Chicago Tourism Statistics

Chicago, known as the Windy City, is a cultural and historical center that attracts more than 55 million visitors each year¹. Its attractions include the scenic Lake Michigan shores, the iconic Willis Tower, and The Magnificent Mile.

Chicago welcomed 56.77 million visitors in 2025, its highest total since 2019¹.

• 2019 was the record year, with 61.58 million visitors, 2.21 million of them international².
• In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic cut visits to 16.52 million, and international visitors fell to 488,000².
• Recovery began in 2021, when visits climbed to 30.71 million and international visitors rose 8.2% to 527,000².
• Visits rebounded to 48.62 million in 2022, with 1.44 million coming from abroad².
• In 2023, the total grew to 51.97 million, including 1.84 million international visitors². In 2024, visits hit a post-pandemic high of 55.35 million, and international visitors reached 2.05 million, also the most since 2019¹.
• 2025 added another 2.6%, taking visits to 56.77 million, though international visitors fell 8.6% to 1.87 million¹.

How many tourists visited Chicago in 2025?

In 2025, Chicago welcomed 56.77 million visitors, a 2.6% increase from 2024’s 55.35 million and the highest total since 2019¹. That is still 7.8% below the 2019 record of 61.58 million².

• Domestic visitors rose 3.0% to 54.90 million, 7.5% below the 2019 high of 59.37 million¹.
• International visitors fell 8.6% to 1.87 million, as arrivals from Canada dropped 23.4% and overseas arrivals 3.8%¹. That left international visits 15.3% below the 2019 peak of 2.21 million².

How many tourists visited Chicago in 2024?

In 2024, Chicago welcomed a total of 55.35 million visitors, marking a 6.5% increase from 2023’s 51.97 million¹. However, this remains 10.1% below the city’s all-time high of 61.58 million visitors recorded in 2019².

• Of the total, 2.05 million were international visitors, representing an 11.3% increase over 2023’s 1.84 million¹. Despite the rebound, international tourism was still 7.4% below the pre-pandemic peak of 2.21 million in 2019². This count includes overseas visitors as well as arrivals from Canada and Mexico.
• Domestic visitors totaled 53.30 million in 2024—an increase of 6.3% from 2023’s 50.13 million, but 10.2% below the 2019 high of 59.37 million².

How many tourists visit Chicago each day?

Chicago welcomes about 155,500 visitors a day on average, based on its 56.77 million visitors in 2025¹.

• About 150,400 a day are domestic visitors and about 5,100 come from abroad¹.
• Among domestic visitors, about 80,100 a day stay overnight and about 70,400 visit for the day¹.
• That is still below 2019, the record year, when 61.58 million visitors averaged about 168,700 a day².

Tourism generated $2.9 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2025, up 3.3% on 2024, from $21.5 billion in visitor spending³.

• Local governments collected $1.8 billion of that tax revenue and the state $1.1 billion³.
• Chicago had 135,360 tourism-related jobs in 2025, up 1.6%, with 2,108 new jobs added during the year³.

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to the number of tourists dropping by 73.2%, from 61.58 million in 2019 to 16.52 million in 2020². This decline caused a sharp reduction in tourist spending, which fell to $6.97 billion, a decrease of 63.2% from the previous year’s $18.97 billion⁵.
• In 2021, Chicago’s tourism sector began to recover, with visitor numbers increasing by 85.9% to 30.71 million². Tourist spending also rose to $12.08 billion⁵, but this was still well below pre-pandemic levels.

Chicago is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.

• The city was named “Best Big City in the U.S.” for the ninth consecutive year by Condé Nast Traveler¹⁰, recognized globally for its architecture, culture, food scene, and world-class events like Lollapalooza, the Democratic National Convention, and the James Beard Awards.
• It also ranks among the world’s top cultural cities and boasts 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2025 Michelin Guide¹¹, reinforcing its international appeal.

People visit Chicago mainly for leisure and business purposes.

• Leisure Travel: 40.70 million domestic visitors came to Chicago for leisure in 2025¹. The city’s attractions, cultural events, and landmarks such as Millennium Park, museums, and theaters draw a large number of tourists.
• Business Travel: Business travel is also a key reason for visits, with 14.20 million domestic business travelers in 2025¹. Chicago hosts numerous conferences, conventions, and corporate meetings, making it a central business hub.

Chicago hotel statistics

Chicago hotels filled 69.2% of their rooms in 2025, up from 68.1% in 2024 and 43.0% in 2021¹.

• Hotels sold 11.87 million room nights, 2.3% more than in 2024¹. An average of 47,009 hotel rooms were available each day³.
• The average room rate rose 0.6% to $243.31 a night, and revenue per available room rose 2.1% to $168.25¹.
• Hotel revenue grew 2.9% to $2.89 billion, and Chicago’s hotel tax brought in $161.1 million¹.