Originally burnt down by the Great Chicago Fire, the Palmer House Hilton has been a Loop landmark since its rebuilding and reopening in 1873. It's the nation's oldest continually operating hotel, but it's not old. It's timeless. From the grand lobby ceiling to the newly restored guest rooms, the Palmer House Hilton will welcome you with the same one-of-a-kind elegance that's greeted guests like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

The famous Palmer House Hilton lobby ceiling — Photo courtesy of Kables

Location, Location, Location

There are plenty of reasons to love being inside this hotel, but you'll find many reasons to celebrate Chicago waiting just outside its doors. If you're hoping to see some of the best Impressionist pieces in the country, the Art Institute of Chicago is just three blocks away. If you prefer seeing yourself, the famous Bean sculpture stands in nearby Millennium Park and gives you a chance to put your own reflection in the sculpture's mirror image of the city. At night, take in a show in the city's Theater District just around the corner.

A Home for Festival-Goers

The location is especially rewarding during the summer. When you stay here, you'll enjoy easy walking access to two of the city's biggest festivals: the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park and the Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park.

If you'd like to take advantage of the suburban festival offerings in the greater Chicagoland area, you're just a few blocks from Union Station where you can catch a Metra train to the Long Grove Art Fest or Naperville's annual Ribfest.