Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
4.5
About
Nicknamed "The Bean" for its sleek kidney shape, this Anish Kapoor sculpture is the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza in Millenium Park.
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Cloud Gate
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Millennium Park
How to get there
- Randolph/Wabash • 4 min walk
- Adams/Wabash • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3 116 within 5 kms
Attractions
1 017 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Sarah FKnoxville, Tennessee23 contributionsClassic Chicago!Currently closed off for pavement construction, but you can still get a decent view of this piece of art. Pictures with clever angles can block out most fencing and vehicles. You really can only be disappointed if you are dead set on getting up close photos with it.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 November 2023
- Louie F5 contributionsChicago's Captivating Cloud GateCloud Gate is a must-see in Chicago. This iconic silver bean in Millennium Park reflects the city's energy and offers a unique interactive experience. Whether you're capturing distorted selfies or enjoying the skyline backdrop, it's a captivating symbol of Chicago's artistic charm.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 December 2023
- Abel RMiami, Florida796 contributionsA cool mirror bean.Cloud gate also known as the bean. Is a free outdoor sculpture. It mirrors a reflection of what it faces. Tons of people at all hours of the day so get there mad early. My friends and I went before sunrise to beat the crowds.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 4 March 2024
- TravelingSoccerLoonSaint Paul, Minnesota6,620 contributionsInteresting Public Work of Art but Extremely PopularWhen I first viewed "the Bean", correctly named Cloud Gate, 15 years ago, I was underwhelmed and didn't understand all the fuss. Over time, I have learned to appreciate this public work of art. The reflective nature of the artwork is quite beautiful and the concave chamber inside that multiplies reflections is really cool. The much-photographed piece of art has now become an iconic part of Chicago. It, Millennium Park and adjacent Grant Park with its Buckingham Fountain is well worth seeing during a visit to Chicago. My only negative comment is that it is always mobbed with visitors which detracts from the experience. I suppose it could be fun to be part of the excitement when it is busy, but I would try to visit very early in the morning especially if you want to get some good photos. Even though it is all the good things I describe above, it really doesn't deserve the amount of attention that it ends up getting.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 12 March 2024
- Mathias n6 contributionsSaw the bean…but from a distance T-TFun to see but the bean was fenced off for some reason put a real damper on the visit. I assume it’s either a short term project or for the winter weather. Regardless it was cool would like to see it up close next time.Visited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 26 March 2024
- Rachel & Andy392 contributionsInteresting Art.Visited: 06/07/2023 Inside Millennium Park, this sculpture/artwork is affectionately nicknamed "The Bean". It is quite remarkable and we enjoyed trying to take pictures of ourselves in the reflective surface. Can get hot when in the sun for a long time, so be careful on warm days. However, the underneath/gate of the sculpture is really cool and refreshing. It is a lot bigger than you realise and spcaious underneath as well.Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 June 2024
- SeekerOfGoodValueSaint Louis, Missouri353 contributionsPeople in Public Spaces, Part 1Unlike Loop artworks by Picasso, Chicago, Miro, and Calder that celebrate "the City of Chicago," two installations in Millennium Park and one in a park south of the Art Institute focus on "the people of Chicago," or more specifically "how the people of Chicago inhabit public spaces like parks." "Cloud Gate" (also called The Bean) is the most popular of these. The upper part of "the bean" reflects ALL of the surrounding city. The lower part reflects ALL of the people who enter the park and approach the sculpture. What is a city park? It is where countless people gather inside of a great city. People see themselves and others in their city. It's interactive. As you move closer, you change, those around you change, and the city changes. Everyone laughs and poses and smiles and photographs. The happy people of Chicago endlessly watch the people of Chicago being happy.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 19 June 2024
- joaniemariaEldridge, Iowa5,260 contributionsA modern icon of ChicagoWe visited the Bean, since it is now open again after being renovated. The surrounding sidewalk is new and refurbished. It is a free attraction and a modern icon of Chicago’s lakefront. I recommend a visit. It is interesting to take photos of the reflecting images and skyscrapers of the Chicago skyline.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 9 July 2024
- Malina CChicago, Illinois4 contributions10/10 💯💯Best spot to capture photos and memories in Millennium Park, its unique design and shiny surface looks beautiful. It's a favorite spot for every tourist who is around Chicago . Highly recommended for anyone exploring the city! 💯💯Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 15 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
18 303 reviews
Excellent
13 116
Very good
4 214
Average
872
Poor
70
Terrible
33
liverpool1023
London, UK1 250 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
After seeing “the bean” I’m prepared to forgive Kapoor for the ultra ugly AccelorMittal Orbital that was knocked-up for the London Olympics and now sits around like a discarded piece of rusty East London plumbing.
The top selfie provoking Cloud Gate is fantastic. This very pleasing piece of mirrored tubing providing a repertoire of repeated motifs, including voids, bulges, mirrored surfaces, and the manipulation of reflections. Great fun and highly involving.
The top selfie provoking Cloud Gate is fantastic. This very pleasing piece of mirrored tubing providing a repertoire of repeated motifs, including voids, bulges, mirrored surfaces, and the manipulation of reflections. Great fun and highly involving.
Written 6 March 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.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8 478 contributions
Sept 2020
Next to Navy Pier, now closed to the public because of COVID-19, Cloud Gate, commonly nicknamed "The Bean" because of its shape, is the second largest tourist attraction in Chicago. And the biggest subject for conversation. And the most popular photo op. Located at 201 E. Randolph Street, on top of Park Grill, between Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza and Ice Rink, it is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor and the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, it is made up of168 stainless steel plates welded together. Its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet and weighs 110 tons. What makes it such a fun experience for visitors is they can walk around and under its 12-foot high arch and view multiple reflections of themselves and the city's skyline in a distorted and warped fashion. Artistically, 3/4 of the sculpture's external surface reflects the sky and the name refers to it acting as a type of gate that helps bridge the space between the sky and the viewer. On rainy days, for example, the reflections are different than on sunny, cloudless days. It brings back memories of the House of Mirrors at Riverview Amusement Park. But in a much more modern atmosphere.
Written 19 September 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.
MARIENNE P
Chicago, IL19 contributions
Jan 2020
Although Cloud Gate is the actual name of this piece of art, most Chicagoans refer to the piece as The Bean. The Bean is just one of many attractions in Millennium Park in the busy park. Millennium Park is in Downtown Chicago just off of Michigan Avenue. It is a draw all the time but especially during the Summer. People, especially children, love to see their distorted reflections in the shiny glass of The Bean. Then, on a hot day, they like to cool off in the spectacular Crown Fountain. There is a restaurant and The Art Institute of Chicago is nearby. The Park is a good place to people watch. It does not close down when the weather cools off. There is usually something happening whether it is art or music. When it gets cold enough, an ice rink opens. This location is a favorite Chicago gathering spot for young and old alike, especially when the weather is warm.
Written 18 February 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.
Joseph O
Fernandina Beach, FL31 contributions
Mar 2020
Watching people (in freezing weather) interact with this sculpture was beyond fun. Although its location is in a corporate-branded park area (I know, it's how things get paid-for), I absolutely loved its affect on those looking at it, including yours-truly. I absolutely loved it. There were smiles on all those were there. Magic!!!
Written 12 March 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.
Amanda R
Staten Island, NY59 contributions
Nov 2021
Cloud Gate aka The Bean is a MUST SEE in Chicago! The reflective surfaces off of this large structure make for great photos. I would highly recommend going during the winter months as this had very low volume of people around due to the cold weather. Even with holiday fesitivities going on in the area we were able to get clear photos of me and my husband without too many people in the background. You can take selfies in the reflection of the structure and walk underneath it as well to get a different view. Such a fun tourist spot for couples, families, and friends!
Written 12 January 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.
Marie
Arlington, VA7 contributions
Apr 2021
I wanted to see „the bean“ for a while, and I just think it’s so cool. The city put up fences all around it, so people wouldn’t gather right around it/ under it, but it was still pretty crowded along the fence. I was not disappointed though, it looks so cool in real life, especially with the sky scrapers in the back
Written 24 April 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.
Shekar A
Chicago, IL7 contributions
Dec 2019
The 'Bean' as it is popularly known as, in Chicago, is a wonderful piece of art.
Surrounded by sky scrapers, you marvel at the creativity and the genius of its creator.
Once you realize that the creator of this marvel is an Indian born Engineer (Sir Aish Kapoor), as an Indian, I felt very proud. His entry was selected among many others.
After taking many photos (many of them - your own reflections in the bean's shiny surface) you start wondering whether it is hollow or solid!, Is it chrome plated or polished Stainless steel!
How on earth do they manage to keep it sparkling / shining in the middle of so much of traffic and dust and smoke!
Very close to this and you should never miss are - 1) The Crown fountain, and 2) The Buckingham Fountain.
Surrounded by sky scrapers, you marvel at the creativity and the genius of its creator.
Once you realize that the creator of this marvel is an Indian born Engineer (Sir Aish Kapoor), as an Indian, I felt very proud. His entry was selected among many others.
After taking many photos (many of them - your own reflections in the bean's shiny surface) you start wondering whether it is hollow or solid!, Is it chrome plated or polished Stainless steel!
How on earth do they manage to keep it sparkling / shining in the middle of so much of traffic and dust and smoke!
Very close to this and you should never miss are - 1) The Crown fountain, and 2) The Buckingham Fountain.
Written 12 February 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.
travderose
55 contributions
Oct 2021
This is actually really cool to just stare at the way it reflects and distorts the city and people around it. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, it's made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together and polished so it has no visible seams.
The design was inspired by liquid mercury and you actually walk right up and under it. In fact, the lower 6 feet are windexed twice a day and the entire sculpture is cleaned twice a year with 40 gallons of Tide.
The final cost of the sculpture came in at $23 million, a bit more than the projected $6 million but it is expected to last 1000 years.
The design was inspired by liquid mercury and you actually walk right up and under it. In fact, the lower 6 feet are windexed twice a day and the entire sculpture is cleaned twice a year with 40 gallons of Tide.
The final cost of the sculpture came in at $23 million, a bit more than the projected $6 million but it is expected to last 1000 years.
Written 22 October 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.
Mike R.
Brooklyn, NY87 contributions
Jun 2020
You know I came to visit cloud gate despite the city being on phase 2 and millenium park was one of the few parks in the city that remained closed despite the mayor saying, all parks would be open. However, seeing it from afar on the sidewalk is beautiful. It glowed while the sun beamed on it and still managed to take a good picture it as a background. I will definitely visit it again but the tip is the earlier you go the better your picture would be and on top you'll have an intimate moment with the sculpture.
Written 24 June 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.
Maya
Edinburgh, UK390 contributions
Jul 2022
Stoped by millennium park to see ‘the bean’. I had seen it before but couldn’t walk by without seeing it again. It is very impressive in person and is great to see up close. The surrounding park is lovely to walk round on a sunny day, there are many other sculptures. Do be prepared for the crowds, I’d recommend going at the start or the end of the day for the fewest people in you’re pictures.
Written 16 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.
Is this still gated off, or is it opened up yet? If still gated off, any plans to reopen it? Thanks!!
Written 25 May 2021
sorry for the delayed response. You could get pretty close for photos but there are low fences that keep you about 20 feet back. Don't know if it was that way before. I thought it was pretty accessible and it was fun to view and look at from different angles. Different angles reveal different reflections.
Written 5 January 2022
Aissa M
Kimberly, Idaho
We have a 6 hour layover from O'Hare International Airport on Jan 23rd (Thursday). Would it be doable to do a quick visit to Cloud Gate and maybe grab some food and be back in time for our flight? We will be arriving at 1:20 and departing at 7:30.
I should also mention that my husband and I will have our 5 kids with us 😁
Thanks in advance!
Written 30 December 2019
You can make it if you take taxi in both way with 20 min. visiting time.
Written 8 January 2020
Not a question but just wanted to share about the best way to park in any large city. Use the app Spothero. We used in Chicago and was so very helpful and saved us money!!!
Written 29 June 2019
Cool - thanks for the suggestion, will check it out!
Written 1 July 2019
What is the best time to go during the day to avoid large crowds?
Written 11 April 2018
We go several times a year and the crowd varies with the day of week as well as the weather. if you go on a weekday (not during summer or holidays) you will probably find the crowds much more manageable any time of the day or evening. If you are planning to go on a weekend or during summer, its best to go around 9 or 10 am to beat the swarm of visitors.
Written 11 April 2018
I am making a trip there to see the Bean and would like to know where to park - the closer the better - i think its going to be cold :-)
Written 7 January 2018
There is a large parking garage under Millennium Park that would be most convenient. If you park at the north end, closer to Randolph, you'll come out of the garage closer to the Bean. I always use Spot Hero for prepaid parking. Put in your destination, and they'll show you a map with all available parking nearby. It's excellent and will save you a lot of cash.
Written 7 January 2018
pyoung884
Nyaungshwe, Myanmar
Is there a walking tour of the city like in philadelphia?
Written 30 April 2017
There is card you can purchase that allows you to visit many attractions in the city for one price. They have hop on hop bus tours around the city.
Written 6 May 2017
Where is the closest toilet?
Really need to pee...
Written 8 December 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 17
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing