people riding boat at the city during day

Chicago

Chicago is a Midwest city of skyscrapers, lakefront parks and major museums, linked by the L train, with food that ranges from deep-dish pizza to Michelin-starred dining.

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Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the Midwest, on the western shore of Lake Michigan. At the 2020 census it had 2.74 million residents, the third-largest city in the United States. Architecture is a main reason to visit. The city is known for the Chicago School and the steel-framed skyscraper, and river boat tours pass the buildings from the water. Museums line the lakefront, and the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the best known.

The lake shapes the trip. Lake Shore Drive runs beside much of the city's public beaches, and Grant Park and Millennium Park host outdoor concerts in summer. Food is part of the draw, from deep-dish pizza to the all-beef Chicago-style hot dog. Plan a long weekend for the downtown core and a week if you want to spend time in neighborhoods such as Pilsen or Hyde Park. Summer is the best season for the lakefront. Winters are cold and often snowy.

Chicago in five

Take the Blue Line from O'HareThe train runs around the clock and reaches the Loop in about 40 to 45 minutes. From Midway, the Orange Line takes about 25 minutes.
Tap to ride the CTATrains and buses take a contactless bank card or a phone wallet at the gates, or a Ventra card if you prefer one.
Take an architecture boat tourRiver tours run from spring to fall and are the easiest way to see the downtown towers. Book ahead for summer weekends.Compare tours and tickets
Walk or bike the Lakefront TrailAbout 18 miles of path run along Lake Michigan past beaches, parks and the museums.
Add Milwaukee by AmtrakTrains run from Union Station to Milwaukee in about 1.5 hours, an easy day out or a stop on a Great Lakes loop.Milwaukee

Things to do in Chicago

See all attractions in Chicago

Restaurant · ChicagoBig Star

Sight · ChicagoArt Works Projects

Museum · ChicagoMuseum Of Contemporary Art ChicagoIllinois residents can visit free on Tuesdays; bring proof of residency.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ChicagoPut the places you like in Chicago on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: O'Hare (ORD) 45 min, Midway (MDW) 25 min by train
Getting there: Amtrak hub for the Midwest at Union Station
Getting around: CTA L trains and buses; tap a card or Ventra
Best base: The Loop or River North for a first trip
Time needed: 3–4 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryCloudy10 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-6°Coldest, windy
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh2°Low-5°Cold
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Thaw
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cool, showers
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Parks green
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Festival season
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Hot, lakefront
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low20°Hot, humid
SeptemberClear10 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, clear
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Crisp, fall color
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°Cold, grey
DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh3°Low-2°Holiday lights

Average daily high and low in Chicago, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Ravinia Festival · Jul Ravinia Festival · Aug Lollapalooza, Ravinia Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival · Sep Ravinia Festival, Riot Fest, Chicago Jazz Festival

Right now in Chicago

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 13°
Humidity: 79%
Wind: 18 km/h
Chance of rain: 8%

Chicago

02:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today16°12°8%Monday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 8%.
Tue21°16°69%Tuesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 69%.
Wed17°12°84%Wednesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 84%.
Thu12°11°14%Thursday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 14%.
Fri11°8°16%Friday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 16%.
Sat12°7°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sun11°8°21%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 21%.

Updated 12:15 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Chicago

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

Jun–SepRavinia FestivalChicago
AugLollapaloozaChicago
Aug–SepChicago Jazz FestivalChicago
SepRiot FestChicago

Day trips by train

Indiana Dunesabout 1.5 hours by South Shore trainLake Michigan beaches and dunes; easier by car in summer.
Milwaukeeabout 1.5 hours by AmtrakA lakefront city with a big art museum and breweries.Read the guide

Before you go to Chicago

Architecture river cruiseBook summer weekends aheadCompare tours

Hotels in the Loop and River NorthRates peak in summer and conventionsCheck availability

eSIM for ChicagoMaps and transit apps on the LRead the guide

Travel insurance for ChicagoWinter storm flight cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Chicago, checked

Travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US; apply only through the official CBP site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
The legal drinking age is 21, and bars and liquor shops often ask for a passport or other photo ID at the door.
Restaurant servers and taxi drivers expect a tip of about 15 to 20 percent; check the bill first for an automatic service charge.
CTA trains take Ventra cards or the Ventra app, not cash; buses also accept exact cash fares.

Plan around Chicago

All of USA

Entry rules, money and getting around

Read the guide Milwaukee

Lakefront city about 1.5 hours north by train

Read the guide Detroit

The Amtrak Wolverine route east across Michigan

Read the guide Getting around the USA

Amtrak, flights and long distances

Read the guide ESTA explained

Sort entry before booking flights

Read the guide

Chicago FAQ

How do I get from O'Hare to downtown Chicago?

Take the CTA Blue Line, which runs 24 hours and reaches the Loop in about 40 to 45 minutes. Tap a contactless card or phone at the gate.

Where should I stay in Chicago for a first trip?

The Loop or River North. Both are close to the river, the museums and the L lines.

When is the best time to visit Chicago?

June to September for the lakefront, festivals and boat tours. Winter is cold and windy but has lower hotel prices.

Is Chicago walkable without a car?

Yes. Downtown, the lakefront and the near-north neighborhoods are walkable, and the L and buses reach most other areas. You rarely need to rent a car unless you are leaving the city.

How many days do you need in Chicago?

Three days cover the Loop, a river cruise, a museum and the lakefront, with time to try two neighborhoods. Add a fourth day for a day trip to Milwaukee or the Indiana Dunes.