Chicago Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour
Description
Welcome to Chicago’s scenic Riverwalk. Spanning from Lake Michigan west to Franklin Street. Called the city second Lakefront', the Riverwalk contains restaurants during the summer months, seating areas to relax, boat rentals, and theater-style seating for various performances. Other attractions along the Riverwalk include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, and the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum and if you are lucky enough, see a bridge lift from inside the bridge house. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Wrigley Building is an iconic terra cotta building boasting a huge clock tower and tons of character. It's named for William Wrigley, Jr., who made his fortune off of chewing gum! Beyond it is the lavish Hotel Intercontinental, which hides an incredible observatory within. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
The Michigan Avenue Bridge, also known as the DuSable Bridge, is architecturally beautiful, but that's not the only reason it's a stop on this tour. The bridge also sports some flags with a fascinating history, which you'll hear all about.
It's impossible to miss this enormous glass tower. At 1,399 feet tall and totaling 98 stories, it's one of the tallest skyscrapers in the entire country. The tower employs the same building technique as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the tallest building in the world.
Consisting of a sunken, rectangular pool and fountain, this memorial honors the Illinois residents who died in the Vietnam War. It's a somber yet strangely beautiful tribute to those who gave all.
These twin towers may look a bit like giant corn cobs, but they're nevertheless an iconic part of the Second City's skyline. The towers function as a “city in a city,” boasting an in-house theatre, gym, pool, ice-rink, bowling alley, 360 degree roof deck, and of course a marina.
The Dearborn Street Bridge, built in 1962, is one of Chicago's newer bridges. It was constructed to replace a badly-planned bridge that residents hated with a passion. You'll hear why and what they did about it as you admire this landmark.
Constructed in 1914, the building today is home to the Encyclopedia Britannica headquarters. It may appear short and unimpressive beside its much newer peers, but it's also a fascinating glimpse into Chicago's past.
This building is so big it has its own zip code! Designed in the art-deco style, the Mart encompasses a staggering four million square feet.
This museum doesn't just feature exhibits on the city's river and its significance to the city. It also offers birds-eye views of the river from the top floor!
This breathtaking neo-Gothic skyscraper is actually the result of a competition held by the Chicago Tribune for their 75th anniversary! They wanted to make sure their new HQ was “the most beautiful and distinctive office building in the world,” and it absolutely shows in the final product.
As Chicago's newest river-spanning bridge, the Columbus Drive Bridge offers not a glimpse into the past but a look at how the city's construction technology and philosophy changed over the decades.
This famous tower was modelled after 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City, and serves as another picture-perfect example of the art deco style. It was also the former recording spot of the Jerry Springer Show and the Steve Harvey Show.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
- The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
- Your password can be used on the same number of devices as travelers booked. Enter the same password on each device.
Reviews(7)
A lot of great outdoor restaurants. The bridge museum was interesting. All of the excursion boats begin at the Eastern end of the river. A lot of outdoor public seating to enjoy the river attractions and sunshine.
David, I’m glad you enjoyed my Chicago Riverwalk GPS Walking Tour. It’s great you explored the outdoor restaurants, liked the public seating, and found the bridge museum interesting. Chicago’s Riverwalk is perfect for relaxing, viewing, and feeling the city's energy. If you travel more, consider my Action+ Tour Bundle, with over 100 self-guided tours for flexible, fun exploration anywhere.
The river walk tour was excellent. First time we tried The ‘ self-guided style tour’ before this. The app worked seamlessly once we got the hang of it. Once you walk into the area of the subject, the animator picks up again and tells you when to proceed. Fascinating Chicago history. Most of which I’ve never heard before. Never visited the Riverwalk previously, so the tour was a great introduction to history and good eats!
William, I'm thrilled to hear that you found my Chicago Riverwalk tour to be excellent, especially as your first self-guided experience. It's wonderful that the app worked seamlessly. If you plan to travel more, you might be interested in my Action+ Tour Bundle. It includes all of my self-guided tours, over 100+ in total, offering you the same flexibility and informative fun wherever your travels take you next!
Overall a great review of Chicago's history and architecture! The walk along the river is very enjoyable!
Thank you for your positive feedback, James! I'm delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable experience exploring Chicago's rich history and architecture through my Chicago Riverwalk Audio Tour. The riverwalk truly offers a unique perspective of the city. As you venture to new destinations, consider checking out my Action+ Tour Bundle, which boasts over 100 self-guided tours. May all your travels be filled with discovery and joy! Safe journeys!
This is a perfect and fun activity when you are just not sure what time you can do some activity. This is such a fun and easy to use treasure hunt. I highly recommend it if you want flexibility and make the most of your visit!
I'm thrilled you enjoyed the Chicago Riverwalk Walking Audio Tour, Andrea! It's fantastic that the tour provided you with a fun and flexible activity during your visit. Thank you for recommending the tour, and if you plan to travel more, you might be interested in my Action+ Tour Bundle. It includes all of my self-guided tours, over 100 in total, offering you the same flexibility and informative fun wherever your travels take you next!
Easy walking tour that you can book ahead or last minute if you're looking for something to do. I would've given 5 STARS had I worn earbuds but it was still good listening to the audio with my phone speaker. I needed to cut the tour short because I was out of time but because the price is so inexpensive it didn't bother me at all. Had I completed the tour, I would've been too far from where I needed to be next. The directions were easy to follow and user friendly. At times I just sat down on a bench or chair and listened. There are plenty of places to stop and pause along the way but if you're more of a speed walker you can do that too.
I am delighted to receive your wonderful review of my Chicago Riverwalk tour! It's great to know that you were able to book easily, even on short notice. I am also happy to hear that you enjoyed listening to the audio guide using your phone speaker. The directions provided were user-friendly and easy to follow, allowing you to pause and listen at your own pace. Your feedback and recommendation are highly appreciated. If you are planning to travel more, do consider our Action+ Tour Bundle which offers over 100 self-guided tours.
The tour presents plenty of information. My wife and me loved the walk and we'll recommend to other friends who intend to visit the city.
That’s great to hear! I’m thrilled you and your wife had a great time in Chicago with my tour. If you plan on traveling more, you might be interested in my Action+ Tour Bundle, which includes all of my self-guided tours (over 100). Thanks again!
Wasn’t necessary to buy 2 tickets. Should’ve been more clear that there was no set place to park and where the starting point was.
Since this is a walking tour along Chicago’s Riverwalk, we don’t have parking or other car-related information. If you accidentally booked two tours, we’re always happy to refund the unused one. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the actual tour!
