A guide to getting around Chicago for tourists

Despite its size, Chicago was recently voted America's most walkable city! Many of the city’s top attractions are a short walk or ride away from each other. Weather permitting, walking is the best way to see the city and the hidden treasures of architecture and public art in the downtown area. You never know what you might find.

The buses and trains of the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) are a fast and cost-effective way to get into and around the city. Known as the "L" (though they may be elevated or underground), the trains are a fun way to see The Loop from a new vantage point.

CTA visitor passes offer the best value, with unlimited rides on all CTA trains and buses. You can use a debit card to tap in, or purchase a Ventra Card and load it up with money. They activate the first time you use them and are valid as long as they have credit. Top them up online, in selected shops, or at stations.

Check the CTA website for the latest fares, travel alerts, and trip planners.

Taxis are abundant throughout most of Chicago, so finding a cab is typically easy. Taxi rates depend on gas prices and the number of passengers. They can get a little pricey, but taxis provide a fast and convenient way to get around the city, particularly beyond downtown.

More affordable options include ride-share apps like Lyft or Uber, which are plentiful in Chicago and easy to use. They do, however, require the app, so if you're interested in these options, be sure to download it in advance.

If time and weather permit, consider renting a bike. Chicago’s lakefront boasts 26 uninterrupted miles of easy bike and walking trails. Half-day rentals are available from Bike and Roll at Navy Pier and Millennium Park.

Navigating the grid by car is easy, but securing a parking spot downtown can be difficult. Parking garages are the easiest option, but keep in mind that hourly rates can be expensive. (Think upwards of $30 per hour in the most popular neighborhoods.)

Chicago's O'Hare is one of the world's busiest airports. It's about 15 miles northwest of the Loop in downtown Chicago. O'Hare has 5 terminals, all of which have information booths and multilingual employees to assist you.

If you have a lot of baggage and want to get into town by car, you have 2 main options: taxis or GO Airport Express. Taxis are everywhere at the airport. Airport Express vans provide service to most hotels in Chicago and must be reserved ahead of time. For either option, you can expect the ride to downtown to take at least 30 minutes, but up to 2 hours in heavy traffic, so plan accordingly.

Public transportation provides an affordable alternative and avoids traffic. From O'Hare, the Blue Line takes you downtown in about 40 minutes. Trains leave every 6-10 minutes during the day and every half-hour in the evening and overnight.

Although it's smaller than O'Hare, Midway is closer to the Loop and services more discount airlines (but fewer airlines overall). If you're looking for a good deal on plane tickets, check out flights to Midway.

The options for getting into town by car are similar to those for O'Hare – taxis and Airport Express vans are both easily available (reservations required for the latter). The car ride takes about 20 minutes without traffic. Getting downtown from Midway by public transportation is fast and easy, but the Orange Line, which services Midway, stops operating between the hours of 11.30PM and 5AM.

For those traveling with lots of luggage, beware that the train station is a good walk from the terminal. The Orange Line runs every 6-15 minutes and takes about 25 minutes to get downtown.