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Chicago

United States travel guide

What to see in Chicago

The city that invented the skyscraper, with Lake Michigan stretching out like a sea and deep-dish pizza.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 6 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to November
  • Typical food: Deep-dish pizza
Photo: Spatms · CC BY-SA 4.0

Chicago highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Millennium Park

    Home to Cloud Gate, the huge steel sculpture everyone calls The Bean.

  2. River boat trip

    The best way to see the city’s architecture.

  3. Art Institute of Chicago

    One of the country’s great art museums.

  4. Willis Tower

    An observation deck with glass balconies hanging high above the city.

  5. Navy Pier

    A pier with a Ferris wheel on Lake Michigan.

  6. Magnificent Mile

    The shopping stretch of Michigan Avenue.

Day trips from Chicago

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Chicago

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Chicago are from March to November.

  1. Jan with warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec with warnings
  • from December to February

    Cold winters in the north

    In the Northeast and in Chicago winter is cold, with snow and icy winds.

    What to do: Dress in layers and bring waterproof shoes; on the plus side, it’s Christmas season in New York.

Traditions of Chicago

  • March (St Patrick’s Day) The green river

    The Chicago River is dyed green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

Typical food of Chicago

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Chicago from your kitchen).

Deep-dish pizza
Photo: L. W. Yang from Los Angeles, California, USA · CC BY 2.0

Deep-dish pizza

Chicago pizza, as tall as a pie: a crisp, buttery crust, lots of mozzarella at the bottom, the filling in the middle and the tomato sauce on top.

  • Serves 4
  • 2 h 30 min

Ingredients

  • 350 g flour
  • 7 g dried yeast
  • 200 ml warm water
  • 60 g melted butter and 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 400 g sliced mozzarella
  • 300 g Italian sausage (or sausage meat), crumbled
  • 400 g crushed tomatoes with garlic, oregano and salt
  • Grated Parmesan

How to make it at home

  1. Knead the flour with the yeast, water, oil and salt. Leave it to double in size.
  2. Roll out the dough, brush it with butter, fold it and roll it out again a couple of times to create layers. Line a deep 25 cm tin, bringing the dough up the sides.
  3. Add a layer of mozzarella, then the raw sausage, and finish with the tomato sauce.
  4. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake at 220 °C for about 30 minutes, until the crust is golden.
  5. Leave it to rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

The trick: The order is the reverse of a normal pizza: cheese at the bottom and tomato on top.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the neighbourhood food hall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the United States guide.

Frequently asked questions about Chicago

What to see in Chicago?

Millennium Park, River boat trip, Art Institute of Chicago, Willis Tower, Navy Pier and Magnificent Mile.

What to see in Chicago in one day?

Don’t miss Millennium Park, River boat trip, Art Institute of Chicago, Willis Tower, Navy Pier and Magnificent Mile. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Chicago?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Chicago are from March to November.

What day trips can you take from Chicago?

Architecture cruise and Skydeck observation deck.

What is the typical food of Chicago?

Deep-dish pizza. Chicago pizza, as tall as a pie: a crisp, buttery crust, lots of mozzarella at the bottom, the filling in the middle and the tomato sauce on top.

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More in the United States

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.