Flights to Chicago

Yes! Downtown Chicago is quite safe—as safe, or more so, than other major cities in the US. Although, as with any large city, there are some areas where you should be more careful (and perhaps avoid at night), they’re not near the downtown area. You may want to avoid staying in Englewood, Garfield Park and Washington Park, as they’ve historically had higher rates of crime.

Chicago has plenty of signature dishes, but by far the most famous is the Chicago deep-dish pizza. If you didn’t have deep-dish, did you even go to Chicago? Lou Malnati’s is a city-wide favorite, so make you sure you go at least once—just be prepared for a bit of a wait. While you’re in town, you can also try some Chicago-style hot dogs, the Chicago Italian beef sandwich or Chicago-style popcorn. If you're short on time, just head to Restaurant Row in West Loop for some of the best foodie places in town.

Chicago has lots of great areas to stay in, it just depends on what you’re looking for! There’s good hotels, hostels, Airbnbs and the like all over the city. The Loop (aka Central Downtown Chicago) and River North (aka the Magnificent Mile) are both great areas to stay at if you want to be at the heart of the city where all the activity is! Lincoln Park and Wicker Park are both great areas if you’re on a budget and still want to enjoy a hip, youthful scene.

There's so much to do in Chicago!

• First things first, visit Millennium Park and grab a selfie with the bean or go ice skating during the winter months and head to Navy Pier for scenic parks, gardens and shopping on sunnier days.
• Visit a museum—you’ve got plenty to choose from! The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry (the largest science museum in the western hemisphere!) and the Field Museum of Natural History are all amazing
• Walk or bike along the Chicago Riverwalk for amazing views of the city and delicious food along the way.
• Catch a Cubs game at the historic Wrigley Field.