There are enough things to do in Chicago’s downtown area and lakefront to keep you happily occupied for days, but you haven’t really seen Chicago until you’ve visited some of our distinct and culturally rich neighborhoods, including some of the most diverse communities in America. They’re fun and fascinating, and many are mere minutes away from downtown on public transportation. There are 26 ethnic groups in the Chicago area with at least 25,000 members each. We’ve counted 132 languages that are spoken in Chicago, but almost everyone speaks English as well.
Exploring Chicago's 77 distinct community areas and diverse neighborhoods is just a click away with our downloadable, printable PDF map of the city. Discover vibrant hotspots and areas full of stories and history on the North, West and South Sides, and click on the neighborhood names for a more in-depth look at the communities that make up this 'City of Neighborhoods'.
This historic South Side neighborhood counts the University of Chicago, several outstanding museums and Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House among its many attractions. Here, Nobel Prize laureates and students live amongst families and other long-time residents. Plenty of bookstores, coffeeshops, lectures, theater and music performances and art galleries await visitors.
Pilsen is the heart of Chicago's Mexican and Mexican-American community. View the area's colorful murals, browse one of the city's liveliest shopping districts, and don't miss the National Museum of Mexican Art, one of the nation's largest Latino museums. Of course, no visit to Pilsen would be complete without sampling some of the best authentic Mexican cuisine in town.
Located on the near Northwest side, Bucktown boasts a thriving nightlife, an array of independent shops, and many small, independent businesses. These factors and its proximity to the Loop make it one of Chicago's top neighborhoods for young singles and couples. A typical Bucktown block contains new million-dollar homes alongside century-old brick and frame ones.
