Chicago Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus
Chicago, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Choose from 24, 48, or 72 hours of unlimited hop-on hop-off sightseeing
- Capture unobstructed views from the open-top, double-decker bus
- Enjoy free VOX self-guided walking tours with selected tickets
- Upgrade your ticket to include a panoramic sunset guided tour
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
A full circuit introduces you to the city’s top attractions, with none of the logistical headaches.
What's Included
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus
- Professional digital commentary in multiple languages
- Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
- Enclosed/Climate Controlled Lower Deck, Top Deck Open
- 4 Self-guided Digital Walking Tours to explore the city (if option selected)
- Chicago South Side & Obama Presidential Center Shuttle (with 72-Hour option)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Admission to attractions
Meeting and Pickup
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Itinerary
Purchase a 24-, 48-, or 72-hour Big Bus pass, download the app for timetable information, and head to one of the designated stops to begin your hop-on, hop-off tour of Chicago. The first bus departs at 10am and the last at 5pm, so you can choose a time and route to fit your schedule.
Completing the sightseeing route in one go takes about two hours but many travelers like to make full use of the pass, which allows you to get on and off whenever you like at the designated stops. The Big Bus sightseeing route includes many Chicago must-visits, such as the Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Listen to the audio guide along the way to learn more about the so-called Windy City. Buses depart every hour from each of 11 stops, so you’ll never have to wait long for your next pickup.
Completing the sightseeing route in one go takes about two hours but many travelers like to make full use of the pass, which allows you to get on and off whenever you like at the designated stops. The Big Bus sightseeing route includes many Chicago must-visits, such as the Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Listen to the audio guide along the way to learn more about the so-called Windy City. Buses depart every hour from each of 11 stops, so you’ll never have to wait long for your next pickup.
Red Loop
11 Stops
35 Points of Interest
Duration: 2 hours
Operating Schedule: Operates daily: First Bus 10AM, Last Bus 4PM. Loop duration: 2 hours. Download the free Big Bus app for stop locations, city information and live bus tracking.
1
Chicago Riverwalk
2
Skydeck Chicago
3
Millennium Park
4
Grant Park
5
Adler Planetarium
6
Field Museum
7
Chicago Architecture Center
8
Navy Pier
9
Magnificent Mile
10
360 CHICAGO
11
Mc Donald’s
Points of interest passed by on this route
Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Chicago Theatre
Field Museum
Adler Planetarium
360 Chicago Observation Deck
Grant Ulysses Park
Navy Pier
Millennium Park
Water Tower Place
BigBus Chicago
Clarence F. Buckingham Fountain
Cloud Gate
Financial District
Maggie Daley Park
The Magnificent Mile
Tribune Tower
Holy Name Cathedral
Chicago River
Chicago Riverwalk
Soldier Field
The Rookery Building
Centennial Wheel
Chicago Cultural Center
Wrigley Building
American Writers Museum
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
Northerly Island
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Symphony Center - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Monadnock Building
Chicago Fed's Money Museum
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Field Museum Store
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Choice of audio tours: Chicago Architecture, Public Art, Chicago Riverwalk, and Millennium Park
- Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile ticket.
- Redeem tickets via Big Bus app or in person
- Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
- Chicago South Side & Presidential Center Shuttle operates daily from 9:30am–2:30pm, every 30–45 minutes, connecting Downtown Chicago with the Obama Presidential Center & Jackson Park and the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. Pick-up location: 98 E Wacker Drive (between Michigan Ave. and Wabash Ave.)
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
Q:How often does a bus arrive at each stop during the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?
A:A bus arrives approximately every 30-45 minutes.
Mar 2022
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3,9
based on 2 400 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
If it’s going to rain, take a pass. Views from the first level (covered) are poor at best. It started raining 10 minutes after we boarded so everyone went down to the lower level. Crowded and uncomfortable. We got off and did not get back on because the rain never stopped.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Hi James,
We are sorry to hear that the rain affected your experience and made the bus feel crowded and uncomfortable.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, as feedback like yours helps us understand how weather conditions can impact the overall enjoyment of the tour. If you would like to provide us with any further details about your experience, please feel free to contact us directly. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Great drivers, very friendly. Good info on the city and perfect places for bus stops. Cheap way to tour the city! Super fun to sit on top of bus to really take in the views.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the friendly service, informative commentary, and convenient stops. We are especially glad you enjoyed taking in the city views from the top deck.
We hope to welcome you again soon! Alexandra@BigBusTours
Good way to get some history as you view the city. Travelers should know all the busi stops and time schedules.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Hi Wanda_W, thank you for the great review. We are happy that you had a positive experience and we look forward to having you on board again soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours.
There was little to no dialogue from the driver . No points of interest were pointed out and the driver was very hard to understand
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. Our tours are designed to help guests discover the city's key landmarks and points of interest, so we understand how disappointing it must have been to feel that there was limited commentary during your journey.
We also regret that you had difficulty understanding the driver. Clear communication and engaging information are important parts of the experience, and your comments will be shared with the relevant team for review as we continue working to improve our service.
We appreciate your feedback and thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention.
Flavius@BigBusTours
The headphones only played music no information about Chicago shared just driver yelling and no clear understanding of what we were viewing.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the issues you experienced with the audio commentary and for the poor communication from your driver during the tour. Providing clear, informative narration is a key part of our experience, and we regret that we fell short during your visit
The bus to the Presidential center is on a highway and is not a smooth ride. I would not recommend sitting on the to level. Hold on tight, the drivers are a bit crazy.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re sorry to hear that the highway portion of the ride was bumpier than expected and that the driving felt uneasy from the top deck. Safety and guest comfort are our absolute top priorities, so we take comments like this very seriously. We will review your feedback with our safety and operations teams to ensure our drivers maintain smooth and steady navigation.
GREAT WAY TO SEE CHICAGO. We even had one driver (Felicia, I think) who gave extra information about the city. SHE ROCKED!!!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re happy you found our team to be so supportive during your time in Chicago, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Felicia. Our team strives to deliver an excellent experience, and we are glad you found this to be the case during your visit. If you have further needs or questions, please reach out!
This is the best way to see the city. Friendly tour drivers, love the hop off hop on option. Gave is many opportunities to see different parts of the city.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We're delighted to hear that you found our tour to be one of the best ways to see the city. The hop-on, hop-off service is designed to give our guests the flexibility to explore at their own pace, so it's wonderful to know that it gave you plenty of opportunities to discover different parts of the city and make the most of your visit.
We're also pleased that our drivers helped make your experience even more enjoyable with their friendly service. Your kind feedback is greatly appreciated, and we hope to welcome you on board again for another memorable adventure.
Flavius@BigBusTours
This is a great way to see the city. Then you can pick and choose what you’d actually like to explore
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you so much for your kind feedback!
We're delighted to hear that you found the tour to be a great way to see the city and get an overview of its highlights. One of the things we love most about the hop-on, hop-off experience is giving guests the flexibility to discover the city first and then decide which attractions and neighborhoods they would like to explore in more detail.
It's wonderful to know that the tour helped you do exactly that and make the most of your visit.
Thank you again for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Flavius@BigBusTours
First Lady architectural river worth doing. Excellent narration by a volunteer docent, Dave.
Chicago is a great city to visit and the weather was perfect!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the First Lady Architecture River Tour and found it to be worthwhile. It's wonderful to know that Dave's narration helped make the experience even more memorable. We are also glad that you had the chance to enjoy Chicago in perfect weather, which certainly makes exploring this beautiful city even more special.
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on another Big Bus Tours experience in the future.
Best regards,
Flavius@BigBusTours
Great tour. Very informative
about history and architecture.
Comfortable upper deck with great views.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Hello! Thank you for your great review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it very informative, especially the insights into the city's history and architecture. It's also wonderful to know that you were able to relax on the upper deck and take in the fantastic views along the route.
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on board again for another memorable sightseeing experience soon! Daiana@BigBusTours
Always fun to start travel out with the Big bus hop on and off to get a feel for your area and what you want to explore. They usually have a prerecorded tour you can listen to. This one had Candice. She was amazing and did a live tour. She was informative, entertaining and funny. Thank you
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Hello! Thank you for your fantastic review!
We're delighted to hear that Big Bus Tours is your go-to way to explore a new city. It's especially wonderful to know that Candice made your experience so enjoyable with her informative and entertaining live commentary.
We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to her. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you on board again soon! Daiana@BigBusTours
Do the 2 hour trip first and then decide what stops you want to go back to. Get there early so you can sit on top.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing your helpful tip! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the 2-hour tour and found it useful to take the full trip first before deciding which stops you wanted to revisit. Arriving early to secure a seat on the top deck is definitely a great way to enjoy the sights and make the most of your experience! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your recommendation with other visitors, and we hope to see you again on board for your next adventure. Best regards, Denis @ BigBusToursTeam
They made us get off at stop one after we had gotten on at stop 4. Then they said oh you can stay but we won’t leave for thirty minutes. We got on another bus about to depart. It was great. Unfortunately traffic was horrendous for bts concert don’t stops were ended at 3:00. Not really their fault but the recording talking about places you pass, kept going. It should have been paused somehow. When everything was going well, tour was great. Driver even took pictures by the lakefront.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour once you were on the second bus and appreciated our driver taking photos by the lakefront. We’re sorry for the confusion with the bus change and the disruption caused by the heavy traffic and BTS concert. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the recorded commentary continuing during the route changes and will share this with our team. Best regards, Denis @ BigBusToursTeam
Clean buses. All the drivers we encountered hopping on and off the buses were nice and friendly. The information they share with you on the route helps you get familiar with the city. One driver in particular was very helpful to us. She heard me say my phone battery was dying and I needed a paper ticket to show. Felicia climbed to the top of the bus to offer me her power bank and charger to charge my phone. That is service above and beyond her duty. We will remember her also for adding a personal touch to her narrative along the route. Nice to see someone proud of showing off the city you live in.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Glenda_L. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that you enjoyed the tour, and that Felicia was able to help you charge your phone, so you could continue the tour, and explore Chicago with no interruptions. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
Satisfactory for easy travel between attractions. Don't expect explanations or narration about what you're seeing. Drivers only told which stop we were reaching. If headphones did function and if they were understandable, they mostly played music, with a minute or two describing attractions near each stop. Workers were polite and some were knowledgeable. Schedules regular but don't depend on exact timing. A good way to get around without as much walking, just not for a tourist- helpful description of the city. Online ticketing worked fine.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Glen_D, thank you for taking time to let us a review. We really appreciate your honest feedback and are glad that you had a positive experience overall. We are constantly working to improve our audio guide, and service and your review is really helpful. We hope to have you on board again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Stopped at some iconic Chicago points of interest. Audio tour guide was sometimes talked over by the drivers narration. A bit confusing. A great way to get to know Chicago.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your feedback! We are glad to hear that our tour was a great way for you to get to know Chicago and visit its iconic landmarks.
We appreciate your honest note regarding the overlap between the audio commentary and the driver's live narration. We understand how that could be confusing, and we have shared this with our local team in Chicago so we can better synchronize our onboard commentary.
Thank you again for riding with us, and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future!
Madalina@BigBusTours
The driver was great and give good information along the route. He did an excellent job. He instructed you when to watch out for the branches on the road.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Jeanne,
Thank you for leaving such a wonderful 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that your driver did an excellent job keeping the tour both informative and safe along the route. It is great to know his helpful safety reminders about the tree branches made for a smooth ride.
We will be sure to share your kind words with our Chicago team. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Madalina@BigBusTours
We parked across the street at a parking garage that was near where we boarded the bus. I love hop on hop off tours because you can see everything without fighting the traffic yourself. We saw all of the major attractions other than Wrigley Field but was a wonderful day. We spent a lot of time at Navy Pier and the Butterfly House.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We're delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable day exploring Chicago with us. Hop-on hop-off tours are a fantastic way to see the city's highlights without the stress of navigating traffic, and we're glad you found the experience convenient and relaxing.
It’s great to know that you were able to visit many of Chicago's major attractions and spend time enjoying locations such as Navy Pier and the Butterfly House. It sounds like you made the most of your day and created some great memories along the way.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you on board again the next time you're in Chicago!
Flavius@BigBusTours
The bus ride was wonderful, informative and right on time. Totally recommend and would do this tour again!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it both informative and reliable. It's great to know that the bus arrived on time and that the commentary helped enhance your experience while exploring the city.
Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we're especially pleased to hear that you would choose to take the tour again in the future.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We look forward to welcoming you on board again soon!
Flavius@BigBusTours
This 2 hour bus ride stops at a decent amount of places of interest, especially when it leaves the downtown. It goes over to Navy Pier as well as the Field Museum and Stadler Aquarium.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it to be a good way to see many of the city's key attractions. It's great to know that the route covered a variety of points of interest, including destinations such as Navy Pier, the Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium, helping you experience both the downtown area and some of Chicago's most iconic sights.
We're also pleased that you found the number of stops convenient for exploring the city at your own pace while still enjoying a comprehensive tour.
Thank you again for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you on board again the next time you're in Chicago!
Flavius@BigBusTours
We were actually disappointed that this tour was given using headphones and not with a live guide. The information was sparse and often times we received it before or after we had passed the destination of topic. There was way to “elevator” music in between. And when the driver was talking the music was playing on the headphones and you had to remove the headphones in order to hear the directions. Often times missing information. It also ended up raining. After it stopped the upper deck was too wet to sit and there were no accommodations to wipe off the seats. We had to get off the bus and go get napkins from a restaurant ourselves. Not good customer service in my opinion. I have been on Hop on Hop Off buses before that were run much better.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your review!
We're sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations.
We understand your disappointment regarding the pre-recorded commentary. Traffic conditions can sometimes affect the synchronization of the audio with the landmarks being passed, and we appreciate that this impacted your experience. We're also sorry to hear that the balance between commentary and music was not to your liking and that hearing the driver's announcements proved difficult while using the headphones.
BigBusTours@VladL
This was a fun experience! Although we sat on the upper deck on the day the area was smoky, we still enjoyed the sites. It gave me opportunities to reminisce about my time working in the Loop some 40+ years ago, and also gave my husband a quick tour of the many sites and museums in the area he had not ever seen, as we live on the West Coast. Our first driver was a more of a tour guide, even with the opportunity to use the headphones, but she pointed out lots of areas of interest. The second driver just called out the stops. Although we stayed on the bus for all 11 stops, about 2 hours, we had purchased a two day ticket, but didn't use it on the 2nd day. However, it is a good option for those new to Chicago and it gives you choices to go back and see more in detail with the hop on/hop off option, without having to drive around. It's a good value for the price.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! 😊 We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and that it brought back fond memories while also introducing your husband to Chicago's iconic sights. It's wonderful that your first driver helped bring the city to life with additional insights along the way. We appreciate your feedback about the differing commentary styles and are glad you found the tour to be a good value. We hope to welcome you back aboard on your next visit to Chicago! Raul@BigBusTours
The bus driver was very rude as we trying to board the bus driver was horrible, she was yelling at us to hurry up and get on as soon as the doors opened, and didn’t offer any information regarding headphones that were available for audio tour. We had to get the information from other guest. She drove fast aggressive.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're very sorry to hear about your experience. This is not the level of service we aim to provide, and it's disappointing to learn that you felt rushed, were not informed about the audio guide headphones, and were uncomfortable with the driving. We appreciate your feedback and will share it with the local team for review. We hope you'll give us another opportunity to provide a much better experience in the future. Raul@BigBusTours
We loved it. It threatened to rail the whole time, but didn't. The driver was funny and super friendly. The seats up top were a bit hard to sit for 2 hours. Bring a cushion if you can.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi!
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re so pleased to hear that you had a great time despite the threatening weather and that our driver’s humour and friendliness helped make the tour even more enjoyable. We also appreciate your comments about the upper-deck seating comfort, and we’ll be sure to share this feedback with the team.
Best regards,
Denis@BigBusToursTeam
Great way to see all the major spots!! Great views for pictures too. We loved our bus driver who gave is a REAL CHICAGO EXPERIENCE
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi!
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed seeing Chicago’s major sights and capturing some great photos along the way. It’s wonderful to hear that your bus driver gave you a true Chicago experience — we’ll be sure to share your kind words with the team!
Best regards,
Denis@BigBusToursTeam
Loved all the facts provided by the audio tour! Loved all the facts provided by the audio tour! Loved all the facts provided by the audio tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you loved all the facts and commentary provided by the audio tour. It's great to know that the stories and insights helped make your sightseeing experience even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you aboard again for another memorable adventure soon!
Ciprian@Big Bus Tours
It wasn’t great. We have been on tours through Viator in New Orleans, Washington DC, and Nashville, and they were all better. The drivers were the ones speaking, you could ask questions, it was more interactive. This set up where you have headphones and a pre-recorded explanation of what’s going on is not good. Plus, it started to rain, and the people from the top of the bus came down to the inside portion of the bus and stood there and you couldn’t see anything. We got off the bus early.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations, especially in comparison with other hop-on hop-off experiences you’ve enjoyed. We understand that the pre-recorded commentary may not have felt as engaging as a live, interactive guide, and we regret that the rainy weather and overcrowding on the lower deck affected your ability to enjoy the views comfortably. Your comments are appreciated and will be shared with the local team as we continue working to improve the experience for our guests. Denis @BigBusTours!
Sit on the upper deck for the full experience. Watch out for tree branches. The commentary is informative. Stops 9 & 10 near the water tower & Hancock building are easy to miss & not clearly labeled.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your feedback and for sharing these helpful tips!
We're glad to hear you enjoyed the upper deck experience and found the commentary informative. We also appreciate the advice about the tree branches and understand how easy it can be to miss certain stops, especially if signage isn't as visible as it could be.
Your comments regarding Stops 9 and 10 have been noted and shared with the team, as clear stop identification is an important part of the guest experience.
Thank you for riding with us, and we hope to welcome you on board again soon! 😊🚌Alex@BigBusTours
Great way to see the highlights of Chicago! Employees at the bus stops were very friendly and helpful with information.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi and thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it to be a great way to see the highlights of Chicago. It's especially wonderful to know that our team members at the bus stops were friendly and helpful throughout your experience.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Calin@BigBusTours
Member Pricing
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US$46,55
per personWas US$49,00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Chicago Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus
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