As a local tour guide, I'm frequently asked about whether or not the hop on hop off tours in Chicago are worth the price of admission, and I of course have my own opinions about that.
Ultimately, it's a great service if you're trying to see all the sites without spending too much time reading a map.
That's why I included all the hop-on hop-off Chicago maps I could find to help you figure out if this kind of tour will meet your needs.
But that's not the main focus of the post.
I cover each of the stops made on this tour and which attractions are within walking distance of each stop to make it easier to figure out if the service is worth your time.
- What is Hop on Hop off?
- Which Tour is better and Discounts
- Hop on Hop off Chicago Route Map
- Pros and Cons of Hop on Hop off
- Themed Chicago Bus Tours
What is a Hop-on Hop-off Tour?
Chicago is a great city, and when visiting you'll likely want to see as much of it as possible.
A hop-on hop-off Chicago bus tour is a great way to find the lay of the land, get guidance from members of staff who are knowledgable, and get around with little hassle.
You are free to get off at one of their scheduled stops, spend as much time as you want in the area, and then get back on when you're ready to continue on to the next stop.
While you could use public transportation instead, that requires more planning and research to figure out which stop you'll need to get off at and how to get back to other notable locations.
The reason tourists often find this type of service invaluable is because they aren't required to figure out how to get everywhere they want to go.
Instead, you can just hop on at any stop and see almost every major landmark in the city without worrying about where each attraction is located.
Our post compares two Chicago hop-on hop-off bus companies, Big Bus Tours and City Sightseeing Tours.
We also give you some tips on how to save money with these companies and cover a list of pros and cons when it comes to hop-on hop-off tours.
Here are a few of the most notable sites you can expect to visit on each tour:
- Skydeck
- Navy Pier
- 360 Chicago
- Millennium Park
- Magnificent Mile
- Adler Planetarium
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- And more!
How much are hop-on hop-off Chicago tours?
Ticket prices range from $40-$50 per person, and multi-day tickets tend to be a mere $10-$20 extra.
Are hop-on hop-off Chicago tickets valid 24/7?
No. These services typically run from about 9 am - 4 pm each day, and your ticket will be valid for that time period.
How long does a Chicago hop-on hop-off tour take?
Most of the bus routes these companies use take approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
But, you can make it last all day simply by hopping off and exploring various landmarks throughout the city at your own pace.
Are hop-on hop-off Chicago bus tours better than public transport?
If you're just visiting the windy city and you don't feel like figuring out the various routes of public transportation, this service takes all the guess-work out of getting around Chicago.
That said, public transportation will almost certainly be more affordable, and we have a post covering how to use public transport.
We hope that this information will make your trip a little bit easier, that you'll end up with one of the best tours in Chicago, and that you'll have a fantastic time when visiting the Windy City!
Which Chicago Hop-on Hop-Off Tour is Better and How?
There are 2 operators which run Hop-on Hop-off bus tours in Chicago.
These operators are Big Bus Tours and City Sightseeing Tours.
We have a separate post on what these tours offer and what makes them unique from each other.
We have also listed potential discount options which can further make your journey affordable.
If you're interested in getting tickets, check our ticket page for more information.
However, if you're still trying to figure out whether this service makes sense for your trip, read further for a full comparison of each hop-on hop-off bus tour in Chicago.
Check out the post here.
Chicago Hop on Hop off Route Map
The following locations are included on each hop-on hop-off tour in Chicago.
Below the map, we will cover each stop in detail and include details to help make the most out of your outing.
Stop 1 | Chicago Riverwalk
Fans of architecture will definitely want to make time for the Riverwalk, as it's the site of several historic buildings on each side of the river.
Even better, this stop is very close to where some cruises depart, allowing you to see the city from the water.
Notable Sites
- Trump Tower
- Tribune Tower
- The Wrigley Building
- Museum of Ice Cream
- Chicago Architecture Center
- The Chicago Theatre
- House of Blues
Stop 2 | Skydeck Chicago
This is one of two major observation decks in Chicago, the other one being 360 Chicago on the other side of the river near Magnificent Mile.
The view from the top of this building is absolutely stunning, but it's worth noting that admission is not free and you will need to pay for tickets in order to experience the attraction.
Luckily, there are other things to see and do in the area:
Notable Sites
- Chicago Fed Money Museum
- Civic Opera House
- Rookery Building
- Field Building
- Color Factory
- Union Station
Stop 3 | Millennium Park & The Art Institute of Chicago
This might be the main stop for Millennium Park, but in reality, the park itself is just one block north, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Fans of art, history, and culture will definitely want to hop off here and see popular attractions like the Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, and many other excellent spots for Instagram photos.
This is also a great spot to hop off and grab a Chicago style hot dog at the stand across the street from the Art Institute.
Here are a few other attractions nearby that you might want to see:
Notable Sites
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Chicago Cultural Center
- Museum of Illusions
- Fine Arts Building
- Auditorium Theatre
- Pritzker Military Museum & Library
Stop 4 | Hilton Chicago & Grant Park
This stop is a bit further down S Michigan Avenue, and it's a great stop if you're planning to stay at the Hilton, but the main advantage is that this stop is closer to the south of the park blocks.
Grant Park is a great spot for people watching, and it includes a lot of great landmarks, gardens, and plazas.
If you're looking for something more interesting, the following attractions are also within walking distance of this stop.
Notable Sites
- Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Monarch Butterflies Mural
- Wabash Arts Corridor
Stop 5 | Adler Planetarium
If you're interested in astronomy, this is one of the most well-respected planetariums in the world.
There's also a nice little beach nearby, and a pretty nice view of the Chicago Skyline as well.
However, aside from that, there's not much reason to stop here, because the next stop is closer to several other popular attractions.
Stop 6 | Museum Campus
As the name implies, this stop will almost certainly be a must for anyone interested in visiting some of the most popular museums in the entire city.
If you choose to hop off here, you'll be a 5 minute walk from both the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium.
You could spend half a day just exploring these two attractions, so keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to stop here and get tickets.
Fans of the Chicago Bears might also want to consider visiting Soldier Field, just south of Field Museum!
Stop 7 | Sheraton Grand Chicago
This is yet another stop that will be fantastic for anyone staying at the Sheraton.
But, the landmarks and attractions nearby are mostly historical and won't take much time to experience, so it might still be worth hopping off.
It's also worth noting that this is relatively close to the first stop on the route.
So, if you want to stop and go back to your starting point, all you have to do is cross the bridge south and walk a few blocks west.
Notable Sites
- NBC Tower
- Lucky Strike Bowling
- Chicago Riverwalk
Stop 8 | Navy Pier
If you didn't already know, this is one of the most popular spots in the entire city all year long.
During the summer, they even have fireworks shows!
There's so much to see and do here that you could spend half a day or more on the Pier.
But, thankfully there are plenty of activities that don't take too long, so you can also just hop off and explore for a bit.
Notable Sites
- Centennial Wheel
- Navy Pier Carousel
- Navy Pier Auditorium
- Navy Pier Observation Deck
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater
- Chicago Children's Museum
Stop 9 | Water Tower & The Magnificent Mile
This is one of the most well-known shopping districts in the entire country.
While most stores in this area are very expensive, there are some reasonably priced locations as well.
If you're a baseball fan, it's worth noting that this is one of the most northern stops that is close to a metro station, and you can ride the train from here to Wrigley Field if you wish.
Notable Sites
- Seneca Park Playground
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Loyola University Museum of Art
- The Richard H. Driehaus Museum
- The Exhibit House of Chicago
- Chicago Cubs Team Store
- Nike Chicago
Stop 10 | 360 Chicago
As I noted earlier, this is the second major observation deck in the city.
It's also not too far from the Magnificent Mile stop, so you could just walk here from there if you don't feel like waiting for the bus.
Just like the Skydeck, 360 Chicago has an incredible view of the area.
Sadly, this is the northernmost stop, so if you want to see even more of the city, you'll need to either use the metro, cabs, or rideshare services.
Stop 11 | Hard Rock Cafe/Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's
Perhaps appropriately, the final stop of this tour is right in front of two popular restaurants.
This location is also just a short walk from a Brazilian Steakhouse, multiple Italian restaurants, and even a Gordon Ramsay Burger joint.
This stop is also just a few blocks from Bally's Casino and relatively close to the Grand Avenue Metro Station, making it another good place to hop off if you're interested in seeing a Cubs game or traveling further north.
THE PROS AND CONS OF A HOP-ON-HOP-OFF BUS TICKET
A popular option for bus tours is the hop-on-hop-off tour variety. There are several things to consider before purchasing a ticket.
But first, let's start with the pros.
Pro | A Great Way to Get an Overview of a City
Chicago is a big town. One excellent way to get your bearings is to take the full circuit without getting off.
Usually, these circuits last no more than 2 hours in length.
And, if you like to sit atop a bus to get the best view, with the sun warming your face and a breeze in your hair, a Chicago hop-on hop-off bus tour might be for you.
Of course, you can always sit down below and be protected should there be inclement weather.
Pro | Live Guides
On most buses, you will find live tour guides who will point out the important landmarks on your route, and if time permits, some short stories.
And speaking of guides, once you hop off at a certain stop along the way you can download one of audio-guided walking tours here.
Pro | Flexibility
Each pass will be valid for a certain amount of time. This means flexible sightseeing, meaning you can hop on and hop off the bus whenever you desire.
All the buses in this section run continuously along mapped routes, and with the exception of the night tours, riders have the option to board at several predetermined pick-up locations throughout the city.
Travelers can get off the bus at any of these stops and discover the landmarks for themselves (or take our pay-what-you-wish walking tours).
Pro | Reasonable Prices
Prices can be reduced through the price cut options listed above.
For example, Big Bus Tours 24-hour ticket is included for free with several tourist attraction concession passes.
Con | Usually Not the Most Efficient Sightseeing Option
With the flexibility to jump on and jump off at numerous stops and pick-up locations, the set route makes getting around the city usually the slowest option possible, particularly when compared to mass transit.
Other Chicago bus tours, where you keep the same driver and guide for the whole tour, cover much more content, deeper, and in a much shorter amount of time.
Con | No Assigned Seat
Unlike other bus tours, where you have the same seat for the duration of the tour, you won't have that with a hop-on-hop-off bus.
This can be a big problem during the high tourist season, and it's important to set your expectations around seating during the busy season.
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