AIRBNB EXPERIENCES
Things to do in Chicago
Book unique activities hosted by local experts on Airbnb.
Top-rated activities
View our most highly rated experiences, loved by guests.
Explore Dazzling Architecture Interiors of the Chicago Loop
4.91 out of 5 average rating, 249 reviewsChicago's Underground Pedway & Other Secrets Walking Tour
4.88 out of 5 average rating, 334 reviewsPasta Cooking Class with a local Chef
4.91 out of 5 average rating, 293 reviewsMUST HAVE CHICAGO PHOTOS- OUTDOORS
4.97 out of 5 average rating, 90 reviewsPrivate Portrait photoshoot in multiple locations in chicago
4.92 out of 5 average rating, 422 reviewsCulture and Architecture of the Prohibition Era in Chicago
4.85 out of 5 average rating, 34 reviewsChicago Christmas Lights & Sights Walking Tour
4.94 out of 5 average rating, 200 reviewsChicago in a Day - Food, Architecture, Culture & Highlights
4.99 out of 5 average rating, 114 reviewsMOLE from scratch, small o private class
4.84 out of 5 average rating, 186 reviewsChicago Food Tour- Deep Roots to Deep Dish
Something for everyone
Your guide to Chicago
Where do locals hang out in Chicago?
Pilsen (Lower West Side)
Chicago has long attracted writers, musicians, artists, and other creatives. Take in the arts, dining, and nightlife of the Pilsen neighborhood to see firsthand where the people who live here go out to enjoy life’s finer things in areas such as the Chicago Arts District, home to National Museum of Mexican Art, the Chicago Art Department, and more.
Hyde Park (South Side)
For a low-key day, head to the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park where you’ll find people roaming tree-lined boulevards en route to indie bookstores, under-the-radar museums, and the University of Chicago to enjoy prolific Gothic architecture.
Logan Square
Want the Wicker Park hip factor without the brunch wait lines? Check out the Logan Square neighborhood. Here you can get your fix of Michelin-rated restaurants and cocktail bars before cozying up indoors at the Logan Theatre for an indie flick. On Sundays, take a stroll through the farmers’ market that operates all year. For those who want to get hands-on, try making your own street art in a nearby studio with local artists.
What do locals eat in Chicago?
When it comes to what locals eat in Chicago, it can depend on who you ask. No one is going to tell you not to grab a slice of deep-dish pizza or a hot dog, but also that there’s more to savor than these classics. Dry-aged steaks on the Loop, West African cuisine in Bronzeville, tacos in Little Village, pierogies downtown: the food here a reflection of this multicultural Midwestern city.
The Andersonville and Argyle neighborhoods are a must when it comes to food. On Argyle Street, a cluster of Southeast Asian restaurants offer some of the best Asian food in all of the city, meanwhile in Andersonville you’ll find Turkish, Lebanese, and Swedish eats.
What is unique about Chicago’s architecture?
Chicago’s unique architecture is the result of an otherwise tragic historical event: the Great Fire of 1871 which destroyed most of the downtown buildings. By the 1880s, a group of architects called the Chicago School began to promote a new way of building known as “commercial-style” architecture characterized by steel-frame construction and large plates of glass. The result? The world got the first modern skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, in 1885. Since then, Chicago has always been a world leader in design, with notable styles such as Chicago bungalows, two-flats, grandiose graystones, and Polish cathedrals.
Whether it’s your first visit to Chicago, or you’re a lifelong resident, there are plenty of fun architecture-related activities (both indoors and outdoors) to experience this iconic piece of Chicago history firsthand.
Discover more activities near Chicago
- Sports activities United States
- Food and drink United States
- Art and culture United States
- Wellness United States
- Sightseeing United States
- Entertainment United States
- Nature and outdoors United States
- Art and culture Illinois
- Food and drink Illinois
- Sightseeing Illinois
- Food and drink Cook County
- Sightseeing Cook County
- Art and culture Cook County
- Nature and outdoors Cook County
- Sightseeing Chicago
- Art and culture Chicago
- Food and drink Chicago