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Where to Drink Wine in Chicago

Great wine lists abound in this fascinating city. Here are eight places with distinctive lists that stand out.

Despite its nondescript architecture, Obélix is a relaxed, casual French bistro. Credit... Lucy Hewett for The New York Times

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By Eric Asimov

• Published April 4, 2024 Updated April 9, 2024

The motto of Chicago ought to be, “Too much to do, not enough time.”

That’s how I feel whenever I visit. Whether restaurants, architecture, museums or music, Chicago overflows with wonderful options, and that certainly extends to great places to drink wine.

On a recent trip that unfortunately coincided with a biting Arctic blast, I sought out warm refuges with superb food and intriguing wine lists.

I was looking for casual, comfortable places that served full meals and offered lists with a clear personality. I omitted the sorts of classic, expensive Michelin-starred restaurants where you would expect to find extensive wine lists. These eight places stood out as distinctive emblems of Chicago’s singular Midwestern character.

I could have included many more, like Beautiful Rind , a lovely cheese and wine shop where you can pay a small corkage fee to open bottles with cheese and salumi; Easy Does It , an excellent natural wine bar with a modest menu; Bronzeville Winery , a thoughtful wine bar that celebrates its South Side neighborhood; Daisies , a fascinating restaurant with a small selection of Midwestern wines embedded in its list; and other places I loved, like Lula Cafe and Avec . Not enough time.

Here they are, in no particular order.

Dear Margaret

This French Canadian restaurant in Lakeview looks exactly as I picture a French Canadian place: cozy and warm, knotty wood floors, a bit spare. There’s no place I would rather be on a freezing winter day, though I think I might feel that way any time of year.

The food is soulful, the wine list chosen with care and the hospitality gracious. My cold-weather menu included delicate, oceanic fried smelts; Canadian bacon with a refreshing corn relish and wonderful, housemade bread; a crisp, perfectly seasoned pork schnitzel; and striped bass with brown butter topped with sunchoke chips. To end, what else but Canada’s favorite dessert, an exquisite butter tart .

The wine list is not exhaustive, but it’s hard to go wrong. Every bottle was something I wanted to drink, whether a dry riesling from Forge in the Finger Lakes, a white blend from Luis Seabra in the Douro or a teroldego from Elisabetta Foradori in Trentino. Almost every bottle is under $100. I settled on a focused, gentle 2018 Savigny-les-Beaune aux Clous from Louis Chenu Père & Filles .

2965 North Lincoln Avenue, dearmargaretchi.com .

Cellar Door Provisions

This small, spare, amiable restaurant in Logan Square on the northwest side offers just a few modest yet beautifully detailed dishes on its ever-changing menu and a concise, well-chosen list of natural wines almost entirely under $100.

You might begin with a 2021 Le Rose from Ca’ de Noci in Emilia-Romagna, a light, fresh sparkling malvasia that is so good you won’t want to stop drinking it. That went brilliantly with fried onions tempura-style with romesco sauce and an earthy pig’s head terrine.

We followed that up with a 2021 riesling from Jean Ginglinger in Alsace, a stony, floral wine that was alive in the glass, superb with cheesy gnocchi in a savory ham broth and nutty braised broccoli rabe.

Neither the menu nor the list is exhaustive, but with either, it was hard to go wrong.

3025 West Diversey Avenue, cellardoorprovisions.com .

Monday brunch, as this excellent French bistro in River North calls that day’s midday meal, comes with a bubbly benefit: half-price bottles of Champagne. It has another thing going for it, too. While Obélix looks like a modern spot for hushed business meetings, situated in a nondescript downtown building, it’s actually relaxed and unpretentious, the kind of place business people go to escape uptight offices.

The food is classic French with a few creative touches. A beautifully composed pâté en croûte was made with wild boar and duck, while a generous Lyonnaise salad was topped with a duck egg, crisp duck confit and duck fat croutons. This being brunch, Obélix offered deviations from the standard fare, like merguez served as a hot dog and Korean-style fried chicken on a burger bun, with excellent frites.

The wine list is almost entirely French and contains predictably expensive Burgundies, Bordeaux and other trophies. But it also offers plenty of bottles under $100, including some gems, like a 2020 Brézème from Éric Texier , an excellent syrah from the Côtes-du-Rhône, and a 2019 Domaine de Galouchey Vin de Jardin, a delicious natural Bordeaux. And if you come midday Monday, Champagne is a treat and a great value.

700 North Sedgwick Street, obelixchicago.com .

The Village at Italian Villages

Even if you’ve never been to the Village in the Loop, you most likely know the genre. Sinatra ate there. So did Capone. At nearly a century old, covered with photos of celebrities of the past, it’s the sincere incarnation of the sort of place Carbone was meant to parody and augment.

The wine list, however, is enormous and astounding. You will not find cutting edge Italian wines here, but you will see deep reserves of Italian classics here, including older vintages of Brunellos, Barolos and Super Tuscans, a label coined in the 1980s for top Tuscan wines that did not conform to appellation rules.

The Village is red wine territory, but you might start with a crisp sparkling wine like a 2016 Ferrari Perlé Rosé Riserva, with its mild but pure scent of berries. Where to go after that? I chose a lovely expressive Barolo, a 2012 Renato Ratti Conca, which I thought was a good value at $130.

The unsurprising Italian American food is a mixed bag — terrific beef ravioli served under an ocean of meaty red sauce, and sweet, tender eggplant parmigiana. But veal marsala was bland and muddy. Stick with red sauce and enjoy exploring the list, with upward of 1,200 bottles.

71 West Monroe Street, thevillage-chicago.com .

This sprawling restaurant in the West Loop manages to straddle the Adriatic Sea, blending Italian and Croatian elements in what the chef, Joe Flamm, calls “Adriatic drinking food.” The wine list is wide-ranging, with concentrations from France, Germany and the United States, but the most exciting element is the small selection of Eastern European wines from Slovenia and Croatia.

These might include a lively sparkling refosco rosé from Rodica , an organic winery in Slovenia, or a Vinas Mora Andreis, a fresh, bright, natural Croatian red made of the babic grape, which tastes like a combination of pinot noir and gamay.

These wines go beautifully with Adriatic dishes like burek, a flaky pastry filled with chard and cheeses, grilled clams in a shockingly green herbal sauce, mezzaluna pasta in a bright duck ragù and tender lamb saddle with roasted carrots, full of garlic and herbs and served off the bone like a porterhouse.

Rose Mary is by no means a sedate date place. It’s lively, maybe even boisterous in the best possible way.

932 West Fulton Market, rosemarychicago.com .

Not far from Rose Mary in the West Loop is El Che, an Argentine steak house with a superb wine list made up entirely of South American bottles.

Yes, you can drink inexpensively here, with many wines under $100 like, among whites, a liter of Pipeño Blanco from A Los Viñateros Bravos , a farmer’s blend from Itata in Chile, or an Argentine sémillon from Mendel in Mendoza. But this is an opportunity to try some of the better reds South America has to offer, like a 2020 Concreto malbec from Zuccardi , a superb, minerally malbec, or even splurge on something special, like a 2016 Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita for $360.

Reds like these are meant for beef. El Che’s are all cooked over wood coals. Options include a dry-aged strip, which has all the funk and tang you look for in dry-aging, or, if its available, a picanha, a smaller cut like a rump steak. The crisp beef-fat fries are not to be missed, while an endive salad is an archetypal steakhouse salve for the conscience.

845 West Washington Boulevard, elchechicago.com .

Webster’s Wine Bar

This sprawling neighborhood spot with a welcoming vibe is the granddaddy of Chicago wine bars, having opened in 1994 in Lincoln Park and still going strong in its second location in Logan Square.

The wine list, primarily European, is wise, seemingly tempered by years of experience. It resists the temptation to offer a bunch of trophy labels either too young or unaffordable to any but the wealthy. Instead, it’s impeccably chosen, with bottles selected to drink now.

With oysters, I drank an excellent biodynamically farmed 2020 Boissonneuse Chablis from Julien Brocard , combining the seashell character of Chablis with the richness of the 2020 vintage. The food extends beyond classic wine bar fare to include pasta, seafood and a steak frites.

2601 North Milwaukee Avenue, websterwinebar.com .

This small, casual restaurant in Logan Square, practices a considered eclecticism in both its food and its wine. The food combinations and juxtapositions are unconventional with an overriding goal of deliciousness. The same is true with wine.

Consider dishes like sweet, tangy Japanese eggplant, flavored with South Asian spices and served with pita, or okonomiyaki, eggy Japanese pancakes under a pile of greens, a riot of textures and flavors. Chiramonte, a tortelloni-like pasta, is served in a nutty lentil ragù with mint and bright Meyer lemon, a brilliantly balanced dish.

The worldly, beautifully chosen wine list follows suit, with plenty of versatile, refreshing bottles, the vast majority priced at under $100. I particularly enjoyed a fresh, herbal 2021 Sonoma trousseau gris from Jolie Laide , which came alive in the glass, and a graceful crunchy 2022 gamay from Ochota Barrels in the Adelaide Hills of Australia .

3209 West Armitage Avenue, 773-252-0997, giantrestaurant.com .

Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , TikTok and Pinterest . Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice .

Eric Asimov , the chief wine critic of The Times since 2004, has been writing about wine, food and restaurants for more than 30 years. More about Eric Asimov

A Guide to Drinking Wine

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Adopting a more thoughtful approach to wine drinking will make it a deeper and richer experience. Here are four ways to achieve that .

For a glorious decade or two, red wine was lauded as good for the heart. Now, the drink has lost its health halo .

Thoughtful winemakers, motivated by environmental concerns, are turning to bag-in-box packaging. Here are 10 wines that are worth buying by the box .

The right glass can change how a particular wine smells and tastes. These are the models recommended by Wirecutter .

Should you chill red wine? The proper serving temperature depends on factors like the type of wine, the weather and personal taste .

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The New York Times highlights these 6 restaurants in recent '36 Hours in Chicago'

By nbc chicago staff • published september 28, 2023 • updated on september 28, 2023 at 7:44 pm.

As part of their "36 Hours" series, the New York Times visited Chicago for the first time since 2018 to share recommendations of food and leisure across The Windy City.

Though recommendations of Chicago's many world-class museums and miles of scenic trails are expected (and given), the restaurant recommendations always catch an eye, due to the city's expansive and constantly evolving culinary scene.

24/7 Chicago news stream: Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are

In their 36-hour visit to Chicago, the New York Times shared recommendations for six different restaurants across the city to visit in a short trip.

Highlighting a wine bar, a cocktail lounge and a diner as part of their recommendations, the guide aims to give a visitor an ample sampling of the seemingly endless options Chicago has to offer.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

Here's a look at the six establishments highlighted by the NYT:

• Le Midi Wine - 2108 West Division Street: Described as a wine bar with a European feel offering small plates and bottles to go.
• Rose Mary - 932 West Fulton Street: Hailed as a highlight of the bustling Fulton Market, Rose Mary was honored for its Croatian wines, pastas and seafood.
• After - 1338 West Fulton Street: A cocktail lounge praised for an extensive drink menu and late-night bites, After also received acclaim for its decor.
• Roux - 1055 East 55th Street: A new eatery highlighting southern staples, this Hyde Park diner was honored for both its menu and proximity to the University of Chicago.
• The Lunchroom - 200 East Chestnut Street: Lauded as a quiet lunch spot in the busy Gold Coast, The Lunchroom offers a wide variety of cuisines for a midday bite.
• Kie-Gol-Lanee - 5004 North Sheridan Road: While Chicago is home to a wide variety of Mexican cuisine, this Uptown spot earned high marks for its take on Oaxacan cuisine.

While those recommendations cap off the 2023 visit, here's a look at what stood out about Chicago to the NYT back in 2018, their previous visit during the "36 Hours" series.

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Takeaways and Surprises From the ‘New York Times’ 25 Best Chicago Restaurants List

Chicago chefs are really enjoying the national exposure

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It’s parachute season for the Gray Lady as the New York Times has begun to drop dining guides for cities nationwide. Last week, the paper’s Pete Wells dropped his 100 best restaurant list in New York City . Chicago and its 2.7 million population, received a list 75 percent smaller on Tuesday when the paper released its 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago Right Now from a trio of writers — former Tribune food writer Kevin Pang, Times reporter Priya Krishna, and editor Brian Gallagher.

Via Instagram , Pang touts that he’s been “eating like a maniac the past seven months.” Unlike the New York City list, the Chicago one isn’t ranked. The Times described its effort in an introduction as a regularly updated list that recommends new and classic restaurants (not unlike Eater’s own 38 ). The Times pays for all meals and doesn’t accept free items, per its disclosure.

Off the top, the lead photo is of Doug Psaltis, who operates Andros Taverna and Asador Bastian , with the latter being selected by Pang for the Times feature. Psaltis is a New York-born chef, which seems appropriate for a New York-based publication, formerly represented the “P” in Lettuce Entertain You ’s celebrity-baked RPM restaurants ; Psaltis departed LEYE in 2019 amid allegations that he attacked a subordinate .

Meanwhile, LEYE — Chicago’s largest restaurant group, with entries like the new Tre Dita and stalwarts like Sushi-san and Aba — has zero restaurants on the Times ’ list.

Folks who have followed Pang’s Chicago career might not be surprised by some of the selections. For example, he made a movie about Ever chef Curtis Duffy, For Grace . He also worked as creative director for M. Harris, the PR firm that represents the restaurant. And he’s written love letters to other restaurants, like Uncle John’s Bar-B-Que (in the form of its predecessor) and Shanghai Terrace .

Here are some takeaways:

• New restaurants: 4. Not all of them have opened within the year: Akahoshi Ramen , Maxwells Trading , Thattu , Warlord
• South Side spots: 5. Twenty restaurants are north of Madison Avenue, the following are south: Kim’s Uncle Pizza (suburban Westmont), Al Bawadi Grill (suburban Bridgeview; there’s also a northern suburban location in Niles), The Duck Inn (Bridgeport), Uncle John’s Bar-B-Que (suburban Homewood), Virtue (Hyde Park)
• Suburban restaurants: 4. Al Bawadi Grill (Bridgeport, Niles), Johnnie’s Beef (Elmwood Park; there’s also an Arlington Heights location that was omitted from the Times piece), Kim’s Uncle Pizza (Westmont), Uncle Jerry’s Bar-B-Que (Homewood)
• Chinese: 1. Shanghai Terrace
• Filipino: 1. Kasama
• Japanese: 1. Akahoshi Ramen
• Restaurants that serve sushi: 0
• Indian 1. Thattu
• Italian: 1. Monteverde
• Mexican: 2. Mi Tocaya Antojeria , Tortas Frontera
• Airport restaurants: 1. Tortas Frontera at O’Hare International Airport
• Michelin-starred/tasting menu restaurants: 3. Ever, Kasama, Oriole
• Places that serve Italian beef: 2. Johnnie’s Beef, The Duck Inn
• Hot dog stands: 1. Superdawg
• Pizzerias: 1. Kim’s Uncle Pizza
• Pizzerias that serve deep-dish pizza: 0
• One Off Hospitality restaurants: 1. Avec .
• Boka Restaurant Group restaurants: 1. Boka.
• Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurants: 0.
• Bars: 2. Loyalist, Hopleaf

The Duck Inn

Maxwells trading, shanghai terrace, lettuce entertain you, boka restaurant group, al bawadi grill, akahoshi ramen, tortas frontera, more from eater chicago, sign up for the newsletter eater chicago.

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• World's Best

The Top 10 City Hotels in Chicago in 2020

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on Mar. 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be.

When visiting the Windy City, travelers often crave proximity to the lakefront and its beaches, the Magnificent Mile, and Millennium Park . Usually this means staying in the beautiful Gold Coast neighborhood, so it makes sense that almost all of this year’s winners for the best hotels in Chicago are located there, including No. 10 Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and No. 7 Waldorf Astoria Chicago — both newcomers to the list of T+L reader favorites. Just north of the skyscraper-filled bustling downtown Loop, the Gold Coast provides a quieter home base in a more secluded atmosphere filled with trees and Art Deco architecture.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Related : The World's Best Awards 2019

This year’s crop of top Chicago hotels is filled with comfortable-as-home accommodations — with a decided step up. Occupying the fifth spot is Acme Hotel Company, a stylish boutique property that has all the tech hookups you’d expect, along with fun Pop art and a record-sleeve-covered elevator. Its popular lobby bar is a big draw, with “great craft cocktails,” according to one reader, and a “bar staff [that] is the best in Chicago,” wrote another. The 165-room Claridge House lands on the list at No. 9 after a recent renovation, which has imbued it with what one reader called “a great neighborhood vibe,”, explaining that “it feels a lot like a second home.”

And still, luxury is alive and well in Chicago, as evidenced by T+L readers’ No. 1 pick. Read on to see which hotel won, along with the rest of the list.

1. The Peninsula Chicago

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 93.91

More information: peninsula.com

Just off the Magnificent Mile, this elegant tower is one of just three Peninsula hotels in the United States. The Hong Kong-based, family-owned brand is renowned for its exemplary service, plush and spacious rooms, and attention to detail. In Chicago, readers agree that the hotel is the “crème de la crème,” as one wrote, and “the epitome of luxury in the heart of downtown Chicago,” according to another. Readers rave about the Pierrot Gourmet restaurant and Shanghai Terrace bar and restaurant, world-class fitness center and spa, and what one respondent dubbed a “wonderful swimming pool.” Upgraded room technology — no outlet-searching here — and a fresh design also helped cement its win.

2. The Langham, Chicago

Score: 93.21

More information: langhamhotels.com

3. The Talbott, a Joie de Vivre Hotel

Score: 93.19

More information: jdvhotels.com

4. Viceroy Chicago

Score: 92.80

More information: viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

5. ACME Hotel Company

Score: 92.69

More information: acmehotelcompany.com

6. Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way

Score: 90.53

More information: hotelzachary.com

7. Waldorf Astoria Chicago

Score: 90.10

More information: waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com

8. Thompson Chicago

Score: 90.00

More information: thompsonhotels.com

9. Claridge House

Score: 89.41

More information: claridgehousechicago.com

10. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

Score: 89.11

More information: fourseasons.com

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2020 .

Chicago   Travel Guide

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3-days Itinerary in Chicago

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Art Institute of Chicago Art Institute of Chicago

Home to one of the country's most impressive collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art (plus works from numerous other genres), the expansive Art Institute of Chicago features nearly 300,000 works from all over the world in its permanent collection. You'll find pieces created in the Byzantine era, as well as paintings completed just a few decades ago. Highlights include Jacob Lawrence's "The Wedding," Georgia O'Keeffe's "Sky above Clouds IV" and Grant Wood's "American Gothic." The Art Institute's exhibits also include all sorts of intriguing artifacts, from European armor to the Thorne Miniature Rooms, which showcase interior design and furnishings in Europe and America from the late 13th to early 20th centuries. In addition to the permanent collection, the Art Institute hosts traveling exhibitions covering a variety of subjects and showcasing a diverse array of artists and genres.

The Art Institute of Chicago earns high praise from recent visitors, thanks in part to its impressive collection. Art enthusiasts particularly commend the museum's impressionist collection, which features pieces from famous artists like van Gogh, Monet and Renoir.

Millennium Park and Cloud Gate Millennium Park and Cloud Gate free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Construction around the Cloud Gate sculpture will limit the public's access to this top tourist attraction until spring 2024. While you might not be able to snag a selfie with "The Bean," many other attractions are available within the park. – Cortney Fries

A first-time visit to Chicago isn't complete without a stop at Millennium Park. Situated in the Loop just north of the Art Institute of Chicago , this 25-acre space is used to showcase cutting-edge art, architecture and landscaping; it also acts as a backdrop for concerts and festivals. Most visitors come to Millennium Park to see the Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate, better known as "The Bean." Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the Crown Fountain features two 50-foot towers that face each other at opposite ends of a shallow reflecting pool. The towers' LED screens project the faces of 1,000 different Chicago residents, which are perfectly aligned with spouts so that it appears they are spitting water on passersby. The water flows mid-spring through mid-fall, while the faces are projected year-round. Cloud Gate – created by British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor – is a 110-ton bean-shaped sculpture forged from stainless steel. The Bean's elliptical shape reflects the Chicago skyline. A quintessential Chicago souvenir is a photo of your reflection in The Bean.

Chicago Architecture River Cruise Chicago Architecture River Cruise

A visit to 360 CHICAGO or Skydeck Chicago will give you a good overview of the city's layout. But if you want to learn more about Chicago's sky-high buildings, tag along on an architecture river cruise. During a river cruise, you'll gain great views and historical insight about well-known structures like the Wrigley Building, the Leo Burnett Building and the Fulton House.

Though several companies, including Wendella Sightseeing Co. and Chicago Line Cruises, offer architecture river cruises, most travelers recommend climbing aboard a Chicago's First Lady Cruises boat with a Chicago Architecture Center docent. You'll learn tons of information about the area's architecture, plus catch superb skyline photo-ops.

The Magnificent Mile The Magnificent Mile free

U.S. News Insider Tip: The Magnificent Mile, known for its world-class shopping, also has plenty to offer architecture buffs. Book a walking tour with the Chicago Architecture Center and hear the untold stories of North Michigan Avenue's architectural icons. Tours start at $30. – Sarah Estime

For shopping at more than 450 retailers within walking distance in downtown Chicago, make your way to The Magnificent Mile. This portion of Michigan Avenue – which stretches between Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago River – beckons to shopaholics with department stores and luxury retailers like Bloomingdale's, Marcus, Macy's, Tory Burch and Nordstrom. Additionally, The Magnificent Mile is home to several top-notch eateries and luxury hotels, including The Drake , the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile and the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile .

360 CHICAGO Observation Deck 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck

One of Chicago's most notable attractions is its skyline, and one of the best places to experience it is at the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck. Formerly known as the John Hancock Observatory, 360 CHICAGO towers 1,000 feet over The Magnificent Mile from its location on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center (or 875 North Michigan Avenue as its more formally known). Encased by floor-to-ceiling windows, 360 CHICAGO boasts expansive views of the city; on a clear day, you can see four states. Meanwhile, the interactive screens will help you identify different landmarks that appear in your panorama.

For a different point of view (and an adrenaline rush), test out 360 CHICAGO's TILT. In this mechanized room, visitors hold on to handlebars as the top of the room's windows extend outward, tilting you toward bustling North Michigan Avenue down below. For another memorable way to immerse yourself in the views, try ClouldWalk, a 3D art experience introduced in 2022. Mural artist Nate Baranowski created an optical illusion on the observation deck that makes visitors feel as though they are standing on a crane platform in the clouds.  Should you prefer to experience the view without feeling your heart skip a beat, grab a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a snack at the cafe and bar, or look for souvenirs in the gift shop.

Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain free

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're visiting Chicago Sept. 8 through 10, head to Grant Park early – around 11 a.m. to avoid the lines – for the Taste of Chicago. Enjoy the park and eat the best cuisine the city has to offer. Admission is free. – Sarah Estime

Often referred to as "Chicago's front yard," Grant Park is an approximately 313-acre swath of green space that starts at the eastern edge of the Loop and stretches down to the northern fringes of the Near South Side. First-time visitors should plan on spending a fair amount of time in Grant Park: This is where you'll find several of Chicago's most popular things to do, including The Field Museum , the Art Institute of Chicago and Shedd Aquarium . ( Millennium Park also rubs elbows with the northwest corner of Grant Park.) Baseball diamonds, flower gardens, walking paths and wide-open grassy terrain are available as well.

The Field Museum The Field Museum

U.S. News Insider Tip: After hours of museum hopping, grab a kid-approved lunch at Kim & Carlo's Hot Dog Cart. The no-frills stand offers everything from vegan dogs to the traditional Chicago hotdog. Enjoy your lunch on the water. – Sarah Estime

This extensive natural history museum occupies half an acre of Grant Park 's Museum Campus and houses exhibits that showcase artifacts from multiple eras and destinations, making it a must-see for kids (as well as any fans of the "Indiana Jones" movies). Some of the most popular parts of the museum include the "Inside Ancient Egypt" exhibit, which features a reconstruction of a three-story replica of an Egyptian tomb, one of the largest collections of mummies in the United States and interactive representations of life on the Nile. There's also the Restoring Earth area in the Abbott Hall of Conservation, where visitors can learn more about sustainability through hands-on activities. But no visit to The Field Museum would be complete without some quality time with SUE, the facility's T. rex who just happens to be the largest, most complete T. rex ever discovered. SUE is 40 feet long from nose to tail and boasts 55 terrifying teeth.

Shedd Aquarium Shedd Aquarium

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're visiting in the summer (June through August), check out Jazzin' at the Shedd. You can enjoy jazz music and drinks with incredible views from the terrace. Plus, the lights dim in the aquarium for a unique experience. – Elizabeth Von Tersch, Senior Editor

Shedd Aquarium is one of the world's largest indoor aquariums, housing around 32,000 creatures. While you're here, you can feel stingrays float beneath your fingers, listen to sea lions bark and learn all about a variety of turtles. A visit to Shedd Aquarium will lead you through a cornucopia of habitats, where you'll find additional animals like penguins, piranhas, sharks and beluga whales. Or, for an additional fee, you can participate in specialty experiences like animal encounters, feeding experiences and virtual reality.

Navy Pier Navy Pier free

Extending out onto Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offers plenty in the way of family-friendly entertainment. The first thing you'll spot once you set foot on the pier is the towering Ferris wheel (which stands 196 feet tall); you'll also find a drop tower and a carousel. Once the kids have had their fill of thrill rides, you can spend some time cruising the Chicago River on a sightseeing or speedboat tour or spend a few hours exploring the Chicago Children's Museum , with hands-on exhibits ranging from treehouses to fire trucks.

But you don't have to be a kid to enjoy a visit to Navy Pier. Grown-ups can catch a show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, flex some credit card muscle at a variety of shops or grab a drink at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. And be sure to check Navy Pier's website for a list of events: Concerts are often held here, and from Memorial Day to Labor Day (as well as New Year's Eve), impressive fireworks displays light up the skies on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Many of the city's top Segway tours offer special summer evening tours to the pier to catch the semiweekly fireworks show.

Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower

More than 1.7 million people make their way to Willis Tower's Skydeck Chicago each year, and it's easy to see why. Occupying the 103rd floor – that's nine floors higher than 360 CHICAGO – of the 110-story Willis Tower (the third-tallest building in North America after One World Trade Center and Central Park Tower), Skydeck Chicago boasts breathtaking views of the city. Visit on a sunny day and you may be able to see far beyond Chicago's borders to Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and other parts of Illinois.

The highlight for most visitors is the Ledge. Extending 4.3 feet beyond the building's exterior, this platform is made entirely of glass – even the floor. Travelers also liked the video screens that show what it would be like to stand 103 floors above other Chicago attractions, including Wrigley Field and Millennium Park . However, long lines quickly form for Skydeck Chicago, so plan on arriving early or purchasing a Chicago CityPASS, which covers expedited admission into the attraction. Or, simply pay extra for expedited entry, which features an express line to the elevators. For the best views, it's advised that you visit just after opening or after sunset. If you'd like to enjoy the sunset from the tower, plan on arriving 30 to 45 minutes before sunset to ensure you have enough time to get through the elevator line and up to the top.

The Chicago Theatre The Chicago Theatre

Aside from Cloud Gate and Buckingham Fountain , The Chicago Theatre's red and yellow marquee is perhaps one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Illuminating North State Street at the northern edge of the Loop, The Chicago Theatre first opened its doors in 1921 as an extravagant movie theater and performance venue. Throughout its history, the theater has hosted such big names as Duke Ellington, Diana Ross and Prince, in addition to screening blockbuster flicks. Though the theater fell into disuse in the 1970s, new management and a full renovation in the 1980s helped return the venue to its former glory. Today, the theater is still used for a variety of comedic, theatrical and musical performances.

According to past patrons, the theater's historic appearance enhances the overall experience of catching an event here. Just remember, cameras and video cameras, including those on cell phones, cannot be used during tours or performances. If you're not in town for a show, consider signing up for one of the venue's guided tours. Tour tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and younger. Tours are available Monday and Tuesday at noon and 2 p.m. and last about an hour.

Lincoln Park Zoo Lincoln Park Zoo free

U.S. News Insider Tip: North Avenue Beach is a short walk over the North Avenue Bridge when you park at the southern end of the Lincoln Park Zoo lot. Explore the zoo, then stroll over to the beach for an afternoon in the sand. – Cortney Fries

Located 2 miles north of the Loop in the North Side neighborhood of Lincoln Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo is home to nearly 200 species, such as zebras, sloths and hippos. Visitors can view the zoo's furry (or scaly) friends in their natural habitats: Check out the gorillas in the sprawling, award-winning Regenstein Center for African Apes, or head to the Kovler Seal Pool to get up close and personal with harbor seals. Seal training and feeding occurs daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Wrigley Field Wrigley Field

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're visiting during the holiday season, don't miss Winterland at Gallagher Way for family-friendly rides and games inside and around the ballpark. Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville is free to enter. Enjoy festive shopping and international food and beverage selections. – Cortney Fries

Chicagoans take their love of sports very seriously. So, for a real taste of Chicago culture, head north of the Loop to Wrigley Field to watch the Chicago Cubs play ball at the Friendly Confines. History buffs will also appreciate this sports treasure, which first opened in 1914 and holds the honor of being the second-oldest Major League Baseball stadium in the country (after Fenway Park in Boston ).

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36-48 Hours in Chicago: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary for 2024 (From a Local!)

I am probably biased because it is my hometown, but Chicago is one of the best places to visit in the USA . Many first timers travel to Chicago for a weekend trip, so I have put together a guide for first time visitors that only have 2 days in Chicago or less. There is so much to do in Windy City, but here are the best things to do if you only have 36 or 48 hours in Chicago including what to see, where and what to eat, where to drink and where to stay in Chicago. I am including both the popular tourist attractions as well as a few off the beaten path suggestions.

36 to 48 Hours in Chicago Itinerary (2024)

36-48 Hours in Chicago Things To Do

This is a fairly packed 2 day Chicago itinerary so if you enjoy exploring at a more relaxed pace check out my one day in Chicago itinerary .

1) Visit Millennium Park and The Bean

If you have seen photos of Chicago on instagram or facebook, chances are you have seen photos of Cloud Gate (which most people call The Bean), the famous mirrored sculpture in Millennium Park. Millennium Park is a free attraction and is a portion of the Grant Park.  In addition to Cloud Gate, Millennium Park also includes the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Crown Fountain sculpture and Lurie Garden.

Please note  that due to construction, public access and views of Cloud Gate are limited through spring of 2024.

Although The Bean is very touristy, don’t skip it.  It is a bucket list attraction and of the most instagrammable places in Chicago and it is a great photo spot to take some selfies to remember your trip to Chicago. Tip: Millennium Park is usually crowded especially in the summer and on weekends so to avoid the crowds visit early in the morning.

In the summer, kids and some adults love to splash at Crown Fountain.  In the winter, there is a free ice skating rink right in front of the park.

If you are traveling with children, you might also want to check out Maggie Daley Park , a large public park located between Millennium Park and Lake Michigan and connected to Millennium Park   by the BP Pedestrian Bridge. The park has several different play areas for kids as well as a climbing wall, mini-golf and an ice-skating ribbon in the winter.

2)   Check out the Art Institute of Chicago and other great museums

Chicago has many great museums which are worth visiting. Depending how much you enjoy museums, you might want to spend some time in one of more of them when visiting Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago is my top pick and is conveniently located next to Millennium Park.  It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States and is frequently found on lists of the top museums in the world. (Click here to buy a skip the line ticket if you want to avoid long lines).

Other good museums include the  Adler Planetarium , the  Shedd Aquarium , and the  Field Museum which all located near each other on The Museum Campus. ( TIP: You can find one of the best  skyline views right outside the Adler Planetarium.)

The Museum of Science and Industry is located in in Hyde Park and is a bit out of the way from downtown Chicago but it is a really fun museum with hands-on activities and interactive exhibits.

Tip:   If you are visiting a few museums and indoor attractions , consider purchasing a Chicago CityPASS or Go Chicago Card to save money on entrance fees.

3) Take an architecture river cruise or walk along the Chicago Riverwalk

Chicago has amazing architecture and the best way to see it is by taking an architecture river cruise .  Because the river sometimes freezes in the winter, most river cruises operate only between March and November. If you are visiting Chicago when the weather is warmer, you can also do a longer combined architecture river and lake cruise to see the skyline from the lake as well.

An alternative to a river cruise is to take a walk along the Chicago Riverwalk . The Riverwalk is one of the best spots in Chicago for people watching and there are also restaurants, shops and places to sit along the way. You can also hop on a  water taxi  here.

4) Enjoy the view from above

One of the best ways to see Chicago is to check out the view from one of its tall buildings.  Chicago has two skyscrapers with observation decks.

The Skydeck at Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) is famous for The Ledge , a glass balcony extending four feet outside the 103rd floor. (Click here to buy a skip the line ticket ).

360 CHICAGO  (formerly John Hancock Observatory) on the 94th floor of the 875 North Michigan Avenue (the building formerly known as the John Hancock Center) has TILT an enclosed moving platform that tilts you out over Michigan Avenue from the 94th Floor.

Tip: To avoid long lines, you can buy a skip the line ticket here .

5) Hang out at Navy Pier

Personally I am not a big fan of Navy Pier as it can be somewhat of a tourist trap but it is a must do if you are visiting Chicago with toddlers or kids.  There are fun attractions at Navy Pier including a Ferris wheel, rides and games , restaurants, shops and the  Chicago Children’s Museum . Navy Pier is also the starting point for various sightseeing tours and cruises.

Tip: If you are visiting Chicago in the summer, you might want to stay for the free fireworks at Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday night. You can also see the fireworks from fireworks lake or river cruise which will stop on the water for passengers to enjoy the show.

6) Explore the lakefront and beaches

Chicago’s Lakefront Trail is an great way to see Chicago and enjoy incredible views. Chicago’s Lakefront Trail is a paved path on a 18-mile-long stretch along Lake Michigan and it is a great spot to people watch and get some exercise. You can find a map with access points to the Lakefront Trail here . In the summer and weekends, the lakefront is packed with locals and visitors walking, running and riding bikes.

Most people don’t think of Chicago as a beach destination but Chicago has many beaches on Lake Michigan.   Oak Street Beach and Ohio Street Beach are conveniently located close to the major tourist attractions. North Avenue Beach is more of a party beach and is located close to Lincoln Park.

7) Lincoln Park

Another free attraction, Lincoln Park lies along the lakefront. Lincoln Park is large but first time visitors should focus on the section adjacent to the Lincoln Park neighborhood which contains the Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Theatre on the Lake, a rowing canal, the Chicago History Museum, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum , the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and the North Pond Nature Sanctuary.

Nature Boardwalk has great skyline views of Chicago with a couple of good instagram photo spots . The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in North America and one of the only zoos in the US with free admission.

8) Watch a Cubs Game at Wrigley Field (or attend another sporting event)

Chicago is known for their love of their sports teams, so if you have time and enjoy sports you might want to attend a sporting event. To those unfamiliar, historic Wrigley Field is home to one of the city’s baseball teams – the Cubs.  Whether a fan of the Cubs, baseball in general or just a lively atmosphere, a day at the 100 year old ballpark is a must for locals and tourists alike.  You don’t need to enjoy baseball to enjoy a Cubs game – it is fun to just soak in the atmosphere while drinking and eating.  If you want to see Wrigley but are unable to attend a game, you can sign up for tours of the stadium during the off season.

Get off the beaten path:  If you visit Wrigley check out Alta Vista Terrace District a historic district in Lake View located two blocks north of Wrigley Field.  The one-block street was built in 1904 in imitation of the rowhouse style of London.

9) Go to a Festival

There is almost always one or more festivals or events going on each weekend.  Some Chicago festivals are very well known and attract tons of visitors, but there are many festivals and events in Chicago where you will mostly see locals. For great food, music and people watching, check to see if there are any festivals or events  going on while you are in town.

10) Walk The 606

The 606 is Chicago’s version of The Highline in NYC , an elevated trail goes through 2.7 miles of the city’s northwest side neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square.  It is a bit off the beaten tourist path but it great place to walk, run or bike.  There are several access points so you can get off the trail to explore the various neighborhoods.

What and Where to Eat in Chicago

Chicago is one of the best cities in the world for food and I could easily write a whole post just about the food! Although Chicago is famous for food like deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs – there is so much more great food in Chicago.  Don’t limit yourself to just deep dish pizza and hot dogs, but you should try those if you are visiting Chicago for the first time.

Here are some of my recommendations for where to eat if you are a first time visitor to Chicago.

Deep dish pizza –  The best restaurants for deep dish pizza in downtown Chicago include  Lou Malnati’s  and  Giordano’s but they are very busy especially on weekends and in the summer so expect long lines during peak hours – so long you will see people waiting outside on the sidewalk. Many locals love Pequods in Lincoln Park which is said to have the best deep dish pizza in Chicago.

Chicago-style hot dog – Grab a Chicago-style hot dog for lunch (remember, no ketchup allowed).  Portillos  is a popular spot.

Italian beef sandwich  – For an Italian beef sandwich head to Al’s Italian Beef and Portillos .

Chicago Style Popcorn  – For popcorn head to Garrett Popcorn Shops . There are several locations including Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue.

Steaks – Chicago is full of great steakhouses.  My top pick for first time visitors to Chicago is Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse , a Chicago classic in the Gold Coast, and it has great people watching and you might even spot a celebrity. Another less well known option (but still busy) which gets great reviews is Bavette’s Bar and Boeuf .

Burgers – Many people claim that Au Cheval has the best burger in Chicago if not in the US.  Personally, I don’t like to make claims that something is the best because obviously I have not tried every burger but I think it is very good. They don’t take reservations and the wait is often up to 2 hours long!  Fortunately, they do use an app where you can track your spot in line so you can leave and come back (there are plenty of bars nearby where you can wait).

Ethnic  –  Chicago is a city of immigrants and some of them own restaurants which means Chicago has restaurants serving pretty every cuisine in the world.  I recommend trying some of the great ethnic food that Chicago is well known for. Little Italy and Greektown are very close to downtown Chicago and easy to visit.  You can also take the water taxi to Chinatown from the Riverwalk. One of the best places for Mexican food are the food vendors at Maxwell Street Market on Sunday mornings.  There are many more options, including Polish and Indian food, not as close to downtown Chicago.

Foodies – Foodies will love Chicago as there many great restaurants with well known chefs. Tip: Many of the top restaurants are reserved weeks ahead of time, so if you have your stomach set on one, make a reservation in advance.

Where to Drink in Chicago

Chicago has great nightlife so if going out for drinks is your thing you won’t be disappointed.  If you visit in the summer, outdoor rooftops decks are extremely popular.

Some great spots for drinks or food with views include J Parker , a bar and restaurant on the rooftop of the Hotel Lincoln with 180 degree views of the lakefront, LH Rooftop with great views of the river and  Cindy’s rooftop restaurant overlooking Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

Where to Stay in Chicago

The possibilities are endless but most people visiting Chicago stay in the downtown area including the Loop, River North, Gold Coast, Streeterville and Michigan Avenue since they are close to most of the major tourist attractions. If you are visiting during the weekend, the Loop is a great option as it is more quiet at night.  River North (where I live), is close to nightlife and restaurants, but street noise can be a problem especially during the weekends.

If you want to stay somewhere with more of a local neighborhood feel, consider staying at a hotel or Airbnb in Wicker Park, Lakeview or Lincoln Park but you will have to use public transportation or a taxi/ lyft /uber/ Divvy bike to visit most of the tourist attractions.

Here are some of my top picks for the best hotels in Chicago :

The Peninsula Chicago.   If you are looking for a luxury hotel, The Peninsula Chicago is one of the best hotels in Chicago with a world renown spa and a half-Olympic length swimming pool overlooking the Chicago skyline. It has a central and convenient location right off the Magnificent Mile, close to shopping and less than a block from the John Hancock.  Click here to see the latest prices .

Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites.  Recently renovated all-suite hotel with fridge and microwave in room. Great location just steps from Michigan Avenue and one block from Lake Michigan.   Click here to see the latest prices .

ACME Hotel Company.  This is a new, modern, stylish and unique hotel located in downtown Chicago 2 ½ blocks from the Magnificent Mile in River North.  Offers great value and great service.   Click here to see the latest prices .

Best Western River North Hotel. Convenient located in the heart of River North close to the Chicago River as well as many restaurants and bars.  Amenities include free high-speed Wi-Fi, deeply discounted parking, room service, fitness center, indoor pool and sun deck.  Click here to see the latest prices .

Majestic Hotel.  Majestic Hotel is a bit out of the way from the major tourist attractions but it is located less than a mile from Wrigley Field in a nice residential part of Lakeview.  Offers great value as well as free breakfast, wi-fi and in room fridge.   Click here to see the latest prices .

Chicago Travel Tips 

When is the best time to visit chicago.

Chicago has plenty of things to do year round – both indoors and outdoors. Winters can be freezing some days but I think winter is a great time to visit Chicago because accommodation is cheaper and the popular tourist attractions are less crowded. Summer is the busiest time and usually has great weather (but some days can be very hot and muggy). The nice thing about visiting Chicago in the summer is that are always festivals, concerts and events going on around the city in the summer. Spring and fall are generally great times to visit – the weather is usually more pleasant and not as busy as summer. Spring temperatures vary and can be less predictable but I think fall generally has the best weather. Still need help deciding when to go to Chicago? Check out  The Best Time to Visit Chicago – A Month By Month Guide .

Getting There and Around

Chicago is an easy city to get around in with many transportation options .  Both Chicago airports Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Chicago Midway (MDW) are connected to downtown Chicago by train.

For longer distances use  public transportation , and taxis, Lyft and Uber are plentiful and easy to find.  You can also rent bikes through Divvy , Chicago’s bike share program, or take a water taxi  in the summer.

These are my top choices for the best things to do if you only have 36 or 48 hours in Chicago .

Have you visited Chicago? If so what would you recommend first time visitors see if they only have 2 days in Chicago?

Planning a trip to Chicago? Check out more of my Chicago guides and itineraries:

• Best Free Things to Do in Chicago
• Most Instagrammable Places in Chicago

If you have extra time in Chicago and want to explore more of the Midwest , here are the best day trips from Chicago .

Looking for more inspiration for visiting the United States? Check out some of our other USA travel guides and itineraries all written by locals:

• The Ultimate USA Travel Bucket List: 100+ Best Places to Visit in USA
• 2 Days in San Francisco Itinerary
• 2 Days in Denver Itinerary
• Weekend in Kansas City Itinerary
• 36 – 48 Hours in Atlanta: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary
• Weekend in Las Vegas: The Perfect Itinerary (According to a Local!)

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17 responses

This is fantastic! You’ve summed up the best things to do in a short period of time. I love the Chicago skyline, Skydeck is a place i would want to visit for the views! Thanks for sharing, this is useful information.

Love Chicago! Being so close to it, I’ve done most of these things already. I’m a huge lover of deep dish pizza, NYC pizza can’t even compare! I’ll have to try Pequods next time I’m there.

Chicago is high on my list for when I do my USA trip, although there are some bits of Chicago I do know about but you’ve noted a few I didn’t so thanks, Cant wait to have a Chicago deep dish haha 😀

The view of Chicago from the top looks similar to NYC. Anyways, does it snow in Chicago? I’ve been wanting to go but still haven’t been.

Been to Chicago several times but my biggest regret is not having gone to Millennium Park and see the Bean! But I always have deep dish pizza!

What a great post, Chicago is one of my favorite US cities! I find myself looking for flights with layovers there just so I can get some of their great food, especially Garett’s Chicago mix popcorn!

I will definitely be bookmarking this, as I’m hoping to get to Chicago sooner rather than later! It’s particularly enticing to me because I’m a massive sports fan, and I hear nothing but good things about Wrigley Field, which you also seem to suggest is something worse seeing!

When I think of Chicago food, well beside dogs and pizza, I think of Twin Anchors. I will check out your other suggestions next time I visit.

Love this post! I’ve never been to Chicago, but it’s on my bucket list!

I have done #1, #3 & #8. I visited Chicago right after Chicago won the hockey championship as the entire town was celebrating. It was such a memorable experience.

I cant believe I haven’t been to Chicago yet! It is definitely on my bucket list! I have never even heard of Maggie Daly Park but that place sounds like a hidden gem. Though I am not a cubbies fan, seeing a game in Wrigley and eating a hot dog sounds awesome. I know for a fact Darcee would love to explore the Navy Pier too…she has always wanted to ride the ferris wheel there! Such a unique city to just stroll around!

I LOVE downtown dogs! And I totally agree about navy pier! Was definitely not a fan. But I LOVE Chicago!

So thankful I found this! I am feeling more confident about my coming solo travel to Chicago. I will be there the beginning of October for 3-4 days. Not a planner, so this is a big challenge for me.

Thank you for all the great insights and information. We are planning to do a road trip that includes Chicago as Chicago has been our bucket list for a long time. We won’t be in a rush to do everything in the 48 hour itinerary timeframe and wondering how many days do you think we might want to stay without over-staying our trip? Thanks!

I don’t think you can ever over stay in Chicago because there is so much to do. If your time is short you should be able to see most of the major attractions in 2 to 3 days.

The absolute MUST stop for anyone visiting Chicago for 48 hrs…

Go to the Adler Planetarium and turn around. Best view in the entire city. Bar None.

Wow amazing guide! Chicago is such a beautiful city! Ive been to half of those places a couple of years back! would definitely visit the other places you recommended! I would also add if you’re ever back in the city you should try firecakes donuts they’re really good.

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The Ultimate 72-Hour Itinerary for a Weekend in Chicago

Published on 10/7/2021 at 11:01 AM

When it comes to vacation planning, it makes sense to cram as much fun into one weekend as humanly possible. Especially when travel plans have to be carefully selected these days, a whirlwind trip of hitting all the best spots just makes sense. With that in mind, we’ve put together a 72-hour itinerary for Chicago, the perfect place to visit for a long weekend. It's a surprisingly ideal destination for fall and winter, when the city's coziness kicks into high gear. Whether you’re more into live music, theater, or architecture, Chicago has something to offer, and we’ll show you how to get it. Read on for our ultimate 72-hour guide to Chi City:

Noon: Downtown exploration

Hit all the touristy must-see spots with an exploration of Chicago’s visitor-friendly downtown district, where you can pose under The Bean and go full Ferris Bueller at the Art Institute of Chicago . A leafy stroll through the picturesque Lurie Garden en route to the lakefront is another excellent way to take in the scenery, as is the view (with cold beverage in hand) from 13 floors above Michigan Avenue on the panoramic outdoor patio at Cindy’s Rooftop .

3 pm: Chicago Riverwalk

The  Riverwalk is another must-visit spot. Make your way to the lakefront to take in the sweeping views, and check out the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Chicago River Architecture Cruise . It checks all the boxes with knowledgeable (but not annoyingly so) narration of the downtown architecture and a breezy open-air deck, ideal for enjoying the crisp fall air while learning about the city's history. Further up the Riverwalk is City Winery , a cozy wine bar perfect for warming up. There's also the Bridgehouse Museum  if you're searching for more Chicago history. If you happen to be in town on one of their bridge-raising days, it's worth a visit.

6 pm: Three Dots and a Dash

Since no one ever had a bad time at a tiki bar, you’ll want to get the party started before dinner with a tropical cocktail (or two) at the reliably fun  Three Dots and a Dash . A pirate-themed treasure chest packed with Champagne and overflowing with dense white fog? Consider it an appetizer.

8 pm: Thalia Hall

Looking for a cool indie music venue in a renovated 1892 opera house? Look no further than Thalia Hall , where you can rock out to Pitchfork-esque bands in a jaw-dropping historic theatre that comes with several additional perks. One of them being the on-site Dusek’s Tavern , where you can grab an excellent pre-show dinner of Slagel farm beef tartare, wood roasted Mt. Lassen trout, or a griddled double cheeseburger . As an added bonus, the venue also comes complete with its own downstairs booze emporium Punch House , where you can drink something called “Space Juice” in cool rec room-styled digs. (If you’re looking for more live events, you also might want to check out Capturing Chicago's Creative Spirit , a diverse round-up of dance of dance, theater, and other world-class shows.)

Midnight: Rossi’s Liquors

Got anything left in the tank? Might be time to close out the night at a local downtown dive like Rossi’s . Knock back some drinks, make a few new friends, and disappear without saying goodbye. 

10 am: Walk the 606

Since it’s Saturday morning, it’s time to leave your downtown bubble and head out into the neighborhoods to explore. One of the best ways to peep a nice cross-section of some of Chicago’s coolest hoods is to take an urban hike along Chicago’s 2.7-mile Bloomingdale Trail (aka The 606 ), a tree-lined greenway in the style of NYC’s High Line located along a former elevated railway line cutting through the neighborhoods of Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square. If you're going to do some leaf-peeping while in town, this is the spot.

Noon: Parson’s Chicken & Fish

A short walk from the 606 (exiting at Humboldt Boulevard) takes you to the classic Chicago paradise that is Parson’s Chicken & Fish , home of perhaps the best damn patio in all of the land. There’s also friendly games of ping-pong, Parson’s-branded beer from local brewing powerhouse Revolution , and the chicken is the real deal. Fried, grilled, whatever. Just put it in your face.

2 pm: Shopping in Bucktown

At this point, you’ll want a low-impact activity to nurse your belly. Walk around nearby Bucktown to do some shopping, where you'll find gift stores and boutiques on North Damen Ave. Just to the south is Wicker Park, with similar offerings like the always-hip Buffalo Exchange or the delightfully-named vintage store Kokorokoko .

6 pm: Pequod’s

While we’re checking off classic Chicago experiences, it would be somewhat criminal to leave Chicago without trying some deep-dish pizza. Yes, it is touristy. Yes, it’s something that actual Chicagoans pretty much only eat when out-of-towners are within eyesight. And yet, it’s magnificent nonetheless. One of the best spots in the city to get your grubby little fingers on this signature local dish is Lincoln Park’s low-key neighborhood hang Pequod’s , where the caramelized crust and thick amalgamation of dough and cheese will leave you too happy to get into yet another argument about whether or not deep dish is actually pizza . Probably.

8 pm: Second City

It’s now time to go for the trifecta of archetypal Chicago experiences with a visit to the legendary  The Second City to see some live improv. No, this isn’t like that time your buddy dragged you to see his weird improv show in an empty elementary school gymnasium. This is actually funny. Like, really funny.

11 pm: Old Town Ale House

No trip to The Second City is complete without a post-show recap at Old Town Ale House , the legendary booze emporium located across the street from the comedy club that has attracted a wide range of eccentric celebrities over the years. Come for the stiff drinks and the always interesting cast of characters; stay for the nude paintings of famous folks created by the bar’s owner.

10 am: Jackson Park

Start your final day in the city with a pilgrimage to Jackson Park , one of the crown jewels of the Chicago Park District system that includes a golf course, a sculpture by Yoko Ono, and several beaches. Be sure to check out the Garden of The Phoenix in Jackson Park, where you'll find one of the best locations for a fall stroll. Just north of the park you’ll find Promontory Point , where you can stare out into the lake to gaze upon one of the finest views in the city. Afterwards, grab brunch at the nearby  Ascione Bistro .

2 pm: Museum Of Science and Industry

Just south of Promontory Point is the Museum of Science and Industry , the largest science museum in America. It's the best place to see some hands-on exhibits and do some stargazing at the Giant Dome theater, a five-story wraparound dome that'll have you feeling like you're really flying through galaxies. Plus, they're always current with the rotating exhibits, like the ongoing (until October 24th) exploration of Marvel science . 

4 pm: Public art crawl

An investigation of Chicago’s booming murals scene is a must for any Instagram-friendly visit. First, make your way north to the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, where the culture continues at art hubs like the Bronzeville Artist Lofts and South Side Community Art Center . They're also home to a number of galleries, like Gallery Guichard  and Blanc . Then, keep going north to the vibrant art-filled community of  Pilsen , where you'll find plenty of picture-ready murals along 16th street.

6 pm: Maria’s Packaged Goods

Not only is Bridgeport home of the first-place White Sox’s Guaranteed Rate Field , it’s also a fun neighborhood full of interesting watering holes like Maria’s Packaged Goods , one of Chicago’s top beer bars / slashies (half bar, half liquor store — it’s a Chicago thing.) Pick up a bottle to smuggle back on the plane. While you're there, swing by Kimski  for some Polish/Korean fusion.

Where to Stay:

The Robey Those aiming to stay in the neighborhoods would be wise to post up at The Robey, the hip 89-room boutique hotel perched in a historic building at the corner of Wicker Park’s bustling main intersection. In addition to cool loft-style rooms and a prime location about halfway between downtown and Wrigleyville, The Robey boasts two rooftop bars including the must-hit 13th floor Up Room and the pool-equipped Cabana Club .

Hotel EMC2 Those looking to stay closer to downtown can get a taste of science with all the creature comforts you’ve come to know and love in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood at the awesome yet underrated Hotel EMC2. In addition to stylish rooms with hardwood floors and chic brass accents just off the Magnificent Mile, its sophisticated restaurant the Albert punches well above its weight.

Sophy Hotel If the South Side’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood is more your speed (and why wouldn’t it be?), the art-filled Sophy Hotel offers comfortable and charming boutique accommodations that cover all your essentials in style. As an added bonus, you are within easy walking distance to some of Hyde Park’s most crucial hangs including Virtue , Valois , and The Promontory .

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The Case Against Travel

By Agnes Callard

What is the most uninformative statement that people are inclined to make? My nominee would be “I love to travel.” This tells you very little about a person, because nearly everyone likes to travel; and yet people say it, because, for some reason, they pride themselves both on having travelled and on the fact that they look forward to doing so.

The opposition team is small but articulate. G. K. Chesterton wrote that “travel narrows the mind.” Ralph Waldo Emerson called travel “a fool’s paradise.” Socrates and Immanuel Kant—arguably the two greatest philosophers of all time—voted with their feet, rarely leaving their respective home towns of Athens and Königsberg. But the greatest hater of travel, ever, was the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa , whose wonderful “ Book of Disquiet ” crackles with outrage:

I abhor new ways of life and unfamiliar places. . . . The idea of travelling nauseates me. . . . Ah, let those who don’t exist travel! . . . Travel is for those who cannot feel. . . . Only extreme poverty of the imagination justifies having to move around to feel.

If you are inclined to dismiss this as contrarian posturing, try shifting the object of your thought from your own travel to that of others. At home or abroad, one tends to avoid “touristy” activities. “Tourism” is what we call travelling when other people are doing it. And, although people like to talk about their travels, few of us like to listen to them. Such talk resembles academic writing and reports of dreams: forms of communication driven more by the needs of the producer than the consumer.

One common argument for travel is that it lifts us into an enlightened state, educating us about the world and connecting us to its denizens. Even Samuel Johnson , a skeptic—“What I gained by being in France was, learning to be better satisfied with my own country,” he once said—conceded that travel had a certain cachet. Advising his beloved Boswell, Johnson recommended a trip to China, for the sake of Boswell’s children: “There would be a lustre reflected upon them. . . . They would be at all times regarded as the children of a man who had gone to view the wall of China.”

Travel gets branded as an achievement: see interesting places, have interesting experiences, become interesting people. Is that what it really is?

Pessoa, Emerson, and Chesterton believed that travel, far from putting us in touch with humanity, divorced us from it. Travel turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us that we’re at our best. Call this the traveller’s delusion.

To explore it, let’s start with what we mean by “travel.” Socrates went abroad when he was called to fight in the Peloponnesian War; even so, he was no traveller. Emerson is explicit about steering his critique away from a person who travels when his “necessities” or “duties” demand it. He has no objection to traversing great distances “for the purpose of art, of study, and benevolence.” One sign that you have a reason to be somewhere is that you have nothing to prove, and therefore no drive to collect souvenirs, photos, or stories to prove it. Let’s define “tourism” as the kind of travel that aims at the interesting—and, if Emerson and company are right, misses.

“A tourist is a temporarily leisured person who voluntarily visits a place away from home for the purpose of experiencing a change.” This definition is taken from the opening of “ Hosts and Guests ,” the classic academic volume on the anthropology of tourism. The last phrase is crucial: touristic travel exists for the sake of change. But what, exactly, gets changed? Here is a telling observation from the concluding chapter of the same book: “Tourists are less likely to borrow from their hosts than their hosts are from them, thus precipitating a chain of change in the host community.” We go to experience a change, but end up inflicting change on others.

For example, a decade ago, when I was in Abu Dhabi, I went on a guided tour of a falcon hospital. I took a photo with a falcon on my arm. I have no interest in falconry or falcons, and a generalized dislike of encounters with nonhuman animals. But the falcon hospital was one of the answers to the question, “What does one do in Abu Dhabi?” So I went. I suspect that everything about the falcon hospital, from its layout to its mission statement, is and will continue to be shaped by the visits of people like me—we unchanged changers, we tourists. (On the wall of the foyer, I recall seeing a series of “excellence in tourism” awards. Keep in mind that this is an animal hospital.)

Why might it be bad for a place to be shaped by the people who travel there, voluntarily, for the purpose of experiencing a change? The answer is that such people not only do not know what they are doing but are not even trying to learn. Consider me. It would be one thing to have such a deep passion for falconry that one is willing to fly to Abu Dhabi to pursue it, and it would be another thing to approach the visit in an aspirational spirit, with the hope of developing my life in a new direction. I was in neither position. I entered the hospital knowing that my post-Abu Dhabi life would contain exactly as much falconry as my pre-Abu Dhabi life—which is to say, zero falconry. If you are going to see something you neither value nor aspire to value, you are not doing much of anything besides locomoting.

Tourism is marked by its locomotive character. “I went to France.” O.K., but what did you do there? “I went to the Louvre.” O.K., but what did you do there? “I went to see the ‘Mona Lisa.’ ” That is, before quickly moving on: apparently, many people spend just fifteen seconds looking at the “Mona Lisa.” It’s locomotion all the way down.

The peculiar rationality of tourists allows them to be moved both by a desire to do what they are supposed to do in a place and a desire to avoid precisely what they are supposed to do. This is how it came to pass that, on my first trip to Paris, I avoided both the “Mona Lisa” and the Louvre. I did not, however, avoid locomotion. I walked from one end of the city to the other, over and over again, in a straight line; if you plotted my walks on a map, they would have formed a giant asterisk. In the many great cities I have actually lived and worked in, I would never consider spending whole days walking. When you travel, you suspend your usual standards for what counts as a valuable use of time. You suspend other standards as well, unwilling to be constrained by your taste in food, art, or recreational activities. After all, you say to yourself, the whole point of travelling is to break out of the confines of everyday life. But, if you usually avoid museums, and suddenly seek them out for the purpose of experiencing a change, what are you going to make of the paintings? You might as well be in a room full of falcons.

Let’s delve a bit deeper into how, exactly, the tourist’s project is self-undermining. I’ll illustrate with two examples from “The Loss of the Creature,” an essay by the writer Walker Percy.

First, a sightseer arriving at the Grand Canyon. Before his trip, an idea of the canyon—a “symbolic complex”—had formed in his mind. He is delighted if the canyon resembles the pictures and postcards he has seen; he might even describe it as “every bit as beautiful as a picture postcard!” But, if the lighting is different, the colors and shadows not those which he expects, he feels cheated: he has arrived on a bad day. Unable to gaze directly at the canyon, forced to judge merely whether it matches an image, the sightseer “may simply be bored; or he may be conscious of the difficulty: that the great thing yawning at his feet somehow eludes him.”

Second, a couple from Iowa driving around Mexico. They are enjoying the trip, but are a bit dissatisfied by the usual sights. They get lost, drive for hours on a rocky mountain road, and eventually, “in a tiny valley not even marked on the map,” stumble upon a village celebrating a religious festival. Watching the villagers dance, the tourists finally have “an authentic sight, a sight which is charming, quaint, picturesque, unspoiled.” Yet they still feel some dissatisfaction. Back home in Iowa, they gush about the experience to an ethnologist friend: You should have been there! You must come back with us! When the ethnologist does, in fact, return with them, “the couple do not watch the goings-on; instead they watch the ethnologist! Their highest hope is that their friend should find the dance interesting.” They need him to “certify their experience as genuine.”

The tourist is a deferential character. He outsources the vindication of his experiences to the ethnologist, to postcards, to conventional wisdom about what you are or are not supposed to do in a place. This deference, this “openness to experience,” is exactly what renders the tourist incapable of experience. Emerson confessed, “I seek the Vatican, and the palaces. I affect to be intoxicated with sights and suggestions, but I am not intoxicated.” He speaks for every tourist who has stood before a monument, or a painting, or a falcon, and demanded herself to feel something. Emerson and Percy help us understand why this demand is unreasonable: to be a tourist is to have already decided that it is not one’s own feelings that count. Whether an experience is authentically X is precisely what you, as a non-X, cannot judge.

A similar argument applies to the tourist’s impulse to honor the grand sea of humanity. Whereas Percy and Emerson focus on the aesthetic, showing us how hard it is for travellers to have the sensory experiences that they seek, Pessoa and Chesterton are interested in the ethical. They study why travellers can’t truly connect to other human beings. During my Paris wanderings, I would stare at people, intently inspecting their clothing, their demeanor, their interactions. I was trying to see the Frenchness in the French people around me. This is not a way to make friends.

Pessoa said that he knew only one “real traveller with soul”: an office boy who obsessively collected brochures, tore maps out of newspapers, and memorized train schedules between far-flung destinations. The boy could recount sailing routes around the world, but he had never left Lisbon. Chesterton also approved of such stationary travellers. He wrote that there was “something touching and even tragic” about “the thoughtless tourist, who might have stayed at home loving Laplanders, embracing Chinamen, and clasping Patagonians to his heart in Hampstead or Surbiton, but for his blind and suicidal impulse to go and see what they looked like.”

The problem was not with other places, or with the man wanting to see them, but with travel’s dehumanizing effect, which thrust him among people to whom he was forced to relate as a spectator. Chesterton believed that loving what is distant in the proper fashion—namely, from a distance—enabled a more universal connection. When the man in Hampstead thought of foreigners “in the abstract . . . as those who labour and love their children and die, he was thinking the fundamental truth about them.” “The human bond that he feels at home is not an illusion,” Chesterton wrote. “It is rather an inner reality.” Travel prevents us from feeling the presence of those we have travelled such great distances to be near.

The single most important fact about tourism is this: we already know what we will be like when we return. A vacation is not like immigrating to a foreign country, or matriculating at a university, or starting a new job, or falling in love. We embark on those pursuits with the trepidation of one who enters a tunnel not knowing who she will be when she walks out. The traveller departs confident that she will come back with the same basic interests, political beliefs, and living arrangements. Travel is a boomerang. It drops you right where you started.

If you think that this doesn’t apply to you—that your own travels are magical and profound, with effects that deepen your values, expand your horizons, render you a true citizen of the globe, and so on—note that this phenomenon can’t be assessed first-personally. Pessoa, Chesterton, Percy, and Emerson were all aware that travellers tell themselves they’ve changed, but you can’t rely on introspection to detect a delusion. So cast your mind, instead, to any friends who are soon to set off on summer adventures. In what condition do you expect to find them when they return? They may speak of their travel as though it were transformative, a “once in a lifetime” experience, but will you be able to notice a difference in their behavior, their beliefs, their moral compass? Will there be any difference at all?

Travel is fun, so it is not mysterious that we like it. What is mysterious is why we imbue it with a vast significance, an aura of virtue. If a vacation is merely the pursuit of unchanging change, an embrace of nothing, why insist on its meaning?

One is forced to conclude that maybe it isn’t so easy to do nothing—and this suggests a solution to the puzzle. Imagine how your life would look if you discovered that you would never again travel. If you aren’t planning a major life change, the prospect looms, terrifyingly, as “More and more of this , and then I die.” Travel splits this expanse of time into the chunk that happens before the trip, and the chunk that happens after it, obscuring from view the certainty of annihilation. And it does so in the cleverest possible way: by giving you a foretaste of it. You don’t like to think about the fact that someday you will do nothing and be nobody. You will only allow yourself to preview this experience when you can disguise it in a narrative about how you are doing many exciting and edifying things: you are experiencing, you are connecting, you are being transformed, and you have the trinkets and photos to prove it.

Socrates said that philosophy is a preparation for death. For everyone else, there’s travel. ♦

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This is where to travel in 2024, according to the New York Times

Japan, France and New Zealand ranked highly in the newspaper’s annual list of travel destinations

There’s a tonne of guidance out there about where to head if you’re planning a trip away this year, but the New York Times ’ annual list of 52 Places To Go is more comprehensive than most. 

The paper’s experts have compiled this year’s list of destinations with sustainable travel and cultural events in mind. From the Path of Totality , which will be one of the best places to watch April’s solar eclipse to Maui , Hawaii , which was severely damaged by wildfires in 2023, there’s very good reason to visit every place on the list in 2024. 

There’s also an abundance of choice, no matter the vibe you’re craving. For adventurous travellers, there’s the underwater world of Hurghada, Egypt , but for those seeking some mystical peace and relaxation, there’s Salar de Uyuni , the world’s largest salt flat. 

Here’s the full New York Times list of places to go in 2024

• The Path of Totality, North America
• Paris , France
• Yamaguchi, Japan
• New Zealand by train
• Maui, Hawaii
• Baaj Nwaavja I’tah Kukveni, Arizona
• O’Higgins, Chile
• Ladkah, India
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Dominica, The Caribbean
• Manchester , UK
• Craters of the Moon, Idaho
• Baltimore , Maryland
• Salar de Uyni, Bolivia
• Negombo, Sri Lanka
• Massa-Carrara, Italy
• Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales
• Valencia , Spai n
• Kansas City , Missouri
• Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
• Lake Toba, Indonesia
• Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Quito, Ecuador
• Mingan Archipelago, Quebec
• Montgomery, Alabama
• Tasmania, Australia
• Waterford, Ireland
• Tsavo National Park, Kenya
• Brasilia, Brazil
• El Salvador
• Koh Her, Cambodia
• Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Mustang, Nepal
• Vienna , Austria
• Brisbane , Australia
• Pasadena, California
• Hurghada, Egypt
• Boundary Waters, Minnesota
• Thessaloniki, Greece
• Normandy, France
• Grenada, The Caribbean
• El Camino de Costa Rica
• Albanian Alps
• White Horse, Yukon
• Choquequirao, Peru
• Dresden, Germany
• Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
• Flamingo, Florida

For more 2024 travel inspo, read our guide to  the best things to do across the world in 2024  and the world’s coolest neighbourhoods right now .

Did you see that these are the top trending destinations to visit in 2024, according to Tripadvisor ?

Plus: these are all the strikes at European airports you need to watch out for right now . 

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When is the best time to visit Chicago?

Aug 8, 2023 • 5 min read

Chicago's festivals cover everything from classical music and rap to homegrown Chicago blues © Ted Alexander Somerville / Shutterstock

Famous for its blustery winters, steamy summers and skyscraping skyline, Chicago sees the full range of seasons. But thanks to a calendar packed with festivals and events, a rich foodie scene and a full hand of world-class museums to duck into when the days get cold, there's always something happening in the Windy City no matter what month you visit.

With hot, humid days but plenty of lakeshore to catch the breeze, Chicago shines in the summertime, and spring and fall have their own charm, but in winter, lower tourist numbers and plenty of snow bring the holiday magic.

If you're looking for a city break with phenomenal art and architecture, truly globe-trotting cuisine and exuberant festivals, Chicago has plenty to lure travelers at any time of year. Here's our guide to the top times to visit the Windy City.

November to April is the best time to score big deals

Although Chicago's winter temperatures hover around the freezing point, the bitter lake wind can knock several dozen degrees off the highs due to the wind chill effect. But while below-zero temperatures scare many tourists away, bargains abound, particularly for accommodation. Travelers will have their pick of the deals on accommodation throughout the icy winter months, and tables at top restaurants are easier to find. 

In late November and December, the holiday season brings festive light shows , holiday markets and outdoor ice-skating rinks, and the frosty lakeshore adds some extra Chicago magic. Michigan Avenue bustles with holiday shoppers and downtown shines with a million twinkling lights. Winter is the perfect time to warm up with some Chicago deep-dish pizza and form your own opinion on the city's feud with the New York-style pizza pie.

January is Chicago's coldest month, with temperatures hovering around 22ºF, and an icy wind blowing along the wind tunnels created by downtown's skyscrapers. This is also the city's snowiest month, with approximately 10 inches falling in an average year. Plan to stay inside as much as possible and enjoy all there is to eat and drink here. Museums are less crowded, too, making the winter season the best time to explore the Art Institute of Chicago , one of the world's oldest, largest and most-visited art museums.

The city is still deep in the throes of winter in February, but there are plenty of events to keep you busy, such as the Chinese New Year Parade,  Cupid's Undie Run , and  Chicago Theatre Week . Head up to the observation deck atop the former John Hancock Center for epic views over the frozen lake.

By March, many Chicago residents are wondering if the sun will ever shine again. Windy City-zens count the days during the grayest and windiest month when temperatures linger around 37ºF. However, some fun events take the edge off the cold, including the city's famous St Patrick's Day parade , when the Chicago River gets a shamrock-green makeover with biodegradable dye.   

As spring begins in April, the weather can be unpredictable. Be ready for sun, snow, or rain – or maybe all three in the same day. That doesn't put off sports fans, who flock to Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field for the opening of the baseball season.

May and September to October are great times to enjoy less crowded museums

Chicago has two shoulder seasons – in late spring and early fall – when the city is either shaking off the winter chill or preparing to head into it. Both are excellent times to visit. Temperatures are a manageable 50ºF to 70ºF degrees, and there's a buoyant mood in the city, although rain is often in the forecast. Budget travelers can find good deals on airfares and accommodations, but keep an eye on the calendar; big sporting events and festivals can cause prices to spike temporarily.

In May, the weather finally warms up, spring rolls in, and everyone dashes to Chicago's parks , lakefront trails, baseball stadiums and beer gardens. Beaches open at the end of the month over the Memorial Day weekend and hotels see a rising number of travelers checking in. The better weather means a big turnout in the streets for music festivals such as  Mole de Mayo  and  Sueños Chicago .

Kids go back to school in September and beaches close after the Labor Day weekend, as Chicago's peak visitor season begins to wind down. There's still plenty on the cultural calendar though, with the Chicago Jazz Festival , Riot Fest and the Chicago Architecture Biennial lighting up the city.

Temperatures drop even further in October, averaging 53ºF, and the baseball season is over, but basketball and hockey fill the gap at the end of the month. Chicago Bears' games and tailgate parties are still in full swing, while more active types put their energy into the Chicago Marathon .

June to August is the time to enjoy fantastic festivals and baseball

Warm weather and a packed festival calendar make summer the peak time to visit Chicago. When school's out, families descend on Chicago's beaches in droves for fun in the sun, and museums are often crowded with locals and visitors. Expect to pay top rates for hotels and vacation rentals. You'll also need to book sought-after restaurant tables and theater tickets well in advance.

In June, schools let out and festival season ramps up. The temperature creeps towards 80ºF, but it rains on a third of the days. That doesn't deter the people from partying during Chicago's spirited pride celebrations . One of the most popular ways to see the city in summer is on a boat tour, the best of which is run by the Chicago Architecture Center . And make the most of the city's many parks: art-filled Millennium Park marks the start of a chain of parklands running south along the banks of Lake Michigan.

July is the month Chicagoans wait for all year. Festivals rock Chicago's neighborhoods every weekend, with top billing going to Lollapalooza . Millennium Park has concerts downtown nightly,  Taste of Chicago attracts visitors from all around the world, and fireflies glow everywhere. It can be hot and humid, but with so much to enjoy, who cares?

August is a time for warm, sometimes sizzling weather, concerts, festivals, baseball games, and beach frolicking . Tourists are still in Chicago en masse, so lodging prices are high, and lines can be long. Rabid Cubs fill the stands at Wrigley Field (or stake out seats on the Wrigley Rooftops overlooking the stadium if they can't get seats inside).

This article was first published February 2021 and updated August 2023

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• Chicago Department of Public Health

Chicago Department of Public Health releases updated Travel Advisory with almost 9 percent of the U.S. at Medium to High level for COVID spread

Cdph revamps advisory to align with cdc community levels, advises unvaccinated travelers to take special precautions .

COVID-19 Joint Information Center     [email protected]

CHICAGO –  The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising unvaccinated travelers to take special precautions if they plan to travel in the coming week to areas of the United States – such as parts of the upper Plains, upper Northeast, and Kentucky – that have higher COVID-19 risk levels than the rest of the country, based on the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) COVID-19 Community Levels. CDPH is adjusting its Travel Advisory to align with this new county-level guidance from the CDC, and will provide its travel guidance every Friday going forward.   

The CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels (CCL) tool is designed to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at ​hospital beds being used by COVID-19 patients, new COVID-19 hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. The CDC measures COVID-19 Community Levels in counties from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 78 counties in Puerto Rico.  

According to the CDC’s CCL advisory this week, 8.9 percent (286) of the 3,220 counties in the U.S. and Puerto Rico have COVID-19 levels that are “medium” to “high.” CDPH advises anyone traveling to these areas to consult the  CDC’s CCL map   to determine the risk level and precautions to take. This county-level data from the CDC is color-coded to reflect low (green), medium (yellow), or high (orange) risk. Cook County is currently low risk.  

Most states have low COVID-19 levels, but a couple states, such as Montana and Kentucky, have significant clusters of medium-to-high COVID-19 levels.  

Six Michigan counties, all in the upper northwest portion of the state around the Traverse City area, have high COVID-19 levels. No Wisconsin counties have high COVID-19 levels currently.  

ALL travelers should check the CDC map so they know whether the areas they are traveling to are low, medium, or high risk for COVID-19. 

• If areas are low risk (green) , no additional action must be taken. Continue to follow standard guidance related to travel.
• If the areas are medium risk (yellow) , consider wearing a mask in indoor public places.  
• Wear a mask in indoor public places.  
• Travelers who are age 5 or older who are  not  up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines are advised to avoid travel to high-risk (orange) counties.  
• Stay home and quarantine for 5 days after travel
• Take a COVID test 3-5 days after return – if it is positive, stay home and follow CDC guidance .  
• Ensure you are up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines (including boosters)  before  any planned travel.
• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. 
• Consider packing an at-home COVID test in case you develop symptoms while traveling.
• Bring a mask with you. Remember that masks are required at airports, on airplanes, and on all public transportation at this time. Businesses may also still choose to require masks.  

Given that children under 5 are not yet eligible for vaccination, at this time they are exempted from the City’s Travel Advisory, as long as the adults they are traveling with are vaccinated. Under the updated Advisory, CDPH continues to follow CDC guidance for all travel – including international travel .

V accinat ion continues to be the best protection of severe outcomes from COVID-19 – including hospitalization or death. The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available at pharmacies and health care providers across the City . CDPH will bring the vaccine to Chicago residents at their homes, free of charge, through Protect Chicago At Home. Up to 10 people at a residence (age 5 and up) can be vaccinated.  Make an appointment a t Chicago.gov/AtHome or by calling 312-746-4835. CDPH also holds regular vaccination events across the city, find the full list at Chicago.gov/VaxCalendar . 

CDPH continues to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 in other regions across the country. For more information, visit Chicago.gov/coronavirus . 

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• Main Phone: 312.747.9884
• Employment Verifications: 312.747.9580
• Communicable Disease, TB, and Immunization Programs: 312.746.5380
• Food Protection: 312.746.8030
• Lead Poisoning Prevention: 312.747.5323
• 24-hour Assistance:   311
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• 211 Metro Chicago Helpline: 211MetroChicago.org
• FOIA Requests:  File A Public Health FOIA Request
• Medical Records: How to Obtain a CDPH Medical Record

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What time the 2024 solar eclipse started, reached peak totality and ended

By Sarah Maddox

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 5:04 AM EDT / CBS News

The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible across North America today. As the moon's position between the Earth and sun casts a shadow on North America, that shadow, or umbra, will travel along the surface from west to east at more than 1,500 miles per hour along the path of totality . 

That means the eclipse will start, peak and end at different times — as will the moments of total darkness along the path of totality — and the best time to view the eclipse depends on where you are located. Some places along the path will have more totality time than others.

In Texas, the south-central region had clouds in the forecast , but it was better to the northeast, according to the National Weather Service. The best eclipse viewing weather was expected in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, as well as in Canada's New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

What time does the 2024 total solar eclipse start?

The total solar eclipse will emerge over the South Pacific Ocean before the shadow falls across North America, beginning in parts of Mexico. The path of totality , where onlookers can witness the moon fully blocking the sun (through eclipse viewing glasses for safety ), is expected to first make landfall near the city of Mazatlán around 9:51 a.m. MT. 

The total solar eclipse will cross over the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas, where it will emerge over Eagle Pass at 12:10 p.m. CT and then peak at about 1:27 p.m. CT.

In Dallas, NASA data shows the partial eclipse will first become visible at 12:23 p.m. CT and peak at 1:40 p.m. CT. The next states in the path of totality are Oklahoma and Arkansas, where the eclipse begins in Little Rock at 12:33 p.m. CT. 

Cleveland will see the beginning of the eclipse at 1:59 p.m. ET. Darkness will start spreading over the sky in Buffalo, New York, at 2:04 p.m. ET. Then, the eclipse will reach northwestern Vermont, including Burlington, at 2:14 p.m. ET. Parts of New Hampshire and Maine will also follow in the path of totality before the eclipse first reaches the Canadian mainland  at 3:13 p.m. ET.

Although the experience won't be exactly the same, viewers in all the contiguous U.S. states outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse. Some places will see most of the sun blocked by the moon, including Washington, D.C., where the partial eclipse will start at 2:04 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:20 p.m. ET.

In Chicago, viewers can start viewing the partial eclipse at 12:51 p.m. CT, with the peak arriving at 2:07 p.m. CT.  In Detroit, viewers will be able to enjoy a near-total eclipse beginning at 1:58 p.m. ET and peaking at 3:14 p.m. ET.

New York City will also see a substantial partial eclipse, beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET and peaking around 3:25 p.m. ET.

In Boston it will begin at 2:16 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:29 p.m. ET.

The below table by NASA shows when the eclipse will start, peak and end in 13 cities along the eclipse's path.

What time will the solar eclipse reach peak totality?

Millions more people will have the chance to witness the total solar eclipse this year than during the last total solar eclipse , which was visible from the U.S. in 2017. 

The eclipse's peak will mean something different for cities within the path of totality and for those outside. Within the path of totality, darkness will fall for a few minutes. The longest will last more than 4 minutes, but most places will see between 3.5 and 4 minutes of totality. In cities experiencing a partial eclipse, a percentage of the sun will be obscured for more than two hours.

Mazatlán is set to experience totality at 11:07 am PT. Dallas will be able to see the moon fully cover the sun at 1:40 p.m. CT. Little Rock will start to see the full eclipse at 1:51 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 3:13 p.m. ET and Buffalo at 3:18 p.m. ET. Totality will reach Burlington at 3:26 p.m. ET before moving into the remaining states and reaching Canada around 4:25 p.m.

Outside the path of totality, 87.4% of the sun will be eclipsed in Washington, D.C. at 3:20 p.m. ET, and Chicago will have maximum coverage of 93.9% at 2:07 p.m. CT. New York City is much closer to the path of totality this year than it was in 2017; it will see 89.6% coverage at 3:25 p.m. EDT. 

Detroit is another city that will encounter a near-total eclipse, with 99.2% maximum coverage at 3:14 p.m. ET. Boston will see 92.4% coverage at 3:29 p.m. ET.

What time will the solar eclipse end?

The eclipse will leave continental North America from Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NT, according to NASA.

At the beginning of the path of totality in Mazatlán, the eclipse will be over by 12:32 p.m. PT, and it will leave Dallas at 3:02 p.m. CT. The eclipse will end in Little Rock at 3:11 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 4:29 p.m. CDT and Buffalo at 4:32 p.m. ET. Burlington won't be far behind, with the eclipse concluding at 4:37 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, the viewing will end in Chicago at 3:21 p.m. CT, Washington, D.C. at 4:32 p.m. ET, and New York City at 4:36 p.m. ET. 

In Detroit, the partial eclipse will disappear at 4:27 p.m. ET, and in Boston, it will be over at 4:39 p.m. ET.

How long will the eclipse last in total?

The total solar eclipse will begin in Mexico at 11:07 a.m. PT and leave continental North America at 5:16 p.m. NT. From the time the partial eclipse first appears on Earth to its final glimpses before disappearing thousands of miles away, the celestial show will dazzle viewers for about 5 hours, according to timeanddate.com . 

The length of the total solar eclipse at points along the path depends on the viewing location. The longest will be 4 minutes and 28 seconds, northwest of Torreón, Mexico. Near the center of the path, totality takes place for the longest periods of time, according to NASA.

Spectators will observe totality for much longer today than during the 2017 eclipse , when the longest stretch of totality was 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

The moon's shadow seen on Earth today, called the umbra, travels at more than 1,500 miles per hour, according to NASA. It would move even more quickly if the Earth rotated in the opposite direction.

What is the longest a solar eclipse has ever lasted?

The longest known totality was 7 minutes and 28 seconds in 743 B.C. However, NASA says this record will be broken in 2186 with a 7 minute, 29 second total solar eclipse. The next total solar eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. won't happen until Aug. 23, 2044.

Sarah Maddox has been with CBS News since 2019. She works as an associate producer for CBS News Live.

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