Chicago

Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour

Chicago, USA

From $49.50

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

2 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Don’t spend time figuring out what to see in Chicago and how to get there—this hop-on hop-off tour provides a mapped-out itinerary of the city's top sights. With several strategically located stops, the tour allows you to explore the Windy City at your own pace. See the world-class Art Institute and landmark skyscrapers, while audio commentary onboard gives you insight into the city's colorful history.

See top attractions like Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, and Grant Park
Capture unobstructed views from the open-top, double-decker bus
Learn about Chicago’s sights and history from the onboard audio commentary
Choose a Classic, Premium or Deluxe ticket to suit your schedule

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

A full circuit introduces you to the city’s top attractions, with none of the logistical headaches.

What's Included

Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus
Professional digital commentary in multiple languages
Live Bus Tracking & City Info (Download Free Big Bus App)
Enclosed/Climate Controlled Lower Deck, Top Deck Open
WiFi on board

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Admission to attractions

Meeting and Pickup

Start time

Opening hours

Select your preferred tour option to see hours.

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What To Expect

Purchase a 24- or 48-hour Big Bus pass, download the app for timetable information, and head to one of the designated stops to begin your hop-on, hop-off tour of Chicago. The first bus departs at 10am and the last at 5pm, so you can choose a time and route to fit your schedule.

Completing the sightseeing route in one go takes about one hour but many travelers like to make full use of the pass, which allows you to get on and off whenever you like at the designated stops. The Big Bus sightseeing route includes many Chicago must-visits, such as the Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Listen to the audio guide along the way to learn more about the so-called Windy City. Buses depart every hour from each of 11 stops, so you’ll never have to wait long for your next pickup.

Big Loop (Red Route)

11 Stops

35 Points of Interest

Duration: 2 hours

Operating Schedule: Operates: Daily First Bus 10 AM, Last Bus 5 PM. Service every 30 minutes. Red Loop lasts 2 hours. Customers are advised to download the Big Bus app for real-time bus tracking information. Alternatively, please visit the Big Bus website.

98 E Wacker Dr

319 W Jackson Blvd

200 S Michigan Ave

800 S Michigan Ave

500 E Solidarity Dr

425 E McFetridge Dr

441 N Columbus Dr

600 E Grand Ave

163 E Pearson St

150 E Chestnut St

614 N Clark St

Points of interest passed by on this route

Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Chicago Theatre

Field Museum

Adler Planetarium

360 Chicago Observation Deck

Grant Park

Navy Pier

Millennium Park

Water Tower Place

Hard Rock Cafe Chicago

BigBus Chicago

Buckingham Fountain

Cloud Gate

Financial District

Maggie Daley Park

The Magnificent Mile

Tribune Tower

Holy Name Cathedral

Chicago River

Chicago Riverwalk

Soldier Field

The Rookery Building

Centennial Wheel

Chicago Cultural Center

Wrigley Building

American Writers Museum

The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

Northerly Island

Pritzker Military Museum & Library

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Symphony Center - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Monadnock Building

Chicago Fed's Money Museum

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
1 Day tickets will be valid for same day use. Tickets claimed after 2 pm will be valid for the next calendar day.
Redeem vouchers at any Big Bus hop-on hop-off points
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible

Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:How often does a bus arrive at each stop during the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:A bus arrives approximately every 30-45 minutes.

Mar 2022

Q:Do I have to go to a central location to redeem my ticket for the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:You can simply show a printed or electronic version of your ticket at any of the stops to board the bus.

Mar 2021

Q:How will I know which stop(s) to use during the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:Our pre-recorded audio guide will communicate upcoming stops. You can also download our free App for more information on routes and times, and what to see and do at each stop location.

Mar 2022

Q:How long is one full circuit of the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:A full round trip takes approximately 2 hours if you do not get off on any stops.

Mar 2021

Q:Is the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour wheelchair accessible?

A:Yes, we operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles with lifts that can accommodate up to 650 pounds however, not all vehicles are equipped. If you require an accessible vehicle, please let us know in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout.

Mar 2021

Q:Can I bring a pet with me on the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:No pets are allowed onboard the bus, except ADA service animals.

Mar 2021

Q:Can I bring food or drink with me on the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:No food or alcohol is permitted onboard the bus. Non-alcoholic drinks in screw-top bottles are permitted.

Mar 2021

Q:Can I bring luggage on the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:No, luggage is not permitted onboard the bus at this time.

Mar 2021

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.0

1,679 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 1,679 reviews

No live tour guide

Patricia_J, Apr 2024

Great to see the city, but the recorded audio was cheesy & boring. Really needed a live tour guide to add some character.

Fantastic Chicago Tour

tbeavers82, Apr 2024

Very informative view of the city and the ability to see key landmarks in the area. I especially enjoyed the Navy Pier and wonderful it was a stop.

Sights and sounds of Chicago

Lee_E, Apr 2024

Excellent tour with great sound track and commentary. We probably should have thought about it earlier and got a two day pass but we ended up with only enough time to enjoy a full loop in the bus.

Great way to see the City

Sandra_F, Apr 2024

Best way to get around the city, Candace gave us live tours which were great. Definitely worth the money

Dont go

Bernie_B, Apr 2024

Wanted a refund so i could reschedule the next day. Took too long and never was able to take the tour 0/10.

Best with rooftop ceiling

Joseph_B, Apr 2024

The bus tour was great. The first bus had a top floor plexiglass ceiling and provided cold and wind protection. The 2nd bus was open air and cold and wind was freezing.

Guide much better than audio

Betsy_S, Apr 2024

When Anton took over. I did not enjoy audio tour. Anton was much more enjoyable, easier to follow and enthusiastic!

Would do it in other cities!

Heather_S, Apr 2024

Information about Chicago was delivered in a captivating presentation-very enjoyable The covered upper deck was a perfect spot

Exciting Experience

Cloretta_B, Apr 2024

The driver Candace was very courteous and gave a very interesting and informative guide on everything possible. I was very impressed with the beautiful buildings. I enjoyed the trip

Chicago, a great City to see!

Bill_B, Mar 2024

Seeking the skyline and learning about Chicago! I would recommend this bus tour to anyone, very pleased.

Good bus tour

NaliettKarina_S, Mar 2024

Very nice tour!! The bus was on time and even though the weather was so windy, I really enjoyed the bus tour.

Wonderful Tour

Cherry_C, Mar 2024

Loved it we learned a lot from this tour, enjoyed being able to explore at our own pace. The cost was reasonable, the staff was nice and the bus was a bit dirty but all in all we enjoyed this tour.

Very disorganized

Bonnie_D, Mar 2024

Very disorganized. Waiting for the bus to arrive most patrons were directed to the second bus whereby everyone got on only to ask everyone get off and get on another. The actual stop stations weren’t clearly marked and there weren’t any alerts passed on as most people weren’t familiar with the city.

Couldn't catch Bus

Debra_S, Mar 2024

We never could find where to actually get on the Bus exactly & ended up walking for most of the day. We didn't catch the Bus until 4 PM!

Bus trip

Ashley_W, Mar 2024

I didn’t have a good experience just because it was ST.Patricks Day and the traffic was horrible.We didn’t get to do all the stops. The staff was amazing it was just a bad time.

Horrible want a refund

Phillip_B, Mar 2024

After spending nearly 3 hours and only able to move to 4 of the stops, our bus driver hit the vehicle ahead of us 4 times, and was pushing the vehicle forward. Before he hit the brakes. Felt unsafe with the driver, got off the bus and walked over an hour back to my vehicle.

Great adventure

Gina_T, Mar 2024

Candace really shared some wonderful knowledge about her city. Even though so much was happening in Chi town for St Patrick’s Day and people were everywhere, Candace was able to maneuver around to get us to each destination she could

Avoid hop off hop on Chicago Big Bus tours

Jonathan_W, Mar 2024

The tour bus had a broken speaker system and failed to take the published route, cutting out big parts of the trip, including the entire Magnificent mile. There SAS no construction or and good reason for this. Upon asking the bus driver, she said it is what the tour dispatcher required and said we could ask for a refund. Rediculios. Not worth the money shelled out for 7 people. Avoid this company!

Fun Adventure!

Michele_M, Mar 2024

Candace our driver was amazing! She had great stories and history. The bus was so nice to get around town and see everything, at your own pace!

Amazing

Marie_L, Mar 2024

Our driver. She was so enthusiastic and energetic and so knowledgeable. She was also a great driver and safe. You can tell she loves her job.

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