Chicago is a small New York! Cradle of vertical architecture, its skyscrapers are as famous as those of Manhattan. The same goes for its great museums, its huge parks and its beaches that border Lake Michigan. A fascinating discovery to live like true Chicagoans.

After dropping off your suitcases at the hotel, don’t waste a second and discover the essentials of the Windy City, its relaxed atmosphere and the life of its 77 communities of inhabitants.

Day 1 Morning: The Bean and the Art Institute of Chicago

Sitting at the entrance to Millennium Park, you can’t miss The Bean, affectionately nicknamed after the silver sculpture of Anish Kapoor in the shape of a giant bean, which has become the emblem of Chicago. The work is very photogenic, allowing you to play with the reflections of the sky and skyscrapers on its domed surface. A few steps are enough to join the Art Institute. With its two wings, one classic Greek temple style, the other contemporary designed by Renzo Piano, this museum is like a “little Louvre”.

There is something for everyone, from Egyptian antiquities to Asian art, from photography to modern American art, not forgetting Impressionism, of which the museum has one of the most important collections.

Afternoon: Discovering the Loop

After a lunch break with a deep-dish pizza, a tasty local specialty, eaten on Oak Street Beach, one of Chicago’s 26 beaches, take a digestive stroll through the Loop, the central financial district where the aerial subway winds between buildings with varied architecture. It was in Chicago that the first American skyscrapers were erected after the great fire of 1871, giving rise to such amazing buildings as the Chicago Board of Trade Building, the Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building, home of the famous chewing gum.

This setting will appeal to Batman fans since Chicago inspired the Gotham City of the famous American comics. Separated from the Loop by the Chicago River, North Michigan Avenue, nicknamed the Magnificent Mile, is the main shopping artery with its malls and luxury boutiques. The Champs-Elysees of Chicago in a way!

Late afternoon: Kayaking on the Chicago River

With Willis Tower and Trump Tower in the lead, the skyscrapers lining the Chicago River look even bigger from your kayak. Alone or in pairs, the steady rhythm of the paddles leaves time to admire the details of each tower overlooking the river. This guided river tour is accessible to all. Only the wind, as the Windy City is aptly named on some days, and the chop of the bateau-mouches can spice things up a bit.

Unless you choose the night out, with a headlamp on your head, culminating in fireworks from the Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday in the summer. If kayaking really isn’t your cup of tea, several boat companies offer cruises on the Chicago River, most of them with an architectural theme.

Evning : A drink at the blues temple

Jazz and blues form the soundtrack of this city. So go and push the doors of Buddy Guy’s Legend, the club of the famous bluesman who still sometimes performs on stage. Talented singers, guitarists and bands perform there every night in a warm atmosphere, to be enjoyed over a drink or even generous Cajun food. All the more so since the starter is quite affordable.

2nd day

Morning: T-Rex or U-Boot, the past resurfaces

You have to cross Grant Park to discover the hidden treasures of the Field Museum of Natural History. The centerpiece of this natural history museum does not go unnoticed: Sue is the largest T-Rex skeleton discovered to date. It’s enough to imagine yourself in the middle of Jurassic Park!

South of the city, in Jackson Park, the Museum of Science and Industry has taken over the only building dating from the World’s Fair of 1893. Between its steam engines, trains and airplanes from another time, you have to plunge into its bowels to U-505. This German submarine, captured in 1944 after a long pursuit, is presented in a scenography that transports you into the middle of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Noon: Lunch with a view

Step up to Cindy’s, the bar-restaurant perched on the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association, within the walls of a former exclusive sports club opened in 1893 on the fringes of the World’s Fair. In addition to its seasonal cuisine, this rooftop stands out for its unique panorama of Millennium Park, the Art Institute and Lake Michigan.

You will also notice the authentic portrait of Cindy Pritzker by Andy Warhol, heiress of one of the city’s wealthy families, hanging above the fireplace.

Afternoon: Street art walk along the Wabash Art Corridor

South of the Loop, between State and Michigan avenues on one side, 14th Street and Harrison Street on the other, some forty works of street art have been painted since 2013. Covering parking lots and other uninteresting spaces, the Wabash Art Corridor art project is led by nearby Columbia College, which finds available surfaces and selects the graffiti artists.

If you want to get to know the artists and better understand the political and social message of the paintings, Columbia College Chicago offers guided tours. You can also go and admire the murals in Pilsen, a former East European immigration district, now predominantly inhabited by the Hispanic community.

Late afternoon: Concert on the lawn of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Free attractions and events are plentiful in Chicago. So don’t miss the film and concert screenings starting in May in Millennium Park from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This auditorium, with its silvery architecture by Frank Gehry, hosts all kinds of music, jazz, blues, gospel, mariachi… and of course classical music with performances by world-renowned musicians.

Evening: One last look at the skyline

As the last rays of sunshine blaze through the glass facades of the most modern buildings, fly in seconds to the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building for a nightcap. Chicago 360°, the observation floor of this 343-metre high tower, offers breathtaking views of the Downtown area from the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), the Navy Pier and its Ferris wheel, Lake Michigan and its sandy beaches. On a clear day, you can even see the shores of the three border states: Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.