Commonly referred to as “The Loop”, Downtown Chicago lies at the heart of one of the largest cities in the United States. It’s home to huge parks, riverside walking trails and iconic museums, as well as architectural icons such as the Tribune Tower, the John Hancock Center and the Willis Tower.
Things to do in Downtown
Downtown Chicago is home to one of the world’s oldest art museums, The Art Institute of Chicago, which houses a permanent collection of around 300,000 works. It’s here that you can see iconic masterpieces such as Pablo Picasso’s “The Old Guitarists” and Grant Wood’s “American Gothic”. In addition, it displays Native American artwork, ancient mosaics and architectural works by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Hugging the shores of Lake Michigan is Grant Park, an immense green space that boasts wide boulevards, seasonal flower beds and a skate park. At its heart is the Rococo-style Buckingham Fountain while the Petrillo Music Shell hosts live music concerts during the Chicago Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza and the Taste of Chicago. A section of the 28-kilometre-long Chicago Lakefront Trail traverses the park, connecting the South Shore Cultural Center with Kathy Osterman Beach.
For a vertigo-inducing experience, head to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, otherwise known as the Skydeck. It offers incredible views that extend across four states on a clear day. If you’re feeling brave, you can step onto The Ledge - a glass-floored box that protrudes from the skyscraper, more than 400 metres above the ground below.
Getting around Downtown
Downtown Chicago is around 20 minutes’ drive from both Chicago Midway International Airport and O'Hare International Airport, which have flights to destinations across the globe. Long-distance trains connect to the Chicago Union railway station while subway services travel throughout the Downtown area.