A Guide to Booking a Hotel near Top Chicago Attractions

Wondering where to stay for your upcoming Chicago trip?

With so many neighborhoods, hotels and attractions to consider, the choice can feel overwhelming. But your hotel is one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make when planning out your trip.

It impacts how much you’ll be able to see, how you’ll spend your time and how relaxing your trip will feel.

This guide will help you make a smart decision so you can enjoy Chicago’s top attractions without stress.

Tip 1: Decide What You Want to Do

Before you even start looking at hotel rooms, ask yourself what you want to do during your trip.

Do you want a laid-back trip with time to walk around and explore? Or would you prefer a highly scheduled trip so you can see as much as possible?

The further away from downtown you stay, the more your trip will revolve around logistics like:

• When is the next bus or ‘L’ train?
• How long will it take to get to each new attraction?
• Is it worth going back to the hotel to rest before dinner?

Staying in a central location opens you up to a much more flexible experience. You can explore Chicago’s attractions at your own pace and take midday breaks back at your hotel room if you’re feeling tired.

Tip 2: Map Out Your “Must-See” Attractions

Many of Chicago’s top attractions are clustered fairly close together, near downtown and alongside Lake Michigan.

Here are just some of the cool things you can see while you’re here:

• Millennium Park: Home to the iconic Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”), this is one of Chicago’s most visited spots.
• The Art Institute of Chicago: Right next door to Millennium Park, the Art Institute houses a fantastic collection that’s sure to please any art lover, including works from Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet.
• Chicago Riverwalk: Walk along the Chicago River for great city views and dining options. Many bus, boat and walking tours also depart from the Riverwalk.
• Grant Park: Nicknamed “Chicago’s Front Yard,” this public park hosts festivals and events year-round.
• Buckingham Fountain: Installed in 1927, this fountain is one of the largest in the world. During display times from May to October, it can shoot water 150 feet into the air!
• Chicago Cultural Center: Housed in a spectacular building, the Chicago Cultural Center offers free art exhibits, concerts, cultural programs, live performances and more.
• The Magnificent Mile: If you love shopping and dining, there’s nowhere better than this shopping district along Michigan Avenue.
• Navy Pier: Enjoy views of Lake Michigan while you take a cruise or tour, ride the ferris wheel, visit the Children’s Museum, or see a play at the Shakespeare Theatre.
• Shedd Aquarium: Animal lovers will enjoy seeing fish, beluga whales and sea otters at the eleventh-largest aquarium in the world.
• Adler Planetarium: Explore the wonders of space at the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.

When you map these attractions out, you’ll notice something: many of them are actually within a surprisingly compact area, right next to downtown. Booking a hotel in neighborhoods like The Loop, South Loop or River North will make it significantly easier to see everything.

Tip 3: Factor in Commuting Time

When you’re planning out your trip, you’re probably thinking more about how to get to attractions in the morning than how to get back to your hotel at night.

But many travelers find themselves wanting to head back to the hotel more often than they expect. You may want to:

• Rest for an hour or two before dinner reservations or a live music show
• Let the kids take a nap after a fun morning at Navy Pier
• Drop off shopping bags after a shopping spree on the Magnificent Mile
• Escape the Windy City’s weather

But if your hotel is a 30-minute public transit ride away, you may choose to skip that break instead, which can lead to a trip that’s more exhausting than enjoyable.

A centrally located hotel near everything you want to see gives you the freedom to recharge whenever you need to.

Tip 4: Choose a Hotel that Adds to Your Experience

What do you want to get out of your stay?

Chicago is a city with a deep history and plenty of architectural character. If you’re here to visit architectural wonders like Buckingham Fountain, Chicago Cultural Center and Willis Tower, it only makes sense to stay in a hotel that reflects that same history.

There’s something special about staying in a hotel that’s not just another chain. Hotels with a long history offer you a peek into Chicago’s past, giving you a close-up look at architectural details from another century. That’s an experience you won’t be able to find in newer properties.

While you’ll of course be spending most of your time out exploring Chicago’s attractions, your hotel still plays a big role in your overall trip. An enjoyable, comfortable hotel can add something truly special to your experience.

Tip 5: Look for Added Value

What makes a hotel experience truly great, versus “just good enough?” Here are a few more key factors to help you decide where to book.

### Actual Proximity to Attractions

Just because a hotel labels itself as being “downtown” doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be within convenient walking distance or a short ride away from attractions. Always check the actual distance to your must-see spots so you won’t be disappointed when you arrive.

### Views

One of Chicago’s best attractions is its iconic skyline and lakefront. Choosing a hotel with views of Lake Michigan or the city skyline can elevate your entire stay into something unique you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

### On-Site Amenities

If you’re in Chicago for business, or if you’ve got a jam-packed itinerary, on-site amenities can add even more convenience and comfort to your stay. Look for amenities like:

• 24-hour front desk and concierge service
• On-site dining options
• Meeting spaces
• Fitness centers
• Free WiFi
• Dry cleaning service

Elevate Your Trip With the Right Hotel

There’s so much to see and do in Chicago. If you’re visiting for the first time, or if you want to maximize your time, proximity to top attractions can make or break your whole trip.

Staying in a central downtown location offers you convenient access to Chicago’s most iconic attractions, plus views of Lake Michigan that will truly elevate your stay into something unforgettable.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable stay in a charming historic Chicago hotel just steps away from Grant Park, The Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park, The Congress Plaza Hotel’s premium downtown location offers you exactly what you need. View our wide selection of rooms and amenities, and book your stay now.