There are many different Chicago bus tours available in our beautiful city. From double-decker buses with open tops to trolleys, Chicago has it all. But how do you know which Chicago bus tour will be the right one for you? Lucky for you the team here at Free Chicago Walking Tours is here to help.
There are 2 primary styles of Chicago bus tours. There are hop on and hop off tours, where you can exit and get back on at your leisure. Hop on hop off bus tours are larger, often times with multiple levels, have a preset number of stops along their route and are more general city tours. Then there are specialized bus tours. These will focus on a particular subject like Chicago Crime or Pizza. These are smaller groups and as such smaller buses.
Chicago hop on hop off buses tours are very popular. And not just in Chicago, you’ve probably seen these in other cities, hop on hop off Chicago bus tours really are a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time – and for a reasonable price. The concept is pretty simple. You pay for a ticket and that ticket lasts the entire day. The bus tours the city with a guide telling you about all of the sites you’re passing (along with some well-timed humor). Hop on hop off buses follow a very strict route and will make the same stops – typically 15 or more – on each route. Each stop they give their passengers the opportunity to hop on or hop off.
There are two main companies operating in Chicago. Chicago Big Bus & Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.
These tours cover A LOT of ground in a short amount of time for a very reasonable price. A one-day ticket will cost around $40 (but there are ways to save). These tours make a great introduction to the city.
On beautiful sunny days during the summer there is almost (in our opinion) no better Chicago bus tour than sitting on the open-air top deck of a hop on hop off bus.
We’re probably being picky here, but it’s important to call these out too. The Chicago bus tours are popular. And sometimes the buses are packed or you have to wait in line to board. And if no one gets off at the stop you’re at you’ll have to wait for the next bus. They come fast enough, but still, after spending $40 no one wants to wait.
You’re in a bus, moving fast – that means the material the guide is capable of covering really only scratches the surface. Believe us – the tour guides are incredible, second to none – but they can only say so much in such a short time. If you want to see things more closely or hear an expanded story you’re going to have to choose a different type of tour. We recommend one of our Free Chicago Walking Tours.
If you’re going to be in Chicago and plan on checking out a lot of different sites we suggest you consider The Go Chicago Card Savings Pass. Folkd with the Go Chicago Card Savings Pass can save up to 55% off the gate prices on more than 25 different attractions including the Chicago Big Bus. Attractions like the Sky Deck at Willis Tower, the Adler Planetarium, bike tours and architecture river cruise are all included in this pass. Sometimes these things can seem a little gimmicky but we’re serious – if you’re going to visit a lot of places in Chicago it’s worth checking out.
If you’re not into hop on hop off bus tours then that is OK. Chicago has plenty of options for you too. Most other bus tours will offer a smaller bus and smaller groups which means you’re going to get a more intimate tour experience. You’ll also likely drive longer distances which means you’ll have the chance to engage your tour guide more than you would on the hop on and hop off buses.
These are near and dear to our hearts. One of the most popular tours we offer is our Chicago Crime & Gangster Walking Tour. Naturally, we know a great Chicago Crime tour when we see one and there is one company in particular who is doing a phenomenal job.
Untouchable Tours offers an incredibly unique, professional and educational tour that is a perfect balance between facts and entertainment. We love the way this company operates.
They focus on a single tour, the cost is very reasonable ($35) and the guides all dress up taking on personas of Chicago’s criminal past. It’s so funny and yet so.. legit. The actors know what they’re talking about and put on a great show. At times you feel like you’re actually in the 1920’s Chicago with prohibition and all.
What else do we like about this tour? Let’s see, for one you stay on the bus the entire time. So in those cold months (and we have plenty of them), this is a perfect tour. There are plenty of tours running. (weekends sometimes have more than 10 tours!) And last but not least their buses are really nice. More like limo-buses than city buses.
Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza. Aren’t familiar with deep dish pizza? Thick, crunchy crust, loads of toppings, a bunch of sauce and more cheese than you know what to do with. So. Much. Pizza. Needless to say, deep dish pizza is popular. Because it’s so popular there are many, many different restaurants offering their versions of it. Sweeter sauces, sausage patties, sausage crumbles, butter crusts, cheese in the middle, cheese on top. Lots of variations. Kind of makes our heads spin just writing this. Also, our mouths are watering. Yum.
With all of these options from all of these different pizza places, how are you possibly going to get a chance to try them all? Well, a pizza tour of course. A pizza tour by bus to be precise. Do you prefer walking? Read about Chicago Food Tours.
Chicago Pizza Tours is the original pizza tour in Chicago and they’re awesome. So awesome in fact that they have branched out and offer a couple of different tour options including ones with cocktails. But their Original Chicago Pizza is the best!
Come hungry. We’re serious. You will visit 10 different pizza shops on this 3.5-hour tour! Some of our favorites include Peqouds (featured in Best Chicago Lunch Specials Under $10), Lou Malnati’s, Pizano’s and others. Those 3 alone might be worth the price of admission – which is $60 for an adult and $36 for a child. The pizza is absolutely the star of the show and rightfully so. But the guides are kick-ass too. They know their stuff, both about pizza and Chicago.
