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
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
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.
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
2,276 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
2babes and a brew.
ELWGrammy03,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The start 10:00 was organic xed and awesome. As the day wore on, it lost all organization and for which was not cool.
Expensive and not worth it.
Joanne G,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Headphones don’t work very well if at all. Our driver ran at least three red lights and loved to honk his horn in traffic.
Wasn't the best Bus tour that I've been on!
Judi D,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Sounds does not sync with locations. There was a lot of traffic, bus driver should have been able to pause it!! Too much music in between drops with not enough info on scenery. The bottom level, out of hot sun, had strong odor of either exhaust or bug spray. Bus driver kept reminding guests that tips were appreciated.
Rained out!
Gaye B,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00We were rained out and couldn’t enjoy the outdoor activities we had planned . We had to sit on the bus as it completed the full route. Chicago weather is fickle.
Good overview
Kathleen W,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Good overview of the city. Audio needs to be better synced with the travel. We had already passed some landmarks when audio reviewed them.
Think twice.
F6207SQsusanw,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We must have been on a different tour. No narrator. Earphones were provided but the recording was so poor we have no idea where we were or what we were seeing. A complete waste of money.
Chicago hop on hop off
Susan V,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had Candace for most of the tour and she was excellent with her narration and pointing out fun facts about various sites. Very knowledgeable in the fact that she was from Chicago made it even better. I would be remiss if I did not comment on our initial contact with the bus driver at stop one. When trying to show our tickets for two men there and said we’d have to show them at the next stop. We got off at the next stop and we were told we had to wait until a manager, got there to check our tickets because we went one stop. I had tickets. I had purchased them quite a while ago. No manager showed up and I left. Later on thank God we got Candace. She saved the day Some of your employees need manners and learn how to treat the visitors that get on your bus
Don’t forget to tip your driver
Wendy E,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The driver continually requested tips. He gave some information but mostly relied on the recorded information through ear buds.
It was fun but one of the...
Joyce W,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was fun but one of the riders in our group got smacked in the face with tree branches!! Watch out for low level tree branches!
This was a great way to...
Staci B,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00This was a great way to see so many parts of Chicago and get our bearings. We hopped on and off several times. The audio presentation was interesting. We really liked it. I will say that some drivers are better than others with friendliness and speaking about landmarks, announcing stops, etc.
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Operated by Big Bus Tours - USA