Chicago: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus

Chicago looks best from above street level. This open-top double-decker bus gives you skyline views, simple access to major sights, and a useful first look at downtown without making you wrestle with the city map. I like the freedom to hop off at places such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Willis Tower, and the Museum Campus. I also like the live bus-tracking app, which takes much of the guesswork out of waiting at a stop.

The main drawback is time. A 24-hour ticket can feel rushed if you want to visit several museums or observation decks, and some recorded commentary may not line up perfectly with what you are passing. The route focuses on central Chicago, so it is excellent for downtown sightseeing but less useful if you want neighborhoods far beyond the core.

Quick takeaways for planning your ride

• Start at 98 East Wacker Drive: This is the main Stop 1 near the Chicago Riverwalk, at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive.
• Choose your ticket carefully: The 24-hour option works for a city overview, while 48 or 72 hours gives you time to get off, visit attractions, and ride again without racing the clock.
• Use the upper deck wisely: The views are terrific, but Chicago wind can be sharp. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat that fits securely.
• Expect mostly digital commentary: English and Spanish audio is provided, though some drivers add their own live commentary. Candice, also referred to as Candace, receives especially warm praise for her humor and Chicago facts.
• Attraction tickets cost extra: Admission to Willis Tower, 360 CHICAGO, Navy Pier rides, museums, and other sights is not included.
• Add the boat cruise if offered: The Chicago River Architecture Boat Cruise is an optional extra and may be the best add-on for anyone interested in the city’s famous buildings.

What the Chicago route gives you

The Big Bus route is designed as a broad downtown circuit rather than a collection of separate neighborhood loops. You can ride the entire route first, get your bearings, then decide where to spend the rest of your day.

That first circuit is useful. Chicago’s central sights sit close together on a map, but busy streets, large parks, the river, and the Museum Campus can make walking between them slower than expected. From the bus, you see how the pieces fit together.

You begin near the river at 98 East Wacker Drive, a practical starting point beside the Chicago Riverwalk. From there, the route passes the Riverwalk, Willis Tower, Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Grant Park, the Museum Campus, the Magnificent Mile, 360 CHICAGO, and River North before returning to the starting point.

The exact experience can change with traffic, weather, road closures, and major events. St. Patrick’s Day and NASCAR weekend have caused route changes in the past, and several stops can close when city streets are blocked. That is not a flaw unique to this tour, but you should check the app and allow flexibility on event weekends.

Chicago Riverwalk and the first ride

The Chicago Riverwalk is one of the best places to start because it immediately introduces the city’s defining feature: buildings gathered tightly around a working river. Stop 1 is at 98 East Wacker Drive, on the corner of Michigan and Wacker.

I recommend taking one full circuit before hopping off unless you already know Chicago well. The recorded audio gives you basic facts about the buildings and city, and the ride lets you spot places you may want to revisit. The commentary is aimed at a broad audience, so children may enjoy its light tone, while some adults may find parts of it a little corny.

The digital narration is available in English and Spanish. Earbuds are supplied, but they are simple and can loosen or sound quiet. If you have your own compatible headphones, bringing them may make the audio easier to hear.

Willis Tower and the west side of the loop

The bus passes Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, one of Chicago’s most recognizable buildings. The attraction inside, Skydeck Chicago, is separate from the bus ticket. You need to arrange its admission on your own.

Plan this stop before you board if the tower is high on your list. One visitor arrived without a reservation and found the tower sold out, so the practical lesson is simple: book Skydeck ahead of time and build the rest of your day around that entry time.

The bus does not turn every landmark into an included attraction. It gets you close, gives you the view, and lets you choose how much time and money to spend inside. That makes the pass flexible, but it also means the total cost can rise quickly if you add several paid attractions.

Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and Grant Park

The route continues toward Millennium Park, home to the famous Bean, officially Cloud Gate. This is one of the easiest places to combine with a short stop because you can see public art, open park space, and the downtown skyline in one outing.

The nearby Art Institute of Chicago deserves much longer than a quick bus stop. If you want to visit, treat it as a major activity rather than a small break between buses. A long museum visit can use most of your day, which is why a 48-hour pass may offer better value than trying to force everything into one ticket period.

The bus also passes Grant Park, the large green area along the lakefront. From the upper deck, you get a useful sense of how the park connects downtown with Lake Michigan. This section of the route is especially pleasant on a clear day, though the open top also exposes you to sun, wind, and sudden rain.

Museum Campus and the lakefront view

The route heads south toward Adler Planetarium and the Chicago Museum Campus. This area includes major institutions such as the Field Museum, but museum admission is not included.

The Museum Campus is a good example of the pass’s strength and limitation. The bus saves you from walking the full distance from the central shopping streets to the lakefront museums. Once you get off, however, you need enough time for the museum itself, and that may mean skipping several later stops.

If you are visiting the Field Museum or another campus attraction, give it its own block of time. I would not plan a museum, Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and the full route in one short day unless you are content with quick visits.

Navy Pier and views across Lake Michigan

Navy Pier is one of the most popular stops, and it works well for a longer break. You can walk along the pier, look out over Lake Michigan, eat at one of the restaurants, or pay separately for attractions such as the Ferris Wheel.

The bus provides a convenient link between Navy Pier and the downtown sights, but the pier itself can take more time than expected. If you want a meal with a lake view or a ride on the Ferris Wheel, add those plans before deciding how many other stops to include.

The route’s lakefront sections are among the best places to sit on top. The skyline looks different from the bus than it does from street level, and you can see the relationship between the high-rise center, Grant Park, and the water.

Magnificent Mile, Water Tower, and 360 CHICAGO

The northern part of the loop passes the Chicago Water Tower, the Magnificent Mile, and 360 CHICAGO. This is the shopping and high-rise section of the route.

The Magnificent Mile is useful for combining sightseeing with shopping, restaurants, and hotel access. The bus gives you a simple way to reach it from the Riverwalk or Millennium Park without planning a separate transit connection.

360 CHICAGO is another paid observation deck, located high above Michigan Avenue. Like Skydeck, it is not included in the bus ticket. If you want both viewpoints, compare the time and admission costs before committing. The bus itself already gives you wide city views, but an observation deck offers a fixed, elevated panorama that the moving vehicle cannot match.

River North and the return to Wacker Drive

The route passes through River North, an area known for restaurants, galleries, nightlife, and its concentration of tall buildings. It is a useful place to end a sightseeing circuit and continue on foot.

The bus returns to 98 East Wacker Drive. You can use this point as your base for the next ride, or simply finish the tour near the river and continue along the Chicago Riverwalk.

One caution: do not assume every bus stop feels obvious from the street. The starting point can be confusing, especially on a first visit. The app helps, and staff can assist if you are unsure where to board.

The app, audio, and driver quality

The free Big Bus app is one of the most useful parts of the experience. You can activate your ticket, view the route, check live bus locations, and estimate when the next bus is due. That matters because waiting without knowing whether a bus is five minutes or half an hour away quickly becomes frustrating.

You can activate the ticket in the app by adding your booking reference, opening the ticket on the day of travel, and pressing Activate. You can also redeem the voucher with staff at Stop 1 or with a driver at any stop.

The standard commentary is digital, but the human element can make a big difference. Candice, sometimes spelled Candace in feedback, is repeatedly praised for her energy, humor, facts, and friendly manner. Other drivers have also added lively commentary, while a few rides have been quieter or less polished.

There have been occasional equipment problems, including loose speakers, broken audio, and commentary that was slightly out of sync with the sights. These issues do not define the experience, but they are worth knowing about. If a bus has a problem, staff may move passengers to another vehicle.

How long should you book?

The available tickets cover 24, 48, or 72 hours. The best choice depends on your plans.

A 24-hour ticket suits you if you want a broad city overview, plan only one or two short stops, or have limited time in Chicago. It is also a good fit for a first day when you want to learn the layout before exploring on foot.

A 48-hour ticket is easier to use well. You can ride the full loop on the first day, visit one major attraction, then return to the route the next day for Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, or the Museum Campus.

A 72-hour ticket makes sense if you prefer a slower pace or have several paid attractions planned. You can ride for transportation between sightseeing areas instead of treating the bus as one long activity.

The buses may arrive about every 30 minutes, though actual timing depends on traffic and events. The live map is helpful, but you still need patience during busy periods.

Optional walking tours and river architecture cruise

Some ticket options include four self-guided digital walking tours. Topics include architecture, the Chicago Riverwalk, public art, and other downtown subjects. These tours start and finish at Big Bus stops, so they fit naturally into a hop-on, hop-off day.

The walking tours are a good answer to the route’s main limitation: the bus shows you the city, but walking lets you slow down and look closely. Download the app before setting out so you do not spend sightseeing time sorting out the technology.

The optional Chicago River Architecture Boat Cruise is especially worthwhile if buildings are your main interest. The bus gives you an introduction, but a river cruise offers a different angle and a more focused look at Chicago architecture. It costs more depending on the ticket option, so check exactly what your booking includes.

Price, value, and who should book

At $45 per person, the basic price is fair if you use the bus for transportation as well as sightseeing. The value improves when you ride more than once and make several stops. It is less convincing if you stay seated for one circuit and could comfortably walk the same central area.

I like this tour most for first-time visitors, families, older adults, people with limited time, and anyone who wants a quick picture of downtown before choosing specific attractions. It also works well when weather is changeable because you can sit downstairs in a more protected area or move to the upper deck when conditions improve.

You should wear sunscreen and sunglasses on clear days. A snug hat or chin strap helps in the wind, and rain can make the upper deck unpleasant even when the bus continues running.

Children under three ride free when accompanied by one adult per child, but they cannot take seats reserved for paying passengers. Smoking is not allowed, and unaccompanied minors are not permitted.

Should you book the Chicago Big Bus?

Book it if you want an easy first look at Chicago, like the freedom to set your own schedule, or plan to visit sights spread from Willis Tower to the Museum Campus and Navy Pier. The strongest reasons are the open-top views, the useful tracking app, and the chance to combine transport with city commentary.

Choose 48 hours if you want to visit major attractions without rushing. Choose 24 hours if you mainly want orientation and skyline views. Add the architecture boat cruise if Chicago’s buildings are central to your plans.

Skip it if you prefer exploring entirely on foot, already know downtown well, or want a route reaching far beyond the central sights. For most first visits, though, this is a practical way to get your bearings fast, with enough flexibility to make the day your own.

FAQ

Where does the Chicago Big Bus tour start?

The main starting point is Stop 1 at 98 East Wacker Drive, near the Chicago Riverwalk and the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive. The exact meeting point can vary by ticket option.

How long are the tickets valid?

You can choose a 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour hop-on, hop-off ticket. Check the available start times when booking.

Can I get off and board again?

Yes. You can hop off at stops along the route and board another bus later. The app shows route information and live bus locations.

What attractions are included in the price?

The bus ride, digital commentary, souvenir earbuds, and app are included. Self-guided walking tours and the architecture boat cruise depend on the option selected.

Are attraction admission fees included?

No. Admission to attractions such as Willis Tower, 360 CHICAGO, museums, and Navy Pier rides is not included.

Is the commentary available in Spanish?

Yes. Audio commentary is available in English and Spanish. The listed host or greeter languages are English and Spanish.

Are children under three free?

Yes. Children under three can travel free with one accompanying adult per child. They cannot occupy seats reserved for paying passengers.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.

Is smoking allowed on the bus?

No. Smoking is not allowed, and unaccompanied minors cannot use the experience.