Travel Tips for Chicago, Illinois, United States

Cost: € (affordable)

Safety: 3/5 for solo female travellers

I spent 24 hours in Chicago in May 2022, and the minute I arrived into the city I was struck by its incredible beauty. I wish I had spent longer in the Windy City, as it’s the third-largest in the US and it has some amazing things to do and see.

However, despite its beauty and sights, I didn’t feel safe in Chicago, especially at night. If you look at the statistics, the city is overrun with gang violence. I would advise you to stick with the tourist spots only, and don’t venture out to the neighbourhoods. If you are travelling alone, do not stay out late at night.

How to get there

As I was visiting Toronto in Canada at the time, I flew from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International via Air Canada.

If you’re coming from Ireland, you can fly direct from Dublin to Chicago O’Hare International via Aer Lingus or American Airlines. The flight length is about 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Language, Currency & Weather

English is the most commonly spoken language in Chicago and the currency is the US Dollar.

Visiting Chicago in winter is a terrible idea due to the extreme snow and cold (temperatures can range from -1 to -9 degrees) and the wind from Lake Michigan can make it feel much colder.

Summers there can be very hot (temperatures between 25 and 33 degrees Celsius). In my opinion, the best time to visit Chicago is May, as the weather is pleasant and it’s easy to walk around and explore.

Public Transport

The public transport system in Chicago is called the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and it runs ‘L’ train lines as well as bus services.

Many of the train services run above-ground and at street-level, which is pretty cool to witness. The Blue Line brings you between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and downtown, and it will take about 45 minutes.

If you’re going to be using public transport a lot, I would recommend purchasing a Ventra Transit Card, which can be used on the ‘L’ train and the bus. Otherwise, you can buy single-trip tickets as you go.

It’s also possible to book water taxis, which is a fun way to bring you to the top tourist destinations.

Where To Stay

I stayed in Found Hotel Chicago River North, located on North Wells Street. This is a commercial historic district that has lots of restaurants and bars, and I enjoyed my stay here as the staff were very friendly.

If you are wishing to stay in the city, I would recommend citizenM Chicago Downtown or the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel.

Acme Hotel Company is another good option, as is Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop.

If you’re on a budget, I would choose HI Chicago Hostel or Freehand Chicago.

Where To Go & What To Do

Firstly, I would recommend booking a walking tour around the city. If you are under time pressure like I was, then this is the best way to visit the city’s top attractions and learn all about its history.

After this I would pay a visit to 360 Chicago Observation Deck, Willis Tower Skydeck, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Bean in Millennium Park and take a walk along the Chicago Riverwalk.

I booked a sunset cruise along Lake Michigan and this is something you don’t want to miss. The views of the city are insane, and the guides are excellent.

Weather permitting, it’s also possible to kayak on the Chicago River or Lake Michigan and view all the sights, minus the foot traffic.

If you have time, I would pay a visit to Chicago’s Botanic Garden, which has more than 2.8 million plants from around the world and some very fresh air.

What & Where To Eat

I would advise you to book a food tour while you’re in the city so you get a taste of the different cuisines, as well as trying the most iconic Chicago foods.

The city has many great food spots, so I found it hard to pick just a few to try while I was there. After much consideration, I visited Portillo’s for their delicious hot dogs and Lou Malnati’s for their deep-dish pizza.

I read before I visited the city that the best Italian beef Chicago sandwich was at Al’s, so I decided to stop there for lunch. It didn’t disappoint, so I would add this to your list. For breakfast on my last day, I stopped by Ann Sather’s for coffee and a cinnamon roll.

Enjoy exploring Chicago!