Top 5 Handy Ways to Get Around Chicago

Chicago is a big city, and there’s a lot to see and do. If you don’t want to bring your own car or rent one during your visit, no problem — plenty of handy transportation options exist to whisk you around town. Here are the top picks of 5 ways to get around Chicago.

Shuttle

Some of the attractions and many of the hotels in Chicago offer a shuttle. This allows you to get where you need to go quickly and efficiently. The best option for a shuttle is from the airport to your hotel and back. This will save you significantly on a taxi. When you book your hotel through Gogobot, you’re able to check and make sure that the hotel you choose has a shuttle service. You may want to call ahead to see if the shuttle service will take you anywhere else besides the airport.

The L Train

Image via Flickr by Stephen Boisvert.

Public transportation is one of the best ways to get around the city, and the L train is often your best bet. Whether you’re trying to get to restaurants or attractions or you simply don’t want to deal with a shuttle from the airport, the L Train has you covered. While the majority of the L Train lines are elevated, not all are. There are a total of 144 stations throughout the city, making it easy to get close to where you’re going no matter what part of the city you want to explore.

Taxi

If you’ve got the cash and need to get somewhere quick, consider calling a taxi. Currently, taxi prices start at $2.25 and increase by approximately $1.80 per mile. A taxi is a great idea in the colder months, or if you’re headed to one of the few areas where the L train doesn’t have a close stop.

Water Taxis

In addition to regular taxis, Chicago offers water taxis to help you reach destinations near the shore. With just five stops, however, this probably won’t be your primary mode of transportation. Water taxis are part of what makes Chicago special — so even if you’re not in need of a lift, you should check them out. Get all-day passes for $8 to 10, or a single ride for $3 to 8.

Biking and Walking

When you’re trying to save as much money as possible on your trip, you’ll likely consider walking or biking everywhere you have to go. Luckily, Chicago has an excellent bike share system and is among the most bike-friendly cities in the country — you’ll find more than 200 miles of protected bicycle lanes. Keep in mind, however, that the city is extremely large, and if your destination is across town, a bike ride or walk may not work. On top of this, during the winter months, Chicago gets extremely cold temperatures and even freezing rain.

No matter what part of Chicago you’re staying in or where you’re going, there’s probably an affordable and easy way to get there. Make your plans early, so you know how much time to budget for your travel. – Travel Feeder

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.