The Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile (N Michigan Ave)

Chicago's showpiece avenue, from Gothic towers to flagship stores

Hours

The street never closes; most stores roughly 10am-8pm, varying by shop

Tickets

Free

Address

North Michigan Avenue from the river bridge up to Oak Street, about 1.6 km

It starts the moment you cross the Michigan Avenue Bridge. On the north bank, the white clock tower of the Wrigley Building faces the Gothic spires of Tribune Tower, whose walls are studded with chunks of famous buildings from around the world that you can touch. Walk north and it's department stores, flagship shops and the four-storey Starbucks Reserve Roastery, with the castle-like Water Tower, a survivor of the 1871 Great Fire, standing toy-sized among the high-rises. The north end is the Hancock building (360 Chicago) and Oak Street Beach.