Chicago Neighborhoods Guide

Here's our rundown on some of the best things to see and do in all of Chicago's neighborhoods. From observation decks, gardens, and museums to cruises and parks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

By Casey Makovich

Published: July 18, 2024

Planning a vacation to Chicago? Our local experts put together a helpful Chicago neighborhoods guide so you can make the most of your time in the Windy City. We highlighted a handful of the top attractions and places to see in all of Chicago's best neighborhoods, so you can relax and focus on enjoying the trip.

The North Side and Lincoln Park

North of downtown, Chicago’s North Side and Lincoln Park area is home to lots of top Chicago attractions, shopping, dining, expansive green spaces, and more.

Things to do in the North Side and Lincoln Park

Explore Wrigleyville and cheer for the home team while catching a Cubs game at the beloved stadium or one of the many sports bars nearby.
Lincoln Park is a popular (and pricey) residential area and home to famous landmarks, including Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago History Museum, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Explore Old Town, an affluent and hip historic neighborhood with Victorian-era buildings, charming streets, family-owned restaurants, and more.
The park itself is a great place to explore - it's a third larger than NYC's Central Park and is full of things to do! Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo (free!), check out the Conservatory, and the Cultural Center, or enjoy one of the many playing fields and golf courses.
Got any LEGO® fans in the family? Be sure to check out LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, a large indoor space filled with exhibits, construction demos, interactive areas, and more.

Getting in: Chicago History Museum tickets, Lincoln Park Zoo Ride tickets and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center tickets are all included on the Go Chicago Card.

West Side and Central

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Chicago’s West Side/ Central area consists of lots of fun neighborhoods to explore.

Things to do in Chicago’s West Side

Architecture and American Literature buffs will want to head to Oak Park where you'll find the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s residential home designs (including his own) and Ernest Hemingway’s childhood home and museum.
Chicago’s largest zoo, the Brookfield Zoo, offers year-round fun with diverse animal exhibits, a large nature park, and more. See all your favorite furry friends, from spider monkeys to giraffes to bottlenose dolphins.
Go on a taste tour of Chicago’s Little Italy where Chicago’s immigrant past is preserved and Italian culture reigns. From pizza and pasta to specialty Chicago treats like Italian ice, plus Polish sausage, the food scene in Little Italy is not to be missed.

Getting in: Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home Tour tickets, and Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Tour tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes, while Brookfield Zoo is separately ticketed.

Downtown, The Loop, and the Magnificent Mile

Chicago’s large downtown area is made up of many neighborhoods, including Gold Coast, River North, Streeterville, Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, The Loop, South Loop, and Museum Campus.

Check out the Gold Coast, an affluent neighborhood just north of Downtown for high-end shopping, upscale dining, diverse Chicago architecture, the Chicago History Museum, the popular nightlife scene on Rush Street, and more.

Take a stroll down Astor Street and appreciate the 19th-century style homes and apartment complexes. The gorgeous buildings still remain as a testament to the fashionable style of their original residents.
Calling all foodies - the dining options in Gold Coast are second to none! From upscale barbeque joints to classic Italian family-style spots, you're bound to find the perfect meal(s).
Enjoy a walk on Rush Street during the day for top-of-the-line shopping, then circle back at night for the best nightlife in the city.
Speaking of food, if you haven't already tried a deep dish pie yet, stop at Lou Malnati's of Gold Coast ASAP! Once you've tried Lou's, turn the rest of your trip into a Deep Dish pizza scavenger hunt.

River North

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The commercial district just west of the Magnificent Mile is known as River North and is an area of the city with dormant factories and warehouses turned art studios and work spaces for Chicago’s creative types.

This trendy arts-focused neighborhood is a top destination for visitors looking for fine dining, upscale drinks, clubs, art-centered shopping, and more.
Merchandise Mart is the perfect place to spend the day perusing showrooms full of cutting-edge furniture, art, and design.
Similar to Gold Coast, there are plenty of top-rated restaurants along the river to enjoy!

Navy Pier

Navy Pier in Streeterville is a hub of activity with unbeatable lakefront views, boardwalk-style fun, souvenir shops, postcard-worthy views, and more.

Here are a few top Navy Pier attractions and things to do nearby.

Things to do in Navy Pier

Take a ride on some memorable amusement rides located right on the pier.
Pick up a bike rental and explore Chicago’s 26 miles of scenic, fun, and safe lakefront trails.
Families will enjoy the entertaining and educational exhibits and activities at the Chicago Children’s Museum.
Theater buffs can see excellent productions of classic shows at the award-winning Shakespeare Theater for some thespian fun.
Grab a drink and some classic Chicago eats at the outdoor Landshark Beer Garden, featuring free live music on Wednesdays in the summer and one of the best views of the Navy Pier’s twice-weekly summer fireworks.
One of the coolest parts of Chicago is the gorgeous river that splits the city in half - and there's no better way to see the beauty on both sides than aboard a cruise. Enjoy learning more about the history and architectural advancements of the Windy City as you cruise along the river.

Getting in: Navy Pier Centennial Wheel and Rides tickets, Chicago Children's Museum tickets, Bike & Roll: 4-Hour Bike Rental tickets, Shoreline Architecture River Cruise tickets and Shoreline Classic Lake Tour tickets are all included on Go City® Chicago passes.

Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile district is the area immediately surrounding North Michigan Avenue and a popular destination for visitors with many of the city’s hotels, shops, restaurants, bars, attractions, and more.

Things to do near the Magnificent Mile

Head to the Museum of Contemporary Art to see cutting-edge art from ascendant artists and contemporary icons. As one of the world's largest institutions for contemporary art, it's a can't-miss for any art lover.
For 360-degree views of Chicago, head to 360 Chicago (formerly John Hancock Observatory), for a ride in the world’s fastest elevator to the 94th floor of this Chicago must-see.
Measure up and compare your skills to some of Chicago’s finest athletes at the Chicago Sports Museum.
Want to tour the entire city but don't know where to stop? You can hitch a ride on the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus right on the Magnificent Mile! You'll learn more about Chi-town as you go, and you can hop off at any of these famous stops: Adler Planetarium, SkyDeck Chicago, Millenium Park, Chicago's Museum Campus, and more.

Getting in: Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Chicago tickets, 360 Chicago tickets, and Museum of Contemporary Art tickets are all included on Go Chicago Card.

The Loop

The Loop, Chicago’s official downtown, is home to many of the city’s premier attractions and things to do. When people refer to “The Loop”, they’re talking about the city’s downtown area, bordered by the Chicago River to the north and west, Michigan Avenue to the east, and Roosevelt Avenue to the south. The Loop area is surrounded by a circuit of elevated trains.

Here are some fun suggestions for things to do near Millennium Park and The Loop in Chicago.

Things to do in The Loop

Learn about the iconic Willis Tower and get in some spectacular views from the observatory deck at Skydeck Chicago's famous all-glass balcony “The Ledge”. You can even see four different states: Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Fans of the arts will enjoy a tour of the legendary Chicago Theatre. This theater has hosted stars like Dolly Parton, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra and has put on Tony Award-winning productions.
Of course, if you're in the area you can't skip a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago. TripAdvisor has consistently ranked it as one of the top museums in the world and for good reason. It's home to an impressive collection of photography, artifacts, paintings, and sculptures of all different styles.

Getting in: SkyDeck Chicago, and Chicago Theatre Tour are available on all Go City® Chicago passes. Art Institute of Chicago is separately ticketed.

Museum Campus/ South Loop

Part of Chicago’s large Grant Park, Museum Campus is a 57 acre park along the Michigan Lake waterfront and home to three of the city’s most popular museums.

Things to do in Museum Campus and the South Loop

The Field Museum, one of the most prominent natural history museums in the country, features state-of-the-art exhibits, interactive galleries, and impressive displays of natural wonders from around the world.
No trip to Chicago is complete without exploring the impressive array of aquatic life from all over the globe at Chicago’s most visited attraction, the world-famous Shedd Aquarium. Shedd is home to over 32,000 fascinating marine animals.
Do a little exploring beyond Chicago at America’s first planetarium, the Adler Planetarium, and experience all things space come to life.
Just south of the planetarium, nature lovers will enjoy exploring Northerly Island, a 91-acre peninsula dedicated to nature with walking paths, play areas, views of Chicago’s skyline, and some of the best fishing in the city.

Getting in: The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium tickets are all included on Go City® Chicago passes.

South Side

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Chicago’s South Side is an integral part of the city and home to the University of Chicago.

Things to do on the South Side

Check out the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, the Museum of Science and Industry. Housed in the only remaining building from the famous 1893 World’s Fair, this museum has something for everyone to enjoy.
Frank Lloyd Wright fans will want to take a trip to the Robie House, one of his architectural masterpieces and an exemplary display of an American Prairie Style home.
Lorado Taft Midway Studios, owned by the University of Chicago, was the art studio of Lorado Taft, one of the early 20th century’s most influential sculptors.

Getting in: Museum of Science and Industry and Robie House tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.

Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City®

Discover our full line-up of Chicago attractions including Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier, Chicago Children's Museum, and more.

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option.

Casey Makovich

Go City Travel Expert

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The Navy Pier entrance and Ferris wheel in Chicago

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Tourist Traps in Chicago

The largest city in the Midwest is no shrinking violet when it comes to culture, history and nightlife. We’re talking everything from galleries to ghost tours, world-class architecture to late-night jazz joints and – yes – Chicago pizza. Then there’s the Cubs, the Bulls, the Blackhawks, and the Bears. And a skyline that’s the envy of the States. But with great popularity comes madding crowds, interminable lines, and inauthentic attractions. Yep, even the Windy City ain’t immune to the odd tourist trap or three. We’ve taken a deep(-dish)-dive to get the lowdown on what’s good, what’s bad and what’s just plain damn ugly. So without further ado, here are five Chicago tourist traps to dodge, and what to do instead… Bean There, Done That We know, we know… it’s the most popular piece of public art in Chicago; how can you not visit it when you’re in town? In fact, it’s the most popular attraction in Chicago, period. Or, at least, Millennium Park is, but that’s due in no small part to the great mirrored bean that lies gleaming at its center. Officially named Cloud Gate, but more prosaically known as the Bean (for reasons that are more than apparent) this enormous stainless steel sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor attracts upwards of 20 million visitors a year. So yeah, it’s iconic, but it’s also a major tourist trap. Pitch up any time after, say, 6AM and you can kiss goodbye to that coveted ‘alone in Millennium Park’ selfie you’ve been dreaming of. It’s worse after 9AM, when swarms of selfie stick-toting tourists will ensure you barely get a look in, and might even have your eye out. Midday? Fuggedaboudit! But we know you’re going to go and see it anyway, so here’s our advice. Don’t make it the whole point of your trip, but rather take it in as part of a tour of Millennium Park’s other fine attractions. Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s interactive Crown Fountain is worth a moment of your time. Likewise the vibrant Lurie Garden. Or hit up other nearby downtown hotspots: grab an old-fashioned at Chicago institution Cindy’s or ogle Van Gogh, Hopper and O’Keeffe originals over at the Art Institute (pictured above). Unnatural Highs Tourists flock to Chicago’s sky-high observation decks. And flocking tourists mean two things. That’s right: long, tedious lines and inflated entry prices. This is true of both of Chicago’s decks – the 360 Chicago way up on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building and the Skydeck at Willis Tower, only the highest observation deck in the United States. Sure, the views are quite something, spanning the whole of the Windy City (including Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile, more of which later) and beyond to as many as four US states. Both have tourist-luring gimmicks: Skydeck’s glass-floored Ledge and a terrifying forward-tilting platform at 360, for which only those with nerves of absolute steel need apply. But it’s not all bad news for thrill-seekers. There are ways and means of dodging queues and saving on entry. Get to either in the early morning or late evening and you’ll find far fewer fellow tourists blocking your view. And sign up for a Chicago attraction pass from Go City for solid savings when taking in a number of different tours, activities and attractions on your vacation. Pro-tip: both Skydeck and 360 Chicago are included with the pass. Get more info and bag yours here. A Pizza the Action The deep-dish pizza is to Chicago as the pastrami sandwich is to New York, or the Philly cheesesteak is to Philadelphia. In other words, you can’t visit the Windy City without scoffing at least one (and probably several more) of these guilty pleasures, their raised edges allowing for maximum cheese action on top. The lure of OG pizza purveyors like Nancy’s and Girodano’s is great, and rightly so: cooked in traditional iron skillets their molten discs of oozing mozzarella are nothing short of life-affirming. But, inevitably, these stalwarts of the deep-dish scene have become Chicago tourist traps down the years, so be prepared to wait for your food – it’s not unknown for queues to snake around the block during busy periods. Don’t want to wait? The likes of Pequod’s, Milly’s and The Art of Pizza are favorite local alternatives, serving up deep-dish pizza that’s every bit as good, and less likely to have you gnawing off your own arm in hunger while you wait. Get right under the skin of the city’s dining scene on a guided foodie tour. Most will take in hip ‘hoods like Lincoln Park and Pilsen, broadening your gourmet horizons beyond pizza alone to other Chicago treats like carne asada tacos and Italian beef sandwiches. The Magnificent Mile Love shopping? Enjoy being carried along in great waves of slow-moving window shoppers? Then Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile is the place for you! All joking aside, this great shrine to capitalism comprises some 450 retailers, so there’s plenty of opportunity to give the old credit card a workout here. It’s just that it’s very overcrowded, over-commercialized and – whisper it – not all that interesting. The majority of stores here are mainstream brands that you can find on every high street – Bloomingdale’s, Apple, Nike… you get the general idea. Sidestep the tourist traps here and do your Chicago shopping somewhere with a little more personality. Browse for vintage vinyl records, retro fashions and beautiful old books in the hip indie boutiques of Bucktown and Wicker Park. Or hit up Lincoln Square for unique jewelry, sculptures and other art pieces from local makers. Navy Pier Kids absolutely love Navy Pier, thanks to its old-school seaside vibes, giant Ferris wheel, Children’s Museum, family-friendly stores like Build-A-Bear, and sweet surfeit of dessert diners. So it feels a little churlish to include it in a list of Chicago tourist traps. See it through a child’s eyes and, frankly, you’re going to have an incredible time here, right down to that irresistible (but pricey) rainbow ice cream, a tower of orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, chocolate and strawberry scoops stacked high on a cone. If, on the other hand, being surrounded by strollers, selfie-takers, tacky souvenir stores and toddlers high on sugar sounds like the seventh circle of hell to you, we’d advise you to give Navy Pier a very wide berth. Save on Activities, Tours and Attractions in Chicago Save on admission to Chicago attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak

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