Chicago is an amazing city, with its architecture, its diversity, its history and its legends. For some, it is the memory of the sulphurous Al Capone, the prohibition mobster; for others, it is the incredible impressionist collection of theArt Institute or the Flamingo of Calder. Architecture lovers will think of Mies Van der Rohe or Frank Lloyd Wright. Foodies will know that Chicago, once a slaughterhouse town, has become a gastronomic hub and that you can eat well here, whatever your budget. But when you come to Chicago, you'll find that imagination is not the whole story. For Chicago is also the Loop and its famous aerial tramway that jingles with each passing train. It is only by walking along its shores that you will understand the importance of Lake Michigan for Chicagoans. You won't be able to resist climbing to the top of the Hancock Tower for an extraordinary view. On long evenings, you'll take a musical journey through the roots of Chicago blues. Away from the center, you'll discover the most authentic clubs, in a smoky atmosphere, a hoarse voice transporting you back fifty years. The multitude of parks will make you forget you're in a city of nearly 3 million people. Flip through the pages of a Chicago travel guide and discover the deep dish pizza, Wrigley Field and the architecture schools that make the Windy City a must-see stop on a trip to the United States.

When to go Chicago ?

Chicago can be visited all year round, it is a city that does not hibernate, you just have to know how to dress according to the circumstances. Here are some tips on when to go.

High tourist season. From May to September, Chicago hosts a huge number of festivals. This means that visitors are plentiful, even if the often hot Chicagoan summer is not always pleasant.

Mid-season tourism. In the fall, between October and November, and in March-April, temperatures remain acceptable and the number of tourists drops. It is therefore an excellent time to discover the city without the crowds. In the spring, the festival season begins. It is then very pleasant to attend them on the lawns of the big parks, to watch the boats sailing on the lake and to feel the whole city awake and vibrating.

Low tourist season. Museums and tourist attractions are open year-round, and hotels are cheaper in the winter months, during the non-conventional periods. The coldest months are January and February. The thermometer drops well below zero, reaching -15°C/- 20°C on some days. With the wind in addition, it is easy to imagine that people are limited to public transportation, except for those who love the cold, who will be happy to go for a walk on the frozen shores of Lake Michigan.

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How to go Chicago

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How to go alone

There are direct flights to Chicago. Once you are here, it is very easy to be autonomous, as Chicago is easily accessible on foot or by public transportation. The locals are very welcoming and will not fail to guide you in your visits. The only thing you need to do in advance is to make hotel reservations in order to get the right rate.

How to go on a tour

If Chicago is a destination less known by the French, it tends to become more democratic. Some tour operators offer trips that often include the Great Lakes region and the cities of Minnesota. Thematic trips, focused on nature or architecture, can also be planned. Finally, Chicago is located on Route 66 and is therefore often included in this type of trip.

How to get around

Like New York or San Francisco, Chicago is very well served by public transportation. Do not neglect the distances from one neighborhood to another, the city is very large. It is worthwhile to take a weekly pass if you are staying for a long time, in order to reduce the cost of transportation and to save you money. The Loop, the central and iconic subway line, is worth taking at least once, for the buzzing experience!

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Discover Chicago

Chicago is one of the largest cities in the United States and has been so almost since its founding in 1833. Less than a century later, it already had three million inhabitants and had played a central role in the development of the country, as had the Great Lakes region. Throughout its history, Chicago has been a leader in industry, transportation and architecture, and is said to be the world capital. The music scene has also seen a major shift in Chicago, as it was here that the blues went electric, leading to the emergence of new genres, including rock. In the collective unconscious, Chicago obviously evokes the Mafia and Al Capone, and the reign of the mob during Prohibition in the 1920s. The city, which has only elected Democratic mayors since 1931, is progressive: the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed in 2020.

Pictures and images Chicago

Cloud Gate, Millennium Park. Adam Alexander Photography / Choose Chicago
Rookery Building. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust / Choose Chicago
Taste of Chicago. Andrew Miller / Choose Chicago
Vue aérienne de Chigago. Tzido - iStockphoto.com

The 12 keywords Chicago

1. Architecture

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Chicago has a very contrasting architecture, the city having become the architects' playground after the Great Fire of 1871. Frank Lloyd Wright, the main protagonist of the Prairie School movement and one of the most important American architects, subsequently worked there for almost twenty years.

2. Urban art

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In addition to housing one of the country's most prestigious art museums, the Chicago Art Institute, the city has many urban works of art that brighten the sometimes cold streets of downtown. One can contemplate works by Picasso, Dubuffet, Chagall, Miro or Anish Kapoor with his famous Cloud Gate, the centerpiece of Millennium Park.

3. Blues

It was in Chicago that the blues really developed and became electric, after the phenomenon of the Great Migration of African-Americans to the north. The greatest bluesmen of all time have lived there, from Muddy Waters to Howlin' Wolf to Buddy Guy, who in fact opened his own club, Buddy Guy's Legends, in 1989.

4. Organized crime

For many, it's the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Chicago. It is true that the city was the scene of particularly violent clashes between criminal gangs during Prohibition in the 1920s. Al Capone, the terrible godfather of the Outfit, has in fact become the most famous mobster of all time!

5. Deep-dish pizza

If there's one specialty to be tasted during your stay, it's this one! The Chicago version of the pizza is quite different from its Italian cousin: it consists of a thick crust, lots of cheese, topping and tomato sauce, all baked in a pan. You can taste it at Lou Malnati's, Gino's East or Pizzeria Uno.

6. Diversity

Like many large American cities, Chicago is cosmopolitan and proud of its diversity. However, the communities cohabit but do not mix, with African-Americans and Latinos living in outlying neighbourhoods in the south and west. A phenomenon of segregation and social fracture also found in Detroit

7. Great Lakes

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Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario make up the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. Lovers of wide open spaces, deep forests and camping will be delighted. In Chicago, the sandy beaches are colonized by hordes of Chicagoans, and to the north are deserted beaches or lakeside villages.

8. Skyscraper

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Chicago was the birthplace of the world's first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, which opened in 1885. Chicago is considered the cradle of modern architecture, which developed after the Great Fire of 1871 that destroyed a third of the city. Today, the Willis Tower is the high point of the skyline.

9. Midwest

Chicago is the heart and main city of the Midwest, a region that encompasses the states of Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio. The Midwest is centered around the Great Lakes, with the majority of its economy based on agricultural activity. Its inhabitants are known to be welcoming and friendly!

10. Museums

Chicago's museums are numerous and of excellent quality. The rich collections of the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science and Industry or the Chicago History Museum will delight enthusiasts and the curious. In winter, when it's freezing cold, we spend even more time discovering them!

11. Sport

The locals are avid sports fans! Chicago boasts two great teams: the Bulls, Michael Jordan's legendary basketball team, and the Cubs, who won their last world baseball title in 2016 after a 108-year wait. In American football, the Bears won the Superbowl once, in 1986.

12. Theaters

There are over two hundred and fifty theaters in Chicago alone! The most mythical is the Chicago Theatre, built in 1921 in a French neo-baroque style. Some theatres have only a few dozen seats, while the largest can accommodate several thousand people. The experience is unique every time!

You are from here, if...

You may live in a city of 2.7 million inhabitants, but nothing can shake your sense of hospitality! You don't hesitate to make conversation with strangers in the elevator and fly to the rescue of lost tourists. After all, you're from the Midwest, so a sense of welcome is a bit of a natural part of your life!

You are tolerant and open-minded, yet you have strong opinions and are able to express them

Going out and enjoying the thousand and one riches of your city is one of your favourite pastimes

You are capable of listing, in your head and without being asked, the best hot dogs in town.

As long as the mercury doesn't drop below zero, you refuse to wear your winter coat, and as soon as the first rays of sunshine herald spring, you can be seen in t-shirts and flip-flops in the street

Finally, whatever the season, you proudly wear your Cubs cap!

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