Statue
The Cloud Gate artwork by English artist Anish Kapoor is one of the main symbols of Chicago today. The bean-shaped steel sculpture measures 20 metres long and 13 metres wide and is made to mirror the sky and the surrounding environment. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-cloude-gate] "The Bean" has been located in Millennium Park since 2006 and is the number one…
Read moreSkyscraper, Lookout
The iconic black skyscraper called Willis Tower is better known among locals by its old name, Sears Tower. The skyscraper kept its original name from the 1970s until 2009, when it was renamed Willis Tower. Completed in 1973, the skyscraper boasted the title of the world's tallest building at 442 metres until 1996, when it was surpassed by the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Today, the Willis Tower is still Chicago's No. 1…
Read moreTheatre
Once one of America's most famous theatres and still one of the city's visual icons, the theatre is now primarily devoted to concerts, comedy shows, stand-up and magic performances. Among other things, the theatre is known for its distinctive neon "Chicago" sign. This famous cultural institution was founded in 1921 as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre. [btn "10 top hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid…
Read morePromenade, Museum, Amusement park, Theatre
The most visited attraction in Chicago is Navy Pier, a mile-long pier jutting out into Lake Michigan at Grand Ave and Illinois Street. A lively area filled with restaurants, bars and various fairground attractions, it wakes up after noon and becomes more lively as the evening progresses. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-navy-pier] The south end of Navy Pier offers…
Read moreSkyscraper, Historic building
One of the iconic skyscrapers of the "old days" was built in 1920 as the headquarters of the famous Wrigley Chewing Gum Company. The style of the Wrigley Building is somewhat reminiscent of New York's Empire State Building. Although it is currently one of the lowest skyscrapers in Downtown, it is one of Chicago's premier landmarks. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago…
Read moreBridge
The DuSable Drawbridge over the Chicago River is a popular tourist attraction and one of the most interesting historical landmarks. Built in 1920, the bridge measures 122 metres in length, but the clearance under the bridge is only 4.9 metres. This would have been a significant restriction for boats traveling deeper into downtown on the Chicago River, so the decision was made to make the bridge a drawbridge. [btn "Book a hotel in downtown…
Read morePromenade
The boardwalk along the Chicago River is one of the most popular urban pedestrian areas in the US. The 1.5-mile pedestrian route follows the south bank of the Chicago River right in Downtown, surrounded by skyscrapers, dozens of restaurants, cafes and docks. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-riverwalk] What will you discover on the Riverwalk? Stroll among the…
Read moreMuseum, Stadium, Planetarium, Promenade, Park
The popular Museum Campus is actually a large park on the shores of Lake Michigan, with several major tourist attractions. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-campus] You can easily spend all day at local museums and attractions. What to see and do on the Museum Campus? Adler Planetarium - The first planetarium in the U.S. (opened in 1930) Official Website:…
Read moreAquarium
By number of visitors, the busiest attraction in Chicago is the Shedd Aquarium, the third largest in its category in the Western Hemisphere. The Shedd Aquarium itself beckons quietly for a full-day visit and can be found along with other attractions on the Museum Campus. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-shedd] At the aquarium, you'll walk through several popular…
Read moreMuseum
The world-famous Museum of Natural History, known by the acronym FMNH (Field Museum of Natural History), is one of the largest of its kind in the world and the most visited museum in Chicago. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-field] If you want to explore all parts of the museum, be prepared for about 3-4 hours of time. You'll find the museum, along with other…
Read moreSkyscraper, Lookout
An alternative viewpoint to the more famous Willis Tower is the John Hancock Center skyscraper. For many, it is more popular precisely because from the "360° Chicago" observatory on the 94th floor you can see the tallest building in Chicago - Willis Tower. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-field] While the building was officially renamed "875 North Michigan Avenue"…
Read moreCity Quarter, Street
The centre of everyday life, the heart of the city, this is "The Mag Mile". In the district, whose central artery is Michigan Ave, you will find the most important shops of luxury brands, expensive restaurants and cheap fast food and skyscrapers of the mid-20th century. [btn "Book a hotel in downtown Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-mag-mile] What to see on "The Mag Mile"? The Magnicient…
Read moreCity Quarter
Chicago's very original historic downtown, where you'll find the classic low brick buildings of the mid-19th century, has been preserved in an unusually large area. Few American cities can boast similar centres. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-oldtown] The centerpiece of Old Chicago is St. Michael's Church, whose bell is said to mark the boundaries of Old Town…
Read moreHistoric building, Tower
One of the few original historical monuments (it was built in 1869) right in the heart of the city is the old water tower. It sits on one of the main streets, Michigan Ave at Jane M. Byrne Plaza. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-water] The water tower is 55 feet tall and made of yellowing limestone from the Sugar Run area. The tower was used for firefighting, as…
Read moreMuseum, Historic building
Architecture enthusiasts head to the southern suburb of Hyde Park to visit Robie House. At first glance, the unremarkable brick house is one of the most perfect examples of the distinctive 'Prairie Style', the first purely American architectural movement. Robie House has even been nominated for UNESCO listing. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-robie] Built between…
Read morePark
Inspired by New York's High Line Park, the Bloomingdale Line public park was created in Chicago in 2015 on the site of a former rail line. The nearly 4.5 kilometre-long corridor of pedestrian and cycle paths is lined with benches and greenery and has contributed significantly to the revitalisation of the site. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Chicago" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-bloomingdale] The…
Read moreZoo
One of the oldest zoos in America, besides the exotic animal species, it is especially interesting because since its founding in 1868 it has remained free for all visitors. The Lincoln Zoo covers an area of 14 hectares and is therefore one of the smaller zoos. [btn "Find the cheapest hotel in Chicago here" https://www.booking.com/city/us/chicago.cs.html?aid=2380460;label=p-chicago-zoo] What to see at the zoo? In total, you can see over 200…
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