--- title: "Chicago" description: "Independent hotel guides, travel articles, and travel videos for Chicago." canonical: "https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/chicago" locale: "en" --- # Chicago Primary place hint: Chicago ## Breadcrumbs [North America](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/north-america) > [USA](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/usa) > [Illinois](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/illinois) > [Chicago](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/chicago) ## Hotel Guides No direct source links for this section. ## Travel Guides And Blogs - [Lonely Planet](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/usa/chicago) (lonelyplanet.com) Lonely Planet is a major travel-publishing brand offering professionally edited destination guides, travel articles, guidebooks, and planning services. Their Chicago city guide gives a strong overview for trip planning, covering attractions, local food, blues clubs, deep-dish pizza, and travel tips. - [ViaTravelers](https://viatravelers.com/destinations/chicago/) (viatravelers.com) ViaTravelers is a travel media and planning site combining destination guides with practical comparison and itinerary-planning tools. Their Chicago travel guide is well-rounded for first-stage planning, covering iconic sites, art, deep-dish pizza, seasons, architecture, jazz heritage, and museums. - [Nomadic Matt](https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/united-states-travel-guide/chicago/) (nomadicmatt.com) Nomadic Matt is a long-running budget-travel advice site focused on cheaper, longer, and practical independent travel planning. Their Chicago budget travel guide is especially practical for cost-conscious visitors, with coverage of things to do, costs, accommodation, savings tips, and transportation. - [Finding the Universe](https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/2-day-chicago-itinerary/) (findingtheuniverse.com) Finding the Universe is a travel and photography blog focused on visually led destination guides, itineraries, photography advice, and practical tips. Their two-day Chicago itinerary is a practical guide for planning a short visit, with sights, accommodation advice, money-saving tips, transport guidance, and a map. - [Dreams in Heels](https://dreamsinheels.com/3-days-in-chicago-itinerary-3-day/) (dreamsinheels.com) Dreams in Heels is a travel and lifestyle blog with solo female travel, Latina travel perspectives, and cultural storytelling. Their three-day Chicago itinerary gives visitors a helpful local-style plan for exploring Millennium Park, the Loop, the lakeshore, Navy Pier, and other city highlights. - [Going Awesome Places](https://goingawesomeplaces.com/how-to-plan-a-great-weekend-in-chicago/) (goingawesomeplaces.com) Going Awesome Places is an itinerary-focused travel site centered on detailed travel guides and practical trip planning. Their weekend Chicago guide is a good fit for travelers who want focused planning tips for a short, well-organized city break. - [Roads & Kingdoms](https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2019/know-before-you-go-to-chicago/) (roadsandkingdoms.com) Roads & Kingdoms is a food, culture, and travel journalism publication focused on local reporting and deeper destination context. Their Chicago article is a useful pre-trip primer, covering 20 things to know about weather, getting around, local food basics, and everyday context. - [Practical Wanderlust](https://practicalwanderlust.com/things-to-do-in-chicago-in-the-winter/) (practicalwanderlust.com) Practical Wanderlust is a responsible budget travel blog and podcast with detailed guides, itineraries, packing lists, and contextual travel advice. Their winter Chicago guide is a helpful seasonal resource for visitors interested in Christmas markets, ice skating, holiday activities, deep-dish pizza, and cold-weather ideas. - [Travel Off Path](https://www.traveloffpath.com/a-foodies-guide-to-chicago/) (traveloffpath.com) Travel Off Path is an independent travel news publication covering destination guides, tourism trends, travel rules, aviation, and practical trip-planning topics. Their food-focused Chicago guide is well suited to visitors planning an eating-oriented trip around the city's dining scene. - [Solo Traveler](https://solotravelerworld.com/budget-chicago-32-free-and-low-cost-tips/) (solotravelerworld.com) Solo Traveler is a digital publication focused entirely on solo travel, including safety, budgeting, trip planning, and solo travel resources. Their budget Chicago article is especially practical for solo travelers, with low-cost planning points across accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, and other trip basics. - [Y Travel Blog](https://www.ytravelblog.com/pizza-places-chicago/) (ytravelblog.com) Y Travel Blog is a long-running travel blog covering destination guides, family travel, practical advice, and trip inspiration. Their Chicago pizza guide is a useful pick for food-minded visitors, highlighting ten places tied to the city's deep-pan pizza reputation. - [NOMADasaurus](https://www.nomadasaurus.com/day-trips-from-chicago/) (nomadasaurus.com) NOMADasaurus is an adventure travel and photography blog with destination guides, visual storytelling, and practical trip-planning content. Their Chicago day-trips guide broadens a city visit with nine nearby excursion ideas, including state parks, beaches, historic sites, and other reachable places. - [Tales of a Backpacker](https://talesofabackpacker.com/chicago-in-winter/) (talesofabackpacker.com) Tales of a Backpacker is a solo female backpacking and budget-travel blog focused on practical independent travel advice. Her winter Chicago guide gives budget-minded visitors positive reasons to go in the colder season, with cold-weather activities and festive experiences to consider. - [The Planet D](https://theplanetd.com/best-day-trips-from-chicago/) (theplanetd.com) The Planet D is a polished adventure-travel blog covering destination guides, itineraries, photography, and accessible adventure travel. Their day-trips article is a strong planning resource for extending a Chicago stay, with 21 nearby small towns, natural parks, and cities within a short drive. - [Trekaroo](https://blog.trekaroo.com/chicago-christmas-events/) (blog.trekaroo.com) Trekaroo is a family travel community and planning resource with blog content, guides, reviews, itineraries, and parent-written advice. Their 2025 Chicago Christmas events guide is a helpful family-focused resource for seasonal outings such as Zoolights, Illumination: Tree Lights, and Christkindlmarket. ## Travel Videos - [Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRrJcNCgO_Q) (youtube.com) Samuel and Audrey is a travel and food channel from Canadian media publishers Samuel and Audrey, featuring guides, tips, food tours, and itineraries. This Chicago travel guide video gives a well-rounded overview of 35 attractions, activities, foods, sports, museums, parks, and river experiences for trip planning. - [Attaché](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Pg-iXFvig) (youtube.com) Attaché is a travel channel hosted by Alex Hunter, exploring cities through food, culture, history, and destination-focused travel guides. This Chicago travel guide video brings together food, music, art, city identity, and a local guest perspective from Jimmy Chamberlin for a strong cultural overview. - [Hungry Passport](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFMHx6XwBk0) (youtube.com) Hungry Passport is a travel channel offering travel guides and tips for major destinations in a short, simple format. This guide video counts down ten things to do in Chicago, including Riverwalk, Millennium Park, museums, Lake Michigan, Skydeck Chicago, and Navy Pier. - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU_xtJdgjR8) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, hotel tours, things to do, and travel hacks. This video gives a clear list of ten things to do in Chicago, with major attractions and family-friendly planning context that make it useful for first-pass research. - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSVBq7ZzWIE) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, hotel tours, things to do, and travel hacks. This travel video covers ten places to visit in Chicago and pairs the picks with practical tips and one-day visit context for the city. - [Jon Barr](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueHJWaCQ0II) (youtube.com) Jon Barr is a travel and food channel focused on food experiences in New York City and beyond. This itinerary video follows a 24-hour Chicago guide with Luis Gusto, offering a helpful look at experiences beyond standard tourist attractions. - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m63oL5-ONs) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, hotel tours, things to do, and travel hacks. This guide video shares ten things to know before visiting Chicago, including transportation, free activities, travel tips, and planning context. - [Wolters World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT8SnicEct0) (youtube.com) Wolters World is a travel channel offering first-hand travel advice about destinations, culture, planning, safety, budgeting, and common visitor expectations. This practical video explains 23 visitor-focused “don’ts” for Chicago, making it useful for avoiding common mistakes and setting expectations before a trip. - [Wolters World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLpWNu3xt-E) (youtube.com) Wolters World is a YouTube travel channel offering first-hand travel advice about destinations, culture, planning, safety, budgeting, and common visitor expectations. This video lists ten tourist sights in Chicago, including baseball, Sears Tower, the Art Institute, and other city attractions for a straightforward sightseeing overview. - [Wolters World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJm-fP6UkFs) (youtube.com) Wolters World is a travel channel offering first-hand travel advice about destinations, culture, planning, safety, budgeting, and common visitor expectations. This travel video describes ten surprises for Chicago visitors, spanning sports, local drinks, skyline views, culture, and broader tourist expectations. - [Wolters World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpCuF7icOHY) (youtube.com) Wolters World is a YouTube travel channel offering first-hand travel advice about destinations, culture, planning, safety, budgeting, and common visitor expectations. This video gives a balanced preview of five things visitors may love and hate about Chicago, helping travelers prepare for the city experience more realistically. - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAdr3V0N6lM) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, hotel tours, things to do, and travel hacks. This guide video highlights ten free things to do in Chicago, including parks, Riverwalk, Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, and downtown options. - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeJVGuHnmOg) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, hotel tours, things to do, and travel hacks. This video presents ten reasons to visit Chicago, covering architecture, cultural institutions, food, entertainment, outdoor attractions, sports, festivals, and nightlife. - [Through My Lens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTol8PStWb4) (youtube.com) Through My Lens is a YouTube travel channel focused on informative trip-based videos from destinations around the world. This travel video follows a Christmas weekend in Chicago with strong seasonal stops such as Christkindlmarket, ice skating, Willis Tower, city food, and Lincoln Park Zoo lights. - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwSDgaLRIPc) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a YouTube travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, and destination tips. This video gathers romantic things to do in Chicago, with couple-oriented ideas such as Navy Pier, the lakefront, gardens, food, observation decks, and green spaces.