Explore Chicago's iconic landmarks on this sightseeing tour led by an expert guide. Board a comfortable, large-windowed minibus and explore Downtown and North Side neighborhoods. You have a chance to get out and visit several locations and hear about the historical and cultural factors that make Chicago unique. Upgrade your tour with a popular open-top boat tour on the Chicago River that focuses on the city's renowned architecture.

Upgrade to include a boat tour on the Chicago River
Small-group tour limited to 10 passengers ensures a more personalized experience
Hotel pick-up and drop-off from most Downtown Chicago hotels
See the best of Chicago, all in a single excursion

What's Included

Local guide
Four photo stops
Transport by 12-passenger, air-conditioned minibus
Chicago River Architecture Boat Tour (if option selected)
Complimentary pickup at most DOWNTOWN CHICAGO hotels

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Tour picks up from most downtown Chicago hotels. We can return you to your hotel if you just take the Mini Bus tour. For those choosing the Mini Bus and Boat Tour (a great idea), your tour ends at the Shoreline Sightseeing boat dock at Michigan Ave and Wacker Drive. You are responsible for finding your way back to your hotel after the river cruise.

What To Expect

After pickup from most Downtown Chicago hotels, board your climate-controlled minibus with a small group of 10 people or fewer.

Listen to historical and informational commentary from your guide as you admire the world's first skyscrapers in Downtown Chicago, known as "The Loop." Take in panoramic views of Lake Michigan and other sights through the oversized windows on the minibus.

Drive through several Chicago neighborhoods like the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park to get a feel for daily life in the city. Make photo stops at Museum Campus, which boasts the best view of the Chicago skyline. Pass by other locations like the Willis Tower and Millennium Park. Please see the Itinerary section for a full list of attractions visited.

Optional Upgrade: For more sightseeing by water, upgrade your tour to include a boat ride down the Chicago River. This open-top boat tour provides an in-depth look at the architecture of Chicago. Additionally, learn about the role the river has played in the city’s history.

The Magnificent Mile (Pass By)

Navy Pier (Pass By)

Millennium Park (Pass By)

Chicago River

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Buckingham Fountain

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Museum Campus

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lincoln Park (Pass By)

Gold Coast (Pass By)

The Rookery Building

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chicago Skyline

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Art Institute of Chicago (Pass By)

Shoreline Sightseeing

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
You MUST contact the local supplier to reconfirm your reservation
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

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.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

611 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 611 reviews

Loved the city tour

Frank_F, Apr 2024

Really enjoyed this tour. We learned allot about the history of Chicago while being driven around. Only wished we had a few more minutes at each stop.

Entertaining awesome views

Stuart_T, Apr 2024

Great trip with entertaining guide. Awesome views of Chicago architecture. There’s even a bar downstairs but I didn’t want to miss a single view and I don’t think anyone else went to the bar either.

Excellent tour

Karen_W, Apr 2024

Brilliant trip well worth it when you only have a small amount of time in Chicago would recommend the guide was informative and stop offs great

A Few Hours Well Spent!

Keishia_S, Apr 2024

I was in Chicago for my birthday weekend and booked the 10am Small Group City Tour. Rick, was nice enough to pick me up at my hotel since I was staying in the downtown area. We then went on a journey to explore key parts of the city. I loved hearing the back stories of some of the buildings and landmarks we saw. Rick also suggested some good dining places in the area!

Good first time tour

Latarsha_T, Apr 2024

He was very knowledgeable. If this was your first time in the city it was okay. There is a lot to see in the city.

Great

Lisa_H, Mar 2024

Enjoyed how informative the tour is great personnel. Seen all the best sites. Learn a lot of building history

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks for the Great review!!

Wonderful! 5-star experience!

Vicki_P, Mar 2024

Rick was an outstanding tour guide who knows Chicago inside and out! Very smart and funny guy familiar with the history of the city. The tour moves at a manageable pace and is fine for people of all ages. Make sure you take the optional river cruise tour at the end! Worth every penny and makes for a lovely day.

Extremely misleading

katisha_m, Mar 2024

Extremely misleading! Bus driver seemed a tad bit agitated and rushed the experience. Boat ride was overpriced and boring

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for taking the tour. Sorry to read that you feel the way you do. Over the last several years, 99% of those taking the mini bus tour and the same percentage that take the boat tour with the company we work with rate each 5 stars.

Friendly Chicago tour!

RichardV, Feb 2024

Comfortable ride, great views & friendly service. The tour includes a few stops to get out to stretch and explore on foot. A great way to begin exploring Chicago. Thanks Rick!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks Richard. I'm really glad that you enjoyed the tour!

very friendly tour

Moting_T, Jan 2024

very friendly tour, it was the best weather but we were dry. yes there is bathroom break incase if you need it.

Tour should cover other neighborhoods

csilv04, Nov 2023

The tour guide was prompt in picking me up at the designated time. He was friendly and seemed knowledgeable about the city. The van was comfortable. The best part of the tour was seeing the city skyline by the shore. The view was spectacular. I wished the tour had covered some of the neighboring areas like Chinatown and the south side to get an overall feel of the city, and not just the architecture in downtown.

Stopping to incredible...

Teresita_O, Oct 2023

Stopping to incredible historical places every n just for few minutes. Our driver guide is well informed and kind

Must see

Joe_B, Oct 2023

The sites were very interesting and our guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable and a great personality made this tour memorable.

Awesome experience!

Rebecca_C, Oct 2023

Larry made the experience enjoyable. He was knowledgeable and gave us plenty of time to take pictures

An infotainment tour of Chicago’s downtown and city architecture.

Kevin_M, Oct 2023

We were lucky to be the only ones in our tour. We had the undivided attention of our guide/driver with many interesting tidbits of Chicago downtown and architecture. We were also blessed with a beautiful, sunny day so it was a really great time for us.

Truly a great experience

sibtain_k, Sep 2023

It was a wonderful experience for us. Not only was our the driver/guide Rick very knowledgeable, he also had a great sense of humour which truly added to our experience. Next the river cruise was also memorable as we soaked in the Chicago Skyline.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you for the very nice review. We are proud to partner with Shoreline Sightseeing and their fantastic architecture river cruise.

Fun around the town

Kim_M, Sep 2023

We enjoyed the whole tour, especially the history of the different buildings and places. The tour guides were very knowledgeable on the ground and on sea, actually the boat ride. It was a beautiful experience. We went everywhere the Loop the Parks and even Lakeshore Dr. And we seen the orginal Playboy Mansion and the Cardinal house

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you very much for the nice review and for pointing out how our tours go into several parts of town most other tours don't.

The architecture boat...

Cindi_F, Aug 2023

The architecture boat tour was amazing and informative. The tour operator was knowledgeable and knows much about the design of the buildings.

Driver/tour guide was...

Ethel_R, Aug 2023

Driver/tour guide was very informative as well as friendly,gave so much information and very courteous.

Tour

linda_h, Jul 2023

The tour guide!! He was fabulous. Extremely knowledgeable and fun City highlights were great Loved it

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