Name: Essential Ticket + Architecture Cruise | Chicago | Big Bus Tours
Brand: Big Bus Tours
Rating: 4.5 (1350 reviews)

Highlights

Discover Chicago by road and river with our new Essential Ticket + Shoreline Architecture Cruise (Departs Michigan Ave) combo! This ticket includes a 48-hour pass for our hop-on, hop-off Chicago sightseeing bus tour, AND a pass for admission to Shoreline Sightseeing's must-do 75-minute Architecture River Cruise! You'll see the city's world-famous architecture from iconic streets like Magnificent Mile, Lake Shore Drive, State Street, Clark Street and Grand Ave, AND from all three branches of the Chicago River.

Hop-on, Hop-off

Explore Chicago at your own pace with our flexible hop-on, hop-off tours.

Our hop-on, hop-off bus tours give you the freedom to plan your own itinerary and explore the best of Chicago’s landmarks for as little or as long as you like. Hop off the tour as many times as you like within the validity period of your ticket and simply hop on again when you're ready.

Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Cruise

Cruise down the Chicago River for incredible views of the city's iconic architecture.

Over 40 Chicago landmarks await you on the 75-minute Shoreline Architecture Cruise, from hidden architectural treasures to the city’s most famous landmarks. Expert live guides explain how Chicago’s buildings, architecture and engineering made the city famous. After purchase, please select your cruise date and download your cruise pass from our booking portal. On the day, head directly to the Shoreline departure point at Michigan Ave (401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611) and present your pass before boarding. If you don't select a date and downloaded your pass, please show your booking confirmation email to Big Bus Tours staff member before going to the Shoreline departure point. For more info, please see our Shoreline Sightseeing Cruises Page.

See all the top Landmarks

Big Bus gives you the best view of all Chicago's famous sights.

Our Chicago routes have been carefully designed to show you The Windy City's best landmarks and attractions, including Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Willis Tower and John Hancock Tower.

1 Comprehensive Route

Offering you a full experience of Chicago's best sights.

There are 10+ stops where you can hop-off the bus to visit attractions and explore places of interest. You can hop-on and hop-off the bus as many times as you like within the validity of your ticket and you may start and end your tour at any one of the Big Bus stops.

Frequent Service

Buses every 30 minutes.

Our Big Loop (Red Route) buses run by each stop every 30 minutes, with 10+ different stops where you can hop on and off the bus. A complete circuit of our Big Red Route takes approximately 2 hours. The first bus departs Stop #1 at 10:00am and the last bus departs at 5.00pm.

Free Mobile App

Now with live bus arrival times!

Download our free mobile app for the perfect pocket companion to your sightseeing adventure. Our new live bus arrival times feature shows you exactly where the bus is along the route, along with an ETA for your nearest stop! This gives you the freedom to make the most of your time exploring. In addition to live bus arrival times, you'll also get detailed maps and route information, stop images, walking directions, facts about famous landmarks and attractions, ticket offers and more. Save memory-making minutes on your city adventure with the Big Bus Tours App!

Check Service

Plan ahead for your tour with our service updates

Visit our Service Information Page for up-to-date information about our current service.

1 Route

Our Chicago Sightseeing Route

See all the best Chicago landmarks and attractions on our Chicago bus tours. We'll show you Chicago icons like the John Hancock Center, Adler Planetarium, Soldier Field, Grant Park, Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, and more. Along the way you'll be entertained by our expert virtual guides with fascinating facts and stories about the city's history, architecture and culture.