Chicago Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal$15.00
- Mid-range meal$45.00
- Cappuccino$5.00
- Domestic beer$7.00
- Taxi (per km)$2.50
- Public transport ticket$2.50
- Museum entry$20.00
- Mid-range hotel (night)$230.00
Food & Drink
- AlineaContemporary/molecular · $$$$
Grant Achatz's avant-garde tasting-menu restaurant in Lincoln Park, one of the most awarded restaurants in the US.
- Lou Malnati's PizzeriaDeep-dish pizza · $$
Chicago deep-dish pizza institution since 1971, famous for its buttery crust and sausage pizza.
- Girl & the GoatNew American · $$$
Stephanie Izard's West Loop restaurant known for bold, shareable dishes built around wood-fired cooking.
- Portillo'sChicago classics · $
Chicago chain famous for Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs since 1963.
- The Purple PigMediterranean-influenced · $$
Michigan Avenue small-plates restaurant known for its 'cheese, swine, and everything in between' menu.
- Au ChevalAmerican · $$
West Loop diner-style restaurant famous for what many call the best cheeseburger in America.
- Pequod's PizzaDeep-dish pizza · $$
Lincoln Park deep-dish spot known for its caramelized, blackened crust edge.
- The Green Mill
Historic Uptown jazz club dating to the 1907s, a former Al Capone haunt still hosting live jazz nightly.
- Kingston Mines
Legendary Lincoln Park blues club open late with two stages of live blues most nights.
- Second City
Legendary improv comedy club in Old Town that launched the careers of many Saturday Night Live cast members.
- Wrigleyville bar strip
Cluster of sports bars around Wrigley Field packed on Cubs game days and weekend nights.
Culture & History
- The Art Institute of Chicago
World-class art museum home to Grant Wood's 'American Gothic' and Seurat's 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte'.
- Field Museum of Natural History
Massive natural history museum famous for SUE the T. rex, one of the most complete specimens ever found.
- Museum of Science and Industry
Largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, featuring a real German U-boat and a coal mine exhibit.
- Adler Planetarium
America's first planetarium, on a peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan with skyline views.
- Music Box Theatre
Historic Lakeview art-house cinema known for indie films, classics, and its Music Box of Horrors festival.
- AMC River East 21
Large downtown multiplex near Navy Pier showing first-run blockbusters.
- Lollapalooza
Major multi-day music festival held in Grant Park featuring international headliners across multiple stages.
- Taste of Chicago
Food festival in Grant Park showcasing dozens of local restaurants alongside concerts.
- Chicago Blues Festival
Free outdoor blues festival in Millennium Park, one of the largest free blues festivals in the world.
Nature & Outdoors
- Oak Street Beach
Sandy Lake Michigan beach just steps from the Magnificent Mile, popular with sunbathers and paddleboarders.
- North Avenue Beach
Chicago's most popular beach, with a boat-shaped beach house, volleyball courts, and skyline views.
Active & Fun
- East Bank Club
Large River North fitness club with pools, courts, and extensive group class offerings.
- Equinox Lincoln Park
Upscale gym chain location offering premium equipment and boutique-style classes.
- Chicago Park District outdoor pools
Public outdoor pools such as Washington Park and Sydney Marovitz open across the city in summer months.
- Navy Pier
Lakefront entertainment pier with a 200-foot Centennial Wheel, carousel, and family attractions.
- Six Flags Great America
Large amusement park in nearby Gurnee with roller coasters including Goliath and Raging Bull.