Chicago: what's actually worth it
When the Great Fire of 1871 scorched the wooden slums to ash, it didn’t destroy ambition; it birthed the skyline we now admire from the riverwalk. That resilience defines the city’s pulse—a gritty, welcoming warmth where strangers share cab rides and deep-dish slices with equal ease. Today, Chicago stands not just as a architectural marvel but as a living room for the world, inviting you to wander its brick-lined alleys and feel the enduring spirit of reinvention in every breeze off Lake Michigan.
Top things to do in Chicago
Millennium Park
Park · ★ 4.8 (92,804 reviews)
24.5-acre green space with a video display, the reflective "Bean" sculpture & an outdoor theater.
Check tours & tickets →Navy Pier
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.6 (88,096 reviews)
Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks.
Check tours & tickets →The Art Institute of Chicago
Museum · ★ 4.8 (38,427 reviews)
Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works from all over the world, spanning many centuries.
Check tours & tickets →Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Museum · ★ 4.7 (35,710 reviews)
Sprawling, hands-on museum full of informative, child-friendly scientific & industrial exhibits.
Check tours & tickets →Field Museum
Museum · ★ 4.7 (31,413 reviews)
State-of-the-art museum of science & invention, with the world's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Check tours & tickets →Skydeck Chicago
Observation Deck · ★ 4.6 (37,157 reviews)
103rd floor of the Willis Tower with clear observation boxes & views extending to four states.
Check tours & tickets →Chicago Riverwalk
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.8 (22,769 reviews)
Riverside pedestrian path featuring city views & dining, plus bridges, fishing piers & boat docks.
Check tours & tickets →The Museum Campus
Museum · ★ 4.7 (26,350 reviews)
57-acre grounds with the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium & Field Museum, plus dining & lake beach.
Check tours & tickets →Shedd Aquarium
Aquarium · ★ 4.5 (33,194 reviews)
State-of-the-art indoor aquarium, famous for its variety of habitats & views of Lake Michigan.
Check tours & tickets →The Morton Arboretum
Botanical Garden · ★ 4.8 (14,326 reviews)
Diverse 1,700-acre nature preserve with a maze garden & tram plus picnicking, hiking & biking.
Check tours & tickets →Where to eat
Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - Chicago
Soul Food Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (18,212 reviews)
Global comfort fare like fried chicken & waffles, plus cocktails, served in a flashy lounge setting.
Website →Giordano's
Pizza Delivery · ★ 4.5 (26,243 reviews)
Known for deep-dish pizza, this casual chain serves other classic Italian food, plus beer & wine.
Website →Quartino Ristorante
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (16,924 reviews)
Bustling, bi-level space where groups go for small & large plates plus cocktails & carafes of wine.
Website →Ed Debevic's
Diner · ★ 4.8 (10,954 reviews)
Funky classic diner with 1950s decor serving American comfort food such as burgers & shakes.
Website →Aba
Mediterranean Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (10,781 reviews)
Posh destination for elevated Mediterranean fare and cocktails, plus a lounge-style rooftop patio.
Website →Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago
Fast Food Restaurant · ★ 4.4 (24,657 reviews)
Chicago-born chain for hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches & more, plus beer & wine, in retro digs.
Website →Au Cheval
American Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (12,819 reviews)
Diner with an open kitchen using ingredients ranging from bologna to foie gras.
Website →Gordon Ramsay Burger - Chicago
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (10,696 reviews)
Trendy, celebrity-chef venture dishing up hefty, creative hamburgers with vegan options.
Website →Tours worth booking ahead
Wendella Tours & Cruises
Tour Agency · ★ 4.7 (10,289 reviews)
Boat tour company started in 1935, offering river and lake cruises plus private boat rentals.
Check tours & tickets →Get outside
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.6 (4,259 reviews)
Wildlife & plant preservation area with glacial potholes, multi-use trails, fishing & picnicking.
Website →Northerly Island Park
City Park · ★ 4.7 (2,131 reviews)
91-acre peninsula with skyline views, hiking, fishing & playing plus a fieldhouse & live music acts.
Website →LaBagh Woods
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.7 (1,919 reviews)
This wooded area is a popular spot for nature observation & offers trails & picnic areas.
Website →Schiller Woods
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.7 (1,680 reviews)
Fishing for bass & catfish, plus walking trails, picnic areas & roaming deer in protected woodland.
Website →North Park Village Nature Center
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.8 (945 reviews)
46-acre nature preserve with hiking trails, a birding area & a center with educational programs.
Website →After dark
Three Dots and a Dash
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.6 (8,860 reviews)
Classic tropical cocktails, rums & house daiquiris in a retro Polynesian-style setting.
Website →Gus' Sip & Dip
Bar · ★ 4.9 (3,142 reviews)
Website →Cindy's Rooftop
Restaurant · ★ 4.4 (5,632 reviews)
Hip, stylish rooftop bar/eatery at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel with choice seasonal fare.
Website →The Green Mill
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.3 (4,657 reviews)
Swinging sounds are on tap nightly, from big-name artists to local late-night jam sessions.
Website →More guides
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