The downtown core — the Loop, ringed by the elevated 'L', home to Millennium Park and 'The Bean', the Art Institute, the theatre district, grand architecture and the lakefront parks. Central, walkable and packed with the top sights, well-connected by transit; the classic base for a first visit who wants the museums, parks and skyline on the doorstep, though it's quieter at night. The cultural and civic heart of the city.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$450–800
typical per night in United States
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Chicago.
Where it sits
The circle is The Loop and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Blues & jazzright here100 m
- Deep-dish pizza13 min walk1.1 km
- The Magnificent Mile16 min walk1.3 km
- Shedd Aquarium25 min walk2.1 km
- The Field Museum25 min walk2.1 km
- Old Town & the Gold Coast9 min taxi3.1 km
- Comedy at Second City10 min taxi3.3 km
- Wicker Park & Bucktown16 min taxi5.2 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 1.Millennium Park & The Bean — Chicago's beloved front garden — Millennium Park, home to 'Cloud Gate' (the mirror-polished, bean-shaped sculpture everyone calls 'The Bean'), the dramatic Pritzker Pavilion, the Crown Fountain's giant face-projecting towers and the lush Lurie Garden. Snap your reflection in The Bean, cool off in the fountain, and enjoy a free summer concert; it's the city's joyful, free civic heart and its most iconic photo. A wonderful, lively spot right downtown by the lake. Absolutely unmissable, day or night.
- 2.The Architecture River Cruise — The single best thing to do in Chicago — a boat cruise along the Chicago River, gliding between the soaring skyscrapers as an expert guide tells the story of the city that invented them, from historic gems to gleaming modern towers. It's the perfect, jaw-dropping introduction to the city's world-famous architecture, seen from the water where it looks its most spectacular. Go on a clear day or at golden hour; it's informative, relaxing and unforgettable. A must-do highlight and the definitive Chicago experience. Book ahead in summer.
- 3.The Art Institute of Chicago — One of the world's great art museums — the Art Institute, guarded by its famous bronze lions, with a stunning collection spanning Monet's haystacks and a room full of Impressionists, Grant Wood's 'American Gothic', Hopper's 'Nighthawks', Seurat's pointillist masterpiece and superb modern and ancient art. World-class and vast, it rewards hours of wandering; don't miss the Impressionist and American galleries. A cultural highlight of the city and the country, right on Millennium Park. Unmissable for any art lover. Give it half a day.
- 7.The Lakefront Trail & beaches — Chicago's glorious lakefront is its greatest asset — a continuous 30-km trail of parks, harbours and sandy beaches running along Lake Michigan, with the skyline on one side and the endless blue lake on the other. Walk, cycle or run the path, hit a city beach (North Avenue and Oak Street are central) for a summer swim, or just admire the skyline from the water's edge. Free, beautiful and quintessentially Chicago, especially glorious in summer; rent a bike for the full sweep. A wonderful, healthy highlight.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to The Loop; flights via Google Flights.