There is nothing more charming than a nice downtown to stroll through. So many towns in Illinois have some wonderful downtown business districts. These 10 towns in Illinois represent the best of the best, with awesome shops, restaurants, and other attractions to explore.
- Naperville
Ron Cogswell/Flickr Downtown keeps getting bigger and bigger. You will find some unique shops, like a cookie dough parlor and book shops. But you will also find some higher end stores like lululemon. The Riverwalk makes this a truly charming place to walk around.
- Galena
Richie Diesterheft/Flickr Galena has a gorgeous downtown area, with some excellent restaurants, bakeries, and candy shops for you to choose from. It is attractive enough to bring tourists from all over, who love to stroll through downtown. Stay at a bed and breakfast for more time to explore this place.
- Morris
Teemu008/Flickr Morris has a decent amount of offerings in its downtown, with plenty of places to get a really good dinner and some great shops. The town, located off the I&M canal, has a nostalgic feel.
- Woodstock
Teemu008/Flickr Did you know that Woodstock’s ENTIRE downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? One visit and you’ll see why. It is truly a mix of old (really old, like the courthouse and opera house) and new.
- Lebanon
Tom Conder/Flickr Lebanon has a mix of stores, from antique shops to restaurants. It has a very historic feel, as Lebanon is one of the oldest towns in Illinois.
- St. Charles
David Wilson/Flickr St. Charles has a lot going on, including two theaters, great restaurants, and lots of boutique shops. There is truly a ton going on downtown.
- Glen Ellyn
Jim Larrison/Flickr Glen Ellyn has a nice downtown area just off of the Metra, featuring some cute shops like a candy store and a movie theater that plays more artistic films.
- Urbana
Mitch Altman/Flickr Downtown Urbana has been revitalized, with some great restaurants, including a killer barbecue joint. More unique storefronts are moving in, including pop-ups.
- Edwardsville
Ty/Flickr Home to SIUE, Edwardsville has really made strides to develop and they have been successful. There are some fun shops, as well as farmers markets and winter markets going on.
- Monticello
railsr4me/Flickr Monticello is a truly charming town that is all about trains. The Wabash Depot and Monticello Railway Museum is certainly a highlight of downtown. Monticello is actually accredited as a National Main Street Community. You will also love the little shops and restaurants in town.
Did your favorite town not make the list? Let us know which one we missed in the comments.
Ron Cogswell/Flickr
Downtown keeps getting bigger and bigger. You will find some unique shops, like a cookie dough parlor and book shops. But you will also find some higher end stores like lululemon. The Riverwalk makes this a truly charming place to walk around.
Richie Diesterheft/Flickr
Galena has a gorgeous downtown area, with some excellent restaurants, bakeries, and candy shops for you to choose from. It is attractive enough to bring tourists from all over, who love to stroll through downtown. Stay at a bed and breakfast for more time to explore this place.
Teemu008/Flickr
Morris has a decent amount of offerings in its downtown, with plenty of places to get a really good dinner and some great shops. The town, located off the I&M canal, has a nostalgic feel.
Did you know that Woodstock’s ENTIRE downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? One visit and you’ll see why. It is truly a mix of old (really old, like the courthouse and opera house) and new.
Tom Conder/Flickr
Lebanon has a mix of stores, from antique shops to restaurants. It has a very historic feel, as Lebanon is one of the oldest towns in Illinois.
David Wilson/Flickr
St. Charles has a lot going on, including two theaters, great restaurants, and lots of boutique shops. There is truly a ton going on downtown.
Jim Larrison/Flickr
Glen Ellyn has a nice downtown area just off of the Metra, featuring some cute shops like a candy store and a movie theater that plays more artistic films.
Mitch Altman/Flickr
Downtown Urbana has been revitalized, with some great restaurants, including a killer barbecue joint. More unique storefronts are moving in, including pop-ups.
Ty/Flickr
Home to SIUE, Edwardsville has really made strides to develop and they have been successful. There are some fun shops, as well as farmers markets and winter markets going on.
railsr4me/Flickr
Monticello is a truly charming town that is all about trains. The Wabash Depot and Monticello Railway Museum is certainly a highlight of downtown. Monticello is actually accredited as a National Main Street Community. You will also love the little shops and restaurants in town.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
