Season guide · Chicago · United States
Chicago in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Cold, windy and often snowy, with festive markets and skating in December and the lowest hotel rates in January and February. Expect highs up to 2°C (36°F) and lows around -8°C (18°F), with about 31 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -8°C (18°F) to 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C (32°F) | -8°C (18°F) | 11 | 9.4 h | 1/5 |
| February | 2°C (36°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 9 | 10.5 h | 1/5 |
| December | 2°C (36°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 11 | 9.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 1°C (34°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 31 of the year's roughly 125 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Chicago Restaurant Week — prix-fixe menus across the city (usually late January into February)
- February: Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place (usually February)
- February: Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown (January or February)
- December: Christkindlmarket (until about Christmas Eve)
- December: ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo (usually late November to early January)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks at Navy Pier
Good choices for winter
Garden · East Garfield Park
Garfield Park Conservatory
Take the Green Line to Conservatory–Central Park Drive, which stops right next to the entrance.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Pilsen
National Museum of Mexican Art
Founded in 1982 in Pilsen, this free museum has one of the largest collections of Mexican art in the US, from ancient Mesoamerican pieces to contemporary prints.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · The Loop
Art Institute of Chicago
Start with the Impressionists on the second floor before tour groups arrive, then take the Modern Wing's Nichols Bridgeway straight into Millennium Park.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Museum Campus
Field Museum
One of the world's major natural-history museums, the Field holds Sue, one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found, a cast of the giant titanosaur Máximo in the main hall, a walk-through Egyptian tomb and the Evolving Planet fossil galleries.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Iconic
Aquarium · Museum Campus
Shedd Aquarium
Walk the lakefront path from the Shedd to the Adler Planetarium afterwards for the classic skyline photo.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Day trips in winter
- Chicago Botanic Garden (About 1 hour by train and a short walk) — Spread across islands in the northern suburb of Glencoe, the garden includes the Malott Japanese Garden, a rose garden, a fruit and vegetable garden and walking paths around the lagoons.
- Starved Rock State Park (About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by car) — Sandstone canyons along the Illinois River, with seasonal waterfalls after spring rain and frozen falls in cold winters.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Chicago?
It is a trade-off: Cold, windy and often snowy, with festive markets and skating in December and the lowest hotel rates in January and February. The best months overall are May–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Chicago in winter?
Highs of up to 2°C (36°F) and lows around -8°C (18°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.