US DomesticUnited States

Chicago, IL

Blues, jazz, and the Great Migration's beating heart
Welcome rating
Strong

Based on Black traveler community reports.

Why BLKNomads love Chicago, IL

Bronzeville was the 'Black Metropolis' — destination of the Great Migration and home to Ida B. Wells, Gwendolyn Brooks, and the electric blues of Muddy Waters. A Black-owned restaurant renaissance is reviving the corridor.

The Great Migration remade Chicago, and Chicago remade American music. Bronzeville was a Black metropolis, and its cultural echo still sets the tempo of the South Side.

Traveling here as a Black woman

Sis-Approved
Solo Sis safety
Solo-friendly4/5

Stay near the Loop, River North, or Bronzeville. Excellent public transit.

Girls trip rating
4/5

Chicago Jazz Festival in September plus the restaurant scene makes this a sleeper girls trip hit

Plan the girls trip →
Hair & beauty

Bronzeville and Hyde Park have strong Black hair salon presence.

What to wear

Sundresses for summer. Layer up — lake wind is real.

Experiences worth the trip

  1. 01Bronzeville neighborhood tourBook →
  2. 02Chicago blues clubsBook →
  3. 03DuSable Black History MuseumBook →
  4. 04Chatham soul food circuitBook →

Stays in Chicago, IL

BLK-Owned

Black-owned hotels

We spotlight Black-owned and Black-run properties in Chicago, IL. Estimated 1,300+ Black-owned businesses call this destination home.

See Black-owned stays →
Curated

Black-friendly hotels

Welcoming stays across every budget — avg $195/night. Booked through Booking.com.

Browse all hotels in Chicago, IL

Fly private to Chicago, IL. Stay Black.

Charter
On request
Hotel · 2 nights
$390
$195/night avg
Featured experience
Bronzeville neighborhood tour
Charter a jet to Chicago, IL →Book hotels →

Safety & welcome

Welcome rating
Strong

Based on Black traveler community reports.

Safety rating
3/5

Rewarding, but plan your neighborhoods and move with awareness. Here’s what to know — honest, not fearful.

Best time to visit

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Planning a trip to Chicago, IL?