Chicago – the metropolis on the third coast

Navy Pier opened in 1916 and is today one of the most visited attractions in Chicago with over nine million guests annually. The one-kilometre pier offers Ferris wheels, parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, and family attractions.

Chicago Riverwalk

The Chicago River promenade is also well worth a visit. This part of the big city is known as the Chicago Riverwalk, and here you will find something for everyone, with numerous great restaurants and outdoor bars. If you want to do something sporty in Chicago, try kayaking or fishing. Because here you will find a nice mix of city life and peaceful nature. Feel free to head to Chicago in March, when the entire river is coloured green to mark and celebrate Irish National Day St. Patrick's Day.

Former US President Barack Obama is one of those who speaks very warmly about the city, which was his home for many years.

"It's a bustling metropolis with the warmth of a small town, where the world gathers every day to live, work and reach for a dream," Obama said.

The Great Fire

Chicago was rebuilt after a major fire destroyed nearly eight square kilometres of the city. The fire broke out in a neighbourhood southwest of downtown in 1871, and burned for two days. 17,000 buildings burned down and nearly 100,000 people lost their homes. The massive areas full of wooden buildings were replaced by brick houses and Chicago was rebuilt.

"Chicago is a city where the practical and the inspiring exist in harmony; where visionaries with big plans rebuilt the city after a wildfire and taught the world to reach new heights," according to Obama.

Chicago's fantastic architecture

The reconstruction after the great fire took a long time. Today, the city's historical and multicultural heritage is reflected in its buildings and architecture. In Chicago, you will also find a large and varied collection of well-known skyscrapers. Famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, based in Chicago, loved his city. "In the end, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful city in the world," Wright said.

The city's tallest building is the Willis Tower, which is 442 metres high. It held the record for 25 years as the world's tallest building, and was originally named Sears Tower when it was built in 1974. The lookout tower attracts more than 1.7 million visitors annually. On a clear day, one can see up to 80 kilometres and look out across three states. With restaurants, magnificent views, and guided tours, Willis is well worth a visit.

Another tall attraction can be found in the former John Hancock building, which is 344 metres high. If you don't have a fear of heights, try 360 Chicago. On the 94th floor you will find TILT, which will knock your socks off. This thrilling attraction seats eight people at a time, literally tilting you over the edge of the building inside an enclosed glass platform.

Chicago's many museums

Whether you want to experience science or animals, or are more interested in art, Chicago's museums have what you need. There are nearly 70 museums in The Windy City. We can't name them all, but have included some of the most popular ones below.

The Field Museum is a natural history museum. Some of the permanent exhibits are: Evolving Planet, Inside Ancient Egypt, and Underground Adventure. One of the most famous exhibits is Sue, the massive fossil of a tyrannosaurus rex. Sue is the largest and most complete tyrannosaurus rex fossils found so far and is worth the visit alone.

The Shedd Aquarium has more than 32,000 different living creatures. Although the aquarium is located inland, it also offers a collection of saltwater fish. Here you will find sea lions, sharks, whales and much more. And don't forget the cute penguins! There are also several amphibians and reptiles.

When you enter one of the city's most famous cultural buildings, you'll be greeted by a pair of iconic bronze lions. The Art Institute of Chicago has nearly 300,000 works of art on display, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and drawings. There is so much to see in this museum that you can spend the whole day here. Don't forget to go down to the basement, where you will find temporary exhibitions.

Best sports city in sports-mad USA

If you like sports, you will love this city. Chicago is one of only ten U.S. cities with teams in all five major U.S. leagues, namely baseball, American football, basketball, hockey, and soccer. Chicago has been awarded the title of "Best Sports City" by Sporting News three times, in 1993, 2006 and 2010.

If you're interested in American football, check out one of the Chicago Bears' home games at Soldier Field. Football fans in Chicago are fanatical. The Bears haven't won the Super Bowl since 1986, but if you ask any fan, they know the lyrics to the team's song, "The Super Bowl Shuffle." Dress warmly, because it can get cold at games in November and December.

Are you looking for a home run? In Chicago, there is internal rivalry between the two baseball teams, the Cubs and White Sox. The teams each have their own field, one on the north side of the city and one on the south side. The Cubs' home is Wrigley Field, and in the surrounding area, Wrigleyville, there are bars and restaurants galore.

If basketball is your thing, you should watch a Bulls game. In the '90s, Michael Jordan was the king of Chicago as he led the team to victory in six NBA championships. The Chicago Blackhawks are the city's hockey team and have won the Stanley Cup no less than six times. The Chicago Fire football team was named to commemorate the Great Fire of 1871. The team currently plays at the Bears' Soldier Field.

No matter which team you're rooting for, a sporting event in Chicago will give you memories for life.

Chicago also offers great golf opportunities, with more than 200 courses in the city and suburbs. The golf season in this windy city lasts from April to November.

A wide range of parks

There are more than 600 different parks in Chicago. One of the most popular parks is Millennium Park. It was built in 2004 and quickly became both a tourist attraction and popular with residents. Admission is free, and there's plenty to experience there. One of the most visited places is called "The Bean" by the locals. The work is actually called Cloud Gate and is a sculpture made by the British artist Anish Kapoor. It is very popular to take selfies at the sculpture, which looks like a giant drop of liquid mercury. The glossy surface creates a stunning mirror image of the city skyline.

In addition to "The Bean", there are several other art installations. One is a spectacular fountain, another exhibits art by local artists. You can catch a jazz concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. There are also opportunities for activities in the park, and you will find both a climbing wall and bicycle rental here.

Lincoln Park is another major attraction in Chicago. It is named after President Abraham Lincoln, who was from Illinois. The park stretches for 10 kilometres along the lake. Inside the park you will find golf courses, baseball fields, skate parks, and walking trails. Here, you will also find Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo is open year-round and admission is free.

Shopping and shows – Chicago-style

The first stop to do serious shopping in Chicago has to be The Magnificent Mile, or 'The Mag Mile'. This shopping area is part of Michigan Avenue. If you're not just going window shopping, you should bring your credit card and make sure you have a high limit. The Mag Mile is America's third most expensive shopping street after Fifth Avenue in New York and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Here, you will find 450 shops and three shopping centres.

If you want to be a little more frugal, that's also possible. Chicago has a wide variety of thrift stores, flea markets, and antique dealers.

What could be a better way to finish a day of shopping than catching a show? Chicago has an amazing theatre district. Here you will find more than 250 different theatres, including five theatre companies that have won Tony Awards, free theatre companies, and fantastic comedy shows. Chicago is home to The Second City, where several comedian stars began their careers, including Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey.

See Blue Man Group, among others. The show consists of three men — who are blue — who mix music with comedy, vaudeville and science. Be aware that if you buy tickets in the front rows, you might get more than you bargained for.. Both paint and other things can splash from the stage and sometimes hit the audience. Whatever you're in the mood for, Chicago's theatre district will deliver.

Chicago's culinary scene

The late celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain was known for not mincing his words, and was a big fan of The Windy City.

"Chicago is a city that never has to measure up to any other city. Other places have to measure themselves against it. The city is big, it's outgoing, it's tough, it's headstrong, and everyone has a story," Bourdain said.

Chicago's food scene is developing rapidly. The city was previously known for steak, but now its restaurants offer flavours from all over the world. Two of Chicago's most famous dishes, however, are deep dish pizza and the classic Chicago hot dog. 

The bottom of a deep dish pizza is thick and tasty. It's baked in a deep pan, which gives the pizza its characteristic high crust. The ingredients are layered, and the sauce is placed on top. Deep dish pizza is filling and delicious, and something that you simply must try.

The Chicago hot dog has been controversial in the food industry. The main rule is: No ketchup. Chicago sausages are frankfurter sausages made from beef, served in a poppy seed bun. They are topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, relish, pickles, tomato slices or wedges, and celery salt. You don't have to add all of these toppings, but to be able to call it a Chicago style hot dog, don't ask for ketchup (in many places, they don't even offer it).

Do not forget about drinks! There are more than 160 breweries in Chicago. Whether you're looking for a pub or an upscale cocktail bar, you'll find what you need here. A little tip: In Chicago, IPA is pronounced like the letters" I-P-A", not as one word. And the wheat ale 312 is pronounced not "three-twelve", but all three numbers, as in "three, one, two". This is also known as Chicago's area code.

Experience the Chicago Marathon

Every October, Chicago hosts the world's fourth largest marathon. 45,000 people participate, and more than 1.7 million spectators line the city streets to cheer on the participants.

The start and finish line is in Grant Park, and participants run through 29 different neighbourhoods. The race is known for being flat and fast. Four world records, several national records and countless personal bests have been set here.

The marathon is great for spectators too. Because of the way the race is set up, spectators can easily move from one mile marker to another (races in the U.S. are marked in miles, not kilometres).

Personally, I've been a spectator twice. I guarantee you don't have to be a runner to have a great experience. The atmosphere is infectious and magical. The runners have their names on their starting number, so even if you don't know any of the participants, you can cheer them on by name. It's a unique feeling to watch thousands of runners fulfilling a dream.

If you plan to be in Chicago when the marathon kicks off, book early as a large number of attendees and spectators are expected.

Transportation in Chicago

There are three airports around Chicago, but O'Hare is the international airport and the one that serves the most airlines. There are several options for getting into the city centre from the airport. You can take public transport, including the "L" (The L stands for "elevated train") and bus. Once you get into the city, the "L" is a good option. From the various stops, you can walk to other parts of the city. It is also possible to take a taxi, Uber, or similar ride sharing services.

For sightseeing, check out the Chicago City Minibus Tour. You can also book a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus or Trolley Tour. In the summer,  a Segway Tour or a Chicago Architecture River Cruise might be fun.

If you are looking for something a little unusual, the Chicago Mob and Crime Tour is  unique. Here you'll see some of the sites associated with the city's most notorious gangsters of the 1900s, including Al Capone and John Dillinger. If you like true crime, this is something for you.

The Windy City

Chicago has been nicknamed "The Windy City," but do you know why? The most common theory is the cold air that blows in from Lake Michigan during the winter months. But there is also another theory that is believed to be true. It points to the city's politicians more than a century ago. Some claim that they were simply "full of hot air and empty talk", and that's where the nickname originates. But whatever you may think of local politics, it actually gets really cold in the winter.

The climate in Chicago

There's a saying in Chicago that says "April showers bring May flowers." Spring is thus wet here, and the precipitation can come as either rain or snow. The temperature changes quite drastically from March to May, and the summer temperature rises to over 24 degrees Celsius on average. In late autumn, the temperature drops just as quickly again. One of the highlights of this season is the wonderful autumn colours of the deciduous trees, which begin to change colour in late September.