Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour
Description
Escape into Chicago's underworld on a crime and mob tour with stops on-and-off the luxury, climate-controlled bus. Explore historic crime scenes with great photo opportunities. Hear true crime stories about Chicago Gangster Al Capone, The Untouchables, The Chicago Mob, Prohibition, John Dillinger, Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti, Cap George Streeter, Leopold & Loeb, H.H. Holmes and more. Visit historic landmark buildings like: The Biograph Theater, Holy Name Cathedral, Cook County Criminal Court House, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, etc. Tour famous Chicago neighborhoods: Streeterville, River North, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Loop and Magnificent Mile. Locals and tourists agree that this educational and entertaining thing to do in Chicago is a unique cultural experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This world famous tour starts and ends OUTSIDE 163 E. Pearson Street (SE side of Michigan Avenue and Pearson Street). Learn about the history of leading gangster and mobster figures like Al Capone, John Dillinger, Frank Nitti, Dean O'Banion, and Bugs Moran. You'll see famous gangster shootout sites like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the handshake murder, and 'The Enforcers'' safe and tunnels. You will be led by a local, informative guide and guests are able to get off the bus and explore these historic crime scenes.
Meet your guide across from the Water Tower Place shopping mall in Chicago’s Near North Side at your selected time. Hop aboard a luxury climate-controlled coach and begin your 1.5-2 hour tour of the history of Chicago crime, from 19th century to today.
Drive by the Museum of Contemporary Art, a world class institution that offers a rich experience during a visit to Chicago. Just steps from the start and end of the tour, a great opportunity to explore modern art.
See the Magnificent Mile.
View the world famous John Hancock Center in the historic Streeterville neighborhood.
Drive through historic and beautiful Lincoln Park and it's surrounding neighborhood on the tour route.
Drive by on tour bus.
Stake out crime scenes including the Biograph Theatre.
Drive by en route to the St. Valentines Day Massacre.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Chicago River, skyline and historic speakeasy from the State Street Bridge.
The Jewelers Building and historic landmark building.
Go inside to see Nitti's vault, a mob museum, and historic bootlegging tunnels.
Pass by the Holy Name Cathedral, and see the site of the 1929 St Valentine's Day Massacre, one of Chicago's most notorious murder scenes. This Prohibition-era conflict between two powerful Chicago gangs -- the South Side gang led by Al Capone and the North Side gang led by Bugs Moran -- ended in the brutal murder of seven Mob members. In addition to your comfortable, narrated drive through the city, you’ll also hop off the coach to visit some areas by foot for a more immersive experience. Your guide will offer in-depth narration as you follow the path that Chicago gangsters John Dillinger and Hymie Weiss walked right before their deaths. Hop back on the coach and return to the Near North Side to conclude your Chicago crime and gangsters tour.
Conclude the tour across the street from the Historic Water Tower, one of the few surviving structures from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This iconic building is often open to the public before or after the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Bus departs on time. Arrive at least 15 minutes early for check-in. If you don't see the bus 10 minutes before the start time, call the number indicated in your ticket for help.
- Guests may not join the tour after the bus departs. General seating is on a first-come first-served basis. Joint seating is not guaranteed.
- No restroom breaks. Please go before checking in at the bus.
- No eating or drinking on the bus.
- There is no onsite office.
- Bus has five (5) steps and some stops off of the bus include stairs. Bus is NOT equipped with an electronic lift. There is limited storage available for a folding wheelchair or stroller.
- Audio and video recording and services are not permitted without the express written consent of Chicago Crime Tours and Experiences.
- Kindly refrain from talking or translating on the bus during the tour.
Reviews(3,490)
Thank you Sophia .............
Katie was a great story teller bringing the mobsters to life! It was great to see where events actually happened.
Pick up location was easy to find. The bus was spotless. The driver safe. Jay our tour guide was very funny, friendly and experienced. She knew her facts about the gangsters and the serial killers. It was a great tour and would be a crime to miss it !!
Julie, We’re so glad the meeting location was easy to find and that you appreciated the spotless bus and safe ride. Jay will be thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed Jay's humor, friendliness, and knowledge of Chicago’s gangster and true crime history. We especially love your closing line. It really would be a crime to miss it!
Fun and very informative. Guide was knowledgeable and funny. We enjoyed the tour and would definitely do it again.
Jennifer, We’re so glad you found the tour both fun and informative. It’s wonderful to hear that your guide’s knowledge and humor made the experience even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate the recommendation!
My husband and I had a wonderful time. The bus was clean and modern. The driver was great and the tour guide Ethan was fun, knowledgeable about mob gangster prohibition history and he was very entertaining. I would recommend the tour to everyone.
hank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled that you and your husband had such a great time. Ethan will be happy to hear that his knowledge, humor, and storytelling made Chicago’s mob and Prohibition history so entertaining. We also appreciate your kind words about our driver and bus. Thank you for the recommendation! Wishing you more great journeys!
We had a terrific tour! The meeting point was easy to find, our tour guide, Jay, was welcoming, experienced and interesting. Our driver was safe. The bus was spotless. Our tour was full and we enjoyed getting off the bus to visit the crime scenes and see actual places involved in the mob activities. It was more than just the gangster era and a great way to learn more about Chicago!
We’re so glad Jay made the tour welcoming, interesting, and informative. It’s great to hear you appreciated our safe driver, spotless bus, and the opportunity to step off the bus and visit actual locations connected to Chicago’s crime and mob history. We love sharing the stories that go beyond the gangster era and offer a deeper look into Chicago’s fascinating past. Thank you for joining us and for sharing your experience!
Our guide was fantastic! Very knowledgeable! Had a lot of information on more than just local crime! Jay was great!
Mindy, Thank you for the high compliments about Jay. We are so glad that you enjoyed all of the history and experience. Reading the good news made our day!
Great tour. Awesome and welcoming guide!
Thank you for the high recommendation. We are so happy to read that you had a positive tour experience!
It was very educational & our guide kept it fun & upbeat. The bus was very clean and comfortable. We really enjoyed it.
We’re so glad you found the tour educational while still fun and upbeat. It’s also great to hear that you enjoyed the clean, comfortable bus. We really appreciate you sharing your experience!
Chicago Mob and Crime Tour — Disappointing Experience Unfortunately, this tour was also disappointing. The tour was around 1 hour and 45 minutes, but most of the time we were simply sitting inside a bus listening to stories about Chicago gangsters and organized crime. Our tour guide, Jay, was knowledgeable and her storytelling and enthusiasm were good. She talked continuously throughout the tour, although at times it felt like too much information to take in. The biggest problem was that we didn’t actually get to experience the locations. We only got off the bus twice, for about five minutes each time. Because of the tinted windows and the bus constantly moving, it was difficult to properly see the buildings and locations she was talking about. It felt more like listening to a documentary on a moving bus rather than actually experiencing the history of Chicago’s mobs and gangsters. If you’re expecting to visit crime scenes, historic mob locations, or get out and explore the places connected to the stories, you may be disappointed. Jay was a good guide and clearly passionate about the subject, but the tour format itself needs improvement. More stops, more time outside the bus, and opportunities to actually see and experience the locations would make this much more worthwhile. Overall: good storytelling, but not much actual experience.
