Chicago Travel Guide

Chicago Summary

Neighborhood Guides

• Magnificent Mile: High-end boutiques and some of the city’s best hotels and restaurants
• Gold Coast: Victorian townhouses, expensive shops and celebrity-spotting restaurants, but also trendy bars, nightclubs and historical places dating back to the 1890s
• River North: Bustling and affluent neighborhood with luxury hotels, great restaurants and a thriving art scene
• The Loop: Chicago's business district, but also home to the Theatre District, major cultural institutions (like the Art Institute of Chicago), historic buildings and famous parks
• South Loop: Mansions, well-preserved historical landmarks and a diverse dining and nightlife scene
• Lakeview: A dining, shopping and entertainment hotspot that's home to Chicago's gay nightlife scene and Wrigley Field
• Lincoln Park: Historic neighborhood with an abundance of museums, boutiques and restaurants
• Near West Side: Multi-ethnic and student neighborhood adjacent to The Loop. It's home to restaurants, bars and the United Center arena.

What It's Like

Even on its infamous windy winter days, Chicago has a lot to offer travelers. World-class museums, great parks, top-notch dining and shopping, and cutting-edge architecture make Chicago one of the most fascinating cities in the midwest. Conventions are perennial in the Windy City, so upscale dining and accommodation options abound -- but cheaper alternatives (though don't expect bargains) can also be found.

After the 1871 Great Fire, whole neighborhoods had to be literally raised from the ashes, and most of those original late-19th century buildings still remain. Nowadays, these old constructions sit side by side with modern shimmering towers, high-end boutiques and acclaimed restaurants. Beautiful architecture -- new and old -- is present in many areas, like the Gold Coast, Old Town and the South Loop, but its historic feeling has a surprisingly natural way of blending in to diverse, vibrant neighborhoods like Pilsen and Boystown.

Where to Stay

The Windy City has some 700 hotels with more than 100,000 rooms available, but it is mandatory to book well in advance because of the ever-present conventions. Chicago is not known for its cheap rooms, but you are likely to have plenty of attractions and great dining options nearby no matter where you stay.

The Loop, Chicago's commercial center, is one of the most popular places to stay: Many tourist attractions are within walking distance, and it's well connected to the rest of the city by public transportation. But don’t expect to find cheap lodging here.

To the north of The Loop, on the other side of the Chicago River, is an iconic stretch of North Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile, home to many of the city's most upscale hotels and shops. The hotels in River North, to the east of the Magnificent Mile (and still within walking distance), tend to be slightly more affordable.

Hotels are scarcer farther to the north, in Lincoln Park or Lakeview, or on the South Side. But you'll likely pay a lot less than if you stayed closer to the tourist sites.