Skip to main content
Home
View My Favorites

Search the middle of everything...

Shedd Aquarium

Things To Do

Places To Go in Illinois

Plan Your Trip

Accessibility in Illinois

Chicago Detours

Various Locations, Chicago, IL 60603

Architecture

These are not your grandma's architecture tour! Our guided tours of architecture, history, and culture bring curious people to explore stories and places locals don't even know. We offer regularly scheduled tours for the public, and private group tours for corporate team-building, student groups, and convention groups. Founded by Amanda Scotese, a former Rick Steves tour guide, Chicago Detours designs tours as fun, educational experiences. With five stars on both Yelp and TripAdvisor, it is one of top-rated tour companies in Chicago. Public tours are by foot and stay mostly indoors, making them great activities for any time of year. Options include the "Loop Interior Architecture Walking Tour," which explores beautiful building interiors and the underground Pedway System, and the "Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour," which digs into Chicago's entertainment history of social clubs, jazz music, prohibition and theater. Other public tours include "Best Architecture Walking Tour Since Sliced Bread" and "1893 World's Fair Walking Tour with Bars and Food." Private group tours include the above options as well as tours by coach equipped with screens for presentation of historic images. Our historic bar tours, both by foot and by bus, are the most popular with private groups. Your group will eat, drink and learn about how Chicago has had fun over history. The "Big Shoulders Historic Bar and Food Bus Tour" visits Bridgeport, Chicago's oldest neighborhood, which was home to workers for the nearby Chicago Stock Yards. The "Jazz, Blues & Beyond by Bus" tour explores Chicago neighborhoods north to south for a fun, up-close connection with the cultural history of Chicago's music. Groups get exclusive access inside a building with relics from its time as a 1930s jazz club, and to top off this memorable experience, a blues musician comes on board for a performance and harmonica lesson. Other private tours include "Chicago Neighborhoods and Cultural Diversity by Bus" and "Old Polonia and Wicker Park Tour with Food." Step-on guide services available for private group tours. Tours include lively guide commentary, an interactive group dynamic, and extras like media presentation and special gifts. Rather than a standard lecture format, these tours actively involve guests in a memorable experience that inspires new perspectives of the city's architecture and history

Images

detours-chicago-2_C

How to find us?

Back to Listings

What's happening nearby...

Lollapalooza

Grant Park •  Jul 31 – Aug 03

Each year at Lollapalooza, some of the top names in alternative, hip hop, punk and pop join more than 170 bands and musicians in Grant Park…

Read more about Lollapalooza

Bud Billiken® Parade

Aug 09

The Bud Billiken® Parade is more than a procession of bands and floats marching down King Drive, it’s a commemoration of our past and a celebration…

Read more about Bud Billiken® Parade

Taste of Chicago (Neighborhood Parks)

Aug 09

Taste of Chicago has been a summer staple for more than 40 years. This year, the annual foodie extravaganza will bring both neighborhood events and the…

Read more about Taste of Chicago (Neighborhood Parks)

You might also be interested...

Wendella's Signature Lake & River Tour

Chicago

Read more about Wendella's Signature Lake & River Tour

Skydeck Chicago - The Ledge

Chicago

Skydeck Chicago is the highest observation deck in the US located on the 103rd floor of the iconic Willis Tower.

Read more about Skydeck Chicago - The Ledge

Auditorium Building

Chicago

Now a National Historic Landmark, the Auditorium Building has been a cornerstone of Chicago’s arts and cultural community since its opening in 1889.

Read more about Auditorium Building

Share your Moments

#EnjoyIllinois

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois.