Chicago

Architecture, lakefront parks and neighbourhood food

Recommended stay: 3–4 days
Best time to visit: Late spring to early autumn
Airports: ORD

Chicago at a glance

Chicago combines bold architecture, lakefront parks, neighbourhood food and an easy-to-use urban rail network. The Loop, River North, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Pilsen and Chinatown sit in several areas rather than on one walking loop. Oak Park, Indiana Dunes, Evanston, Milwaukee and Starved Rock State Park work best as separate outings. The airport is Chicago O’Hare (ORD).

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days

Best time to visitLate spring to early autumn

AirportsORD

Budget travelCheck current local costs / person / day

Milder months suit Millennium Park, the Riverwalk and the lakefront. Winter is cold and windy; keep indoor hours for the Art Institute, Field Museum or Shedd Aquarium.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

CTA Blue Line

Normally about 40–45 minutes to downtown, according to the CTA

Standard CTA fareTransport

Must-see sights

Millennium Park

Cloud Gate

Art Institute of Chicago

Sights

One-day itinerary

Morning: Visit Millennium Park and Cloud Gate, then continue towards the Art Institute of Chicago.
Lunch: Have lunch around the Loop before going inside the museum or continuing the walk.
Afternoon: Explore the Art Institute or follow the Chicago Riverwalk for an architecture-focused afternoon.
Evening: Have dinner near the river and return by a straightforward route.

Itineraries

Best areas to stay

The Loop
A practical base near Cloud Gate, the Riverwalk and Grant Park. Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville need a separate ride.
Best for
First visits, Millennium Park and the Art Institute
River North
Useful beside the Loop. Museum Campus and Oak Park still need a planned journey.
Best for
Restaurants and a short walk to the river
Lincoln Park
A neighbourhood base by the park. The Loop museums need a CTA ride.
Best for
The zoo, lakefront and a calmer stay
Wicker Park
A livelier neighbourhood stay. Millennium Park and Museum Campus need a planned ride.
Best for
Independent shops and evening walks
Pilsen
Useful for a slower evening. The Loop and lakefront still need CTA.
Best for
A neighbourhood food stay
Chinatown
A compact food district. Cloud Gate and the Riverwalk are a short CTA ride, not a walk.
Best for
Neighbourhood restaurants

Approximate budget

Mid-range
Check current local costs
per day, per person
Accommodation usually has the biggest effect on the daily budget.

Airports

ORD
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
25 km from city centre

Airport to city transport

OptionTimePrice

ORD

CTA Blue LineORDThe Blue Line is the only CTA rail line serving O'Hare, and the CTA states that trains run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3 follow the signs to CTA Trains; from Terminal 5 take the Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 and follow the signs from there.
Normally about 40–45 minutes to downtown, according to the CTA
Standard CTA fare
Details
The Blue Line is the only CTA rail line serving O'Hare, and the CTA states that trains run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3 follow the signs to CTA Trains; from Terminal 5 take the Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 and follow the signs from there.
Airport taxiORDTaxis wait at the marked taxi stands. Follow the airport ground-transportation signs from baggage claim and use only vehicles at the stand.
A road journey to downtown; heavy traffic can lengthen it considerably
Metered fare
Details
Taxis wait at the marked taxi stands. Follow the airport ground-transportation signs from baggage claim and use only vehicles at the stand.
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)ORDRideshare pick-up has been signed from the Terminal 2 departures level. Confirm the current pick-up point in the app, as arrangements can change.
A road journey to downtown; heavy traffic can lengthen it considerably
Fare shown in the app
Details
Rideshare pick-up has been signed from the Terminal 2 departures level. Confirm the current pick-up point in the app, as arrangements can change.
Shared-ride shuttle vanORDShuttle vans serve downtown hotels and other addresses and make several stops on the way. Book ahead and check the pick-up location on the airport ground-transportation page.
Slower than a direct ride, because the van makes several stops
Fare quoted when booking
Details
Shuttle vans serve downtown hotels and other addresses and make several stops on the way. Book ahead and check the pick-up location on the airport ground-transportation page.

Getting around

OptionTimePrice

WalkingMillennium Park, Cloud Gate, the Art Institute and the Riverwalk work on foot. Museum Campus, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville need a separate ride.
Best around the Loop, Millennium Park, the Riverwalk and Grant Park
Free
Details
Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, the Art Institute and the Riverwalk work on foot. Museum Campus, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville need a separate ride.
CTA train and busValidate tickets when required. A car is unnecessary in the Loop. Check the last services before an evening return.
Useful across the Loop, River North, Lincoln Park and toward Oak Park
Official CTA fare
Details
Validate tickets when required. A car is unnecessary in the Loop. Check the last services before an evening return.

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