Top Illinois How to Get Around in 2026

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 Frank Lloyd Wright’s enduring masterpieces—and learn all about the Prairie school of architecture—when you visit his Oak Park Home and Studio. Known as the birthplace for Wright’s vision of American architecture, the landmark is recognizable for its flowing rooms and rich, wooden textures. Book your ticket before you travel to guarantee your admission: you can join a tour offered by the venue.

Most Chicago sightseeing tours focus on the city’s key landmarks. But on this unique excursion, you cam dig deeper than surface level, and discover some of the city’s spookiest stories. Pick between private or shared options, and set off to explore the South Loop with your guide. Along the way, see where notorious gangsters like Al Capone operated, hear about their bloody backstories, and even visit several of the state’s most haunted addresses.

Explore the hidden side of Downtown Chicago—and see sights that even many locals miss—on a small-group walking tour of the Pedway (an underground network of tunnels that connects Chicago buildings) and the vibrant Loop. Ideal for architecture fans, this tour includes insider stories and landmarks you wouldn't spot on your own—plus a chance to see Windy City icons like the Picasso Statue and Millennium Park.

Explore Chicago’s most iconic sites on a bike tour that explores Museum Campus, parks, and monuments. Follow your guide along the waterfront as you soak up the city skyline and enjoy the breeze along the easy-going route. Circle the Buckingham Fountain while you learn the history of the city’s public art, parks and museums, and capture unforgettable images of the Windy City.

Eat your way through downtown Chicago on a walking food tour. Visit Millennium Park, the Palmer House Hotel, and other city landmarks and taste quintessential Chicago foods such as deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, and chocolate brownies. All food tastings are included, and the tour covers an easy 1.5 miles (2.4 km) suitable for most fitness levels. A bike or kayak rental is also included in the tour cost.

Take to the skies and experience Chicago from an entirely new perspective on this extended helicopter tour showcasing the city’s most iconic landmarks, neighborhoods, and waterfront views. The flight begins near the Chicago Fire Practice Facility before heading over Chinatown, where colorful architecture and historic streets create a striking aerial view. From there, you’ll pass McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, stretching along the lakefront and highlighting the scale of Chicago’s downtown footprint. Continuing north, you’ll fly over Northerly Island and Soldier Field, followed by the heart of the Museum Campus, where the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium sit against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. Grant Park comes into view next, often called Chicago’s front yard, leading to an aerial look at Millennium Park and the unmistakable curves of The Bean.

Take in views of the Chicago skyline and its landmarks during this Lake Michigan sightseeing boat cruise. Enjoy a laidback ride, soaking up panoramic views from this unique perspective. Listen to audio commentary to give you fresh insight into the landmarks you see, like Navy Pier and the Willis Tower, and feel free to bring your own lunch or grab a drink at the onboard bar (own expense).

Immerse yourself in one of Chicago's most vibrant neighborhoods—and head off the tourist trail to discover sights and bites many visitors miss—on this small-group Chinatown food and walking tour. With your guide in the lead, learn about the cuisine of different regions of China, and discover the history of Chicago's Chinatown. Along the way, enjoy a generous array of tastings, from dim sum to Sichuan cuisine and beyond.

Get to know the Windy City the easy and comfortable way on a small-group minibus tour. Instead of long walks and navigating public transit, see major landmarks like Museum Campus, Buckingham Fountain, the Magnificent Mile, and Millennium Park from an uncrowded minibus with large picture windows. Your driver and guide knows where to find all the best views, and there are plenty of photo stops along the way.

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.

Discover more of Chicago beyond downtown with this convenient South Side open-top shuttle transfer. Travel from central Chicago to some of the city’s most important cultural and historic destinations, including Jackson Park, the Obama Presidential Center campus, and the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. Enjoy an easy ride south without arranging taxis, rideshares, or public transit connections. The shuttle first stops near the Obama Presidential Center and Jackson Park, giving you access to one of Chicago’s most historic lakefront spaces. Explore the area at your own pace, take photos, or continue your visit independently. The route also serves the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry, one of Chicago’s most popular attractions and one of the largest science museums in the world. This is a great option for travelers who want a simple, affordable way to visit Chicago’s South Side highlights from downtown. Choose a one-way transfer or an all-day ticket for added flexibility.

Explore a new side of Chicago and the city'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, John Dillinger, and more famous figures hung out. There are ample chances to get out of the bus and pose for pictures in front of a historic courthouse, among other infamous sites.

On this small-group Windy City bike tour, you won't just pedal past the lakefront neighborhoods of Chicago's North Side—you'll see more of the city than you could if exploring on your own. Follow a local guide along quiet streets, city parks, and scenic beaches, starting at Lake Shore Drive and continuing along Rush Street and the Magnificent Mile. As you go, glimpse offbeat attractions like the Playboy Mansion, Oprah’s penthouse, and the Victorian houses of Old Town.

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.

Maximize your limited sightseeing time in Chicago on this two-in-one tour, which covers the city’s notorious gangster history as well as its most famous dishes. Choose between private and shared tour options, and meet your guide right in the downtown Loop. Then, set off on foot: Learn about Al Capone and the city’s Prohibition past in between sampling classic bites, from deep-dish pizza to the Chicago hot dog and more.

Discover Chicago's world-renowned architecture during this sightseeing cruise. Board a comfortable riverboat for a trip down the Chicago River, viewing landmarks like the Willis Tower and the Tribune Tower while listening to in-depth commentary from your guide. Then board a speedboat for an exciting ride up the shore of Lake Michigan for views of Grant Park, the Museum Campus, and other top sights.

Chicago is famous for its architecture, and the best way to see it is on a cruise down the Chicago River. Glide by historic and modern marvels like the Civic Opera House, Wrigley Building, and Willis Tower from the comfort of an open-deck boat. Live narration reveals each building’s fascinating history, so you'll learn more than you would just observing on your own.

Many Chicago architecture tours focus on the city’s famous buildings—but few actually venture inside the landmarks. On this shared or private tour, step right inside many of the city’s top architectural icons, discovering sights and details that few other travelers get to see. Visit the legendary Rookery, explore the Chicago Cultural Center, view Tiffany glass ceilings and art deco highlights, and much more.

Drink in a one-of-a-kind perspective on the Windy City when you go for an evening cruise, perfectly timed to coincide with the sunset. Hop aboard your open-top vessel (with an enclosed and climate-controlled lounge) in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, and cruise along the Chicago River. Then, see the skyline from a distance, and watch the skyscrapers light up, when you continue to Lake Michigan for a sunset viewing.

Make the most of your visit to the Art Institute of Chicago with a local, Chicago-based company that knows the museum inside and out. Whether you’re an art aficionado or a beginner, this opportunity lets you learn about the museum and its pieces through the eyes of an art historian guide without the crowds. Enhance your visit by hearing the stories behind major works. Note that special exhibit tickets are not included.

Experience Chicago in a new way on this small-group Segway tour. Visit Chicago’s "front yard," and see more of the sights in less time. Glide along the fragrant floral paths of Grant Park to the famous Buckingham Fountain. Then, travel along the banks of Lake Michigan to the Museum Campus for top-notch views of the city’s iconic skyline. Guided Segway training and helmets are included, making this a beginner-friendly tour.

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.