Neighbourhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Near North Side
Top Neighbourhoods in Chicago, IL
Neighbourhoods in Chicago
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Sights & Landmarks
Sights & Landmarks
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Neighbourhoods
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23 places sorted by traveller favourites
Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Neighbourhoods • Historic Walking Areas
Pullman
Neighbourhoods • Architectural Buildings
Near North Side
Neighbourhoods • Scenic Walking Areas
North Side
Neighbourhoods
Downtown / The Loop
Neighbourhoods • Piers & Boardwalks
Burnham Park
What travellers are saying
- ReedmummyGeorgetown, SC20 contributionsThis is a great experience to see The history and the scenery is great this is a must see in Chicago.Written 14 May 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Deidre P37 contributionsIf your looking for something to do when you arrive in Chicago the loop is a good way to get your blood circulating after your flight and drive in from the airport. Great views, stop for bite to eat and drink along the way, I think of it as guiltless pleasure…Written 1 May 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Elliott PSkokie, IL463 contributionsWicker Park is fun!
Offering a new Hyatt Place hotel, myriad great restaurants such as Small Cheval, and several spots to pick up a sweet treat such as Jenni’s Ice Cream, this is one happenin’ place.Written 9 January 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. - Taylor BChicago, IL7,535 contributionsPilsen is a historically working class, residential neighborhood and gateway for immigrants coming into Chicago. Bordered by West 16th Street to the north, Interstate 55 to the south, the Dan Ryan Expressway to the east and South Ashland Avenue to the west, it is rich in Latino culture and overflowing with award-winning restaurants, iconic music venues, sensational murals and exotic nightlife. The first thing a visitor notices is the colorful street art and buildings covered in massive paintings. It is a haven for offbeat boutiques, hip eateries, cool music venues standing alongside bodegas, panaderias and family-owned restaurants serving authentic Mexican cuisine. Pilsen was originally inhabited by German, Norwegian, Italian and Czech immigrants in the late 19th century. It emerged as a largely Latino community in the 1960s and 1970s. Mario Castillo painted Peace or Metafisico in 1968, the first Mexican and anti-Vietnam War mural in Pilsen. Benito Juarez Community Academy, which opened in 1977, has a 94 percent Latino student body and once was the largest high school in Illinois with more than 5,000 students. So walk through the Pilsen neighborhood, see the street carts doling out tamales and paletas, marvel at the 16th Street murals, visit the National Museum of Mexican Art, Thalia Hall and St. Procopius Church, take a break at Dusek's Board & Beer or Simone's or Kristoffer's Cafe & Bakery or Panaderia Nuevo Leon or Punch House or La Vaca Margarita Bar or Pollo Express.Written 8 October 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- William CToledo, OH117 contributionsThe "Boys of Summer" (aka: the Cubs) are just north of this bastion of equality in Chicago. Going back to the late 70s and early 80s, this was a neighborhood in transition. You could pick up a condo conversion fairly reasonably. It was the absolute essence of gentrification. Finally, it emerged as an upscale area, and the reasonably-priced condos were no more.
Over the years, though, it has slipped from its glory days. There are still shops, restaurants, and of course, the Treasure Island. But many of the novelty or one-of-a-kind shops have disappeared. There are several really nice hotels in the area, and it's a pleasant departure from the Loop or the Magnificent Mile. You can saunter down to LSD (Lake Shore Drive) and Lake Michigan.
Back in those 70s, and 80s, you could find a dozen parking spots on any given street - even at 2AM. Now, parking is at a premium. In some cases, permits are required, so be very careful where you park. The CTA serves the area with buses on Halsted, Broadway, and Sheridan.Written 18 July 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. - ADbomtonyNew York City, NY127 contributionsThere is a small museum with Pullman history, and artifacts. You can visit the hotel, the visitor center, and the historic pullman train car (at 111th St Metra station). Unfortunately, we could not get into any of them as they were sold out. There is a historic church and landmarked homes around the monument.
The monument is being restored as many of the original buildings were destroyed/burned.
Recommended if you are a train buff.Written 12 September 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. - David T90 contributionsWe had a morning snack at The French Market in central city and took the Metra from there to Andersonville, a quick, uncrowded and safe ride. We were told to visit one or more neighborhoods by a local tour guide and this one did not disappoint. Great small venue shopping, including large thrift store. Andersonville Galleria was awesome as was Five Elements. Walked the charming neighborhood. Lunch at nice Replay. Return on Metra was somewhat different based on station under renovation. Stairs needed to reach platform, ADA compliance unknown. Great way to spend the afternoon especially if only exposure to Chicago has been center city.Written 1 August 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- jgbtravelsLouisville, KY2,571 contributionsIconic Chicago architecture at its best. Who doesn’t love these structures? You can get good views from a boat tour(we took Wendella) or from the south side of the river off of Michigan Avenue. These are photos you keep forever.Written 26 May 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Manuel R4 contributionsDo not pay the VIP ticket. It includes alcohol but you will just received 1 beer. Do not worth what you pay for what you receive. 2 of the restaurants were dirty. We visited 5 people restaurants.Written 24 October 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Taylor BChicago, IL7,535 contributionsHyde Park on Chicago's South Side is a culturally diverse neighborhood that, most importantly, is home to the University of Chicago, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Located seven miles south of Chicago's Loop, within an area that extends from East 51st Street on the north to the University of Chicago's picturesque Midway Plaisance on the south and from Washington Park on the west to Lake Michigan on the east, Hyde Park also is home to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, the Museum of Science and Industry, Rockefeller Chapel, the Hyde Park Arts Center, the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, Jackson Park and the site of the world's first artificial nuclear reactor. Not to mention a plethora of ethnic restaurants, trendy boutiques, shops, bars, hotels, museums and book stores. Hyde Park was founded in 1853 by real estate developer Paul Cornell, who purchased 300 acres of land between 51st and 55th Streets alongside the shore of Lake Michigan with the dream of attracting other Chicago businessmen and their families to the area. The development received a spike in 1891 when philanthropist John D. Rockefeller established the University of Chicago. In 1893, Hyde Park got another publicity boost when the World's Columbian Exposition came to the neighborhood. The Museum of Science and Industry, formerly the Palace of the Fine Arts, is the lone survivor of the 1893 event. In fact, there are so many historical properties in Hyde Park that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Visitors can roam the streets, from 51st to 55th to 57th, stroll through the University of Chicago's picturesque campus, take a lunch break at Medici on 57th, Valois, Piccolo Mondo, Virtue, Nathan's Chicago Style, Solonia, Harold's Chicken Shack, Leona's Pizzeria, Rajun Cajun, Thai 55, Nicky's Chinese Food or Chipotle Mexican Grill. Browse the German submarine U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry, the Egyptian mummies at the Oriental Institute, contemporary art works at Hyde Park Art Center and Smart Museum of Art and learn about the history of Chicago at the Du Sable Museum of African-American History. Two other points of interest are former president Barack Obama's home and Promontory Point on Lake Michigan.Written 8 October 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Taylor BChicago, IL7,535 contributionsChicago is a city of neighborhoods, most of them dating to ethnic origins. One of the most iconic and historical of all is Old Town. Located on North Wells Street between Division Street and North Avenue on the Near North Side and Lincoln Park, it is home to many of Chicago's older, Victorian era buildings, including St. Michael's Church, one of only seven buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Today, it is home to one of the city's most active and vibrant entertainment/restaurant/bar areas. And it has changed dramatically in recent months, before and after the shutdown for the Coronavirus. It is home to Piper's Alley, Second City and Zanie's, some of the city's major entertainment destinations. It also is home to Fireplace Inn, Orso's and Topo Gigio, three outstanding restaurants. They are old-time favorites, along with the Fudge Pot and Old Town Ale House. But several restaurants have closed in recent years, only to be replaced by popular bars, pubs, coffee shops, boutiques and eateries aimed at a younger audience. Oh, there still is a McDonald's at North and Wells. Old Town was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1977 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.Written 13 September 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Taylor BChicago, IL7,535 contributionsAsk 10 people familiar with the Wrigleyville neighborhood on Chicago's North Side to point out its borders on a map and you'll probably get 10 different answers. Irving Park Road or Grace Street to the north. Newport or Cornelia to the south. Sheffield or Fremont or Halsted to the east. Southport or Racine or Ashland to the west. Go figure. But everybody agrees that Wrigleyville is a popular year-round destination for locals and tourists who enjoy what the area around Clark and Addison has to offer--restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, souvenir stalls and gift shops--whether the hometown favorite Chicago Cubs are playing or not. Established in 1914, Wrigley Field is the centerpiece and namesake of this former working-class neighborhood. Today, it is a tourist hub that swells with activity during Cubs home games. It is densely populated with lively sports bars and cool pubs. Baseball-themed gift shops line Sheffield, Addison and Clark Streets. Iconic Metro, a 1,000-seat music hall which opened in 1982, has hosted shows by Bob Dylan, Nirvana, R.E.M. and Kanye West. Outside Wrigley Field is open-air Gallagher Way, a popular gathering place for neighbors, locals and visitors all year long. It hosts farmer markets, outdoor concerts and film screenings. When the Cubs play at home, fans without tickets watch the game on a large screen in Gallagher Way. Suggestion: If you are going to a game, take the Addison Street or Clark Street bus. Don't try to drive and park. During the offseason, arrange to tour the stadium and learn by Wrigley Field's storied past. Or go to the Music Box Theatre, which opened in 1929 and is the city's premier cinema for independent movies, documentaries, foreign films and adult classics. And you can buy a bag of popcorn with real butter. The atmosphere during the games is always exciting, especially if you sit in the bleachers or the rooftops, but fans experience even more fun after the last pitch when they gather at one of Wrigleyville's restaurants or bars. Favorites include Murphy's Bleachers, the favorite watering hole of tried-and-true Cubs fans, the Cubby Bear, GMan Tavern and Nisei Lounge, which opened in 1951 and is the oldest bar in Wrigleyville. Other popular venues include Byron's Hot Dogs, Lucky's Sandwich Company, Lowcountry, Cozy Noodles & Rice, Uncommon Ground, Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern, Sluggers, Shake Shack, Mordecai, Smoke Daddy BBQ, Big Star Wrigleyville, Bernie's Tap & Grill, Goose Island, Rockit Burger Bar and Guthrie's Tavern. In Wrigleyville, the game is a bonus.Written 8 October 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- brmusicmanChicago, IL2,826 contributionsGreektown's easy to access as a visitor to Chicago; it's just west of the Kennedy expressway, is not far away from the Loop (downtown), and is the gateway to the West Loop, full of hip bars and restaurants. Easy public transit access via bus or CTA blue line stops.
Perhaps some of the character of Greektown has been reduced in recent years. This is due to some of the classic Greek restaurants along Halsted St. closing, due to either families deciding to get out of the business or shifting business conditions; the closure of some of the Greek-focused retail; and the gentrification of the surrounding neighborhood, now one of Chicago's most affluent. That said, it still has a Greek feel: there's the Hellenic museum; cool, Greek-focused architectural details; Greek street art; and a number of excellent Greek restaurants at which you can still get an authentic Greek meal and Greek hospitality.
Worth a visit!Written 1 December 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. - judigraffArlington Heights, IL16 contributionsExcellent! I live in Chicago and have taken this tour several times. Learn something new every time!Written 16 January 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
- Taylor BChicago, IL7,535 contributionsIf you are planning to visit Chicago for the first time and you like to shop--who doesn't?--Water Tower Place on the Magnificent Mile is recommended as your first stop. But if you are an upscale shopper, be sure to walk a few blocks north to Oak Street, Chicago's most prestigious and most fashionable shopping area. Located in Chicago's spiffy Gold Coast neighborhood, between North Michigan Avenue and North State Street, across from the Drake Hotel, Oak Street is home to the highest concentration of international couture houses, American luxury brands, fashion brands and local boutiques. Upscale retail shops also overflow onto nearby Rush Street and Walton Street. Tree-lined Oak Street features such high end, luxury names as Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Escada, Carolina Herrera, Georg Jensen, Dior, Hermes, Harry Winston, Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana, Paul Stuart, Prada, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Van Cleef and Arpels, Versace and Vera Wang. Gone is the famed movie theater Esquire, now a classy steakhouse. But the Esquire's iconic vertical marquee neon sign remains, as big as ever, bigger than anything else on the street, a reminder of the way it was from the time the theater opened in 1938 until it closed in 2006. Still, Oak Street retains the glamor of yesteryear.Written 13 September 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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