Chicago Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Chicago, nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan in the state of Illinois, stands as a beacon of urban culture and architectural grandeur in the United States. Renowned for its bold skyline punctuated by the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower, the city's architectural legacy is among the most celebrated in the world, with the Chicago School of Architecture giving rise to the modern skyscraper.
The Windy City is a hub of cultural activity, boasting institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago, with its impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, and the Field Museum of Natural History, home to the famous Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named Sue. The Museum of Science and Industry and the Adler Planetarium further cement Chicago's reputation as a center of educational and scientific exploration.
Chicago's Millennium Park is a marvel of modern design and public space, featuring the reflective splendor of Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture, affectionately known as "The Bean," and the innovative outdoor Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry. Nearby, Grant Park hosts the annual Lollapalooza music festival, drawing visitors from around the globe.
Culinary aficionados revel in Chicago's diverse food scene, which ranges from the iconic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and the classic Chicago hot dog to high-end dining experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants. The city's rich history of immigration is reflected in its myriad of ethnic neighborhoods, each offering a taste of the world, from the Polish sausages of Avondale to the Mexican cuisine of Pilsen.
Sports are deeply ingrained in the city's culture, with passionate fans rallying behind teams like the Chicago Bears (NFL), the Chicago Bulls (NBA), the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), and both the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox (MLB). Wrigley Field, home to the Cubs, is an iconic baseball shrine, while the United Center pays homage to the Bulls' dynasty years.
Finally, Chicago's music scene is second to none, with a rich history in jazz, blues, and house music. Venues like the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge offer a glimpse into the city's roaring twenties past, while the Chicago Symphony Orchestra represents the pinnacle of classical music excellence.
Rail "L"Chicago Attractions - What to See and Explore
Chicago offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Michigan Avenue, Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Grant Park. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Chicago by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Chicago.
Culture
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Downtown, ChicagoBandshell in the park with entertainment
Music and shows Nightlife The Loop 
Chicago Water Tower
Downtown, ChicagoArt gallery inside a historic landmark
Gothic Revival architecture Tower Near North Side 
Museum of Contemporary Art
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art museum Modern art museum Near North Side 
Chicago Theatre
Downtown, ChicagoTheater Concerts and shows The Loop 
Civic Opera House
Downtown, ChicagoTheater Opera Concerts and shows The Loop
Shopping
Magnificent Mile
Downtown, ChicagoShopping Shopping district Near North Side 
Michigan Avenue
Downtown, ChicagoStreet Shopping Shopping district Near North Side 
State Street
Downtown, ChicagoStreet Shopping Shopping district The Loop 
Oak Street
Downtown, ChicagoShopping Shopping district Near North Side 
Macy's
Downtown, ChicagoShopping Department store Chicago school architecture The Loop
Entertainment
Navy Pier
Downtown, ChicagoTheme park Piers and boardwalks Amusement park Near North Side 
Sports Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Specialty museum History museum Near North Side 
Near North Side
Downtown, ChicagoNightlife Dancing Entertainment district Near North Side 
Greektown
West Side, ChicagoNightlife Dancing Entertainment district Near West Side 
River North Gallery District
Downtown, ChicagoDancing Nightlife Entertainment district Near North Side
Active
Wrigley Field
North Side, ChicagoCubs’ historic ballpark
Sport venue Chicago school architecture Lakeview 
United Center
West Side, ChicagoSport venue Sport Near West Side 
Soldier Field
Downtown, ChicagoHistoric football stadium
Sport venue Chicago school architecture Near South Side 
Guaranteed Rate Field
South Side, ChicagoSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Armour Square 
UIC Pavilion
West Side, ChicagoSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Near West Side
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Downtown, ChicagoRenowned art museum with global works
Museum Art museum The Loop 
Field Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Natural history museum Specialty museum Near South Side 
Adler Planetarium
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum with high-tech exhibits and shows
Museum Near South Side 
Chicago History Museum
North Side, ChicagoChicago history brought to life
Museum History museum Lincoln Park 
Wonder Works
ChicagoMuseum Children's museum Entertainment Oak Park
Park
Grant Park
Downtown, ChicagoHome to numerous Downtown attractions
Park The Loop 
Millennium Park
Downtown, ChicagoGreen space with art, theater and ice rink
Park The Loop 
Lincoln Park
North Side, ChicagoVast public space with a zoo and museums
Park Lakeview 
Northerly Island
Downtown, ChicagoPark Island Near South Side 
Lincoln Park Zoo
North Side, ChicagoFree zoo with an interactive farm
Zoo Outdoor activities Lincoln Park
Church
First Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Downtown, ChicagoChurch Near North Side 
St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Far North Side, ChicagoChurch Sacred and religious sites O'Hare 
Holy Name Cathedral
Downtown, ChicagoGothic Revival architecture Church Architecture Near North Side 
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
West Side, ChicagoChurch Art Nouveau architecture Louis Sullivan West Town 
St. Ita's Church
Far North Side, ChicagoChurch Gothic Revival architecture Edgewater
Skyscraper
John Hancock Center
Downtown, ChicagoSky-high city views from 94th-floor deck
Skyscraper Near North Side 
Tribune Tower
Downtown, ChicagoSkyscraper with French Gothic elements
Gothic Revival architecture Skyscraper Near North Side 
Merchandise Mart
Downtown, ChicagoSkyscraper Near North Side 
150 North Riverside
West Side, ChicagoSkyscraper Near West Side 
One Magnificent Mile
Downtown, ChicagoTower Skyscraper Near North Side
Concerts and shows
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Downtown, ChicagoBandshell in the park with entertainment
Music and shows Nightlife The Loop Chicago Theatre
Downtown, ChicagoTheater Concerts and shows The Loop Civic Opera House
Downtown, ChicagoTheater Opera Concerts and shows The Loop 
Petrillo Music Shell
Downtown, ChicagoMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue The Loop 
Zanies Comedy Club
Downtown, ChicagoTheater Comedy club Concerts and shows Near North Side
Monuments and statues
Crown Fountain
Downtown, ChicagoLarge LED sculpture with reflecting pool
Monuments and statues Fountain The Loop 
Statue of Leif Erikson
West Side, ChicagoMonuments and statues West Town 
Chicago Picasso
Downtown, ChicagoMonuments and statues The Loop 
Ulysses S. Grant Monument
North Side, ChicagoMonuments and statues Lincoln Park 
Statue of Alexander von Humboldt
West Side, ChicagoMonuments and statues West Town
Street
Michigan Avenue
Downtown, ChicagoStreet Shopping Shopping district Near North Side State Street
Downtown, ChicagoStreet Shopping Shopping district The Loop 
Cermak Road
West Side, ChicagoStreet Lower West Side 
Roosevelt Road
West Side, ChicagoStreet Near West Side Hubbard Street
Downtown, ChicagoStreet Near North Side
Bridge
Michigan Avenue Bridge
Downtown, ChicagoHistoric drawbridge with decorative work
Bridge The Loop 
BP Pedestrian Bridge
Downtown, ChicagoWinding footbridge by architect Gehry
Bridge The Loop 
Wells Street Bridge
Downtown, ChicagoBridge Near North Side 
Kinzie Street Bridge
Downtown, ChicagoBridge Near North Side 
Wabash Avenue Bridge
Downtown, ChicagoBridge The Loop
History museum
Field Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Natural history museum Specialty museum Near South Side Chicago History Museum
North Side, ChicagoChicago history brought to life
Museum History museum Lincoln Park 
Robie House
South Side, ChicagoMuseum History museum Architecture Hyde Park 
Swedish American Museum
Far North Side, ChicagoMuseum History museum Specialty museum Edgewater 
National Hellenic Museum
West Side, ChicagoMuseum Specialty museum History museum Near West Side
Art museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Downtown, ChicagoRenowned art museum with global works
Museum Art museum The Loop 
Driehaus Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art museum History museum Near North Side Museum of Contemporary Art
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art museum Modern art museum Near North Side 
Oriental Institute
South Side, ChicagoMiddle Eastern art and antiquities
Museum Art museum Hyde Park 
Art Institute of Chicago Building
Downtown, ChicagoMonuments and statues Art museum Museum The Loop
Specialty museum
Field Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Natural history museum Specialty museum Near South Side Swedish American Museum
Far North Side, ChicagoMuseum History museum Specialty museum Edgewater National Hellenic Museum
West Side, ChicagoMuseum Specialty museum History museum Near West Side 
Money Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Specialty museum The Loop Driehaus Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art museum History museum Near North Side
Art gallery
Chicago Water Tower
Downtown, ChicagoArt gallery inside a historic landmark
Gothic Revival architecture Tower Near North Side Museum of Contemporary Art
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art museum Modern art museum Near North Side 
National Museum of Mexican Art
West Side, ChicagoMuseum Art museum Art gallery Lower West Side 
Chicago Cultural Center
Downtown, ChicagoFree cultural exhibits and concerts
Architecture Art gallery The Loop 
Boeing Galleries
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art gallery The Loop
Music venue
UIC Pavilion
West Side, ChicagoSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Near West Side Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Downtown, ChicagoBandshell in the park with entertainment
Music and shows Nightlife The Loop Petrillo Music Shell
Downtown, ChicagoMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue The Loop 
Auditorium Theatre
Downtown, ChicagoTheater Architecture Ballet The Loop 
Riviera Theatre
Far North Side, ChicagoTheater Concerts and shows Music venue Uptown
Historical place
Robie House
South Side, ChicagoMuseum History museum Architecture Hyde Park 
Garfield Park Conservatory
West Side, ChicagoPark Historical place Garden East Garfield Park Chicago Water Tower
Downtown, ChicagoArt gallery inside a historic landmark
Gothic Revival architecture Tower Near North Side 
South Shore Cultural Center
South Side, ChicagoConcerts and shows Theater Art gallery South Shore 
Glessner House Museum
Downtown, ChicagoMuseum Art museum History museum Near South Side
Tower
Chicago Water Tower
Downtown, ChicagoArt gallery inside a historic landmark
Gothic Revival architecture Tower Near North Side 
Chicago Board of Trade
Downtown, ChicagoArt deco tower crowned with Ceres statue
Chicago school architecture Tower The Loop 
Wrigley Building
Downtown, ChicagoLandmark 1920s skyscraper and clock tower
Tower Architecture Near North Side 
Marina City
Downtown, ChicagoTower Architecture Neighbourhood Near North Side 
860–880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments
Downtown, ChicagoTower Near North Side
Sculpture
Crown Fountain
Downtown, ChicagoLarge LED sculpture with reflecting pool
Monuments and statues Fountain The Loop 
Oz Park
North Side, ChicagoPark Sculpture Lincoln Park 
Gold Star Families Memorial and Park
Downtown, ChicagoMemorial Park Sculpture Near South Side 
Balbo Monument
Downtown, ChicagoMemorial Sculpture Near South Side 
Abraham Lincoln: The Man
North Side, ChicagoMonuments and statues Sculpture Lincoln Park
Garden
Wonder Works
ChicagoMuseum Children's museum Entertainment Oak Park 
Lurie Garden
Downtown, ChicagoPark Garden The Loop Garfield Park Conservatory
West Side, ChicagoPark Historical place Garden East Garfield Park 
Portage Park
Northwest Side, ChicagoPark Garden Portage Park 
Lincoln Park Conservatory
North Side, ChicagoBotanical garden Museum Garden Lincoln Park
Fountain
Buckingham Fountain
Downtown, ChicagoElaborate rococo landmark from 1927
Fountain The Loop Crown Fountain
Downtown, ChicagoLarge LED sculpture with reflecting pool
Monuments and statues Fountain The Loop 
Fountain of Time
South Side, ChicagoMonuments and statues Fountain Washington Park 
Centennial Fountain
Downtown, ChicagoFountain Near North Side UIC Skyspace
West Side, ChicagoFountain Near West Side
Other categories
TheaterNeighbourhoodSacred and religious sitesNightlifeLibraryCemeteryMemorialPerforming artsBeachConcert hallSynagogueUniversities and schoolsChicago – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Chicago, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield), Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe), Graue Mill (Oak Brook).
Best Time To Visit Chicago
Learn when is the best time to travel to Chicago weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience Chicago
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Hot chicken
Hot chicken, also known as Nashville hot chicken, is a tantalizing dish that originates from Nashville, Tennessee. This Southern delicacy features fried chicken that is marinated, breaded, fried, and then coated in a fiery paste or sauce made predominantly with cayenne...
Food
Maxwell Street Polish
A Maxwell Street Polish is a cherished Chicago sandwich featuring a grilled or fried Polish sausage, topped with sautéed onions, yellow mustard, and optional pickled sport peppers, all nestled in a bun. This delectable creation originates from Chicago's historic...
Food
Beefsteak
A beef steak, often simply referred to as "steak" is a flat slice of beef with two parallel sides, typically cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers. The weight of a steak can range from 120 to 600 grams. It is commonly grilled, pan-fried, or broiled.
Beef
Chicago-style pizza
Chicago-style pizza is a delectable tradition that comes in various forms, the most famous of which is deep-dish pizza. This iconic version is renowned for its thick crust and high edges, accommodating generous amounts of cheese and chunky tomato sauce.
Dish
Lox
Lox is a type of brined salmon typically enjoyed on a bagel with cream cheese. It is often accompanied by toppings such as tomato, sliced onion, cucumbers, and capers. The word "lox" originates from the Yiddish "laks" which itself comes from the Germanic word for...
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
"A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" is one of Georges Seurat's most renowned paintings, created between 1884 and 1886. This masterpiece exemplifies Seurat's pointillist technique, portraying Parisians enjoying a leisurely day in a park by the River...
Painting by Georges Seurat
American Gothic
"American Gothic" painted by Grant Wood in 1930, stands as one of the most renowned works of American art. This iconic piece is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The painting was inspired by a real house in Eldon, Iowa, known as the American Gothic House.
Painting by Grant Wood
Sue (dinosaur)
Meet Sue, the superstar of the dinosaur world! Officially designated FMNH PR 2081, Sue is one of the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimens ever discovered. This magnificent fossil was unearthed on August 12, 1990, by paleontologist Sue...
Tyrannosaurus
Haystacks
Claude Monet's "Haystacks" series is a mesmerizing collection of Impressionist paintings, each featuring stacks of harvested wheat as its focal point. Monet began this project in 1890, producing 25 canvases that explore the effects of changing light, atmosphere,...
Art series
Nighthawks
"Nighthawks" is one of Edward Hopper's most renowned paintings, completed in 1942. This oil on canvas masterpiece portrays a late-night scene in a downtown diner, viewed through a large window. It is celebrated for its depiction of urban isolation and its striking use...
Painting by Edward Hopper
Illinois