Chicago Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover Chicago at your own pace with Big Bus. Travel aboard an open-top, double-decker bus and enjoy panoramic views of the city's most famous landmarks, including the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Willis Tower, The Bean, Navy Pier, and more.
Hop on and off at conveniently located stops to explore Chicago's top attractions, vibrant neighbourhoods, world-class dining, and shopping. Use our free app to track bus arrivals in real time and plan your day with ease.
Enjoy multilingual digital commentary throughout your journey, packed with fascinating stories, local insights, and recommendations.
48-hour and 72-hour tickets also include 4 Self-Guided Audio Walking Tours, covering topics such as Architecture, the Chicago Riverwalk, and Public Art. For an even more memorable experience, the 72-hour ticket includes the Panoramic Sunset Live Tour, offering spectacular views of Chicago as the city lights begin to shine.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Choice of audio tours: Chicago Architecture, Public Art, Chicago Riverwalk, and Millennium Park
Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile ticket.
Redeem tickets via Big Bus app or in person
Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
The Sunset Tour is a non-stop panoramic tour and is guided in English only.
What To Expect
Duration:2 hours
Operating Schedule:Operates daily: First Bus 10AM, Last Bus 4PM. Loop duration: 2 hours. Download the free Big Bus app for stop locations, city information and live bus tracking.
Stop 1 - Chicago Riverwalk (98 E. Wacker Drive, across the bridge from Trump Tower))
Stop 2 - Skydeck Chicago & Willis Tower
Stop 3 - Millennium Park &The Art Institute of Chicago
Stop 4 - Hilton Chicago & Grant Park
Stop 5 - Adler Planetarium
Stop 6 - Field Museum of Natural History and Museum Campus
Stop 7 - Chicago Architecture Center and Sheraton Grand
Stop 8 - Navy Pier
Stop 9 - Water Tower & The Magnificent Mile
Stop 10 - John Hancock Center
Stop 11 - River North
Options
24-Hour Ticket
24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Tour: Hop on and off at convenient stops around Chicago and enjoy digital audio commentary while aboard.
48-hour Ticket & Walking Tours
48-hour Hop-on Hop-off Tour Audio Guide Walking Tour: A choice of 4 professionally-narrated audio tours
72-h Bus, Night & Walking Tour
72-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Tour Night Tour & Walking Tour: Panoramic Sunset Live Guided Tour; A choice of 4 professionally-narrated audio tours
What‘s Included
Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus
Enclosed/Climate Controlled Lower Deck, Top Deck Open
Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
Panoramic Sunset Live Guided Tour (Included with 72-Hour Ticket)
Free Vox Self-Guided Walking Tour app download (included with 48-Hour and 72-Hour tickets)
Professional digital commentary in multiple languages
4 Self-guided Digital Walking Tours to explore the city (if option selected)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Admission to attractions
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,291 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience. Staff...
Donna W,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience. Staff was courageous enjoyed the sites and destination. Was able to see several sites
Driving erratic and no explaining of anything made this for an awful experience
Allison J,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00First they didn’t have any headphones for us to listed to whatever was being said on the recording about the e buildings were were flying by. Second I felt like the driver was insane with how he was driving! Running red lights (3 that I counted) and he even wanted to not let an ambulance going code 3 through the intersection….but he was going sooooo fast you didn’t have time to see anything. And it was like he was AIMING FOR tree branches! I was on second level and without warning people were getting smacked by low tree branches including myself getting hit in the eyes and nose causing lacerations on my face. Only after he hit three branches did he say “sorry bout the branches”. We all were looking down to read the map because no headphones about the stops approaching as I said and bam. Branch to head. Then he parked and told us all to get off and go to another bus and when parked he lurched the bus forward and an old lady fell down the stairs. He was crazy!!!! Never again. I have done a few of these all over the world and hands down the worst experience ever.
Never saw a Big Red Bus:( looked for it for over a hour.
KADENIA J,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Never saw the Big Red Buses:( looked for over a hour.
Bus tour
Liz B,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The tour was great. Very hospitable staff. The website was difficult to find location of departure. Sent us the wrong way. Should also have map of route.
Love me a hop on, hop off bus tour of a city!
Lvn4vacation,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great way to get acclimated, see the highlights and decide what you want to go back for. Here’s a tip - the Chicago Art Institute is open until 8 on Thursday nights. It was much less crowded during that one evening than it was during the daily hours.
Ride with Felicia!
Maegan I,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The Tour of Chicago is one of my favorite big bus tours I've ever taken. The architecture is interesting and they have so many pretty parks. I had an amazing driver, Felicia, who did live commentary and a fantastic job of pointingout spots to take photos and slowing down a bit where traffic allowed for photo ops. I really enjoyed riding with her and 100% recommend this tour
It is great to ride...
Melanie B,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00It is great to ride around the city on the top deck if the weather is nice. However, the audio and commentary are horrible! The first driver talked some and told some things about the city. The other two drivers did not say a word except announcing stop numbers. The audio is very very poor quality. Unable to adjust the volume properly. And it worked periodically and went out periodically. It would probably be fine if you could hear it and the headphones worked. For the high cost, this company should upgrade their audio system.
Experience Chicago
Helen P,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Learn about some historical and interesting landmarks in the City. Easy to get off to explore and get back on.
Never again in Chicago
Brenda S,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00My husband and I started the tour at the Navy Pier. We got to stop 2 and the bus experienced mechanical issues. Another bus came so we were told to get on the bus behind us. That bus literally took us to the next stop and the driver told us that we had to exit the bus at that stop but the next bus wouldn’t arrive for another 20 minutes. We ended up walking and didn’t get to complete the tour. We paid a lot of money for only 2 stops and were very disappointed.
Buyer Beware!!
Carrie L,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00It was terrible! I purchased tickets as I was walking to the stop to be picked up from the hop on hop off bus. The representative at the stop printed out our tickets. We waited over an hour and no one came to pick us up. We could see on the app that the buses were not coming toward us. The app said the buses would be there in 30 minutes, but that time did not change while we waited. The representative kept saying it wasn’t accurate and that a bus would be there in 5 to 10 minutes so we kept waiting. She then said there was a mechanical issue with a bus that was causing delays. Then we finally gave up and decided to take an Uber to see the sites because we had very limited time in the city. I requested a refund from Viator as well as the hop on hop off company. Both have declined my request. The service was not provided yet they refused to refund my money. That is absolutely theft! I will not give my business to either of these companies in the future.
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