You can have a great time in Chicago and still keep within a tight budget. We have student hostels and low-cost hotels, budget restaurants and an array of free activities. Most of the museums have one or two free days a week; the Lincoln Park Zoo is always free; and you can use many Chicago Park District facilities for little or no charge.
This is a great walking city and a great biking city – and the CTA will take you anywhere you want to go for $2.25 a ride -- or cheaper if you buy a visitor’s pass. If you’re a student, you can meet your counterparts in Chicago’s downtown and South Loop, the biggest “college town” in Illinois, with more than 20 higher learning institutions and 52,300 students.
TIP: Check the right side of this page for a list of Events, Attractions, Tours and Neighborhoods that are especially interesting to Students & Budget Travelers.
Or, use our helpful Explore Chicago Trip Planner to customize an itinerary for your next trip to Chicago. Add the events, attractions and tours that appeal to you, then organize, save and share your ideas.
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