Chicago Walking Tour: A Walk Through Time
4.9
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Chicago Walking Tour: A Walk Through Time

By Chicago Architecture Center
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 5-100, max of 15 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Walking tour of Chicago Architecture
  • Narration by a professional and certified guide
  • Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center
  • Entry/Admission - Chicago
What's not included
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Storage for luggage or strollers
  • Coat check
  • Entry/Admission - Chicago
  • Entry/Admission - Chicago


Start:
  • Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
    Meet at the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3173P9

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Pets are not allowed.
    • The itinerary of this tour is subject to change without notice.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3173P9

    From
    $35.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
      Meet at the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
      Pass by
      Aqua Tower
    • 5
    • 6
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Chicago Architecture Center
      4.8 of 5 bubbles3,853
      Chicago, Illinois
    • H1958JZalexandraj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic experience!
      I had Maureen as my guide, and she was fabulous! The tour was wonderful and very informational. Got to see lots of beautiful architecture styles, both interior and exterior.
      Written March 18, 2025
    • Irener007
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Something fun and different.
      We took the walking tour of Chicago’s underground pedway.The tour was led by John S. It was a fun time and a good tour. I would recommend the tour as well as the docent, John S.
      Written March 13, 2025
    • H3859EMelizabethm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Educational and interesting experience about sacred locations in Chicago.
      Hello, I was able to participate in a walking tour today and I am happy to report it was an extremely enjoyable experience due to our docent, Maureen. Even sites that I did not think would be enjoyable, I enjoyed learning about. She was informative, professional, and very engaging and obviously puts a lot of time into learning about the sites to make the presentation interesting and engaging! Although it was very cold outside it was well worth the experience! Thank you, Elizabeth
      Written March 12, 2025
    • ritafE5047NX
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tiffany tour is fabulous
      Pris did a great job as our guide bringing to life all of the Tiffany works that we saw. We had a wonderful time! Price was very reasonable and just the right amount of time.
      Written March 12, 2025
    • phertz
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Experience!
      This was a great tour with a great tour guide Paul! Paul was clearly passionate and knowledgeable about the subject matter, and his stories about Chicago's history and the architecture really made the time pass incredibly quickly. Highly recommend this tour and tour guide!
      Written March 11, 2025
    • annette58_12
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Keys to Mies
      Paul was our docent and our Post War Modernization Tour was wonderful. Paul was very knowledgeable and had a friendly demeanor. I would definitely recommend this tour.
      Written March 11, 2025
    • E1288SNmaureenw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Art Deco: The Riverfront---a great tour!
      I took the Art Deco Riverfront tour with Russ S today, and it was outstanding. He gave great details about the art deco characteristics of each building, and had very engaging stories at many of the stops. So knowledgeable! Highly recommend!
      Written March 7, 2025
    • Victoria D
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant tour guide and gorgeous architecture
      Our tour guide Sandy P was amazing, really informative and answered all of our questions! We did the 1pm Chicago Must See tour on 7th March
      Written March 7, 2025
    • Navigator24233930753
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Historic Treasures walking tour
      The Historic Treasures walking tour we took with Matt was absolutely wonderful! Matt is an excellent tour guide and knew volumes about the historic buildings. I highly recommend any tour with CAC and becoming a member.
      Written March 4, 2025
    • Q2391SNjohann
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must do visiting Chicago.
      Amanda showed us the great architecture of Chicago. Very nice and interesting experience. We’ve enjoyed the tour very much.
      Written March 4, 2025
    • W8988VRmikek
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great view of how the Golden Age affected the style of buildings.
      Our docent did a wonderful job of explaining the style of each building and why it worked so well to suit its purpose. She was very knowledgeable and was a fabulous presenter. She made the tour interesting and fun.
      Written March 3, 2025
    • pamhubenak
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing visit to the Chicago Architecture Center!
      Oh, my goodness, what an amazing day! We entered the Chicago Architecture Center, this morning, planning to tour the new exhibit on Wrigley Field. I always like to begin our visits by watching the short video on the history of Chicago architecture. After the video, one of the nice docents, Mitch, asked if we had any questions. We began chatting with Mitch, then set off on our own personal walking tour. We were thrilled! We visited the Marquette Building, the Monandock, the Rookery and the Chicago Board of Trade. Mitch shared so much information with us along the walk and while we visited the buildings, which was absolutely wonderful. We cannot more highly recommend the Chicago Architecture Center and their fabulous docents, exhibits and tours. The river tour and walking tours are incredibly educational, making any trip to Chicago even more special. We love this amazing city.
      Written February 28, 2025
    • Mary M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      History, architecture and adapation
      To see the old post office come to life again was amazing. The tour gives you the history of Chicago's mail. You also have access to non-public spaces.
      Written February 26, 2025
    • Pioneer59908604583
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A really great way to better understand both Chicago and its architecture.
      This was one of the best tours I've ever had. Our guide, Cynthia, was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Chicago and about architecture. In an easy walk we visited a wide range of buildings from the 1800s to the recently constructed, including amazing Art Deco that shows Chicago style so well.
      Written February 24, 2025
    • Lauren S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun for architecture nerds and photographers!
      We had an AMAZING tour with John I. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared information that you wouldn’t necessarily find in a book or online source. He was very patient with our many questions and allowed time for pictures. If you are at all interested in architecture, I highly recommend this tour!
      Written February 23, 2025
    See all 3,853 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.9
    4.9 of 5 bubbles170 reviews
    Excellent
    160
    Very good
    7
    Average
    2
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    Culture59225049304
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2024 • Family
    The 90 minute walking tour gave us a chronological view of how and why Chicago became the premiere city for iconic skyscrapers. Our guide, Nancy did a wonderful job in laying out historical events that propelled the building boom in Chicago. We throughly enjoyed chronological nature of the tour and would highly recommend including it in your visit to downtown Chicago.
    Written September 27, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Walk Through Time tour and hope to see you again!
    Written September 30, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Chayanne
    Kansas City, MO5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Solo
    Great way to learn Chicago’s history. I have known Chicago’s history but the way this tour showed it to me was fascinating.
    Our tour guide Rene was very good explaining how from the very origins Chicago got the first settlers and how was discovered. From the Chicago great fire and the way they re built the city.
    How Chicago became a city and grew so fast due being the busiest trading port in the world.
    He showed us pretty cool architecture through the years and how it has evolved since then including all the new latest additions to the city.
    We saw some cool Art Deco buildings like the Motor club ,and contemporary styles like the St Regis.
    I really enjoyed this tour and I definitely will recommend it to everyone who is visiting or live in Chicago!
    Written April 21, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour with Rene and we hope to see you again soon!
    Written April 22, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jeff H
    Glasgow, United Kingdom3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Solo
    There were only three guests for the tour, probably as a consequence of the very cold and snowy weather. Nevertheless, our host was very enthusiastic and clearly knowledgeable about Chicago architecture, with lots of insights about the history of the buildings, some of which we were able to visit inside. All in all, a very useful and worthwhile tour.
    Written November 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you again soon.
    Written November 10, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Janna R
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2025 • Solo
    The tour struck the perfect balance between architecture and history, providing a comprehensive understanding of the city's development and the significance of its landmarks.
    Tom, the guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago and its architecture. His enthusiasm was contagious, and he brought the city's rich history to life with his engaging storytelling and sense of humor. The buildings we visited were breathtakingly beautiful, and Tom's insights helped me appreciate the intricate details and design elements that make them so iconic.
    I was fortunate enough to have a private tour, as I was the only one who signed up for the specific timeslot, and it truly made the experience even more special. The flexibility to book at the last minute was a huge plus, and I'm so glad I did!
    Written February 17, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour with Tom and hope to see you again!
    Written February 18, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Florian D
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Solo
    The tour was great and offered a good introduction into Chicago's history and its diverse architecture. We visited 10 iconic buildings that representing the various architectural styles that comprise the city's Downtown area. The docent Steve Hadod was very knowledgable and his enthusiastic explanation of the different architectural features and the historic background made the tour both informative and enjoyable. It was definitely a great experience that I would recommend to anyone that wants to explore the city a bit and learn something while doing that.
    Written December 21, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you again soon.
    Written December 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    D B
    Chicago, IL21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Expert Guide Cynthia B showed us some gorgeous examples of the changing styles of Chicago architecture on an easy-paced walk. Listening devices made it easy to hear above city noises. Added tidbits of Chicago history made this even better.
    Written December 30, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you again!
    Written January 6, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Robin L
    Culver City, CA8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I absolutely loved this tour. The info was so interesting yet totally digestible. I learned so much worthwhile info that I can’t wait to share with others. The tour guide, Steve, was exceptional. Great energy, read the group well, managed all our questions, and knew his stuff in depth. You can tell he takes a lot of pride in the quality of the tour he’s providing. I would’ve never stepped inside the Chicago motor works building, if not for this tour, and I would’ve missed something special, but it really requires the context provided on the tour, and it’s a funny story. As a Chicagoan, I was a bit ashamed at how little I knew, but I left the tour feeling like it was time well spent. We ran over, but Steve was more than happy to to spend extra time with us making sure we had the most complete thorough experience. And now I don’t dislike the St. Regis architecture anymore, now that I also have that context. I highly recommend.
    Written July 10, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the wonderful review! It's amazing, even as a Chicagoan, how much you can learn about our beautiful city. We hope to see you on some of our other tours soon!
    Written July 11, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Veronica T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2025 • Family
    This was such a great way to see Chicago and learn about its history through architecture. We had Juan Carlos, and he was so well-informed and enthusiastic about everything he talked about- I knew next to nothing about architecture before this and I really felt like I learned a lot! The weather was gorgeous and he took us to extra areas to tell us stuff about buildings he liked and their history which added time and was super appreciated. I will recommend this to anyone visiting Chicago and I am so grateful to have experienced this tour on my trip!
    Written March 14, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and appreciate the recommendation. We hope to see you again the next time you visit Chicago!
    Written March 16, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Elliot L
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Friends
    Oh man, let me tell you about the coolest part of my trip – the River Cruise from the center. It's like hopping on a time machine mixed with a crash course in architecture. Those guides know their stuff, and they make the buildings' stories come alive. And the views? Unreal. We're talking Willis Tower, Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building – you name it.

    What's seriously awesome is how the Chicago Architecture Center is all about teaching. The folks there aren't just smart, they're crazy passionate about what they're talking about. Trust me, their excitement rubs off on you, and you'll be seeing buildings in a whole new light long after you've left.

    Now, picture this: the center is right by the riverfront. So, not only are you soaking up architecture knowledge, but you're also soaking in epic views of the Chicago River and all those jaw-dropping buildings. Plus, their gift shop is like a goldmine for architecture fans – books, souvenirs, and quirky stuff you won't find anywhere else.

    Whether you're nerding out about architecture or just curious about the city's skyline, you've got to check out the Chicago Architecture Center. It's like a mind-blowing tour through history, culture, and innovation that'll give your trip to the Windy City a whole new dimension. Seriously, you don't want to miss it
    Written August 31, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for the thoughtful and fabulous review! We're so happy you loved the River Cruise and the Center. We're so happy you appreciated our love and passion for architecture and Chicago. We hope to see you again soon!
    Written September 1, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sonu K
    Calgary, Canada6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2024 • Couples
    Mary Jane was our tour guide and she did a fabulous job of making this a fun 90 minutes. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about her city and shared her passion with us guiding us through the different streets and buildings.
    Thanks Mary Jane for taking us through the Chicago history via architecture.
    Written June 3, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you again soon!
    Written June 5, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Chicago Walking Tour: A Walk Through Time provided by Chicago Architecture Center

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