Chicago: Pedway Underground Tour & Loop Architecture

What Locals Don't Tell You About Chicago's Underground

You'll navigate Chicago's underground Pedway tunnel system with a local guide, moving through 40 blocks of downtown while ducking in and out of buildings like City Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the old Marshall Field's. You'll see the Chicago Picasso from street level, learn the routes most locals don't use, and finish with the knowledge to keep exploring the city's hidden passages on your own. The tour runs rain or shine and takes a few hours of steady walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Chicago Pedway45m · entry included
2. Chicago Picasso10m
3. Chicago Cultural Center10m

Explore Chicago Pedway and landmarks

• Follow tunnels under downtown blocks
• Visit City Hall interiors
• View Chicago Picasso sculpture
• Enter Pedway under old Marshall Field's
• See 19th century building interior
• Access commercial complex via Pedway
• Enjoy secret underground adventure

The experience

So you're walking around the Loop and someone mentions the Pedway like it's no big deal. This whole network of tunnels under downtown that most people who live here don't even fully use. Turns out there's a way to see the city that almost nobody does, and it changes how you think about the place. The tour takes you through 40 blocks of underground passages, popping in and out of buildings like City Hall, where the interior details alone are worth the trip: all those ceilings and corridors that sit above street level but nobody notices.

You start above ground with the Chicago Picasso, that massive sculpture in Daley Plaza that's been sitting there since 1967, and then you drop down into the tunnels. The guide walks you through the old Marshall Field's building (now Macy's), and depending on whether you're going on a weekend or weekday, you'll see different interiors, which is kind of clever because it means the route actually changes. On weekends, you get into the Chicago Cultural Center, this 19th-century building near Millennium Park that's all marble and skylights and the kind of space that makes you stop and look up. The whole thing is designed so you're not just learning about Chicago's architecture. You're learning how to navigate it yourself, how to use the Pedway the way the city actually works when you're not on the surface.

The tour runs in all weather (you're mostly underground anyway), and you need a moderate level of fitness because there are stairs and you're moving through the system. Public transportation is nearby if you need it before or after. The guide is local, so they know the shortcuts and the stories that don't make it into the guidebooks, and by the end you're encouraged to keep exploring on your own. It's the kind of tour that makes you realize you've been walking past entire worlds.

What’s included

Your tour includes a local guide leading you through the Chicago Pedway's 40-block tunnel network, access to interior spaces in City Hall, views of the Chicago Picasso, the Marshall Field's section of the Pedway (with interior viewing on weekends), and entry to the Chicago Cultural Center on weekend tours. You'll learn how to navigate the system yourself and be encouraged to explore further on your own after the tour concludes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 15

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.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Inside Chicago Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see downtown Chicago's architecture and hidden spaces without arranging your own route through the tunnels. The guide handles the navigation and the building access, which is what makes it possible to see interiors most visitors never find.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

Yes, you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. There are stairs and you'll be moving through the tunnel system continuously.

What's the difference between the weekend and weekday tours?

On weekends, you'll see the interior of the Chicago Cultural Center near Millennium Park. On weekdays, you'll skip that interior and see a different one instead.

Is the tour affected by weather?

No. The tour operates in all weather because most of it takes place underground. Just dress appropriately for the season.

What's included in the tour?

A local guide leads you through the Pedway system and into buildings like City Hall, the Chicago Picasso area, Marshall Field's, and other downtown spaces. Entry to attractions and transportation are included.

Can I use public transportation to get to the tour?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby the tour starting point.

Will I learn how to use the Pedway on my own after the tour?

Yes. The guide teaches you how to navigate the system so you can continue exploring Chicago independently after the tour ends.