Where to Stay When Visiting Chicago

The Loop puts you inside Chicago's postcard. Walk out and you're under the El tracks on Wabash, three blocks from Millennium Park and the Bean, ten minutes on foot to the Art Institute on South Michigan Avenue. Wacker Drive runs along the river with the architecture boat tours leaving from the Riverwalk. Hotels here cluster around State Street and Michigan Avenue. Nights get quiet after office workers leave, so factor that in. Theater District around Randolph and Dearborn stays alive for shows. CTA Red and Blue Lines meet here, so O'Hare is a $5 train ride.

Best for

First-time visitors who want everything walkable

Walk times

Millennium Park 5 min
Art Institute 8 min
Willis Tower 10 min

Skip if: You want a buzzy after-dinner scene

Local tip: Book a room facing east above the 15th floor for Lake Michigan views. South-facing rooms on Wabash get El train noise.

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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$202per night

River North

Where Magnificent Mile meets the cocktail bars

Luxury $220-$380/night

River North sits just across the Chicago River from the Loop and runs north to Chicago Avenue. This is where the dinner reservations happen. Hubbard Street and Clark Street are packed with restaurants like RPM Italian, Bavette's, and the original Gino's East. The Magnificent Mile shopping starts at Michigan and Ohio. Galleries cluster around Superior and Franklin. You can walk to Navy Pier in 15 minutes along the river. Hotels range from boutique on Erie to towers on Wabash. It is loud on weekends. Pick a higher floor or a room facing the interior courtyard.

Best for

Couplesfoodiesfirst big nights out

Walk times

Magnificent Mile 5 min
Navy Pier 15 min
Millennium Park 12 min

Skip if: You're traveling with young kids who sleep early

Local tip: Skip the touristy spots on Rush Street. Walk one block west to Clark or Wells for better food at half the price.

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$246per night

Streeterville

Lakefront living, Navy Pier, family-friendly

Luxury $240-$420/night

Streeterville is the strip between Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan, north of the river. You wake up to the lake. Ohio Street Beach is a five-minute walk. Navy Pier sits at the southern edge. The Museum of Contemporary Art is on Chicago Avenue. Northwestern Memorial Hospital anchors the west side, so you'll see a lot of medical professionals around. Streets like McClurg and Columbus stay calmer than River North at night. Restaurants are pricier and more hotel-driven, but you can walk into River North in 10 minutes for better options. Best base for families with strollers because sidewalks are wide and crowds are thinner.

Best for

Familieslakefront walkersNavy Pier visits

Walk times

Navy Pier 5 min
Ohio Street Beach 5 min
Magnificent Mile 7 min

Skip if: You want to walk to dinner without crossing Michigan Avenue

Local tip: The Lakefront Trail starts here. Rent a Divvy bike at the Ohio Street docking station and ride south to the Museum Campus in 20 minutes.

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$269per night

West Loop

Restaurant Row, converted warehouses, real Chicago

Luxury $200-$340/night

West Loop is where Chicagoans actually eat. Randolph Street between Halsted and Ogden is Restaurant Row. Au Cheval, Girl and the Goat, Avec, and Monteverde sit within four blocks. Fulton Market north of Randolph went from meatpacking warehouses to Soho House and Time Out Market. Google's Midwest HQ moved here in 2015, which pulled a wave of boutique hotels. You're a 10-minute walk to the Loop or one Pink Line stop. Mornings are quiet. Nights are reservation-required. Stay here if dinner is the point of your trip. Skip if you want to walk to museums in five minutes.

Best for

Foodiessecond-time visitorsdesign-conscious travelers

Walk times

Restaurant Row (Randolph) 2 min
The Loop 12 min
United Center 20 min

Skip if: It's your first Chicago trip and you want tourist sights at your door

Local tip: Book Au Cheval for late lunch (2pm) instead of dinner. Same burger, no two-hour wait.

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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$224per night