HI-Chicago 
Chicago 
HI-USA 
Hostelling brings the world to Chicago!
Located in the center of downtown Chicago and in the heart of Chicago's thriving education district. HI-Chicago is very close to Lake Michigan and within walking distance of Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium. Our neighborhood is safe, fun and easy to get to from anywhere in Chicago. Activities from the hostel include free walking tours and excursions throughout the city. You will also receive discounts to many of Chicago's best attractions, including Chicago Architecture Foundation, Bobby's Bike Hike, Sears Tower and Hancock Observatory. The hostel has capacity for 500 guests and facilities include internet access, laundry and friendly staff to help you explore Chicago! We are open to serve you 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The BEST place to stay in Chicago! Best location in downtown Chicago |
The FUN is on in Chicago! Take advantage of all this great city has to offer, starting with a stay at Hostelling International Chicago! |
 Add to your adventure with HI-Chicago! We cater to Girl Scout Troops who stay at our hostel with a spirit of adventure, interaction and discovery. |
 Groups of 10 or more receive a special group rate. Our Group Sales Manager, Emily Piga, is ready to help you plan your stay at the hostel. |
Upcoming Events:
For the freshest information on Chicago fun, follow us on twitter @HostelChicago and also check out www.explorechicago.org // Twitter: @explorechicago
Earth Hour, Saturday, March 31st at 8.30p. HI-Chicago is again participating in this world wide event to raise awareness about sustainability and environmental responsibility.
For more information go to the Earth Hour website.
Spring has arrived, and Chicago is have a very warm season so far! It's not too early to start planning for all the wonderful Chicago festivals. Here are our picks:
- The 29th annual Chicago Blues Festival. This is the largest FREE blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago's music festivals. During three days on five stages, more than 500,000 blues fans prove that Chicago is the "Blues Capital of the World". Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor. June 8th-10th in Grant Park, Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- The 32nd annual Taste of Chicago. The nation's premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago's dining community. The delicious array of food served at taste of Chicago is complemented by music and exciting activities for the entire family. Every summer since 1980, Chicago's beautiful Grant Park on the city's magnificent lakefront has been home to the world's largest food festival. July 11th-15th in Grant Park.
- Pitchfork Music Festival. Big indie music festival! The lineup includes Vampire Weekend, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, AraabMUZIK, A$AP Rocky, the Field, Liturgy, Kendrick lamar, Grimes, Cloud Nothings, Tim Hecker, and Willis Earl Beal. Over 30 additional acts yet to be announced! Single day tickets are $45 and three-day tickets are $110. Tickets go on sale on March 9th. July 13th-15th in Union Park. www.pitchfork.com
- Lollapalooza! Huge, diverse music festival, spanning over 115 acres, multiple stages, and over 100 artists ranging from hip-hop, electronic, reggae, indie, rock, modern roots, and much more. August 3-5 in Grant Park. Keep an eye on ticket information and performance lineup here: www.lollapalooza.com.
- The 54th annual Air and Water Show. The Air and Water Show is presented by the City of Chicago and Shell Oil Products U.S. and is the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. The show can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. August 18th-19th.
- The 34th annual Chicago Jazz Festival. Known for its artistic creativity, the Chicago Jazz Festival is a favorite Labor Day Weekend tradition. It promotes awareness and appreciation for all forms of jazz through free, quality live music performances. Since 1979, the festival's mission is to showcase Chicago's vast jazz talent alongside national and international artists to encourage and educate a jazz audience of all ages. August 30th-September 2nd in various locations, including the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and Grant Park.
- The 14th annual World Music Festival. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the city-wide, multi-venue, eight-day World Music Festival features acclaimed musicians from countries around the world. Featuring traditional and contemporary music from diverse cultures, the performances and events include a combination of free and low-cost ticketed concerts, many of which re family friendly. September 15th-22nd at various locations around the city. Stay informed by checking www.worldmusicfestivalchicago.org!
Stay up-to-date with our social media:
HI-Chicago Blog: HILights of Chicago
Check out the HI-Chicago blog for features on local events, hostel activities, travel trends, volunteer & traveler interviews, and more! Submissions are made by staff, volunteers, and interns and the diverse content will keep you coming back for more!
HI-Chicago Events Calendar: Click Here
HI-Chicago has volunteer-led events at least once a day! Chicagoans take you to blues and jazz clubs, free concerts, tours of downtown architecture, pub crawls, and more. See what's happening during your stay.
Follow us before and during your stay to see what's happening on a daily basis!
"Like" us on facebook and get all of our blog and photo updates. Write on our wall and let us know how your stay was!
Check out our great ammenities:
Free Breakfast!
All guests receive free breakfast from 7:00am to 10:00am in the large dining area. The breakfast buffet includes toast, croissants, bagels, muffins, waffles, cheese, cereal, fruit, coffee, tea and juice. Travelers at HI-Chicago can begin their Chicago adventure with a good breakfast and a great opportunity to meet other hostellers and swap suggestions for the day ahead.
FREE WiFi!
Do you travel with a WiFi enabled laptop, pda, phone or other gadget? The entire common area on the 2nd floor of the hostel has free internet access through WiFi. Coverage extends through the lobby, library, meeting rooms and dining area. If you don't have your own computer, the hostel has internet kiosks for you to use for $6/hour.
See what sets us apart:
Best Large Hostel in the 
World 3 Years!
Thank you to our travelers that rated HI-Chicago as the Best Large Hostel Worldwide for 2006, 2007, and now 2009 on hostelworld.com. This award is based on ratings by over 600,000 travelers from around the globe.
The Break Away Alternative
Break Away and Hostelling International USA are strong partners in providing you excellent inexpensive accommodations and resources to connect your group to service. Many of our hostels have provided a place for Break Away to host their Alternative Break Citizenship Schools.
Hostels provide a great, low-priced accommodation for your group while volunteering in communities throughout the country. Please contact our Groups department for more information.
And you can get involved!
Volunteer at HI-Chicago! Volunteers are essential to the vitality and unique Chicago character of the hostel. Fill out a Get Involved here to start volunteering, or e-mail Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Smith for more information.