Chicago, USA
Chicago, Illinois, is the 3rd largest city in the US and the economic center of the Midwest. The Windy City, as it is nicknamed, is famous for its architecture (its has a unique skyline of skyscrapers), its art & science museums and culture (Chicago was and is the frontscene for many Blues and Jazz bands).
If the city has a history of violence (Al Capone’s Chicago mafia and rival gangs during the 70/80’s), there has been a steep decline in crime since the 90’s. Still, the city has some run-down neighborhoods where violence is very common, and thieves commonly operate in the subway.
Avoid as much as you can the red areas on the following map.
HOW SAFE IS CHICAGO? FIND OUT THE MOST DANGEROUS AREAS IN CHICAGO
Downtown
Chicago’s Downtown is city’s business district where national and international corporations are headquartered. Shopping centers, movie theatres, museums and beaches on the lake Michigan can be found in this area. The three areas that make up Downtown (The Loop, Near North and Near South) can get empty really fast after working hours, so try to avoid “shady” areas. Some beggars can have an aggressive behavior towards tourists, in that case just ignore them or enter a nearby store or restaurant.
North Side
Chicago’s North Side is an area of upscale neighborhoods like Lakeview, Boystown, Lincoln Park and Old Town, with a large choice of restaurants, bars and clubs. They are very safe areas compared to the rest of Chicago. Still, use the usual precautions and stick to crowded, well-lit areas.
South Side
Home to the University of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry and Chinatown, Chicago’s south side is a more popular area, great to find a jazz or blues bar. The Fuller Park area and nearby neighborhoods are among the most dangerous of the city and should be avoided by tourists, particularly at night.
West Side
The near west-side is a laid-back area which recently got gentrified. The area around Logan Square is very hip and has a lot of bars and concert venues.The neighborhoods of the “Far West Side” located after the West Avenue, are notably dangerous and have very few touristic attractions.
Warnings & Dangers
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Chicago is an overall safe city, but has some rough neighborhoods. With a rating of 69%, the US is ranked 51th out of 162 on the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
There is some pickpocket-related risk in Chicago. They teams of thieves working on Chicago’s public transport, such as on the Blue Line. A few simple precautions will minimize your chances of being pickpocketed.
MUGGING & KIDNAPPING RISK: HIGH
Chicago is a dangerous city regarding risks of mugging, some areas seen on the map are better avoided late at night, and it is recommended to travel in private cars rather than to walk at night.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There are nearly no scammers in Chicago. Be aware of homeless people tricking you, and people offering help with your luggage.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
There might be some risk while taking public transport in Chicago, and fake taxis can be an issue sometimes.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There can be some occasional natural hazards such as strong blizzard in Chicago.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Chicago has not recently been targeted by terrorist attacks, but it is best to stay alert.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Chicago is generally very safe for women travelers.
Useful Information
Some countries like the ones from the EU or Australia have a visa waiver program (ESTA) which can be filled online. See https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html for more information.
Strong custom regulations also apply (see the CPB website for more details), and the Travel Safety Administration can open your luggage without your presence.
www.doyouneedvisa.com is a useful website that can help you know if you need a visa or not based on your nationality and the country you’re visiting.
The costs can vary widely between the states, but it is fair to assume a $100 budget per day on average, $150 if you rent a car and around $300 for top end accomodation.
A 10% service tipping is customary in many sectors such as airport and hotel bag porters, bartenders , hotel maids, restaurant servers and taxi drivers.
This graph can be useful for finding the best time to travel.
If you’re looking fore cheap flight deals, you can find some on JetRadar
Cities in the US
Here are four of the best Travel Guides for Chicago
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