Chicago Visitors Guide - 2025

UPTOWN

On Argyle Street in Uptown, a vibrant tapestry of Asian restaurants dish up delectable banh mi, dim sum, and more. During the summer months, the weekly Argyle Night Market (July – September) offers alfresco dining and live music. At the annual Argyle Lunar New Year Parade in February, community groups, dancers, and performers will come together to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

The Clifton Avenue Street Art Gallery, located near the Wilson CTA Red Line train station, is an outdoor art space featuring over 24 murals and sculptures created by local and international artists.

The historic Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom has hosted everything from big band shows to punk rock marathons. Nearby, The Riviera Theatre played a significant role during the Jazz Age and remains a central part of Chicago’s entertainment scene. And don’t miss the iconic Green Mill, a jazz club that has been enchanting audiences for over a century.

The Black Ensemble Theater presents rousing musicals focused on African American culture and heroes. The PrideArts Center celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community with live shows, film screenings, and exhibitions.

HUMBOLDT PARK

The charming Humboldt Park Boathouse, the centerpiece of 207-acre Humboldt Park, sits near a picturesque lagoon and the city’s only inland beach. Rent a swan-shaped pedal boat and paddle the serene waters. The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, housed in the former Humboldt Park stables, features exhibits exploring the art of Puerto Rico and its diaspora.

Barrio Borikén is the first state-designated Puerto Rican cultural district in the country. Twin steel gateway sculptures shaped like fluttering Puerto Rican flags bookend the half-mile stretch of Division Street known as Paseo Boricua. Over 50 vibrant murals adorn the area, celebrating Puerto Rican heritage and history. Paseo Boricua Tour Company offers captivating walking tours of the interesting architecture and murals that dot the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

Puerto Rican Fest Chicago in June features live music, carnival rides, traditional foods, and the Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade, a colorful procession that marches down Division Street. The September Fiesta Boricua showcases Puerto Rican pride with a weekend of music and dance — including bomba, salsa, and merengue — plus pop-up eateries and joyful revelry.

PULLMAN

Built in the 1880s as a town for the workers who manufactured luxury train cars, Pullman National Historical Park played a significant role in America’s labor and civil rights history. The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum preserves the legacy of the Pullman Porters and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the country’s first Black labor union. Daily walking tours led by National Park Service rangers depart from the Visitor Center.

The Pullman Exhibit Hall presents displays on the town’s history and artifacts from the Pullman family mansion. Visitors can also join walking tours hosted by the Historic Pullman Foundation on the first Sunday of the month (May – October). The Historic Pullman House Tour in October offers exclusive access to the neighborhood’s well-preserved homes. And don’t miss Pullman’s annual Juneteenth Celebration.

After your visit, dig into mouthwatering barbecue — including rib tips, pulled pork, and loaded fries — cooked up by acclaimed pitmaster and Food Network’s BBQ Brawl winner Dominique Leach at Pullman’s Lexington Betty Smokehouse.

BRONZEVILLE

Chicago’s historic Black Metropolis is an art-filled neighborhood with notable landmarks around every corner. The Monument to the Great Northern Migration pays tribute to the many African Americans who traveled to Chicago from the South in search of freedom. The Victory Monument honors Black World War I veterans. And the Bronzeville Walk of Fame, comprised of 92 bronze markers embedded in the sidewalks from 25th to 35th streets, pays tribute to the neighborhood’s most distinguished residents. The 35-foot, granite-and-bronze The Light of Truth Ida B. Wells National Monument salutes the legacy of this groundbreaking journalist and civil rights activist.

Important architecture abounds in Bronzeville. The Robert W. Roloson Houses, designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright in 1894, stand as a testament to early modern architecture with their distinctive row house design. The Forum, built in 1897, has hosted countless social and political gatherings. The Chicago Defender Building, originally a synagogue, became the influential headquarters of the Chicago Defender newspaper from 1920 to 1960. And the Supreme Life Building, constructed in 1921, symbolizes the economic success of the first African American-owned insurance company in the northern U.S.

The South Side Community Art Center, the oldest African American art center in the nation, serves as Bronzeville’s artistic community hub, thanks to its inspiring array of public exhibits and events that include film screenings, workshops, lectures, and panel discussions.

On the third Friday of each month from June to September, the free Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour connects visitors with the local gallery scene and Black artists at Gallery Guichard, Faie African Art, Blanc Gallery, the Bronzeville Artist Lofts, and the South Side Community Art Center.

Stroll, bike, or hop on a trolley to explore local businesses while enjoying creative performances during Bronzeville Summer Nights, hosted on the second Friday of July, August, and September. The Bud Billiken Parade, the largest African American parade in the country, is a lively procession of bands, floats, and dancers that has been celebrating Black culture every August since 1929.

PILSEN

The National Museum of Mexican Art showcases Mexican culture and history through vibrant exhibits and a permanent collection of more than 18,000 pieces from ancient Mexico to the present. During the annual Day of the Dead Xicágo celebration in October, the museum transforms into a beautiful space to honor loved ones with ofrendas (altars).

On 2nd Fridays Gallery Night, hosted by the Chicago Arts District, artists along South Halsted Street in Pilsen open their studios to the public. The nonprofit Pilsen Arts & Community House mentors local artists, in addition to offering exhibitions, popup shows, artist talks, and art instruction. Grab dinner and drinks, plus catch an indie band concert, at the neighborhood’s landmark Thalia Hall.

Pilsen is known for its spectacular public art, particularly the many colorful murals along 16th Street and 18th Street. What began in the late 1960s as an effort by local artists to unify and inspire Mexican American residents has evolved into a stunning outdoor gallery.

Savor mole dishes from some of Pilsen’s most popular eateries, accompanied by live music, at the annual Mole de Mayo in May.

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CHICAGO GREETER TOURS

The free Chicago Greeter program matches visitors with enthusiastic local volunteers who will customize a tour to your interests and language. Register at least 10 business days in advance for your 2- to 4-hour tour, and let your guide know which neighborhoods you’d like to visit.

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