Chicago: Hop-On Hop-Off Tour By Open-Top Bus With 11 Stops

Ride a 1-day hop-on hop-off bus with Big Bus Chicago. The bus covers 11 stops across the city, and you can get off to explore and reboard during the day. Tickets start from $49.

Overview

The Big Bus open-top double-decker loops through downtown Chicago with 11 stops, and the whole point is that you are not tied to it. Ride a full circle from the top deck, or step off wherever something catches your eye and catch the next bus when you're done. Tickets run for a set window of hours, and the free Big Bus app shows live bus positions so you can judge when the next one is due.

The route passes the Chicago Riverwalk, Willis Tower, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Grant Park, the Museum Campus, the Magnificent Mile, 360 CHICAGO and River North, among other landmarks. Digital commentary plays through provided earbuds in multiple languages, covering the city's history along with tips on where to eat, drink and shop. Longer ticket options add self-guided audio walking tours on themes like architecture, the Riverwalk and public art, and the longest option adds a shuttle connecting downtown with the Obama Presidential Center, Jackson Park and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

This suits first-time visitors who want the lay of the land in a single day, and one reviewer said it let them visit all the important places in Chicago with the convenience of getting on and off many times. It also suits anyone who prefers to set their own pace rather than follow a fixed guided schedule. Attraction admission is not included, so budget separately for anything you want to enter.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Start at 98 E Wacker DrThe main meeting point is 98 E Wacker Drive, between Michigan Ave. and Wabash Ave., though the starting location depends on the selected option.
2. Riverwalk and Willis TowerThe bus passes the Chicago Riverwalk and then Willis Tower, both visible from the open top deck.
3. Millennium Park and the Art InstituteThe route continues past Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.
4. Grant Park and Museum CampusPass-bys include the Hilton Chicago, Grant Park, the Adler Planetarium and the Chicago Museum Campus.
5. Magnificent Mile and River NorthThe loop then passes the Sheraton Grand Chicago, the Chicago Water Tower, the Magnificent Mile, 360 CHICAGO and River North.
6. Hop off anywhereAny of the stops along the route can be used to hop off and reboard later, subject to your ticket's time window.
7. Finish at a drop-off pointThere are two drop-off locations, and the end point depends on the selected option.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from how the app works to what the top deck is actually like.

• Use the app. Download the Big Bus app before you go. It stores your ticket, activates it on the day, and tracks buses in real time. One reviewer found the live tracking very easy to use for gauging when the next bus would arrive.
• Pick your seat. The open top deck is the draw, and one reviewer described just sitting up there going past the sights as a lovely way to spend the ride.
• Set your own pace. There is no fixed schedule beyond the ticket window. One reviewer managed all the main places in a single day by hopping on and off repeatedly, while another said there were so many cool spots that they ran out of time and would return for a longer trip.
• Bring earbuds anyway. Souvenir earbuds are provided for the digital commentary, which runs in multiple languages. One reviewer found their language missing, so the commentary only works if your language is among the available options.
• Plan around frequency. Some reviewers felt the buses came too infrequently and waited longer than expected. Build a little slack into the day rather than planning back-to-back stops.
• Mind the weather. The bus is open-top, so the deck is fully exposed to Chicago's weather. Dress for the conditions on the day, and note that attraction admission is not part of the ticket.

Common issues. The main complaint in reviews is frequency: several travellers said buses pass too infrequently and the wait between them can stretch on. One reviewer whose English was limited found the audio guide useless because their language was not offered, so the commentary depends on your language matching the available options. Attraction admission is not included, so entries like 360 CHICAGO or the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier cost extra. Children under three travel free but must be accompanied by an adult and cannot take seats designated for paying passengers, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

Common Questions