The Loop has a reputation for rolling up its sidewalks at 5pm and being a ghost town on the weekends. But a lot has changed in recent years. Millennium Park and big-ticket events like Lollapalooza have made downtown a major destination for concerts in Chicago all summer long. The revitalized Downtown Theater District has put high-profile musicals on the cultural map next to longstanding institutions like the Art Institute, CSO and Lyric Opera. DePaul University, Columbia College and SAIC have a strong student population living downtown, and long-term living has followed with dozens of new residential towers—which leads to more evening and late-night dining and drinking options. Here are the best things to do in the Chicago Loop.
Things to do in the Chicago Loop
Explore the heart of downtown with our guide to the best restaurants, bars and attractions in the Chicago Loop.
Top attractions in the Chicago Loop
Discover more of the Chicago Loop
Best downtown Chicago tours
Explore the Chicago Loop by boat, bike, Segway and more.
The best lunch spots in the Loop
There are more options than you think.
Ride a Divvy bike
Get places on a cheap rental bike.
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