see it all tours chicago

(312) 659-8687

Chicago Minibus Tour

With the option to add the, chicago river architecture boat tour, our comfortable, climate controlled, award-winning chicago mini-bus tour takes you on an entertaining, narrated journey through the downtown area, and to several distinct neighborhoods., you’ll learn about the windy city's colorful past, cosmopolitan present and exciting future., photo stops include: the buckingham fountain * the loop/rookery building the riverfront/wrigley building amazing skyline view/lakefront lincoln park ** * may-october ** november-april, below are some of the many famous sights you will see:.

The Loop Millennium Park

Museum Campus & Skyline View

Buckingham Fountain

Chicago River

Lincoln Park

Loop/Millennium Park

Millennium park.

Museum Campus

Adults: $47.95 * Children: $37.95 (ages 4-12) *

(children 3 and under ride free when not occupying a separate seat), 10:00 am, 1:00 pm tuesday-sunday 2 hour tour, with 4 photo stops., (stops and route subject to change) complimentary pickups available from most downtown hotels., for reservations call: (312) 659-8687, or click the 'book now" button below * enter promo code 'mini' to receive $5.00 off per person, parking if you are not staying downtown, we can pick you up from the front of: the doubletree hotel magnificent mile- 300 e. ohio st. parking is available in several structures surrounding the hotel. go to www.spothero.com for reduced parking prices. there is nobody to check in with. please be waiting on the ohio st. side of the hotel. pickup time at the doubletree is 9:30 for the 10:00 tour and 12:30 for the 1:00.

Chicago Minibus Tour plus the Chicago River Architecture Boat Tour

At the conclusion of your chicago mini bus tour, we’ll take you to the magnificent mile. there, you will board a shoreline sightseeing chicago river architecture tour boat, architecture, you’ll enjoy a 75-minute cruise along the scenic chicago river in a large open air tour boat, while learning a thing or twenty about architecture, chicago history and even how to reverse the direction of a river, not to bury the lead, but there is a bar on the boat, for those in need of a refreshing or relaxing libation., this tour ends at michigan ave and wacker drive. most downtown hotels are within a mile of this location. , chicago minibus tour plus the popular chicago river architecture boat tour , adults: $99.95 * children: $65.95 (ages 4-12) *, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm tuesday-sunday, mini bus + boat tours together last approximately 4 hours. the mini bus and boat tours do not have to be taken consecutively. complimentary pickups available from most downtown hotels., or click the 'book now" button below * enter promo code 'boat' to receive $8.00 off per person, parking if you are not staying downtown, we can pick you up from the front of: the doubletree hotel magnificent mile- 300 e. ohio st. parking is available in several structures surrounding the hotel. go to www.spothero.com for reduced parking prices. there is nobody to check in with. please be waiting on the ohio st. side of the hotel. pickup time at the doubletree is 9:30 for the 10:00 tour and 12:30 for the 1:00 the chicago river architecture boat tour begins and ends less than 3 short blocks from the doubletree magnificent mile., private chicago tours, just you and your family and friends is the most convenient way to tour, our chicago bus tour picks you up and drops you off at your hotel or anywhere else in  downtown chicago. at the end of the tour, we can drop you off pretty much anywhere, too. want to finish at millennium park fine. the willis tower sure. the art institute of chicago, no problem. our other tours pick you up, but even then, you generally have to ride around to several more hotels while we pick up the others on your tour. with our private tour, we pick you up and away you go, when you are touring with others, you’re usually expected to be quiet and respectful of them. on a private tour, you can let loose, tell inside jokes, laugh and just be silly. bottom line, you can have more fun as for the tour itinerary, you can either leave that up to us, or we can focus on the things that you want to see. private tours are, of course, fully customizable., private chicago sightseeing tour prices, 1-11 people 2-hours: $479 3-hours: $599 4-hours: $699 12 or more: call for pricing, (prices include 9% city and 3% county amusement taxes), for this tour, you must call us at (312) 659-8687 to book.

How long are the tours? Our Chicago mini bus tour is two hours. The combination with the bus and Chicago River Architecture boat tour about 3.5-4 hours.

Where do we start the tour? Our tour picks up at most of the downtown Chicago hotels. If you are not staying at one of them, give us a call and we’ll tell you where to go (in the nicest possible sense).

Will there definitely be seats for us? Yes. Several of our competitors over-sell their tours, so that sometimes there are seats, sometimes not. Once you reserve with us, your seats will be yours for the entire tour. Also, our seats are nice and plush. Not plastic seats or wooden benches.

Can we take lots of photos? Absolutely. While you can take pics throughout the tour, we have 3 (sometimes 4) photo stops. They are located in the best places to get the most amazing pictures of Chicago.

Can we easily ask questions of our guide? Our mini buses hold just 14 guests. That way, you’ll be close to the guide and able to ask questions (and get correct answers)

Are Your Tour Guides Experienced? Our guides are all very experienced and knowledgeable about Chicago. They have all lived here for at least 20 years. You can ask them anything.

Will we see anything designed by Frank Lloyd Wright? Only a couple of walking tours and ours take you inside one of the first skyscrapers ever built, The Rookery. The awe inspiring lobby was designed by Mr. Wright. You may recognize it from the movies “The Untouchables” and “Home Alone Part 2”.

How does the architecture boat tour portion work? At the end of your mini bus tour, we will take you to the Shoreline Sightseeing dock on Michigan Ave. The boat tours leave about every 30-45 minutes and you can use your tickets at any time, even on a different day. Let’s say that it is raining or too hot (or both), you have the option to wait until a better time to ride the boat.

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For Chicago sightseeing tour reservations call: (312) 659-8687. You can also email us by filling out the form below.

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See it All Chicago Tours

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Chicago City Minibus Tour

Chicago City Tour with Architecture River Cruise Option

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

See it All Chicago Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

See It All Chicago Tours

Review Highlights

“ We had missed our scheduled time the day before and Rick worked with us to reschedule at no extra cost. ” in 6 reviews

“ It was a small group, in a minibus , that provided a comprehensive tour of downtown Chicago. ” in 3 reviews

“ The vehicle was clean, warm, comfortable, and carries about 20 people when full, I think. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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Chicago, IL 60613

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About the Business

See it ALL Chicago Tours has been showing Chicago visitors the City Beautiful since 2005. Climate controlled, large windowed mini buses and the best tour guides in Chicago combine to give you a great touring experience. We offer city tours as well as mini bus + Chicago River boat tours. …

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I'll serially do this again. Easily the best tour I have been on in years. It was fun, funny, informative, historic, full of wonderful architecture, local movie filming, Incredible city and lake views, river views, and more. When I come back to visit Chicago again, I will easily choose this provider to take me on a tour of the city again. It was good enough to see again and again. Our host was friendly, knowledgeable, and answered all our questions with a sense of humor. The vehicle was clean, warm, comfortable, and carries about 20 people when full, I think. On my next visit I will ask to see "The Bean" close-up.

Tour owner guide Rich.

We did the two-hour $40 tour today. It featured non-stop live narration by the driver. Not a lot of cross talk with the customers, it was more or less a monologue. In fact, one of the passengers made a foreshadowing comment about something that was coming up soon, and the driver got kind of pissed and made a crack about "are you doing the tour, or am I?". His comment had a bit of a serious edge to it. The bus was comfy, and the sound system was excellent. We went all over downtown and many neighborhoods. We visited all many Loop neighborhoods, the Sears Tower, the Planetarium, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Millennium Park, the Museum Campus, Soldier Field, the Art Institute of Chicago, the "The Magnificent Mile", the Gold Coast neighborhood, Lincoln Park, etc. We couldn't get near Wrigley Field because the Cubs were playing a day game. We had 3 brief stops, and the driver was good about offering bathroom breaks for those in need. He did a nice job recommending museums, restaurants, and all sorts of attractions. All in all, it was OK, not stellar and not something I would ever rave about.

I went on a See It All Chicago Tour, Saturday, December 17, 2016. I elected to go on the Mini Bus Tour. It was scheduled to begin at 10 am and I paid a total of $37.10 for the tour. The customer service agent said over the telephone that they don't pick up customers at the hotel I was staying in (Travelodge Downtown) and that I would have to go to another location to be picked up. When I printed my ticket, there were specific instructions on it for me to wait in the lobby of the Doubletree by Hilton hotel. Fair enough. That didn't seem like an unreasonable request. I caught a bus to the Doubletree and got there around 8:45 am. I was super early and I told the front desk people why I was there. Then I waited. And waited some more. Every now and then I'd glance up and see hotel workers either giving me the side eye or quickly turning their heads as they pretended they hadn't been staring at me just a moment ago. It was almost 10 am by this time. Then one of the employees said I had a phone call at the front desk. It was from the driver of my tour and he said he'd been trying to call my cellphone and he wondered why I wasn't at the Travelodge when he came to pick me up there! I'd turned my phone on silent, as I hadn't planned on having to use it. I thought all I needed to do was follow the original instructions to meet at the Doubletree. He told me the tour had just begun and I could either reschedule for the 1 pm tour or catch a taxi to the Adler Planetarium where the tour group currently was and I'd be reimbursed for the cab fare. . Since I had other things planned that day, I paid a taxi $10 to take me to the Adler, got out and didn't see the shuttle. I went inside the planetarium and no one there knew what I was talking about. After going back outside, I saw the shuttle and flagged it down, as it appeared to be pulling off. The tour group was very small. The only customers besides myself was a man from Spokane, WA and a married couple from my current hometown of Atlanta. The driver was a New Jersey transplant who'd been living in Chicago for several years and he had an attitude as if the whole mix-up had been my fault when all I'd done was follow the instructions I was given. I was late for my tour, but at least I was there now and I was reimbursed for cab fare as promised. The tour seemed a bit rushed to me. We only got out of the shuttle three times to take pictures for a few minutes and the driver never got out at all. Had his back turned to us pretty much the whole time. I understand it was a chilly day but it would've been nice if he'd been more personable. I've been on city tours in Las Vegas and Miami and I've never been on a tour where the tour guide didn't get out of the ride. He could've at least taken photos of us or something. I do give him credit though for his knowledge of everything we saw. He knew his stuff but he appeared to be in a hurry. We were trying to take pictures of various landmarks that he was telling us about and he'd zoom right past it before we could get it in focus. There goes the famous Bean sculpture. Zoom! There goes the original Playboy Mansion. Vroom! There goes the Abraham Lincoln thingy. Whoops, missed it again! Al Capone used to hang out here. And there it goes! Yeah, we were "seeing it all" but damn.... The photographer in me didn't miss everything though. I took some good shots of downtown Chicago, Museum Campus, the famous Chicago Theatre, and especially Trump International Hotel and Tower. Whatever way you feel about Donald Trump, his hotel is spectacular and is currently the second tallest building in Chicago. We got out near it for one of our stops. While I was photographing it I couldn't help but say to myself in my best Donald Trump voice, "This tour is a disaster." After the tour was over, the driver/tour guide dropped us off at our hotels or at various landmarks. The married couple requested to be dropped off near the Willis Tower and he obliged. I was the last one off the shuttle and he did take me to the Travelodge Hotel, where I discovered I'd somehow lost the key to my room. Maybe I left it in the taxi because I didn't find it when I searched the seats on the shuttle. That's not the tour's fault though, but it does show how flustered I must have been, as I've never lost a hotel key in my life. I'm rating this tour two stars. I didn't feel like it was a total waste of time because I managed to see more than I would have if I'd looked for all of that in one day on my own. But I did feel as if poor communication between the office and the tour guide led to the original mix up. The driver was going through the motions and just wanted to get the tour over with. It could improve immensely with a little more interaction and maybe stopping and letting us get out at two of the major parks we passed (Lincoln Park and Millennium Park).

See all photos from Mosiah L. for See It All Chicago Tours

We just had a fabulous tour with Rick, our guide for the morning tour. We originally had a later tour scheduled but due to snow forecast for later in the day, they changed it to earlier. Beside having great knowledge of Chicago history and lore, Rick had a great sense of humor! He gladly answered any questions and gave us recommendations for restaurants. Despite snow falling we had a very informational tour and would highly recommend that you ask for Rick. This is our second time trying smaller bus/van tours instead of mega buses, and were pleased. The smaller size vehicle can get up closer to whatever landmark that's being discussed and is easier in traffic. Rick even accommodated us by dropping us off at a location we wanted, saving us getting out in snow to get an Uber.

I've visited Chicago several times and taken boat tours several times, but this minibus tour was the best! We were taken to areas I'd heard about but not been to. We were picked up exactly on time. The driver was friendly and very knowledgeable about Chicago. I liked the smaller group. It allowed for discussions and fun. We were never rushed at any of the stops. Would recommend to anyone wanting to see Chicago even if it's not your first visit.

Got the brochure from the hotel concierge, and we were able to book a tour for 2 hours later. Adding a star for the quick turnaround and the super convenient hotel pickup. If you're just coming into Chicago for a short time, and really aren't familiar with the area, this is probably a pretty good overview of some of the tourist highlights. I wish we had done this on the first day here, then planned the rest of our stay. I also looked at Frommer's self guided walking tours, and this pretty much covered all the highlights and then some. The tour guide was nice and seemed pretty knowledgeable, but since Wrigley Field and Navy Pier are on the brochure, I thought we'd get to see them. We got a brief glimpse of the pier on the way back to the hotel, but not good enough even for a photo. We got some neat photos, glimpses of a few movie locations and other interesting tidbits that we wouldn't have otherwise gotten, but I'm sure there are better tours out there.

Skyline view.

The water tower theater (apparently owned and operated by David Schwimmer). Wouldn't have known :)

I had the best time today on the 2 hour minibus tour of Chicago. Our guide (I wish I could remember his name...) was so great. He was friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating,..everything you would want. Chicago is such a beautiful city it was a pleasure to understand more of its history and breathtaking architecture. I only wish I had more time and was here at the time of year where more tours are available. Definitely a highlight of my short time here in Chicago.

This was a great tour. It was a small group, in a minibus, that provided a comprehensive tour of downtown Chicago. I especially appreciated that we were able to get out of the vehicle 3 times to get a better view (and photos)! Our guide, Paul, was excellent. He provided lots of information on the sights we saw, history, architecture and even threw in a few recommendations in places to visit and dine. This was time and money well spent.

First time in Chicago, really nice service. Rick is very knowledgeable on almost every spot we go. Me and my fiancee had a good time.

My brother-in-law booked a tour with See It All Chicago Tours based on the many positive reviews. There were 10 of us from Boston in our party and we all agreed that it was a great choice. Rick, the Proprietor, gave us a 2 hour tour of Chicago and taught us a lot about this great city, from the various building architectures to the different neighborhoods to the many tourist attractions. If you're looking to learn a lot about Chicago and have limited time to do so, I highly recommend booking a tour with Rick at See It All Chicago Tours. You won't be disappointed.

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Chicago City Minibus Tour

Chicago City Tour with Architecture River Cruise Option

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

See it All Chicago Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

See it All Chicago Tours

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Chicago City Minibus Tour

Chicago City Tour with Architecture River Cruise Option

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

SEE IT ALL CHICAGO TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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The 15 best chicago tours for 2024, according to reviews.

Foodies, architecture buffs and historians alike will appreciate these tours of the Windy City.

The 15 Best Chicago Tours for 2024

Alejandro Reyes | Choose Chicago

One of the best ways to sightsee your way through a new city is with the help of a local. With this in mind, U.S. News rounded up some of Chicago 's best guided tours. Whether you're sailing past Willis Tower on a river cruise or sampling some of Chicago's best deep-dish pizza on a foodie excursion, you'll gain a cultural and historical understanding of the Windy City during these tours.

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise

Price: From $54 Duration: 1.5 hours

The Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise ferries passengers along the Chicago River as docents from the Chicago Architecture Center regale them with the stories behind more than 50 notable buildings. The volunteer docents repeatedly win high praise from reviewers for their in-depth knowledge of the city's history and its structures. Many reviewers called this the best thing to do in Chicago. The cruising vessels, part of the Chicago's First Lady Cruises fleet, can carry up to 250 people and boast full-service bars and open-air upper decks.

For a different perspective of the city's iconic architecture, consider the twilight sailing, which costs a few dollars extra. For an additional $5, you can also gain admittance to the Chicago Architecture Center (which usually costs $14 on its own).

Check prices & availability on:

Chicago Food & City Tours – Gateway to the West Loop Food Tour

Price: Adults from $85; kids from $50 Duration: 3 hours

This foodie tour centers on the West Loop neighborhood's incredible dining scene, and provides insider insights to the area's evolution from a meat-packing and warehouse district to the Restaurant Row of today. Foods you may sample include doughnuts, hamburgers, pizza and cupcakes. Guides regularly earn five stars from travelers for their insight and enthusiasm. Reviewers find the tour worth the price for the generous amounts of food provided. What's more, group sizes are restricted to 16 people and tours do not involve extensive walking (a little more than half a mile).

Tours are offered Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m. Hungry for more? The company also offers a tour inspired by the TV show "The Bear," which is set in Chicago, as well as a tour all about the city's most iconic foods.

Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours – Chicago Lakefront Museum Campus Tour

Price: From $65 Duration: 2 hours

The Chicago Lakefront/Museum Campus tour offered by Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours showcases many of the city's most popular attractions along its 5- to 6-mile route, including Millennium Park (the starting point), Grant Park , Monroe Harbor, the Field Museum , Shedd Aquarium , Soldier Field and the Adler Planetarium. Participants applaud tour guides for their expertise and professionalism and say this is a safe, fun way to see the city's top sights in a short amount of time.

Note that riders must be at least 12 years old to participate. Tours are available multiple times a day from spring through autumn. The company offers several other Segway tours, some centered around other parts of the city or with specific themes like architecture, crime and ghosts.

Inside Chicago Walking Tours – Dazzling Interiors of the Loop

Price: Adults from $30; kids from $25 Duration: 2 hours

Many travelers are familiar with Chicago's distinct architecture, but its equally captivating indoor spaces are not as well known. This tour reveals interior architectural details that visitors might otherwise miss. Guides take participants inside some of Chicago's most stunning buildings to admire elements like a gilded 80-foot-high ceiling, art deco lobbies, early Frank Lloyd Wright designs and rooms with stained-glass mosaics. Reviewers describe this tour, which involves about 1 1/2 miles of walking, as an informative and entertaining way to learn about the history of Chicago and its diverse, distinctive buildings. Others said this tour is great for first-time visitors and locals alike.

Tours operate Thursday through Monday at 11 a.m. Once you've toured all of the buildings at the street level, consider the company's Chicago Pedway tour, which tours the downtown underground tunnels that residents use to stay warm and dry during bad weather.

Courtesy of Bobby's Bike Hike Chicago

Bobby's Bike Hike Chicago – Bikes, Bites & Brews Chicago’s Signature Dishes Bike Tour

Price: From $85 Duration: 4 hours

This triple threat tour combines bicycling, food and beer. The 13-mile ride traverses the Gold Coast, Lakeview, Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park neighborhoods with stops for pizza, beer, cupcakes and hot dogs. Reviewers say the pace of the tour is easy and applaud the guides for their fun and engaging commentary. Others said they learned a lot about Chicago, calling the ride entertaining and educational.

Tours are generally offered daily at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (except during the winter). Note that the evening tour mostly bikes around downtown Chicago. If you're interested in venturing beyond downtown, book the morning tour. Tickets cover the cost of the bike rental as well as food and drinks. Participants must be at least 21 years old. If you're traveling with kids, try the company's Family & Food Bike Tour of Top Attractions.

Chicago Pizza Tours – Original Chicago Pizza Tour

Price: Adults from $75; kids from $45 Duration: 3.5 hours

Enjoy a crash course in what makes Chicago pizza so iconic on this delicious tour. You'll visit four independently run neighborhood pizzerias and sample six or more slices of pizza in a variety of styles (deep dish, tavern, artisanal and Neapolitan, to name a few). You'll meet downtown for your first slice before boarding a bus to neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Bucktown. Reviewers compliment the informative and entertaining tour guides and insist that the tour is about more than just pizza, highlighting the various aspects of Chicago history, architecture and culture that's spotlighted during the nearly half-day excursion.

Tours run Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. The company also offers pizza crawls of downtown and Bucktown.

Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tour

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $17 Duration: 2 hours

If you're interested in the darker side of Chicago history, specifically its gangsters and ghosts, consider this walking tour. With a historian leading the way, you'll stroll for about 1.5 miles around the Loop – once known as the "Vice" district in the 1920s and '30s for its rampant partying, speakeasy saloons and underground tunnels used by bootleggers. Participants rave about the guides for their storytelling abilities and say the length of the tour is perfect for when you need a break from the city's more touristy activities.

Tours run four times daily beginning at 11 a.m. The company also runs a Gangster Food Tour that highlights some of the city's most iconic foods like deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, as well as the restaurants that once served as some of Al Capone's old hideouts.

Courtesy of Big Bus Chicago

Big Bus Chicago – The Big Loop - Red Route

Price: Adults from $49.50; kids from $35.10 Duration: 2 hours

Big Bus Chicago's hop-on, hop-off tours invite tourists to tailor their sightseeing excursions to their preferences by allowing them to spend as much time as they want at any of the 11 stops on the company's red route. Tour-takers can "hop off" a bus and explore any of the top attractions featured along the way, such as Skydeck Chicago , Navy Pier or Millennium Park, and then "hop on" a later bus. If you don't get off the bus, the entire route takes about two hours. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours, so you can hop on and off as much you please.

Buses run every 30 minutes starting at 10 a.m. daily and include prerecorded commentary in both English and Spanish. Reviews from recent travelers were mixed: Some riders loved the convenience of the bus, saying it puts you within easy walking distance of the city's best attractions, but others were disappointed with the quality of the prerecorded commentary and said you should try to seek out the few busses that feature a live guide. If you want to ensure you'll have a live guide on your bus, consider booking the nonstop, 90-minute Sunset Live Tour, which is offered from May to October.

Secret Food Tours: Chicago 

Price: Adults from $79; kids from $69 Duration: 3.5 hours   Follow a local foodie around the Loop district for what the company calls a "moving feast." You'll make six stops to sample some of the city's most notable dishes, including deep-dish pizza, gourmet popcorn, a Chicago-style hot dog, an Italian beef sandwich and a brownie (which was purportedly invented in Chicago). What's more, there's a secret dish revealed the day of the tour. Plus, tours are capped at 12 participants to ensure an intimate experience. Reviewers say guides do an excellent job of highlighting not only Chicago's distinct food scene, but also its history and architecture. They also advise that you'll want to come hungry as the portions are generous.

Tours operate daily at multiple times; the earliest tour departs at 11:30 a.m. The company can also arrange private tours.

Underground Donut Tour – Chicago: Downtown Tour

Price: Adults from $55; kids from $50 Duration: 2 hours   Come hungry for this food tour, which visits four of the best doughnut shops in the city, including Doughnut Vault and Do-Rite Donuts. As you nosh on the sweet treats, your guide will share the history of each shop and the history of doughnuts in Chicago. Travelers recommend this tour for the knowledgeable, engaging guides and the delicious selection of doughnuts. They also say you'll learn about much more than doughnuts, as guides share historical tidbits about Chicago and recommendations for how to make the most of your trip.

Tours operate daily at 10 a.m.; additional 9 a.m. and noon tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday.

Graham Chapman | Choose Chicago

Urban Kayak Chicago Riverwalk – Historic Chicago Tour

Price: From $55 Duration: 2 hours

For a "duck's-eye," up-close view of the city, take Urban Kayak's Historic Chicago Tour. Starting at the Riverwalk , tour-takers paddle their kayaks on the main branch of the Chicago River with periodic stops at points of historical interest, where guides provide information regarding the city's famed architecture. Reviewers say this is a great experience, even for beginners, and recommend the tour for travelers looking for a unique alternative to the popular architecture river cruises. Meanwhile, others note that the experienced guides are skillful at navigating boat traffic.

Tours are offered multiple times a day spring through early fall. Urban Kayak also offers kayak rentals and paddleboarding classes.

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Shoreline Sightseeing – Skyline Lake Cruise

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $17 Duration: 45 minutes

If you've already taken an architecture cruise on the Chicago River and can't get enough of the views, consider this boat tour. Shoreline Sightseeing Skyline Lake Tours offer unrivaled views of Chicago's skyline, and many photo opportunities, via cruises along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The 6-mile trip provides views of notable landmarks, such as the John Hancock Center, the Willis Tower (aka the Sears Tower), Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum, as well as an informative prerecorded commentary. According to reviewers, these iconic buildings are much more visible from the water than they are on the street, though a few warned that it's difficult to hear the recorded commentary from certain areas of the boat (sit in the middle of the boat if you want to ensure you can hear the narration).

Travelers can purchase drinks at the onboard cash bar. Tours are offered daily spring through autumn (weather permitting) and depart from Navy Pier. Shoreline Sightseeing also offers architecture cruises along the Chicago River.

Ken Flisek | Courtesy of Tall Ship Windy

Tall Ship Windy – Chicago Skyline Sail

Price: Adults from $49; kids from $39 Duration: 75 minutes

Tall Ship Windy's Chicago Skyline Sail features views of the city from the deck of a 148-foot, four-masted schooner. Reviewers tout the remarkable views of the city's impressive buildings and, weather-permitting, the special experience of being able to actually sail and not rely on the boat's motor. What's more, tour participants commend the crew members for their professionalism, humor and knowledge of Chicago.

From spring through fall, there are generally four sails daily starting at 1 p.m.; the 1 p.m. sailing focuses on piracy in the Great Lakes and the Caribbean. Tall Ship Windy has a full bar on board (drinks are not included in the ticket price). In addition to daily sails, Tall Ship Windy offers evening cruises timed to the fireworks display at Navy Pier, which occurs on select dates in the summer.

Chicago Crime Tours and Experiences – Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour

Price: From $42 Duration: 2 hours

If you're a fan of true crime, you'll be intrigued by this bus tour, which explores the city's most famous gangsters and crime scenes. As you drive in a variety of Chicago neighborhoods, including the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, the Loop, the Magnificent Mile , Old Town and River North, your guide will share stories and you'll watch historic video footage. The bus tour includes stops at the spots where gangsters like Hymie Weiss were killed as well as the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. It also visits locales associated with Al Capone, Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti and Leopold and Loeb, among others. Reviewers laud the tours for providing a unique angle on Chicago's colorful history and describe guides as entertaining.

Tours are offered multiple times a day. For a longer tour with even more stops, consider the company's Night Crimes Tour.

Check prices & availability:

City Experiences – Chicago Seadog Lakefront Speedboat Tour

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $25 Duration: 30 minutes

Zip across Lake Michigan during this high-speed, narrated half-hour tour. During the ride, you'll see striking views of the Chicago skyline and hear some descriptions of the sights. Visitors praise the crew's knowledge and charisma. They also enjoy whipping along the waves. Keep in mind: The boat is open-air, which means you might get wet. The company also discourages pregnant women and travelers with back or neck sensitivities from participating.

Speedboat rides are offered daily spring through fall. City Cruises also operates a narrated architecture cruise, in addition to brunch and dinner cruises.

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Sightseeing tours in Chicago by Gray Line include bus tours, historical tours and riverboat architectural tours where you can get a good overview of the city’s attractions so that you can plan a more detailed itinerary. You can experience the vacation of a lifetime exploring gangster hidey holes, glittering shopping destinations, historic sites and magnificent attractions like the Gold Coast. The first step is booking a Chicago tour. It’s tough to choose what to see in Chicago because the city has it all--miles of beaches, historic buildings, famous restaurants, stunning architecture and world-class museums. Gray Line offers Chicago tours that help you plan the rest of your vacation. Our Company has a history almost as storied as Chicago--Gray Lines was founded in 1910 and has helped millions of travelers in hundreds of offices. Our Chicago tour experts are ready to help you plan the most memorable vacation of a lifetime.

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Chicago is known around the world for its architecture. Whether you choose to explore our fabled downtown or one of the city’s many distinct and charming neighborhoods, our expert docents will guide you by boat, bus, train or on foot and share the stories behind the buildings. Visit iconic skyscrapers, elegant hotels or the legendary houses of Frank Lloyd Wright. With dozens of tours to choose from, we won't blame you if you can't pick just one.

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Music and Concerts | Billie Eilish announces concert tour with…

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Music and concerts | billie eilish announces concert tour with chicago dates this fall.

Billie Eilish’s newly announced concert tour will bring her to Chicago for two shows at the United Center in November.

The world tour will be in support of her soon-to-be-released third studio album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” set for May 17.

The tour is slated to arrive in Chicago for concerts at 7 p.m. Nov. 13-14. Tickets go on sale in American Express and fan club presales at noon April 30, then to the public at noon May 3. Tickets for the Live Nation tour will be sold via Ticketmaster .

The tour, announced Monday , is slated to begin with North American concerts in Quebec on Sept. 29, then a first U.S. show in Baltimore in early October. It wraps up U.S. dates in December, then heads to Australia in February before moving on to Europe and the U.K.

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Billie Eilish announces 2 Chicago concerts as part of new tour

Eilish's "hit me hard and soft: the tour," which is set to kick off its northern american leg in september, includes two performances at chicago's united center in november, published april 29, 2024 • updated on april 29, 2024 at 11:58 am.

Billie Eilish's new tour will include two stops in Chicago this fall.

Eilish's "Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour," which is set to kick off its Northern American leg in September, includes two performances at Chicago's United Center in November.

Watch 24/7 free news online with NBC 5 Chicago’s stream

The shows are set to take place on Nov. 13-14, Live Nation announced.

The tour announcement comes just after Eilish dropped her third studio album "Hit Me Hard and Soft."

Tickets are set to go on sale Friday, with presale beginning Tuesday here .

See the full tour dates below:

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR   - NORTH AMERICA*

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Severe weather threatens Chicago area with potential for hail, gusty winds, tornado

Sun Sep 29 – Québec, QC – Centre Videotron

Tue Oct 01 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

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Wed Oct 02 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Fri Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena

Sat Oct 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

Mon Oct 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

Wed Oct 09 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

Fri Oct 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

Sun Oct 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

Wed Oct 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Thu Oct 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Fri Oct 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Sat Nov 02 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Sun Nov 03 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Wed Nov 06 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Fri Nov 08 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center

Sun Nov 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

Mon Nov 11 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

Wed Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Thu Nov 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sat Nov 16 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

Sun Nov 17 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha

Tue Nov 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Wed Nov 20 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Tue Dec 03 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

Thu Dec 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Fri Dec 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Sun Dec 08 – Portland, OR – Moda Center

Tue Dec 10 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose

Wed Dec 11 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose

Fri Dec 13 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena

Sun Dec 15 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

Mon Dec 16 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

Tue Dec 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

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