What is there to do in Chicago? Where can you go on day trips or for a spot of shopping? What activities are worth travelling to Chicago for?

The 10 best hotels in Chicago

Sights

Just about every American city boasts breathtaking views from its skyscrapers. Chicago is no exception.

Unlike New York, for example, it is unfortunately difficult to see the full Chicago skyline, so head to one of the skyscrapers. The most famous views can be enjoyed from these iconic towers; you can read more about them below by clicking on the link:

• Willis Tower
• John Hancock Centre

You’ll probably get the only decent view of the city’s skyline fromNavy Pier.

Museums and amusement parks

Chicago is home to many museums and theme parks, but we’d particularly like to highlight two attractions that rank amongst the very best in the world.

• Field Museum – one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to the history of the planet
• Shedd Aquarium – the third-largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere

There are plenty of other fantastic museums to visit in Chicago. Click on the link to go directly to the museum’s website:

• Art Institute of Chicago – the famous art museum with over 300,000 exhibits and the iconic bronze lion statues at the entrance
• Adler Planetarium – the most visited planetarium in the USA
• Museum of Science and Industry – an interesting and highly interactive museum with many technological exhibits

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day

The feast day of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is a very significant day in the year for all Irish people. Chicago has historically been home to one of the largest Irish diasporas in the world, and since 1962 it has been an annual tradition here to hold a spectacular celebration in honour of the saint.

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St Patrick’s Day celebrations feature parades in traditional Irish costume, and the colour green is inextricably linked with St Patrick.

On this day, a section of the Chicago River in the city centre is dyed green using plant-based dye.

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated every yearon 17 March.

Boat trips 

Those who love views from the water will head to one of the many river harbours and take a cruise right in the heart of the city, amongst the skyscrapers. When it comes to city boat trips, those in Chicago are definitely among the best in the world.  

The cheapest option is a trip on one of the Chicago Watertaxi routes, which offers a single-journey ticket for 10 usd, or a much better value all-day pass for 20 usd valid on all routes. 

• You can find Chicago Watertaxi timetables and routes here:chicagowatertaxi.com

The best way to enjoy a cruise along the Lake Michigan shoreline is with Shoreline Water Taxi. What’s more, on the journey from Navy Pier to the Museum Campus, you’ll have the entire city skyline at your fingertips. Set off in the early morning or mid-morning, when the skyscrapers are bathed in the morning sun. 

The cheapest option is the all-day ticket for 30 usd.

• Information on Shoreline Water Taxi can be found here:shorelinesightseeing.com

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Walks along the Chicago River 

Most tourists’ first steps take them straight to the heart of Chicago, the Downtown district.

When the weather is fine, you can make your stay even more enjoyable with a roughly two-kilometre marked walk along the Riverwalkon the banks of the Chicago River.

It starts at the confluence near the Merchandise Mart and winds its way between skyscrapers and under beautiful historic bridges all the way to Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. 

Swimming in Lake Michigan 

On hot summer days, Lake Michigan makes a great substitute for the sea. You won’t be able to see right to the other side, just as you can’t with the ocean, and the sun will feel just as warm, but do expect the water to be very cold. It’s probably only swimmable in August and September (around 20 °C).

Where are the best beaches in Chicago?

• North Avenue Beach (see map) – the largest beach, situated near Lincoln Park
• Ohio Beach (see map) – a small beach right in the Navy Pier area
• Oak Street Beach (see map) – a beautiful city beach beneath the towering skyscrapers at the northern end of the Magnificent Mile

Sports in the parks 

Chicago boasts a promenade stretching over 40 km along Lake Michigan, lined with dozens of parks criss-crossed by hundreds of kilometres of walking and cycling paths.

Why not put on your trainers in the morning and go for a run, just like many of the locals!

Music venues and nightlife 

The city is renowned across the US for its vibrant nightlife.

It’s also nice that the atmosphere is rather more intimate and certainly less hectic than in, say, New York or Los Angeles.

The best way to spend an evening in Chicago is in one of the city’s many jazz and blues clubs (there really are dozens of them all over the city!), in cosy pubs or at famous theatres.