TRAVEL TIPS
CHICAGO
OVERVIEW VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES WHERE COMPRAS TO STAY ONDE WHERE FICAR TO EAT ONDE SHOPPING COMER
OVERVIEW Chicago is one of the most important cities
Chicago is comprised of more than seventy
in the United States. Founded in 1837, and
official neighbourhoods. Each features its
currently the third largest city in the U.S.,
own distinct quality and character. With
Chicago’s strategic location on Lake Michigan
a wealth neighbourhoods and sights to
quickly made it a centre of commerce and the
explore, there’s enough to fill a visit of days,
hub of the Midwest.
weeks, or even months without ever seeing all there is to be seen.
The city’s picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, and a first
CLIMATE
impression soon reveals world-class museums
The climate in Chicago is generally hot and
of art and science, miles of sandy beaches,
humid in the summer and cold and windy in
huge parks and public art, and perhaps
the winter.
the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS CHICAGO
TRANSPORT There are many ways to get around Chicago: you can use public transportation, call a taxi, go on foot or by bike, drive, or even take a water taxi or catch a free trolley. The public transport system is reliable and
distance of The Loop and Michigan Avenue, Chicago’s most well-known street. The city also offers a wide range of bicycle transportation facilities. There are miles of on-street bike lanes, thousands of bike racks, and a central bicycle commuter station in Millennium Park. Bikes can be rented at various locations, and it is especially enjoyable to take a bike ride along the lakefront in the summer.
extensive and includes buses and trains that cover most of the city.
Driving in Chicago is relatively straightforward. If you decide to rent a car to get around during
Buses run regularly throughout the city
your stay, be aware that day time and overnight
and bus stops are marked with blue-and-
parking rates in the city centre can be high.
white signs. As buses will not give change, passengers should have the exact fare ready when boarding a Chicago bus.
ATTRACTIONS
The rapid transit system in Chicago, know as the “L”, is a network of colour-coded train lines, some of which are elevated and some underground. These trains connect The Loop (Chicago city’s official downtown area) with surrounding residential neighbourhoods. The rapid transit lines also serve both of Chicago’s
The list of Chicago’s top attractions include: Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Sears Tower Skydeck, the Hancock Observatory, Lincoln Zoo, and Millennium Park.
international airports. The Red and Blue lines offer 24 hour service which makes Chicago one
ADLER PLANETARIUM AND ASTRONOMY,
of the few cities in the world to offer around-
founded by Max Adler in 1930, was the first
the-clock rail service every day of the year.
astronomy museum built in the western. The
As in other big cities, taxis can be flagged
historical and futuristic instruments including
down relatively easily throughout the city. If you’re staying downtown and wish to visit the city’s main museums, you can get around quite easily on foot. Many of the best museums and restaurants are within walking
museum’s collection contains nearly 2000 telescopes, space-age equipment, navigational tools, astrolabes and sundials. The museum also hosts a regular program of travelling exhibits and educational public lectures. SHEDD AQUARIUM receives almost 2 million visitors a year and easily qualifies as one of
Chicago’s most popular attractions. It is one of
BUCKINGHAM MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN in Grant
the premier aquariums in the U.S. Visitors are
Park is one of Chicago’s most recognizable
advised to get to the aquarium early as the
landmarks, and its hourly water show in the
lines to enter can be quite long.
summer is fun for young and old.
THE FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY,
The ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, a world class
located in the lakefront’s “Museum Campus”,
art museum, houses a collection of more
attracts a huge number of visitors annually. The
than 300,000 artworks. The diverse collection
permanent collection features approximately
spans thousands of years and includes pieces
20 million artefacts and specimens covering a
from a variety of media including painting,
variety of disciplines including geology, botany,
prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts,
zoology and anthropology.
textiles, architectural drawings and more.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS CHICAGO
The MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
historical architecture and world-class wildlife
is located at the north end of Jackson Park.
exhibits. The zoo caters to the crowds 365 days
Among many notable exhibits are the
a year, and has an admission price that can’t be
Apollo 8 space module, a German submarine
beaten: it’s free for everyone.
captured during the Second World War, a walkthrough model of the human heart and a
MILLENNIUM PARK still causes controversy
representation of the human brain.
among locals over its cost and unusual design, but the large crowds strolling about Millennium
SEARS TOWER SKYDECK — Soaring at 110
Park don’t seem to care. The Bean (officially
stories tall, the Sears Tower is the tallest
known as Cloud Gate), a public sculpture
building in North America and remains a
having the appearance a giant drop of liquid
huge tourist attraction due to its Skydeck
mercury, is quickly on its way to becoming
observatory which offers a view of Chicago
Chicago’s most recognizable landmark.
from 1,353 feet (412 meters) above the city.
CHICAGO BEACHES
The Hancock Observatory in the John Hancock
Lake Michigan is the largest freshwater lake
Center may not be as high as the Sears Tower
located entirely within the United States, and
Skydeck, but at 1,000 feet up the view of
Chicagoans and visitors flock to its beaches.
Chicago is still breathtaking.
The Chicago shore has been called the second cleanest urban waterfront in the world
Lincoln Zoo, an oasis in the city, is one of the most beautiful zoos in the U.S., featuring
PARKS Where there are beaches, there are lakefront parks, places to walk, bike, wade, explore
WHERE TO STAY
nature or just gaze out over the expanse of Lake Michigan. There are also terrific parks
Chicago attracts visitors from all over the world,
further away from the lake. In the Loop, Grant
so there is a huge selection of hotels available.
Park hosts music festivals throughout the year,
You can be certain to find accommodation
and Millennium Park is a fun destination for all
catering to any budget and taste, from cheap
ages, especially during the summer.
hotels and hostels to five-star hotels.
EVENTS & FESTIVALS
Four of Chicago’s neighbourhoods offer most
While most Chicago neighbourhoods host their
of its best hotels: the Loop, North Michigan
own annual festivals throughout the spring,
Avenue, the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park.
summer, and fall, there are a few can’t-be-
If you want to stay in the heart of the city
missed events. In the Loop, Grant Park hosts
with easy access to every neighbourhood
the Taste of Chicago food festival in July, and
and attraction, consider booking into a hotel
four major music festivals: Blues Fest and
located in The Loop.
Gospel Fest in June, Lollapalooza in August, and Jazz Fest over Labor Day Weekend.
Most tourists, however, opt to stay near North Michigan Avenue because of its proximity to attractions. North Michigan Avenue is Chicago’s most important shopping district. Here you will find most of Chicago’s upscale stores and theatres. Just off Michigan Avenue there are lots of themed restaurants for families including old favourites like the Hard Rock Café. Chicago’s Gold Coast with its gorgeous brown and red stone buildings carries the marks of wealth and sophistication. If you decide to stay in this part of the city, you can be assured of seclusion, elegance and a piece of the high life. If you want to stay in a real Chicago neighbourhood that has all the convenience of the Loop, then Lincoln Park is the place to stay. Bus and train routes cut across Lincoln Park at several points, making it easy to get just about anywhere in the city or suburbs.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS CHICAGO
Budget-priced places are usually pretty far
Chicago pizza — Chicago’s most famous
from the city centre, so when you’re booking,
contribution to world cuisine might be the
remember that Chicago is vast. Travellers on
deep dish pizza, a pizza which has a thick
a budget should consider accommodation
crust and is baked in a deep pan. A thin layer
away from the city centre which can be easily
of dough is laid into a deep round pan and
reached via any of the bus and train lines.
pulled up the sides, and then Italian sausage, onions, bell peppers, and mozzarella cheese are lined on the crust. Finally, tomato sauce
DINING OUT
goes on top, and the pizza is baked. Deep dish pizzas may not be recommended by doctors, but they are delicious.
Chicago has been widely recognized as one
Chicago also prides itself on its distinctive thin-
of the great the great restaurant towns in
crust pizza and stuffed pizzas. The Chicago
America. If you’re looking for a specific kind
thin crust pizza has a thin, cracker-like, crunchy
of cuisine, check out the neighbourhoods.
crust, whereas the stuffed pizza starts with
In Greektown, Devon Avenue’s Desi
the idea of a deep dish pizza, but uses a much
corridor,Chinatown, and Bronzeville visitors can
deeper dish and stuffs a lot more toppings
get a taste of Greek, Indian, Chinese and Afro-
under the cheese.
American cuisine. The Chicago hot dog is considered the perfect Other areas are more eclectic: Lincoln Square
hot dog. Perhaps due to the city’s history of
and Albany Park have unrivalled Middle Eastern,
Polish and German immigration, Chicago takes
German, and Korean food, while Uptown offers
its hot dogs seriously. A Chicago hot dog is
nearly the whole Southeast Asian continent
always all-beef on a poppy-seed bun, and
with Ghanaian, Nigerian, contemporary
topped with what looks like a full salad of
American, stylish Japanese, and Swedish
mustard, onion, diced tomatoes, a dill pickle
cooking available just a few blocks away.
spear, chilli peppers, a generous sprinkling of celery salt, and a sweet-pickle relish. Ketchup is
If you’re interested in celebrity chefs and
never used on a proper Chicago-style hot dog.
unique creations, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park have plenty of award-winners. River North also
Chicago’s Italian Beef sandwich contains good
has several good upscale restaurants.
quality beef, which is slow-roasted, and thinly shaved before being loaded generously onto
But while Chicago has a world class dining
chewy, white, Italian-style bread. The bread
scene, it is the low-end where it truly
itself is often dipped in the juices the meat
distinguishes itself. No other city on earth
is cooked in, and is typically topped with
takes fast food so seriously. For those who
Chicago-style pickled vegetables or sautéed,
don’t concern themselves with calorie
green Italian sweet peppers.
counting, Chicago is heaven.
SHOPPING Whatever you need, you can buy it in Chicago, on a budget or in luxury.
THE MAGNIFICENT MILE The most famous shopping street in the city is a stretch of Michigan Avenue known as The Magnificent Mile. It includes many designer boutiques, and several multi-story malls anchored by large department stores. State Street in the Loop used to be a great street for department stores, but it has been largely eclipsed by Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile. However, there have been various projects to restore the street’s glory and many major American stores have recently opened up flagships there. Among others, you’ll find both Macy’s and Sears on Sate Street.
LINCOLN SQUARE For a unique shopping experience, check out the fun, eclectic stores on Lincoln Square, or the trendsetting shops inBucktown and Wicker Park. Southport in Lakeview and Armitagein Lincoln Park also have browserfriendly fashion boutiques.
RIVER NORTH For art or designer home goods, River North is the place to go. Situated between the Merchandise Mart and the Chicago Avenue Brown Line “L” stop in the Near North, this district boasts of the largest arts and design district in North America outside of Manhattan. You can cover the entire area on foot which makes for fun window-shopping.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS CHICAGO
HYDE PARK
The Chicago Antique Market is an indoor
If you are the type that enjoys browsing
air-conditioned and outdoor European-style
through independent bookstores, Hyde Park
urban antique market located in the historic
located on the South Side of the city has a
Randolph Street Market District. The market
stunning assortment of used bookstores selling
features almost two hundred quality antique
everything from paperbacks to rare 17th
dealers of furnishings, house wares, artefacts,
century originals. Here you will also find the
vintage clothing, jewellery, sterling, porcelain,
world’s largest academic bookstore.
lighting, ephemera, toys and collectibles
STREET MARKETS Maxwell Street Market, now located on Desplaines Street between Harrison Street
galore. The market operates on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and Roosevelt Road, is a colourful flea market
CURRENCY
offering Chicago immigrants and locals a space
The unit of currency used in United States is the
to sell odds and ends. The market hosts over
U. S. dollar which is normally abbreviated as the
five hundred vendors. In addition to household
dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$ to distinguish it
goods, clothing, CDs, jewellery, and power
from other dollar-denominated currencies and
tools, there are several Mexican food stands
from others that use the dollar symbol. The U.S.
offering authentic fare like enchiladas, tacos,
dollar is divided into 100 cents.
tamales, plantains and horchata. Weather permitting; visitors can enjoy live blues played at the market which functions from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday all year around.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
1 312
COUNTRY CODE CITY CODE
or
773 911 911 911
EMERGENCIES POLICE FIREMEN
TOURISTIC INFORMATION
321 744 2400 877 2442 246 INTERNACIONAL AIRPORT
773 686 2200