Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: Explore Iconic Attractions
3.9
1,696 Ratings
Discover the iconic attractions of Chicago at your own pace with a Hop-On Hop-Off tour. Explore skyscrapers, museums, and more with 24 or 48-hour tickets.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
BIG LOOP ROUTE (Route)\nOperating Schedule: Operates: Daily First Bus 10 AM, Last Bus 5 PM. Service every 60 minutes. Red Loop lasts 1 Hour. \n\nCustomers are advised to download the Big Bus app to find out more about our new health and safety measures and for real-time bus tracking information. Alternatively please visit the Big Bus website.\n\n\n\n1. 98 E Wacker Dr\n Stop 1 Chicago Riverwalk \n\n2. 319 W Jackson Blvd\n Stop 2: Skydeck Chicago & Willis Tower\n\n3. 200 S Michigan Ave\n Stop 3: Millennium Park &The art Institute of Chicago \n\n4. 800 S Michigan Ave\n Stop 4: Hilton Chicago &Grant Park \n\n5. 500 E Solidarity Dr\n Stop 5: Adler Planetarium \n\n6. 425 E McFetridge Dr\n Stop 6: Museum Campus \n\n7. 441 N Columbus Dr\n Stop 7: Sheraton Grand Chicago \n\n8. 600 E Grand Ave\n Stop 8: Navy Pier \n\n9. 163 E Pearson St\n Stop 9: Water Tower & The Magnificent Mile \n\n10. 150 E Chestnut St\n Stop 10: 360 Chicago \n\n11. 614 N Clark St\n Stop 11: Hard Rock Cafe \n\n\n\nPoints of Interest\n- Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower\n\n- The Art Institute of Chicago\n\n- The Chicago Theatre\n\n- Field Museum\n\n- Adler Planetarium\n\n- 360 Chicago Observation Deck\n\n- Grant Park\n\n- Navy Pier\n\n- Millennium Park\n\n- Water Tower Place\n\n- Hard Rock Cafe Chicago\n\n- BigBus Chicago\n\n- Buckingham Fountain\n\n- Cloud Gate\n\n- Financial District\n\n- Maggie Daley Park\n\n- The Magnificent Mile\n\n- Tribune Tower\n\n- Holy Name Cathedral\n\n- Chicago River\n\n- Chicago Riverwalk\n\n- Soldier Field\n\n- The Rookery Building\n\n- Centennial Wheel\n\n- Chicago Cultural Center\n\n- Wrigley Building\n\n- American Writers Museum\n\n- The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum\n\n- Northerly Island\n\n- Pritzker Military Museum & Library\n\n- Jay Pritzker Pavilion\n\n- Lyric Opera of Chicago\n\n- Symphony Center - Chicago Symphony Orchestra\n\n- Monadnock Building\n\n- Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
What's Included
- Live bus tracking via free Big Bus app
- Hop-on, hop-off flexibility with open-top sightseeing bus tour
- Engaging audio guide commentary
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Admission to attractions
Additional Information
Chicago, a bustling city by the lake, is renowned for its towering skyscrapers, top-notch museums, and vibrant history. Discover the ‘Windy City’ at a pace that suits you with tickets available for 24 and 48 hours, all of which incorporate a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour, the stops of which are conveniently located close to the city’s main attractions. Board the bus to see landmarks such as the Adler Planetarium and Navy Pier, or get off on the Magnificent Mile for shopping and to experience the breathtaking view from the Willis Tower’s Skydeck.
- 1 Day tickets will be valid for same day use. Tickets claimed after 2 pm will be valid for the next calendar day.
- Redeem vouchers at any Big Bus hop-on hop-off points
- Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.9
(1696 Ratings)
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Tim_m
Dec 13, 2023
Absolute blast - Being able to take in the sights without the stress of driving along with the ability to go through again for spots that I missed.
Review provided by Viator
Suzete_d
Dec 9, 2023
Fun day in Chicago - One of the bus driver- a lady, did an excellent job telling the history behind the places we drove by. I apologize I don’t know her name. We enjoyed that part of the tour very very much!
Review provided by Viator
Tourist126447
Mar 25, 2024
Audio Recording?! - This is a mixed review. Our first bus ride was with Candice. She was the best bus driver! She gave a personal experience and engaged with the riders. Candice set the bar high for sure! The second bus driver didn't say anything to the riders other than notifying of us our stops. The audo recording we are forced to listen to is just awful. The recording is difficult to understand and the music played in between the narrative is truly painful. I've taken this tour countless times in the past, not sure when it changed to audio recordings. Thank goodness for Candice! The company needs to go back to the more personal experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maxene_s
May 6, 2024
A mixed bag - We bought the 2 day pass. The 1st day we were very disappointed. We riden the Big Bus in many cities across the US, perhaps some cities are better suited for this style tour. Chicago is a grid with a smallish center loop; the Big Bus tour weaved mostly in and around this loop. We'd hope it would take us into the ethnic areas as it does in NYC, LA or to the historic high spots as it does in San Antonio and St. Augustine. Also, while the new app is helpful letting you know how soon the next Bus is arriving, we spent a considerable amount of time standing on street corners waiting for the next bus. In other cities the routes are better defined; it's easier to walk between stops, do a bit more Sightseeing, while waiting for the next bus. It was also rather annoying to listen to the same narrators in Chicago we heard in NYC a couple months before. Stupid banter in squeaky juvenile voices with inane adolescent jokes. We almost skipped our second day on the Big Bus. Glad we didn't. This time, our driver Anton, let us know as we boarded the bus, not to bother with the headphones, he would be narrating. He was as enthusiastic as he was informative. Anton truly loves and knows Chicago. Anton is the reason we'll take the Big Bus in the next city we explore - hoping for that city's Anton.
Review provided by Viator
Annie51gap
Apr 29, 2024
DISRESPECTFUL TOUR GUIDE CANDANCE - The tour route was very interesting! However, the tour guide had a political agenda which she wanted all passengers to know. I believe that whoever is elected to government offices, regardless of your beliefs, should be respected. It was clear that CANDANCE was a huge O’bama fan and spoke of him over and over again throughout the tour. It was also clear that CANDANCE, hated Trump. She would not even say his name when pointing out his building on the tour. The tour would have been much more enjoyable without her political commentary.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shaylahale
Mar 11, 2024
Do disappointed - not worth the $$. - We started our morning with a great driver who was doing a live tour narration - she was amazing. Then the day went down from there. This was such a disappointing tour. They had just started their expanded hours and things were running late at each stop (we waited over 30 minutes at 3 stops), when we watched the bus completely blow by stop #10 after a 30 minute wait - we gave up and used the CTA bus to get us back to where we got on. The tour narration is unimpressive. The app did not track the busses and there was no way to chat with a live person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
504katyk
Jan 2, 2024
Disappointed & Disgruntled - We were under the impression there would be a human tour guide based on other reviews. Our bus driver did not give a tour, we listened to a recorded commentary that was subpar. In addition the listed pick up times were not accurate and we waited upwards of 45 min or more. We thought it was overpriced for the service we received.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Supati140
Apr 28, 2024
Not Worth It. - I would not recommend this tour. The recording that described the places on the tour was not synced with the bus we were on. A couple of blocks after we had seen a building, the recording would tell us that we were approaching that building. Additionally, the recording talked about places we should see that were not on the tour and we were not told where they were located. The “actors” on the recording were awful, their voices full of fake enthusiasm, pretending they were learning something for the first time, etc. Lastly, if you have to say something in French, a name or a place, pronounce it properly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cmooretruck1
Mar 17, 2024
Never again - The bus was so packed people we're standing, the bus was late to every stop, the drivers had people in and off the bus. Just seemed very disorganized.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda015
Feb 2, 2024
Save your money! - Awful. Buses only run once an hour. We went to one stop then had to Uber to the next. None of the times were correct that they had listed on the brochure. The driver did not know where the restaurant listed as an attraction on his bus route was located. Pre recorded tape was not accurate as to where we were at on the route. Save your money. I have done this in many cities and never been this disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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