Things to do in Chicago

Culture · Grant Park

One of the great encyclopedic museums, with the strongest Impressionist collection outside Paris and the Thorne miniature rooms.

Local tip: Illinois residents get discounted admission and free evenings on some weekdays — bring proof of address. Go straight to the Modern Wing and work backwards to avoid the entrance crush.

Nature · The whole eastern edge

18 miles of continuous path along Lake Michigan, separated into pedestrian and cycling lanes, with beaches the whole way.

Local tip: The stretch from Promontory Point south is the quiet half and has the best skyline view in the city. Chicago's lakefront is public for its entire length by law — a decision made in the 19th century that defines the place.

Landmark · Downtown

A walkway along the main branch of the river, and the boat tour that is genuinely the best introduction to the city.

Local tip: Take the Chicago Architecture Center's tour rather than a cheaper competitor — the docents are trained and it shows. Book ahead in summer.

Neighborhood · Lower West Side

Historically Czech, now the heart of Mexican Chicago — murals, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and 18th Street.

Local tip: The museum is free and one of the best of its kind in the country. Come on a Sunday and eat along 18th Street; Carnitas Uruapan is the institution.

Nature · West Side

Two acres of glasshouse from 1908, one of the largest conservatories in the United States, and free.

Local tip: In February, walking into the Palm House at -12°C outside is the single best thing you can do in a Chicago winter. Take the Green Line; the station is at the door.

Landmark · The Loop

A gilded 1925 ceiling above a hotel lobby, connected to 40 blocks of underground walkway threading beneath downtown.

Local tip: The Pedway is a genuine winter secret — you can cross much of the Loop underground without a coat, and almost no visitor knows it exists. Maps are posted but patchy; the city publishes one.