When planning any vacation, it’s exciting to look at all of the new things you can experience. From lodging to transportation to activities, you have a lot to decide. If you’re going to a new city you’ve never visited before, it can be confusing to navigate all of your options. Even if you are revisiting a city, you might feel overwhelmed with the options of new things to try. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of tips for planning your upcoming Chicago trip so that you can travel confidently and make the most of your visit.

Purchase a City Pass

Chicago offers a few different City Pass options available for purchase. City Passes allow you to see multiple different attractions in the city for a cheaper price. The savings will help you make the most out of your site-seeing budget, while also providing suggestions of some of the best highlights of the city. Depending on which pass you purchase, they may have time limits on when you visit, such as requiring that you visit the sites within a week of obtaining the pass. For those visiting the city for a weekend, it makes for a perfect itinerary, complete with museums, theater shows, and historical landmarks.

Book a tour

If you’ve never been to Chicago, you can be shown around the city by a local on a sightseeing tour. Whether you’re interested in the rich history of the architecture or the urban folklore and ghost tours, there are many different tours to choose from. Make sure you book your tours ahead of time as the more popular ones tend to be booked. Hotel EMC2 is near the Chicago River, making it the perfect place to stay if you’re planning on going on a river boat tour. Food tours can also show you the best cuisine in the city, and you’re sure to find delicious cuisine at our very own restaurant, the Albert. Tours are a surefire way to ensure that you see the best of the city.

Consider the best times of year to visit

The Windy City didn’t get its name for nothing. Chicago can be very cold and breezy in the winter, and although it is still stunning and there are many indoor experiences available, many people prefer to visit during a warmer time of year. The most popular times in Chicago are late spring and early fall, when the weather is perfect. In the fall, the trees are all shades of reds and yellows, making walks around Millennium Park and Lincoln Park a gorgeous experience. Springtime brings blooming tulips and warmer weather, great for visiting the lakeshore and walking along the Magnificent Mile. If you’re planning a visit to Chicago, we recommend considering the weather as a major element of your trip.

Take advantage of public transportation

One of the more difficult parts of visiting a city is the traffic. Luckily, Chicago is one of the best cities for you to utilize public transportation in. There are trains from the airports and throughout the city on an elevated track, as well as buses and underground walkways that allow pedestrians to stay out of the cold.There are also an abundance of Uber and Lyft drivers throughout the city, making getting a ride easy and quick no matter where you need to go. Yet another option are the bike and scooter sharing programs that are available throughout the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. A fun and unique option that other cities don’t offer is the water taxi, which allows you to see sites from the Chicago River. No matter which way you choose to travel, you can easily get wherever you want to go in Chicago.

Enjoy the city your way

Every person's perfect trip will look different, and with so many different options and attractions, Chicago has something for everyone. To top off your trip with an extraordinary hotel, check out Hotel EMC2 for a boutique hotel and experience a stay unlike any other. We offer advice on what to do and see in the city, and are within walking distance to many of the hottest attractions. Interested in staying at Hotel EMC2? Book your reservation here.