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Chicago City Tour: Elevated Architecture Tour with Train Ticket Included | 2 hours

55 Reviews | Chicago
From $36.00 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 10 travelers in total.
Adult (0-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 10
2
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Chicago City Tour: Elevated Architecture Tour with Train Ticket Included
2 Adults x $36.00
$72.00
Approx Total
$72.00

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Fare to ride the Chicago Elevated Rail system
  • Admission to the galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center.
  • Narration by a professional and certified guide.
  • Food or drink
  • Storage for luggage or strollers
  • Coat check

Overview

Explore Chicago’s amazing architecture from the unique perspective of elevated trains and station platforms. Learn the history behind the famous "L" system and hear how it has shaped the development of buildings within the Loop. The city's first elevated train started making trips in 1892. Now considered one of Chicago’s most defining features, the "L" offers incredible views of downtown. By being more than 20 feet off the ground, you'll see architectural details that are missed by most pedestrians at street level. This is our most comprehensive tour in the Loop, passing hundreds of buildings and highlighting ones of architectural significance. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.

Meeting points

Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E Wacker Drive.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • N/A

    Begin the tour at the Chicago Architecture Center. Fare to ride the Chicago Elevated Rail system is included. Please request a "Ventra" card from the Chicago Architecture Box Office when checking in for the tour.

    10 minutes

  • N/A

    Washington/Wabash "L" station

    10 minutes

  • N/A

    View Trump Tower.

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    View the Marshall Field Building

    5 minutes

  • Harold Washington Library Center

    View the Harold Washington Library and State/Van Burnen Station

    15 minutes

  • N/A

    View the Metropolitan Correction Center

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    View the Fisher Building.

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    View the DePaul Center.

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    View the Insurance Exchange Building

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    Clinton St/Lake St "L" Station

    15 minutes

  • N/A

    View the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) headquarters.

    5 minutes

  • Chicago Board Of Trade Building

    View the Chicago Board of Trade Building

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    View the LeMoyne Building

    5 minutes

  • N/A

    Washington/Wabash "L" Station

    15 minutes

  • N/A

    Return to Chicago Architecture Center

    5 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Only about 15 minutes of this two-hour tour is on a train, while most of the remaining tour takes place outdoors standing on the station platforms.
  • Pets are not allowed.
  • The itinerary of this tour is subject to change without notice.
  • Seating at stations and on the train is not guaranteed.
  • This tour is not ADA accessible. Stairs are required.
  • Not recommended for travelers with difficulty walking or standing.

Free Cancellation

September 11100% refund
September 12No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.7

55 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    47
  • 4 stars
    6
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    2

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 47 reviews with 5 stars

L tour was terrific

Published on Jan, 2025

We greatly enjoyed the tour, despite the intense cold of the day. Our guide remained upbeat and informative throughout.It was our first tour as members. We look forward to many more.

Tour of the elevated Loop

Published on Dec, 2024

Steve our tour guide was great, very professional and knowledgeable and great stories about the history and characters involved in building the elevated system. I would highly recommend this tour.

A different and fascinating view of the Loop

Published on Nov, 2024

As part-time residents of Chicago who rarely use public transportation, this tour gave us a new perspective on buildings and neighborhoods we see all the time. Our guide Amanda was wonderful. She provided thorough historical background, described distinctive features of the many buildings highlighted in the tour, and brought to life the people and events that brought the L into being and shaped its long history. She answered the many questions we had, and we appreciated how much she enjoyed sharing the distinctive history of the Loop with us. We look forward to doing other tours with Amanda and deepening our knowledge about the great city we live in.

Best CAC tour so far

Published on Nov, 2024

We've visited the CAC for years and taken many of their walking tours. While they've all been very enjoyable, this was the best tour so far. Our docent Matt was warm, extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and very considerate of individual attendees' needs (e.g., getting a stroller and young kids around the Loop). Thank you, Matt! The individual audio systems were easy to use and made it simple to hear Matt despite background city noise. Great experience and very highly recommended.

El Tour Outstanding

Published on Oct, 2024

Chris did an amazing job with this tour. We enjoyed it so much. We are members and go on 5-6 tours each year. He is one of the best as is the tour.

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