Seeking to see one of the best of Chicago in in the future?
I’ll be upfront, you may’t actually expertise the whole lot this unbelievable metropolis presents in simply 24 hours.
You possibly can race round and technically “see” all of it, however you’d miss what makes Chicago particular: the meals, the structure, and that unmistakable Midwest vitality.
After I visited, I solely had in the future, however fortunately, I used to be exploring with an area who knew all of the shortcuts and hidden gems.
Collectively, we packed in Chicago’s greatest highlights (and some surprises) with out feeling rushed.
So I’ve pulled that have collectively for you in a one-day Chicago itinerary that hits the must-dos, one of the best bites, and some spots locals truly love.
Chicago One Day Itinerary
If you happen to’re brief on time, right here’s the gist of the schedule:
Begin your morning on the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, then discover Navy Pier.
Take a river cruise via the center of downtown and go to Cloud Gate (the bean).
Get lunch at Jim’s Unique (polish sausages) earlier than heading to the Area Museum, Chicago’s well-known pure historical past museum.
Then take the scenic shoreline drive as much as Wrigley Area.
Within the night, peruse the Magnificent Mile, get pleasure from a Chicago stuffed pizza at Lou Malnati’s, and finish the night with a ghost tour.
Some bonus actions you probably have time:
- escape room
- Shedd Aquarium
- discover the historic Macy’s division retailer downtown
- Willis Tower
Morning: Navy Pier & River Cruise
For the primary few hours of the day, the whole lot that you just’ll need to do in Chicago is in a single walkable space.
It’ll cowl components of the Magnificent Mile (which is the place I like to recommend getting a resort), the Navy Pier, taking a scenic river cruise (just like the one from the film My Greatest Buddy’s Wedding ceremony with Julia Roberts), and seeing the long-lasting Cloud gate (bean).
Breakfast at Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Even in case you’re not a espresso lover or a breakfast eater, this can be a cool place to take a look at.
It’s a 5-story completely attractive Starbucks on the Magnificent Mile – presently the most important Starbucks on the earth!
Every flooring is devoted to various things just like the bakery, your typical Starbucks drinks, and your alcoholic drinks.
After we visited, we truly got here right here late within the afternoon to fulfill a pal earlier than dinner.
We needed to attempt issues which might be distinctive to Starbucks Reserve that I can’t get at dwelling.
I opted for the drink on the left within the picture under: Starbucks Reserve Boulevardier.
That is: Starbucks Reserve Espresso, Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Campari, Carpano Antica Formulation Candy Vermouth, Vanilla Syrup, and Scrappy’s Lavender Bitters.
I consider it like a lady’s Outdated Usual.
JP opted for the drink on the fitting: The Whiskey Cloud.
That is: Starbucks Reserve Espresso, Amaro Averna, Westland Single Malt Whiskey, Syrup, Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters, Cream, and Nutmeg.
I consider it as a flowery Irish Espresso.
Navy Pier
From the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, the Navy Pier is lower than a mile stroll.
It might take roughly 20 minutes to stroll there relying on what number of crosswalks you’ll should cease at.
There are a selection of issues you are able to do right here like take boat cruises out on the lake, trip the commentary wheel, go to the Kids’s museum, or browse the outlets.
After we visited, there have been a number of promotional occasions occurring with free samples of various kinds of drinks and snacks.
We simply walked one huge loop across the pier and walked via the within – that is the place we picked up our memento decoration that we get from each place we go to.
If you happen to’re in Chicago for an extended go to, there are a ton of nice eating places right here like Reunion (by Chef Artwork Smith – the proprietor of Homecomin’ at Disney Springs) and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville (one of the best place for Key Lime Pie).
River Cruise
After you’ve explored the Navy Pier, it’s time to take a scenic river cruise via the center of the town.
I discussed this earlier, however my earliest introduction to this being a “factor” in Chicago was watching the rom-com My Greatest Buddy’s Wedding ceremony with Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney.
I’m certain there are others which have helped make it well-known, however that’s the body of reference I had earlier than my go to.
We love doing laid-back excursions like these in new cities early on in our visits to get acquainted with the world and to get suggestions from the guides and different passengers about issues we’d not have recognized about in any other case.
Click on Right here To Guide Your 90 Minute Chicago Structure River Cruise Right this moment!
Cloud Gate
After your river cruise, you’ll begin making your manner South via the town.
About three-quarters of a mile away is Cloud Gate, also called The Bean.
After we visited, there was an enormous fence round AND an occasion occurring subsequent to it, so we couldn’t get unobstructed views or pictures, however I nonetheless really feel like we received to see it and expertise it.
I’m undecided if it was only for the occasion or development, however we needed to undergo steel detectors to get contained in the park to get shut as much as the bean.
Historic Downtown Retailers
If you happen to really feel like you will have the time, I like to recommend strolling a pair blocks over and trying out the Macy’s division retailer.
It was initially the flagship retailer for Marshall Area’s when it was constructed again between 1901-1906, however Macy’s has since acquired it, whereas conserving many authentic options.
It presently takes up a complete metropolis block and is the third largest retailer on the earth.
If you happen to’re visiting through the Christmas vacation season, they’re recognized for his or her elaborate window shows.
Afternoon: Historic Meals, Museums, and Ballparks
At this level within the day, you need to have labored up an urge for food and possibly you’re prepared for a slower tempo for a short time after which increase your horizons to see extra areas of Chicago.
Lunch at Jim’s Unique
For this subsequent half, you’ll want a automotive or a rideshare as a result of it’s a little bit over 2 miles away.
There are literally 2 areas, however I like to recommend visiting the unique, except you do that itinerary out of order and also you need to eat across the time you’re visiting Wrigley Area – then you may go to the placement within the image under.
Jim’s Unique is the unique Maxwell Avenue polish sausage stand, going again to 1939!
Clearly you’ll need to get a Polish Sausage Sandwich when you’re right here, however you also needs to attempt the Pork Chop Sandwich.
With each of those, your bag of French Fries is included for FREE.
Area Museum
After lunch, it’s time to go to one other world well-known vacation spot – the Area Museum.
That is Chicago’s pure historical past museum and also you in all probability acknowledge the dinosaur fossils seen in the primary foyer.
There’s an aquarium subsequent door too, you probably have the time, however this museum is big.
We spent 2 1/2 hours right here!
I personally liked the Historical Egypt exhibit one of the best.
Another enjoyable reveals embody:
- Insulation warmth map – exhibiting you the place you maintain warmth in your physique
- Historical Americas
- Corridor of China
- an insane jewellery assortment
Click on Right here To Guide Your Chicago Area Museum Tickets Right this moment!
Wrigley Area
To rise up to Wrigley Area, once more you’ll must drive or get a rideshare.
I like to recommend taking the scenic route although and driving up Shoreline Drive, which overlooks the lake.
It’ll in all probability take near half-hour relying on visitors.
There’s a zoo up on this space as nicely in case you’re spending extra than simply in the future right here.
We didn’t go to a recreation right here since we have been brief on time, however there are many sports activities bars proper exterior which you can get pleasure from in case you get hungry or wish to have a drink for a bit.
Night: Magnificent Mile, Chicago Pizza, and Ghosts
As soon as it’s about time for dinner, it’s time to go again to the Magnificent Mile and go away your automotive on the resort for awhile.
Magnificent Mile
If you happen to’re not acquainted with Chicago, the Magnificent Mile is a neighborhood in Chicago with leisure, outlets, eating places, and motels.
Consider it sort of just like the Las Vegas Strip of Chicago or fifth Avenue in New York.
I’m certain there’s higher examples, however I believe you get the thought.
Do some window buying or precise buying, have dinner, get pleasure from an escape room, have a drink, do no matter.
Dinner at Lou Malnati’s
Conveniently, there’s a fashionable Chicago deep dish pizza chain with a location proper right here on the Magnificent Mile.
Some individuals completely hate chain eating places and can by no means go to at least one, however I’ve it on good authority from somebody who has been within the Chicago restaurant enterprise their total lives, that Lou Malnati’s is THE place to go in Chicago for a deep dish pizza.
If today journey is definitely only a date night time, you’ll have tons of leftovers, however in case you’re touring with a bunch, this can be a nice shareable dinner.
There’s not any particular pizza I like to recommend as a result of everybody has their very own toppings preferences, however with all of the cheese and carbs, I like to recommend including some protein to your pizza!
Ghost Tour
One of the simplest ways to digest from a deep dish pizza is a ghost tour clearly.
We’ve been doing ghost excursions in cities everywhere in the nation with US Ghost Adventures for YEARS and we completely love them (try a few of our favourite ghost excursions).
These are often about an hour lengthy and generally you’re ready so as to add on rentable EMF readers and different ghost searching gadgets.
Typically they’ve an add-on tour on the finish that’s often geared in the direction of being extra adults solely ghost tales.
Click on Right here To Guide Your Windy Metropolis Ghost Tour Right this moment!
Escape Room
You probably have any additional time otherwise you love to remain out late, I like to recommend additionally including on an escape room to your itinerary.
There are many escape rooms everywhere in the metropolis with all types of various themes.
We personally get pleasure from themes which might be distinctive to the native space fairly than the nationwide chain escape rooms which have the identical handful of rooms in all places.
The Nice Escape Room has some mob and playing themed video games which might be undoubtedly associated to Chicago’s historical past.
The place To Keep
If you happen to’re solely on the town for one night time, I like to recommend staying downtown so it can save you a while not having to drive out and in of the town.
You can begin your day a lot earlier in case you’re already on the town or you may finish your night time a lot later in case you don’t have far to go.
I’ve shared 2 of my favourite choices by finances.
Greatest Finances Lodge: Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown
Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown presents free breakfast and Hampton Inn generally is named Hilton’s inexpensive model.
They don’t have a ton of fancy facilities, however they’re at all times clear and nicely maintained with all of the necessities.
It’s going to be one of many most cost-effective locations you’ll find within the metropolis that’s nonetheless good high quality.
Click on Right here To Guide Your Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown Keep Right this moment!
Greatest Luxurious Lodge: Palmer Home
If you wish to deal with your self a little bit bit, I like to recommend the historic Palmer Home, which is one other Hilton resort.
You possibly can simply go along with the Hilton or Waldorf Astoria, however I like motels with lovely structure and historical past.
It’s recognized for being North America’s longest working resort and likewise the primary to implement new applied sciences like gentle bulbs, telephones, and vertical steam elevate elevators.
However largely importantly, that is the place brownies have been first created and who doesn’t love a superb brownie?
Click on Right here To Guide Your Palmer Home Keep Right this moment!
Conclusion: Chicago One Day Itinerary
There are a lot of iconic issues which have been omitted of this itinerary just like the Willis Tower and different sky-high observatories, loads of museums, and a ton of eating places, but it surely’s simply not attainable to suit all of the Chicago highlights into simply in the future.
This provides a superb overview of the primary areas downtown to discover, some hidden gems, and the must-have meals.
If I used to be planning a full Chicago itinerary eager to do as a lot as attainable, I’d in all probability plan a 3 day itinerary to permit for some extra leisure time like watching a baseball recreation, making an attempt extra eating places, cruising the lake, and simply strolling round downtown a bit extra.
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