Chicago Walking Tour: Must-See Chicago

Overview

Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous buildings, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis (Sears) Tower and more!

Get a brief overview of more than a dozen buildings—as well as Chicago landmarks like Millennium Park, the Loop and the Chicago River—on this whirlwind tour. There are lots of photo opportunities along the way, so be sure to bring your camera!

As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.

City: Chicago

Wed 04 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

Wed 04 Feb

Starting at $35.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center

Walking tour featuring some of Chicago's most famous buildings

Narration by a professional and certified guide

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Pet are not allowed.
The itinerary of this tour is subject to change without notice.

What To Expect

Wrigley Building

Known for its Spanish Colonial Revival style, the Wrigley Building features a distinctive white terra cotta facade.

Chicago Riverwalk

View the Chicago Riverwalk.

Aqua Tower

It’s fair to say Aqua is a star-maker, with its 2009 completion putting the city’s newest neighborhood, Lakeshore East, on the tip of everyone’s tongue. And though Aqua certainly wasn’t architect Jeanne Gang’s first project, it is the one that put her on Chicagoans' architectural radar.

Tribune Tower

Designed by Howells & Hood, the Tribune Tower was the result of an international design competition to create "the most beautiful building in the world."

The Art Institute of Chicago

View the exterior of the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing.

John Hancock Center

View the Hancock Center, now 875 N Michigan Avenue.

Millennium Park

Millennium Park is home to the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, known as "The Bean."

Show 4 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (87)

Anita414

Dec 2024

Lori gave us a wonderful tour! She knows all the history and the technical details behind the sights, but more importantly, she also knows the fascinating human stories and tells them very well. What part did scouring soap play in Chicago's history? How did a bunch of union steelworkers get a perfect gloss finish on a 110-ton assemblage of welded panels? How did Daly's people convince Picasso to design a sculpture that Picasso wouldn't even name? The CAC docents go through rigorous training and they know their stuff. They are volunteers and their passion shows. They love their city and want to share it with visitors. I have been on more than a dozen different tours in the past years and they have all been fabulous.

Response from Host

Dec 2024

Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Must See Chicago tour and hope to see you again!

rogerpB6894JK

Nov 2024

Our tour guide was Sally and she was wonderful. A wealth of knowledge and so very nice and kind. You get complimentary headphones and a radio that allows you to hear everything about every building. This is an outside only tour so you don’t go up in any building, but was very cool to learn some history and to see the different styles and construction methods. Great tour!

Response from Host

Dec 2024

Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Must See tour with Sally and hope to see you again!

rachelcK6437UH

Nov 2024

This was the perfect way to start our trip in Chicago. We wanted a way to kill time while we waited for our hotel, and also to get an initial understanding of the areas of the city. Our expectations were greatly exceeded. We learned a lot of really interesting things about the architecture of the city in a way that was engaging and fun for people not necessarily into architecture. We also got a great tour of the city and great recommendations of places to go and food to try. Our tour ended up only being two of us when others cancelled and I was quite worried that might be a bit too intimate for my taste. However, I was very impressed with how easy and relaxed Amanda made the tour feel, and really appreciated how focused she was on tailoring the experience to us. It was one of the highlights of our time in the city and we would recommend it to everyone going.

Response from Host

Nov 2024

Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you and your group enjoyed the Must See Chicago tour and hope to see you again!