Activity Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights
An activity in Lincoln Park, Chicago, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: After dark.
Why go
The city's free zoo turns into a light show with millions of bulbs from late November to early January.
It is one of 19 curated places we feature in Chicago, alongside 5 activities, 5 sights and 4 places to eat. 4 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo.
- Type
- Activity · Sight
- Neighborhood
- Lincoln Park
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- After dark
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond Chicago. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Lincoln Park Zoo
Free zoo open every day of the year, with lions, gorillas and polar bears a few minutes from the lake.
Activity · Lincoln Park · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2Lincoln Park Zoo
Free zoo set in a lakefront park, with conservatory and nature boardwalk nearby.
Outdoors · 0.0 mi straight-line - 3R.J. Grunts
Burger-and-brunch spot across from the zoo, open since 1971 as the first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant.
Food · Lincoln Park · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4Lincoln Park Conservatory
Free 1890s glasshouse full of palms, ferns and orchids; warm and green on a grey January day.
Sight · Lincoln Park · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5North Avenue Beach
Lakefront beach and pier on the Lakefront Trail with one of the best views back to the Gold Coast skyline.
Outdoors · Lincoln Park · 0.7 mi straight-line - 6Alinea
Grant Achatz's tasting-menu restaurant on Halsted Street, open since 2005 and a once-a-year kind of NYE dinner.
Food · Lincoln Park · 0.9 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights is a stop on our Chicago & Milwaukee route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More things to do in Chicago
5 more curated activities in Chicago. See the full Chicago guide.
-
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise
90-minute docent-led boat tour of the skyscrapers along the Chicago River.
-
Chicago Riverwalk
1.25-mile path along the river's main branch with wine bars, kayak rentals and bridge views.
-
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Free outdoor rink in Millennium Park next to Cloud Gate, open from mid-November into March; skate rental extra.
-
Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon
A quarter-mile loop of ice winding over the hills of Maggie Daley Park, with the skyline rising behind it.
-
Goodman Theatre
Chicago's oldest nonprofit theater, staging A Christmas Carol every holiday season since 1978.
When to go
Average daily highs in Chicago run from 32°F in January to 77°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights itself, we suggest: After dark.
Modelled monthly averages for Chicago from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Chicago weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights: quick answers
How much time do you need at Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights?
Our pick: After dark. Insider tip: Book a timed ZooLights entry for weekend nights; weekdays are quieter.
Which TripsCircle routes include Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights?
Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights appears on Chicago & Milwaukee, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Chicago.
Plan Chicago
- Chicago travel guide 19 places
- Best time to visit Chicago weather by month
- Chicago to Milwaukee 81 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Chicago
- Art Institute of Chicago Sight
- Au Cheval Food
- Green Mill Cocktail Lounge Drinks
- Christkindlmarket Shopping
- The Drake Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.