Chicago Travel Professionals Guide - 2025
GETTING TO & AROUND CHICAGO
2024-12-02 12:50:44
What you need to know about traveling to Chicago, plus tips on how to navigate the city.
All fares and rates are subject to change.
GETTING HERE
By plane: Getting to and from the city from O’Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport is quick, easy, and convenient. For information on both airports, go to flychicago.com.
By Amtrak train: Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states. Visit amtrak.com for more details.
GETTING AROUND
By public transit: Groups can use public transportation to get into and around the city via Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train and bus lines, as well as the Metra rail system.
CTA ‘L’ train: There are eight ‘L’ lines serving 145 train stations all over Chicago, including the Blue Line (24 hours), Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line, Red Line (24 hours), and Yellow Line.
CTA bus: There are 127 bus routes throughout the city, with bus stops every few blocks. Several lines operate 24 hours a day.
CTA fares start at $2.25 for buses and $2.50 for trains with a reloadable Ventra card. One-, three-, and seven-day Ventra passes are available. Single-ride Ventra ticket: $3 (includes three rides within two hours of use) or $5 (from O’Hare Airport). One-day Ventra ticket: $10 (unlimited rides for 24 hours).
Visit transitchicago.com to learn more.
Metra rail: High-speed Metra trains connect outlying suburbs to downtown and are an easy way to travel into the heart of the city. Most train routes arrive at Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center, both a short walk from the Loop and many downtown hotels. Single-trip fares start at $3.75. Learn more at metrarail.com.
By taxi: Credit cards are accepted in all cabs. CHICABS allows passengers to electronically hail and pay for a taxi through mobile apps ARRO (ridearro.com) and Curb (gocurb.com). Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
By rideshare: Lyft (lyft.com) and Uber (uber.com) rideshare services are available throughout the greater Chicago metro area. Download the Lyft or Uber app for fare quotes and booking.
By car: Major car rental companies have facilities at O’Hare and Midway airports, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz. Visit the rental company’s website for details.
By bike or scooter: Chicago’s Divvy bike- and scooter-sharing system is an inexpensive and easy way to get around the city. Thousands of bikes and scooters are available at hundreds of stations across Chicago. Single classic bike rides are $1 to unlock and $0.18 per minute. Or try Divvy’s ebike, with a pedal-assist motor. Pay $1 to unlock the ebike, plus $0.44 per minute. Scooters are $1 to unlock and $0.44 per minute. Learn more at divvybikes.com.
By water taxi: Seasonal water taxis are a scenic and budget-friendly way for groups to reach points of interest along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Take a ride with Chicago Water Taxi (chicagowatertaxi.com) or Shoreline Water Taxi (shorelinesightseeing.com).
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