Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Chicago
Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous buildings, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis (Sears) Tower and more! Get a brief overview of more than a dozen buildings—as well as Chicago landmarks like Millennium Park, the Loop and the Chicago River—on this whirlwind tour. There are lots of photo opportunities along the way, so be sure to bring your camera! As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.
Known for its Spanish Colonial Revival style, the Wrigley Building features a distinctive white terra cotta facade.
View the Chicago Riverwalk.
It’s fair to say Aqua is a star-maker, with its 2009 completion putting the city’s newest neighborhood, Lakeshore East, on the tip of everyone’s tongue. And though Aqua certainly wasn’t architect Jeanne Gang’s first project, it is the one that put her on Chicagoans' architectural radar.
Designed by Howells & Hood, the Tribune Tower was the result of an international design competition to create "the most beautiful building in the world."
View the exterior of the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing.
View the Hancock Center, now 875 N Michigan Avenue.
Millennium Park is home to the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, known as "The Bean."
Chicago Walking Tour: Must-See Chicago lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 7 stops.
Prices start at $35 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.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Meet at the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 165 verified reviews; it is run by Chicago Architecture Center. Most-mentioned highlights: Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center; Walking tour featuring some of Chicago's most famous buildings; Narration by a professional and certified guide.
Guide was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and walked fast . We could keep up even though we are in our 80’s. The tour was advertised to end up back at the architectural center but ended up about 15minutes away . Not a huge problem but we wanted to tour that and had an even further walk. Other than that it was great!
Anna was a fantastic knowledgeable guide. The tour is extremely well organised and enjoyable..
Great tour. Guide was very experienced and knowledgeable about the architecture and history of Chicago.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Must-See Chicago tour and appreciate the 5 stars. We hope to see you again!
My sister and I had the best tour led by Anna! She was so knowledgeable and engaging, we loved how much of the city we got to see. It was a great tour to do after doing the architecture boat tour! Peter’s architecture boat tour was amazing!
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're delighted you and your sister enjoyed touring with us and really appreciate the 5 stars. We look forward to seeing you again!
Sandy, the tour guide, was great. Learned about the history of some beautiful buildings. The walk was great. It was an amazing tour. Chicago is rich and full of history.
Paul was an excellent docent. He shared his extensive knowledge of Chicago’s history and how architecture is the heart of Chicago. Highly recommend!
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Must See Chicago tour with Paul and appreciate the kind words. We hope to see you again!
Paul was an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about architecture and the city of Chicago. Since we had done a previous river tour Paul expanded on that tour and introduced us to some new quintessential Chicago landmarks he was excited to share with us. Highly recommended.
Thank you for the great review! To combine the River Cruise with a walking tour is a perfect way to explore Chicago and we're delighted you enjoyed both of your experiences. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again!
Mary Ann was fantastic. Lots of interesting info. Saw great buildings and fun stories to accompany the sites. A native Chicagoan made the tour authentic and enjoyable!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Must-See Chicago tour and appreciate the 5 stars. We hope to see you again!
Wear comfortable shoes. Bring your camera.. You’ll learn about the architecture of both new and old Chicago buildings.
Larry was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and personal.
Thank you for the great review! We're delighted you enjoyed the Must-See Chicago tour and appreciate the recommendation. We hope to see you again!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Walking Tour: Must-See Chicago | 1h 30min | 4.9 (165) | $35 | |
 Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady | 1h 30min | 4.9 (7,026) | $57 | View |
 Chicago Architecture River Cruise | 1h–1h 30min | 4.8 (16,969) | $39 | View |
 Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Tour | 1h 30min | 4.7 (10,918) | $45 | View |
 Chicago Sightseeing River and Lake Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.7 (722) | $46 | View |
 Chicago River 45-Minute Architecture Tour from Magnificent Mile | 45 min | 4.7 (3,577) | $28 | View |
 Chicago By Night River and Lake Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.5 (432) | $50 | View |