<p>We plan to visit U. of Chicago and we want to go by AmTrak. I’ve never been to Chicago before. Does anybody know how the train station is related to Uof Chicago, and other parts of Chicago? We will also play tourists for a day or two. Any suggestions will be appreciated. </p>
<p>Amtrak will bring you to Union Station. UC is 20 minutes or so away via car providing minimal traffic delays only.</p>
<p><a href=“http://visit.uchicago.edu/page/maps-transportation”>http://visit.uchicago.edu/page/maps-transportation</a></p>
<p>If you want to take another train down to UChicago, it’s about a 15 minute walk across town (towards the lake) to that train. It will stop at UChicago.</p>
<p>If you have luggage with you, I’d just take a cab from Union Station to your hotel, which will likely be further east (closer to the lake). From there, it will be easier to get to other train and bus lines to the university and other fun neighborhoods.</p>
<p>Agree with Hanna. Also you don’t want to play tourist in the neighborhoods right around UC.</p>
<p>Also agree with Hanna and Class2012Mon about neighborhoods surrounding Hyde Park. It has been a long time since I was in grad school but I recall the train station being quite a hike from the side of campus I lived closest to (I was on Hyde Park Blvd.) and it bordered a not so great neighborhood. I never took the train at night. </p>
<p>Is UC in a bad neighborhood?</p>
<p>Hyde Park, itself, is not a bad neighborhood, but it is surrounded by areas that would, at best, be described as “sketchy.” That’s why it’s probably a good idea to spring for the $20 cab fare from Union Station rather than trying to take the El. </p>
<p>Granted, it’s been awhile since I lived in Chicago, but the El stop is a bit of a hike from U of C campus. I definitely wouldn’t walk alone at night. But the campus itself, is as safe as any big city university. </p>
<p>My suggestion? Stay in a hotel in the Loop (downtown) and then take cab to U of C, and while you’re in Hyde Park, it’s worth seeing the Museum of Science and Industry. Otherwise, most tourist spots are easily accessible by El from the Loop. </p>
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<p>It’s like a lot of urban campuses - has some incredibly beautiful areas surrounding campus and some really sketchy ones. Until you get to know what those are (after a couple of times on campus), and if you might be on campus after dark, it’s best to take a cab from downtown/The Loop somewhere. </p>
<p>I attended grad school in a building that had once been part of the U of C campus, so I spent a lot of time down there 5-10 years ago, and many times had night classes. I usually felt safe walking to my car at night, but by that point, I knew the area well enough to know what was safe, and what wasn’t. Once you get to know Hyde Park, you might find it’s one of the coolest neighborhoods in the country, but you have to know the difference as to what is Hyde Park, and what is south Chicago. Some of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen are in Hyde Park. </p>
<p>Take the Metra electic train or the CTA bus to UChicago. Not the El or cab.</p>
<p>electric (sp)</p>