The 4 Best Chicago History Tours

1.Chicago in a Day: Food, History & Architecture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,153 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100Our pick

Spend about 4.5 hours walking Chicago’s Loop and River North with a guide such as Dave, Rich, or Dash. Expect architecture, city stories, the Pedway, Riverwalk, Millennium Park, The Bean, and enough samples of deep dish, hot dog, Italian beef, and other Chicago favorites for lunch.

“Dave was very knowledgeable & friendly. Freezing outside but still was able to provide a great experience both inside & outside! I would do this tour again.”

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2.Medieval Torture Museum Ticket with Audio Guide and Ghost Hunting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 962 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Best value

Walk through Chicago’s 6,000-square-foot Medieval Torture Museum at your own pace. Hundreds of torture, restraint, and execution devices are paired with wax figures, audio commentary, hands-on displays, and a ghost-hunting app. The visit lasts about 90 minutes and is best suited to adults and older teens.

“The entire process of ordering tickets, gaining admission and walking through the museum came off without a hitch. The museum has an excellent collection of torture artifacts. Also, many exhibits are hands on.”

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3.Chicago Walking Tour: Historic Treasures of Chicago

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 362 reviews · from $35

Walk from the Chicago Architecture Center through the Loop and along Michigan Avenue, seeing the Wrigley Building, Palmer House, Carbide and Carbon Building, Reliance Building, and Chicago Cultural Center. Guides such as Jim, John, Bob, and Maureen bring the buildings’ design and history to life.

“Guide was great. Knowledgable and humorous. Happy for questions and open to question. Truly interesting interiors.”

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4.Chicago Architecture and True Crime Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 326 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Walk Chicago’s Loop with guides such as Joseph, David, Kris, and Roan, pairing historic interiors with true crime stories. Visit the Palmer House Hilton, explore downtown buildings, and finish at Chase Tower. Expect about 90 minutes of walking, with time indoors and outdoors.

“My date and I were fans of Jonas - she described him as likable, charming, and sarcastic in a good way. Tour was fun and learned quite a few things”

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