The lakefront district just south of downtown — the South Loop, home to the Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium), Grant Park, Soldier Field and quieter streets. Central, green and museum-rich, walkable to the Loop and lake; the base for travellers who want the big museums, parkland and lake views in a calmer setting near the core. A relaxed, culture-heavy base. Spacious and scenic.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$280–450
typical per night in United States
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Chicago — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is South Loop & Museum Campus 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.
- The Art Institute of Chicago20 min walk1.7 km
- Millennium Park & The Bean23 min walk2.0 km
- Willis Tower Skydeck26 min walk2.2 km
- The Architecture River Cruise8 min taxi2.6 km
- Deep-dish pizza10 min taxi3.3 km
- The Magnificent Mile10 min taxi3.4 km
- The Lakefront Trail & beaches15 min taxi5.1 km
- Comedy at Second City16 min taxi5.4 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 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.
- 8.The Field Museum — One of the world's great natural-history museums — the Field Museum, on the lakefront Museum Campus, famous for 'Sue', the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found, plus vast halls of dinosaurs, ancient Egypt (with real mummies), gems, cultures and wildlife. Grand, sprawling and superb for all ages, it's a highlight of the city's cluster of lakefront museums (alongside the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium). A wonderful, immersive few hours, especially with kids. An excellent cultural stop by the lake.
- 9.Shedd Aquarium — On the lakefront Museum Campus, the Shedd Aquarium is one of the best in the world — home to beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, sharks, a huge Caribbean reef tank and an Amazon rainforest exhibit, all with a stunning backdrop of the skyline and lake through its grand windows. Engaging and beautiful, it's a great outing for families and anyone who loves marine life, and pairs perfectly with the neighbouring Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. A delightful few hours on the lake. Book timed tickets ahead in summer.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to South Loop & Museum Campus; flights via Google Flights.