Skip to content
visitorfun
ToursIconicFamily Favorite

Big Bus Tours Chicago

· Chicago, IL

Why you should go…

Big Bus Tours runs open-top double-decker buses on hop-on-hop-off loops through downtown Chicago, with narrated commentary covering the Magnificent Mile, the Loop, and the lakefront. Multi-stop tickets let riders board and depart at any stop throughout the day.

  • #hop-on-hop-off
  • #bus tour
  • #sightseeing
  • #narrated tour
  • #chicago skyline

Good to know

General tours guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Confirm the meeting point

    It is often a corner, a lobby, or a dock rather than the address you searched for. Check it the night before.

  • Small groups fill first

    In high season the intimate departures sell out well before the big-bus options do.

  • Ask how much is on foot

    Knowing how much of the route is walking, standing, or outdoors tells you what to wear and carry.

  • Read the weather policy

    Cancellation windows and rain rules vary by operator, and they are easier to find before you pay than after.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Big Bus Tours Chicago, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Quirky Fun

    Chicago Prime Tours

    $25–$50

    Narrated bus tours covering Chicago's true crime, gangster history, and general sightseeing highlights.

    Right next doorMore like this

  • Museums
    Iconic

    The Art Institute of Chicago

    $25–$50

    Home of American Gothic and a world-famous Impressionist collection, guarded by two bronze lions.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Buckingham Fountain

    Free

    Grant Park's grand 1927 fountain fires its center jet skyward every hour, with music-and-lights shows after dusk.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum

    Free

    Free exhibit on money and the U.S. economy inside the Chicago Fed's Loop headquarters.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise

    $50+

    Expert docents narrate the skyline's greatest hits on the beloved river cruise aboard First Lady.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Chicago's First Lady

    $50+

    Ninety minute Chicago River cruise narrated by Chicago Architecture Center docents past the city's landmark buildings.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this