Budget Chicago Trip Itinerary - 5 Days 4 Nights - Autumn season

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States and is known as a windy city. Located at Midwest of USA beside huge Lake Michigan, it boost great city scenery and miles of sandy beaches. I recommend one to take the architectural cruise which brings you around Chicago via the rivers. The view is spectacular. In my opinion, Chicago looks almost 70% like New York city with skyscrapers and the uniqueness of the overhead retro style metro train. The architecture of these train lines some dated back in 1892 with wooden platform at some of the stations. Below is my budget itinerary to Chicago previously. Hope this can help to plan for your trip.


Cloud gate at Millennium Park.

Chicago skyline at night.

Chicago thick stuffed pizza.

Willis tower Chicago at night from architectural cruise.

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening	Night
Day 1 (Mon)		1. Arrival at 1.30pm in Midway Chicago airport from Washington DC via Southwest airlines. 2. Taking Chicago Metro to reach my rented room which I got quite a deal located within The Loop. 3. Check in at Home Stay via Airbnb. Great the host allowed me to put my luggage and I start my Chicago itinerary.	1. Visit the Chicago iconic Cloud Gate. 2. Visit Millenium Park.	1. Dinner at The Purple Pig. Having milk braised pork shoulder and wine.
Day 2 (Tue)	1. Breakfast at Fontano's Sub. Having healthy Italian styled 6-inch sandwich.	1. Breezy walk at Navy Pier. 2. Late lunch at Giordano's Pizza. Have the thick cheesy stuffed pizza which is famous in Chicago.	1. Walking along the Magnificent Mile which is the centre of great Chicago shopping. 2. Visit John Hancock Observatory (now known as 360 Chicago) to view Chicago skyline. Go up during evening at around 5.00pm to experience skyline of day, sunset and night of Chicago.	1. Dinner. Having famous red velvet cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.
Day 3 (Wed)	1. Following tour from Chicago Greeter. This is a free based tour which is funded by the tourism board of Chicago. I am lucky enough to be able to get the walking tour. The main highlights were Chicago city hall, Lincoln Park & farmer market. 2. Visit Lincoln Park farmer market. Variety of local produced stuffs.	1. Lunch at The Wieners Circle. Tried on their famous "the work" Vienna beef hot dog.	1. Visiting Chinatown of Chicago.	1. Dinner. Spicy beef noodles at Lao Hunan in Chinatown, Chicago. 2. Scrolling around Chicago Downtown and visiting Walgreen to stock up supplies.
Day 4 (Thur)	1. Breakfast. Blueberry pancake at Yolk. 2. Visiting Field museum. The museum have a the most complete T-Rex dinosaur skeleton named Sue.	1. Scrolling at Chicago Downtown. 2. Art Institute of Chicago. I like this art museum as it combine both traditional and modern art into one single museum. Very informative and value for money.	1. Chicago hot dog from American's Dog. You can get a variety of American hot dogs here. 2. Wendella river cruise. Anyone visiting Chicago should at least take one architecture cruise to view the city spectacular skylines. Take this cruise at around 6.30pm so that you can experience sunset view and night time view.	1. Dinner. Last meal in Chicago. Having Salisbury chopped steak from Grand Lux cafe.

Chicago metro - Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

Chicago metro is the most convenient mode of transport to visit the place of attractions in Chicago. You can easily access Chicago downtown via metro from the two main Chicago airports as well (O'Hare & Midway).


Underground Chicago metro station (Jackson station).

Signboard at Monroe station blue line.

Passage to underground Chicago metro station.

Most of the stations in the loop are above ground.

Although I am only 4 days in Chicago but it still worth to purchase 1 week unlimited travel pass.

The unlimited travel pass can be used on bus as well.

Lincoln Park farmer market @ Chicago, USA

Great selection, local food and good prices to boot. You can literally get everything you need for the week right here. Dairy, meat, bread, cheese, veggies and fresh flower for the table. There are chocolate and crepes as well. The prices for the food here is not cheap but rather go here for the fun of it.


Raw honey.

Stall selling crepe.

So much corn in this crepe. Very healthy vegetarian crepe. The price is USD8.00 which is quite expensive.

Pasta sauce.

Stall selling tomatoes at farmer market.

Local produced vegetables.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.918204, -87.646103
Address: Armitage Ave & Orchard St, Chicago, IL 60614
Public transport: Armitage metro station via brown line.

Hotdog from America's Dog @ Chicago, USA

In America's Dog you can taste a variety of hotdog around America. You can try all the hotdog available across America such as:
1. Chicago Dog
2. Dallas Dog
3. Atlanta Dog
4. Philly Dog
5. New York Dog
6. Memphis Dog
7. Baltimore Dog
8. Maxwell Street Polish Dog
9. San Francisco Dog
10. New Orleans Dog
11. Green Bay Dog
12. Milwaukee Dog

Taste:8/10(Good. Since I am in Chicago, I ordered their Chicago dog which the taste is good. If you can't get other good Chicago dog, do try here).
Price:7/10(Moderate. Regular hotdog at USD3.39 and large at USD3.79).


My Chicago hotdog.

America's Dog is the one stop centre for you to try a variety types of hotdog all over USA.

Pictures of the discovery of variety of hotdog across America.

The seating inside the restaurant.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.884603, -87.626952
Address: 21 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL, United States.
Public transport: Lake metro station via red line.

Chicago hotdog from The Wieners Circle @ Chicago, USA

The Wieners Circle is a hot dog stand in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is famous for four things: its signature Char-dogs, hamburgers, cheese fries, and the mutual verbal abuse between the employees and the customers during the late-weekend hours. Another secret here is their chocolate shake which is not a food stuff which you need to find out :-P

Taste:9/10(Delicious. I would consider this among the best hot dog. Their sausage in the hot dog is tender and juice. The poppy seed bun together with all the items such as onions, relish, pickles tomatoes and peppers does make this hot dog stand out and taste better).
Price:8/10(Cheap. The famous the char dog the work price at USD3.10 per piece. The fries at USD2.15).


My Wieners Circle hot dog with "the works". It is a grilled Vienna Beef hot dog on a warm poppy seed bun, topped with mustard, onions, relish, pickle, tomato slices, sport peppers and a dash of celery salt.

Another angle view of Wieners Circle hot dog.

Cross section of what is inside the hotdog.

I ordered some fries as well.

The Wieners Circle hotdog shop.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.930176, -87.643813
Address: 2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
Public transport: Clark & Wrightwood bus stop via bus 22 or 36 from Lincoln Park.

Milk braised pork shoulder of The Purple Pig @ Chicago

Taste:8/10(Good. The milk braised pork shoulder were good and recommended. The meat was very well seasoned and tender).
Price:4/10(Near expensive. The price of the meal shown below plus drink of wine at approx USD30.00).


Pork Fried Almonds with Rosemary & Garlic and drink.

The environment inside the restaurant.

Milk Braised Pork Shoulder.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.891084, -87.624480
Address: 500 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Public transport: Grand metro station via red line.

Navy Pier @ Chicago, USA

Navy Pier serves as a commercial and entertainment centre of Chicago. Today, it is the number one tourist attraction in Chicago. There are many restaurants, ferris wheel, museums, shops, tours and cruises. The ferris wheel offers great city and Lake Michigan views and is open year-round. There is also IMAX huge screen cinema at Navy Pier as well.


Reached Navy Pier.

Sunny Navy Pier.

Navy Pier Park ferris wheel.

Good recreational area for families.

Distance from world's major cities. Beside is the Spirit of Chicago cruise.

Chicago skyline view.

Enjoying Lake Michigan view.

Outside dining area on one of the restaurants. Diners can view Chicago skyline while enjoying their meal.

Here is huge area which can host event. This cool place can be used for public gathering and entertainment.


Chicago skyline view.

Bye bye Navy Pier.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.891821, -87.604865
Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Public transport: Grand metro station on red line. Then walk to intersection of Grand & Rush street and take bus no 29.

Spicy beef noodles in Lao Hunan Chinese Restaurant @ Chicago, USA

Lao Hunan served cuisines from the Xiang River region of China. They offer many type of chinese dishes with many cooking techniques such as stewing, frying, braising and smoking. The cooking in this restaurant use a lot of chili peppers, shallots and garlic. Sichuan cuisine is known for its distinctive mala (hot and numbing) seasoning and other complex flavor combinations. Often, Sichuan peppercorns along with chilies which are often dried and use preserved ingredients and condiments. Located in Chinatown of Chicago, its easy to access via the Chicago metro station.

Taste:7/10(Moderate. Beef in the beef noodles were good and tender. But the soup a bit oily and not spicy enough. Taste wise is not flavourful enough).
Price:6/10(Moderate. I order a bowl of spicy beef brisket noodle at USD5.95 and the portion were big).



My spicy beef brisket noodle soup with mushroom. Spicy sichuan style red coloured oil.

Inside Lao Hunan Chinese Restaurant. Serving people.

Lao Hunan Chinese Restaurant located in Chicago Chinatown.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.851943, -87.632159
Address: 2230 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
Public transport: Cermak-Chinatown metro station on red line.

Blueberry pancakes in Yolk @ Chicago, USA

Yolk is famous among the Chicago resident and usually busy for breakfast. The atmosphere here are rather busy and not a good place if you are looking for a quiet place to have intimate conversation. They offer quality and good breakfast meal. The service here were fast and friendly.

Taste:8/10(Good. The blueberry pancakes that I ordered is well prepared and good).
Price:6/10(Moderate. Be expect to spend around USD6.00 to USD12.00 for a breakfast set here. Portion wise its huge).


Blueberry pancakes with butter and maple syrup.

Fresh pancakes with fresh blueberry.

My hot chocolate with whipping cream.

Open seating arrangement in Yolk.

The staff in Yolk are busy preparing breakfast to their customers.

Yolk of Chicago. Serving good breakfast.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.868859, -87.624566
Address: 1120 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
Public transport: Roosevelt Metro station via red, orange or green line.
Yolk have expanded their outlets and now they have branches around Chicago in Streeterville, River North, West Loop & Lakeview.