The 15 Best Chicago Bus Tours

1.Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,186 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $49Our pick

Ride a climate-controlled coach through Chicago’s mob past with guides such as Jay, Dane, Jamie, Maddie, and Sophia. Hear stories about Al Capone, John Dillinger, Bugs Moran, and Frank Nitti, then step off at the Biograph Theatre and Harry Caray’s mini mob museum.

“My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago and decided to do the Crime and Mob Boss tour. Our guide, Dane, was a bit goofy and playing the showman, but it was still very educative. The small pamphlets he handed out at the beginning also helped. We got to see in daylight the parking lot that was the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. (Yes, there was duplication between the tours, but I don't mind.) You stop at the Biograph Theatre, where John Dillinger was killed, and you can take photos of a mural dedicated to him. One of the Harry Caray Steakhouse locations has a mini mob museum that…”

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2.Big Bus Chicago: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour, 24/48/72hr Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,191 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $45Best value

See Chicago from an open-top double-decker bus, with stops at Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, Willis Tower, and the Magnificent Mile. Use the app to track buses, listen to recorded commentary, and hop off for museums, parks, river walks, and city views.

“Big bus is not Greyline hop on hop off but did provide a great way to get an overview of Chicago downtown, parks, and museums.”

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3.Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,349 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $45

Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Big Bus pass to see Chicago from an open-top double-decker. Ride past Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Museum Campus, and the Magnificent Mile, then hop off to explore. Digital commentary, app tracking, and optional walking tours or an architecture cruise add value.

“Absolutely loved this! So informative and detailed. Lots of buses so weren't waiting long when we got off at stops. Super friendly staff. Such an enjoyable experience”

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4.Mob and Crime Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 859 reviews · 1h 30m · from $49

Ride through Chicago’s crime history on a 90-minute English-language bus tour led by a live guide. See the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre site, walk John Dillinger’s final route, visit a mini mob museum, and view Frank Nitti’s safe and address book.

“It would be perfect if translation app our comments would be provided. We are a french family and only one of us understand english.”

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5.Chicago City Minibus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 516 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $49Top rated

Ride through Chicago in an air-conditioned minibus with guides such as Avery, Rick, Alan, and Eric. See the Loop, Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, Museum Campus, Lincoln Park, and more, with four short stops for photos and stories about architecture, movies, neighborhoods, and city life.

“Awesome experience . A lot of information and fun. Do it again in a minute. Driver very knowledgeable”

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6.Chicago Night Crimes Tour by Bus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 478 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Ride through Chicago with a live guide covering Capone, Dillinger, O’Banion, Nitti, and Bugs Moran. Get off at crime scenes, visit Nitti’s Vault at Harry Caray’s, see the Biograph Theater, and finish with a small Chicago treat. The 2 to 2.5-hour tour starts at 7:30 pm.

“Great time , guide was amazing . See things that you would never find on your own. The pizza at the end was a nice touch”

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7.Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Meet guide Ted or David at 600 N Clark Street in River North, then ride Chicago’s unusual Barrel Bus to up to three craft breweries. You’ll hear Prohibition-era stories, tour one production facility, and sample 45 to 55 ounces of beer during this 3-hour-45-minute outing.

“We had a blast!! unique transportation - so much fun! The stops along the way were awesome and the pubs were so welcoming! Great variety of beers and the host was terrific! Definitely recommend!”

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8.Prohibition Speakeasies Bus Tour or Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 168 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $47

Choose a three-hour Downtown walking tour or a four-stop neighborhood bus tour led by guides such as Jonathan Knotek. Learn how Chicago’s gangsters, elites, bartenders, and police shaped Prohibition, then buy period-inspired drinks at historic bars.

“We had so much fun and learned so much about Chicago’s speakeasy and mob scene! Our tour guide was laid back and great, very knowledgeable. We had great drinks along the way from 3 very different places. We enjoyed the whole 3 hours very much and would definitely do it again. Highly recommend!!”

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9.Big Bus Chicago: Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 165 reviews · from $49

Ride an open-top double-decker through Chicago after sunset, with live English or Spanish commentary from guides such as Matty, Bernie, or Matt. You will pass Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, the Wrigley Building, and the Museum Campus before returning downtown.

“Tour guide was boring and couldn’t really hear what was being said. We were expecting a fun tour. Had to dodge a few branches. Sad cause we had high hopes for this tour.”

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10.Chicago Hauntings Original Ghost Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 147 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $59

Spend about three hours exploring Chicago’s haunted past by bus with guides such as Tony, Larry, Jen, or Joann. You’ll visit the Devil Baby site, old City Cemetery, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre location, Death Alley, and more, with time to use EMF readers and dowsing tools.

“It was rainy, but informative, interesting, and fun! Our guide was very knowledgeable and let us use EMF readers and dowsing rods to ghost hunt on our own. Even though we all got soaked, my boyfriend and I had a wonderful time and I’d recommend this to anyone who’s interested in the paranormal and/or interested in learning more about Chicago’s history, that you might not learn about on other tours or in museums.”

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11.City Minibus Tour with Optional Architecture Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 141 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $48

Tour Chicago’s Loop, Grant Park, Museum Campus, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, and Lake Shore Drive by climate-controlled minibus. Guides such as Avery, Rick, and Paul bring local stories to the ride. Add the seasonal 75-minute river cruise for Chicago’s finest architecture views.

“We had a great experience. Our driver was very knowledgeable and quite funny as well.”

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12.Chicago’s Original Gangster Tour by Bus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $48

This 1-hour-45-minute minibus tour visits about 10 Chicago locations tied to figures such as John Dillinger and Dean O’Banion. Costumed guides including Marie and Winnie mix mob stories, city history, jokes, and Chicago character. The climate-controlled bus suits hot, cold, or rainy days.

“Really enjoyable tour. Information & stories were told in character and was so well done. Well worth doing the tour”

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13.Sunset Tour by Open-top Bus with Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 69 reviews · from $50

Ride an open-top double-decker bus through Chicago at dusk, from River North and Michigan Avenue to Museum Campus and Millennium Park. A live English-speaking guide adds local stories while you view Willis Tower, the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Bean, and Art on the Mart.

“Not very excited, definetely overpriced, the tour guide was not respectful. Also forgot an expensive scarf on the bus, the stuff even did not try to locate me although the guide asked me where I was from, what hotel I was staying in and what conference I have attended.”

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14.Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 4 hours · from $99

Join a four-hour Chicago brewery outing led by guides such as Ted or David. Ride a custom barrel-shaped bus to three breweries, sample 45 to 55 ounces of beer, play party games, and get a behind-the-scenes tour at a nano-brewery.

“Loved it, this is a gem. Great variety of places, the barrel bus was amazing, and our guide was knowledgeable and fun to chat with. Highly recommend, so much fun!”

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15.Architecture River Tour and Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 49 reviews · 2 days · from $99

Pair a live-guided Shoreline architecture cruise with 48 hours on Big Bus Chicago. See Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, Millennium Park, and more. Use the open-top deck, digital commentary, live bus tracking, and four self-guided walking tours to set your own pace.

“Bus driver took or drop us off at Alder Planetrium. We walked to the door and the planetarium was closed ( 12 noon) not open on that day. But the bus driver had already left and the next one was for another 30 mins. We ended up taking a public transportation to go back to our Stop #1 because we still have to drive to ORD for our afternoon flight. Terrible experience!”

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