Chicago Travel Guide

When to visit Chicago: Summer is Chicago's peak season, with warm days for the lakefront, Millennium Park concerts, and rooftop patios

When is the best time to visit Chicago?

Avg Temp

19–29°C

Rainfall

Moderate, ~95mm/month

Best Time

Summer is Chicago's peak season, with warm days for the lakefront, Millennium Park concerts, and rooftop patios

Packing Tips (4)

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Local currency: USD

Alinea
Contemporary/molecular · $$$$
Grant Achatz's avant-garde tasting-menu restaurant in Lincoln Park, one of the most awarded restaurants in the US.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Deep-dish pizza · $$
Chicago deep-dish pizza institution since 1971, famous for its buttery crust and sausage pizza.
Girl & the Goat
New American · $$$
Stephanie Izard's West Loop restaurant known for bold, shareable dishes built around wood-fired cooking.
Portillo's
Chicago classics · $
Chicago chain famous for Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs since 1963.
The Purple Pig
Mediterranean-influenced · $$
Michigan Avenue small-plates restaurant known for its 'cheese, swine, and everything in between' menu.
Au Cheval
American · $$
West Loop diner-style restaurant famous for what many call the best cheeseburger in America.
Pequod's Pizza
Deep-dish pizza · $$
Lincoln Park deep-dish spot known for its caramelized, blackened crust edge.
The Green Mill
Jazz club
Historic Uptown jazz club dating to the 1907s, a former Al Capone haunt still hosting live jazz nightly.
Kingston Mines
Blues club
Legendary Lincoln Park blues club open late with two stages of live blues most nights.
Second City
Comedy club
Legendary improv comedy club in Old Town that launched the careers of many Saturday Night Live cast members.
Wrigleyville bar strip
Bar district
Cluster of sports bars around Wrigley Field packed on Cubs game days and weekend nights.

The Art Institute of Chicago
Art
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
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
Science
Largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, featuring a real German U-boat and a coal mine exhibit.
Adler Planetarium
Science
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
Late July/early August
Major multi-day music festival held in Grant Park featuring international headliners across multiple stages.
Taste of Chicago
July
Food festival in Grant Park showcasing dozens of local restaurants alongside concerts.
Chicago Blues Festival
June
Free outdoor blues festival in Millennium Park, one of the largest free blues festivals in the world.

Oak Street Beach
Lake beach · In city center
Sandy Lake Michigan beach just steps from the Magnificent Mile, popular with sunbathers and paddleboarders.
North Avenue Beach
Lake beach · 5 km from The Loop
Chicago's most popular beach, with a boat-shaped beach house, volleyball courts, and skyline views.

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 pool · Varies by neighborhood
Public outdoor pools such as Washington Park and Sydney Marovitz open across the city in summer months.
Navy Pier
Amusement pier
Lakefront entertainment pier with a 200-foot Centennial Wheel, carousel, and family attractions.
Six Flags Great America
Amusement park
Large amusement park in nearby Gurnee with roller coasters including Goliath and Raging Bull.