Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors

Explore dazzling Chicago interiors on a 2-hour architecture walk. Inside Chicago Walking Tours leads this tour, rated 5 by 1790 reviewers, and tickets start from $35.

Overview

This Chicago architecture tour goes inside the buildings rather than staying on the sidewalk. Over two hours, a local guide from Inside Chicago Walking Tours leads a group of no more than 20 travellers through the interiors of historic Loop buildings. Reviewers say they visited spots they never would have found on their own.

The route begins in the plaza at 425 S. Financial Place, near the large metal horse sculpture, and works through the Chicago Board of Trade Building, the surrounding Downtown and Loop district, and the Chicago Cultural Center, where the tour ends. Along the way the guide covers the architects behind the buildings and the city history wrapped up in them. One reviewer mentions movie location references and another mentions restaurant recommendations thrown in as a bonus.

Expect an educational walk with a casual, humorous tone, a bit of walking and some stairs, and interiors that reviewers describe as full of beautiful detail.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the plazaMeet your guide in the plaza in front of 425 S. Financial Place, near the large metal horse sculpture. This is the starting point, not the Chicago Cultural Center.
2. Chicago Board of Trade BuildingSpend 20 minutes inside the Board of Trade Building, with admission included in the tour.
3. Downtown and The LoopContinue through Downtown and The Loop for 20 minutes, taking in more building interiors along the way. Admission is free at this stop.
4. Chicago Cultural CenterFinish with 15 minutes at the Chicago Cultural Center, free to enter, where the tour ends.
5. Tour endsThe walk finishes at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St. The listing stresses this is the ending point, not the beginning.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what travellers should know before booking this two hour interiors walk.

• Pace and walking. Expect a fair amount of walking plus some stairs, as one reviewer noted, though an elevator is available in at least one building and was described as slow. The pace came in for repeated praise in reviews.
• Group size. The tour caps at 20 travellers. Reviews again and again describe the guides as knowledgeable and engaging.
• Weather and dress. The tour runs in all weather, so dress appropriately.
• Accessibility. The listing states the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, with accessible surfaces and transport nearby. Stairs exist on the route, so mention mobility needs when booking if the elevator matters to you.
• What is covered. A local guide is included. Gratuities are not. Reviews again and again describe the guides as knowledgeable, with history and architecture covered in depth.
• Who it suits. One reviewer had taken the boat architecture tour before and wanted a different angle, and found it here. Anyone curious about what sits behind the facades will get a lot out of it.

Common issues. Gratuities are not included in the price. There is a bit of walking and some stairs, and one reviewer mentioned the available elevator is slow, so travelers with mobility constraints should plan around that. The tour operates in all weather conditions, which means it runs rain or shine and dressing for the day matters. Groups can reach 20 travellers. Note that the end point differs from the meeting point, so check the Cultural Center address in advance.

Common Questions