Self-Guided Chicago Walking Tours

The Chicago River runs right through the heart of the downtown Chicago skyscrapers. The architecture and river scenery is absolutely stunning. Note: This 3+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Chicago Bundle in 2-3 hours.

The Wrigley Building is an iconic terra cotta building boasting a huge clock tower and tons of character. It's named for William Wrigley, Jr., who made his fortune off of chewing gum! Beyond it is the lavish Hotel Intercontinental, which hides an incredible observatory within.

The Michigan Avenue Bridge, also known as the DuSable Bridge, is architecturally beautiful, but that's not the only reason it's a stop on this tour. The bridge also sports some flags with a fascinating history, which you'll hear all about. Read more about Ultimate Chicago Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Bundle - https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Singapores-Little-India-Self-Guided-Historic-GPS-Tour/d673-259665P6?mcid=56757

It's impossible to miss this enormous glass tower. At 1,399 feet tall and totaling 98 stories, it's one of the tallest skyscrapers in the entire country. The tower employs the same building technique as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the tallest building in the world.

Consisting of a sunken, rectangular pool and fountain, this memorial honors the Illinois residents who died in the Vietnam War. It's a somber yet strangely beautiful tribute to those who gave all.

These twin towers may look a bit like giant corn cobs, but they're nevertheless an iconic part of the Second City's skyline. The towers function as a “city in a city,” boasting an in-house theatre, gym, pool, ice-rink, bowling alley, 360 degree roof deck, and of course a marina.

The Dearborn Street Bridge, built in 1962, is one of Chicago's newer bridges. It was constructed to replace a badly-planned bridge that residents hated with a passion. You'll hear why and what they did about it as you admire this landmark.

Constructed in 1914, the building today is home to the Encyclopedia Britannica headquarters. It may appear short and unimpressive beside its much newer peers, but it's also a fascinating glimpse into Chicago's past.

This museum doesn't just feature exhibits on the city's river and its significance to the city. It also offers birds-eye views of the river from the top floor!

As Chicago's newest river-spanning bridge, the Columbus Drive Bridge offers not a glimpse into the past but a look at how the city's construction technology and philosophy changed over the decades.

This famous tower was modelled after 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City, and serves as another picture-perfect example of the art deco style. It was also the former recording spot of the Jerry Springer Show and the Steve Harvey Show.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion, also known as Pritzker Pavilion or Pritzker Music Pavilion, is a bandshell in Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the south side of Randolph Street and east of the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District.

Lurie Garden is a 2.5-acre garden located at the southern end of Millennium Park in the Loop area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Designed by GGN, Piet Oudolf, and Robert Israel, it opened on July 16, 2004. The garden is a combination of perennials, bulbs, grasses, shrubs and trees.

As you stand in the middle of Lurie Garden, you are surrounded and astounded by the skyscrapers all around you. First, look at the building with a diamond-shaped roof. It’s shorter than the other skyscrapers around but extremely distinctive. This “diamond building” is the Crain Communication Building, and it’s been delighting architecture enthusiasts since its completion in 1984. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia surpassed it in 1998. It used to be the headquarters of the world-renowned Sears Roebuck Company. The Prudential Tower: This was the first major skyscraper constructed in post World War II Chicago. Completed in 1955, the tower gave Chicago residents and visitors a chance to see the city from an observation deck known as “The Top of the Rock”.

The Nichols Bridgeway is a pedestrian bridge located in Chicago, Illinois. The bridge begins at the Great Lawn of Millennium Park, crosses over Monroe Street and connects to the third floor of the West Pavilion of the Modern Wing, the Art Institute of Chicago's newest wing.

The space in front of you always features something different. The contemporary art sculptures displayed here are often large-scale and highly symbolic. Spend a little time here to try to understand the artist’s vision.

Crown Fountain is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture featured in Chicago's Millennium Park, which is located in the Loop community area. Designed by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa and executed by Krueck and Sexton Architects, it opened in July 2004

Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink