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Near North Side, Chicago — Area Guide & Where to Stay
The 360 Chicago Observation Deck rises over the Near North Side, a district on the North Side of Chicago near the Museum of Contemporary Art.
About Near North Side
Where to stay in Near North Side
Each area has its own feel; here's who each one suits.
Near North Side is one of the parts of Chicago made for visitors. Rooms are easy to find. The district gathers the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago History Museum, and the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, so travellers can base themselves here and reach much of the city on foot.
Stay near Old Town for the quieter blocks and the older churches.
About Near North Side
What are the main landmarks in Near North Side?
Near North Side carries more landmarks than most Chicago districts. The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Chicago History Museum stand among its streets, joined by the Driehaus Museum in the Nickerson House and the International Museum of Surgical Science. Its churches run deep too.
Moody Church, the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, and St Michael's Church anchor the district, while the 360 Chicago Observation Deck marks its skyline.
What is the history of Near North Side?
Near North Side kept its old houses as Chicago grew around them. The Nickerson House, which holds the Driehaus Museum, survives from the era of the district's mansions, and churches such as Moody Church and St Michael's Church rose as the neighborhood filled. Grand homes set the tone.
The Robert Cavelier de LaSalle Monument recalls an older name still, standing on the North Side of Chicago.
Where is Near North Side?
Near North Side sits on the North Side of Chicago, its streets set between the Museum of Contemporary Art and the churches of Old Town.
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Updated July 2026