Incorporated in 1837 at a portage linking the Great Lakes to the Mississippi watershed, Chicago grew into the country's rail and commodities hub and, after the 1871 fire, into a proving ground for skyscraper design — the world's first steel-frame high-rise went up here in 1885. The city runs along 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and its public beaches see more everyday use than most coastal cities' sand. Downtown, the Chicago River still flows backward, reversed by engineers in 1900 to protect the lake's drinking water. Deep-dish pizza and the all-beef Chicago-style hot dog are civic identity as much as food, and the Loop's elevated trains give the skyline its soundtrack.
Nights sit around 17°C and afternoons around 26°C, though some days reach 32°C.
Chicago has real seasons: summer afternoons sit around 29°C, winter ones around 3°C.
Some summer days reach 33°C, and some winter nights drop below freezing.
Most of the rain falls in summer, least in winter. In May it rains about 10 days in 30; in February, 8.
Air quality is worth watching: June averages an AQI of 69, while October clears to 41.
Days stretch to about 15.0 hours of light in June and shrink to 9.0 in December — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
For what you're after, the best months in Chicago are June – August. Expect fast internet (362 Mbps) and a high cost of living (about €2800 a month).
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