Chicago
The Loop & Riverwalk
Unsplash / Unsplash
Skyscraper canyon — Art Institute, Millennium Park, the Bean, and the Riverwalk under Burnham's towers.
The original Chicago — the rectangular core inside the elevated CTA tracks, with the Art Institute, Millennium Park (Cloud Gate / The Bean), Grant Park and the lower-level Chicago Riverwalk. Best base for first-time visitors who want every major sight walkable, plus the Chicago Architecture Center river cruise launch dock right at Michigan Avenue.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Every major museum and the Bean within 15 min walk
- ↑CTA Blue Line direct to O'Hare in 45 min
- ↑Riverwalk wine bars and architecture-cruise dock under your hotel
What you sacrifice
- ↓Hotel rates highest in the city; tourist surcharge on restaurants
- ↓Quiet Sunday/Mon evenings — Loop is office-driven
Best for
Avoid if
Other Chicago neighbourhoods
Lakefront residential strip — Lincoln Park Zoo (free), Wrigley Field, brownstones and the Conservatory.
Indie-arts heartland — vintage on Milwaukee Ave, taquerias, brunch culture, the Six Corners intersection.
Mexican-American Chicago — National Museum of Mexican Art, 18th Street murals, taqueria density unmatched.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
Best time to visit Chicago →