Top Illinois Crime Tours

Bored of traditional walking tours? Try an experience that mixes sightseeing with an engaging game in this murder mystery tour through Chicago. Play as a detective and a suspect as you wander through various neighborhoods and see the city. Learn about the real legends and crimes of Chicago while you try to solve a murder.

There are lots of ways to take in Chicago’s architectural sights, but most tours don’t mix things up by teaching you about the city’s dark criminal past. On this combination architecture and true crime walking tour, explore with a local guide and listen to intriguing stories as you explore downtown landmarks such as Chase Tower, Palmer House, and much more.

Swap the standard Chicago itinerary for the chance to experience a whole different side to the city. Walk in the footsteps of Al Capone and John Dillinger while hearing tales of Chicago's haunted past. This walking tour takes you to prohibition-era speakeasies, sites of real life mob shootouts, and provides special access to places tied to historical events that have shaped Chicago.

Lots of tours help you explore Chicago’s historic streets, but most avoid the grittier details that have helped shape the city over the decades. But this small-group walking tour doesn’t shy away from the gruesome details. Listen to tales of gangsters, restless spirits, and local disasters as you navigate some of Chicago’s most popular landmarks.

We are the original, top-rated Gangsters and Ghosts tour! Hear the tales of the ghosts, and gangsters, that haunt the city. Explore the Chicago South Loop district with your historian guide, uncovering the many mysteries hidden behind every turn. Walk through Chicago's notorious South Loop, known as a vice district during the 1920s and 30s. Stroll through this now upmarket area of the city which was once home to underground speakeasies, secret tunnels, and bootleggers. Hear the true stories of Chicago's bloody past and the gangsters who caused havoc in the city. See the places notorious figures such as Al Capone used to party, make deals, and carry out "business". Discover the legends of the ghosts that are said to lure along the Chicago Riverwalk and the aptly named Death Alley. Stop at haunted locations including Palmer House, and the Chicago Theatre, before finishing outside the Congress Hotel, one of the most haunted places in Illinois.

Discover the dark side of the Windy City on this nighttime crime history bus tour of Chicago. Through your expert guide's rich storytelling, immerse yourself in tales of notorious mobsters like Al Capone, Frank Nitti, and Bugs Moran as you explore infamous crime scenes including the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

See Chicago from a different perspective on this evening cruise that explores the city’s darker side. As twilight settles over the skyline, glide along the Chicago River while hearing chilling tales of disasters, infamous criminals, and eerie legends tied to the city’s past. This relaxed river cruise blends atmospheric storytelling with some of the best nighttime views of Chicago’s renowned skyline and landmarks. Grab a drink from the onboard bar, settle in, and let the city’s shadowy history unfold as you cruise through the heart of downtown. By the end of the journey, you’ll have experienced Chicago’s skyline in a whole new way—while uncovering the chilling events, legends, and mysteries that shaped the city. Please arrive 30 minutes in advance!

Lovers of history, true crime, and haunted mysteries rejoice—skip the generic sightseeing tours and learn about Chicago’s dark underbelly with this mob history tour. Follow your guide through historic streets and alleys from Grant Park to the “Alley of Death”—also known as West Couch Place—as you learn about the city’s gritty mobsters, doomed ghosts, crime, and vice.

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.

Uncover the notorious history of Chicago's gangster era on this immersive bus tour that takes you through the city's most infamous landmarks. Visit the Palmer House, where Al Capone once mingled, and pass the Congress Hotel, rumored to be haunted by ghostly figures. Drive through Grant Park to learn about H.H. Holmes and the chilling Iroquois Theatre Fire. At each stop, delve into gripping tales of rivalries, secret doors, and tragic events that shaped Chicago's past. This tour is perfect for history buffs and those intrigued by the darker side of the city. - Explore key sites linked to Al Capone and Chicago's gangland history - Discover chilling tales of hauntings, Death Alley, and the tragic Iroquois Theatre Fire - Enjoy stops at iconic locations like the Holy Name Cathedral and Grant Park - Engage in a unique paranormal photo opportunity by the Chicago River

Admire some of the Windy City's most iconic views—and enjoy a time-saving, relaxing way to sightsee—aboard this pet-friendly Chicago River architecture boat tour. With commentary from your onboard guide, watch the spectacular skyline glide by, including dozens of notable buildings, like the Wrigley Building and the John Hancock Building. In just one tour, you cover multiple branches of the Chicago River and learn insider facts and stories you'd otherwise miss.

Our Original Bus Tour is a deep dive into Chicago's most notorious era. Taking you to neighborhood gems you may not find on your own, grab a drink and enjoy the history of the men, women and locations (famous and infamous) that helped shape Chicago as we know it today.

Get a front row perspective on the exquisite buildings that line the Chicago River during a 45-minute architecture cruise. Hear live commentary about the history and architectural heritage of Chicago on this family-friendly tour, which highlights landmarks such as the Chicago Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue Bridge, Wrigley Building, and Willis Tower. Sit on the open-air top deck or the sheltered bottom deck for the ultimate view of Chicago.

More than 100 years later, stories of Prohibition-era Chicago still capture the public’s imagination. But the portrayal of that era in popular culture isn't always accurate. On this tour, you’ll hear how the culture in turn-of-the-century Chicago helped bring about the 18th Amendment through stories of notorious vice districts along the Chicago River and the South Loop. We'll talk about the rise of Al Capone during the infamous “Beer Wars,” culminating in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Along the way, we’ll talk about how the city played a role in the popular and artistic growth of jazz, and how Chicago during the Roaring Twenties has been depicted on screen, in blockbusters such as "The Untouchables" and "Chicago." Please be advised that this tour contains stories of murder and sex work. Although children are welcome on this tour, parents should use their discretion in determining whether it is suitable for those under 15.

Take the best ghost tour in Chicago! Go inside 6/8 old buildings, learn about what makes them haunted and what also makes them cool! Learn from expert guides what makes Chicago one of the spookiest places in the world! Note, tour does not finish where it starts

Discover the architectural gems of the Windy City from an ideal vantage point—and learn insider facts and stories about the city's top attractions—on this Chicago River cruise. Travel in comfort aboard a boat equipped with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Covering more than 130 years of architectural history, this tour is the perfect opportunity to see a huge area of the city without the hassle of taxis and public transit.

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.

See Chicago your way with flexible hop-on hop-off tickets designed to suit every sightseeing style. Explore the Windy City at your own pace, hopping off to visit top attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, and the Chicago Riverwalk while enjoying onboard commentary that adds context to what you see. Perfect for first-time visitors or those short on time, this tour offers flexibility and ensures you don’t miss any of Chicago’s highlights. You can also upgrade your experience to enjoy extra sightseeing time and a panoramic sunset tour for unforgettable skyline views.

Discover one of downtown Chicago's highlight museums, and explore the works of leading artists across myriad media and genres, when you book tickets to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Choose from multiple entry times throughout the day, make your own way to the museum, and get ready to explore. Exhibitions are ever-changing, but you can expect to see works by artists the likes of Kara Walker, Jasper Johns, Cindy Sherman, and beyond.

Get the most out of your trip to Chicago as you enjoy discount access to five of the city’s top attractions with the CityPASS®. This easy-to-use mobile ticket grants you free entry into top-tier sights including the Chicago's most famous aquarium and Skydeck Chicago, plus your choice of admission to three of the following attractions: Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, Adler Planetarium, or Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour.

Skip navigating around the city with a map and guidebook and explore Chicago's iconic landmarks in just a few hours on this sightseeing tour led by an expert guide. Board a comfortable, large-windowed minibus and explore Downtown and North Side neighborhoods, stopping to 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.

Get a closer look into how alcohol flowed through the streets of Chicago! From the “down and dirty” gangster hangouts, to the “jackets required” establishments for Chicago’s elite, learn what it took for all Chicagoans to get their booze!

Uncover the chilling history of Chicago's gangsters and ghosts on this thrilling late-night Halloween walking tour. Delve into the dark secrets of the South Loop, once a vice district, as your historian guide shares captivating tales of Al Capone and the city’s infamous past. Explore haunted locations like the Palmer House and the Chicago Theatre, and hear eerie stories of spirits that linger in Death Alley and along the Chicago Riverwalk. This tour culminates at the Congress Hotel, renowned for its ghostly sightings, making it the perfect way to experience Chicago's haunted history at midnight. - Late-night Halloween walking tour through Chicago's South Loop, ending at midnight. - Hear true stories about notorious gangsters like Al Capone - Visit haunted spots including the Chicago Theatre and Palmer House - End your tour at the Congress Hotel, one of Illinois' most haunted locations