The Best Things to Do in Naperville, IL

From Friday, November 23 to Sunday, December 24, Christkindlmarket Naperville is back for another year of festive fun, Yuletide shopping, and winter food and drink. Held at the Naper Settlement, it’s a great place to pick up stocking-fillers and enjoy the Christmas spirit.

Christkindlmarket 2018

Naperville is full of great pizza places, whether you’re looking for a Chicago-style pie, a New York-style slice, or something unique. From better-known establishments like Lou Malnati’s to local gems like Uncle Pete’s, there a pizza in town for all tastes. Just take a look at some of the highlights — Naperville is truly a hidden gem for pizza lovers!

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Naperville is home to some of the most innovative and celebrated craft breweries in the entire country. If you appreciate great beer, checking out these venues is one of the the best things to do in Naperville.

• Solemn Oath
• Hopvine Brewing Co
• Two Brothers
• Nevin’s Brewing Company
• Skeleton Key Brewery
• Metal Monkey Brewing

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Image from NevinsBrewing.com

Downtown Naperville’s restaurants have something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a casual beer and bar food, some famous Chicago-style pizza, or something a bit more high-end.

• Lou Malnati’s
• Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House
• Q-BBQ
• The Craftsman by Two Brothers
• Catch 35

Whether you want to try something different or enjoy a classic curry alongside a tall glass of beer, turn to some of these Naperville Indian restaurants.

• Cuisine of India
• The Indian Harvest
• JK Kabab
• Dalicious
• Bawarchi Biryanis

Unless you’ve spent some time dining in Naperville, you may be surprised to learn that it’s a hotbed for innovative brunch options. From places with unique locations like Meson Sabika to more traditional options like EggCited Pancake House, there’s something for all palettes and tastes. Here are some of the standouts:

• Meson Sabika
• Paris Bistro
• Quiubo
• EggCited Pancake House
• The Lucky Penny

Just visit one of the restaurants on our list to get your brunch on — you’ll thank us later.

Entertaining Naperville residents since 1981, the Naperville Riverwalk provides nearly two miles of walkways, covered bridges, and green spaces. It’s also home to several excellent attractions:

• Riverwalk Paddleboat Quarry and Fishing Pier
• Riverwalk Amphitheater, Millennium Wall, and Labyrinth
• Centennial Beach and Grill

People are as likely to visit from Hinsdale or St. Charles to paddle along the river as they are to pop over for a leisurely stroll.

Downtown Naperville has a fantastic nightlife, and you’ll find a fantastic selection of bars along Chicago and Jefferson Street. Each has its own special vibe and crowd, with popular watering holes including:

• Empire
• Quigley’s Irish Pub
• The Lantern
• Features
• Two-Nine

An annual tradition that draw crowds from across the country, Ribfest is at once a music festival, a barbecue contest, and a carnival. With nationally renown musical acts such as Pitbull and Melissa Etheridge, there’s more of a draw than just amazingly delicious food. Best of all? Proceeds go to charity. In fact, prior to Ribfest 2018, the organization had donated over $16 million to charitable causes.

RibFest 2018

Naperville boasts some of the finest restaurants in Illinois, and it’s particularly notable for its diverse array of sushi restaurants. Whether you’d like Japanese fine dining or sushi with a modern twist, you’ll find something to hit the spot among these popular places:

• Blue Sushi Sake Grill
• Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
• Wild Tuna Sushi
• Sushi Naper
• Shinto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge
• Raku Sushi
• Sushi House Naperville
• Matsusaka Teppanyaki & Sushi
• Sakura
• Tokyo Bay Sushi Bar & Grill

Moser Tower soars up 158 feet, making it around 10 feet taller than Lady Liberty. Climb 253 steps for stunning views across Naperville or stay below to hear the beautiful music produced by Naperville’s world-famous 72-bell Millennium Carillon.

How to Get from Naperville to Chicago

Getting from Naperville to Chicago is easy regardless of whether you want to:

• Take the Car
• Ride the Train
• Catch a Bus
• Pedal Your Bike

You can even walk, although you’ll probably need a breather when you arrive.

Naperville’s got plenty of places to go swimming, whether it’s in the head of summer and you want to enjoy the beach or if you want to spend some time in a heated indoor poor in the dead of winter. Top spots include:

• Centennial Beach
• Naperville North High School
• Goldfish Swim School
• Saybrook Bath and Racquet Club

Want to learn more about each? Just read about popular Naperville swimming spots.