Chicago Walking Tour: Art Deco Skyscrapers Loop
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Chicago, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Admire the ornamental facades and intricate interiors of the Windy City's art deco buildings during this in-depth walking tour of the vibrant Loop. This small-group tour will introduce you to some of the city's highlight architectural landmarks and its rich history, all in a single excursion. As you go, get an up-close look at landmarks that many other tours overlook—and learn insider stories from your architecture-expert guide.
- This small-group tour offers a personal way to explore the city
- Discover highlights and history you wouldn't encounter on your own
- This tour is perfect for architecture lovers and history buffs
- Explore with a Chicago Architecture Center–certified guide
What's Included
- Walking tour of Downtown Chicago Art Deco architecture
- Narration by a professional and certified Guide
- Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Storage for luggage or strollers
- Coat check
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 30 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
Meet in front of 30 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL, USA.
End point
- Chicago Board of Trade Building141 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
End at Chicago Board of Trade Building, Jackson and LaSalle, Chicago, IL
Itinerary
Start your art deco exploration of Chicago at a convenient meeting point in the heart of Loop. Then head out with your guide and small group to begin your architecture immersion.
As you go, your Chicago Architecture Center–certified guide will introduce you to the art deco movement, which arose in the 1920s and '30s.
During the course of your walk you'll stop to admire a range of exteriors and interiors that define this architectural heyday. Seek out notable skyscrapers, visit building interiors most other tours skip over, and walk away with a new knowledge of the time period.
After an immersive trip on foot, your tour ends in front of the Chicago Board of Trade Building.
As you go, your Chicago Architecture Center–certified guide will introduce you to the art deco movement, which arose in the 1920s and '30s.
During the course of your walk you'll stop to admire a range of exteriors and interiors that define this architectural heyday. Seek out notable skyscrapers, visit building interiors most other tours skip over, and walk away with a new knowledge of the time period.
After an immersive trip on foot, your tour ends in front of the Chicago Board of Trade Building.
1
30 N LaSalle St
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
The Rookery Building
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
135 South Lasalle Street
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
1 N LaSalle St
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Chicago Board Of Trade Building
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Chicago Architecture Center
1 minute • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change, due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
- Pets are not allowed.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 177 reviews
Frank_P, Jun 2025
Barry our guide was full of facts and information as we visited 5 outstanding Deco examples. Being a Sunday we were given exclusive access to otherwise working buildings entering the impressive lobbies and able to take pictures, this would have been impossible with other workers coming and going. Fhe tour is flat easily navigated znd covers a small area if the city where such buildings are situated. Barry provided some excellent insight into the history function znd potential future of such buildings.
Belva_L, Feb 2025
Beautiful buildings, lots of history. However the tour guide did not know we were on the tour because Viator did not communicate that to the Chicago Architectual group.
Joshua_J, Oct 2024
Small group and friendly, knowledgeable local guide on this walking tour through the Loop. Saw some beautiful architecture & learned lots about the history of the style, buildings and the city as a whole. Guide was also full of tips and advice on how to make the most of the rest of my time in the city - would recommend!
Mary_Z, Jul 2024
Look up and see what you are missing.
Chicago is graced with many beautiful buildings and the fine details of the Art Deco structures abound in downtown.
Yahaira_M, Jun 2024
Great, knowledgeable guide! Loved all the art deco lobbies, elevators and walking around the city on a great summer day!
Andrew_G, Dec 2022
We had a very interesting tour of art deco buildings. Mary Ann, our guide, was very knowledgeable and clearly explained the features of the buildings and history.
Shiloh_T, Oct 2022
I loved getting some historical insight into the city. I worried it might be strenuous but it wasn’t at all.
Therese_N, Apr 2022
Jonelle was an amazing guide! She gave a great educational tour of the pivotal Chicago Art Deco skyscrapers and I’m so glad we went. Highly recommended!
Elise_d, Dec 2021
Awesome tour of the Art Deco skyscrapers in Chicago. Our tour guide was very informative on the architects that designed each skyscraper and provided detailed information on the background of the short lived Art Deco movement.
Ferial_S, Sep 2021
This tour was great. The leader Marian was very kind and knowledgeable . The Chicago architectural tour is a must. Thank you. I had a great time.
Armando_B, Sep 2021
David took us to a trip to the past. Art Deco can be hidden or glowing in front of you and David gave us tips on how to recognize it. He took us to amazing places around Downtown where this style exists. Thank you for sharing with us! We highly recommend this tour!
Matt_J, Aug 2021
Robin was exceptional! Very knowledgeable of the buildings we toured, engaging with our group, and informative of the history of Chicago and its architects. She is very clearly passionate about what she does and we look forward to booking another tour when we visit Chicago again! Our pre-teen really enjoyed it, too.
Zachary_M, Jun 2021
Actually couldn’t make it and was pretty disappointed. I’m sure guide was too. Meet up details are not clear and don’t arrive until last minute. No address found in account or anything. Just a call from guide minutes before. Hope that’s not typical.
Don_W, Jul 2018
Our guide Mitch was just amazing! He shared his knowledge and history with our group with ease! He started right on time and guided us through the loop buildings even in the pouring rain. Still making it such an interesting tour! We were a group of four with guests from Savannah who loved this tour also! Amazing! Again, Mitch nailed it!
Susan L, Oct 2017
I would give this tour the 5 stars, highly recommended. Some gems you would otherwise not know about. We absolutely loved it. Our tour guide was fantastic!!!
Jon P, Sep 2017
This tour is a must on a visit to Chicago... so much of the city's earlier 20th century history is captured in this tour of the moderne art deco architecture. One does not tend to appreciate these gems hidden among the neo-classic buildings and glass high rises, but once seen, a lasting impression that will keep us looking in the future. Leaves one with the question if in 80 years people will be making glass and steel tours. Somehow, one doesn't get the feeling of enduring beauty as one does with Art Deco.... The detail work on the interiors of these amazing buildings is beautiful, and quite lacking in anything built since. The guide was experienced, and knowledgeable- particularly good at fitting the architecture into historical context. A great 2 hours, well worth the time and cost. We plan more Chicago Architectural Society tours in future visits! Finally- checking out and booking tours through Viator is something that can be very helpful before any visit to a city as a planning tool.
David K, Jul 2017
I love Art Deco and I loved this tour. I learned things I haven't seen on the internet. The 1920's and 30's were an amazing time on terms of design.
Jennifer P, Apr 2017
I did the historic skyscraper tour first, so a lot of the buildings were a repeat, but I learned completely different information on this tour, which made it still extremely worthwhile. This is a really good tour with lots of insight into the architects and the time periods.
Sherry P, Aug 2016
Tour was great, and loved the use of earpieces with antennae so everyone could hear the tour guide at all times.
Katie J, Aug 2016
It gave us a greater appreciation for Chicago's Art Deco history
Jayne L, Jul 2016
This your was excellent. Our your guide Bill was so knowledgeable and made the your so enjoyable. Could not recommend this your highly enough.
Elisabeth E, Jun 2016
Excellent tour! My guide Priscilla was really enthusiastic and by going on this tour you see some spectacular Art Deco interiors.
Loreen V, Jun 2016
Fabulous, fascinating, educational, great pace. Definitely recommend.
Donna F, Jun 2016
Our docent was most informative and enthusiastic about the art deco architecure. We lucked out with having great weather for our walk through Chicago. It did seem to go a little long, though. I would recommend the tour to others.
Karen R, Apr 2016
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and easy to understand. Well worth the time and money. :-
Karen F, Oct 2015
Wonderful, informative tour. Saw incredible Art Deco buildings and architectural details. Very nice and interesting tour guide too!
Harold C, Sep 2015
Great tour but the docent was pretty new and a bit uncertain. The buildings visited were spectacular, as is much of Chicago architecture.
Lena Y, Sep 2015
Very informative and ethtetical. Very good guide. Highly recommended to interested people.
Thomas B, Aug 2015
The tour was very interesting---the docent, Angela, was very informative and energetic. Learned a lot about Art Deco in general as well as got to see lots on interesting examples in the city. The tour was a nice length as well. Highly recommended!
Annette G, Jul 2015
Wow! A great walk that really helped me understand art deco - highly recommended
From $35.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Chicago Walking Tour: Art Deco Skyscrapers Loop
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