P
Better than I expected
The guide was extremely entertaining and knowledgeable. It was more fun than I thought it would be.
Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour
+11 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min–2h
- Price from
- $49 / person
- Location
- Chicago, United States
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 3,594 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 37
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Chicago Crime Tours and Experiences LLC
- Meeting point
- Bus pickup OUTSIDE 163 E. Pearson, at the SE side of Michigan Ave and Pearson St. Report 15 minutes early for check-in. Bus departs on time. Look for the tour guide at the bus.
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 7 times a day, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult
- $49
In demand: 93 of the next 188 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
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.
Water Tower Place
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.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
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.
The Magnificent Mile
See the Magnificent Mile.
John Hancock Center
View the world famous John Hancock Center in the historic Streeterville neighborhood.
Abraham Lincoln Park
Drive through historic and beautiful Lincoln Park and it's surrounding neighborhood on the tour route.
North Avenue Beach
Drive by on tour bus.
Biograph Theatre
Stake out crime scenes including the Biograph Theatre.
Oz Park
Drive by en route to the St. Valentines Day Massacre.
Chicago River
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Chicago River, skyline and historic speakeasy from the State Street Bridge.
Thirty Five E Wacker
The Jewelers Building and historic landmark building.
Go inside to see Nitti's vault, a mob museum, and historic bootlegging tunnels.
Holy Name Cathedral
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.
Historic Water Tower
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.
What's included
Included
Prohibition Era personality profile
Exclusive crime trivia quiz
Mini mob and gangster museum
Inclusions are subject to availability.
Photo ops at famous crime scenes
Live interactive tour guide in English
Souvenir brochure with special offers
Historic video footage
Not included
Gratuity: Recommended $5/person gratuity (or more) via cash or Venmo.
There are no translations, audio-guides or headphones.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
3,594 reviews
How it compares in Chicago
- No. 5 by number of reviews among 523 tours in Chicago
- Starting price $49 is 14% below the typical $57 for tours of similar length in Chicago
Excurgo comparison of 523 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
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.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour take?
Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour lasts about 1h 30min–2h. The itinerary has 14 stops.
How much does Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour cost?
Prices start at $49 per person for this Chicago experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 7 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
Does Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour sell out?
It can: 93 of the next 188 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Bus pickup OUTSIDE 163 E. Pearson, at the SE side of Michigan Ave and Pearson St. Report 15 minutes early for check-in. Bus departs on time. Look for the tour guide at the bus. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 37 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller 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.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
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.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(3,594)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Interesting Mob fun facts
Interesting tour with great tour guide. Easy to do on a rainy day.
D
Our tour guide was very...
Our tour guide was very well informed and did a great job telling the stories; however, there really wasn’t much to actually see (in my opinion).
Operator response
Debra, Thank you for your review and feedback. We are glad that you enjoyed the history and stories. Wishing you great adventures ahead.
6
Hilarious and Engaging Tour Guide
The tour is very interesting but I think what made it a phenomenal tour, was your guide Jamie. I travel a lot and so go on tours any chance I can. Well, I highly recommend that you request to be put in a tour with Jamie. She is one of the top 2 tour guides I've ever had. She is engaging, informative, and hilarious throughout her tours.
Operator response
Thank you so much for sharing this incredible feedback, which is an incredible compliment. We’re so happy Jamie made your experience so memorable, and we can’t wait to share your kind words with her. Wishing you many more wonderful adventures!
V
Great tour!
Katie was our guide and made the tour so enjoyable. Not only was she very knowledgeable, she also was fun. We were able to get off and take some pictures and while doing so she encouraged us to ask questions. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad Katie made the tour fun, informative, and engaging. We're also glad that you enjoyed the photo ops off the bus. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. Wishing you many more great adventures!
L
Amazing, interesting and informative
Jamie was Amazing all around!!!
Operator response
Thank you very much for the positive feedback. We are so happy that you could spend time with us and we appreciate you sharing your experience. Wishing you great travels ahead!
J
Lots of fun on the bus with MJ
Excellent bus tour with MJ as our guide. He was funny, had lots of specific details, made it easy to understand, and added lots of fun facts about Chicago, we made two stops, one at theater where Dillinger was killed and one at Harry Carays where lots of mob artifacts were in the basement. Lots of fun, even on a Saturday night. Highly recommend.
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed MJ’s humor, storytelling, detailed knowledge and Chicago fun facts. It’s wonderful to hear the stops added to the experience. Thank you again for joining us for a beautiful night out on the city!
S
Nice little tour around!
That was fun!! Jays (the guide) was hilarious. The folks we were with learned some stuff they didnt know and they live in Chicago! Bus was full, get there early. Worth it.
Operator response
Sean, Thank you for the upbeat, generous and positive review. We appreciate you joining us and recommending the tour to others. Wishing you many more great excursions this fall season!
D
Great Saturday morning tour
A wonderful Saturday morning spent with Jamie! She was knowledgeable and funny. A great way to spend some time riding around and learning some Chicago history.
Operator response
We’re so glad you enjoyed your Saturday morning with Jamie. Her knowledge and humor make Chicago history especially fun. Thank you for the positive review and for sharing your perspective!
V
chicago mons and fun
We loved the entire tour - learned ao much about Chicago and the history
Operator response
Vicki, We really appreciate you spending time with us. Thank you for writing the good news that you loved the tour and learned a lot of history. This means a lot to us. Wishing you many more fun journeys ahead!
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from$49
4.6(3,594) Free cancellation