Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors
5
Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors
By Inside Chicago Walking Tours
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About
Discover the lavish interiors of some of Chicago’s most spectacular buildings when you book this architecture-themed walking tour. Meet your guide in the Loop, and set off on foot. You’ll venture behind closed doors to see the architectural highlights that aren’t easily visible from street level, from the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome to the art deco flourishes of the Chicago Board of Trade Building. As you go, learn more about the Windy City’s wealth of history.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 5-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Follow your guide off the tourist trail, and bypass closed doors
- Learn all about Chicago architecture and history as you go
- Discover the interiors of many of the Loop’s key buildings
- Explore on foot to get up close and personal with the sights
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Local guide
- Entry/Admission - Chicago Board Of Trade Building
What's not included- Gratuities
- Start:
- 425 S Financial Pl, Chicago, IL 60605, USAMeet in the plaza in front of 425 S. Financial Place, near the large metal horse sculpture.
End:- Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30994P5- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30994P5
From
$61.36
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 425 S Financial Pl, Chicago, IL 60605, USAMeet in the plaza in front of 425 S. Financial Place, near the large metal horse sculpture.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 19LFC200 contributionsGreat tourTour was very enjoyable. Colleen was terrific. She was very knowledgeable and interesting. Provided a different perspective on Chicago architecture.Written 7 December 2024
- 72pennyv0 contributionsPedway tour in ChicagoInteresting tour showing things that are hidden in plain sight and you wouldn’t see if you weren’t shown and stories behind the facades of the buildings.Written 7 December 2024
- BoardingPass6788070 contributionsChristmas Tree Crawl Tour - AWESOME!!I would highly recommend this tour. Hillary was an awesome tour guide and explained some of the history of the buildings that we were going into. She also takes great pics!! I give this tour 5 stars for sure. Very enjoyable!!Written 7 December 2024
- Gary P0 contributionsGreat Experience!!Hillary did a great job with just enough detail without getting into the weeds. Can’t wait to try the sugar cookie recipeWritten 6 December 2024
- W2961JMstevenj0 contributionsGreat tour for locals and visitors!As a local Chicago resident I found this tour to be highly informative. It's excellent for local residents or visitors to Chicago. The guide was very knowledgeable. I learned so much!Written 5 December 2024
- Evgueni I0 contributionsExtraordinary 2 hour journey through Chicago Skyscraper EngineeringWe spent 2 very interesting and enjoyable hours with Henry. He made the experience very informative, enjoyable and added a lot of additional insights from own experience as a structural engineering specialist participating on number of building developments we saw. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour and our guide. There is a lot you do not see that’s worth discovering. Thank you, Henry!Written 1 December 2024
- Y5089XIadrianm0 contributionsThe Golden Age of Corporate Chicago's Art Deco Designs.The Walking Tour leader had an wonderful knowledge of structural engineering and was able to bring this to enhance this tour. If you are unfamiliar with Chicago's Art Deco style, you will find its' imagery fascinatingly different to the French style.Written 29 November 2024
- 937evys0 contributionsHillary, a superb Chicago ambassadorHillary was an awesome guide, tailoring her tour for our alumnae group to highlight the unique history, architecture, and stories of Chicago. Our ladies from around the country loved her guided tour.Written 28 November 2024
- julierP9117YX0 contributionsThe Best Chicago Tour!Hillary provided a wonderful experience for my friend and myself. She is the perfect combination knowledge and fun. We will definitely use her for future tours.Written 23 November 2024
- alyssahT6786TI0 contributionsLearning the Secrets of the LoopThe tour was amazing! Our tour guide Colleen was extremely informative and there were a lot of places we haven’t seen before, though we’ve visited Chicago many times. I especially enjoyed the tour of the cultural center and learning more about the secrets built into Chicago’s architecture. We learned how to traverse the city without going through the cold, and found some special gems along the way! Strongly recommend for a unique and immersive experience!Written 21 November 2024
- cathetinea20230 contributionsAbsolutely fantastic experience!Absolutely fantastic experience! The Chicago Pedway walking tour was both informative and fascinating. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the history and unique features of the Pedway to life with engaging stories and insights. I learned so much about this hidden gem of Chicago and enjoyed every moment of the tour. Highly recommend for both locals and visitors looking for something different and memorable.Written 19 November 2024
- F4652TQchriss0 contributionsHidden in plain sight, the Chicago Pedway is an amazing Chicago secret!Loved the hidden secrets of the Chicago Pedway Walking Tour! Kaylee was incredibly knowledgable and entertaining. Thanks again!Written 10 November 2024
- Shepoodle0 contributionsGreat tour!Great tour! Tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided lots of interesting information. Would definitely recommend for a group.Written 7 November 2024
- karlakL3858AH0 contributionsGreat tour for visitors and native chicagoansThis is a terrific tour. We are native chicagoans and saw and learned about places we never knew existed. Who knew the pedway was even there, let alone so extensive? Kaylee was awesome- she was energetic, knowledgeable and eager to share all she knew, and always with a smile. The two hours flew by! I would recommend this tour to any visitor, and to those of us who think we know all there is to know about our beloved windy city.Written 1 November 2024
- B7274TFamyp0 contributionsGreat way to end the day!After a long day of meetings this was a great way to end the day…stretching your legs and getting some fresh air! It was also the perfect amount of information - our tour guide made it fun!Written 30 October 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
729 reviews
Excellent
717
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10
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2
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Eric T
Detroit, MI117 contributions
The tour wasn’t able to enter the Rookery building, because of protest later that day. Hillary our guide did a phenomenal job at explaining the architecture as it relates to the different time periods. Her tour is only available on Saturdays. She had an additional information picture book of prior buildings. She explained in great detail the constructs of each building as it relates to surrounding architecture. You will experience great interiors, and become well informed on the architecture of Chicago.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the tour, Eric, and I hope that you and Arlene will come back and take another tour with me on your next anniversary trip. It's admittedly tough for me to get docked even one star for something that wasn't in my control, but I do understand that you were expecting to see the Rookery's interior -- which we have been able to do every Saturday outside of this one day -- so I do understand the less-than-perfect rating. I apologize again that that day's scheduled protest in another neighborhood unfortunately affected our access to a regular tour spot. I was just as surprised (and disappointed!) as you. But I'm glad you enjoyed the rest of the stunning interiors on the tour, and I hope you got some great photos! :)
For future customers, please note that this was a one-time access issue that is EXTREMELY rare. In fact, in 6 years of doing my tours, it was the first time it had happened. It is definitely not indicative of regular tour operation.
Written 31 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie L
20 contributions
My parents bought me the architectural walking tour and I LOVED IT! We had a small group and I enjoyed learning all about these buildings that I would pass by but have never gone into. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and I was impressed with how many details she knew of these buildings. Also that it is a woman owned business is amazing and I would highly recommend this tour to many!
Written 2 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MikeHE
Portland, OR13 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Our architecture walking tour was excellent! Our tour guide, Hillary, was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. She explained the architecture details succinctly and made learning about the buildings fun and fascinating. Please check out her tour to learn about architectural gems in Chicago.
Written 7 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jersey D
20 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
My family loved Hillary as she was very knowledgeable of the city and the history. We got to go inside some real cool historical buildings. We got to learn the design differences between the late 1800’s, Art Deco, Modern, and post Modern and a lot about Chicago history going back to the 1600’s. We loved that she had a binder full of pictures to show where some of the sculptures had originally where at and what the building design were trying to reflect and how they had looked before renovations. This is an experience you will not get on boat tours as you are inside the city and buildings.
Written 16 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeetaB
Green Bay, WI112 contributions
Loved it! Adam was very passionate and knowledgeable. As he stated, one would never know what the inside of some of these buildings look like if just walking by. I have been to Chicago numerous times, and had no idea. I especially loved the rookery and would highly recommend this tour. You really need to visit these tours with a guy like Adam, who can explain what you were looking at. It may be helpful to know where the first stop is. We had various people arrive late, so ended up waiting 10 minutes to get started. Perhaps late comers could just join at the first stop and then the tour guide does not have to worry about waiting for them or trying to figure it out?
There is a lot of listening to information in this tour, so would not recommend for children
There is a lot of listening to information in this tour, so would not recommend for children
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexis W
16 contributions
Sept 2021
We took our tour on a Thursday which meant our small group was comprised of our party, one additional guest, and our fantastic guide, Kylie. We covered so much ground in a two-hour period – literally and figuratively! From the Chicago Board of Trade to the Palmer House Hotel we saw beautiful interiors with a history on how they came to be and look as they do now. Kylie was wonderful about answering any questions that came to mind on our journey and giving us time to appreciate and take photos of each uniquely beautiful place we visited. This was such a fun way to explore the city while getting to view architecturally magical places we would never have found on our own.
Written 13 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KCMTP
Mount Pleasant, MI14 contributions
Mar 2020
Hillary was great. Nice, conversational, took time to know names, set the agenda for our walk and she was a great storyteller. Mainly, you could feel the passion for what she does for a living, which you rarely feel in the big tours. Good pre and post communication as well. The thing I liked the most about this is that I have walked/driven by the locations we visited hundreds of times in my life, but had never visited, or had any idea how cool the interiors of these building were and their history. This is a great tour for Chicagoans, let alone out of towners, and I learned a lot. I highly recommend it.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt
1 contribution
Jun 2021
Adam was an enthusiastic and entertaining guide. He took us on a thoughtfully planned tour of buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century and put each in context. So I think it’s a great tour to take early in your trip to Chicago because it helps you get your bearings and understand this city’s history and identity.
Written 26 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean Mitchell V
3 contributions
Oct 2021
This was great, it was exactly as other 5 star reviews said it was. Our guide was Kyley (I don't remember if that's how you write it,). She took us inside several lobbys and buildings while informing us with great knowledge of the type of theme, styles and historical facts of everyone of the places that we visited. As someone who has never being a real fan of arquitecture beyond basic things, I was mesmerize. The tour was light, relaxed, fun (she had a upbeat personality and was very eloquent). And it lasted a good while. Wear comfortable shoes, cause you are going to walk. And because you obviously walk outside, take an umbrella in case it rains. Overall, it was a great experience. TOTALLY RECOMMEND IT.
Written 24 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DotInTO
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This was a great tour! Hilary (the business owner) had to step in at the last minute to replace the guide who had a family emergency and couldn't make it. Despite the tour starting 15 minutes late, Hilary did the full two hours (after checking with our group that would work for all of us) and packed in as much information as she could.
It was obvious that Hilary loved showcasing some of Chicago's interior gems. She spoke knowledgeably about the architectural features and history of the various buildings and encouraged us to open our minds to see the beauty of places that might not be to our taste.
My husband and I were excited to see inside some of the buildings we would normally walk right past, but we would have preferred to spend less time in each location and squeeze one more in, if possible. We were also disappointed that the Rookery wasn't open for viewing on Sundays, as it was one of the buildings we really wanted to see. If that's on your must-see list, be sure to book for another day of the week.
That said, we really enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to anyone who might feel too shy to just wander into random buildings to take a peek. Paired with one of the architecture boat tours, this was a great way to get a sense of Chicago's beauty, inside and out.
It was obvious that Hilary loved showcasing some of Chicago's interior gems. She spoke knowledgeably about the architectural features and history of the various buildings and encouraged us to open our minds to see the beauty of places that might not be to our taste.
My husband and I were excited to see inside some of the buildings we would normally walk right past, but we would have preferred to spend less time in each location and squeeze one more in, if possible. We were also disappointed that the Rookery wasn't open for viewing on Sundays, as it was one of the buildings we really wanted to see. If that's on your must-see list, be sure to book for another day of the week.
That said, we really enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to anyone who might feel too shy to just wander into random buildings to take a peek. Paired with one of the architecture boat tours, this was a great way to get a sense of Chicago's beauty, inside and out.
Written 26 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We will be in Chicago this July. Will you be offering live walking tours vs. virtual at that time?
Thanks
Written 10 May 2021
Are you still offering this tour? I am most interested in the Rookery building but online it says that there are no tours happening at this time. Thanks!
Written 19 April 2021
Can i do this tour and your other walking tour the same day?
Written 30 October 2018
The tour takes 2 hours. It is not very tiring, we walked about 1.5 miles in total.
Written 31 October 2018
Hi. Which buildings does this tour visit? (interiors) Thanks.
Written 16 August 2018
311 South Wacker
The Rookery
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago Board of Trade
Written 16 August 2018
Hi there! I'm looking to go on a private walking tour at 1pm on Sunday - would it be possible to arrange this through you? I need to leave on Sunday for the airport by 3pm. Thanks so much! Earlene
Written 22 June 2018
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