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The Art Institute of ChicagovsMuseum of Contemporary Art
Both are praised by experts. On balance, The Art Institute of Chicago is preferred by most writers compared to Museum of Contemporary Art. The Art Institute of Chicago comes in at #1 in Chicago with praise from 13 sources including goop, Frommer's and Fodor's.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Fodor's
Concierge
Travel + Leisure
Condé Nast Traveler Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
goop
On the Grid
Where Show All Reviews
111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603-6404
From $0/night
Fodor's "Come for the sterling collection of Impressionists (an entire room is dedicated to Monet) and Old Masters; linger over the extraordinary and comprehensive photography collection." Full review
Concierge "It takes several days to navigate this superb museum housing some 260,000 artworks—including some of the world's most famous masterpieces."
Travel + Leisure "With more than 260,000 works of art ranging from ancient Egyptian to contemporary, the Art Institute is home to some of the world’s most celebrated masterpieces." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "An institution, whose gorgeous historic wing (opened in 1893) is rivaled only by its stark and stunning Modern Wing... the second-largest museum in the country." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The AIC is home to more than 300,000 artworks from the far reaches of the globe." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"The AIC is one of the great museums of the world and the preeminent arts institution of the Midwest. Its collections span 5,000 years." Full review
Afar Magazine "The Art Institute of Chicago hosts the first exhibition devoted to Britain’s rising-star architect David Adjaye in September." Full review
goop "Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is hands down one of the city’s oldest treasures." Full review
On the Grid "Two permanent collections that often get overlooked. The Thorne Miniature Rooms, located in the lower level just after entry, feature 68 rooms with impeccable detail and scale." Full review
Where "A world-class museum, the Art Institute boasts one of the nation’s largest permanent collections of Impressionist paintings and an extensive display of Asian art." Full review
Museum of Contemporary Art Fodor's Concierge Travel + Leisure Afar Magazine
Not For Tourists Travel + Leisure Michelin Guide Condé Nast Traveler goop Where Show All Reviews
220 East Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
From $0/night
Fodor's "It doesn't have any permanent exhibits; this gives it a feeling of freshness, but it also makes it impossible to predict what will be on display at any time." Full review
Concierge "The museum, though, is more interested in keeping things cutting-edge and fun than in surveying even the recent past."
Travel + Leisure "Add some color to an afternoon in Chicago with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the largest contemporary art museums in the country." Full review
Afar Magazine "Exhibit halls branch off the central staircase... and the East and West facing glass walls have unparalleled views over Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago." Full review
Not For Tourists "Party down on First Fridays."
Travel + Leisure "Credited with giving Frida Kahlo, Jeff Koons, and Gerhard Richter their first exhibitions, the MCA has been celebrating the creative process since 1967." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"The task of presenting the avant-garde can be daunting, but the MCA does a good job of making the works and movements of the art of our time accessible to everyone." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "It's not solely focused on fine art: Exhibits have featured the work of artists as diverse as sculptor Alexander Calder, cartoonist Daniel Clowes, and legendary musician David Bowie." Full review
goop "Housed in a Josef Paul Kleihues-designed building in the heart of the city, MCA Chicago is one of the best contemporary art museums in the world." Full review
Where "One of the nation’s largest contemporary art museums, the MCA presents exhibits of painting, sculpture, photography, video and film, and performance created since 1945." Full review
