Is Chicago Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Solo travel

I loved staying in Chicago and although all the talk you hear about how dangerous it is compared to other cities I felt super safe. I loved the architecture boat tour and all the different things Chicago had to offer. Also loved that Chicago is super walkable!

Solo travel

I was so surprised about Chicago. I actually felt way safer than in my hometown. The locals were so nice and there were so many green spots downtown. The only thing is that food is super expensive there.

Solo travel

I felt great in Chicago between the years. Perfect city to walk around, go up the towers and enjoy the views. And the Chinatown in Chicago was great. Especially the community center. I loved to go there and relax!

Group travel

Did a quick weekend trip to Chicago with the girls for a bachelorette party. We had dinner at the Dearborn and Wakamono, both 5/5. We tried out The DISCO since it has 4 levels but it was pretty small and crowded so we ended up at Three Dots and A Dash and the vibe there was much more chill but fun! We mostly traveled by Uber but when we did walk around we felt safe.

Group travel

I felt very safe in Chicago, it is a wonderful city, although many people say it is a dangerous city, I felt safe. In Chicago, you must try their famous pizza, visit the beach and Skydeck. I can say that is the most beautiful city.

Solo travel

It has a lot of things to do even when you explore the city alone. I did not use public transport as it was fun and easy to walk around. There are many impressive theaters, bars etc. that are worth visiting especially in the night hours. A bit expensive but it was worth it.

Solo travel

I enjoyed this trip so much. The city is amazing, I highly recommend the ferry architecture trip, to avoid staying in the downtown!! The Getaway Chicago Hostel is a great option. Food in Chinatown is really cheap and delicious. People is friendly, I had an amazing time there.

Solo travel

Here are my recommendations: 1. Willis Tower Sky Deck - you can see the entire city from a glass box 2. Art Institute of Chicago Museum 3. Pizza - deep dish. There is a pizza tour in Chicago that is super fun, worth considering 4. Portillo's - Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef. Must try the cheese fries 5. River North - cool neighborhood for going out. Lots of clubs, bars, restaurants 6. Wrigley Field (where the Chicago Cubs play. It's a famous baseball stadium) and Wrigleyville - neighborhood next to Wrigley Field with lots of bars and restaurants 7. Chicago architecture tour - this is the coolest thing I've done in Chicago 8. Visit Lake Michigan

Family travel

Great city with a great vibe. Stunning architecture. Highlights of the trip were the architecture cruise, sunset river cruise and Art Institute. For food I loved London House (cocktails were also amazing here) and Broken English Taco Pub.

Solo travel

I embarked on a solo trip to Chicago and was thrilled. I visited the Art Institute (lots to see, definitely recommend), the Willis Tower (great views), the WNDR museum (super fun), a boat cruise of the city's architecture (a bit expensive, but worth it) plus tons of walks everywhere. I liked Yolk as a place for a casual breakfast and felt obliged to try Lou Malnati's pizza - strange, but I would eat it again. I also happily walked to the Navy Pier and the planetarium, mainly for the great views of the city.

Despite what the US news says, Chicago is fairly safe. I walk alone at night and take public transit alone frequently and I’ve never had a problem. There are occasionally creepy men on transit, but women will typically watch out for each other. The one thing to watch out for is that transient individuals use transit as a place to stay warm and sleep. They’re mostly harmless, but some have substance use and/or mental health issues and can be unpredictable. If you’re riding the L (elevated train/subway system) choose the car at the front, where the conductor is, when possible. You’re less likely to have any odd encounters there. That said, no place is 100% safe as a solo woman. Always be aware of your surroundings. Have your phone charged. Carry your keys in your hand. Look like you know where you’re going (even if you don’t). If I’m ever unsure about the people around me I keep an angry look on my face at night so that no one will mess with me. 🤣

Chicago is, in many parts, incredibly safe. If you’re downtown in all the busy areas, you’re safe. I don’t often take public transport but have heard that’s the one place most people do feel unsafe here. The only places I have ever felt unsafe in the city were further out away from the busy parts.