If you're planning to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, I'll give yous fair warning that you may want to schedule a nap in your afternoon. With more than 300,000 works in its permanent drove, spanning v,000 years of creativity, the gargantuan and seemingly ever-expanding campus is the second-largest art museum in the country, at virtually 1 million square feet. Y'all'll need to current of air your way through the maze-like galleries and aboriginal displays of pottery and other items that people tiptoe by to become to the more popular halls.

The Art Establish is an encyclopedic art museum, which means there's a little fleck of everything, from everywhere—Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan art; Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art; African art; American art; American decorative art; pottery; bronzes; sculpture; installations; modern fine art; miniatures and more. That's a skilful affair if you're a true art lover interested in spending an unabridged twenty-four hours here. It'due south a challenge if y'all just want a quick walk through before packing other museums into a compact visit.

If you're short on fourth dimension, the Art Institute'southward must-sees include its all-encompassing collection of Impressionist and Mail service-Impressionist art, which is considered one of the finest in the world. Since 2009, the blusterous, calorie-free-filled Modern Fly has been showcasing the museum's extensive collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. And 2 of the museum's almost beloved works are on display in the American art, pre-1950 gallery: American Gothic past Grant Wood and Nighthawks past Edward Hopper.

To help yous navigate the countless halls, visit the Art Institute's website and download the new free app, which offers 50 different tours and makes the museum feel more manageable than getting lost on your own. A separate app guides you through Impressionist works, enriching your visit with detailed descriptions of the fine art and the artists who created it.

If you've visiting with kids, stop past the Ryan Education Center in the Modern Fly, where kids and teens can sit at a workstation and get hands-on lessons from artists. Children also dearest the Thorne Miniature Rooms, where dollhouse-like structures, all synthetic to scale, showcase European and American homes, buildings, and interiors. The Art Institute offers a variety of lectures and workshops, so check their calendar to see what'south happening during your visit.

A word of communication: The Art Establish can get incredibly crowded on weekends. If y'all can avert visiting on a Saturday or Sun, practise so. Many people don't realize that the museum is, indeed, open on Monday, which makes information technology a great fourth dimension to visit. Besides, many visitors are unaware of the tardily Thursday hours, then consider visiting and then, besides, to avoid rush hour.

If you get hungry during your visit, stop past the museum'due south Caffe Moderno for soups, salads, and sandwiches, or visit Terzo Pianoforte for a more than elegant, sit-down meal. And save fourth dimension for the enormous gift shop, which sells beautiful art, jewelry, accessories, books, and more. Allow at least iii hours.