By air
O'Hare (ORD), ~27 km
North America · United States
Chicago, United States
Architecture, a lakefront and deep-dish pizza
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October — warm and lively
Don't miss
Cloud Gate
The Art Institute
The Willis Tower Skydeck
Navy Pier
Things to do
An architecture river cruise
Millennium Park
The Art Institute
A blues club
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: J. Crocker · Attribution
What to pack
Layers, a windproof jacket
A quieter corner
The Chicago Riverwalk at dusk
Questions travellers ask
When is Chicago at its liveliest?
May to October, when it's warm and lively. Still bring layers and a windproof jacket.
How far is O'Hare from Chicago?
O'Hare (ORD) is about 27 km from the city.
What are the top things to do in Chicago?
Take an architecture river cruise, then see Cloud Gate, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, the Willis Tower Skydeck and Navy Pier. End the night at a blues club.
What's on the menu in Chicago?
Deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs. Walk it off along the Chicago Riverwalk at dusk.
About Chicago
- Lakeside
- Riverside
Where it is
Chicago is in north-eastern Illinois in the Midwest of the United States, on the south-western shore of Lake Michigan where the Chicago River meets the lake. It is the country's third-largest city.
History
The Potawatomi lived here in the 18th century, and a trading post and Fort Dearborn, built in 1803, grew into a city incorporated in 1837. Railways made it the hub of the Midwest, and after the Great Fire of 1871 it rebuilt with some of the world's first skyscrapers and hosted the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.
People
Chicagoans have roots all over the world, with large African American, Mexican, Polish, Irish and other communities, and the Great Migration from the South reshaped the city in the 20th century. Chicago blues, house music and improv comedy were shaped here, and neighbourhoods such as Pilsen, Chinatown and Bronzeville keep their own festivals and food.
Known for
- Architecture river cruises
- Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs
- Blues and jazz clubs
Did you know?
In 1900 engineers reversed the flow of the Chicago River so that it drains away from Lake Michigan, and each year the river is dyed green for St Patrick's Day.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.