One Day Chicago Itinerary - The Must-See Sights & Best Eats

If you have just 24 hours to explore Chicago, it’s important to make the most of your time and prioritize the must-see sights and delicious eats!

Even though I recommend staying in Chicago for longer than a day, you can still explore a lot of Chicago in just one day.

Below you will find my recommendations of the best things to do in Chicago with this one day Chicago itinerary!

If you’re planning a longer trip to Chicago, check out my 4-day Chicago itinerary!

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Best Hotels in Downtown Chicago

The Hyatt Regency

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency for our one night in Chicago.

It is in a great location within walking distance to the famous sights in Chicago, and it is one of the more affordable hotels in Chicago.

Our room was spacious and clean!

CitizenM Chicago Downtown Hotel

If you are looking for a more unique hotel in Chicago, I recommend staying at the CitizenM Chicago Downtown Hotel!

I have not personally stayed here, but my husband has stayed at this hotel in Boston, and he loved it.

The rooms are quite smaller than a traditional hotel room, but since you won’t be spending too much time in your hotel room, I do not think this is a big issue!

Definitely worth checking out if you are looking to stay somewhere more unique in Chicago.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown

Homewood Suites by Hilton provides a comfortable and convenient place to stay in Chicago.

It is an affordable place to stay while still being located in a great location near the popular tourist attractions in Chicago.

Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile

Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile offers a luxurious stay in the heart of the city while still being at a relatively affordable price point.

With its prime location near the iconic Magnificent Mile, it is an excellent choice for a comfortable stay.

How to Get Around in Chicago

If you are staying in a hotel in downtown Chicago, then you will be able to walk to all of the tourist attractions in this one day Chicago itinerary.

It ends up being a moderate amount of walking but totally doable!

If you are staying in a hotel outside of downtown Chicago, I would recommend taking an Uber/Lyft into the city.

I recommend checking out the app “Spot Hero” to find cheap parking in downtown Chicago if your hotel parking is expensive.

We booked a parking spot at One Two Pru Public Parking on the app for around $20 which was much cheaper than our hotel parking.

It was difficult for us to find at first, but the parking reservation gave more detailed instructions on how to find it than Google Maps.

We eventually were able to find it – thanks to my navigator husband 😂.

The “Spot Hero” app has parking spots all over the city and is worth checking out!

Best Breakfast Places in Chicago

If you only have one day in Chicago, I recommend getting up early for breakfast for two reasons:

To beat the crowds – especially if you are coming over the weekend!
To start your day early so you have more time to explore Chicago!

Here are some Chicago breakfast places I recommend:

Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe is arguably one of the best breakfast places in Chicago!

Therefore, I recommend getting there early to beat the crowds as they do not allow reservations.

I recommend going to the 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 location as it is located right next to Millenium Park which is where Cloud Gate is (or better known as the Bean).

After breakfast, you can just cross the street and head over to Millennium Park.

If you started your day early, you might be able to beat the crowds and get the Bean almost all to yourself!

Goddess & The Baker

Goddess & The Baker is a great place for brunch in Chicago.

It has a super cute interior with its display of the numerous baked goods they offer!

They serve up specialty coffee drinks, fresh-pressed juices, and various breakfast & lunch foods.

I got the hashbrown breakfast sandwich, and it was pretty good! I thought there could have been some more flavor but overall it was a pretty tasty sandwich.

My husband got the Sunrise Burrito with chicken and really liked it!

I got the Sweet Cream Cold Brew, and I sadly did not like it. I tend to like sweeter drinks so I think next time I would try out one of their specialty drinks.

One of their current specialty drinks is a Banana’s Foster Iced Coffee which sounds pretty tasty to me!

I decided to try out one of their fresh-pressed juices and chose the Ginger Pineapple Tonic. I really enjoyed it, and it was especially refreshing on a hot summer day.

I would recommend going to the 33 S Wabash Ave Chicago, IL 60603 location if that fits with your itinerary as it is located right across the street from Millennium Park.

Goddess & The Baker in Downtown Chicago. Gallery of pastries - croissants, cupcakes, cake, muffins, bread, breakfast food. Breakfast, brunch, and lunch food in Chicago. Where to go for coffee in Chicago. Fresh pressed juice.

Breakfast/Brunch food is offered at Goddess & The Baker in Downtown Chicago. Hashbrown Breakfast Sandwich. Breakfast Burrito. Sweet Cream Cold Brew. Fresh Pressed Pineapple Ginger Juice.

Best Coffee Shops in Chicago

Two Zero Three Coffee Bar

You must add Two Zero Three Coffee Bar to your one day Chicago itinerary! It is my favorite coffee shop in Chicago!

The Queen Bee Iced Latte they serve is one of the best coffees I have ever had!

I ordered it with whole milk instead of oat milk and 3 shots of espresso instead of 4 in the 20 ounce drink.

It is a good balance between being a sweet drink but not TOO sweet 👌.

It is within walking distance of the Chicago breakfast places mentioned above, and it is located inside the Virgin Hotel.

Iced Queen Bee Latte served at Two Zero Three Coffee Bar in Downtown Chicago. Yummy honey and vanilla iced coffee in Chicago. Located inside the Virgin Hotel in Downtown Chicago.

Intelligentsia Coffee

We stopped in Intelligentsia Coffee right before we left Chicago so I could try out their banana bread, and it did not disappoint!

It was one of the best banana breads I have ever had.

I did not try their coffee, but I have heard good things!

They have a specialty coffee drink called Avena Latte which they call their black cat latte.

It consists of oat milk, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and orange peel – a must try for me the next time I am in Chicago!

If you’re traveling to Chicago as a family, check out these 27 free things to do in Chicago with kids!

The Best Things to Do in Chicago

Chicago Riverwalk

Walk along the Chicago Riverwalk and take in the amazing views of downtown Chicago.

It is a pretty short walk – about 1.25 miles – and along the way you have the chance to see some cool public artwork.

There are also multiple places to grab a bite to eat along the way.

A boat tour on the river in Chicago with the downtown Chicago skyline in the background.

Relax at the Chicago Area Beaches

You might not think of Chicago as being a beach spot, but they do have several beaches on Lake Michigan.

If you are looking for a place to relax for a few hours, check out Oak Street Beach or 12th Street Beach to sit by the water and soak in the beautiful views of the Chicago city skyline.

A fun idea for lunch could be to pick up some food and have a picnic on the beach.

Both of these beaches are close to the downtown Chicago tourist attractions as well.

Shopping on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago

If you are in a shopping mood, take a stroll down the Magnificent Mile which is on North Michigan Avenue and is packed full of shops and places to eat.

The shops range from upscale luxury stores like Prada but also more affordable stores such as H&M.

Visit Millennium Park

Visit Millennium Park to see the iconic Cloud Gate (more commonly known as the Bean) and snap a selfie of you on its reflective surface!

Looking for a Hotel?

Explore Booking.com for your hotel needs – they offer budget-friendly prices and a variety of room types!

Go to Booking.com

Need a Rental Car?

For all your rental car needs, head over to Expedia! It’s user-friendly and offers plenty of affordable options!

Go to Expedia

Guided Tours/Activities

When it comes to booking guided tours and excursions, my top pick is Get Your Guide!

Go to Get Your Guide

Graham Cracker’s Comic Loop

If you are a comic book lover and/or Funko Pop collector, I would recommend checking out Graham Crackers Comics Loop.

They have an enormous collection of comic books and a decent sized selection of Funko Pops.

Sandmeyer’s Bookstore

If you are a book lover, please put Sandmeyer’s Bookstore on your one day Chicago itinerary!

It is one of the oldest independent bookstores in Chicago and conveniently located in Printer’s Row – how cute!

They have a wide variety of books and have a great collection of all of the trending books right now – thanks to booktok 🙌!

Outside of Sandmeyer's Bookstore in Chicago which is one of the oldest independent bookstores in Chicago. There is a wooden sign hanging outside of the store that says "Sandmeyer's Bookstore."

View of the inside of Sandmeyer's Bookstore in downtown Chicago. You can see bookcases full of books ranging from nonfiction to fiction as well as the trending books on book tok.

The cute sign outside of Sandmeyer's Bookstore in Downtown Chicago. The chalk sign says "Find a New Book" in a unique font.

Check Out a Show at The Chicago Theatre

Visiting the Chicago Theatre for a live show is an absolute must-do in the city!

From Broadway productions to comedy shows and live music events, the Chicago Theatre offers an unforgettable evening of top-notch performances.

This would be the perfect way to cap off your one day Chicago itinerary!

Check out their events schedule here.

The outside of the Chicago Theatre lit up at night.

Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo

A visit to Lincoln Park Zoo is a great way to spend part of your one day in Chicago

With its diverse range of animals, the zoo provides a great wildlife experience.

Additionally, its location within the scenic Lincoln Park area allows for a seamless integration of the zoo visit into a day filled with exploration in the heart of the city.

A white polar bear under clear blue water at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

A grey rhino at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Chicago River Guided Architecture Cruise

Embarking on a Chicago River Guide Architecture Cruise is an essential experience for visitors wanting to experience Chicago’s rich architectural heritage.

This 1.5 hour guided boat tour offers a unique vantage point to admire the iconic Chicago skyline and discover the history behind Chicago’s renowned skyscrapers and buildings.

The Chicago River Architecture Cruise cruising along the Chicago River in the evening with the sun setting along the Chicago skyline.

Get a Great View of Chicago at the 360 Observation Deck

If you’re looking for the best view in Chicago, the 360 Observation Deck is the place to go!

This does not include tickets to the TILT, which is an additional $10 cost, and you can choose to purchase these while onsite.

Join a Food & Walking Tour

One of my favorite ways to explore a new city is by joining a food & walking tour!

Not only do you get to explore the city on foot with a guide, but you get to enjoy some delicious food along the way!

I highly recommend this Viator tour, it is well worth the money.

It covers about 1.5 miles and lasts approximately 3 hours. You stop at iconic sights along the way (Millennium Park & the Chicago River), and it includes 4-5 food stops which is already included in the cost!

They make sure to hit all of the famous Chicago foods such as deep dish pizza & Chicago style hot dogs! 😍

If you’re just interested in trying out all of the best pizza in Chicago, another great option is this Chicago Pizza Tour. It is a led by a local guide who will take you to locations you might not have found as a tourist!

And we can’t forget our sweet tooth lovers! This Chicago’s Delicious Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour is a must for any donut lover 😋!

Join a Brewery Tour

Interested in diving into the brewpub scene in Chicago?

I highly recommend this Viator tour that takes you to different breweries throughout Chicago. A highlight is that you get to travel on this super cool bus that is shaped like a brewery barrel – how unique!

It includes a professional guide, stops at multiple breweries with beer samples, and a tour of a brewery production facility!

If you’re traveling to Chicago via airplane, check out my 40 essential carry-on packing tips to save space!

Where to Eat Dinner in Chicago

Quartino Ristorante

My husband and I visited Quartino Ristorante for the first time on our last trip to Chicago, and it won’t be our last!

The interior of this restaurant gives off a great vibe.

Our waitress also told us that the refurbished ceiling tiles are from the New York subway station – so that is pretty neat!

We did make reservations a couple weeks in advance which I do recommend. Our reservation was at 6:30pm on a Friday night, and it was super busy.

We got the Polenta Fries for an appetizer, and I would give them an 8/10. We both agreed they were good, but not as good as we thought they would be based on reviews I read beforehand.

For dinner, I got the Gnocchi which was sooo good – I highly recommend it!

My husband got the Chicken Parmigiana and added penne pasta to it since it does not originally come with pasta. He enjoyed his dinner as well.

The polenta fries appetizer at Quartino Ristorante in Downtown Chicago. Yummy Italian restaurant.

Chicken parmesan dinner served at Quartino Ristorante in Downtown Chicago. Classic Italian food.

Homemade gnocchi Italian dinner served at Quartino Ristorante in Downtown Chicago.

Deep Dish Pizza at Lou Malnati’s

When in the Windy City, indulging in Chicago’s iconic deep-dish pizza is a culinary rite of passage, and Lou Malnati’s is a must-visit! It is consistently recommended as the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago!