Chicago
Travel Guide

North America - United States of America - Chicago

Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the United States, and also one of the most important in the country. Close to Canada and located on the shore of Michigan Lake, in the State of Illinois, it's a very important city for industry, business, culture and science. Chicago is cosmopolitan, vibrating and the places of interest are neverending: Art galleries, museums, stores, a wide gastronomic offer, fascinating architecture.... For over three decades, Chicago had the tallest building in the world, the Willis Tower, and though the city can't brag about having the tallest view in the world, its skyline is dreamlike. Chicago is the city of skyscrapers –It has over 1,000!- and has earned its architectural reputation in the united states. It has buildings from the 20th century, designed by widely known architects like Lloyd Wright or Louis Sullivan, but the list of important constructions goes on to nowadays. The city is the cradle of many important athletic clubs, which have left a mark on history –like the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Cubs or the Chicago Bears- and has captivated many artists like Miró, Picasso and Chagall. Chicago is an intense and diverse city, with people from every country and many cultures. It’s a destination that includes so many activities and things to do that you have to visit it twice to get the full experience.

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Chicago Overview

Language

English is the native language of the area to communicate, but nevertheless, Chicago is a multicultural city and other languages are spoken, like Spanish or Chinese.

Weather

Weather in chicago is continental, which means quite extreme. Winters are cold –The thermostats can reach down to -20°C (-4ºF)!- and in summer can climb to 30°C (86ºF)! Really hot. The rainy seasons are spring and autumn months. Around these two seasons is also when the wind blows and the skies are cloudy. If you travel during spring or autumn it’s better to bring warm and light clothes since the weather during these times of the year is quite hard to predict.

Money

United States Dollars (USD). You can exchange your currency inside the airport or all over the city. There are many exchange places and ATMs, and in almost every store, credit cards are accepted, and the rates depend on the ones the banks from your country work with. If your currency isn’t the one they accept in Chicago, it's recommended to get some dollars before your trip so you can cover for your first expenses. An important thing to know: prices in Chicago are tagged without the tax. This means that you have to add up to 9% of the price to know the real price.

When to go

Between May and July, or September and October. that's when temperatures are not so hot but not so cold, but you may came across some rainy days. It's also low season, so tourism goes down and visiting the city becomes a really nice experience. Nevertheless, Chicago’s weather changes really quickly, and it’s difficult to predict it in advance.

Days

5 days. Chicago is a huge city, and if you go, you’ll have many things to do and to see. There are activities for every sort of audience and the city is a discovery by itself, including the Michigan Lake. In 5 days you can have a general idea of the city at your own pace, palating it, its people and reaching the corners of every neighborhood.

Surroundings

Milwaukee (City on the shores of Michigan Lake)
Circular route around Michigan Lake: Going around Michigan, Miskegon, South Haven, Petoskey, among other places and towns around Michigan Lake
Warren Woods State Park (Dune Park on the shore of Michigan Lake)

Store Hours

The stores in Chicago tend to open at 10 a.m. and close around 6 p.m., but, like in almost every big city, there are exceptions. Shopping malls and stores downtown, tend to open to 8 p.m. There are shops that are 24/7, usually department stores or supermarkets.