Visitor’s Guide

Coming to Chicago for an event and wondering what else to do while you’re here? We’ve compiled a guide on things Pokémon fans might find exciting!

The Pokémon GO Illinois Community Ambassadors put together a guide for Pokémon GO Fest available at https://www.gofestchicago.com/ – this overlaps a bit with what we’ve got below, but is definitely worth a read even if you’re not coming in for Pokémon GO Fest!

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Transportation

The Chicago area has three primary transit systems: the CTA for most travel within Chicago and collar communities (bus and L trains), Metra for commuter rail, and Pace for suburban bus service. If staying in city proper, you’re likely to only use the CTA, but you’re likely to use Metra and/or Pace if you’re venturing outside the city.

CTA/Pace

Fares can be purchased through the Ventra app or at vending machines across the network; you can also use contactless bank cards and mobile wallets (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay). Simply tap on when boarding the bus or entering the turnstile at L stations!

Day passes are usually the most cost-effective option for riding the CTA and Pace – a single $5 day pass will give you unlimited rides across both networks for 24 hours. While a 7-day pass may make sense if you’re sticking around for more than a few days, the 3-day pass is never a cost-effective option.

Metra

Metra operates a little differently – buy your ticket prior to boarding (either on the Ventra app or at vending machines) and show the ticket to the conductor as they come through the train. Be sure you know which station you’re starting from and departing at, as Metra uses a zone-based fare system, so longer-distance trips generally cost more than shorter-distance trips. See Metra’s fare page for more information.

Like with CTA and Pace, day passes will likely be your best bet on Metra, though they work a bit differently. Except on weekends (when they’re a flat $7), Metra day passes vary on price based on zone – however, day passes are valid across all lines as long as you’re within the zone(s) purchased. For example, a day pass for Zones 1-3 on Metra MD-W will also work for Zones 1-2 on Metra RI. Additionally, Metra day passes are good until 3am the next morning.

Pro-tip: If you’re taking Metra at all, buy a Metra day pass in the Ventra app and you’ll be prompted to add a CTA/Pace day pass for half the normal price ($2.50 instead of $5).

Airport service

From O’Hare: The CTA Blue Line runs from O’Hare to one of many downtown stations (mostly in the Dearborn Street subway).

Pro-tip: one-way fares from O’Hare are twice the normal fare, so buy a day pass no matter what; it’s the same cost, and you get 24 hours of rides included instead of just one!

While there is an O’Hare Transfer Metra station adjacent to the Multimodal Facility that can take you downtown as well, it’s only open on weekdays and only sees six trains in each direction per day, so it’s unlikely to make sense.

From Midway: The CTA Orange Line will take you from Midway straight to downtown — just 7 stops between the airport and the Loop (Chicago’s main central business district)!

Driving/parking

If at all possible: don’t drive! Not only is parking absurdly expensive in some spots and garages often fill up, but Chicago’s public transportation system is top-notch (about a quarter of Chicago households don’t even own a car!). If you absolutely need to drive into downtown, find a parking spot ahead of time using SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or SpotAngels. Else, if you’re driving here, park at a CTA or Metra station and take the train in (Metra Electric will take you right to Museum Campus and Grant Park!).

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Where to stay

With so many major events this summer, finding a hotel will be a challenge. We’ve gathered some options below for your consideration: some obvious, some unconventional.

Downtown

There are plenty of hotels along Michigan Avenue along Grant Park and further north, as well as numerous hotels scattered throughout the Loop and River North/Streeterville (the neighborhoods just north of the Loop). Of course, the convenience of being right in downtown has its costs; something like citizenM will most likely be the most affordable yet still decent hotel option. If you’re open to hosteling, HI Chicago is a great spot.

Near O’Hare Airport

There are plenty of hotels near O’Hare, though given how far they are from downtown (most not even in Chicago city proper), it’s a bit of a hike no matter what form(s) of transportation you use. Your best bet is to find a hotel within walking distance of the Rosemont and Cumberland Blue Line stations, so that travel between the hotel, downtown, and O’Hare can be as seamless as possible. There’s also the Hilton within O’Hare itself, which connects with the O’Hare Blue Line station.

Near Midway Airport

While there aren’t as many hotels near Midway as there are near O’Hare, there are several hotels lining Cicero Ave just south of the airport, mostly centralized around 66th St. You can hop on the CTA 54B bus from these hotels to Midway, where you can catch the Orange Line to the Loop.

Suburbs

Yes, it may make sense to look outside of Chicago itself for your hotel. Outside of the downtown area, there aren’t very many hotels in city proper. The following options have multiple hotels and either have direct transit routes to downtown or involve a single transfer.

  • Evanston: Home to Northwestern University, several hotels populate this suburb on the other side of Chicago’s northern border. Take the Metra from Davis Street station towards Ogilvie Transportation Center to get downtown.
  • Glenview/Northbrook: A handful of hotels are bunched together near Milwaukee Ave and Lake Ave, just north of Abt Electronics and Appliances. Hop on the Pace 270 bus to Jefferson Park Transit Center, where you can take either the Blue Line or Metra to downtown.
  • Arlington Heights: The corner of Arlington Heights Rd and Algonquin Rd has numerous hotels as well as Mitsuwa Marketplace, which boasts several Japanese restaurants, a Kinokuniya Bookstore branch, and even an official One Piece Card Game shop. Take the Pace 606 bus to Rosemont Blue Line and hop on a train headed towards Forest Park or UIC-Halsted.
  • Schaumburg: Woodfield Mall is one of the Chicago area’s major shopping centers, with multiple hotels surrounding it. One notable spot inside Woodfield is Enterrium, a restaurant and entertainment center previously run by Bandai Namco and Pac-Man themed. To get downtown, take the Pace 208 bus to Des Plaines or Evanston Metra stations and hop on a train towards Chicago.
  • Lombard/Oak Brook: Dotting Butterfield Rd and 22nd St are a few dozen hotels around Yorktown Center and Oakbrook Center malls – depending on the hotel, you can either take the Pace 322 bus to the Pink Line or take the Pace 313 bus to within a block or two of several Metra and Green Line stations.

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Points of interest

The following are some places that Pokémon fans in particular may enjoy visiting! While nearly all of these are in Chicago city proper, it’s a big city – some may not be easy to get to via transit depending on where you’re staying.

Play! Pokémon retail locations

Several stores in Chicago not only sell Pokémon cards, but also host official events! We maintain an extensive list on our Where to find Pokémon page, but you can also check the official Event Locator for an up-to-date list of stores and their events.

Arcades and eSports

Some restrict entry based on age at certain or all times. Please check with the location for details.

Video game stores

Collectibles, comic books, manga, and vintage toys

Primarily deferring to Nerdy Chicago’s amazing map of comic/game/collectible shops on this one – below are some that (as of writing) aren’t on the map.

Miscellaneous

  • Chicago Gamespace: Video game museum, currently open only for special exhibitions
  • Micro Center: Heaven-on-earth for computer geeks, or as close as you can get for a big-box store

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Public restrooms

Map courtesy the Chicago Tribune. The website REFUGE Restrooms is also a great resource for determining if restrooms have unisex or accessible restrooms, as well as changing tables, but the site is unfortunately quite a bit outdated so it’s not the best place to find a restroom directly.

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