024
- AAW7Barrington, Illinois105 contributionsGreat experienceWhat an unexpected wonderful experience this was. Our sons ages 13 and 7 were totally amused by this museum and my husband and I were also entertained. Clean, not too crowded, and staff was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend it.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 10 March 2024
- Heather M1 contributionDefinitely Worth Seeing!I went with family and friends. We took photos and lots of videos. The videos all include the whole group laughing. The museum was interesting, educational, and a whole lotta fun. I highly suggest going. This will be a treasured memory of our trip to Montreal.Visited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 28 March 2024
- OnAir7078185 contributionsAmazing Experience!We took our four year old grandson there . . . it was a little beyond him BUT, he definitely enjoyed at least half of the hands-on parts! If you REALLY want to experience it all, I'd suggest not going with kids under the age of 7. BUT that being said - this is a MUST SEE if you are in Chicago! The staff who were inside the exhibits were SO SO helpful in explaining how things worked and even taking photos of us in the exhibits. It was amazing, SO worth the money and easy to get to. It's also in the heart of downtown so I would plan other places to go (Sears Tower, etc. are so close!)Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 April 2024
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4.5
114 reviews
Excellent
85
Very good
15
Average
3
Poor
8
Terrible
3
SeniorTravelerTF
Fort Atkinson1,223 contributions
Jul 2021
Very disappointing. Some of the exhibits were hard to understand and staff we not readily available to answer questions. Some of the exhibits were the same things everyone has seen elsewhere multiple times. One of the larger "illusions" wasn't really an illusion, just a picture you edited on your smartphone. If you enjoy Rubik's Cube or Sudoku puzzle type challenges or games there are examples of those as well, but not sure how they fit into illusions. Entire museum, really the first floor of a former retail store, took an hour, maybe. The best part was a card magician in the lobby, who graciously performed several tricks for us. However I don't think he is regularly part of the offerings and while in the expansive sense of the word he did illusions (what you see is not really happening) I'm dubious about magic in a museum of illusions. I would definitely not recommend this for families with children under teenage years because they won't understand most of what is being described or enjoy the experience.
Written 1 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trisha DeNorio
2 contributions
Nov 2020 • Family
Such a fabulous experience! There are so many awesome illusions to see. Kept my boys very entertained and kept her mind’s wondering. As a family we felt very safe in this museum so many safety precautions we’re taking place. They were sanitizing after you left each illusion so it was ready for the next person. If you’re looking for something fun to do with your family or if you have extra time I would definitely check this place out you will not be disappointed. I know my family is ready to go back and check it out again.
Written 14 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jillnt6772
Bethesda, Maryland, United States185 contributions
Jan 2023
For $25 per person you can certainly find a better museum to visit. OR for FREE you can visit any of the Smithsonian Museums. This museum felt like a pop-up and was cheaply put together. Many of the signs were missing, and many of the "illusions" have been around for years. Nothing earth shattering. The gift store is pathetic.
You could go through the entire museum in about 30-45 minutes. I'd opt for another option.
You could go through the entire museum in about 30-45 minutes. I'd opt for another option.
Written 29 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mister_samsa
Stevens Point76 contributions
Jul 2022
Chicago has some amazing museums that will take you all day to explore and are reasonably priced. We paid about the same amount for this museum that we paid for the museum of science and industry. It was a good time with plenty of interesting exhibits, but you may really only get about an hour out of it and there may not be much re-visit value. That said, I don't regret going at all - VERY cool exhibits and a ton of cool photo ops. I just can't imagine going back any time soon.
Written 10 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joyce P
5 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
The museum is a combination of visual and experiential. It was perfect for my 12 year old, and I enjoyed it too! Visitors are timed, so while we encountered others, it never felt crowded. Bring hand cleaner to use after the many fun puzzles available. The staff was very helpful (but not for solving the puzzles!).
Written 29 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edie S
29 contributions
Feb 2023
This is a nice, entertaining and well-run little museum!
My teenage son and I were wrapping up a weekend in Chicago and had about an hour to kill before heading to the airport. He was interested in this place, so we dropped by, and it was a perfect end to our visit.
Tickets are timed, so it's not crowded, and you don't have to stand and wait to get in. There is a good variety of attractions, including walls of illusion art (some of which you have seen before), as well as interactive spaces where you can take cool pictures of yourself. For example, they have forced perspective stuff where it looks like one of you is tiny and one huge, etc. It's fun! There are also tables with brain teaser type puzzles.
We spent about an hour here and felt like we experienced everything we wanted to. You could probably spend a couple of hours or longer if you really took your time over every item.
The whole space was very clean and well organized, and the staff were friendly and helpful, without being intrusive. They get you started and then let you wander through at your own pace. On a couple of the main illusions, they helped us arrange ourselves for photos and took the photos for us, with my phone. They also offered me a charger when they heard me mention that my phone was dying. (They did NOT take their own photos of us and try to sell them to us, which was refreshing.)
I would recommend this place for kids starting around 8-10, through the teen years for sure. Very young kids probably won't understand the illusions and might get bored. I would be cautious with anyone who's epileptic or very sensitive to weird visual stuff. There were some spinning things and disorienting stuff, but the worst ones weren't too hard to avoid.
My teenage son and I were wrapping up a weekend in Chicago and had about an hour to kill before heading to the airport. He was interested in this place, so we dropped by, and it was a perfect end to our visit.
Tickets are timed, so it's not crowded, and you don't have to stand and wait to get in. There is a good variety of attractions, including walls of illusion art (some of which you have seen before), as well as interactive spaces where you can take cool pictures of yourself. For example, they have forced perspective stuff where it looks like one of you is tiny and one huge, etc. It's fun! There are also tables with brain teaser type puzzles.
We spent about an hour here and felt like we experienced everything we wanted to. You could probably spend a couple of hours or longer if you really took your time over every item.
The whole space was very clean and well organized, and the staff were friendly and helpful, without being intrusive. They get you started and then let you wander through at your own pace. On a couple of the main illusions, they helped us arrange ourselves for photos and took the photos for us, with my phone. They also offered me a charger when they heard me mention that my phone was dying. (They did NOT take their own photos of us and try to sell them to us, which was refreshing.)
I would recommend this place for kids starting around 8-10, through the teen years for sure. Very young kids probably won't understand the illusions and might get bored. I would be cautious with anyone who's epileptic or very sensitive to weird visual stuff. There were some spinning things and disorienting stuff, but the worst ones weren't too hard to avoid.
Written 28 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul D
3 contributions
Nov 2020 • Solo
Had tickets to visit this museum today but was able to go early last week before they had to shutdown. It was a lot of fun. Basically I feel you get out what you put in. I enjoyed the descriptions along with each exhibit. Some were obvious but others not so much.. Staff was friendly and helped me along the way. I was by myself so needed assistance taking pics. I want to come back with some friends to get creative in some of the rooms. The tunnel was trippy. I was there about an hour. It really wasn’t busy but I think that was on purpose given the pandemic. Also spent about 15 minutes in the gift shop trying a bunch of the games. They have a big version of a game in the museum which I couldn’t figure out so I was able to buy a small version. Prices were reasonable for well crafted wood games. Everything felt clean and safe. I highly recommend but probably better with friends vs solo.
Written 27 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark T
1 contribution
Jul 2021
Stacey greeted us with the biggest smiling eyes (I'm assuming she had a smile under her mask, too). The numerous staff members were more than accommodating to explain each section to us. As soon as our class walked in, I was immediately mesmerized by the dual-hallway painting straight ahead. It only got crazier from there. My mind is still adjusting from some of the displays that fooled me.
I have been creating art since I could hold a crayon. My favorite topics in art always dealt with tromper l'œil (fooling the eye). I was brought back to all those mental pictures I studied as a kid. Not only did this place bring out the kid in me, my group also seemed to be reveling in the mind expanding displays.
I was sad when we had to go because I wanted more time to revisit some exhibits. We will definitely be returning!
I have been creating art since I could hold a crayon. My favorite topics in art always dealt with tromper l'œil (fooling the eye). I was brought back to all those mental pictures I studied as a kid. Not only did this place bring out the kid in me, my group also seemed to be reveling in the mind expanding displays.
I was sad when we had to go because I wanted more time to revisit some exhibits. We will definitely be returning!
Written 16 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francisco O
Iowa City, IA126 contributions
Nov 2021
This museum sheds light on a variety of illusions and also provides the opportunity for some really great pictures using your phone.
The entire family had fun participating in these interactive exhibits. Some are more intense than others.
Its worth visiting he next time your are in Chicago.
The entire family had fun participating in these interactive exhibits. Some are more intense than others.
Its worth visiting he next time your are in Chicago.
Written 7 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven W
Los Angeles, CA127 contributions
Dec 2021
This place was a lot of fun. Some of the illusions were nothing new, but there were enough unique exhibits to make it well worth going. The only problem I had were clueless/rude museum-goers that walked in front of others that were trying to take photos
Written 19 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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