Featured Tour
Holiday Lights, City Lights
Don’t let the cold weather deter you from admiring Chicago’s stunning architecture! Hop aboard Big…
Find Your Chicago Architecture Tour
Chicago is known around the world for its architecture. Whether you tour downtown or a neighborhood, our expert docent guides will tell you the stories behind the buildings. Visit iconic skyscrapers, elegant hotels or the legendary houses of Frank Lloyd Wright. With more than 85 tours to choose from, we won't blame you if you can't pick just one.
Recommended Tours
Most Popular
Choose one of CAC’s acclaimed architecture tours, from a selection of our guests’ perennial favorites.
Signature Tours
Select a tour of architectural treasures throughout Chicago and its suburbs, brought to life as only a CAC docent can.
Indoor Tours
Explore the great indoors! These 45-60 minute building tours let you explore Chicago's architecture while staying warm.
New & Noteworthy Tours
Discover all of CAC’s newest architecture tours—including tours that feature recent upgrades or the timely building topics you want to know about most.
Most Popular
Choose one of CAC’s acclaimed architecture tours, from a selection of our guests’ perennial favorites.
5 Tours in this collection
Must-See Chicago
Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous…
Architectural Highlights by Bus
Discover the exciting diversity of Chicago architecture on this wide-ranging odyssey, which traces the…
Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age
Learn about the great architectural landmarks of Michigan Avenue and State Street, with glimpses inside…
Elevated Architecture: Downtown "L" Train
Explore Chicago’s amazing architecture from the unique perspective of elevated trains and station platforms…
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Riverfront
Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during…
Signature Tours
Select a tour of architectural treasures throughout Chicago and its suburbs, brought to life as only a CAC docent can.
5 Tours in this collection
Chicago Icons: Connecting Past and Present
This lively overview of Chicago architecture explores iconic buildings from the 1890s to present. We'll…
Chicago Modern
Chicago is recognized as a leader in Modern architecture, a style that revolutionized our visual world…
Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time
Get a comprehensive look at Chicago's architectural history on this unique tour that covers buildings…
Hotel Boom: Making Old New Again
Chicago is experiencing a surge in tourism, resulting in the creative repurpose of historic skyscrapers…
Historic Skyscrapers
Chicago is home to some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century…
Indoor Tours
Explore the great indoors! These 45-60 minute building tours let you explore Chicago's architecture while staying warm.
5 Tours in this collection
Rookery Building
Explore the interior and exterior of one of Chicago’s most famous and beloved historic buildings: The…
Reliance Building (Alise Chicago)
Marvel at the original marble, mahogany doors and decorative wrought iron found throughout the two lobbies…
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
Experience the allure of a historic, exclusive men's club transformed into a 21st century luxury hotel…
Union Station: Icon of a Great Age
Seen everyday by thousands and not really seen! Take a tour of the iconic landmarked Great Hall of Union…
Merchandise Mart
Once the largest building in the world, the Merchandise Mart remains a center for commercial and residential…
New & Noteworthy Tours
Discover all of CAC’s newest architecture tours—including tours that feature recent upgrades or the timely building topics you want to know about most.
6 Tours in this collection
Holiday Lights, City Lights
Don’t let the cold weather deter you from admiring Chicago’s stunning architecture! Hop aboard Big…
Mod & Merry: A Farnsworth House Holiday
Take a special bus ride with the CAC on December 15 to Plano, Illinois, to see Mies van der Rohe’s…
Illinois Center Pedway
Take a warm walk and see the cool architecture of the Illinois Center Pedway. Learn how an abandoned…
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Loop
Tour the lobbies of Art Deco masterpieces built in the heart of Chicago’s financial district during…
Chicago Pedway
Discover the fascinating “city below the city” used by Chicagoans every day—the Pedway. From the…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater & The Yard
Since its opening on Navy Pier in 1999, Chicago Shakespeare Theater has grown to be one of the largest…
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Tours by Location
Civil War to Civil Rights at Oak Woods Cemetery
Oak Woods Cemetery is the final resting place of thousands of confederate soldiers—in the impressive Confederate Mound—as well as some of the most important African Americans who fought for Civil Rights. Explore Oak Woods and learn the stories behind…
Note: No upcoming departures are currently scheduled for this tour. To learn about other CAC tours and events, sign up to receive our monthly e-news at architecture.org/email.
Cliff Dwellers at Borg Warner
Take in a beautiful view of Grant Park and Lake Michigan while learning about the history of the Cliff Dwellers Club, located on the 22nd floor of the Borg-Warner building.
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Daniel Burnham: Architect, Planner, Leader
Explore some of Burnham’s best-known landmarks as well as lesser-known designs on this tour that examines all facets of Burnham’s legacy—as an architect, planner and leader in Chicago, the city he cherished.
Note: No upcoming departures are currently scheduled for this tour. To learn about other CAC tours and events, sign up to receive our monthly e-news at architecture.org/email.
Devil in the White City
This tour explores the compelling true story told by Erik Larson in his best selling book, "The Devil in the White City," about two simultaneous events in Chicago history: the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the emergence of serial murderer…
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Discover Chicago's Historic Neighborhoods
CAC has partnered with Big Bus Chicago for a tour that explores Chicago's mosaic of neighborhoods. Every day at 10:30am, discover five fascinating communities from a seat on an open-top bus. You'll get an intriguing look at the art, architecture and history…
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Explore Chinatown
Discover the art, architecture and history of Chinatown on this 90-minute walk, which includes stops at a Chinese bakery and a former Italian church. The tour concludes near some of Chinatown’s tastiest restaurants, convenient for those wanting to stay…
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Elevated Architecture: South Side "L" Train
Starting and ending in Chicago's downtown, you will embark on an exciting journey on the elevated trains discovering the evolution of near south side neighborhoods, particularly Bronzeville, Chinatown and the South Loop. Much of the tour takes place on…
Note: No upcoming departures are currently scheduled for this tour. To learn about other CAC tours and events, sign up to receive our monthly e-news at architecture.org/email.
Emerging Chicago
Our 13th annual Emerging Chicago bus tour offers the opportunity to visit exciting new projects designed by Gensler, the world’s largest architecture firm. Join us as we celebrate the firm’s 20 years of influence in Chicago.
Note: The annual departure of this special CAC tour will be scheduled again next year. To get tour updates, sign up to receive our monthly e-news at architecture.org/email.
Evanston Along the Lake
This walk through Evanston's Lakeshore Historic District explores a variety of churches and residences in the town that became Daniel Burnham's "country retreat" and which is still considered one of Chicago's most desirable suburbs.
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Farnsworth House by Bus
Farnsworth House—the famous glass house along the bank of the Fox River—is one of the world’s great architectural masterpieces, designed by Mies van der Rohe and completed in 1951. A founder and leader of the modernist movement in Europe, Mies lived…
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Farnsworth House Plus
Farnsworth House—the famous glass house along the bank of the Fox River—is one of the world’s great architectural masterpieces, designed by Mies van der Rohe and completed in 1951. A founder and leader of the modernist movement in Europe, Mies lived…
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.
Fine Arts Building
Discover this treasure trove on Michigan Avenue and learn how it went from a carriage showroom to a high-profile artists’ colony that housed tenants like Frank Lloyd Wright, Lorado Taft and Harriet Monroe.
Food and Architecture of 1893
On this "see and taste" walking tour, you can imagine what Chicago looked like during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, while tasting new foods that were introduced at the fair.
Food, History, Architecture and the Berghoff
Learn about the impact several successful immigrants had on the architecture and culture of Chicago and admire a few lesser known buildings before touring the home of one of America's oldest family owned and operated restaurants. Revel in a fascinating…
Note: No upcoming departures are currently scheduled for this tour. To learn about other CAC tours and events, sign up to receive our monthly e-news at architecture.org/email.
Fort Sheridan
Discover the history and architecture of Fort Sheridan, a former military base listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Designed by one of Chicago's most influential architects, Holabird and Roche, its buildings served military purposes from…
Note: Scheduled departures for this tour will return next season. To be notified when tickets for our next tour season go on sale, email tickets@architecture.org.