
The Chicago Hotel Collection Magnificent Mile
Chicago
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From
The Loop & River North · Architecture, museums & deep-dish · Direct flights from Canada
Flight + Hotel · Flights Included
3-night downtown hotel stays with return flights from Canada
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Downtown Loop, River North and Magnificent Mile stays
At a glance
Chicago is America's architectural showpiece — a bold skyline of glass towers rising off Lake Michigan, threaded by the Chicago River and its famous Riverwalk. Base yourself in the Loop or River North and you're steps from Millennium Park and Cloud Gate ("The Bean"), the Art Institute, Navy Pier, deep-dish pizza institutions, blues and jazz clubs, and the Magnificent Mile's shopping. It's a big, walkable, four-season city with an unbeatable public-transit "L".
Climate
-5–29°C · four-season lakefront climate
Warm summers by the lake are ideal; winters are cold and snowy — great for indoor museums and pubs.
Currency
US Dollar
1 CAD ≈ 0.73 USD · cards accepted everywhere
Entry
Visa-free
Valid passport; no visa or ESTA for Canadians by air
Snap the mirrored Cloud Gate ("The Bean"), catch a free concert at the Pritzker Pavilion, and stroll to the lakefront Maggie Daley Park.
Glide the Chicago River past skyscrapers with a guide from the Chicago Architecture Center — the city's signature experience.
See the Art Institute's Impressionist icons, then the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium on the lakefront campus.
Passport & entry: Canadian citizens travelling to the US by air need only a valid passport — no visa or ESTA is required.
Currency: The US Dollar (USD) is used everywhere. Cards and tap-to-pay are widely accepted; keep small bills for tips and taxis.
Power & plugs: The US uses 120V/60Hz with Type A/B plugs — the same as Canada, so your devices work without an adapter.
Time zone: Chicago runs on Central Time (CT) — one hour behind Toronto year-round.
Getting around: The CTA "L" trains and buses cover the city cheaply; the Blue Line links O'Hare and the Orange Line links Midway to the Loop. Winters are cold, so pack layers.
Warm days, blooming parks and the start of festival season along the lakefront.
Hot, lively summer with beaches, street festivals and Taste of Chicago — busiest and priciest.
Crisp, colourful autumn with thinner crowds and better hotel rates.
Cold, snowy winters — ideal museum weather and the cheapest downtown hotel deals.
Where to stay
Where you base yourself shapes your trip — from the skyscraper canyons of the Loop to gallery-lined River North and the boutiques of the Magnificent Mile. Here's how to choose.
Downtown core
The business and theatre heart of the city, ringed by the elevated "L" and steps from Millennium Park, the Art Institute and the Riverwalk.
North of the river
Chicago's gallery and restaurant district, packed with rooftop bars, deep-dish landmarks and clubs, just across the bridges from the Loop.
North Michigan Ave
The famous shopping stretch of North Michigan Avenue, close to Navy Pier, the lakefront and the John Hancock (875 N. Michigan) views.
West of downtown
A converted warehouse district built around Randolph Street's Restaurant Row and Fulton Market — buzzy, design-led and better value.
Beyond the city
Chicago is a great base for the Midwest's lakeshores, dunes and river towns. Every excursion below can be booked through ShopTravel or your hotel tour desk.
Climb rolling sand dunes and walk Lake Michigan beaches with the Chicago skyline shimmering across the water.
Tour the Harley-Davidson Museum and the striking Milwaukee Art Museum, then sample the city's legendary breweries.
Hike wooded canyons, sandstone bluffs and seasonal waterfalls above the Illinois River — a favourite Chicago outdoor escape.
A genteel resort town on a glacial lake — take a mailboat cruise past historic mansions and stroll the 34 km shore path.
Flight + hotel packages with return flights from Canada, starting at
Good to know
Everything Canadian travellers ask before booking
No. Canadian citizens travelling to the US by air need only a valid passport — no visa or ESTA is required.
Direct flights are about 1 hour 45 minutes from Toronto to Chicago Midway (MDW), with direct service from several Canadian cities.
Late spring through early fall (May–October) has the warmest weather and most festivals. Summer is busiest; winters are cold and snowy but cheapest.
From Midway (MDW) take the CTA Orange Line into the Loop in about 25 minutes; from O'Hare use the Blue Line. Rideshares and taxis are also easy.
Yes — the CTA "L" trains and buses cover the whole city cheaply, and the downtown neighbourhoods are very walkable. You won't need a car.
Popular options include Indiana Dunes National Park, Milwaukee, Starved Rock State Park and Lake Geneva — several are reachable by train.
Chicago uses US Dollars (USD). Cards and mobile pay are accepted everywhere, but keep small bills for tips and street food.
Yes — you can add day trips like the Architecture River Cruise or Indiana Dunes to your booking at checkout.