Top Experiences in Chicago Cultural Center

Explore the architectural extravaganza of Chicago downtown and discover the most amazing and captivating facts about the first high-rises, city planning, and construction history.

Get a unique chance to combine touring by foot and by L train, and see the city’s most iconic landmarks like The Rookery Building, Chicago Cultural Center, First Arts Building, and more 19th and early 20th-century masterpieces. Be ready to see the City by the Lake from a new perspective and get to know it even closer as you stroll down its streets and travel by train.

Enjoy the small-group experience and don’t miss a thing as you travel
Discover the downtown and historical building together with your local knowledgeable guide
Marvel at architectural landmarks of the City by the Lake and get to know the stories behind them
Combine a walking tour with a train to see more landmarks and iconic sights on one tour.

The Loop is the heartbeat of downtown Chicago! It is filled with great architecture, drop-dead gorgeous interiors and fantastic works of art from famous artists. Along the way, we'll discuss some of the people, and people groups, that have helped to make this one of the "must see" communities, in Chicago!

Discover Chicago's best on our Big Bus tour. Board our open-top, double-decker bus and see the city's iconic landmarks, from the Magnificent Mile to Millennium Park. Utilize our convenient stops to explore vibrant neighborhoods and attractions, including Willis Tower, the Chicago Riverwalk, and more.

Spend your day shopping on Magnificent Mile, enjoying Navy Pier's Ferris Wheel, or tasting authentic Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Our flexible tour lets you create your own itinerary, with a free app to track bus arrivals.

Listen to digital commentary in multiple languages, offering expert insight into Chicago's history and culture, while recommending the best places to eat, drink, and shop. Offering comfortable seating and panoramic views, our Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour is an ideal way to explore the city. Hop off as often as you like within your ticket's validity period, and simply hop on again when ready to continue.

Let’s Roam is the #1 app-led scavenger hunt company. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Work with your team or compete against them, as you learn new facts and create memorable experiences. Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts are great as an everyday activity, or for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, corporate team building events and more! Each player chooses an interactive role, with challenges varying by person.

Take your shot at completing this Chicago Scavenger Hunt around the Loop and River North neighborhoods including the Riverwalk.
Complete this solo or build a ScavSquad of up to 5 people and discover the city like never before!
Use clues and hints within the app to complete the objectives (if you get stuck, you can skip and go back later).
Some objectives have prizes so do your best to complete as many objectives correctly.
Once complete, you can view the Leaderboard to see how you did against others.

On this private walking tour our expert local guide will take you to see some of Chicago’s best-known attractions!

The day will begin with you meeting with your friendly local guide at Millenium Park, home to Cloud Gate.From there, your tour will begin as you start your walk through Chicago, exploring the most famous and beautiful locations in the city!

On this tour your guide will take you on a walk around Chicago’s historic Loop District where you will get to see some of the oldest skyscrapers in the world and we'll take you inside some of the city’s most influential and iconic buildings.Your guide will share the history of Chicago and explain the multiple architectural influences that helped shape the city's incredible skyline!

Schedule:

10:00 AM
Meet your guide at The Fine Arts Building

10:15 AM
Visit the Marquette Building

10:30 AM
Visit The Rookery

11:00 AM
Visit The Palmer House

11:15 AM
Visit The Sullivan Center

11:30 AM
Lunch time!

12:00 PM
Visit The Chicago Athletic Association hotel

12:15 PM
Visit The Chicago Cultural Center

12:30 PM
Visit the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower

1:00 PM
End tour around the Wrigley Building

Dive into "Chicago's Artsy Cultural Landmarks – Walking Tour," a vibrant exploration of the city's iconic artistic and architectural gems. Start at the Chicago Cultural Center, home to the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome. Stroll through Millennium Park to admire "The Bean," Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion, and Plensa's Crown Fountain. Experience the grandeur of the Palmer House Hilton lobby, a palace of French-inspired elegance. Marvel at Calder's unique sculpture in the Mies Van der Rohe Federal Plaza, a modernist masterpiece. Discover the Tiffany mosaic murals in the Marquette Building, celebrating Jacques Marquette's adventures. Conclude with Picasso's mysterious sculpture at Daley Plaza, an artwork that invites endless interpretation. This tour is your gateway to the heart of Chicago's cultural and artistic splendor.

Chicago is a big city with a lot of activities & sightseeing. To tour the city quickly, it requires the help of a knowledgeable local driving guide and that's where we step in to assist. Your Private Chicago Scenic Driving Tour will start by meeting our knowledgeable Guide/Driver who will pick you up at your hotel or other location provided and then proceed with the exploration of the beautiful windy city.

Embark on a unique journey with our Chicago architecture tour, where we unveil the city's exterior marvels and its lesser-known, stunning interior wonders. Led by experts, you'll explore hidden treasures such as intricate domes, dazzling mosaics, and exquisite craftsmanship seldom seen by the public eye.

Discover the ingenious solutions architects and engineers devised to overcome structural and lighting challenges, aiming to leave an indelible mark on the city's skyline. As we navigate through the iconic edifices of Chicago's Loop, immerse yourself in the rich narratives of magnates, miscreants, and stars who frequented these spaces in the Gilded Age and Roaring Twenties. Join us for an unparalleled architectural adventure.

Embark on a profound, downtown walk-around, to discover incredible stories and secrets of the city on this not to miss feet on the street experience! During our loop around "Da Loop" we will peel back the layers of this Great Big Onion Town, going in and out of extraordinary buildings, admiring amazing art and architecture along the way as we uncover how it all came to be. Expect an engaging, entertaining and wide-eye-opening tour du jour of my sweet home, Chicago.

This short but sweet and unique adventure will take you on a 2-hour walking tour by the interiors of the most iconic buildings of Chicago downtown.
Dive into the extravaganza of splendid hidden gems of the city as you explore the details that no mainstream tours can offer. The itinerary is thoroughly designed by a professional local guide who knows every corner of the Chicago skyscrapers.

• Get beyond the famous facades to experience the surprising interiors of the neighborhood
• Follow your local guide to discover what’s hidden from most of the tourists
• Be provided with fun and surprising facts about the destinations
• The tour is interesting for the Chi guests as well as for the residents.

We start our tour at one of the most interesting buildings in the Loop — the Fine Arts Building.  Built in 1884 as a showroom and office complex, the building was converted later into its present-day use.

Then we're off to the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library, the design of which was the winner of a competition to design a new library for the city.  From there, we'll view three Chicago landmarks built in the late 1800s, then visit the beautiful Marquette Building, the Field Building (built on the site of the world's first modern skyscraper) and then see the amazing atrium lobby of the world-renowned Rookery Building.

Next, we're off to the beautifully-restored Quincy L stop (authentic 1897 design) to take the train to our last stops.  We visit the iconic Macy's to see the beautiful Tiffany mosaic then we wrap up the tour at the Cultural Center to experience the world's largest Tiffany dome.

Make a day of it and book our Pedway or Historic Pubs tour for the afternoon!

Take a tour of Chicago's Pedway system, a network of underground tunnels that allows pedestrians to pass from one end of the Loop to the other without encountering weather or traffic.

Our tour begins in the lobby of the Swissotel where we descend into the Pedway. After a tour of the Chicago Cultural Center and its famous Tiffany Dome, we return to the Pedway for a short walk to Macy's department store. There, we'll view the famous Tiffany ceiling from two unique perspectives, and make a quick stop the iconic Walnut Room.

We return to the Pedway and follow it to Civic Center Plaza for a quick look at a famous Picasso sculpture and view the Chicago Temple and it's famous Sky Chapel. Back down to the Pedway, we'll visit to City Hall followed by a short walk to a nearby L station.

A quick train ride takes us to the origin/terminus of Route 66, the Art Institute’s lion statues, and to Millennium Park to view the famous "Bean" sculpture, Lurie Gardens and Crown Fountain.

On our Secret Food Tour: Chicago, you'll enjoy a variety of foods with culinary influences from the people who built this city.

You'll experience all the city's biggest food hits, many dishes with roots dating back over 150 years. This moving feast incorporates a walk through some of the city's world renowned architecture and public art in the famed Chicago Loop District. Experience our famous deep dish pizza, taste the amazing Italian beef sandwich, enjoy gourmet popcorn, and lots of other treats. Plus, there is our mouth-watering secret dish that you can only find out about on the day of the tour!

To me, one can appreciate a given building, or piece of public sculpture, far better when a tour guide explains the historical and cultural context. What was important in that era, and what was the architecture of that era thus trying express? I do know a lot about this. Thus, you will gain this information about each point of interest. I have taken other tours here, and I just do not hear a word from that point of view. This tour will be like an open history book to an America that no longer exists: Roman and Greek architectural styles, as well as French and British-influenced styles. Of course, you will see the latest in office building architectural styles from around the world, for those of you who just love the modern era as well.

Admire all of Chicago's fabulous lakefront sights and attractions on this Lake Michigan boat tour. Cruise along Lake Michigan and take in amazing views of the city’s famous skyscrapers from a great vantage point. Feel free to bring a lunch and enjoy drinks from the onboard bar as you relax on this sightseeing cruise.

Learn about the great architectural landmarks of Michigan Avenue and State Street. The 40 years between 1890 and 1930 saw the creation of some of Chicago’s the most memorable buildings, many of which are featured on this tour.

After the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, Chicago was determined to become a great cultural and commercial metropolis. This tour is a testament to that era's ambitions. See buildings by Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Holabird and Roche and other noted architects and hear the stories behind the city's architectural gems.

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

Ready for the ultimate day out in Chicago? We’ll embark on an unforgettable Chicago journey, where iconic flavors like Chicago Pizza, Hot Dogs, Italian Beef, Chicago-mix Popcorn, and the original Brownie await. Opt for the VIP Craft Beer package for a heightened experience. Beyond bites, our expert-guided tour explores Millennium Park, the Chicago Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue, Cloud Gate, Chicago Theater, and more. Enjoy a 5-hour walking tour and receive a bonus 2-hour FREE bike or kayak rental, adding value to your experience. Maximize your day by biking along the scenic Lakefront Trail or kayaking on Lake Michigan. Leave the planning to the local experts. Bobby’s Bike Hike was awarded the following three awards just this year: “Top 10 Food Tours in America” by USA Today, “Top 20 Food Tours in the World” by TripAdvisor, and “Top 15 Vacation Ideas in USA” by Entrepreneur Magazine. Seize the opportunity for the ultimate Chicago fusion of flavors and sights in a single, unforgettable day!

Explore some of the most stunning interior spaces you’ll ever see – spaces you’d surely pass by without a second glance if you weren’t shown them by a seasoned, in-the-know tour guide. Ranging from stained glass mosaics from the turn of the century to soaring Art Deco spaces from the Roaring 20s, these spaces are some of the most beautiful in the city -- and open to us to explore!

Delve into Chicago’s one-of-a-kind cuisine and learn something that you would never expect on this small-group Secret Food Tour. Eat your way through the most prominent neighborhoods of the city and immerse yourself in its tastes and flavors.

Stroll through the Loop and Millenium Park, wander down the Riverwalk and discover iconic sights and hidden gems from another perspective.

Get inside Chicago’s life through food and connect your heart and soul to the Windy City vibe while tasting classic deep-dish pizza, dipped Italian beef, and Chicago-style hot-dogs.

• Benefit from small-group experience and undivided attention from your local guide
• Savor the classic Chicago eats and get to know the history of their creation
• Witness fascinating art objects, architecture landmarks, and beautiful cityscapes
• Get useful recommendation of where to eat and drink from your guide

Learn more about the top 15 tourist attractions in Chicago. Its history, culture, myths, architecture, and other important facts are in this audio commentary.

The top 10 advantages for those who prefer flexibility on their tour.
1. Safe - Not required to download, with just a click of secure access links it can be listened to online on any device.
2. Save - The lowest price in the city.
3. Stories - No imagination stories, only verified information.
4. Schedule - Listen at your own convenience of time, pace, and location.
5. Select - Preferred languages and attractions.
6. Self-control: No need to be behind someone's instructions in always.
7. Share - with co-travelers in just a click.
8. Soft - Selective crafted words that make you listen again.
9. Simple - Use our personally created itinerary which starts from the city's central station and then gradually moves one by one.
10. Smart - in all aspects.

Learn about the life and work of Louis Comfort Tiffany as we visit some of Chicago’s most magnificent art-glass and mosaic installations, each designed and crafted by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.

In the late 19th Century, the Arts and Crafts movement revived an interest in decorative glass. New, well-regarded homes and public buildings from the era were considered incomplete without decorative glass or mosaics. Louis Comfort Tiffany, the preeminent practitioner of this art, gained great exposure for a chapel he designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Today, the city is home to one of the largest collections of Tiffany art glass in the United States. This tour introduces some remarkable examples of Tiffany's work.

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

Make the best of your visit to Chicago and explore the interiors of the emblematic Loop of Chicago downtown with a private licensed guide.
You will enjoy a private tour and discover the hidden architectural treasures of Chicago with a local expert.

Here are some examples of what you will enjoy:

- Chicago Loop, Chicago
- Chicago Cultural Center
- Untitled by Picasso,
- Block 37,
- Marshall Field's Wholesale Store,

This is a private tour just for your group.

This tour explores some of the best hidden details, secret buildings and spaces, and untold stories that add wonderful bits of color and texture to the overall narrative of Chicago. On this tour, we will explore the famous and mysterious Chicago Pedway, a system of underground tunnels connecting 40 blocks downtown, popping in and out of buildings to see beautiful and fascinating interior spaces. You'll learn to use this system that most locals don't even fully know or use, and you'll be encouraged to continue exploring Chicago on your own after the tour!

If you're looking for an exciting and stress-free day exploring the wonders of Chicago, then this is the tour for you. We can’t wait to show you around!

The morning will start with a private pickup from your hotel by one of our friendly, local guides. From there your tour will begin as you start your drive in one of our comfortable and spacious vehicles.

This full-day tour will be fully packed with famous landmarks, vintage architecture, secret spots and much much more!
====
Full schedule
10:00 AM – Pick up from Hotel
10:15 AM – Check out Buckingham Fountain
10:45 AM – Arrive at Michigan Avenue Bridge
11:15 AM – Awe at the Chicago Cultural Center
12:15 PM – See Cloud Gate and explore Millennium park
1:00 PM – Lunch time
2:00 PM – Go to Chicago Theater
2:30 PM – See Garfield Park Conservatory
3:00 PM – Check out the Greetings from Chicago mural
3:30 PM – Snap a cool pic outside of Wrigley Field
3:45 PM – Return to hotel
4:00 PM – Arrive at hotel