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Bookmark & share'Chicago, Chicago': a pumping, showstopping extravaganza of a city.
Chicago has the lot: itinerant artists babbling Beat, Polish aunties stuffing sausage, African-American mothers organising the block, blue-collar guys bad-mouthing the Bears, a crooner singing the blues on the South Side. It's a city that wears its American heart proudly on its sleeve.
Chicago's diverse population has built a city with an unrivalled tradition of jazz and blues, an astonishing architecture, an appetite for hearty food, award-winning newspapers, universities full of Nobel laureates and some of the most die-hard sports fans you'll ever meet.
Travel Warning: Carry-on Baggage Restrictions
Restrictions on airline carry-on baggage are in place throughout the US. For details check the Transport Security Administration website.
severity: Mid-level alert
Fast Facts
Population
2,900,000
Currency
Name: US Dollar
Code: USD
Symbol: US$
Electrical Plugs
110V 60Hz
Languages Spoken
Essential: English
Time Zones
GMT/UTC -6 (Central Time)
Country Dialing Code
+1
Weights & Measures
Imperial
Chicago - Pick & Mix Chapters
Download the free Getting Started chapter or buy individual chapters from our Chicago guide, in our online Shop.
› Go to the Chicago download page.
Related Travel Stories
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Chicago Getaways
article by Lonely Planet Authors, May 2008
Wander streets of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, tune your ears to the sound of singing sand or just stuff yourself with gourmet cheese. Read the full article ›
Tags: Eating & Drinking • Art, Architecture & Design • Chicago
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