Symphony Center
Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons — see photo credits
12 min walk
from 311 S Wacker
4 min bike
via downtown streets
956 m / 3136 ft
straight-line distance
72 places
within a 5-min walk
Symphony Center is an entertainment venue at 220 South Michigan Avenue, about 956 m (12 min walk) from 311 South Wacker Drive. Check current schedules for shows and events during your visit to downtown Chicago.
Symphony Center sits in the Chicago Loop. The nearest CTA 'L' stop is Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about a 1-minute walk, and Union Station's Metra and Amtrak trains are 16 minutes away on foot — so reaching it without a car is easy.
Map & Location
Dashed line shows the straight-line route to 311 South Wacker Drive (956 m · ~12 min walk).
Getting to Symphony Center
From 311 South Wacker Drive
Head east — it's about 956 m on foot (12 min at a city pace). The dashed line on the map above shows the direction.
By 'L' Train
Ride to Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines); from the platform exit it's roughly a 1-minute walk. A Ventra card or contactless bank card works on all CTA trains and buses.
From Union Station (Metra / Amtrak)
Exit toward Jackson Boulevard and walk 16 minutes; taxis and rideshare pickups are on Canal Street.
From the Airports
O'Hare: CTA Blue line to the Loop (~45 min) or 30–60 min by car. Midway: CTA Orange line to the Loop (~25 min) or about 20–30 min by car.
If You're Driving
The nearest public garage in this directory is Adams-Wabash Self Park, about 2 min away on foot — reserve ahead through a parking app for the best rate, or see the 311 S Wacker parking guide.
Walking Times to Chicago Landmarks
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 135 m | 2 min walk |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | 440 m | 5 min walk |
| Chicago Board of Trade | 617 m | 8 min walk |
| Buckingham Fountain | 624 m | 8 min walk |
| Chicago Theatre | 761 m | 10 min walk |
| Willis Tower & Skydeck | 896 m | 11 min walk |
| Chicago Riverwalk | 1021 m | 13 min walk |
| Union Station | 1261 m | 16 min walk |
| Navy Pier | 1968 m | 25 min walk |
Everyday Essentials Near Symphony Center
| Nearest coffee | Starbucks | 1 min walk |
| Nearest pharmacy | CVS Pharmacy | 1 min walk |
| Nearest bank branch | Bank of America | 3 min walk |
| Nearest public garage | Adams-Wabash Self Park | 2 min walk |
| Nearest print/ship shop | The UPS Store | 2 min walk |
| Nearest dry cleaner | Plymouth Court Cleaners | 7 min walk |
Within a 5-Minute Walk of Symphony Center
Live counts from this directory — every link is a full detail page.
- 20 hotels: The Palmer House Hilton, University Club of Chicago, Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking 5, Downtown Chicago Stay with Free In & Out Parking-2 (+16 more)
- 15 restaurants: Russian Tea Time, Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, Dunkin', Brightwok Kitchen (+11 more)
- 7 cafes: Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks, Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea (+3 more)
- 3 bars: 2Twenty2 Tavern, Lobby Bar at Palmer House, The Row Tavern
- 14 attractions: Begin Route 66, Lion “in an attitude of defiance”, Lion "on the prowl", Sir Georg Solti Bust (+10 more)
- 4 parking: Adams-Wabash Self Park, Grant Park South Garage, Auditorium Parking, Grant Park North Garage
- 1 banks: Bank of America
- 2 pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy
- 1 print shops: The UPS Store
- 1 corporate services: Spaces
The Neighborhood: The Chicago Loop
The Loop is Chicago's beating heart — the elevated trains that give the district its name rattle overhead past century-old skyscrapers, LaSalle Street's canyon of banks, State Street's flagship stores and the Theatre District's glowing marquees. By day it hums with office workers; by evening the riverfront, Millennium Park and dozens of restaurants keep it alive.
Staying Overnight? Hotels Near Symphony Center
The closest guest-rated hotels to this spot — live photos and ratings via Booking.com.
★ 9/10 · 1 reviews · 3 min walk from here
Check Rates
★ 10/10 · 1 reviews · 3 min walk from here
Check Rates
★ 9/10 · 2 reviews · 3 min walk from here
Check RatesGood to Know: Local Tips
For shows and live music downtown, buy ahead — Broadway in Chicago runs and weekend concerts sell out regularly. Rush and day-of lotteries can yield serious discounts if your dates are flexible, and pre-theatre dinner reservations around the district go fast from 5:30pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Symphony Center from 311 South Wacker Drive? +
Symphony Center is about 956 meters from 311 South Wacker Drive — roughly a 12-minute walk through downtown Chicago.
What is the nearest CTA 'L' station to Symphony Center? +
The closest 'L' stop is Adams/Wabash (Brown, Green, Orange, Purple & Pink lines), about 83 m away — a 1-minute walk.
More Happening Places & Entertainment Nearby
Studebaker Theater
410 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker
Auditorium Theatre
50 East Ida B. Wells Drive
12 min from 311 S Wacker
CIBC Theatre
18 West Monroe Street
10 min from 311 S Wacker
James C. Petrillo Music Shell
251 South Columbus Drive
17 min from 311 S Wacker
Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington Street
15 min from 311 S Wacker
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
100 North Columbus Drive
17 min from 311 S Wacker
Other Places Near Symphony Center
Russian Tea Time
77 East Adams Street
12 min from 311 S Wacker Restaurants
Starbucks
200 South Michigan Avenue
13 min from 311 S Wacker Cafes
Begin Route 66
East Adams Street
13 min from 311 S Wacker Attractions
Lion “in an Attitude of Defiance”
Downtown Chicago
13 min from 311 S Wacker Attractions
CVS Pharmacy
310 South Michigan Avenue
12 min from 311 S Wacker Pharmacies
2Twenty2 Tavern
222 South Wabash Avenue
11 min from 311 S Wacker Bars