Sightseeing

Chicago boasts one of the finest collections of museums in the country, with world-class facilities devoted to art, science, nature and archaeology. Outstanding among the dozens of these facilities are the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum and the Art Institute. Children aren't likely to get bored of museum-hopping as many of these institutes have cutting-edge, interactive exhibits and sections that target young patrons. For panoramic views of the urban landscape, head to the soaring observation decks at the Sears Tower or the John Hancock Center.

Art Institute of Chicago

The city's foremost art museum relies heavily on the works of artists who lived during and after the impressionist period, including van Gough and Monet. Galleries devoted to these and similar artists have carved out a fine reputation for the Art Institute, though there is much more to see here. The modern galleries span several media while the historical galleries hold rare and ancient artefacts. In all, there are more than 300,000 items on display.

Museum of Science and Industry

This unique museum is a tantalising attraction for inquisitive minds of every age. The collection explores modern and historic forays into science, with exhibits like a recreated coal mine and an enormous space travel centre. Children enjoy participating in interactive exhibits (amplified with ultra-modern technology) or catching a show at the panoramic Omnimax Theatre.

Field Museum

Chicago's Field Museum is the largest in the world, and it's filled with fascinating natural history exhibits. There's a fantastic collection of dinosaur skeletons and detailed prehistoric dioramas. Massive woolly mammoths and mastodons are at the centre of some of the most popular displays. The museum also boasts the wonderfully-planned DNA to Dinosaurs exhibit that follows a single-celled organism along its evolutionary path to dinosaur and beyond.

Shedd Aquarium

Another of Chicago's world-class facilities, this is the world's largest indoor aquarium and boasts enormous fresh and salt water tanks that individually hold as much as 400,000 gallons of water. Shedd Aquarium has been in operation for the better part of a century and is big enough to house sea giants like the beluga whale. Sharks, sea turtles and dolphins are also found here. The aquarium adjoins Lake Michigan and operates a restaurant with views over the water.

Navy Pier

What began as a WWII-era shipping pier has grown and ultimately transformed into a tourist's playground hosting multiple museums and carnival rides. Highlights include the Shakespeare Museum, an IMAX theatre and the local Children's Museum. This is a great destination for families, with entertainment options including rock climbing, miniature golf and plenty of shopping and dining options.

Towers

Chicago was at the forefront of the skyscraper initiative in the early 20th century. The world's first skyscraper (nine storeys high) was built here in 1885 but was later demolished. The Hancock Tower operates a 1,000ft-high observatory on its 94th floor and includes an open-air platform. Sears Tower is better known and holds the title of North America's tallest building. In addition to outstanding panoramic views, Sears Tower also operates a multi-media presentation exploring the city's architectural history.

Sport and activities

Despite its urban flavour, Chicago offers plenty of outdoor activities. Lake Michigan is a Chicagoan fixture and remains a key feature of many local pastimes, with its beaches and walking paths popular in the summer. In the winter, wind-driven moisture sweeps in from the lake and brings heavy snowfall with it. At this time of year, visitors can enjoy outdoor ice skating or indoor sports like basketball. Guided tours of the city are also recommended.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Covering nearly 400 acres, this beautiful botanic garden boasts wedding facilities, cycling paths, concert facilities and of course, a world-class collection of flowers and exotic plants. The gardens are cordoned off into themed, sometimes whimsical, sections including a stand of 100-year-old oak trees. Visitors will also find a rose garden, lagoons and a produce garden.

Swimming

During the summer, swimming and sun bathing are possible along Lake Michigan's shores. North Avenue Beach is near Lincoln Park (north of the city centre) and has several sand volleyball courts as well as a popular chess pavilion. Ohio Street Beach is also near the city centre and is usually much quieter than North Avenue.

Walking

Walking tours are available in the city centre and take in many of the main attractions with a running commentary along the way. Tours can be booked at the Chicago Cultural Centre and last four hours. A network of paths also follows the Lake Michigan coastline and is perfect for walking, cycling or rollerblading.

Ice skating

Ice skating is popular during the winter months, with indoor and outdoor facilities available. McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink, part of Millennium Park, is the most popular venue. In this particular spot, visitors skate against a backdrop of skyscrapers with the lake dominating the opposite horizon. Ice skates are available for rent here and at most smaller rinks.

Spectator sports

Chicago is a great city for sports fans, with a host of local, professional teams playing in stadiums and broadcasting into sports bars across the metropolitan area. Baseball has the greatest legacy, and Chicago's Wrigley Field is one of the world's oldest stadiums. Basketball is a long-running local obsession along with American football, and Chicago's teams hold some of the best records in the nation. Ice hockey enjoys a smaller but equally enthusiastic following.

Train tour

The Chicago Architecture Foundation takes advantage of the elevated railways around the city to offer guided tours of the city. Tours are free but short (40 minutes) and focus on a few of the city's iconic landmarks and their architects. Complimentary tickets are available from information desk at the Chicago Cultural Center located on East Randolph Street.

Dining and shopping

As one of the US's regional capitals, Chicago is bursting with shopping and dining options to suit every taste and budget. Shoppers flock here from across the Midwest for the glamorous malls, but that doesn't mean bargain hunters aren't accommodated as there are just as many thrift shops and flea markets onsite. Fine diners can enjoy gourmet food and views of Lake Michigan or the skyline, and ethnic food is found in pockets across town.

The Chicagoan restaurant scene is fully equipped to accommodate diners in every category, with high-profile restaurants on the lake front and lesser-known gems in fringe neighbourhoods. American fare sits at the city's culinary core, though visitors will find numerous international eateries.

Chinatown is north of the downtown district and operates dozens of inexpensive restaurants that have adapted favourite Chinese dishes for the American palette. Italian Village runs a few excellent restaurants that have been serving authentic Italian cuisine for decades. There are also well-established Greek, Thai, Indian and Mexican communities operating their own restaurants.

For the finest dining Chicago has to offer, head to River North or the Magnificent Mile, a strip of upscale establishments catering to the affluent, local elite. Atmospheric neighbourhoods like Lincoln Park still boast a handful of upscale restaurants, though most eateries in these areas are less expensive.

Chicago has carved out its own culinary reputation by adding a few trademarks to American cuisine. Hot dogs took off in the heyday of baseball and have since moved to the streets, where vendors pile them high with relish, mustard and diced tomatoes. Deep-dish pizzas are a local speciality, as are cheesecakes from Eli's bakery.

A shopping tour of the city begins in the posh boutiques and department stores on the Magnificent Mile, stretching along North Michigan Avenue and spilling over onto upscale Oak Street. There are numerous other upmarket shopping areas across the city centre. World-class shopping malls deal in international designer brands, electronics, accessories and home furnishings.

A more eclectic scene is found on Devon Avenue. Trendy boutiques sell handmade fashions by local designers, while independent art galleries display and sell creations by local artists. Shoppers will also find unique handicrafts and jewellery in this area.

River North is another fun shopping destination. Taken together with Lincoln Park, this area offers a wide range of goods in every price range. Antique shops, vintage clothing shops and thrift stores are found here, the latter of which are often operated by local charities supporting inner-city foundations, low-income housing projects and homeless shelters.

The best bargain outlet is the New Maxwell Street Market. An atmospheric collection of merchants, this marketplace sells countless items including souvenirs, used books, quirky inventions and myriad second-hand goods. Fresh, local produce is seasonally available from farmers markets, which convene for one or two days (usually weekends) at designated spots across the city and its suburbs.

Chicago is home to some of the nation's finest restaurants, and visitors who don't mind splurging are in for a rare treat. The finest restaurants are exclusive and tables are difficult to reserve, drawing celebrities and wealthy locals. Many restaurants capitalise on views over the lake, while others are tucked into bustling, cosmopolitan strips where the nightlife and hotel scenes flourish. As local chefs have a knack for throwing out recipe books and starting from scratch, it's a good idea to put away your preconceptions and dine with an open mind.

Overview

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the largest in the world and serves a broad mix of domestic and international destinations. Chicago Midway primarily operates discount carriers. Within the city, the elevated train works with commuter trains and public buses to provide transportation to every corner of the city and its suburbs. Visitors can also arrive in Chicago by hire car from other US destinations, making use of a well-maintained network of interstate highways.

Airports

Chicago O'Hare Airport is a sprawling, four-terminal facility with plans to add a fifth. International flights land primarily at the International Terminal, though the other terminals also receive overseas passengers. International flights head to dozens of major hubs across the world including London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. O'Hare is also an important US hub, with numerous flights connecting here before continuing to other regional destinations.

The airport operates a vast array of modern facilities, with ample ATMs; business and post facilities; medical clinics and pharmacies; boutiques and duty-free shops; and a range of restaurants, bars and cafés. Long- and short- term parking options span multiple car parks.

O'Hare Airport is 17 miles from the city centre, and transportation is easily accomplished. The Blue Line on the commuter train offers direct service to the city centre (45 minutes) and can be boarded via a pedestrian tunnel from the Arrivals Hall. Public buses serve the airport, though their routes are susceptible to rush-hour traffic. Hotel shuttles, limousines and taxis are also in supply.

Chicago Midway is another airport within range of the city. This facility mainly serves domestic and charter flights. Passengers are likely to land at Midway if they book a discount flight from another US city.

Public transportation

It is also possible to reach Chicago by bus from other US cities. Greyhound is the main provider, with long-haul transportation from the Harrison Street terminal to cities across the country. Given the long travel times, most passengers opt for a competitively-priced discount flight.

Another overland option is Megabus, a discount coach line that serves regional cities in Minnesota, Ohio and Indiana. Megabus has no terminal, and tickets are only available online. Prices are affordable and passengers are picked up in marked coaches at designated intersections.

Trains are a dated form of transportation in the US, and today they mainly serve as a novel and nostalgic means of travelling between cities. The railway station on South Canal Street serves New York City (18 hours, 30 minutes), Kansas City (7 hours) and Memphis (10 hours, 30 minutes). The Zephyr Line provides service to San Francisco on the distant West Coast.

Americans are avid drivers, and the city sits at an important crossroads of interstate highways. The main arteries are I-90, I-80, I-88 and I-55. I-294 is a toll highway that serves commuters from the suburbs and Indiana. Hire cars are widely available, though driving in the city is not advised as traffic can be a problem.

Chicago is served by an elevated train known as El Train, which operates five lines throughout the city. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates rail and bus transport and sells day or week passes that are useful for visitors. A separate commuter railway serves the suburbs.

An extensive bus network of buses plies routes throughout the city and suburbs. While buses are typically slower than the El Train, they cover more ground and are easily boarded from anywhere in the city.

Airports

McCarran International Airport is a busy facility that serves as Las Vegas' primary gateway. At five miles away, it's exceptionally close to the city centre by big-city standards. This two-terminal facility serves almost 90,000 passengers on a daily basis, with flights to every major city in the US and a broad selection of international destinations. Major carriers serving the airport are US Airways, Allegiant Air, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines.

Facilities include all standard amenities such as boutiques, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars, banks and ATMs. The latter are especially important here, as there are more than 1,000 slot machines in the terminals for those who want to get a head start on gaming before they enter the city.

Completing the five-mile journey from the airport to the city is painless. Most major hotels operate regular shuttles to and from the airport, and there are also minibuses travelling fixed routes to the major districts in town. Public buses run to the airport, through their routes are limited. Taxis are quick and convenient, and many visitors choose to hire a car for the duration of their stay.