• About CTA Service (Overview)
• Accessibility
• Airport Transit: Getting to O'Hare & Midway
• Bike & Ride
• Brochures
• How-to Guides
• Lost & Found
• Route & System Guide
• Park & Ride
• Policies & Practices
• Rules of Conduct
• Safety
• Security
• Visitor Info / Destinations
  • Getting to/from the Airport
  • Chicago Sports Venues
  • Related Links
  • Photo Policy
  • Popular Destinations

Photo: A CTA bus passing by Millennium Park (CTA photo)

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

It's easy.

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

1. Plan your trip.
   Use an online trip planner on the right side of this page, use a map, or call +1 (312) 836-7000.
    
2. Buy your fare.
   At vending machines, you can buy disposable tickets and reloadable Ventra Cards. 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!

Note: Be sure to check alerts for events that might affect your trip, like buses being rerouted due to a parade, construction, etc. Our System Status page makes it easy.

How-to guides

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

Getting to/from the airport

Find information about getting to Chicago airports, including O'Hare and Midway here.

More information

• See how much it costs to ride in Fare Information
• See the Downtown Transit Sightseeing Guide for information about destinations in Downtown Chicago
• Learn How To Pay Your Fare in our How-To Guides
• Visit a Trip Planner to plan your trip online or by telephone
• Get maps to see where transit can take you
• View our System Guide for information about each route