Time difference Chicago
The time difference with France is 7 hours. When it's 5pm in Paris, it's 10am in Chicago. This is true in both winter and summer, since the time changes to daylight saving time take place on roughly the same dates in France and the U.S. (give or take a week or two).
In terms of latitude, Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee are on the same level as Barcelona and Rome, giving ephemeris times that are fairly similar to those in Europe.
Opening hours Chicago
To see / To do Chicago
The vast majority of Chicago's attractions and museums are open every day of the week, usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout the year, with the exception of certain holidays, including December 25, January1 and Thanksgiving. If you visit the city between May and October, expect a fair amount of traffic, especially during the summer months. From November through March, the city remains vibrant but sees far fewer tourists. The idea of spending the winter in the Windy City does cool off a lot of visitors!
Enjoying yourself Chicago
A large number of restaurants stay open all day without interruption, in Chicago as well as in all the major cities in the region. They usually close around 10pm, and later on Friday and Saturday nights. You'll have no trouble finding a place to eat, whatever the time of day. Once the sun goes down, you can satisfy your munchies (or hunger pangs) at diners serving tacos or hot dogs, such as The Wiener Circle(www.wienercircle.net), which is open until 4am. On the other hand, gourmet establishments tend to close between lunch and dinner, or only open for dinner.
Take a break Chicago
Bars in Chicago usually open around 4pm, except for some that emphasize their food menu and open at lunchtime. They close quite late, at least from an American perspective: between 11pm and midnight on weekdays. On weekends, the nights get longer and the bars rarely close before 2am on Friday.
Be careful, especially in the busy neighborhoods at night, remember to bring a physical identity document - no matter how old you are. If possible, leave your bags, especially if they are large, at the hostel or hotel. If you don't leave your bags at the hostel or hotel, you won't be refused entry - there are no bouncers at the entrance at all hours - but as the time goes by, the establishments will be more and more strict about this, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. They don't want to take any chances, especially once the pubs change from a bar-snack to a club configuration, and the crowds are there.
Note that you won't find many places open until 5 or 6 am like in France. Evenings start earlier and end earlier
(To) please yourself Chicago
Most shops and shopping centres are open every day, from 10am to 9pm on weekdays and from 11am to 6pm on Sundays. Independent shops such as those found in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park have shorter opening hours, but are still open 7 days a week.
Get out Chicago
Chicago is a vibrant city, and as such, there's always something going on! Even on a Monday night in the middle of February, you'll have no trouble finding a play or a concert at a jazz or blues club. On the other hand, some of the more famous venues can get crowded during the summer, which is obviously the peak tourist season. Go to the Green Mill (www.greenmilljazz.com/) or Kingston Mines (www.kingstonmines.com) on a Saturday night in July, and you'll be hard pressed to find a seat. But that's why the atmosphere is so great!
