Getting Around
Chicago has the largest public transportation
system in the country and getting around the city is fast, easy and
inexpensive, with an extensive network of rapid transit trains and
buses. The train system has both underground lines and elevated
tracks above the city and is known as the El; most visitors only
use the El, but buses also cover every part of the city including
the suburbs, albeit less regularly. Most train lines run 24 hours a
day, with Overnight or Night Owl services taking over between
midnight and 5am, though only on some lines. The Metra commuter
trains link the city to the outer suburbs, including Lake Michigan,
Hyde Park and McCormick Place. Fares for the bus, subway and the El
are standard, and a variety of visitor passes are available
offering more economical travel. During the summer months, a free
trolley system operates in the downtown area, connecting Chicago's
top cultural attractions, shopping areas and visitor destinations.
Taxis are easy to find, and the metered rates are reasonable for
short journeys. Although traffic is not as bad as in other major
cities (outside rush hour), parking is expensive and difficult to
find.
