Chicago Tours

There are hundreds of high-quality tour options in Chicago, one of the great American cities. Among previous travelers, these are some of the best-rated Chicago tours:

• Chicago Architecture River Cruise
• Chicago: Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour
• Chicago River 90-Minute History and Architecture Tour
• Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour
• Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady

The cost of Chicago tours runs the gamut from roughly US$20–30 per person for a 45-minute architecture cruise to US$850 and up (depending on group size) for a private tour of the city. Most of the top-rated tours are under US$60 per person. No matter what you have on your agenda, there’s sure to be a tour that suits your budget.

There are dozens of subjects you can explore and sights you can see on Chicago tours, so what you see depends on which tour you choose. The city’s famous skyline gets the spotlight on architecture boat tours, and several walking tours highlight locations tied to Chicago’s history of organized crime. You can also see Chicago landmarks like the Cloud Gate sculpture (“The Bean”) in Millennium Park and the much-loved Field Museum of Natural History.

You could spend weeks and not run out of things to do in Chicago, but a 3–5-day visit is a great way to start. That gives you time to see the city’s highlights, and you might even have enough time to book some longer Chicago tours, like an extended river cruise or even a boat tour on the lake.

The best months to be in Chicago are spring shoulder seasons (specifically April–May) and fall (September–October). During these months, the weather isn’t as hot and humid as it can get in the summer, but it’s still pleasant enough for plenty of outdoor exploring. The summer calendar is packed with fun festivals and events, so summer can also be a great time to visit if you don’t mind the heat (or the crowds).

According to travelers, some of the top attractions in Chicago are the Chicago Riverwalk, The Magnificent Mile, the Willis Tower Skydeck, the Chicago River, and the Navy Pier. Other popular attractions are Millennium Park, the Wrigley Building, the Chicago Theatre, and the Shedd Aquarium. And many of these are located within relatively easy walking distance from one another.