Chicago Walking Tour: Art Deco Skyscrapers Riverfront
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during the business boom of the Roaring '20s. Learn how Art Deco reflected the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornament. Discover the origins of Art Deco while admiring buildings like the Carbide and Carbon Building (now Pendry Chicago), the Chicago Motor Club Building (now the Hampton Inn) and the colorful, but often overlooked, Trustees System Service Building (now the Century Tower)—all of which are designated Chicago landmarks. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change without notice due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
Pets are not allowed.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Chicago River
Discuss buildings built in the Art Deco style along the riverfront
View the exterior of the building
What‘s Included
Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center
Narration by a professional and certified guide
Coat check
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Storage for luggage or strollers
Options
Art Deco Riverfront
Reviews
85 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent
V3102NJdanw,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mary Jane had lots of info about Art Deco. The walk was short and the lobbies were exceptional exhibits. Highly recommended!
Great tour well worth taking the time to do it
Anne D,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was excellent , very knowledgeable , enthusiastic and friendly. The architecture was fantastic well worth taking the time out to see the exteriors and interiors of the art deco buildings.
Amazing lobbies and rooftops
Gigem83,Dec 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very interesting tour. Thanks to Bob, I appreciate the beauty of Chicago’s architecture and architectural history even more. The interior’s you visit are hidden gems that you could easily pass by. Highly recommend this tour and will definitely do another tour on my next trip to Chicago. I guarantee you will learn something on this tour. Pro tip: look up. The top of the buildings are as amazing as the ground level.
Fantastic Art Deco Skyscraper walking tour
20DJW14,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took an hour and a half thoroughly engaging and informative walking tour with Bob who was a font of knowledge about Art Deco, other architectural styles and Chicago history, too. It was a brisk day and only two of us were on the tour but being able to pop into buildings and see their interiors as well as their exteriors was a nice perk. The price was reasonable for the length of the tour - CAC volunteers provide such great tours.
Art Deco shines on this river walking tour
WeLoveToTravelHike,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We met our Guide Maureen – who’s a rockstar at the architecture design center where you get your headset and earphones to set out on our tour. It was the perfect length and she shared such specific details and made the tour so interesting with each place we visited. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was clear how much she loved what she’s doing. We’ve been on several tours and thought this was the best one yet. When I especially liked was the attention to detail and how much she shared about picking out the art deco details. Highly recommend.
So many great walking tours!
ejcrotty,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We walked the Art Deco Skyscrapers: the Riverfront tour. Despite it being a cold winter day, we kept warm with multiple stops inside the buildings. The tour was fascinating with many special buildings and features and we learned so much about Art Deco and the history of Chicago in the 1920's. Maureen the tour guide was so knowledgeable and taught us with a smile. This is my 4th walking tour and they have all been great.
Learn to identify the details of an Art Deco era building.
stephendA7075TP,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour, learned so much about these Art Deco buildings. I have walked by these buildings hundreds of times and didn't even notice the details until they were pointed out.
Mary Ann
paulinesF6971DK,Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful experience learning about the beautiful art deco building the great city of Chicago has. The tour guide, Mary Ann was very knowledgeable, informative and answered questions.
Awesome walking tour
457jenig,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such interesting history in this city taught through the beautiful architecture. Cynthia was an excellent guide. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it.
Fair, but not first choice walking tour.
hoby1kanobee,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00It was ok, not great. Took quite a while to get rolling with much talk outside the building. Docent's microphone failed mid tour and much of end was near trains so hard to hear. Maybe this was shared but would have been good to know finishes at Merch Mart which would have led to more strategic parking location. I'd recommend sky scraper tour and other art deco ahead of this one.
Related Experiences
Operated by Chicago Architecture Center