Chicago – Near North Side and the city's north
Chicago's Near North Side successfully combines luxury residences, imposing modern skyscrapers, vintage skyscrapers from the early century, upscale shopping, and a plethora of attractions. North of the Magnificent Mile, the iconic Michigan Avenue, are additional exclusive but less grandiose neighborhoods.
The Gold Coast is a fascinating neighborhood and a hub of luxury residences from the late 19th century, with the large Lincoln Park and the Old Town Triangle district to its north. This is the rich and serene area of downtown Chicago, where you can see the city's history intertwined with everyday life.
How much time do you need for a trip in Chicago's Near North Side and the north of the city?
A trip to Magnificent Mile requires at least half a day's tour. In the northern parts of Near North Side, such as Astor Street in the Gold Coast and the neighborhoods west of Lincoln Park, it's worth dedicating at least another half day.
Click here to check availability and prices for hotels on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago…
Everything you must see and do in Chicago's Near North Side and the north of the city
- All the attractions and towers of the Magnificent Mile
- The stunning mansions of Astor Street
- The cradle of modern architecture at Charnley-Persky House Museum
- The unique construction of the Cardinal Mansion
- The history of medicine at the International Museum of Surgical Science
- Hugh Hefner's Chicago residence at the Original Playboy Mansion
- The houses and churches of the Old Town Triangle district
- Spend time with the kids at the Lincoln Park Zoo
- The magnificent Butterfly Haven at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- Relax at North Avenue Beach
Click here for the complete guide to visiting and touring Chicago…
Click here for the Chicago CityPASS, five top Chicago attractions at a discount…
Purchase the Chicago Skyline Pass for one ticket to all the observation decks of Chicago's towers…
What is Chicago's Near North Side and the North Side?
The center of Chicago is divided into three major districts from north to south – the Near North Side, the Loop (downtown), and the Near South Side. Within these major districts, there are independent neighborhoods and areas used for urban living. These neighborhoods feature a bustling main street with dining, shopping, and entertainment venues.
- North of the Chicago River, in the southern part of Near North Side, is the Magnificent Mile, one of the most prestigious and intense areas in all of America.
- North Michigan Avenue is the third most expensive retail street (in terms of rent per square meter for businesses) in the USA, after Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills near Los Angeles and Fifth Avenue in New York City. This part features a stunning concentration of skyscrapers, some vintage from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and some sleek and modern.
The northern part of Near North Side is less crowded and intense in terms of skyscrapers, company headquarters, and other commercial functions. The district of the Gold Coast, Old Town Triangle, and North La Salle Drive is characterized by luxury residences, historic mansions, and great museums.
This part of the Near North Side district is bounded to the north by the grand Lincoln Park, home to the city's zoo and fantastic beaches for swimming, with North Avenue Beach at the top.
Map of Chicago's Near North Side and the northern part of the city
Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile is the most vibrant and attractive part of Chicago. Along Michigan Avenue, there is an unbelievable sequence of everything that's prestigious and stunning in Chicago. The towering John Hancock Center overlooks the avenue, while below are the historic Water Tower and Pumping Station, the only neo-Gothic structure on the avenue that survived the Great Fire of 1871. In the southern part of the Magnificent Mile, there's a row of vintage skyscrapers topped by the Tribune Tower, the InterContinental Hotel Tower, and the impressive Wrigley Building.
What is Chicago's Magnificent Mile?
- The Magnificent Mile is the upscale section of Chicago. It stretches in the southern segment of the Near North Side, with Michigan Avenue as the area's main thoroughfare.
- The stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and DuSable Bridge to the south and Oak Street to the north is referred to as the Magnificent Mile.
- Along the avenue, there's a large cluster of historic skyscrapers, modern skyscrapers, stunning neo-gothic churches, the charming Water Tower, and topped by the massive John Hancock Center.
- The area suffered greatly from the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871, and its restoration was a significant part of the city's revival.
- This is the prestigious area of Chicago, where you find luxurious shopping streets and upscale residences.
- North of the Chicago River's outlet into Lake Michigan lies Navy Pier, the bustling pier now considered one of the city's top attractions along with the nearby Millennium Park (a bit south in the Loop).
- To the west, River North neighborhood is a great place to stroll around, filled with fantastic galleries and restaurants.
Everything to See and Do in Near North Side, North of the Magnificent Mile
Charnley-Persky House Museum
Astor Street North has traditionally been considered Chicago's most prestigious residential street. A street that attracted all the city's wealthy at the end of the 19th century and was a real status symbol. The street's location is two blocks from Lake Michigan at the heart of the luxurious Gold Coast district.
The Charnley-Persky House is right in the middle of the prestigious street, intersecting with East Schiller Street. The house is the brainchild of two of the greatest modern architects in the United States, Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.
The house is considered one of the jewels of modern architecture and one of the oldest examples of Wright's advanced construction values. It's a stunning example of this groundbreaking architect's style as one of the earliest buildings Wright was involved with.
Visitors can tour the house, which functions as a historical museum and echoes the design qualities of what's called the first modern house.
Address: N Astor St. 1365, Chicago
Click here for the museum's current operating hours…
Click here for a culinary secrets food tour of Chicago…
McCormick Mansion
The McCormick Mansion, also known as 1500 North Astor Street, is a stunning example of urban luxury construction and one of the most impressive houses on North Astor Street. The design of the mansion is reminiscent of a typical Italian Renaissance urban palazzo, featuring classical elements like Ionic order columns. The house is a testament to private luxury building and the wealth of the street's residents.
Click here for the Chicago CityPASS, five top Chicago attractions at a discount…
The Cardinal Mansion – Archdiocese of Chicago
The northernmost structure on North Astor Street is the Cardinal Mansion. The mansion occupies an entire block, adjacent to the southern part of Lincoln Park. It was built in 1880 as the official residence of the Catholic Bishop of Chicago. The building was constructed in the Queen Anne style (a British architecture style from the late 18th century) and boasts no less than 19 chimneys protruding from its roof.
Address: N Astor St. 1526, Chicago
Click here for bike rentals for a tour in Chicago…
The International Museum of Surgical Science
One of Chicago's unique museums is located in the northwest corner of the prestigious Gold Coast district, opposite Lake Michigan Beach. The museum was founded in 1954 and offers an amazing display of techniques, training tools, and more related to the world of medical surgeries. The museum features examples of surgeries from around the world, including some quite shocking ones from non-Western cultures.
Address: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr., Chicago
Click here for the museum's current operating hours…
The Original Playboy Mansion
One of the interesting sites in Chicago's Gold Coast is the first Playboy mansion. This is the mansion where adult magazine tycoon Hugh Hefner, a native of the city, implemented his post-modern fantasy in Chicago. Hefner established the Playboy Mansion on North State Parkway in 1959, in a magnificent red-brick home from 1899.
The mansion in Chicago was Hefner's residence and the place where he shaped his magazine, founded in 1953. He left the city in 1974 and established the legendary Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills near Beverly Hills in California.
Address: N State Pkwy/ 1340, Chicago
Saint Michael's Church in Old Town and Old Town Triangle District
Saint Michael is one of the most beautiful churches in all of Chicago. The church is located in the western part of the Old Town Triangle neighborhood, west of Lincoln Park. This neighborhood is one of the oldest residential areas in Chicago, characterized by many large mansions in various styles from the late 19th century. Interesting examples in the district include Crilly Court Plaza and the row of houses known as Row Houses for Ann Halsted, by Louis Sullivan on North Lincoln Park Street. The center of the neighborhood is West Menomonee Street, featuring fascinating examples of urban construction in the city from the late 19th century.
Church named after Archangel Michael, completed in 1869. It was damaged in the Great Chicago Fire two years later. Its roof caught fire along with all its interior. Since its foundations survived, it underwent extensive renovation and restoration, including the addition of a 90-meter bell tower added in 1888.
Address: 1633 N Cleveland Ave., Chicago
Chicago History Museum
The Chicago History Museum is a large institution located at the southwestern corner of Lincoln Park. It's the city's museum that tells the story of Chicago, including fascinating exhibits related to its history since its founding. The museum opened in the park in 1932, even though it stemmed from a collection of several local historical societies. Within the museum, there is an intriguing display of trolley cars connected to the city's L system, including vintage train cars.
Address: 1601 N Clark St., Chicago
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Chicago History Museum…
Click here for the museum's current opening hours…
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is an urban area blending greenery with public recreation and fun functions. This large urban park is more of a neighborhood one, less public like the downtown Chicago parks, and caters more to the affluent residents living on its edges. The Lincoln Park Zoo is the main attraction, along with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in the north and the History Museum in the south.
The park is filled with pleasant gardens, walking and jogging trails, baseball fields in its southern part, and of course, the beloved city beach, North Avenue Beach. The beach features a series of vertical breakwaters that create sand drift accumulation. This beach is a popular hangout for locals during the summer.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago's historic zoo was founded in 1868 in Lincoln Park on the city's north side. It is the fourth oldest zoo in the entire USA and to this day maintains a vintage feel along with advanced development programs for the conservation and adequate presentation of animals in captivity.
The zoo is a popular excursion and leisure spot for city residents, a great place to spend a sunny day with the kids. It features fascinating displays of diverse animals, including rhinos, bears, gorillas, and more.
Click here for the latest zoo opening hours…
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Chicago Academy of Sciences home museum is located in the northern part of Lincoln Park near the large yacht harbor. It's a fascinating natural history museum with a strong educational orientation that is greatly loved by city schools. It explores the unique nature of the Great Lakes and all parts of the state of Illinois. Don't miss the large butterfly pavilion, with its vast collection of beautiful flying insects.
Address: N Cannon Dr. 2430, Chicago
Click here for the museum's current operating hours…
Wicker Park
Wicker Park in the northwest part of the city is also one of Chicago's trendiest neighborhoods. Along North Milwaukee Avenue, you'll find a lineup of cafes, restaurants, art galleries, and shops on the cooler and younger side of the tourist map. The neighborhood has gone through waves of gentrification and is now considered a desirable residential area for young and fairly affluent residents.
Lake View
The city's northern district is now an affluent residential area that blends historic homes with a flourishing contemporary scene of theater and vintage. North Clark Street is the heart of this vibrant neighborhood, housing cutting-edge theaters, amazing restaurants, second-hand shops, and places to have fun. At the center of the street lies the famous Wrigley Field, the beloved Chicago Cubs' home baseball stadium.
