Chicago Tour - South Side

Chicago, USA

4 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Get an insider’s introduction to one of Chicago’s most distinctive neighborhoods during this half-day private tour of the South Side. Learn about Hyde Park’s blue-collar history and rich African American heritage. See where the atomic bomb was developed on the University of Chicago’s campus. You’ll also pass through Mexican communities in Pilsen, as well as Little Italy and Greektown.

A half-day private tour of Chicago’s South Side
Learn about the neighborhood’s cultural and historical relevance
See where former president Barack Obama lived as senator
Keep your battery charged: tours include access to an iPhone port

What's Included

Phone charging port.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

The Chicago Theatre
175 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

Start time

10:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Hyde Park (Pass By)

Pilsen (Pass By)

Additional Info

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

Most travelers can participate
FOR GROUPS OF 12 OR MORE TRAVELERS, 7 DAYS NOTICE IS REQUIRED.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 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.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

21 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 21 reviews

The Best!

Rahima_B, Dec 2023

One of the best tours I've ever been on!!! Personalized to my preferences and Steve was such a gem. Very knowledgeable about the history, took pictures for me, and even took me to Juice Wlrds memorial site. Steve was very funny and gave me good advice as well. Amazing tour!

Not my cup of tea.

Ladye_A, Nov 2023

I texted 15 minutes before the tour, no response, I called 5 minutes before the tour was to start and Steve was unaware he had a tour today. Where was I right now and why didn't i call for a hotel pick-up, I said that was not offered on the Viator site. Would've loved that option. He is a very loud and fast talker, I will never forget how he kept yelling "Lincoln Park Baby". Each neighborhood we would have to answer the question of what type of housing we were looking at. I think it was condo, home and affordable housing. I don't care, I was looking at the beauty of the buildings. We would also have to Google each neighborhood house to find out what it sold for. I don't care, I'm not moving to Chicago. He also did not stop talking long enough for either one of us to ask a question. His driving is very fast and jerky. We don't have to go from 0-60 on each block with speed bumps. He would just stop wherever to point something out. The horn blowing was non stop. I was really scared when he slowed down on the interstate to show us something, we were well below 45 miles an hour. He pulled in front of an ambulance with lights/sirens and slowed down while turning to tell us something. My husband did say something this time. He kept wanting to make up for the morning mix up and give us another hour of touring at no cost, I couldn't take it. I was nauseated and had a horrible headache, I just wanted this to end. we only stopped to take pictures where he wanted. would've loved to stop and get out at Wrigley Field. Don't remember seeing the University of Chicago or hearing about the Atomic Bomb, I would have like that.

Lincoln Park Baby!

Judy_T, Oct 2023

Steve has a great knowledge of Chicago. He personalized the tour by taking us to places we asked about.

A unique tour!

Becky_L, Oct 2023

STEVE! What a Chicago treasure. He is full of knowledge and shared his city with us. The time went quickly and worth every penny. We saw so many corners of Chicago and had a great story teller to keep us wanting more.

I went to the pick up...

Patricia_R, Sep 2023

I went to the pick up place 10 minutes prior , the tour operator never showed even though I had received an email saying: Confirmed. I tried to reach him, no answer . I had to hire an uber . Somebody called me an hour later to offer me another tour , not the original I paid for . I rejected . I’m still waiting for my refund !!

Loved it!

Donna_L, Jul 2023

I took a couple of tours of the north side and the south side of Chicago with Steve Johnson and they were both terrific! Steve is a fabulous tour guide who provides lots of facts and interesting information. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to go beyond the typical tourist attractions and see and learn about all aspects of Chicago. I loved the city, loved Steve as our guide and loved the tour!

Steve was very knowledgeable of all parts of Chicago. Definitely two thumbs up

Johnny_D, May 2023

Seeing both the south and north sides of Chicago and learning the history about both. Definitely worth my 4 hours!!

Very neighborhood focused

lizfriedman1, May 2023

Have lived in the city a long time but have never really explored the south side. This was a great way to pack a lot of neighborhoods into a short time period.

Excellent Tour of Neighborhoods

Angelina_C, May 2023

Steve, the tour guide, was very knowledgeable, courteous, and kind. The tour of Southside and other neighborhoods is very important for making cultural connections.

Awesome tour!

Nicole_B, May 2023

The tour was excellent, and thorough! We really got to experience Chicago! The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and had a great personality.

best of three tours purchased

Bob_L, May 2023

Outstanding overview of the neighborhoods. Lots of historic context and frequent direction of our attention to specific examples of the points being made. Steve Johnson was concise, articulate, and easily understood. A day we'll remember and tell stories to friends for a long time to come.

Highly recommended tour!

Tina_L, Jan 2023

We had a wonderful time on the tour. We learned so much about Chicago! Steve was very knowledgeable and fun!! He made sure to ansewer our questions and even took us by a location that wasn't a planned destination per tour request. We definitely recommend this tour. - Happy customers

Great Tour of Chicago & South Side

Roblyn_H, Nov 2022

What an exciting tour of not only the South Side, but other parts of Chicago. My tour guide and driver, Steve, was very knowledgeable on the Chicagoan facts. He made my tour personable and enjoyable. I will highly recommend this tour to my friends.

Don't miss this tour!

Marguerite_M, Sep 2022

This was one of the best tours I have ever been on. The South Side is so much more than I ever imagined. Steve is so knowledgeable about all areas of the South Side. The South Side is a checkerboard of very different neighborhoods. Wait until you see the size of Chinatown! The 4 hours is filled with history including the industrial history of the South Side. You will also see University of Chicago area, the Obamas' house and where some other famous Chicagoans lived. You haven't seen all of Chicago until you've seen the South Side. Go! And Steve has a very comfortable vehicle for the ride.

Insightful tour of the South Side of Chicago

Lynette_L, Sep 2022

This was a great tour of the southern suburbs of Chicago. Steve picked me up in a beautiful car and with only one other person, we had his undivided attention. He gave us the ins and outs of every suburb and the industrial areas including the ford factory. We stopped at the Planetarium for a great view of the city skyline, the Obama's House and a rest break. Most impressed by the University of Chicago. We were dropped off at our accommodation. All in all, smart, reliable, and insightful.

Unique tour

Denise_W, Jul 2022

Interesting tour, off the beaten “tourist” path, see the diverse & unique neighborhoods of Chicago you would not otherwise see. If interested in tourist-y sites this is probably not for you, and probably not interesting to children. The tour guide was great!!!!