The tour was very informative, interesting. The guide accommodated for the HOH and slower walkers. Learned alot and the interiors he showed us were unbeliveable.





We invite you to step inside the city’s most exclusive, jaw-dropping architectural treasures. Led by an expert local storyteller, you’ll discover breathtaking hidden spaces, from Frank Lloyd Wright’s sunlit masterpiece inside the Rookery to the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass domes at the Cultural Center and Marshall Field Building. Walk through the stunning Gilded Age luxury of the Palmer House and iconic movie backdrops along La Salle Street at a relaxed, conversational pace. We combine world-class history with photo vantage points, ending with personalized local recommendations. Don’t just see Chicago, experience it from the inside out.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $335.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 11.
Dive into the beating heart of Chicago’s world-famous architecture. Unlike massive, impersonal bus tours where you just look through a window, we explore the Loop. Your expert guide brings the city's dramatic history to life with gripping stories of the Great Chicago Fire and the architectural rivalries that built the modern skyscraper. Perfect for capturing incredible street-level photos without the rushed feeling of standard city tours.
Step into Chicago's dramatic canyon of finance. This historic corridor is famous for its towering art deco skyscrapers and iconic movie backdrops (as seen in The Dark Knight). While other tours leave you fumbling with your camera in crowded corridors, we position you at the absolute best, insider vantage points to get that perfect, frame-worthy shot looking down the canyon toward the Board of Trade.
We don't just stare at the outside of this masterpiece, we step right inside. You will walk into the breathtaking, light-filled lobby redesigned by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Your guide will point out the hidden, intricate details of the grand iron staircase and shimmering gold ornamentation that most tourists walk right past.
Experience the pinnacle of Chicago's Art Deco era. We take you inside this historic landmark to marvel at its stunning, multi-story marble lobby and gleaming elevator indicators. We pause here to appreciate its understated elegance and share the fascinating history of the last major skyscraper built in the city before World War II.
Prepare to be dazzled by a hidden artistic treasure. Instead of just a quick glance from the sidewalk, we bring you into the lobby to view the spectacular, glowing Tiffany micro-mosaic murals that chronicle early Chicago history. We skip the dry academic lectures and instead give you a fun, captivating breakdown of the stories behind the art, ensuring an intimate viewing experience away from the crowds.
Step inside America’s longest continuously operating hotel for a taste of pure Gilded Age luxury. Admire the spectacular lobby and gaze up at its 21 breathtaking, frescoed ceiling panels. You’ll discover the scandalous love story behind its creation, and learn the delicious history of how the very first chocolate brownie was invented right here.
We take you inside to witness one of Chicago's greatest architectural crown jewels: the world’s largest stained-glass Tiffany dome. Standard tours often point at the building from across the street, but we make sure you stand directly underneath all 38,000 pieces of shimmering glass.
End your journey at a legendary retail palace. We explore the massive historic building to marvel at the jaw-dropping, iridescent blue-and-gold Tiffany mosaic ceiling, the largest of its kind in the world.
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Excurgo comparison of 522 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Chicago's Secret Interiors Architectural Walking Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
Prices start at $35 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 $335. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM.
Children aged 0–6 pay nothing, adults from $35.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Your esteemed tour guide will be waiting to check you in inside Union Station within the Great Hall, under the Clinton Street sign. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 72 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Empire Tours - Chicago.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
The tour was very informative, interesting. The guide accommodated for the HOH and slower walkers. Learned alot and the interiors he showed us were unbeliveable.
Angel was a great guide and so knowledgeable about the history and architecture of the buildings in the city. We fit a lot in the two hours and we even went back today to see some of the buildings again. Love the Frank Lloyd Wright store in the Rookery. We also really appreciated the bar/lunch suggestion from Angel to visit Cindy's at the top of the Chicago Athletic Association on Michigan Ave for a stunning view of Millennium Park and the lake. A hidden gem for sure.
Matthew, our tour guide was very engaging. Interesting and shared a lot of information. I lived in Chicago all my life and have never seen the inside of these treasures or heard the stories behind them. Highly recommend this tour.
Angel was a fabulous guide! Great seeing the interiors of the beautiful buildings and nice not having to figure out which buildings are tourist friendly to enter.
It was really good tour, going smoothly . Angel was great.
Angel is a great tour guide. She is patient and not rushed. Her history was interesting and informative. She gives exterior architectural information along with interior. She also shares things to do and see for after the tour. . The places we went were very beautiful. I would do this tour again
Annie was great, very knowledgeable about the city and had a lot of fun little tid-bits to share!
Great experience! Our host Avery was outstanding!
Fun tour seeing the wonderful art deco lobbies of many Chicago buildings. Great guide, full of energy and well-informed with Chicago facts.
Angel was a great tour guide. She was clear and talked loud for everyone to hear and was great at keeping everyone together.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago's Secret Interiors Architectural Walking Tour | 2 hours | 4.9 (72) | $35 | |
Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors | 2 hours | 5.0 (1,850) | $35 | View |
Chicago Architecture Walking Tour: Incredible Art Deco Interiors | 2 hours | 5.0 (135) | $35 | View |
Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: Chicago Loop Interior Architecture | 2 hours | — | $310 | View |
Chicago in Spanish. Architecture. Mafia, Interiors, Underground | 3 hours | 5.0 (11) | $45 | View |
Chicago Walking Tour: The Magnificent Mile | 1h 30min | 4.9 (53) | $35 | View |
Secrets of Lincoln Square: Self-Guided Puzzle Quest in Chicago | 1h 50min–2h 20min | 3.3 (3) | $6 | View |