Original Chicago Prohibition Bus Tour: Speakeasies & History

Chicago's Prohibition underworld, neighborhood by neighborhood

The Original Chicago Prohibition Bus Tour is a guided bus tour through the city's most notorious era, stopping at famous and infamous locations tied to the men, women and speakeasies that defined Prohibition-era Chicago. A live English-speaking guide leads the route on an American school bus. You're 21 or older to ride. Drinks at each stop are optional and paid separately.

The experience

The bus picks you up and heads into the neighborhoods most travelers miss on their own: the ones where Prohibition actually happened. A live guide walks you through the history of the speakeasies, the figures who ran them, and the locations that still stand today, some of them still operating. You stop at multiple sites across the city, each one tied to a specific moment or person from that era. The American school bus keeps the group together and moves you between stops without the logistics of figuring out the route yourself.

At each stop, you have the option to grab a drink and soak in the atmosphere of the place, but nothing is mandatory. The guide handles the narrative. You handle the decision about what to order and what to skip. The tour works for anyone regardless of fitness level, and service animals are welcome on board. If you prefer public transit to get to the starting point, those options are nearby.

What’s included

• Ride on an American school bus with an experienced driver.
• live guide in English throughout the tour.
• stops at multiple Prohibition-era locations across Chicago's neighborhoods.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Chicago Prohibition Tours

Is this one for you?This is a shared bus tour with a live guide leading the route and the stops, so it suits anyone who wants the history and the route planned out without building the day themselves. You show up, listen, and decide at each stop whether to order a drink. If you'd rather explore on your own or prefer a private vehicle, look for a different option.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What neighborhoods does the Original Chicago Prohibition Bus Tour visit?

The tour takes you through Chicago's neighborhood gems tied to Prohibition history: the specific stops and their stories are revealed by the live guide as the bus moves through the city, covering the famous and infamous locations that shaped the era.

Can I get drinks during the tour?

Yes, drinks are available at stops along the route, but they're entirely optional and you pay for them separately at each location. Nothing is included in the tour price.

Do I need to be a certain age to ride?

You must be at least 21 years old to join the Original Chicago Prohibition Bus Tour.

Is this tour accessible if I have limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and service animals are allowed on the American school bus.

Who leads the tour?

A live guide who speaks English leads the entire tour, providing the history and context at each stop along the route.

How do I get to the starting point?

Public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer not to drive to the tour departure location.