Whatever your pleasure, be it discounts and designers, antiques, art or the kitschy, it is available in the Second City.

Find interesting architecture and a huge merchandise selection at Macy's (formerly Marshall Field's, the original store) on State Street. But no visit would be complete without a shopping trip on the Magnificent Mile (North Michigan Avenue). The street, crowded with upscale malls (Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan Avenue, The Shops at North Bridge), fashionable boutiques and big name stores such as Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms, is also a people-watching paradise.

For bargains, shop Filene's Basement, 1 North State or 830 Michigan, Mark Shale Outlet, 2593 Elston, or the Gap outlet, 2778 North Milwaukee, for clothes, Jewelers Row, 5 South Wabash, for discounted baubles and Crate and Barrel Outlet, 850 West North Avenue, for housewares.

The best souvenir selection is at Accent Chicago, 875 North Michigan, or City of Chicago Store at the Chicago Waterworks Visitors Center, 163 East Pearson, and Tastes of Chicago, (tel: 1 800 568 8643; www.tastesofchicago.com) will ship authentic Chicago food like hot dogs, pizza and Eli's cheesecake anywhere in the USA.

Taylor's Guide to Antique Shops in Illinois and Southern Wisconsin (available in bookstores, or tel: (847) 465 3311 or 1 800 829 5677; www.hairwork.com/guides/Illinois.htm) will direct you to the area's antique dealers. Many are located in the Lake View, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood and Edgewater areas.

For music, Search the back walls of the legendary Rolling Stones, 7300 Irving Park Road, for the best deals, Jazz Record Mart, 27 East Illinois Avenue, for jazz, Reckless Records, 3161 North Broadway, 26 East Madison or 1532 North Milwaukee Avenue for alternative, new and used sounds, and 2nd Hand Tunes, 800 Dempster, Evanston, for used records.

Except for special sales or the holiday season, malls and regular stores hours are usually Mon-Sat 1000-2100 and Sun 1100-1800. North Side neighbourhood stores that cater to young people often open later. Chicago sales taxes are 10.25%, aside from food (2%) and pharmaceuticals (0%).