Grand station entry

Visitor Information

Welcome to Chicago!

There's plenty to enjoy and do in this great city. With world-class parks, museums, shopping, hotels, nightlife, food and much more, there's never a dull moment here.

At CTA, we provide about 1.6 million rides on an average weekday, and we can get you just about anywhere in Chicago and to 35 surrounding communities.

 

It's easy to get on board.

We keep it as simple as possible. For the easiest trip:

  1. Plan your trip.
    Use an online trip planner (below), use a map, or call +1 (312) 836-7000.
     
  2. Buy your fare.
    At every vending machine, you can buy disposable tickets and reloadable Ventra Cards (which can store both value and passes for rides). Learn more about how Ventra Cards work.

    You can also order Ventra Cards with value or passes on them in advance of your trip or at more than 1,300 retailers around town.
     
  3. Go!
    Board a bus or train and enjoy Chicago!

Learn more about how to take advantage of CTA services while in Chicago with our How-To Guides.

 

Getting to/from the airport

With fast, frequent & direct train service to both Chicago airports, we're the best way to get into town.

  • Blue Line service from O'Hare to downtown takes only about 40 minutes
  • Orange Line service from Midway to downtown takes only about 25 minutes

You can buy your fare (loaded onto a Ventra Card or just a quick, disposable ticket) with cash or card from vending machines at both airport stations—or even go straight to the gate if your phone has Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay for a single ride fare.

Learn more:

Airport transit

Popular destinations

Just need quick trip info? Check this out:

Popular destinations

 

Plan a specific trip

Quick trip planner
Quick trip planner
Get directions with:

 

More information