The north side of the Mag Mile is where we’re going to start because that’s where we’ll find Stan's Donuts and Coffee at 535 N Michigan Ave (they have multiple locations in the area). Their freshly made donuts and breakfast treats will make your mouth water and their coffee is sure to put some pep in your step.
While munching on your donut and sipping your coffee, make sure to purchase your tickets for your activities later in the day. We are going to take an awesome architectural tour with Shoreline Sightseeing, browse the Art Institute of Chicago, dine at The Purple Pig, and check out the Chicago skyline views at 360 Chicago, so make sure to book reservations and buy tickets for the smoothest transition from each activity to the next.
Right down the road from the Stan’s location, you will stumble on The Shops at North Shore Bridge, the perfect jumping off point to the best Magnificent Mile shopping. With over 50 well-known and established brands, it will be easy to wander for hours. Arriving around 10 AM, when they open Monday - Saturday, will help you beat the crowds and browse through your favorite stores without any competition.
With so many dining options within the shopping center, it won’t take long for those delicious scents to make you hungry for lunch. Of course, you can always dine at the shopping center, but we want to see and experience as much as we can on the Magnificent Mile, so we are going to head to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria! At Lou’s, they serve the kind of deep-dish pizza that both locals and tourists dream about. But don’t worry, they don’t leave out those who aren’t deep-dish fans as they also have an amazing thin crust pizza and other lower carb options. You’ll find this location on the ground floor of The Wrigley Building.
After lunch, it’s time to hop across the street to your Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River tour! This 60-minute tour is a top contender for the most interesting Mag Mile thing to do. It’s the perfect length to see Chicago’s brilliant architecture while learning about hidden gems and long-standing landmarks. Their Michigan Avenue dock will make it super easy to catch your reserved tour right after lunch.
After seeing Chicago from a new perspective, a pick-me-up is a must, and there is no better place for that than the World’s Largest Starbucks. So, grab a coffee, tea, refresher, frappuccino, or anything else that might be calling your name, and then get ready to continue exploring because we’ve still got so many things to do on Michigan Avenue.
Off we go to the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the oldest and largest museums to date, located at 111 S Michigan Ave. This is the place for inspiration and contemplation as you look at perfectly curated new and old works of art. After walking away from the art on the walls, take advantage of that inspiration and find the art that lives in many of the magnificent Mile’s stores– luxury stores to be exact.
With over 70 luxe shops on the Magnificent Mile, 900 Shops has art in many forms, and it’s our natural next stop. Go into stores like Gucci's Chicago Flagship store, MaxMara, Montblanc, Bloomingdales, and more. This will also bring us a little further north where we will be for the rest of the evening.
It’s time to take a load off and feel pampered by the wonderful food at The Purple Pig. This chic restaurant is known for its delicious pork (hence the pig in The Purple Pig) and wine. It is sure to feed your stomach, eyes, and soul– yeah, it’s that good.
Since you need to experience as much of the Mag Mile as possible, after dinner, we are going off to watch the sunset from 94 floors up at 360 CHICAGO. This observation deck is very intentionally named as it offers a 360-degree view of Chicago from its very own floor of the John Hancock Building. It’s hard to beat a sunset over this skyline.
Relaxed after watching a stunning sunset, we are heading to our last destination, a lively Irish pub called The Gage. This pub isn’t just known for its expansive list of beers, but its great view of Millennium Park. So, sit back and relax, because you just spent a full and exciting day in one of the most revered neighborhoods in the world– the Magnificent Mile.
The Magnificent Mile is the famous, 13-block stretch of North Michigan Avenue. It's not a separate street, but rather the nickname for the section of Michigan Avenue that runs from the Chicago River on the south to Oak Street on the north. It's known globally as one of the premier destinations for luxury shopping, fine dining, and iconic architecture.
The Magnificent Mile is packed with activities. The main draw is shopping, with everything from major department stores to international luxury boutiques. Beyond shopping, you can explore architectural landmarks like the Tribune Tower and the Historic Water Tower, visit art galleries, dine at world-class restaurants, or see the city from above at 360 CHICAGO.
You'll find hundreds of retailers, but the anchor stores and major flagships include the 900 North Michigan Shops (home to Bloomingdale's), Water Tower Place, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and flagships for brands like Apple, Burberry, and Gucci.
Yes, the Magnificent Mile is considered one of the safest and most heavily trafficked areas in Chicago for tourists and locals. It is well-lit, constantly busy with shoppers and visitors, and has a significant police and private security presence. As in any major urban area, it's always wise to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
The Magnificent Mile is very close to other major attractions. From the southern end of the Mile (the Michigan Avenue Bridge), it's about a 15-minute walk (0.8 miles) to Navy Pier to the east, and less than a 5-minute walk (0.3 miles) to Millennium Park to the south.
O'Hare is approximately 18 miles northwest of the Magnificent Mile. By car, the drive can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending heavily on traffic. For a more predictable travel time, you can take the CTA Blue Line train from the airport to downtown; it runs 24/7 and typically takes about 45-50 minutes.
Midway is about 12 miles southwest of the Magnificent Mile. The drive by car usually takes between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions. The CTA Orange Line train is a great alternative, connecting Midway to downtown in about 30-35 minutes.
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