Chicago tours, things to do and tickets

Experience one of the world’s most beautiful cities on a cruise down the historic Chicago River. On this architecture cruise, head down the main branch of the Chicago River, up the north branch to the East Bank Club, and then south past Willis Tower (Sears Tower) to the old Post Office Building. Take in magnificent city skyline views as you see more than 40 notable buildings, including the John Hancock Center and the Wrigley Building, and learn about their distinctive architecture from your onboard guide, an expert in architecture.

Cruise along the Chicago River on a 60- or 75-minute tour, and discover hidden architectural gems among the city’s renowned landmarks. Led by a docent providing live narration, the tour passes more than 40 structures and sails under historic bridges.

Experience Chicago’s legendary architecture from the best seat in the house: the river. Enjoy a comprehensive tour with a live fun guide as you navigate through the heart of the city covering all 3 branches of the Chicago River.

Treat yourself to an exhilarating view over the whole of Chicago from the top of the Willis Tower. Ride 103 floors to the Skydeck and step out onto The Ledge, a glass-paneled box with vertical views to the ground below.

Interested in exploring Chicago from the perspective of ghosts and gangsters? Want to really immerse yourself in the history of this great American city, right from the locations that started it all? This tour visits the locations frequented by some of Chicago's most notorious gangsters along with many of the most haunted locations in Chicago!

You can get the best of both worlds with this 2 in 1, history-based guided walking tour of Chicago’s gangsters and ghost stories, right from the famous Chicago Loop Vice District! Tour departs from 71 E Wacker Drive.

Be inspired by the captivating, visual art that is Chicago’s legendary architecture, and the exceptional architects who created this ever-changing, dynamic legacy for all to enjoy and admire. This comprehensive 90 minute tour will navigate through the heart of the city on all three branches of the Chicago River while your professionally-trained architectural guide tells the story of more than 130 years of innovation in design, style and technique and why it is important today. The Chicago River Architecture Tour is the most authentic and encompassing Chicago experience the city has to offer.

Escape into Chicago's underworld on a crime and mob tour with stops on-and-off the luxury, climate-controlled bus. Walking tour paths explore historic crime scenes with great photo opportunities. True crime stories about Chicago Gangster Al Capone, The Untouchables, The Chicago Mob, Prohibition, John Dillinger, Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti, Cap George Streeter, Leopold & Loeb, H.H. Holmes and more.
Visit historic landmark buildings like: The Biograph Theater, Holy Name Cathedral, Cook County Criminal Court House, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, etc. Tour famous Chicago neighborhoods: Streeterville, River North, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Loop and Magnificent Mile. Locals and tourists agree that this educational and entertaining thing to do in Chicago is a unique cultural experience.

Soar to heights of nearly 200 feet over Navy Pier, with unparalleled, 360-degree views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Choose between pre-purchasing a Regular or a Fastpass Express ticket to experience this iconic part of the Chicago skyline.

Skip the ticket line for Chicago’s only architecture cruise on both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Learn about Chicago's internationally-known architecture from expert local guides as you discover the city from riverfront to shoreline.

Skip the ticket purchase desk to enjoy the best panoramic views of Chicago, 94 stories above the Windy City. Enjoy stunning lake views and close-up vistas of Chicago’s amazing skyscrapers.

Cruise down the Chicago River and see the city’s most spectacular landmarks on a boat cruise with live, family-friendly commentary and a full-service bar on board.

The lakeside metropolis of Chicago is famous for its striking skyscrapers, world-class museums and colorful history. Explore the “Windy City” at your own pace, with the choice of 24 Hour and 48 Hour tickets, all which include a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour with stops strategically located near the city’s top attractions. Hop on to experience sites like the Adler Planetarium and Navy Pier or hop off along the Magnificent Mile to shop, see the great city at heart-stopping heights from Willis Tower’s Skydeck.

An authentic Chicago tradition since 1935, this is the tour that started it all. This unique excursion tells the story of more than 200 years of fascinating social, cultural and political history, and explores more than a century of groundbreaking architecture. The journey begins with an up-close perspective of Chicago's internationally-known architecture as seen from the Chicago River. Then venture through the Chicago Lock on to the calm, cool waters of Lake Michigan for expansive views of Chicago's extraordinary 26-mile skyline. Take the selfie of a lifetime on this inspirational experience!

Explore Chicago from the perspective of ghosts and gangsters. Take a history-based guided tour and discover Chicago’s gangsters and ghost stories. See the city’s darker side as you walk through the famous Chicago Loop district.

The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady has long been the gold standard among all Chicago tour experiences, and is the only Chicago architecture boat tour led by highly trained expert docents. On this 90-minute cruise, you will enjoy an overview of historic and modern architectural styles including stories about the people who designed and built Chicago. No visit to Chicago is complete without experiencing this award winning tour, so accept no substitutes.

See the sights of Chicago from Lake Michigan on this sightseeing cruise. Admire stunning views of the Chicago skyline and see many of the city’s iconic landmarks.

Gaze upon the city sights from the pinnacle of Chicago, the Skydeck. Located on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower -- the third-tallest building in the world -- the Skydeck offers spectacular sweeping views and is full of interactive exhibits. To complete your exciting Chicago experience, head to the Ledge, a glass balcony showcasing unbeatable views of Chicago’s top attractions like Wrigley Field and the Navy Pier.

We added a brand new Chicago Experience that you start with by the box office prior taking the elevator trip to the 103rd floor. It is a 45,000 sq ft. museum of today. The New Experience is part Chicago History, part Architecural tour, part Selfie Museum and part Children's Museum. This is fun and interactive for all ages. Ride our "L" Train, see our infinity pizza bed, take pictures ontop of Willis Tower and so much more! This is the best way to see Chicago in one setting.

With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the SkyDeck

Experience the dark side of the Windy City on a Crime and Mob Bus Tour that introduces you to Chicago’s history of crime. Escape into the city's underworld and learn about characters like Al Capone and John Dillinger.

Explore Chicago at your own pace with a flexible hop-on hop-off tour. See Chicago's most famous landmarks including Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and Magnificent Mile from an open-top double-decker bus.

Marvel at the magnificent architecture on the Chicago River with expert tour guides! All ages welcome.

Each architecture river tour is narrated by a professional guide which leads passengers down the Chicago River to discover the city’s most renowned landmarks. In addition to historical insight on well known structures such as the Civic Opera House, Trump Tower & the Merchandise Mart, passengers will also get a chance to learn about current and upcoming developments. The Chicago River Cruise navigates the three primary branches of the river including the main branch to Navy Pier, the north branch to Goose Island and the south branch to Chinatown.