Second City? Not by our count. Chicago is world-class in so many categories—magnificent architecture, stunning museums, brilliant chefs, a massive brewing scene, and so much to do that you'll never see it all. But it's worth a shot: Scratch the surface in the Loop and on the Gold Coast, which are the major hubs for visitors, then go deeper into the city's 77 neighborhoods, where you'll find cutting-edge restaurant and chilled out corner bars everywhere from Bridgeport to Logan Square. It's a wide and varied city, but no matter where you go, one thing is constant: here, you'll meet some of the most pleasant people you'll find anywhere.
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Chicago Travel Guide
Plan Your Chicago Trip
Why the Magic of Chicago Endures
Chicago native Helen Rosner on what makes the best large city in the United States—as voted by our readers—so damn special.
With Art Hubs and Performances, Theaster Gates Is Redefining Chicago’s South Side
The artist is injecting new life—and art—into abandoned and run down spaces, and investing in community in the South Side.
What to Do in Chicago's Hyde Park
Making the most of the vibrant South Side neighborhood.
Featured
Best Weekend Getaways From Chicago
First-rate trips from the Second City.
Chicago's Andersonville Neighborhood Is the Right Kind of Retro
With its video rental stores and pie shops, the historic neighborhood stays resolutely nostalgic.
5 Best Day Trips from Chicago
It is the gateway to the Midwest, after all.
27 Best Hotels in Chicago
Since you'll need more than one visit to scratch the surface of this beautiful city, here's where we stay when we go.
Editor Hotel Recommendations
- L7 Chicago by Lotte$$ | United States, Chicago, 225 N Wabash Ave.From the famed Korean lifestyle hotel brandRead full review
- Le Méridien Essex Chicago$$ | USA, Chicago, 800 S Michigan AveAll the cosmopolitan chic of the Windy City in 14 compact storiesRead full review
Readers Choice Awards
- Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel$$ | United States, Chicago, 1 W Upper Wacker Dr.
- LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton$$ | United States, Chicago, 85 E Upper Wacker Dr.It's all about the views in this landmark building, situated where the Magnificent Mile meets the Chicago River.Read full review
- Four Seasons Hotel Chicago$$$ | United States, Chicago, 120 E Delaware Pl.Tranquil and refined with top-notch service that makes you feel like a royalRead full review
- The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago$$ | United States, Chicago, 521 N. Rush St.Blending old-fashioned glamour with chic modernityRead full review
- The St. Regis Chicago$$$ | USA, Chicago, 401 E. Wacker DriveA long-awaited hotel concept at the tallest building in the world by a female architectRead full review
- Viceroy Chicago$$ | United States, Chicago, 1118 N. State St.Gold Coast winner for location, food, drink, and style.Read full review
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago$$$ | United States, Chicago, 11 E. Walton St.Glossy glamour is the calling card of this downtown high-rise.Read full review
- The Peninsula Chicago$$$ | United States, Chicago, 108 E. Superior St.The Peninsula delivers on its luxe amenities and services; it's opulent, but not stuffy.Read full review
Gold List
Hot List
- The Emily Hotel$$ | United States, Chicago, 311 North Morgan StreetBeckoning cool kids with its artist-driven design and variety of sleek spaces to hang and socializeRead full review
- citizenM Chicago Downtown$ | United States , Chicago, 80 East Wacker PlaceAffordable yet elevated hotel stays incorporating joyfully offbeat touches—all in one of the city's best neighborhoodsRead full review
- Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile$$ | United States, Chicago, 20 E Chestnut St.This Mag Mile hotels is embedded in the city in the best of ways, with a convenient location and great design.Read full review
- The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection$ | United States, Chicago, 208 South LaSalle StreetA tranquil escape in downtown ChicagoRead full review
The Best Things to Do in Chicago
21 Best Things to Do in Chicago
How to get to know the city that’s second to none
14 Best Museums in Chicago
Whatever your interest, from literature to art to architecture, you’ll find its expression in one of the Windy City’s top museums.
Things to Do in Wicker Park and Bucktown, Chicago
Booming since the early aughts, the dual hotspots prove they’re only just heating up.
Editor Recommendations
- The St. Regis SpaUnited States, Chicago, 401 East Wacker DriveA wellness center above it all that has it allRead full review
- Four Seasons SpaUnited States, Chicago, 120 East Delaware PlaceA seamless blend of natural remedy and cutting-edge techRead full review
- Wrigley FieldUnited States, Chicago, 1060 W. Addison St.The Friendly Confines is one of the only sports stadiums in America that is a tourist destination all on its own.Read full review
- Art Institute of ChicagoUnited States, Chicago, 111 S. Michigan AvenueChicago's primo museumRead full review
- Museum of Contemporary Art, ChicagoUnited States, Chicago, 220 East Chicago Ave.The always-convention-challenging special shows are the big draw at this manageable contemporary art museum.Read full review
- Goodman TheatreUnited States, Chicago, 170 N Dearborn St.A globally recognized theater with an unmistakable coziness about itRead full review
- Green City MarketUnited States, Chicago, 1817 N Clark St.Consider your souvenir shopping complete.Read full review
- Poetry FoundationUnited States, Chicago, 61 W Superior St.For all lovers of the written wordRead full review
- Chicago Boat CompanyUnited States, Chicago, 300 N State StThe perfect way to escape the city while still taking it inRead full review
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony CenterUnited States, Chicago, 220 South Michigan AvenueA romantic evening for two—be it a 25th anniversary or a Tuesday nightRead full review
- The Second City$$ | United States, Chicago, 616 N. Wells St.A breeding ground for America's best comedy talentRead full review
- Chicago Botanic GardenUnited States, Glencoe, 1000 Lake Cook RoadOne of the most visited public gardens in the United States (and it's free to boot)Read full review
- Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider ArtUnited States, Chicago, 756 N Milwaukee AveExplore the outer edges of artistic inspiration.Read full review
- Promontory PointUnited States, Chicago, 5491 S Shore Dr.A beautiful stop for a wish-you-were-here photoRead full review
- Humboldt ParkUnited States, Chicago, 1400 North Sacramento Ave.A park you can spend the whole day in.Read full review
The Best Airbnbs Near Chicago for a Weekend Away
The cheese curds are calling.
The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Chicago
- 35 Best Restaurants in ChicagoFrom Ethiopian to pizza, all the food that makes the Windy City one of America’s best places to eat.
- 33 Best Bars in ChicagoWhether you want rhum agricole blanc blended with coffee or a beer and a shot, there's a bar for that—a really great one.
- 13 Best Pizza Places in ChicagoWhere to have your mind blown by more than just deep-dish.
- 12 Best Rooftop Bars in ChicagoThese cocktail spots will make you forget all about Willis Tower.
- 14 Best Coffee Shops in ChicagoThe city takes its coffee seriously.
- 16 Best Brunches in ChicagoWhere to spend your Sunday morning over easy.
Editor Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
- Hawksmoor ChicagoUSA, Chicago, 500 N La Salle DrMore adventurous imbibers won’t want to miss the Malort Martinez.
- Bisous$$ | Illinois, Chicago, 938 W Fulton MarketFall directly into 1960s Paris at this popular drinks parlor.
- Travelle at The Langham, Chicago$$$ | United States, Chicago, 330 N Wabash Ave.The premium whiskey and wine lists here are both exhaustive and expertly-curated.
- Miru$$$ | United States, Chicago, 401 E Wacker Dr.Perch up 11 stories above the junction of Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
- Best Intentions$$ | United States, Chicago, 3281 W Armitage Ave.It’s the sort of spot that is entirely unique to the city it calls home.
- The Meadowlark$$ | United States, Chicago, 2812 W Palmer StCome for the high-minded cocktails, as colorful as they are conceptual.
- Tre Dita$$$ | United States, Chicago, 401 E Wacker DrTheir rejigged take on a Bloody Mary is a must-try.
- Gus’ Sip and Dip$ | United States, Chicago, 51 W Hubbard St Suite 100The boisterous River North tavern nails a ‘50s-era vibe and feels like its been swinging for at least that long.
- The Loyalist$$ | United States, Chicago, 177 N Ada StSmyth's sister spot is comfortable, with familiar fare.
- Small Cheval$ | United States, Chicago, 2156 W Montrose AveAn easier way to snag a smaller take on Au Cheval's colossal burger build.
- Rootstock Bar$$ | United States, Chicago, 954 N California AveWe're now unequivocally part of the 15-year-old fan club.
- The Bad Apple$$ | United States, Chicago, 4300 N Lincoln AveWhere every sauce and pickle is made in-house.
- Mon Ami Gabi$$$ | United States, Chicago, 2300 N Lincoln Park WWhere Chef David Koehn gives careful consideration to the burger.
- Bocadillo Market$ | United States, Chicago, 2342 N Clark St
Say I Sent You: A Chicago Sunday Funday
In Say I Sent You, Chicago-based creative entrepreneur, Nathan Michael, explores his favorite local Chicago spots for a Sunday Funday.
More from Chicago
Places to Stay
11 Hotels in Chicago Under $300 a Night
Browse our edit of affordable stays for your next visit to the Windy City.
Places to Stay
The Best Airbnbs in Chicago, From Midcentury Townhouses to a Sprawling Sunlit Loft
For solo trips, family vacations, and more.
Islands & Beaches
7 Best Beaches in Chicago
The Windy City is also called the Third Coast for a good reason—seven of them, in fact.
Inspiration
The Best Weekend Getaways in the US for a Quick Escape
From Catalina Island to the Florida Everglades, here are some road trip ideas out of Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, and more.
Destinations
The Best Burger in Chicago
Ever since 1917 when Drexel's Pure Food debuted the burger in the Windy City, the sandwich has been the stuff of legend.
Places to Stay
The Most Romantic Hotels in Chicago
Perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, weekend getaways, and more.
Readers' Choice Awards
2024 Readers’ Choice Awards: The Top Hotels in Chicago
The properties you voted the best in Chicago—which has once again been crowned the best large city in the United States.
News & Advice
Where to Watch the Chicago Fourth of July Fireworks 2024
From ferris wheels on Navy Pier to swanky hotel rooftops, here are the best places to watch 4th of July fireworks in Chicago.
Destinations
Where to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks in Chicago
River cruises, hotel rooftops, and and views of Lake Michigan provide ample options.
Destinations
Chicago’s Thoughtful New Spaces Make the City Worth Revisiting
A slate of new hotels and restaurants, as well as innovative new cultural experiences, give you plenty of reasons to return to this Midwestern giant.
Destinations
Christmas in Chicago: 17 Festive Things to Do This Season (Safely)
Whether in-person or at home, the Windy City has lined up a season's worth of ways to celebrate safely.
Destinations
What to Do in Chicago Labor Day Weekend 2020
Here's how to enjoy the long weekend—even in an outlier of a year.
Destinations
The Best Resort Getaways from Chicago
For when the City of Big Shoulders is crowding you.
Destinations
How to Support Local Business in Chicago During COVID-19
From restaurants offering local delivery to special-edition art and fundraisers, here's how you can help.
More Destinations
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- Phoenix Travel GuideAbundant sunshine, potent summer monsoon storms, and the Suessian cactuses and ancient petroglyphs of the Sonoran Desert.
- Miami Travel GuideWarm temperatures—and hotter beaches
- Charleston Travel GuideWhere Lowcountry meets high charm
- Key West Travel GuideWarm temperatures—and hotter beaches
- Los Angeles Travel GuideWelcome to the West Coast's cultural epicenter
- Yellowstone National Park at 150Wonderland: The early nickname of America’s first national park is as apt today as when Yellowstone was founded, in March of 1872. On its sesquicentennial, we celebrate this miraculous place—while exploring a history that has too often excluded its original stewards—and consider how to ensure its survival for generations to come.
- Boston Travel GuideCharming and legitimately historic
- San Francisco Travel GuideDon't forget to pack an extra layer
- Dallas Travel GuideHard to crack. Easy to love.
- Washington, D.C. Travel GuideIt all starts at the Capitol.
- Seattle Travel GuideOysters and craft beer so good you won’t notice it’s drizzling
- Savannah Travel GuideFamous for its ghosts, but plenty full of life
- Portland, Oregon Travel GuideBeverly Cleary, Matt Groening, and James Beard are all from here. Enough said.
- Portland, Maine Travel GuideCome for the lobster, stay for literally everything else
