Looking for the best place to stay in Chicago?
Follow the guide, we have tested, listed and detailed for you the best areas to stay in Chicago as well as the best accommodation in this American city that we have adored.
⏰ Don’t have time to read it all?
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations listed by price category:
🚨 These hotels are among the most popular, so don’t delay in booking. Plus, they offer free cancellation, so don’t worry if you change your mind.
(€) Hi Chicago. Cheap historic hotel in Chicago close to sights and minutes from Lake Michigan. Large, bright rooms. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in the city centre, 2 minutes from the Magnificient Mile and 15 minutes from the beach. Very spacious rooms. The cocktails and breakfast are incredible! Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. Magnificent hotel located on the banks of the river in the travellers’ favourite district. The rooms are spacious and the view of the river is incredible! Spa and gym available. Book here.
🏨 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
Table des matières
The best area to stay in Chicago: Chicago Loop
For us, Chicago Loop is the best neighbourhood to stay in Chicago. Presided over by the impressive Willis Tower, Chicago’s Loop has long held visitors spellbound with its dazzling array of shops, restaurants, theatres, parks and artistic and architectural wonders.
Grant Park, home of the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago and long-time host of annual events such as Lollapalooza and The Taste of Chicago, is one of the Loop’s main highlights, with the Buckingham Fountain a photographer’s dream.
The Adler Planetarium is a must-see for all ages, while street food lovers will find a tempting array of food trucks lining Daley Plaza.
As the Loop is Chicago’s official ‘city centre’, there are countless accommodation options, from 4-star hotels to budget hostels. As with any major tourist destination, prices depend largely on the season.
5 things to see and do in Chicago Loop :
- Milennium Park
- Cloud Gate
- Daley Plaza
- Adler Planetarium
- Willis Tower
Where to stay in Chicago for a first visit – The best hotels
Note: Don’t delay as these are some of the most booked hotels in Chicago.
(€) Hi Chicago. Affordable historic hotel in Chicago close to sights and minutes from Lake Michigan. Large, bright rooms. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in the city centre, 2 minutes from the Magnificient Mile and 15 minutes from the beach. Very spacious rooms. The cocktails and breakfast are incredible! Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. Magnificent hotel located on the banks of the river in the travellers’ favourite district. The rooms are spacious and the view of the river is incredible! Spa and gym available. Book here.
🏨 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
The neighbourhood to stay in with your family in Chicago: Lincoln Park
Located on the North Lakeside, Lincoln Park is Chicago’s largest park, and also boasts one of the city’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. In the warmer seasons, you can enjoy the beach, while the Lincoln Park Conservatory allows visitors to explore a paradise of tropical flora and fauna.
We really liked the Lincoln Park Zoo, it’s an attraction for all ages, and the Chicago History Museum offers visitors a special treat in the form of a giant Chicago-style hot dog climb.
The Steppenwolf Theater Company, where award-winning stars such as John Malkovich and Gary Sinise honed their acting skills, is still in business, while the lesser-known but equally interesting Theatre on the Lake offers its own list of shows and events.
And of course, an afternoon in Lincoln Park is its own main attraction, with its lily pond, pavilion and vast green space making it an ideal picnic spot.
5 things to see and do in Lincoln Park :
- Chicago Lakefront
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Nature Boardwalk
- Lincoln Park
- Café Brauer
Where to stay in Chicago with your family – The best hotels
Note: Don’t delay as these are some of the most booked hotels in Chicago.
(€) Hi Chicago. Cheap historic hotel in Chicago. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in downtown Chicago. Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. A beautiful riverside hotel in Chicago’s favorite travel neighborhood. Book here.
🏨 F ind other accommodation at the best price 👈
Chicago’s best neighbourhood for couples: West Loop/Town
Formerly Chicago’s industrial district, the West Loop has since become one of the city’s trendiest and most diverse boroughs perfect for couples and foodies. Since the early 20th century, immigrants have defined the culture of West Town, and their influence continues to be celebrated through the many sights, sounds and tastes of the area.
Considered Chicago’s foodie mecca thanks to its Restaurant Row, the West Loop offers an inexhaustible assortment of dishes and foods from around the world, with more than its fair share of pubs and live music venues to satisfy any nightlife champion.
For example, we recommend a visit to the French Market, located just inside Ogilvie Station, offering Belgian fries, lobster rolls, Hawaiian poke bowls, as well as all manner of pastries and produce, making it the perfect destination to stroll around and sample some high-end produce.
Fulton Market’s Arcade Emporium is a gamer’s paradise with pool and air hockey tables, pinball machines and arcade games, while Brooklyn Boulders offers indoor rock climbing.
For a night out worthy of Big Lebowski, we’d recommend heading to Punch Bowl Social for some bowling and beer.
5 things to see and do in West Loop / West Town
- Brooklyn Boulders
- Open Books
- Bottom Lounge
- Union Park
- House of Vans
Where to stay in Chicago as a couple – The best hotels
Note: Don’t delay as these are some of the most booked hotels in Chicago.
(€) Hi Chicago. Cheap historic hotel in Chicago. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in downtown Chicago. Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. A beautiful riverside hotel in Chicago’s favorite travel neighborhood. Book here.
South Loop, where to stay in Chicago for the museums
Located on the lakeside Museum Campus, the South Loop is where you’ll find some of Chicago’s greatest museums, as well as the Jazz Showcase, blues label Chess Records and Buddy Guy’s Legends.
This is where established and up-and-coming artists research and showcase their new work, and where students, locals and travellers gather for lively nightlife events.
No visit to Chicago is complete without a stroll through the elegant Prairie Avenue area of the South Loop, home to “Millionaire’s Row”, where many of Chicago’s early elite made their home.
Those taking part in a water taxi tour of Lake Road can disembark directly in front of the Shedd Aquarium, with the nearby Field Museum an ideal companion for your science-themed outing.
5 things to see and do in South Loop :
- Acadia
- Portillo’s
- Printer’s Row
- Anderson Park
- Grant Park
Where to stay in Chicago if you love museums – The best hotels
Note: Don’t delay as these are some of the most booked hotels in Chicago.
(€) Hi Chicago. Cheap historic hotel in Chicago. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in downtown Chicago. Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. A beautiful riverside hotel in Chicago’s favorite travel neighborhood. Book here.
Where to go out in Chicago: River North
This trendy district on the Near North Side offers a luxurious selection of boutiques, bistros and cocktail bars. The Merchandise Mart, built in the 1920s as part of a former industrial complex and the largest commercial building in the world, is a must-see attraction.
Navy Pier is a summer highlight, with its adjacent Pier Park offering families a full day’s experience with an IMAX cinema, old-fashioned rides, mini-golf and boat trips.
Music lovers won’t want to miss the world-famous House of Blues and the Museum of Broadcast Communications, while the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater are for true Renaissance souls.
5 things to do and see in River North :
- Marina City Goldberg
- The Wrigley Building
- Holy Name Cathedral
- Nickerson House
- Zola Lieberman Gallery
Where to stay in Chicago for a night out – The best hotels
Note: Don’t delay as these are some of the most booked hotels in Chicago.
(€) Hi Chicago. Cheap historic hotel in Chicago. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in downtown Chicago. Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. A beautiful riverside hotel in Chicago’s favorite travel neighborhood. Book here.
Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s luxury district
True to its name, the Magnificent Mile is home to more than a century of Chicago opulence, from Gilded Age hotels, mansions and even ballrooms to some of the world’s most lavish shopping.
Visitors can admire impressive (even imposing) buildings such as the Chicago Water Tower, the Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building skyscraper and the John Hancock Center, the latter with an observation deck and rooftop restaurant.
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is housed in a 19th-century mansion and boasts the world’s largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany pieces, as well as art, fashion and design collections from the Gilded Age.
The third floor ballroom hosts conferences, cocktail series and cultural evenings throughout the year. The Newberry Library is an intellectual’s paradise, with well-preserved letters from some of the world’s most famous authors, historic maps and first editions of classic books, all open to the public.
5 things to do and see in Magnificent Mile:
- Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
- Bloomingdale’s Medinah Home Store
- The Blackstone Hotel
- Newberry Library
- Richard H. Driehaus Museum
Where to stay in Chicago’s luxury district – The best hotels
Note: Don’t delay as these are some of the most booked hotels in Chicago.
(€) Hi Chicago. Cheap historic hotel in Chicago. Book here.
(€€) Freehand Chicago. This stylish “hypster” hotel is ideally located in downtown Chicago. Book here.
(€€)❤️ Kimpton Chicago. A beautiful riverside hotel in Chicago’s favorite travel neighborhood. Book here.