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Chicago travel guide

What to watch out for, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around — written for people arriving for the first time.

Last updated 2026-08-09

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Photo: westher · CC BY 2.0 · source

Common scams in Chicago

10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Chicago, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.

Common scams in Chicago — and how to avoid them →

Top places to visit in Chicago

6 places worth your time in Chicago, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Top places to visit in Chicago →

Top food to try in Chicago

6 dishes to eat in Chicago, what is in them, and where they belong.

Top food to try in Chicago →

Traditions and customs in Chicago

5 customs and traditions in Chicago — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Traditional things to do in Chicago →

Getting around Chicago

How to travel around Chicago — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Getting around Chicago: transport and taxi apps →

Rules to follow in Chicago

4 laws, restrictions, and customs in Chicago that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.

Rules to follow in Chicago — laws and customs travellers must know →

Emergency contacts in Chicago

2 emergency services in Chicago you may need as a traveller — tourist police, ambulance, fire brigade and more. Save these before you go out.

Emergency numbers in Chicago — police, ambulance, fire and tourist helplines →

Best places to shop in Chicago

4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Chicago — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Best places to shop in Chicago — markets, malls, bazaars and street shopping →

Scam entries describe patterns reported in an area. They are not findings of fact, and they do not allege wrongdoing by any named business.