A big American city on Lake Michigan, loved for its historic architecture, riverside walkway and free parks and lakefront. Explore Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and the lakeside museum campus, and try local classics such as deep-dish pizza and the Chicago-style hot dog.
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June to September is warm, with average highs of 24-29°C, ideal for lakefront walks and boat tours. Beach swimming season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day. April to August is the wettest stretch at 94-114 mm a month, and December to February is very cold, with average highs of 0-3°C and lows of -7 to -4°C.
Warmest: Jul (avg high 29.2°C) · Coolest: Jan (avg low -7.3°C) · Wettest: May (114.0 mm)
| High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -0.2° | -7.3° | 50.5 |
| Feb | 2.1° | -5.7° | 50.0 |
| Mar | 8.3° | -0.6° | 62.2 |
| Apr | 15.0° | 4.6° | 95.3 |
| May | 21.4° | 10.3° | 114.0 |
| Jun | 26.9° | 16.0° | 104.1 |
| Jul | 29.2° | 19.1° | 94.2 |
| Aug | 28.1° | 18.4° | 108.0 |
| Sep | 24.2° | 13.9° | 81.0 |
| Oct | 17.1° | 7.4° | 87.1 |
| Nov | 9.1° | 1.2° | 61.5 |
| Dec | 2.6° | -4.2° | 53.6 |
Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals · Chicago O'Hare International Airport station · 1991–2020 normals —View source
Blue Line trains run 24 hours a day from O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and every train goes through downtown. The station is on the lower level of the parking garage. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, follow the 'Trains to City' signs through the basement tunnels; from Terminal 5, where international flights arrive, take the airport train (ATS) to Terminal 2 or 3 first.
Use the taxi stands at the lower-level curb outside baggage claim at each terminal. Fares are metered. Do not accept rides from drivers outside the stand or on the departure level.
Take the airport train (ATS) to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF); the O'Hare Transfer station behind it has trains to Union Station downtown. Weekdays only, and you can buy tickets from the conductor on board.
Chicago's rail system is called the 'L'. A ride costs USD 2.50, with up to two free transfers within two hours on the same card.
A ride costs USD 2.25. Paying cash on the bus costs USD 2.50 and includes no transfers.
Unlimited passes cost USD 5 (1 day), USD 15 (3 days) and USD 20 (7 days), timed from first use. Pay with the Ventra app, a Ventra card, a contactless bank card or a phone wallet.
Commuter trains linking downtown Chicago with the suburbs. Fares depend on the zones you travel between.
Along the lake, a separate bike trail (18 miles) and pedestrian trail (18.5 miles) run from Ardmore Ave. in the north to 71st St. in the south. Many visitors ride them on rental bikes.
Good for: First-timers, sightseeing
Chicago's official downtown, home to Millennium Park, the Riverwalk, the theatre district and State Street shopping.
Good for: Shopping, historic architecture
A famous street of shops and restaurants. The historic Water Tower, one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire, has a free gallery inside.
Good for: Nature, zoo, lakefront
Its namesake park holds a free zoo, a historic indoor botanical garden, lakefront paths and a beach.
Good for: Dining
A former meatpacking district turned dining hub, with Restaurant Row on Randolph Street and the Greek restaurants of Greektown.
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A free park in the Loop, open daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m. See Cloud Gate, the sculpture nicknamed 'The Bean', and Crown Fountain, which blends video and water. Summer brings free movies and concerts at the outdoor pavilion, and winter a free ice rink.
The country's second-largest art museum, on the southern edge of Millennium Park, especially known for its Impressionist collection. Check hours and prices officially.
A pedestrian walkway on the south bank of the Chicago River, running about 1.25 miles from Lake Michigan to Lake Street. Many architecture boat tours that explain the riverfront skyscrapers leave from here; most boat tours run from spring to autumn.
A historic landmark with two stained-glass domes, open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with free admission and free performances and exhibitions all year.
The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium, the country's oldest planetarium, sit together on the lakefront. The Field Museum, home of SUE the T. rex, is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). Check prices officially.
A lakefront pier loved for more than a century, with a Ferris wheel, lake cruises and free events all year. In summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) there are fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday.
A free zoo open 365 days a year; gates open at 8 a.m. and buildings at 10 a.m. Pair it with the historic indoor botanical garden (Lincoln Park Conservatory) in the same park.
Walking and cycling paths along Lake Michigan. The beaches are free; swim only when lifeguards are on duty, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day. Repairs began on 14 September 2026 and will continue for several months, so check for trail closures.
An all-beef frank in a poppy seed bun with yellow mustard, chopped onions, relish, a pickle spear, tomato, hot peppers and celery salt. No ketchup, by tradition.
A thick pie with tall walls of buttery crust packed with mozzarella and topped with tomato sauce.
A sandwich of thin-sliced beef cooked in its juices, created by the city's Italian immigrant community in the early 1900s.
A sandwich that swaps bread for flattened, fried plantains, filled with meat, seafood or vegetables plus lettuce, mayo and cheese. It comes from Chicago's Puerto Rican community.
Pilsen and Little Village are the hubs of Chicago's Mexican American culture and cuisine. Try the neighborhood tacos.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Blue Line to downtown → check in → Millennium Park → evening walk on the Riverwalk.
Chicago Cultural Center in the morning (opens 10 a.m.) → Art Institute of Chicago → architecture boat tour (in season) → the Magnificent Mile and the Water Tower.
Museum Campus (Field Museum opens 9 a.m.) → walk the Lakefront Trail → Navy Pier in the evening.
Lincoln Park Zoo (gates open 8 a.m.) and the conservatory → lunch in the West Loop → Blue Line to the airport.
Prices and times are approximate as of 2026-09 and may change. Always re-check visa and entry rules with official sources before you travel.