Top Illinois Historical Tours

Explore Chicago's gangster past on this mafia tour in a coach vehicle. Drive around the Windy City to see where Al Capone, The Untouchables, Hymie Weiss, and John Dillinger, among other thugs hung out. A history-savvy guide introduces you to some of the most storied locations of Chicago’s criminal past, including Holy Name Cathedral, Biography Theatre, and the site of the bloody St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. You'll be able to get out and pose for pictures in front of a historic courthouse, among other infamous sites.

Experience a colorful side of Chicago history with this Gangsters and Ghosts Tour. With a historian as your guide, you’ll step back to the roaring 20’s, when the Chicago Loop was a hub for bootleggers, speakeasies, and gangsters like the infamous Al Capone. Visit onetime gangster hangouts and haunted sites like the Palmer House, Congress Hotel, and Death Alley.

Cruise down the Chicago River to see the city's famous architecture on this boat tour. With commentary from your onboard guide, watch the spectacular skyline glide by, including more than 40 notable buildings like Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building, and the John Hancock Building. Cover all three branches of the Chicago River, passing the East Bank Club, the old Post Office Building and the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower).

An excellent choice for first-time visitors, this tour provides a comprehensive overview of the city and hits on both classic attractions and little-known sites. Beginning at the Chicago Theatre, work your way to the Chicago Pedway, an elaborate network of underground tunnels used by locals and commuters. Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk and the Magnificent Mile, then embark on a food tour to taste some of the city’s famous foods.

Admire the incredible façades and intricate interiors of the Windy City's 1920s art deco and art moderne buildings during this architecture walking tour of Chicago. Uncover the history of Chicago art deco architectural along with the city's influential role in the development of this iconic artistic style, as you get an up close and personal look at its wealth of gorgeous period buildings. This art deco Chicago walking tour also includes a certified guide.

Step aboard a boat for a comprehensive cruise that details the history of Chicago's architecture. Enjoy views of the Chicago skyline accompanied by architecture-focused commentary that points out each of the landmark buildings. As you cruise through Lake Michigan, snap photos of you and your party against the stretch of Chicago's 26-mile shoreline.

Discover the ‘dark side’ of the Windy City thanks to this 2.5-hour, bus-based, nighttime crime history tour of Chicago. Explore the lives of notorious mobsters like Al Capone, Frank Nitti, Bugs Moran, and more as you explore infamous crime scenes like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, learn about ‘The Enforcer’s Safe,’ and stop by local watering holes.

Delve deep into the world of natural history with this Field Museum admission ticket in Chicago. Spend as long as you like exploring the museum's collection of more than 26 million artifacts. Get to know SUE, the world's largest T. Rex, or stroll through the sparkling Hall of Gems. Time travel through 13,000 years of history in the Americas, from the Ice Age to Inca and Aztec temples. Take advantage of the free daily tours, led by Field Museum docents.

Explore Chicago's iconic landmarks on this sightseeing tour led by an expert guide. Board a comfortable, large-windowed minibus and explore downtown and Northside 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.

Discover some of the Windy City’s spookiest ghost stories—and step back in time to the era of gangsters, bootleggers, jazz performers, and more—on this small-group walking tour. Meet your guide in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, and set off after dark. You’ll visit supposedly haunted former burial grounds, pubs, theaters, and more—and will hear about macabre legends and unexplained happenings as you go.

Discover the architectural gems of the Windy City from an ideal vantage point on a cruise down the Chicago River. Offered several times throughout the day, it’s easy to fit the leisurely excursion into your itinerary. Covering more than 130 years of architectural history, the tour is the perfect opportunity to see a huge area of the city without the hassle of taxis and public transit.

See the overlooked highlights of Chicago’s Loop district with a 2-hour walking tour that takes in the best of the bustling, vibrant neighborhood’s inside spaces. Get behind the façades to explore stunningly designed interiors as you follow a specially-designed route with an experienced guide. Learn about the city’s architecture, art and history while visitng a side of Chicago that’s beyond the tourist trail, and experience the Windy City with a local perspective.

Explore Chicago by Segway with the benefit of a scenic 7- or 8-mile tour led by your guide. Start with an orientation to operating the Segway and a few minutes to practice. Then roll through the paths of Grant Park to Buckingham Fountain and glide along the Chicago lakefront to view attractions such as Museum Campus, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, and Soldier Field, homefield for the Chicago Bears.

Experience Chicago like never before on this small-group Segway tour. Visit Chicago’s ‘front yard,’ the beautiful lakefront and 57-acre Museum Campus. Glide along the fragrant floral paths to famous Buckingham Fountain. Then travel along the banks of Lake Michigan, past Monroe Harbor to the Museum Campus for a breathtaking view of the city’s iconic skyline. Guided Segway training plus the use of a helmet are included. Dress in weather-appropriate clothes with flat, closed-toed shoes.

Enjoy an active and entertaining way to explore Chicago’s highlights with this small-group Segway tour. Meet your guide at a convenient location in downtown Chicago, get acquainted with your Segway before setting off, and then hit the road. You’ll discover top Windy City highlights, including Millennium Park, the Buckingham Fountain, the Museum Campus, and more, all while learning about the city’s history and insider facts from your guide.

Savor the flavors of Chicago — the ‘City of Neighborhoods’ — on a guided, ethnic food tour. This 3.5-hour adventure explores two of Chicago's most diverse neighborhoods: Argyle and Andersonville on the city’s North Side. Sample seven distinctly different types of food, visit landmark locations and learn about the local history and culture.

Book in advance to take this popular tour that details the mob history of Chicago during the Prohibition Era (1920s-1930s). Learn about the exploits of gangsters like Capone, Dillinger, Moran, and others as you travel by minibus to sites like the Biograph Theater, Holy Name Cathedral, and St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Your guide adopts gangster attire and characteristics that add dramatic flair to the historical commentary.

Experience Chicago like never before on this guided, 2.5-hour, small-group Segway tour. Visit popular Grant Park and see famous Buckingham Fountain, with the Windy City skyline as the backdrop. Glide along the lakefront, taking in views of the Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, Adler Planetarium and Michigan Avenue. Guided Segway training plus the use of a helmet are included. Dress in weather-appropriate clothes with flat, closed-toe shoes.

Enjoy an introduction to Chicago’s highlights and history—on wheels. This small-group Segway tour offers a new, and zippy, way to explore. Meet your guide near Millennium Park, and begin with a personalized training session. Once you’re comfortable on your Segway, explore Millennium Park, roll along the Lakefront, and more. As you go, learn little-known Chicago stories and tidbits, from mafia history to the innovations that changed the city.

Explore the Loop's famous architecture during this 2-hour walking tour with an expert guide from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Discover the beginnings of the Chicago School of Architecture through visits to some of the city's oldest skyscrapers, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This sophisticated, informative tour is a must-do for history and architecture buffs.

Enjoy unparalleled views of the Chicago skyline—and glimpse many of the city’s top landmarks—on this architectural boat tour. Pick from multiple convenient departure times, and hop aboard the open-air vessel right off the Chicago Riverwalk. As you trawl the Chicago River, spy skyscrapers and historical marvels from the Willis Tower to the Wrigley Building, and learn all about the Windy City’s world-famous architecture from your guide’s narration.

Travel through architectural history on this walking tour that covers Chicago's most famous buildings in chronological order. With a guide in the lead, there's no need to fuss over maps or worry about directions. Simply stroll along and listen to the in-depth guided commentary on Chicago's architectural history; you'll learn about each building and its importance in the architectural canon.

Chicago is the architectural capital of the country and has so many tours profiling these wonderful, beautiful buildings. Hiding around these architectural masterpieces, however, are UGLY BUILDINGS. This “educational roast” teases these buildings and creates a conversation on what makes a building pretty or ugly. These opinions are all subjective, and participants are encouraged to share their perspectives whether or not they agree. IMPORTANT NOTE: There are jokes about Trump Tower along with the person it is named after on this tour. There is also one swear word used, because it is an important part of a story. If you don’t think you would find these kinds of jokes funny, I recommend choosing any other architectural tour. There are so many stories and perspectives on Ugly Buildings I have not previously been able to share on any other tours. I am really excited to have you along for this experience that is unlike any other tour in Chicago!

Get an insider's introduction to Chicago's most celebrated buildings during this architecture-focused walking tour of Michigan Avenue and State Street. Revisit the heyday of the skyscraper and visit stunning, Art Deco-era interiors, from the Palmer House Hotel to the Chicago Cultural Center. Admission to the Chicago Architecture Center is included, with an introduction by the docent.