Chicago Loop Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Chicago Loop. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Chicago Favorites Ultimate Food and Walking Tour

• Delicious Donuts & City Sights: Chicago's Original Donut Tour

• Chicago in a Day: Food, History & Architecture Walking Tour

• Chicago Food Tour: Taste the City's Most Iconic Eats

• Downtown Chicago Walking Pizza Tour

While it’s free to visit the Chicago Loop on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you make the most of your visit with the help of an expert guide—and enjoy discovering all the city’s many hidden gems. Guided walking tours hover at around US$30 per person, while those that include Chicago food favorites start at US$69.

Yes, the Chicago Loop is worth visiting, as it's home to some of Chicago's most iconic architecture, public art, and cultural institutions. Stroll beneath the elevated "L" train tracks that loop the city center, take in Millennium Park, or admire the landmark buildings that have shaped Chicago's skyline for over a century. For a richer experience, consider booking a guided Chicago tour—whether a walking tour, a food tour, or a broader sightseeing tour of the city—to get expert commentary on the history and stories behind Loop landmarks.

Per one customer who booked the Chicago Food Tour: Taste the City's Most Iconic Eats, "Excellent guide-so knowledgeable! Food amazing!!! Perfect tour! Very fun and one of the better tours we have been on!"

Yes, the Chicago Loop is walkable and is a good destination for a walking tour. The 35-block area is on a grid, which makes it easy to navigate. It’s the heart of downtown Chicago, so you can walk between Chicago highlights such as the Willis Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Millennium Park.

The Chicago Loop is part of downtown Chicago, but it doesn’t make up all of it. The Chicago Loop is bounded by the Chicago River to the north and west; Harrison Street to the south; and Lake Michigan to the east. Downtown Chicago extends beyond the Loop, and comprises River North, Gold Coast, Streeterville, and Lakeshore East.

Yes, the Chicago Loop is a good area for safety, tourist attractions, and ease of getting around. However, it’s full of skyscrapers and some Chicago residents feel that this area isn’t very homely or that there’s much of a community atmosphere. You’re sure to enjoy visiting the Loop but might prefer to stay elsewhere.

The Chicago Loop is both a 35-block downtown neighborhood and a 1.8-mile section of the Chicago Union Elevated Railway (the El) that loops around the area. It’ll usually be obvious from context whether someone is referring to the neighborhood or the railway line, but it’s always good to check.

Yes, the Chicago Loop is an expensive place to live and can be expensive for visitors as there are many upscale hotels and restaurants. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of money here. There are free parks with art installations (namely Millennium Park) and great views of the skyscrapers (including the Willis Tower).

Both the Chicago Loop and the Magnificent Mile are good neighborhoods to stay in but which you prefer depends on what you want to see. The Loop is closer to top attractions such as the Willis Tower and Millennium Park, but the Magnificent Mile has more restaurants and is livelier in the evenings.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Chicago Loop. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Chicago:

• Chicago Riverwalk

• The Magnificent Mile

• Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

• Chicago River

• Wrigley Building

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Chicago.