🏙️ Getting Around Chicago

The Windy City's iconic 'L' train, lakefront bike paths, and river architecture cruises make getting around Chicago an experience in itself.

Main Transport Options

Chicago 'L' (Elevated Train)

Chicago's iconic elevated railway — 8 colour-coded lines looping through downtown

$2.50 per ride (Ventra card)

•8 lines including the famous Loop in downtown
•145 stations across the city and suburbs
•Blue and Red lines run 24/7
•O'Hare airport connected via Blue Line ($5, 45 min)

Pro Tip: The Brown Line from Merchandise Mart to Armitage is the most scenic — elevated views of the Chicago River!

CTA Buses

129 bus routes covering every corner of Chicago

$2.25 per ride (Ventra card)

•129 routes across Chicago and inner suburbs
•Express routes on major corridors
•Night Owl buses run 24/7 on key routes
•Free transfers between bus and 'L' within 2 hours

Pro Tip: Bus 146 runs along Lake Shore Drive with jaw-dropping lakefront views!

Water Taxis & Ferries

Scenic water taxis along the Chicago River and lakefront

$6 one-way (water taxi)

•Chicago Water Taxi: 5 stops along the river
•Shoreline Water Taxi: Navy Pier connections
•Architecture boat tours are world-famous
•Seasonal service (spring through fall)

Pro Tip: The Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise is consistently rated the #1 tour in the city!

Divvy Bike Share

Chicago's bike-share system with 6,800+ bikes and 600+ stations

$1 unlock + $0.17/min (classic)

•Classic bikes and e-bikes available
•Stations every few blocks in downtown
•18+ miles of lakefront trail completely car-free
•Lyft app integration for easy unlocking

Pro Tip: The Lakefront Trail is 18 miles of car-free cycling with skyline views the entire way!

Passes & Tickets

Ventra Card

Chicago's contactless transit card for 'L' trains and buses

Best for: Everyone using CTA

✓Pay-per-ride or unlimited passes
✓Free transfers within 2 hours
✓$5 card cost (reusable)

1/3/7-Day Pass

Unlimited CTA rides for set periods

Best for: Tourists and heavy transit users

✓1-day: $5 / 3-day: $15 / 7-day: $20
✓Unlimited 'L' and bus rides
✓Load onto Ventra card or phone

Contactless Payment

Tap your bank card or phone at CTA turnstiles

Best for: Casual visitors

✓Standard fare per ride
✓Free transfers within 2 hours
✓No card purchase needed

Navigation Apps & Tools

Ventra App

Official CTA app — manage cards, buy passes, and track trains/buses in real-time

Transit App

Best real-time tracking for CTA trains and buses

Google Maps

Reliable for multi-modal routing and walking directions

Divvy App (Lyft)

Find bikes, unlock, and manage Divvy bike share rides

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

'L' train through the Loop

Elevated train curving between towering skyscrapers

Water Taxi on Chicago River

Glass and steel canyon with the river reflecting the skyline

Lakefront Trail by Divvy

Cycling past Navy Pier with Lake Michigan stretching to the horizon

CTA Brown Line at sunset

Golden hour light flooding through the elevated platform

Blue Line to O'Hare

The most scenic airport transit — skyline views as you head to the plane

Insider Tips

1The 7-day CTA pass at $20 is one of the best transit deals in any US city
2Blue and Red lines run 24/7 — Chicago has genuine round-the-clock rail service
3The Blue Line from O'Hare to downtown is $5 vs $40+ for a taxi — always take the train
4Winter is brutal — the 'L' is heated and a lifesaver when it's -20°C with wind chill
5The Lakefront Trail is flat, car-free, and stunning — rent a Divvy and ride the whole thing