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Visiting Chicago

Travelers to Chicago give high marks for the popular theater scene, interesting architecture, and renowned art. Vibrant and scenic, this city will delight tourists with its monuments, museums, and entertainment choices. Top sights in the city include Millennium Park, Willis Tower, and Skydeck Ledge.

• There are 995 hotels and other accommodations in Chicago
• The closest major airport is in Chicago, IL (MDW-Midway Intl.) 13.9 from the city center
• The next closest is in Chicago, IL (ORD-O'Hare Intl.) 25.3 away

Sightseeing and Staying in Chicago

Known for its theaters, art, and museums, the city's cultural venues include Chicago Cultural Center, Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre, and Chicago Theatre. Attractions like Skydeck Ledge, Six Flags Great America, and Navy Pier are fun for kids of all ages. The city is notable for its monuments and landmarks like Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, and Buckingham Fountain.

In Chicago, there are 995 hotels and other lodging accommodations so you'll have ample places to choose from for a perfect vacation. Below are highly ranked ones based on our user reviews:

• Chicago Premier Suites - Guests who stay at this 4-star apartment in Near North Side can enjoy access to a fitness center and a steam room, along with an in-room kitchen. It's a favorite with Expedia travelers for its convenient parking and location.
• The Sono Chicago - Our customers like the quiet location and comfortable, quiet rooms at this B&B. This 3.5-star bed & breakfast in Near North Side features free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking.
• Bishops Hall - With a stay at this 3.5-star bed & breakfast, guests can enjoy access to free breakfast and free parking, along with free WiFi. Expedia customers like its breakfast and quiet location.

Other favorite sights in Chicago include Millennium Park, McCormick Place, and Wrigley Field.

Getting Around Chicago

With so many transportation options, exploring Chicago is a breeze. Take advantage of metro transit at Monroe Station, Monroe Station, and Adams-Wabash Station. If you want to journey outside of the city, ride aboard a train from Millennium Station, Chicago Van Buren Street Station, or Chicago Union Station.

Dressing for Chicago

• Between January and March, you can expect the daytime average to be around 53°F and the nighttime average to be 18°F
• From April to June, temperatures average about 84°F during the day and 36°F at night
• July through September averages 85°F during the day and 51°F at night
• In October-December, the average temperature is 69°F during the day and 19°F at night
• Chicago gets about 39.02 inches of rain per year
• Hottest months are usually July and June with an average temperature of 83��F, while the coldest months are January and February with an average of 20°F

With its famous skyline of tall buildings, and its breathtaking natural surroundings, the Midwestern metropolis of Chicago is a truly dramatic location. Home to the highest skyscraper in the Western hemisphere, the Sears Tower, yet close to Lake Michigan, a body of water bigger than some European countries, the Windy City is a place where urbanisation meets nature. While getting around the city is easy by food, train & bus, parking is not, so consider looking for a hotel with free parking when planning your trip.

"The Windy City"

The channelling of strong gusts between Chicago's skyscrapers may make it seem like it's windier here than anywhere else in the US, but there's another reason why Chicago is nicknamed the Windy City. Chicagoans are crazy about sport, from the Chicago Bears (football) to the Blackhawks (hockey) and the Bulls (basketball). Nearby Cincinnati is equally competitive and the term Windy City was probably first used by Cincinnati newspapers covering the rivalry between the two cities.

Reaching for the sky

Downtown Chicago is known for its architecture, not at all surprising when you consider that 10 of the 50 tallest buildings in the world are located here. The Illinois capital has been at the forefront of progressive architecture and tall buildings since the late 19th century when large parts of the city were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871. While two of the most prominent buildings, the Sears Tower and the Aon Centre, date back to the 1970s, the boom continues. Donald Trump's luxury apartment complex in the River North district was completed recently and the 2000-foot Chicago Spire is scheduled to be completed soon.

It's not sheer height alone that makes the city's architectural face so interesting; some of America's greatest architects have left their mark on Chicago, including Solon S. Beman, Walter Burley Griffin, and perhaps the greatest of all, Frank Lloyd Wright. A Chicago Card gives you admission to the city's best-known skyscrapers and the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Society, and includes architectural walking tours.

Chicago and the arts

One of the best-known American paintings, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, is exhibited in the Art Institute of Chicago. Next to Hopper, the museum houses an impressive collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and American paintings. Also worth a visit is the Museum of Contemporary Art, which focuses on visual art from 1945 to the present day with emphasis on surrealism, minimalism, conceptual photography, and works by Chicago-based artists.

Chicago is serious about culture and you'll find museums dedicated to everything from Swedish-American life to Science and Industry. A definite must-see for young and old is the Field Museum - home to "Sue", the world's largest and most famous Tyrannosaurus Rex. To get a comprehensive overview of what the city has to offer, opt for a half-day sightseeing tour, which includes museum admission as well as a trip up Hancock Tower to see the city from above. However much time you spend exploring during the day, take some time to relax in one of Chicago's hotels with a pool and make sure you keep some time aside for a night out in Chicago. It's not called the home of the blues for nothing, and venues like the Chicago Blues Bar on North Halsted pay tribute to that seven nights a week.

Chicago is the perfect city for any traveller, from luxurious accommodation to hostels, Expedia.com.au is here to help you plan the perfect holiday.