Chicago: Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour & Walking Tours

See Chicago from the Top Deck, Stop When Something Catches Your Eye

You ride an open-top bus that stops at eleven Chicago landmarks including Millennium Park, Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and Grant Park; hop off and explore whenever you want, using the Big Bus app to track arrivals and access self-guided audio walking tours on architecture and public art. The 72-hour ticket includes a guided sunset panoramic tour. You get multilingual digital commentary throughout, climate-controlled seating below deck, and the freedom to build your own itinerary without booking individual attractions.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Start at Chicago Riverwalk
• Visit Skydeck Chicago and Willis Tower
• Explore Millennium Park and Art Institute
• See Hilton Chicago and Grant Park
• Stop at Adler Planetarium
• Visit Field Museum and Museum Campus
• Explore Chicago Architecture Center and Sheraton Grand
• Stop at Navy Pier
• See Water Tower and Magnificent Mile
• Visit John Hancock Center
• End at River North

The Experience

What if you could ride past the Willis Tower, then get off at Navy Pier whenever you felt like it, without planning the whole thing in advance? That's the setup here. You board an open-top double-decker bus that loops through Chicago on the Red Line, hitting eleven stops across downtown, the lakefront, and the neighborhoods in between. The Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate (that's the Bean), Grant Park, the Riverwalk — they're all on the route. You've got a 48-hour or 72-hour ticket, which means you can ride all day, hop off to walk around, grab lunch, then catch the next bus when you're ready to move on.

The bus itself has an open top deck where you get the full panoramic view, and a climate-controlled lower deck if the weather turns or you need a break. The Big Bus app lets you track where the bus is in real time, so you're not standing at a stop wondering if you missed it. The digital commentary plays in multiple languages and actually tells you something — stories about the buildings, the history, what you're looking at — instead of just naming things. If you grab the 48-hour or 72-hour option, you also get access to four self-guided audio walking tours built into the app: one on Chicago architecture, one on the Riverwalk, one on public art, and one on Millennium Park. So you can get off the bus, put in your earbuds, and walk through a neighborhood on your own schedule with someone explaining what you're seeing.

The 72-hour ticket adds a Panoramic Sunset Live Tour, which is a guided ride (English only) that runs non-stop through the city as the light changes and the buildings start to light up. It's not a hop-on-hop-off — you stay on for the whole thing — but it's included, so if you're there at the right time and want to see Chicago from the water and the streets as the sun goes down, it's already paid for. The whole setup is designed so you don't have to figure out the L, negotiate with a taxi, or commit to a guided group tour if you don't want to. You move at your own pace, and the app handles the logistics.

What’s included

• Unlimited hop-on-hop-off bus rides on the Red Loop route for 48 or 72 hours.
• access to the Big Bus app for ticket storage, live bus tracking, and mobile boarding.
• multilingual digital commentary throughout your journey.
• four self-guided audio walking tours covering Chicago Architecture, the Chicago Riverwalk, Public Art, and Millennium Park.
• enclosed lower deck with climate control and open top deck for panoramic views.
• Panoramic Sunset Live Tour in English (included with 72-hour ticket only).

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Big Bus Tours - USA

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Chicago's main landmarks without renting a car or booking separate tours for each stop — the ticket and app handle transport and timing, leaving you free to spend as long as you want at each place.

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Top questions

How many stops does the Chicago hop-on-hop-off bus tour have?

The Red Loop route has eleven stops, starting at the Chicago Riverwalk and including Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Navy Pier, the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and the Magnificent Mile.

What's included with the 48-hour and 72-hour tickets?

Both include unlimited hop-on-hop-off bus rides, access to four self-guided audio walking tours (Architecture, Chicago Riverwalk, Public Art, and Millennium Park), and multilingual digital commentary. The 72-hour ticket also includes a guided Panoramic Sunset Live Tour.

Can I track the bus in real time?

Yes, the Big Bus app shows live bus arrivals at each stop, so you can plan when to head to the next one without guessing.

Is the top deck always open?

The top deck is open-air, but the lower deck is enclosed and climate-controlled, so you can move between them depending on weather and preference.

Do I need to download the app to use my ticket?

You can redeem your ticket via the Big Bus app or in person, but the app is the easiest way to activate your ticket, track buses, and access the self-guided walking tours.

Is the Sunset Tour guided or self-guided?

The Panoramic Sunset Live Tour is guided in English only and runs non-stop, so you stay on the bus for the entire ride rather than hopping on and off.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes, the bus is wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller. If you need wheelchair assistance, let the operator know at booking.

What languages is the digital commentary available in?

The bus offers multilingual digital commentary, though specific languages aren't listed in the details. The Sunset Tour commentary is in English only.