Medieval Torture Museum Ticket With Audio Guide And Ghost Hunting

This ticket covers entry to the Medieval Torture Museum and includes an audio guide and a ghost hunting activity. Plan for a visit of 1 hour 30 minutes as you move through the exhibits with the audio guide.

Overview

This is a self-guided visit to the Medieval Torture Museum in Chicago, built around a phone-based audio guide, with a ghost hunting element included in the ticket. The listed duration is 1 hour 30 minutes, though travellers report very different paces, because you move at your own pace and can loop back through the exhibits as you wish. There is no in-person guide; the storytelling comes through the app on your own phone.

The collection covers torture devices and punishment practices from medieval times, and much of it is hands on. Reviewers mention being able to touch the devices and the figures on display, and several describe exhibits you can interact with. The lighting is dim, the subject matter is genuinely gruesome, and the audio tour is described by travellers as informative and well done.

It suits adults and teens with a strong stomach and an interest in macabre history. Families should note the exhibition is not recommended for children under 18 without an adult, and children under 10 enter free when each is accompanied by a dedicated adult, one adult per child. It is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, near public transport, and easy to reach in the city.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Arrive at the museumMake your own way to the Medieval Torture Museum in central Chicago, near public transportation. Confirmation is received at the time of booking.
2. Download the audio appThe audio guide runs on your phone, so bring your own headphones or earbuds. One reviewer specifically recommended this before entering.
3. Explore the exhibitionWalk through the torture displays at your own pace, reading the signs or matching numbered exhibits to the audio narration. The listed duration is 1 hour 30 minutes, though you can move faster or slower.
4. Try the interactive displaysMany exhibits are hands on, and reviewers describe being able to touch the devices and figures. One reviewer noted the interactive game app did not work for them, so treat it as a bonus rather than the main event.
5. Ghost huntingThe ticket includes a ghost hunting element as part of the experience. One reviewer who tried it called it a definite highlight of the visit.
6. Leave when readyThere is no fixed end time or return transfer. Visitors circle through as they wish and leave when they are done.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the reviews and the listing, and they will shape your visit more than anything else.

• Bring earbuds. The audio tour plays on your own phone, so headphones or earbuds are a must. One reviewer said this directly, and another mentioned that reading alone is harder when the museum is crowded.
• Expect dim lighting. One reviewer mentioned the lighting is very dim when you enter. Give your eyes a moment to adjust, and be prepared to read exhibit signs in low light, especially when the museum is busy.
• Go at your pace. There is no in-person guide and no set route time. Reviewers reported very different visit lengths, so plan loosely around the listed 1 hour 30 minutes and decide how deep you want to go.
• It gets crowded. More than one reviewer described the space as busy and tight, with signs hard to read when the room fills up. Visiting outside peak hours makes reading and using the audio guide easier.
• Touch, carefully. Many displays are interactive and can be touched. One reviewer stressed being respectful with the devices and figures, so keep hands calm and follow the exhibit signs.
• Food and parking. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no in-person guide. If you drive, the listing notes a parking garage at 20 E. Randolph Street charges $8 for six hours, which is paid on site and not part of the ticket.

Common issues. The museum is smaller and more cramped than some travellers expected, and a few felt the price was high for the length of their visit. One reviewer could not get the interactive game app to work despite downloading it via the QR code. The subject matter is graphic and not recommended for children under 18 without an adult. Cancellation is strict: no refund if you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

Common Questions