T
So much fun!
I forgot the name of our guide, but the young lady who recently moved back to Chicago and who gave the tour Tuesday night was an excellent storyteller! Very animated and fun!
Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour
+23 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $38 / person
- Location
- Chicago, United States
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 250 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 25
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Empire Tours - Chicago
- Meeting point
- Please meet your guide outside "Hoyt's Tavern" 15 minutes before the start time.
Description
We are the original, top-rated Gangsters and Ghosts tour! Hear the tales of the ghosts, and gangsters, that haunt the city. Explore the Chicago South Loop district with your historian guide, uncovering the many mysteries hidden behind every turn. Walk through Chicago's notorious South Loop, known as a vice district during the 1920s and 30s. Stroll through this now upmarket area of the city which was once home to underground speakeasies, secret tunnels, and bootleggers. Hear the true stories of Chicago's bloody past and the gangsters who caused havoc in the city. See the places notorious figures such as Al Capone used to party, make deals, and carry out "business". Discover the legends of the ghosts that are said to lure along the Chicago Riverwalk and the aptly named Death Alley. Stop at haunted locations including Palmer House, and the Chicago Theatre, before finishing outside the Congress Hotel, one of the most haunted places in Illinois.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 13 times a day, 9:00 AM–10:00 PM
- Next available
- Sat, Oct 10
- Adult (ages 13–64)
- $38
- Senior (ages 65+)
- $34
- Youth (ages 7–12)
- $34
- Infant (ages 0–6)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $336.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 4:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:59 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 9.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Chicago Riverwalk
As we cruise along the historic Chicago Riverwalk, look down at the dark waters that hold some of the city's deepest secrets. During the roaring 1920s, this waterfront was the lifeblood of Al Capone’s bootlegging empire
The Chicago Theatre
Snap a photo under one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States—the glowing, six-story-high "CHICAGO" marquee
Palmer House Hilton Historic Lobby
step inside the breathtaking, gold-leafed lobby of the Palmer House, a masterpiece of Gilded Age opulence. While it looks like a royal palace today, this historic hotel holds a dark and legendary past
Cloud Gate
Stand beneath the gleaming, liquid-mercury surface of Cloud Gate—Chicago’s iconic center piecing sculpture
The Art Institute of Chicago
Guarded by its two famous bronze lions, The Art Institute of Chicago is world-renowned for its masterpieces—but it also holds a few spectral secrets.
Prepare yourself as we approach the imposing facade of the Congress Plaza Hotel, widely known as one of the most haunted buildings in Illinois. During the height of Prohibition, notorious mob boss Al Capone practically made this hotel his headquarters
What's included
Included
Visits inside the Palmer House
Guided walking tour
Historian guide
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
250 reviews
How it compares in Chicago
- Starting price $38 is 33% below the typical $57 for tours of similar length in Chicago
Excurgo comparison of 523 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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 Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour take?
Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $38 per person for this Chicago experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $336. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 13 departures a day between 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
Can I cancel Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking 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 Please meet your guide outside "Hoyt's Tavern" 15 minutes before the start time. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking 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 25 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 250 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Empire Tours - Chicago.
Reviews(250)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
W
A Must-Do in Chicago!!!
OMG!! Visited city for the 1st time and found this while googling something else. Initially was trying for the bus tour but soooo glad we did the walking tour instead!!! Doing the evening (8pm) tour had the perfect backdrop and our guide, Max gave excellent short directions (for those of us who get distracted with flashy things. Lol) He made sure to keep a great pace for everyone to keep up and cross streets. Max was engaged with his group and a very knowledgeable storyteller!!! At one point, Batman, rode by us on his BatScooter!!! I suggest taking the tour in the evening and early on in your visit especially if you're staying in the area. It helped us for the rest of our visit, recognizing landmarks and revisiting Millennial Park during the day.
L
Fun facts tour is better title
Definitely some interesting fun facts and stories. Wouldn’t call it a gangster tour. There were tidbits mixed in that were interesting for sure. It’s also a bit long since there aren’t real sites to see. The last stop could definitely be skipped or the info worked in somewhere else. It was a long walk from the previous stops to that one without a whole lot of info to gain once you got there. The group is also HUGE! Kind of too many for a walking tour. There are no headsets or anything, so you can only hear guide when you stop and huddle up. Headsets would improve it a lot so guides could talk as you walk as well. All in all, we enjoyed it. We’ve been to Chicago before so we’re just looking for something new to do. It’s not a must-do by any means but I would say we gained some interesting fun facts about Chicago history, ghosts, and gangsters.
A
Great Tour Guide
The tour guide, Carolyn from Empire Tours, was personable, knowledgeable, funny, patient and engaging. I highly recommend this tour!
D
Excellent!!
Everything was excellent. Tanner our guide made everything amazing. Well worth the money. Great tour!
M
Awesome tour
Fun history that I never knew about! Our guide Max was a great engaging storyteller that highlighted additional fun stories and architecture. I think the Palmer Hotel was my favorite though!
D
Entertaining
Peyton made the tour fun, informative and entertaining. Great Guide!
H
Excellent walking tour
Great tour. Peyton was an excellent storyteller and very organized in terms of meeting places.
F
definitely worth it
Had a blast. Guide was a great guy and very knowledgable.
K
Fun tour
Tanner was great. He was very entertaining!
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from$38
4.8(250) Free cancellation