Chicago
Chicago plugged the blues into an amplifier and never unplugged it.
- Best forCulture seekers · Foodies · Nightlife
- In March7°C · 12 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~3h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyUSDUS dollar
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time05:116h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+1
Why go
Built flat on a lake the size of a sea, this is a city of grid streets, enormous architecture and neighbourhoods that keep their own accents. The lakefront runs unbroken for miles with parks, beaches and a path along it; behind it stands a century and a half of American building, from Sullivan to Mies to the towers going up now. The music, food and theatre scenes are all genuinely deep rather than tourist-facing.
Three or four nights covers the centre and a couple of neighbourhoods. Summer brings festivals, lake swimming and outdoor seating everywhere; autumn is crisp and clear; January and February are properly cold, with wind coming off the lake that changes how you dress and how far you walk. Distances are big, so use the trains and buses rather than trying to do everything on foot.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Big-shouldered, musical, architecturally serious
From our guides
Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. sit across Halsted Street from each other, trading bands deep into the small hours, while the Green Mill in Uptown — Al Capone's old local — runs jazz nightly beneath its original 1920s decor. Arrive before 9pm for a booth at the Mill, and don't talk during the sets; the bartenders enforce the silence with Chicagoan directness.
Featured in Ten cities with world-class live music every night
Things to do
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Art Institute of Chicago
One of the great encyclopaedic museums, strongest on French Impressionism and American painting. Allow half a day and go straight to the Modern Wing if time is short.
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Architecture river cruise
Ninety minutes along the three branches of the Chicago River with a guide explaining the skyline. The single best introduction to how the city was built.
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Millennium Park
The mirrored bean-shaped sculpture is the photograph everyone takes, but the Gehry bandshell hosts free summer concerts that are the better experience.
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Green Mill and the jazz circuit
Uptown's 1920s room still runs music nightly, and the blues clubs on the North Side trade bands until the small hours. Sets are listened to, not talked over.
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The Lakefront Trail
Around 30 kilometres of path along Lake Michigan for walking, running and cycling, taking in beaches, harbours and the full skyline from the water's edge.
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Deep dish and Italian beef
The pizza is a casserole and takes 45 minutes to bake; the beef sandwich comes dipped in its own juices. Both are best treated as separate meals.
Getting there
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Fly to
Chicago (ORD)
Nearest airport to Chicago, about 26km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Chicago
About half an hour on the CTA Orange Line from Midway (MDW) into the Loop. O'Hare is the other airport, roughly forty-five minutes in on the Blue Line, which runs around the clock.
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On the ground
Getting around
The L trains and buses cover the city well, and the Loop and River North are walkable. The blues and jazz rooms are spread through Lincoln Park and Uptown, so plan on the Red Line or a ride-hailing car late at night.
Public transport: Very good: the CTA L runs late, the Blue Line is twenty-four hours, and buses fill in the gaps.
Flights
Los Angeles Chicago, Illinois
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Roughly 3h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 1°C in January to 26°C in August. Wettest in April, with rain on about 13 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March7° · rain 12 daysCold with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Large downtown hotels, historic properties in converted office towers, apartment rentals in the neighbourhoods and a decent hostel scene. Boutique openings are concentrated in River North.
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Best base overall
The Loop and River North
Central, on every El line, walkable to the river, the lakefront and the museums, with hotel rooms at every price. The Loop empties at weekends and River North is loud on Friday nights.
Find stays in The Loop and River North -
Best for nightlife
Lincoln Park and Old Town
Near the Halsted blues clubs and a short ride from the Green Mill, with plenty of bars that stay open very late. It is residential, so you will use the El or a taxi to get downtown.
Find stays in Lincoln Park and Old Town -
Best value
Uptown and Andersonville
North side neighbourhoods with guesthouses and apartments well below downtown rates, and the Green Mill on the doorstep. The El ride into the centre takes twenty minutes or so.
Find stays in Uptown and Andersonville -
Best with children
Streeterville
Beside Navy Pier and the lakefront path, with big family rooms and the children's museum. It is touristy and dining there is expensive for what it is.
Find stays in Streeterville
Worth knowing before you book: Big conventions at McCormick Place can double downtown rates on any given week, so check dates. Summer festival weekends near Grant Park fill the Loop entirely.
Search everything else in Chicago by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- The cold
- Winter wind off the lake makes the felt temperature far lower than the reading. A hat, gloves and a proper coat are the difference between enjoyment and endurance.
- Getting around
- The elevated and subway trains run to most places you want and to both airports. Buy a rechargeable transit card rather than paying single fares.
- Tipping
- Around 18–20 per cent is standard in bars and restaurants, and some venues add a service charge on top. Read the bill before adding more.
- Neighbourhoods
- The city is large and uneven. Check where you are heading after dark, particularly on the far South and West Sides, and use ride-hailing late at night.
- Book ahead
- Comedy shows, jazz rooms and the better restaurants take reservations and fill at weekends. Sunday to Thursday is far easier for walk-ins.
Similar places
Further afield
Nashville
Tennessee · 640km away →
Memphis
Tennessee · 777km away →
New York City
USA →
New Orleans
Louisiana →
Quebec City
Canada →
Austin
Texas →Elsewhere in the USA
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
Daytime highs run from about 1°C in January to 26°C in August. Wettest in April, with rain on about 13 days.
How long should I spend in Chicago?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Chicago?
About half an hour on the CTA Orange Line from Midway (MDW) into the Loop. O'Hare is the other airport, roughly forty-five minutes in on the Blue Line, which runs around the clock.
Do I need a car in Chicago?
No. Very good: the CTA L runs late, the Blue Line is twenty-four hours, and buses fill in the gaps.
What currency and language are used in Chicago?
Currency: US dollar (USD). Language: English. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Chicago best for?
Best for culture seekers, foodies and nightlife. In a phrase: big-shouldered, musical, architecturally serious.