Chicago is no stranger to many of us. It is one of our many bucket-list countries to visit. Chicago is one of the largest cities in Illinois, United States. It is also considered to be among the world’s best and friendliest cities. Chicago is such a diverse city and this is even reflected in its food scene. There are many other things Chicago is known for, such as its unique architecture tours. If you are visiting Chicago on a budget, you are in for a treat! There are plenty of free walking tours in Chicago that covers everything from history and culture to food, entertainment, and more. Here’s a rundown of the best free walking tours in Chicago, Illinois.
1. Enjoy Chicago like a local with Free Tours By Foot
Established in 2007 in Washington DC, Free Tours By Foot has finally expanded to Chicago. You can now enjoy a free unique experience with Free Tours by Foot. You can explore the eccentric buildings and appreciate the architectural designs in Chicago. At the same time, to ensure you have an enjoyable experience during the tour, the local guides will find creative ways to entertain and share with you the history of the city. This tour covers the main tourist attractions in the city.
Free Tours by Foot
Website: Free Tours by Foot
2. Go sightseeing with Free Chicago Walking Tours
As Chicago embraces diversity, so does this walking tour. The tour guides are local and come from different backgrounds. Before starting the tour, everyone is asked to introduce themselves. Free Chicago Walking Tours have an aim, which is to show you what Chicago has to offer and that you have a blast. The tour usually last for two hours and covers Chicago’s history and architecture.
Free Chicago Walking Tours
Website: Free Chicago Walking Tours
3. Explore Chicago with Chicago Greeter
Imagine visiting Chicago and meeting up with a friend. That’s what Chicago Greeter aims for. The selling point? You can customize your Greeter that will focus on specific areas, such as architecture, LBGTQ, ethnic eateries, historic landmarks, hidden gems, and many more. You will be able to have a more authentic experience when you are in Chicago.
Chicago Greeter
Address: 72 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Website: Chicago Greeter
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4. Visit the Millennium Park with E-Visitor Guide
Want to explore Chicago at your own pace? We recommend you do it with E-Visitor Guide. The e-visitor guide is a self-guided tour and you can visit all the popular attractions with this e-guide. You can explore the famous Millennium Park, Gold Coast, Old Town, China Town, Museum Campus and several other places in the city via this free self-guided walking tour. It is user-friendly and also provides narratives when you go sightseeing. Also, sometimes travelling alone is good as it will boost your self-confidence.
E-Visitor Guide
Website: E-Visitor Guide
5. Take a walk at Chicago Museum Campus with Metrowalkz
The Chicago Museum Campus is a 57 acres (23 hectares) park that sits alongside Lake Michigan. The Museum Campus offers a few attractions like the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. It makes a great place for families to visit. You can spend hours here exploring the museums. Once you’re done with museum-hopping, you can relax at the beautiful lakeside park within the premises.
Metrowalkz
Website: Metrowalkz
6. Take a tour of Monadnock Building with Chicago De Tours
Come and admire the Monadnock Building, a historically and architecturally significant structure that was built in the late 19th century. This tour will provide you with the fascinating history of the building and how it was painstakingly restored and preserved. You will get to enter the building and admire its unique architectural details. The tour will talk about half-an-hour, so you can make the most out of your trip to Chicago.
Chicago De Tours
Address: 53 W Jackson Blvd #1357, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
Website: Chicago De Tours
7. Explore the gorgeous buildings of Chicago with Inside Chicago
Inside Chicago was founded in 2003 and the company was launched in early 2014. Inside Chicago is very passionate about sharing Chicago’s amazing and intricate architecture and combines it with history. Furthermore, the tour guide will show you some of Chicago’s hidden gems and tell you about the interesting and hidden details of each locale. So if you’re an architecture enthusiast, this is one of the best walking tours to check out.
Inside Chicago
Website: Inside Chicago
8. Visit the Navy Pier with MetroWalkz Chicago
Navy Pier is on the shoreline of Lake Michigan and is located around the North side of Chicago. Navy Pier was completed in 1916 and used to house several soldiers during the World War 1 era. It is now an iconic landmark that is frequented by both locals and tourists. Navy Pier hosts an array of leisure and cultural activities, festivals and entertainment, meaning you can spend an entire day here.
Navy Pier
Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Website: Navy Pier
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 9pm, Fri - Sat: 10am - 10pm, Sun: 10am - 7pm
9. Breathe fresh air in Chicago Botanic Garden
Want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, then come and breathe in some fresh air at Chicago Botanic Garden. The Botanic Garden was built almost 50 years ago. It has over 27 Gardens and four natural areas that are perfect for strolling and reconnecting with nature. The tour is self-guided and includes numerous walking tours. Some of the tour timings vary according to the seasons. So, be sure to choose your tour package carefully.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Address: 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022, United States
Website: Chicago Botanic Garden
10. Explore Lincoln Park Conservatory with GPS My City
Take a deep breath and admire the scenic view at Lincoln Park Conservatory with GPS My City. The Conservatory was built in the late 19th century and showcases different species of plants, including tropical flowers, towering palms and ancient ferns. GPS My City is available in the iTunes App Store and Google Play on your mobile devices. It is an amazing app that will work well for tourists who are travelling alone or with family. What’s amazing is that the app works offline, as well, so you won’t need to waste your mobile data.
Lincoln Park Conservatory with GPS My City
Address: 2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
Website: Lincoln Park Conservatory with GPS My City
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
Captivating Chicago
Chicago has so many amazing attractions to offer and create wonderful experiences for you and your family. These tour groups are perfect for solo travelers and those travelling on a budget. Just be sure to sign up for some of the free walking tours mentioned above.
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