Chicago is definitely one of the best places to visit in the United States.

If you’re planning to spend two days in Chicago, then you’ll want to familiarise yourself with the best places to see and make the most of your time. The city is known for its unique architecture and its distinctive hot dogs and pizzas. A popular hangout for gangsters in the 1920s, and home to the John Hancock Center, the city has an interesting past and as a result, there’s a lot to see and do.

See A Comedy Show

If you’re in the city for the weekend, you should be able to catch some top-quality stand-up comedy. Chicago’s comedy club The Second City has hosted shows from the world’s biggest comedians – including Tina Fey, Joan Rivers and even Bill Murray. The venue focuses on improv and sketch comedy, so you might even see the next big face of Saturday Night Live! You can also learn a little bit about comedy writing and improv by signing up for a workshop at the venue.

Check-Out The Art

Great art is definitely one of the best reasons to visit Chicago, so you should definitely embrace this while you’re there. Whether you like to walk around art galleries or not, you won’t be far from some form of art wherever you are in the city. And if you are an art lover, head to the Art Institute, one of the top museums in the world.

Millenium Park is a great place to visit if you want to view the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, known locally as “the bean.” But this large park is also home to a variety of other sculptures like the Crown Fountain and the Boeing Galleries. If time permits, visit both day and night to see these sculptures in different lighting.

If art galleries are your scene, you can find a range of fantastic options, including the National Museum of Mexican Art, Stony Island Arts Bank, and the Renaissance Society.

Shop ‘til You Drop

Chicago provides many opportunities for shopping, so you can buy some silly souvenirs while sampling one of Chicago’s finest street hot dogs. Alternatively, you’ll find an array of boutique shops on The Magnificent Mile and some of the cities coolest coffee shops. The Magnificent Mile is one of the most famous shopping areas in the US, and it caters to all types of shoppers. Whatever you’re looking for, you should be able to find it here. With more than 450 retailers available, you’ll be able to find designer goods by brands like Burberry and Louis Vuitton, or sports clothes from Nike and Under Armour. The area also has a Macy’s!

Visit The Famous Chicago Theatre

The Chicago Theatre is one of the top sites of downtown Chicago, and a place you’ll want to visit. The interior features ornate decor that has stayed perfectly intact since the 1920s, and it plays host to some of the biggest shows in music, comedy, and the arts. You’ll have to plan in advance, but if you’re lucky, there may be a big show on when you’re visiting the city. Even if you don’t manage to arrange to see a show, the theatre provides tours for those who want to see the interior and learn a bit about its history.

See Great Views–360 Chicago

If you like sightseeing, there’s an opportunity in Chicago that provides a view like no other. Time Out recommends visiting 360 Chicago on Michigan Avenue, where you can experience a 360-degree view of the city by sitting on the edge of one of its tallest buildings. If you’re feeling especially brave, then you can even get strapped into the TILT attraction and lean over the edge to get an even better view! If you suffer from vertigo though you may want to give this one a pass.

This post was contributed by James Greening, a freelance blogger from York, in the UK. When he’s not travelling around the world and writing, he can be found in a cafe with a good book.