Where to stay · Chicago · United States
Where to stay in Chicago
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Spatms, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in The Loop. Elevated L tracks, skyscraper canyons, Millennium Park and the State Street theatres. Best alternatives — budget: Wicker Park and Bucktown; nightlife: River North.
Key facts
- First visit
- The Loop
- Families
- The Loop
- Budget
- Wicker Park and Bucktown
- Nightlife
- River North
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | The Loop | Elevated L tracks, skyscraper canyons, Millennium Park and the State Street theatres |
| Families | The Loop | Elevated L tracks, skyscraper canyons, Millennium Park and the State Street theatres |
| Couples | Gold Coast and Old Town | Mansions on Astor Street, Oak Street boutiques and comedy on Wells Street |
| Budget | Wicker Park and Bucktown | Vintage shops, record stores, music venues and The 606 trail on the Blue Line |
| Luxury | Streeterville and the Magnificent Mile | Flagship stores, lakefront high-rises, Navy Pier and 360 Chicago |
| Nightlife | River North | Galleries, steakhouses and late bars just north of the river |
| Food lovers | River North | Galleries, steakhouses and late bars just north of the river |
| Solo travellers | Wicker Park and Bucktown | Vintage shops, record stores, music venues and The 606 trail on the Blue Line |
| Shopping | Streeterville and the Magnificent Mile | Flagship stores, lakefront high-rises, Navy Pier and 360 Chicago |
| Quiet stays | Gold Coast and Old Town | Mansions on Astor Street, Oak Street boutiques and comedy on Wells Street |
Chicago neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and families
The Loop
The Loop is named after the ring of elevated L tracks around the downtown core. Inside it are Millennium Park, the Art Institute, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Riverwalk, Willis Tower and the theatres along State and Randolph streets, and almost every L line passes through. Weekday streets are full of office workers, but the area empties after the theatres let out, so it suits sightseers more than night owls.
- Good
- Walk to Millennium Park, the Art Institute and the river; Every L line passes through; Business hotels often drop rates at weekends
- Watch out
- Quiet after office hours; Few neighbourhood restaurants open late
- Nearby
- Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Riverwalk, Willis Tower
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and food lovers
River North
River North covers the blocks between the Chicago River and Chicago Avenue west of Michigan Avenue. Former warehouses hold galleries, design showrooms and a dense spread of restaurants, from steakhouses and deep-dish pizza to Mr. Beef on Orleans Street, and many of the city's mid-range and boutique hotels are here. It is a 10-minute walk to the Magnificent Mile and the Riverwalk, and nightlife runs late around Hubbard Street.
- Good
- Huge choice of restaurants and hotels; Walkable to the river and the Magnificent Mile; Lively until late
- Watch out
- Weekend club noise around Hubbard Street; Feels more tourist-oriented than local
- Nearby
- Magnificent Mile, Chicago Riverwalk, Merchandise Mart, Marina City
$$$$ · Best for families, shopping, luxury and first-timers
Streeterville and the Magnificent Mile
East of Michigan Avenue between the river and Oak Street, Streeterville packs large hotels between the Magnificent Mile's flagship stores and the lakefront. Navy Pier, the Museum of Contemporary Art, 360 Chicago and Ohio Street Beach are all within walking distance, and the Lakefront Trail runs along its eastern edge. It is polished and convenient rather than characterful.
- Good
- Walk to Navy Pier and the lakefront; Big hotels with family rooms and pools; Shopping on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Expensive hotels and parking; No L stations east of Michigan Avenue
- Nearby
- Navy Pier, 360 Chicago, Magnificent Mile, Ohio Street Beach, Museum of Contemporary Art
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and quiet stays
Gold Coast and Old Town
The Gold Coast holds some of Chicago's grandest late-19th-century homes along Astor Street, the luxury boutiques of Oak Street and the bars of Rush and Division streets. Old Town, just to the west, has Victorian cottages, the Second City comedy theatre on Wells Street and the Old Town Ale House. Oak Street Beach and the southern end of Lincoln Park are both a short walk away.
- Good
- Elegant, leafy residential streets; Close to Oak Street Beach and Lincoln Park; Comedy clubs and classic taverns nearby
- Watch out
- High hotel prices; Rush Street bars get rowdy late at weekends
- Nearby
- Oak Street Beach, The Second City, Lincoln Park, Astor Street
$$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Lincoln Park
Named after the 1,200-acre lakefront park that holds Lincoln Park Zoo, the Lincoln Park Conservatory and North Avenue Beach, this is one of the city's most pleasant residential areas. Armitage Avenue and Halsted Street have boutiques and restaurants, the Steppenwolf Theatre is on Halsted, and the Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. clubs keep the blues going late. The Brown and Red lines reach downtown in about 15 minutes.
- Good
- Parkland and beaches on the doorstep; Good restaurants on Armitage and Halsted; Feels residential and calm
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels than downtown; A train or bus ride to the Loop sights
- Nearby
- Lincoln Park Zoo, North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Steppenwolf Theatre
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and couples
West Loop and Fulton Market
The West Loop turned its meatpacking and wholesale warehouses into Chicago's main dining district. Randolph Street's restaurant row and the Fulton Market blocks hold many of the city's most talked-about kitchens, along with boutique hotels and rooftop bars, while Greektown runs along Halsted Street to the south. The Loop and Willis Tower are about a 15-minute walk east across the river.
- Good
- The city's densest cluster of acclaimed restaurants; Stylish boutique hotels; Walkable to Union Station
- Watch out
- Popular restaurants need booking well ahead; Few classic sights in the area itself
- Nearby
- Randolph Street, Greektown, Willis Tower, Union Station
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, nightlife and shopping
Wicker Park and Bucktown
Centred on the six-way junction of Milwaukee, North and Damen avenues, Wicker Park and Bucktown have vintage and record shops, cafés, cocktail bars and small live-music venues. The elevated 606 trail runs along the northern edge, and the Blue Line reaches the Loop in about 10–15 minutes and O'Hare in about 35, which makes it a practical base for short stays.
- Good
- Independent shops and bars with a local crowd; Direct Blue Line to O'Hare and the Loop; Better-value hotels and short-term rentals
- Watch out
- Far from the lakefront and the Museum Campus; Busy and loud on weekend nights
- Nearby
- The 606, Milwaukee Avenue, Logan Square, Humboldt Park
$$ · Best for culture, quiet stays and budget
Hyde Park
Hyde Park on the South Side is home to the University of Chicago, whose Gothic quadrangles, Rockefeller Chapel and Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House are open to visitors. The Museum of Science and Industry sits in Jackson Park, and Promontory Point at 55th Street gives one of the best skyline views across the lake. The Metra Electric line reaches downtown in about 15–20 minutes.
- Good
- Architecture and museums within walking distance; Lakefront parks and beaches; Calmer and better value than downtown
- Watch out
- Far from downtown nightlife; Limited choice of hotels
- Nearby
- Museum of Science and Industry, Robie House, Promontory Point, Jackson Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| The Loop | $$$ | Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Riverwalk, Willis Tower |
| River North | $$$ | Magnificent Mile, Chicago Riverwalk, Merchandise Mart, Marina City |
| Streeterville and the Magnificent Mile | $$$$ | Navy Pier, 360 Chicago, Magnificent Mile, Ohio Street Beach, Museum of Contemporary Art |
| Gold Coast and Old Town | $$$$ | Oak Street Beach, The Second City, Lincoln Park, Astor Street |
| Lincoln Park | $$$ | Lincoln Park Zoo, North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Steppenwolf Theatre |
| West Loop and Fulton Market | $$$ | Randolph Street, Greektown, Willis Tower, Union Station |
| Wicker Park and Bucktown | $$ | The 606, Milwaukee Avenue, Logan Square, Humboldt Park |
| Hyde Park | $$ | Museum of Science and Industry, Robie House, Promontory Point, Jackson Park |
Getting to your hotel
From O'Hare, the CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours to the Loop in about 45 minutes. From Midway, the Orange Line reaches the Loop in about 25 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 30–60 minutes from O'Hare and 25–40 minutes from Midway, depending on expressway traffic.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Chicago for first-time visitors?
The Loop. The Loop is named after the ring of elevated L tracks around the downtown core.
+Where should families stay in Chicago?
The Loop: Walk to Millennium Park, the Art Institute and the river.
+Which area of Chicago is best for a budget stay?
Wicker Park and Bucktown ($$): Vintage shops, record stores, music venues and The 606 trail on the Blue Line.