Chicago is a well-known U.S. city that many people put on their bucket list of places to visit. The Windy City has 56 museums, over 5,000 restaurants, 26 beaches, 125 art galleries, and approximately 369 landmarks. How are you supposed to visit all these wonderful places? Public Transit is your best choice and the cheapest! But in a busy city that has 140 bus routes and 8 train lines that serve 146 stations, trying to navigate the transit system can be both overwhelming and confusing to a visitor. To make it easy for anyone adventuring through Chicago, I have broken down how to use the transit systems along with other ideas for easy travel through the city.
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): This includes the ‘L’, buses, and Metra Trains
Fares: Click here to see the fare tables with regular, reduced, and student rates. You will pay $2.25-2.50 per ride (in US dollars). If you are visiting Chicago for more than a few days, I would suggest buying a reloadable Ventra card and adding value to it so you can ride as much as you please without having to stop at a ticket machine every time. Ventura even has a easy to use app where you can add more money when needed.
‘L’: The map may seem overwhelming at first, but it is actually quite simple. There are 8 colors that represent different routes. The easiest way to get started is to map your route on your phone or computer and hit the “transit” setting. It will show you which trains you need and which stops to get on or off at. It will even show you how to walk to and from the stations from your current location. There are also maps at each station and on the trains if you lose internet or wifi. Helpful tip: the blue line runs directly to and from O’Hare International Airport and the orange line goes directly to and from Midway Airport if you are flying in from out of town. There is a great app called “Transit Stop: CTA Tracker” that tracks the buses and trains so you can time your trip correctly.
Bus: There are 140 bus routes in Chicago which means you can get to many of your favorite places in Chicago this way. First, you figure out which bus stops you need. When you see a bus arriving at your stop, be sure to check what the bus says on the top of it when it pulls up (check the route number, name, and where it is heading) as some stops serve multiple bus routes. When the bus doors open it will also audibly announce the route and destination. Worst comes to worst, ask the bus driver and they will be happy to tell you whether that is the correct bus or not. Once you are on the correct bus, the bus will announce audibly and visually which stop is next, so be sure to pull the request stop cord if your stop is next. I also recommend using the app mentioned above to track the buses so you are not waiting at your stop for a long period of time (especially if you are experiencing a Chicago winter).
Metra: If you are only visiting the city, you won’t need the Metra. But if you feel like venturing to the suburbs of Chicago then using the Metra is your cheapest route. The Metra trains depart/arrive at Union Station (225 South Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606) or Ogilvie Station (500 W Madison St #3610, Chicago, IL 60661). Click here for the Metra website which helps you find routes and fares for your trip. Union Station is also where the Amtrak train leaves and arrives from different states. So if you are from out of town check out their website to see if you can take a train to Chicago for your visit.
Divvy Bikes
How it works: Find the nearest Divvy station (the bikes are bright blue, you can’t miss them) to buy a pass or use the app “Transit” to buy a pass. The app is also helpful when you need to locate Divvy stations. Once you buy a pass, you pick a bike and use your ride code or member key to unlock the bike. Then you get to ride anywhere you like, but just remember that every 30 minutes you have to re-dock your bike and unlock it again (or you will get another fee added and no one likes extra fees). You can return the bike when you are done at any station, just be sure it fully locks in to place! Click here for the rules of riding a bike in Chicago, stay safe!
Prices: 24-hour pass = $9.95 per day (unlimited 30-minute rides in 24 hour period)
Annual pass = $99 per year (unlimited 30-minute rides for 365 days)
Uber/Lyft/Taxis
If you are not near a train/bus stop and prefer something more private and faster, Chicago is full of taxis and Uber/Lyft drivers. The Uber and Lyft apps for your phone are easy to download and use. You link a credit card to the app and you put in your location and your destination. An uber/lyft driver will be assigned to you and they will come pick you up and take you to your destination. The fares all depend on how far/long you ride for. I tend to prefer Uber/Lyft as they tend to be the cheaper option over a taxi.
Driving
If you have a car you can drive to your destination, but be aware of Chicago’s traffic, construction, and parking regulations. A lot of streets are permit or metered parking and there isn’t a lot of free parking available (especially in touristy locations). Parking garages are an option, but are much more expensive than taking public transportation.
If all else fails, ask a Chicago local and they will gladly point you in the right direction and the easiest way to get there! Happy traveling through Chicago! If you are visiting, check out my blog on winter activities to do in Chicago here and my blog on the best views of Chicago’s gorgeous skyline, here.
