Best Tours in Chicago
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Chicago
All self-guided activities
This self-guided audio walking tour introduces first-time visitors to the heart of downtown Chicago. It is ideal for travelers interested in city design, architecture, public spaces, and the layered history hidden between busy streets and famous landmarks. Your route begins in the Chicago Pedway, the underground network of passages beneath the Loop, where tiled corridors, storefronts, and station connections reveal a lesser-seen side of the city. From there, you head to City Hall to see its grand neoclassical facade and the civic center of Chicago. The tour then leads you toward the Chicago River, where bridges, boat traffic, and canyon-like towers show why this waterway shaped the city’s growth. You continue to the gleaming white Wrigley Building and the Gothic crown of Tribune Tower before turning south toward Millennium Park and Cloud Gate. The walk ends in the Chicago Loop, the district that gave downtown its name and still pulses with trains, office towers, theaters, and sidewalks full of movement. Along the way, the most memorable moments include stepping from the dim Pedway into bright streets, looking up at ornate skyline details, watching the river cut through steel and stone, and seeing your reflection ripple across the polished curve of Cloud Gate.
This self-guided audio walk introduces first-time visitors to downtown Chicago through public art, river views, grand architecture, and the city’s lively waterfront. It is a great fit for travelers who want an easy-to-follow route with famous sights and a clear sense of how Chicago looks and feels on the ground. Your route begins at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, where the polished steel surface bends the skyline, the trees, and your own reflection into a shimmering curve. From there, you head toward the Chicago Riverwalk to follow the water between tall towers and bridges, then dip into the Chicago Pedway, a hidden network beneath the busy streets above. The walk continues to Tribune Tower, where carved stones from world landmarks are set into the walls, and then along the Magnificent Mile, lined with storefronts, flags, and high-rises. The tour ends at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, where the open water, the long boardwalk, and the Ferris wheel create a festive finish. Along the way, the most memorable moments include standing beneath the mirror-bright arch of Cloud Gate, hearing the river move under steel bridges, spotting Gothic details high on Tribune Tower, and reaching the lakefront where the city opens into sky and water.
Dive into Chicago's River North neighborhood with a self-directed audio walkthrough designed for urban adventurers eager to uncover the city's lesser-known treasures. This excursion offers a blend of Chicago's savory eats, vibrant street art, peculiar shopping venues, and sports legends, all crafted for those looking for an atypical journey beyond the usual sights. Starting at the Merchandise Mart, once the largest building in the world, the tour wraps up at the solemn Eastland Disaster Memorial. This audio guide leads you through a series of remarkable spots nestled in the urban landscape of River North. Travelers will engage with the haunting tales of the Old Chicago Historical Society, visit the birthplace of the deep-dish pizza, walk along the Chicago Riverwalk, and glimpse the Chicago sports legacy immortalized in handprints on La Salle Street. On this route, the pulsating heart and soul of the city are revealed in places like the Blues House, offering lively entertainment, and the vintage Reid Murdoch Building, showcasing Americana charm. This tour offers a chance to experience the city's dynamic spirit through your own eyes and curiosity, creating a memorable journey of Chicago's River North.
Delve into the enchanting streets of Chicago with this in-app audio tour, tailored for explorers keen to uncover the secrets of Streeterville, absorb the beauty of the Lakefront Trail, and indulge in the buzz of the Magnificent Mile. Perfect for anyone with a curious mind and a thirst for urban tales, this tour is your audio compass to the jewel of the Midwest. The journey begins at the bustling DuSable Bridge, gradually meandering through the historic Streeterville, alongside the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, and culminating amidst the grandeur of the Magnificent Mile, at the historic Green Door Tavern where mobsters used to hang out. Along the route, you'll be guided to iconic sites like the venerable Water Tower, the plush Oak Street Beach, and the towering John Hancock Building, all while unraveling the layers of Chicago's storied past. This walking expedition promises to paint pictures of disastrous shipwrecks, draw you into legendary battles, and place you in the footsteps of the city's most influential gangsters. By the end of this adventure, you will have not just traversed Chicago’s grand avenues but journeyed through the very history and heart that pulse beneath its surface.
Explore one of Chicago's most popular museums guided by your own in-app audio tour! Established in 1894, the Field Museum of Natural History holds over 35 world-renowned natural exhibitions. It's a great place to visit for all ages! This self-guided tour will take you through the museum's highlights and must-sees at your own pace. Start your journey by saying "hi" to Máximo the Titanosaur, the largest dinosaur ever discovered, and to the magnificent African elephants. Learn about giants like polar bears and dangerous man-eaters like Tsavo lions through finely elaborated dioramas, as you stroll along the Nature Walk. Then, you will get inside the Ancient Egyptian tomb and see 4,000-year-old mummies and sarcophagi that secure incredible history! On the Upper Level, you will marvel at sparkling gemstones and mysterious meteorites. Follow the steps of evolution, from bacteria to humans, at Evolving Planet exhibit. Another iconic giant will give you a "smile" here – SUE the T.rex, one of the world’s most perilous predators. NOTE! This tour DOES NOT include a ticket! Buy it at www.fieldmuseum.org This tour is not affiliated with the FMNH but is provided by an independent creator.
Cities in United States
About Chicago
The best tours to do in Chicago with kids are:
The best walking tours to do in Chicago are:
The must-see attractions in Chicago for a first visit are:
Insider tips for visiting Chicago
Alexandra Sam is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2020 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Chicago on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Chicago.
When I visit Chicago for shopping, I usually head to Wicker Park first for indie boutiques along Milwaukee Avenue—great vintage, local designers, and the kind of spots locals actually browse on weekends. In Chicago, I also love Andersonville for Scandinavian home goods, bookstores, and small shops with real neighborhood character. If you want polished fashion, Gold Coast has Oak Street’s designer storefronts, but I’d pair it with nearby Rush Street side blocks for smaller finds. For anyone planning to visit Chicago, these areas belong in any travel guide Chicago locals would trust, especially if you want things to do in Chicago beyond the obvious downtown retail stretch.
When I’m in Chicago on my own, I recommend spending a few hours walking the Riverwalk, then hopping on the water taxi to Chinatown or Ping Tom Park. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Chicago because you get skyline views, people-watching, and a real feel for how Chicago moves. If you like museums, I’d pair that with a solo wander through the Art Institute’s modern wing, where it’s easy to linger at your own pace. Among the best attractions in Chicago, this combo feels social without needing company. For anyone comparing tours in Chicago and wondering what to see in Chicago, this is the most relaxed, local-feeling option I know.
When I want quieter attractions in Chicago, I usually send people to the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park—it feels tucked away, especially early in the morning. In Chicago, I also love the Garfield Park Conservatory’s fern room and the mosaic-lined passages inside the Pedway near the Cultural Center, which most visitors miss completely. Locals know Promontory Point is one of the best answers to what to see in Chicago if you want skyline views without the usual crowds. If you’re comparing tours in Chicago, I’d skip the obvious stops and spend time in these places instead; they show a more intimate side of Chicago.
In my travel guide Chicago advice, I usually tell friends to give Chicago at least three full days, and four if they want the city to feel less rushed. When I visit Chicago, one day usually goes to the lakefront and downtown architecture, another to neighborhoods like Pilsen or Andersonville, and a third to a museum plus a good long meal. Chicago rewards slow wandering more than box-checking. If you only stay two days, you’ll still cover major things to do in Chicago, but you’ll miss the part locals love most: lingering in neighborhood cafés, bookstores, and parks instead of racing between landmarks.
When I visit Chicago for food, I usually send people beyond downtown. In Chicago, I love Pilsen for taquerias, pan dulce, and casual spots where you can eat well between murals and galleries. I also recommend Devon Avenue for South Asian restaurants and groceries—go hungry and wander a few blocks. For Italian, locals know Heart of Chicago on Oakley has old-school red-sauce places that feel unchanged in the best way. If you want a broader mix, Logan Square is one of my favorite things to do in Chicago at dinner time, especially for inventive bistros and late-night cocktails. Any solid travel guide Chicago should point you to neighborhoods like these.
When I want a break from central Chicago, I usually head to Oak Park for Frank Lloyd Wright homes and quiet, tree-lined streets that feel completely different from downtown Chicago. I also recommend the Chicago Botanic Garden up in Glencoe if you want a slower day; locals love it in late spring and early fall. For lake views, I like taking the South Shore Line over toward Indiana Dunes for a half-day escape. These aren’t the first attractions in Chicago people usually name, but they add depth to what to see in Chicago. If you’re browsing tours in Chicago, I’d mix in one of these nearby outings for a better feel of the region.
In my travel guide Chicago advice, I usually say late May through June and again in September are the sweet spots. When I visit Chicago then, the lakefront is lively, patios are full, and you can actually enjoy long walks without summer’s heavy humidity or winter’s biting wind. Chicago in early fall is especially good if you want neighborhood festivals, baseball, and easier reservations. If you plan to visit Chicago in July or August, just expect hotter, stickier afternoons. For the best balance of weather and things to do in Chicago, I’d choose June if you want beach energy, or September if you prefer a more local, relaxed rhythm.