Planning a trip to Chicago?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
Chicago Union Station
Rail Station
West Loop, Chicago
"Consider upgrading to Business Class on Amtrak!"(8 Tips)
"Movie fans take note the stairwells were used in The Untouchables"(7 Tips)
"North, past the Metra ticket windows and then left."(6 Tips)
"famous baby carriage shootout on the stairwell"(5 Tips)
306 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- trains
- untouchables
- business class
- metra ticket
- architecture
- (15 more)
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Outstanding architecture. The Great Hall is among the best among the nation’s historic urban stations. Union Station in DC, and Grand Central in NYC are bigger and grander, but Chicago holds its own.
Radisson Blu Aqua HotelOctober 30, 2011The Great Hall is considered to be one of the greatest indoor spaces in the US. Originally designed by architect Daniel Burnham and completed in 1925 by the Graham, Anderson, Probst & White Firm.
Amogh UpadhyayMarch 3, 2014If you are in Chicago & don't want to lug your luggage around! Union Station has nifty storage lockers which you can rent and be hands free while you roam clickty clicking your way in downtown!Upvoted 2 weeks ago- Consider upgrading to Business Class on Amtrak! Inexpensive deal for better, bigger seat, free drink, newspaper, NO waiting to board (skip the line!), and more. Safe Travels! ~@travelblawg
If you are coming in with the morning commute, be prepared to walk briskly. It's like a herd of cattle moving up the escalators
- Don't miss the great hall. If you're coming from the South concourse, go past the baggage claim and make a right. North, past the Metra ticket windows and then left.
Cole JSeptember 24, 2014Chicago Union is a great station. Free wifi, lots of restraint choices and good signage.
There are plenty of food options to choose from here and you can kinda tell who the regulars are (besides staff) because they’re willing to help.
Brian SmithApril 14, 2019The ambiance of the entire place is overwhelming. Well taken care of over the course of time. And the film, yes, you know what I am talking about...
Make sure your phone is charged. All of the outlets are locked. If you really need to charge it, there are rentable power packs for $5.
Go into the historic main hall for photo ops and better views than the underground maze.
Benson KwongFebruary 27, 2013Find a spot in the station near the entrance at Canal Street during rush hour and be amazed at the continuous streams of people that rush through those doors to catch their trains.
Shena CameseAugust 18, 2013Enjoy the incredible architectural features. Visit the south staircase - the setting for one of The Untouchables’ most memorable scenes, which depicts a baby carriage caught in a crossfire.
Honor America RadioJanuary 13, 2014Next up on our 'BEEN THERE, DONE THAT' List is Chicago's Famous UNION TERMINAL. It has everything one expects from this type of destination.- Enchanting architecture that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. Movie fans take note the stairwells were used in The Untouchables, famous buggy shoot out.
- Benson KwongFebruary 27, 2013The Mezzanine, Concourse, and Annex have many shopping and dining venues that can be explored. In addition, parts of the station can be rented out for special events.
Amtrak has moved its ticket counter to just off the Great Hall but if you're just printing a ticket, using an Amtrak machine is far faster
Dave Howarth JrOctober 3, 2014I've been here twice in my life and I know this place like I've been here y whole life! Great Place! Very Crowded!
Explore ChicagoSeptember 20, 2011Union Station’s south staircase is the setting for one of The Untouchables’ most memorable scenes, which depicts a baby carriage caught in a crossfire. This scene pays homage to Battleship Potemkin.
If you're trying to grab a taxi after your train arrives, your best bet is to walk a block away from the station and hail from there. Avoid the taxi stand.
Chris JMay 29, 2017There are elevators in case you don't want to take your baby carriage down the steps.
Andrew BoyceMay 7, 2013If you're in the north loop and heading south, enter through the stairs near the opera house and cut through the Amtrak area. This good for avoiding traffic lights and bad weather for a couple blocks.
Remember escalator/stair etiquette everyone: stairs: stay to the right. You don't own both sides! Escalator: left for walking right for standing.
Robbie HelzerSeptember 19, 2014Get there early and be sure to buy your tickets in the terminal, save yourself some money on the train.
Arriving early has so many perks; you'll definitely make the train, you won't have to worry about people in front of you on the escalator, and a better choice of seat.
Very well organized, feels like an airport (but without the TSA)
There is an entrance off of Clinton street that brings you through the great hall and directly to the Metra trains.
lauren dordalJanuary 13, 2014If you are running a few minutes behind, still go to your track - you'll most likely still make it. (The Metra is usually late)
Dress warmly/layer (in the winter) its all kinds of air drafts throughout Union station!! Especially in the boarding zone!
Ignite Glass StudiosApril 22, 2014Walk west to discover some of Chicago's trendiest restaurants and art galleries in the West Loop and Fulton Market District.
If traveling on Amtrak, spend the $8 or so to upgrade to business class if possible. Get to board first, nice seats, spacious, car next to the cafe, etc.- Benson KwongFebruary 27, 2013Chicago Union Station is one of the few truly great passenger rail terminals in North America that remain from when rail travel was in its heyday. Take a step back and appreciate its grandeur.
Second car from front and rear of Metra trains are quiet cars during rush hours. No conversations, phones or music!- There’s a lactation station in the Main Hall for those needing to nurse or pump
Odd-number tracks (9, 11, etc.) are in the north concourse, even-number tracks (8, 10, etc) in the south concourse. Metra ticket counters are between the two--toward the Great Hall.
The Metra trains could be better labelled. If you're riding them for the first time, allow at least 10 minutes to get oriented.
Rush hour = awesome people watching!! I love watching people run in their work clothes!
Get there 5 minutes before your train departs otherwise have fun standing by the doors. And try to avoid this place during the evening rush people can be real asshats
using the Madison St entrance/exit? If so, the stair rules apply!! stay on your right to allow for both in and out flow. What's up with the group coming in from burbs @ 733 taking up both sides?!!
On a crazy cold day you can walk the equivalent of 2 full blocks by walking through the Great Hall and the food court.
Melissa GoodnightJanuary 24, 2015This is a huge station. It's pretty simple to navigate though. There's ample signage everywhere. Gotta love that.
A lot of great places upstairs in the food court. Wish there was more wall outlets to charge your phone or at least put a charging area in
To take the shortcut to Madison Street, use platform 11. Not all the north concourse platforms have stairs up to Madison. I found that out the hard way!
Go at or around lunchtime to buy your monthly tickets... There's hardly ever a line. Or just purchase via the Internet and the tickets are mailed to you.
Visit Indochino's Traveling Tailor Pop-up store Aug 14-20 at the Great Hall. Our expert stylists and fit specialists will be available to help you build your perfect custom suit. Read more
Jeffrey-Ryan B.October 21, 2013This station is the origin and the end of the line of many long-distance trains from the West and from the East and connect with each other
Sunday nights at the station, Ogilve is much better for open places to get a coffee, eat late.. only McDonalds here but pretty tame environment. Sunday night conductors and employees, really nice!
Amy CummingsApril 16, 2023This train station is a little confusing to me, but it’s the best way to travel to and from Michigan!
2,974 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Chicago Union Station
225 S Canal St (btwn W Adams St & W Jackson Blvd)
Chicago, IL 60606
United States
Chicago, IL 60606
United States
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) gets you where you’re going with our three transit operators: the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus and rail system, Metra commuter rail, and Pace suburban bus service.
Open until 1:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 5:00 AM–1:00 AM
(312) 322-6777
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express)
Wi-Fi
Yes
See More
Appears on 278 lists
Created by Kent Rudd
200 items • 172 followers
Created by Delta Upsilon Fraternity
32 items • 117 followers
Created by Explore Chicago
4 items • 1,040 followers
