Private Tour
Chicago Self-Guided Audio Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Discover Chicago like never before with complete freedom to explore at your own rhythm, lingering at fascinating locations or moving swiftly through others as your interests guide you. Our expertly crafted audio experience unveils exclusive historical insights and hidden stories that even longtime residents don't know, transforming you from tourist to insider as you uncover the authentic soul of the Windy City. Unlike rigid group tours that rush you past remarkable details, you'll have the flexibility to choose which attractions captivate you most, creating a personalized journey that matches your curiosity and schedule perfectly. You'll experience the city as locals do – unhurried, authentic, and deeply connected to the stories that shaped this magnificent metropolis, all while enjoying a superior experience that combines the convenience of independence with the depth of expert knowledge.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
1. Complete Flexibility - Tour at Your Own Pace: This is a self-guided audio tour, NOT a GPS-guided tour. You have complete freedom to choose which attractions to visit, explore in any order you prefer, start and finish wherever you like, and even split the tour across multiple days. Spend as much time as you want at each location and take breaks whenever needed.
2. How You'll Receive Your Tour Materials: On your selected travel date, before your start time, you'll receive two important links: one for your audio guides (SoundCloud) and one for your interactive map (Google My Maps). These links will be sent via your booking platform's messaging system, and also via iMessage/WhatsApp if you provided your phone number during booking. Important: While all links are fully functional, the booking platform may not display link previews due to platform restrictions. For the best experience with instant previews and one-click access, we strongly recommend providing your phone number during booking to receive links via WhatsApp or iMessage. This ensures smoother, faster access to your audio guides.
3. Using Your Audio Guides (Link 1 - SoundCloud): Open the SoundCloud link in your web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.). You'll see a playlist of all attraction audio guides organized in a suggested order. You can listen before your tour to plan which attractions interest you most, or play them as you arrive at each location. Simply scroll through the playlist, tap any attraction to play its audio guide, and use play/pause controls as needed throughout your tour.
4. Using Your Interactive Map (Link 2 - Google My Maps): Open the Google My Maps link in your web browser - not the Google Maps app. You'll see all attractions marked with headphone icons. Navigate by either tapping directly on any headphone icon on the map, or tapping the tour title below the map to view a complete list of attractions. When you select an attraction, a popup window appears with a clickable link to that location's audio guide.
5. What to Bring & Prepare: Essential items: headphones/earphones, fully charged smartphone, and internet access. Before your visit, review both links to familiarize yourself with the attractions and audio content, then decide your priorities and create your own route or follow our suggested order.
6. Audio Guide Language Selection: Select your preferred audio guide language during booking to guarantee delivery in that language. Language selection cannot be changed after confirmation. If your preferred language isn't available during booking, you can mention it in the Special Requirements section when placing your order. However, this request must be made at least 48 hours before your selected travel date and time. We will make our best effort to prepare your requested language, but please note this is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. For the best assurance of receiving your preferred language, always select from the available language options during the booking process.
7. Important Notice - Attraction Fees & Your Responsibilities: While many attractions are free to visit, some may charge fees for special sections, additional services, or general admission. It is your responsibility to check opening hours, closing times, holiday schedules, advance booking requirements, and purchase any necessary admission tickets before visiting each attraction. If you need assistance accessing or using the audio guide, please contact our customer support team.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private access links validity up to 6 days
Private access link to the audio guide in one playlist for 15 attractions
Private access link to a tour itinerary map of 15 attractions with audio guide individually
Entry fees (wherever required)
Transportations (pick-up and drop-off)
What To Expect
Union Station
Step into America's most magnificent train station, where Beaux-Arts grandeur meets Hollywood glamour in ways most visitors never realize. Your audio guide reveals how this architectural masterpiece became the backdrop for countless films, from "The Untouchables" to "Public Enemies," while uncovering the station's role as a secret World War II training ground. Marvel at the Great Hall's soaring skylight as you learn about the hidden tunnels beneath your feet and the fascinating stories of famous passengers who passed through these marble corridors. Explore at your leisure while discovering why this isn't just a transportation hub, but a living monument to American ambition and architectural brilliance that continues to captivate millions.
Field Museum
Venture beyond the famous T-Rex to uncover extraordinary secrets hidden within one of the world's premier natural history institutions. Your audio companion reveals the museum's incredible origin story, rising from the ashes of the 1893 World's Fair, and guides you through lesser-known treasures that most visitors overlook entirely. Learn about the mysterious Ancient Americas collection, the real stories behind Egyptian mummies, and the groundbreaking research happening in laboratories above your head. Discover how this institution shaped our understanding of evolution, anthropology, and natural sciences while exploring at your own pace through halls filled with millions of specimens and artifacts that tell the story of life on Earth.
Options
Self-Guided Audio Tour
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The guide was great! Entertaining, engaging, loud enough for everyone to hear, attentive.
Michelle G,
Sep 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Very informative and interesting. The guide spoke articulately and loud enough for everyone to hear and he had interesting forklore and stories.
Audio tour
A M,
Mar 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Average very repetitive, no real research, not recommended. Need to do better job. Waste of money. Had to call India to get a email confirmation to get the tour started
Disappointed
Viktoria K,
Dec 1, 2022
- Review from Viator
2.00Not happy with what I received, to be honest.. In the itiner I saw grandiose things to see and hear about, and then I received a max 3-4 min, but in case of 9 sight of the total 15, 1 min or less content?? I ended up frustratedly reading the internet on my own for 3-5 sights after listening to the podcast, then I stopped listening at all and just google myself.. The content, about all sights adds up less then 30 min!!! 5$ is not a big amount but if I purchase an audio-guide I expect to get something which lasts longer then setting up a soundcloud user.. I know it’s business, but if 5$ is not enough for more, then ask for 10-15$ and give some real content. And it’s just the top of the iceberg, but I would have preferred a local guide.
nice but not essential
martinev335,
Sep 29, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00in fact they are messages about fifteen places in chicago. instead of reading in a guide we listen. for the price it is not stolen but not essential.
Temples and Reptile Center
Elizabeth D,
Mar 10, 2020
- Review from Viator
5.00Very glad we took this tour! This was my second tour with Ranjith and we arrived at Croc Bank just as it opened and enjoyed seeing all the reptiles. We had the option of hiring a guide to the temples for 1700 rupees and it was well worth it to learn about the many deities and their reincarnations as well as the discovery of some of them after 2004 tsunami and restoration process. We were fortunate to visit one temple on the eve of a big celebration and see the preparations as well as receive a blessing. We overlooked the beach for lunch and the fresh seafood was perfect. We spent about 20 minutes shopping, no pressure, Would highly recommend this tour.
Attraction was fine but did not get all that I paid for
M417NRlindac,
Jan 21, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00My driver was very nice and kind. But I suppose, my own fault, not reading in the email after booking that he was not actually a guide. So I received no information from him about the trip. And I had to pay extra $25 US for a guide (I presume a friend who he called on the phone to meet us there), who was not with the tour company and spoke minimal English. I also had to ask my driver to take me to one of the sites I remembered seeing from the info online. Then when I returned back to my hotel I realized he had not taken me to 3 of the sites listed, including the museum, which I had heard was very interesting. I am very disappointed in this company. My tour lasted 5 1/2 hours (including a lunch spot - kind of him to let me stop for lunch I presume). Not 7 hours as advertised. I am not willing to get more frustrated, so I am not comparing the cost of the trip to what Uber or a taxi would charge. But essentially that is all it was. Although it was nice to not have to wait for a car. I am a woman on my own. I hate to think that a man would have gotten the full tour... I will be asking for a refund.
An unforgettable day
Commonwealthtourers,
Dec 24, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our driver and escort arrived promptly and explained the tour thoroughly. Unfortunately because I had chosen Tuesday as a tour day, the heritage village was closed but we still managed to see everything else that was included on the tour. Ranjhit our driver arranged for a guide to meet us at Mahabalipuram who explained all the sites that we saw. The temples were awe inspiring and we had plenty of time available for questions and photographs, including the Krishna butterball. We also visited the madras crocodile bank Followed by a meal at a vegetarian cafe. Again Ranjhit was very helpful and courteous towards helping us British westerners to understand the local culture, we were made to feel very welcome and comfortable by everyone we met. It was truly an unforgettable and memorable day. We highly recommend this tour. Thank you, from Peter and Wendy.
Great job by Ranjith
Basanth S,
Aug 11, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ranjith our driver did a great job of ensuring the trip was comfortable and successful. He went above and beyond to ensure my father and I received the best deals and saw the sites, and even managed to add in a couple of history facts himself. He is very knowledgeable of Mahabalipuram and an excellent driver who drove safely and carefully. Highly recommend him for your trip to India!
Tour to Mahabalipuram
Candace D,
Aug 3, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our driver Ranjith from Uvamai Niche Tourism picked us up promptly from our hotel in Chennai. It took an hour to get to Mahabalipuram and he drove carefully through heavy traffic and later on the open roads. He was not our guide but was very informative. We bought a book on the area but prefer looking and taking photos so we did without a guide. He said to take our time and he would meet us in the car park and go to the next site. The cave temples were astonishing in the enormity of them and many had deeply carved frescoes. He took photos for us at the butterball rock and another temple nearby. Then again at Arjuna’s Penance. Later he took us to a cafe where we enjoyed Biriani. We then bought some stone carvings at a shop he took us to also. Ranjith made our trip very pleasant by directing us where to meet and then taking some photos of us as well as talking about local culture. A most enjoyable day to remember seeing ancient Indian temples which were all close by.
Related Experiences
Operated by Uvamai Niche Tourism