Chicago is located in Illinois and it is the third largest city in the United States. Famous for sports, its deep dish pizza, and extreme winters, Chicago is an amazing city to visit.
Check out our travel tips every first-time visitor to Chicago needs to know, including some fun and interesting facts about the city.
1. Where is Chicago?
Chicago is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois on the shores of Lake Michigan. The convenient geographical position of Chicago on the map of the USA, put the city at the crossroads of trade and transport routes between the East and West.
Due to the location, Chicago received an influx of migrants, giving impetus to rapid development. It is now one of the easiest cities to get to in the United States with a range of transport options connecting other places in North America and worldwide.
2. Chicago is Known as the Windy City
Chicago is known as the “windy” city, which isn’t actually to do with the weather, but the term is used metaphorically to make out that Chicagoans were braggarts.
3. Chicago Isn’t the Capital of Illinois
The city of Springfield is in fact the state capital of Illinois, not Chicago, which a lot of people don’t realise.
4. Value for Money
Chicago is not as expensive to visit compared to other popular destinations in the USA like New York and San Francisco, so it is well suited for those who keen to travel without spending fortune. Prices in Chicago for accommodation and sightseeing are significantly lower than in other tourist destinations in the United States.
5. Best Things to Do in Chicago
Looking for ideas about what to do during your first trip to Chicago?
There are so many attractions you need to add to your itinerary including Navy Pier, Millennium Park, The Lurie Garden, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center, Willis Tower, Harris Theater, Art on theMART, Museum Campus and much more.
You can find lots of outdoor things to do in Chicago which make visiting during summer an ideal time to visit. Some popular places to go include Chicago Riverwalk, Lake Michigan and see some of the city’s most famous public artworks including, Cloud Gate (The Bean) and Crown Fountain. During summer there are also lots of free live music concerts, festivals, and outdoor film screenings.
Although winter can be a challenging time to visit the city, there is ice skating on the plaza and also lots of indoor things to do.
6. Chicago Has Beaches
Chicago isn’t located on the coast, but the city has beaches along the 26 miles of Lake Michigan. Plan a trip to Chicago in summer, and check out some of the most popular beaches among locals which include:
• North Avenue Beach
• Oak Street Beach
• Loyola Beach
• 31st Street Beach
• Hollywood Beach
• 12th Street Beach
• Montrose Beach
• South Shore Beach
7. Go Up the 3rd Tallest Skyscraper in North America
Chicago is home to the Willis Tower (formerly Sears), which is the third tallest building in the United States behind One World Trade Center and Central Park Tower, both in New York City.
The Willis Tower was constructed in 1974 and is 1,451ft tall! There is an amazing viewing gallery on the top, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city.
If you are looking for an adrenaline pumping activity be sure to Step out on The Ledge, this is a glass box that extends approximately 4 feet from the skyscraper’s facade, over 1,300-feet above ground level.
Another thrilling tourist attraction includes the TILT observation deck at 360 CHICAGO. You literally tip over the edge and get spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding areas from 1000 feet up.
8. Locals are Fanatical About Sports
Watching live sports is one of the most popular things the locals do in Chicago, and this city is home to lots of teams include the Cubs and the White Sox (MLB), the Bears (NFL), the Bulls (NBA), the Sky (WNBA) and the Fire (MLS). No matter what time of year yo visit you are almost guaranteed to be able to see a live sporting event.
9. Spray Paint was Invented in Chicago
A random interesting fact that not many people know is spray paint was invented in Chicago and now you can see incredible works and murals all over the city. One of the most popular places to see is the ‘The Greetings’ mural, pictured above, which is one of the most recognizable pieces of street art in Chicago. Head to Logan Square to see for yourself.
10. Enjoy Chicago’s Largest Outdoor Food Festival
If you visit Chicago during summer you might want to time your trip with ‘Taste of Chicago’, an annual food festival which is really popular with locals. Expect tasty food from around the world, music performances and entertainment from local and international artists. Admission to the Taste of Chicago is completely free.
11. Transport
Chicago has an extensive public transport network and getting around the city to all the main attractions is easy.
12. Crime
In recent years, Chicago has occupied the top lines in the growth of crime in the United States. This might sound quite scary, but most of the crime is condensed into certain neighbourhoods which you wouldn’t normally visit on a general tourism visit.
Like when visiting any city in the USA, tourists should be prudent and careful in Chicago, familiarize yourself with the local areas and do not walk through random neighborhoods (especially at night). If it is your first time in the city, its best to stick to downtown and the city centre which are very safe.
If you do want to venture out to see more places, there are lots of tours and organised excursions available.
13. Weather and Best Time to Visit
The weather in Chicago is determined by the influence of a temperate continental climate, and the seasons correspond to the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
The weather can be extreme no matter what season you visit, some days in winter can have 20+ degree sunny days then in the same week snow.
Summers in Chicago are generally hot, sunny and rainy, and winters are very cold.
In winter, snow often falls in Chicago and, despite average temperatures do drop regularly to -8°C. It becomes quite cold and chilly due to the wind bringing moist air from Lake Michigan.
But the summer is quite long, with a comfortable temperature (+23..28 ° C), however, thunderstorms often occur during the day and there is short-term rain.
Visiting Chicago during winter isn’t recommended, temperatures can be extremely cold and often Lake Michigan freezes.
14. Deep Dish Pizza
One of the most famous local treats is the Chicago deep dish pizza, this is probably unlike any pizza you have eaten before, it looks more like a pie than an actual pizza. Chicago style pizzas are made with crust, cheese, toppings, tomato sauce – they are something you really need to try before leaving the city. There are pizza restaurants and outlets throughout the city.
15. Barack Obama Met Michelle Obama in Chicago
Former U.S. President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama met in Chicago, in 1989 at a law firm and married three years later. Some local guides and travel operators offer tours to see where they used to study.
16. You Can Visit Al Capone’s Favourite Bar
Alphonse Gabriel Capone (Al Capone), sometimes known by the nickname “Scarface”, was an American gangster and businessman who came to fame during the Prohibition era. Al Capone was the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit.
Before he went to prison he used to frequent several bars and clubs in the city including The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge which has hosted some of Chicago’s best Jazz performers for over a century. During Prohibition, the lounge was a notorious speakeasy run by “Machine Gun” Jack McGurn, a known associate of Al Capone.
Today, the Green Mill continues to play Jazz all night, seven nights a week.
Chicago is a great city break destination and one of the top places to see in northern USA. Go explore it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
