Whether a foodie, historian, architectural connoisseur or all of the above – according to U.S. News and World Report, Chicago offers dozens of ways to tour Chi-Town and get a true taste of what makes Chicago so special!
By Boat
A system of rivers and canals that run through Chicago, the Chicago River is a great way to explore the architectural wonders of the Windy City. Although there are a number of river cruise lines to consider, Chicago Architecture Foundation’s River Cruise is listed as the top Chicago river tour on TripAdvisor. Running daily, and multiple times a day between 75-90 minutes, passengers enjoy magnificent skyline views with superb photo ops of world-famous architecture, while learning the history behind more than 40 iconic buildings and structures.
By Bus
A tour staple in major cities around the world, Chicago’s Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours provides visitors the opportunity to customize their city visit within the tour’s eight hours and 13 available stops. With in-depth guide commentary while aboard the bus, some attractions include the Willis Tower’s Skydeck Chicago, Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, the John Hancock Center, and the Navy Pier.
By Food
A lover of cultural immersion through food and drink? Look no further – the #1 food tour for the last 13 years, Chicago Food Planet – Best in Chow Food Tour is the way to go! Participants of this three-hour tour will enjoy a variety of iconic Chicago foods, experience behind-the-scenes with local artisan chefs, gain VIP access to iconic restaurants such as Lou Malnati’s for deep dish pizza, all while learning about the areas history, architecture, and culture from well-versed local guides. Available daily, this tour is sure to please your taste buds.
By Foot
With more than 10 customized walking tours to choose from, Inside Chicago Walking Tours exposes you not only to Chicago’s exterior architectural beauty but also takes you inside various iconic buildings. The World Within: Inside the Dazzling Interiors of the Loop tour, in particular, exposes you to centuries-old interior details such as gold inlaid ceilings, stunning marble, stained-glass mosaics, art deco lobbies, as well as early Frank Lloyd Wright designs. According to local Chicago historian, J. Michael Albert, “Inside Chicago Walking Tours embodies the spirit of the touring adventure by displaying Chicago’s uniqueness through a mixture of architecture, astonishing facts, and incredible history, with dashes of “insider” Chicago folklore, tales, and traditions that no other tour company can give you.”
Looking for something a little more off the beaten path? Check out one of Chicago’s many crime tours. Featuring murders, mysteries, and notorious mobsters such as Al Capone, John Dillinger, Lester Joseph “Baby Face” Nelson, George “Bugs” Moran, and more, Time Out Chicago has the answer to your investigative nature.
So, whether by land, by water, by foot, or food – Chicago offers a variety of tour options to satisfy your Windy City interests.