There's an underground pedestrian walkway in downtown Chicago. "Minimum hours are M-F 7am-5pm. Some segments also open evenings and weekends." So it's great for people working and shopping, and it's also the home of some nice visual arts. We entered in Millenium Park (Nov 2025) to cross Michigan to see some cool stuff in the Chicago Cultural Center. Then we continued on to Macy's. Near Macy's, we saw maybe 20 stained-glass works on display. Very cool! This part of the Pedway says it's open on Sat, too. All the Pedway sections combined are about 5-miles of free bright clean tunnels, hallways, and some walkways, connecting buildings and shops in the north loop, with some sections scattered around the loop and a section north of the river. There's maps at the entrances we used, and there are maps online, too. read more

See all

I spent a lot of time in Chicago in the late 90's early 2000's. Yeah I'm old, but I never new about the 5 miles of tunnels and halls under the skyscrapers of this amazing city. During my visit to Chicago last week during really cold weather this underground Pedway was a life saver keeping me out of 0° temps with wind and snow. Underground has some shops, restaurants, dry cleaners, shoe shine, barbers, a Macy's, a Mall that has been killed by Amazon and Covid, Metra Trains including the Red and Blue lines. I was shocked to find beautiful stained glass art over 100 years old, which should be in a museum IMO. Amazing find! Another find from the tunnel, was access to the Chicago Cultural Center on Michigan and Randolph. This center has a revolving display of art and design from the diverse residents of Chicago. The final surprise was the largest Tiffany Glass dome in the world riding high in the top floor of the cultural center. More on that in another review. But a must see. Overall I was glad I found the Pedway to save me from the cold. Some areas have security, such as the mall, but like anywhere in the city exercise caution to keep yourself safe. I was only able to explore one section. Two others exist that I have yet to discover. Enjoy!! read more

See all

The pedway is such an amazing way to get through some parts of the city without feeling the weather. I have been exploring it whenever I have time. I love that you can connect from Block 37 to the Chicago Cultural Center and even metra and cta trains. I will definitely be back to explore more of it read more

One of the perks that comes with living in San Diego is that you can enjoy great weather almost every day of the year. Benefitting from this luxury creates a curiosity to experience the novelty of what others refer to as "cold weather", so when I travel during the winter months I want to bundle up and then get outside! I realize that living with freezing temperatures probably transitions from "novelty" to "torture" rather quickly, so I was curious about exploring a refuge for those less enthusiastic than myself about being out in the winter elements. The Chicago Pedway System spans approximately 5 miles and connects 40 blocks as it weaves its way beneath the heart of the city. In what feels like an underground city, this maze of tunnels features multiple CTA ("L") and commuter rail stations and also provides access to 50 public and private buildings. While there are shopping and food opportunities available, the pedway is more functional than a destination itself. While the tunnels are well lit, clean, and safety never became a concern during my exploration, there are sections that can feel rather isolated (e.g., the parking garage segment), so the buddy system applies whenever possible. The available routes are consistently marked by the pedway symbol (and several maps are posted), but you should be aware that the tunnels were not constructed in a contiguous fashion, so emerging from this subterranean sanctuary may be required at various intervals during your journey. And that's...Henry's Take. #chicagopedwaysystem read more

See all

In theory the Pedway is wonderful. And in practice sometimes it is, especially during cold winter months being able to largely avoid being in the cold and snow when traveling through the Loop. Cleanliness can be an issue in certain parts and it would be wise to have more security present in the Pedway, especially outside of times when there are lots of people present in it. read more

This arcane network of underground walkways is the way to go if it's too hot, too cold or rainy. I like how it connects metra (I believe it's the Southshore line), the redline and blue line. You can access City Hall, the Thompson Center, AON Center, Macy's, Block 37, the Chicago Cultural Center, etc. Whew, so many positives and now a few negatives. It can get crowded and there's some physicality in taking the pedway - the stairs, uneven floors, the revolving doors and numerous doors that you need to push or pull open. If you are differently abled, give yourself some extra time. Safety - there's no CPD presence but there's one lone security person that I've seen and he's stationary. Furthermore, they could have signage so that you know that you're heading the right way. It's relatively clean and some Reviewers have complained of the homeless but the poor will always be with us, so let's be compassionate. read more

Chicago Pedway - Under Randolph and Michigan - Active Life Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mixed reviews from me for sure. On the one hand, I think it's fantastic in theory. It's a warm path in the winter, a dry one when it's raining. It's a quick place to go where you need to. There's restaurants, shopping, gyms, bars, and all sorts of stuff hidden away down there. However, there are parts that are ickier than others. It pretty consistently smells like urine or worse, there's a lot of panhandlers, and it gets pretty dark and alone depending what time of day you're down there. It's a cool place to have, and neat to explore, but be wary as you go. read more

Secret underground city? Um, YES! Ok. So maybe not a complete city. Nor a complete secret. But still cool! I had no idea the Pedway existed until two different friends recently mentioned it within days of each other. Someone said something about the Metra Electric (a line that I was unaware of) and another mentioned underground stores. Curious about this, I looked it up and found out that Chicago does indeed have an underground escape from the harsh weather. Neat! A few days later, I was at Macy's, remembered the Pedway, and walked down to the basement to check it out. Mind blown at this new-to-me discovery. The rest of my day downtown, I finally noticed all the yellow Pedway symbols. Like I said, it's not completely a secret but it's hidden in front of our eyes. I still can't believe I didn't know about it before! The Pedway doesn't connect the whole city, but there are various buildings and locations in the Loop where you can access the Pedway and walk underground, away from the bitter cold and heavy rains, to other Chicago destinations. Some retail shops and restaurants are located within the Pedway, and it's fun to wander around and discover a different world. It's not a bright and colorful world, but it's still worth a look around if you need an alternate route. Next time, I'm going to let myself get lost down there and really explore. And find that elusive Dairy Queen... read more

Chicago Pedway - Active Life Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Dear Pedway, Thank you for always protecting me from the elements. I love your underground tunnels! You're so convenient and go straight to the red line and the Metra. It's nice that you have Starbucks, Burger King, Subway, a popcorn shop, a froyo place, Chase ATMs, and public bathrooms too :). You always make me pass by Macy's, which tempts me to shop. And also the LA Fitness Signature Club, which makes me feel like I need to workout after a long day at work. Although I don't get phone signal in parts of you, and sometimes you're a little sketchy, I forgive you. I plan to visit you often and think of you fondly, especially in the winter time. All the best, Shelby read more

Amazing...of all my business travels to Chicago...why don't i know about this? Finished my meeting in the prudential building, asked the security agent what was a more direct route to the blue line...it's raining outside...and he says why not take the Pedway? Okay, I have extra time to get to O'Hare...oh my goodness. There are hundreds of food venues, department stores...numerous stores in general...my goodness, this reminds me of Tokyo or Osaka...the underground. The pedway is comfortable, clean, conditioned air, well lighted...perhaps the city office workers from the highrise buildings up above are the shoppers, diners,...the dwellers down here at lunch. I'm impressed. My next trip to Chicago...I plan on spending time down here...perhaps doing some shopping, most likely eating... read more

Best way to travel in Chicago? Perhaps. Dryest way to travel in Chicago? Absolutely. If you want to avoid horrificly snowy days or a torrential downpour, walking underground in the tunnels below the city may be the key to what you're looking for. I'm going to be honest with you, up until several years ago, I didn't even know the pedway was a thing. Then when I finally discovered it, I didn't get it...how did it all connect? Was it free? Was it a real thing? Could I get anywhere in the city using it? Well the answers to those questions are - In a crazy way, Heck yea it's free and real, but sadly no, it's limited in where it will get you and how it all connects. Just a couple of months ago, I took a great tour of the Chicago Pedway which made me so much more knowledgable and peeked my interest so much that I googled up a storm to learn more. The Chicago Pedway is an underground walkway connecting some of the buildings downtown. You can look up a map to see exactly what connects but it's a bit limited and you want to be sure where you're trying to get to connects to where you're coming from AND that it won't close before you get there! Different parts of the walkway close at different times strangely! And after normal business hours, the pedway is nearly all shut down! You see, the Pedway isn't a city thing but it's actually an individual thing. Macy's owns the pedway under it's building, Hyatt owns the area under it's building, etc. So walking through the pedway, some areas will be nicer than others. Some have shops and are all decked out while other areas are dank, dark and pungent with urine. You'll see some good and some bad, some areas will be super hot while others will have nice A/C. Most are underground while other sections are elevated or at ground level. It's such a funny little path, completely disjointed but yet all connected. So the Chicago Pedway - a good way to get around if you know where you're going on it. Sorry but it's not a tourist destination and I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to check it out. But if it can be worked into a trip between the CTA red line and going shopping, it's a funny little piece of Chicago that won't cost you a dime and boggles the mind! read more

The convenience of indoor walking and eating and shopping that takes you for blocks is great. Some places pricey. There are areas not well traveled and a little spooky. The bathrooms on the Pedway and the waiting area that are in Metra behind station 6 are gross. No attendents, no cleaning...like a an alley bathroom. Yet the bathroom by Subway always maintained, attendants on duty. Behind track 6 is broken down, dirty, creepy and trash all over. Makes me think the riders of Metra are not valued. It is hard to know who fixes what?? Escalator to Metra sometimes out.. Shocked they sell beer on Pedway on a little stand. But anything goes in Chicago. You see security and the main Metra entry but none by track 6. There are some new shops that have opened.The Pretzel Place where the flower shop used to be looks good. Millennium Dog tasty, Starbucks great coffee and pricey. A Chase ATM by Subway. The bathrooms by Subway always closed at 1:30 for cleaning. In general it is dated and needs a new life. read more

The Chicago Pedway ROCKS! And the best way to get to know this mysterious ever-changing underground series of interconnected passageways is through the original tour run by Margaret Hicks through Chicago Elevated. She is an actress and comedian and she is absolutely HILARIOUS! Not only does she keep comedic monologue rolling but she is an expert on the city of Chicago. We couldn't ask any question that she didn't overanswer magnificently. Chicago Elevated can be contacted at 773.593.4873 or by emailing margaret@chicagoelevated.com and the tour runs an hour and a half for twenty bucks. It is the best money that we've spent in the years that we've lived in the Chicagoland area. Their website is: www.chicagoelevated.com and they take place every Monday and Saturday at 10:30 AM. If you want to learn something incredibly useful and interesting about Chicago that very few people know about, including longtime residents, then this is the thing to do. You will walk away with knowledge that will be very useable the next time you have to navigate the city in intolerable heat, drenching rain, or knee-deep snow, all of which are common climactic conditions in Chicago! One last thing: I just found this link, which is a subsidiary of Trip Advisor, where you can make reservations rather easily. Cut and copy: http://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-Pedway-Walking-Tour/d673-5479PEDWAY read more

See all

Recently, my husband and I spent a day in Chicago. Since we were going on a snowy, winter day, I decided to Google "what to do on a snowy day in Chicago" and came across the Chicago Pedway. It sounded like the perfect solution for getting around town. Unfortunately, it was a complete fail! We entered the Pedway at 37, and found ourselves searching for signs for the entrance. We ended up speaking to atleast 3 employees of Macy's that directed us to the scarry hallway with no signage and plenty of confused street dwellers. I will NEVER do this again, and I don't recommend the Pedway to anyone - unless you enjoy being lost underground in a smelly hallway with no direction! read more

Battle of the senses - understand the tradeoffs, all ye who enter. I've worked in downtown Chicago for nearly 10 years and only just began using the Pedway this winter. It can be brilliant when wind chills are -20, but there are sacrifices you must be willing to make in the name of convenience. Namely, it stinks. Good god, does it stink. Walking into the segment between Macy's and the State & Lake L stop is like walking into a 200-yard long, dimly lit, hot, humid port-o-jon. I'm not talking sunrise-at-the-Race-for-the-Cure port-o-jon, either. This is late-afternoon-last-day-Taste-of-Chicago-near-the-turkey-leg-kiosk port-o-jon. Horrid. Once you get through the revolving doors, the fecal aroma is Thick & Immediate in the air. Those afflicted with quick trigger dry heave conditions be warned - this can be nasty. Would be nice if NBC 5's Andy Avalos would provide a daily Pedway Fecal Fog index, like the UV index we get in the summer. read more

Homeless, peddlers and turds, oh my! Doesn't matter how many times you click your ruby heels together you cannot escape the poo-pourri of the pedway. It's not all crappy. The pedway can be a great way to avoid the snow, rain, etc so that I can get to and from the red line. It takes a little bit more time than the street but I'm telling you now- there are those who consider the pedway home which is really sad. There are also some decent (not great) places for food and drink (like Starbucks), and a new beer stand that sells tall boys for your Metra commute home. Oh and how could I forget that it was used in a scene from The Dark Knight... Lately there are a lot more people selling stuff, it's like being a tourist in a third world country. Once you pass through the revolving doors to Macy's going towards the red line it becomes a circus. In one day I had someone try to get me to use a free LA Fitness pass, buy a streetwise, give money to Greenpeace or Save the Armadillos or something like that, while passing Bible displays and people breaking out into random song/hysterics. The People of CTA dot com could get a lot of hits if they included the pedway. This morning was essentially crappy. Literally. Walking from the red line towards Prudential the 'doo doo fog' was in full effect. There were clearly things 'dumped' in the trash cans if you get my drift, but I'm sure there are a few hidden upperdeckers in places too. This isn't unique to winter, the humidity in the summers really cooks things really well in there. Someone light a match in there. PLEASE! read more

1. If the idea of sticking your nose and eyeballs to the cold is just way too much than you can bear because, precisely, you are not a (polar) bear; 2. If you want your Styrofoam (that's for you, DD fans) or paper (Stellabucks aficionados, I am looking at you) cup of coffee to keep its liquid to the 84.5 F temperature your taste buds are craving all the way to your desk; 3. If you always secretly wanted to move up North, sing "O Canada" at baseball games and spend your winters underground bundled up with hedgehogs; 4. If your pet rat convinced you that neon lighting is indeed flattering for your looks; 5. If the idea of sharing the same space than a Japanese provider of cream puffs excites you more than words can even start to describe; then the Chicago Pedway is made for you. I might not be responsible for its construction but I dig it anyway. read more

Mysterious, is a good word to describe my experience of the pedway. At our hotel (Swissotel) had a stop, or whatever you call each entrance to the pedway, so as I was researching things to do around the hotel, I discovered the pedway. Even after reading the reviews and map, it still wasn't what I expected. Yes, it's underground, but I was expecting people, shops and more stops. I think I during the three trips on the pedway, we passed maybe ten people. It was kind of eerie actually. We stopped at one stop and talked to one of the security guards and he had been washing us via the security cameras and knew which stops we went to and that we started at Swissotel. He said that the reason that it wasn't busy was because it was during the weekend and he also mentioned that the hours are extended for the holidays and it's usually closed at that hour. The restaurants and shops were all closed though, so we only used it to go up and enjoy "stops" at other hotel restaurants and bars. There was a door that locked behind us at one point, but I think that was because there was direct access to outside from that stop. The other stops led to places, like hotels. We only experienced a portion of the mysteriousness of the thing that they call the pedway. read more

Chicago Pedway - From the Swissotel, go down the escalator to reach the pedway stop. - Active Life Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The combination of lower Randolph St, the South Shore Metra station, and the Pedway provides a straight path from my workplace to the Red Line where I can totally avoid unpleasant weather conditions such as snow, wind, rain, and cold. Plus the recently renovated stretch between Michigan & Wabash offers nice amenitites such as an Intelligentsia coffee stand. I've really enjoyed the convenience of the Pedway over the last couple of years, but the stretch that goes under Macy's has become VERY unpleasant over the past several months. There's been an increased presence of homeless people who hang out there regularly, and there's a smell most mornings which hints that these folks don't mind relieving themselves right there in the tunnel. More than a few times I've witnessed bums sleeping in what appears to be their own waste. Nice. Funny thing - the decline in this part of the Pedway seems to have coincided with Macy's takeover of Marshall Fields. I would assume that oversight of the Pedway would be the ultimate responsibility of the city, but perhaps there was a level of vigilance exercised by Fields with respect to keeping the pedway in presentable condition, and this just isn't a priority under Macy's management? read more

When the temperature drops low enough to freeze off your face, the pedway is a godsend! The Chicago Pedway, a series of tunnels and walkways connecting most of the buildings in the central business district, is a great way to get where you need to go without setting foot outside. There are also several shops and fast food places located in the pedway. It's Chicago's underground city. read more

Considering I can get from my house to the red line which is 8 blocks away, the pedway is the only way to go. I LOVE IT! Better than freezing!!!!! Chicago is awesome!!!!! There is all kinds of places to eat and little shops to stop and look at if you have time. All the buildings it connects to also have places to eat. &... you WONT freeze outside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

I absolutely LOVE the Pedway. It's like a secret tunnel through the city and you have to know your way around to use the pedway. I learned about the Pedway when I started working in the east loop more than 10 years ago. Today, I use it on a daily basis in the winter and during inclement weather. I would love to see more shops along the way, but there really isn't a lot of room down there unless you start having pop-up carts all over the place. The homeless do tend to hang out around the Macy's on State Street - not sure if the rules are different by the Macy's or what, but they always tend to hang around there and nowhere else in the pedway that I've seen. This is probably the one thing that prevents me from giving the Chicago Pedway a full 5-stars. Anyway, if you're new to Chicago, learn the Pedway. Walk around - get lost, figure out where you need to turn and you'll eventually love it. It's like learning how to navigate through the loop using Lower Wacker Drive. Once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you went through the city before you learned the system. read more

I love you so much pedway! Just discovered that I can get to the Daley Plaza and a shit-ton of other stores and venues without ever having to set foot outside when I take the Blue Line downtown. Way better than driving to Millenium Garage, paying $17-25 bux for parking and walking four blocks in the crap weather. Fuck driving, at least downtown. read more

The pedway actually makes Chicago a liveable place in the Winter. That alone deserves 5 stars. read more

The pedway weirds me out. It's kind of dirty and stinky in spots. However, if you have good spatial orientation and don't need sunlight to navigate strange new places, you'll find the pedway to be a valuable asset in times of extreme weather conditions. Did you take Psychology 101? Do you remember that Blakemore/Cooper experiment with the kittens that were raised in an enclosed habitat painted with either vertical or horizontal stripes? I feel like one of those kittens near the Metra station part of the pedway. Those blue and white "track stripes" on the ground are pretty nauseating. I even had a hard time watching that scene in "The Dark Knight" where Batman speeds through the ped on his batcycle. Yikes. I find the pedway to be an enigmatic fixture of life in the Loop. I may not completely understand or even like it, for that matter...but I'm glad it's there. read more

Montreal, look to Montreal on this one Chicago! Our winters are cold here in Chicago and it is time to make downtown a bearable destination in the winter time. The Pedway should not be reliant on government buildings but largely it is. The time of operations is a big deal. We need to find a way to have this system open more often. It is a shame when a good majority of the system is shut down. We do not want to be out in the weather. Does Chicago want this system to be a secret? Why does it seem poorly funded? Why does Chicago not promote such an amenity? Also, if there are signs of danger below why not police the area? Why the lack of vision for expansion and upkeep? Overall, the Pedway system could be a lot better than it's current state. We do not have adequate maps unless you dig one from a third party organization. It feels like this place is being dismissed. You can sense the once great vision in certain sections of the Pedway but in many ways it feels like that grand vision may have been dismissed long ago. Still it is nice to see new portions pop up every now and then. In the future I want to see an intentional development targeted at promoting and expanding the Pedway. read more

If we had another fire like that one in 1871, the Pedway could be all we'd have of downtown Chicago. That would leave us with a dry cleaners, a Subway, two subways, Macy's, and a few other odds and ends. We could survive with those things! The pedway is a great alternative to walking above ground on actual sidewalks. For one thing, there are no stoplights to slow your progress, only a few revolving doors here and there. You're covered, so it's great if you forgot your umbrella or if the snow is high enough to impede walking. It's less crowded than the sidewalks too. But best of all, your chances of getting run over by a cab or bike messenger are virtually nil. I'm sold. read more

I don't use the pedway on a daily basis and pretty much find it unnavigable, even with the map they provide at various points along the way. The map with no YOU ARE HERE or clear labeling of any kind. In my opinion, if we had another fire, the Pedway would probably be a likely place to die, since you's be engulfed in smoke and flames before you figured out your nearest exit. Under normal circumstances however it's probably just a likely place to get raped or mugged. I guess it's nice to have a place to escape the horrid Chicago weather and still get where you're going on foot, but if it were less dank and deserted and had better signage and maps, it might be a lot nicer. read more

Got from Michigan/Randolph to LaSalle/Washington without even walking one moment outside in the pouring rain... this thing is amazing and I just discovered it's full power after 5 years of living in this city. It's connecting to some cool places like Macys and Block37. There are plenty of places in the Pedway to grab a bite to eat, a drink, or do some shopping. Study the map before you go down here, it's not that difficult as others say it is. Next time WINTER IS COMING, I won't be as concerned with the pedway here. read more

Yes. It's a traffic and weather-free way to get across the Loop and even to the business areas north of Millennium Park. But don't forget there are many small shops along the way and back, many are places for various fast foods. For some of these, it's their only location. One such shop is a Yelp favorite - Beard Papa, the cream puffs and eclair bakery plus coffee shop: http://www.yelp.com/biz/beard-papas-cream-puffs-chicago . The best opportunity to check out the Pedway might be if you are called for jury duty at any of the court rooms in Daley Center (there is a direct entry from one to the other, and to the CTA Blue Line subway station). Use it to make the best of your lunch break time. read more

What might be it's best feature is the express Secretary of State facility. Very handy!

I use the pedway fairly frequently, maybe once/week, all year round. Glad to have Block 37 opened up again, and they have provided very nice signage at the Red & Blue CTA stations. My least favorite part to walk is the long tunnel by Macy's. It's a bit creepy, but I still pass that way quite often. The pedway is wonderful during inclement weather, or just to avoid traffic and stoplights. It's awesome. read more

Very convenient, very warm during the winter. Willing to overlook the faint smell of urine. Would use again. read more

On my visit to Chicagoland last week, I used the Pedway because it was under my hotel (Fairmont) and I read about it on TripAdvisor. I got lost twice. There are is very little signage to indicate your current location and the experience reminded me of being trapped in a cornfield or maze. I did find some very good places to eat and it provided a retrieve from the 40 degree weather. Overall, I LOVE the Bay Area and I felt no jealousy at all of the natives of Chicago. read more

What a great way to get around the loop when it's raining or freezing out!! I have definitely used the pedway system to get from point A to point B on many occasions (I've also gotten myself lost on various occasions). I love that there are food options and entrances to shops/department stores in various parts of the pedway. There are definitely many parts that stay pretty well-lit and populated, but if it's not during the busy rush hour times, there are certain areas that can be a bit more deserted and a bit creepy, so just still be smart and aware of your surroundings. Some entrances may not always be open on weekends, too. Overall, a wonderful alternative to dealing with the elements and traffic outside!! read more

I haven't met a lot of people who know the Pedway, but those who do love it. And those who don't are soon blown away. The bad things about the Pedway are that the signage and consistency is totally not there. At times, it feels like the Pedway is just a hallway with dim lighting and a few signs. And that's the other bad thing: it doesn't feel 100% safe at times. If you can deal with that, then you've got a massively easy and weatherproof way to move between many buildings downtown. Want to go to Beard Papa's for cream puffs? (Yes!) Then here you go. Want to go to Macy's? Here you go. Want to stay indoors from one side of the Loop to the other? You got it. It's easy to get turned around at times, but in general knowing about the Pedway leads to happiness during those blazing hot and bitter cold days. Know the Pedway, live the Pedway, share the Pedway. read more

The pedway floor hasn't been cleaned in weeks between the red line and the cultural center. There are major brown spillages all over the floors. The pedway is closed every night. Have they given up on doing maintenance. read more

The pedway is the only place on Earth that can smell like ass and I'll still love it. I can go directly from the blue line, through the Block 37 mall, past Macy's, a gym, the Cultural Center, a random pedway bar, numerous fast food joints, a train depot and arrive at my final destination (work) warm, dry and like a summer day. Can't beat it. read more

I get lost. Every. Damn. Time. But it's totally worth it to escape the inclement weather or the tourists walking so slowly on the sidewalks above. read more

It's cold out. I am certain a Nars lipstick from the Sephora will help. Or a $100.00 cardy from Anthropologie. And ridiculing tourists who have never been on a train and are clearly lost. read more