Chicago, United States
What 90% of solo women don't know about staying safe in Chicago.
Downtown Chicago with museums, architecture, and major attractions. Safe and busy during the day but empties out at night. Better to go to other neighborhoods for evening activities.
The Loop is downtown Chicago - Millennium Park, the Bean sculpture, Art Institute, and the skyscrapers everyone recognizes. From 7am-7pm it's packed with office workers, tourists, and street performers. Museums, the Riverwalk, theaters, and State Street shopping are all within walking distance. All the CTA trains meet here. Lots of police around, lots of other tourists. But after office workers leave around 6-7pm, the area empties out fast. Streets that felt busy during the day get quiet and a bit eerie at night. Most restaurants and shops close early since barely anyone lives here. If you're staying in the Loop, stick to well-lit main streets after dark, or head to River North or West Loop for dinner.
Daytime Safety
ExcellentNight Walking Safety
ModerateHarassment Risk
LowPublic Transport Safety
GoodPickpocketing Risk
ModerateScam Risk
ModeratePolice Visibility
ExcellentEmergency Services
ExcellentEvening Venues
GoodSolo Dining
ExcellentDrug Activity
LowHomelessness Visibility
HighGetting By in English
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"Safe during the day with all the tourists"
"Lots of police around"
"Empties out at night - I just took Uber after 7pm"
"Central for sightseeing"
"Everything's walkable - museums, Bean, etc"
"Eating alone at lunch was fine, nobody cared"
Areas with comparable safety profiles for solo female travelers
Academic area around University of Chicago with good daytime safety, museums, and diverse restaurants. More caution needed at night. Feels isolated from downtown. Better if you're interested in the university or museum, less so for typical sightseeing.
Alternative arts area with vintage shopping, creative restaurants, and nightlife. More local than touristy, inclusive atmosphere, decent safety. Good if you want the artsy side of Chicago.
Main nightlife and dining area with everything from high-end restaurants to speakeasies and clubs. Heavy security presence, but weekend nights get crowded and loud. Good if you want upscale entertainment.
Help other women stay safe in The Loop
Neighborhood conditions can change. Check recent news, ask locals or your accommodation about current safety, especially for nighttime plans.