Chicago tips

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) joined representatives from ITA Airways and the Consul General of Italy in Chicago to celebrate the launch of the carrier’s new service from O’Hare International Airport to Rome-Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) in the Italian capital.

I’ve lived in Chicago for more than 30 years, and these are the top tips I tell all of my visitors: take public transport, hit the neighborhoods and drink Malört at your peril.

The Bear, now streaming Season 2 on Hulu, introduced many viewers to the Chicago delicacy of an Italian beef sandwich—a combo of spiced, thinly sliced meat and peppers on a crispy length of Italian bread. The show’s central character, an Italian American chef at an acclaimed New York City restaurant, moves home to Illinois to cook the dish at his late brother’s Italian beef joint.

No matter what kind of vacation vibe you want to roll with, the Windy City can cater to it.

Famous for its blustery winters, steamy summers and skyscraping skyline, Chicago sees the full range of seasons. But thanks to a calendar packed with festivals and events, a rich foodie scene and a full hand of world-class museums to duck into when the days get cold, there's always something happening in the Windy City no matter what month you visit.

Chicago is practically tailor made for family getaways, with a wealth of interactive museums, fabulous parks and jaw-dropping architecture.

With steely skyscrapers, lakefront beaches and world-class museums, Chicago will blow you away with its low-key yet highly cultured spirit.

From the Art Institute and skyscraper-viewing boat tours to world-class restaurants and bars, there is no shortage of places to spend plenty of money in Chicago.

Chicago, known around the world as the Windy City, is famous for its vibrant culture, diverse communities, and a rich history of arts and entertainment. Among the plethora of events and festivals that take place throughout the year, Northalsted Market Days stands tall as a celebration of inclusivity, creativity, and unity. This iconic street festival, held annually in the Northalsted neighborhood, attracts visitors from all over the world.

Chicago has enough cloud-poking towers, rockin’ live-music clubs and world-class museums to keep you occupied for weeks, but just beyond city limits, you can also scale sand dunes at a national park, rev a Harley and amble around wineries.

Chicago is that unique city that marries rich history with contemporary marvels. Renowned for its diverse neighborhoods, stunning architecture, vibrant arts scene, and delectable culinary experiences, Chicago is a city that never fails to captivate its visitors.

Give thanks! Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, American and United have launched automated security screening lanes at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Two of American’s 18 lanes have been converted, and United has added three automated lanes of its own.

Norwegian Air, the growing low-cost carrier known for low fares to Europe, is adding two new destinations: Chicago, Illinois, and Austin, Texas.

Among the 52 new 2018 nonstop flights announced today by American is a new shuttle service between New York’s LaGuardia and Chicago’s O’Hare airports.

As the US's third-largest city, Chicago needs a good public transit network.

You don’t need a booming bank account to revel in Chicago ’s cultural coolness. Accommodation will cost you, but oodles of free things to do, discount ticket schemes, and relatively low cost of food and transportation help keep overall expenses in check. 

A United Airlines emergency slide reportedly ended up in a Chicago resident's yard after it fell from a plane mid-flight. 

Hitting new records for visitor numbers in 2018 and having recently been named “Best Big City in the USA” by Conde Nast Traveler readers for the second consecutive year, there’s never been a better time to visit Chicago. Many visitors head straight to the downtown district and never leave, charmed by the Windy City’s world-famous architecture and tourist-friendly restaurants and museums. But instead of rushing across the city to frantically tick off all the tourist hotspots, consider immersing yourself in some alternative things to do in Chicago instead. The places suggested here offered by Chicago insider Jay Gentile promise a real taste of the city’s culture by getting out of the downtown and into the neighbourhoods, where the “real” Chicagoans live.

To paraphrase Frank Sinatra’s crooned take on the city, Chicago can be your kind of town — even if you’re skint. Here's my top ten tips to enjoy the city for nothing.