Overview

2.5 hrs | Skip-the-line tour | Discover incredible public art hiding in plain sight

Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation Summary: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your tour.
Meeting Point: Next to the iconic lion statues (the lion on the left when facing the museum) outside the main entrance on South Michigan Avenue
Max Age: 99
Group Size: Maximum 12 people
Accessibility: Near public transportation | Stroller accessible | Not wheelchair accessible
Description: This 2.5-hour small-group walking tour (12 guests max) is perfect for exploring Chicago’s monumental public art up close—without getting lost in the crowds.

Chicago’s world-famous skyline tells only half the story. Scattered through downtown are masterpieces by Picasso, Chagall, Miró, and Kapoor, transforming the city into an open-air museum. After the Great Fire of 1871, Chicago rebuilt itself as a global architectural powerhouse, but its public art—often hiding in plain sight—adds color, depth, and character to the “City of Big Shoulders.”

Begin at Cloud Gate—Anish Kapoor’s gleaming “Bean” that reflects the skyline—and explore works of public art that define Chicago’s streets. From towering steel sculptures to vibrant mosaics and surreal installations, discover how some of the 20th century’s greatest artists left their mark on the city. Along the way, marvel at The Rookery, a stunning 19th-century skyscraper with a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed lobby, and gaze up at the soaring Willis Tower, once the tallest building in the world.

Whether you’re drawn to abstract giants or intricate murals, this tour unveils the bold artistic visions that make Chicago’s downtown an ever-evolving canvas.

What is Included: • SEMI-PRIVATE WALKING TOUR

• SEMI-PRIVATE" MEANS GROUP SIZE IS NEVER MORE THAN 12 GUESTS MAXIMUM

• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE

• DURATION 2.5 HOURS

• TOUR WILL RUN, RAIN OR SHINE
What is not Included: • Tour Price Does NOT Include Hotel Pickup or Drop-Off (We Recommend UBER or Taxi)

• Tour Does NOT Include Gratuities (OPTIONAL)

Itinerary: Stops include but are not limited To:

1. Art Institute of Chicago (Exterior Only)
   Admire the grand Beaux-Arts façade and the famous bronze lion statues of one of the world's greatest art museums . (10 minutes)

2. Millennium Park: Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) & Crown Fountain
   Step into Chicago’s most famous park, where public art meets urban design and snap a reflection photo at Cloud Gate, Anish Kapoor’s beloved "Bean. "(10 minutes)

3. Chicago Cultural Center & Tiffany Glass Dome
   Enter this architectural gem, once Chicago’s public library, to admire the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome—a dazzling example of 19th-century craftsmanship. (10 minutes)

4. Chicago Theatre & Nederlander Theatre Marquees
   Walk beneath the iconic neon marquees of two of Chicago’s most storied theaters. Learn about the city’s rich entertainment history, from vaudeville to Broadway. (10 minutes)

5. Daley Plaza & Picasso’s Untitled Sculpture
   Encounter a massive steel sculpture by Pablo Picasso, a gift to the city and one of its most debated pieces of public art. (10 minutes)

6. Miro’s "Sun, Moon and One Star"
   Across from the Picasso, see Joan Miró’s colorful and surreal sculpture, a playful contrast to its angular neighbor. (5 minutes)

7. Chagall’s "Four Seasons" Mosaic
   Marvel at Marc Chagall’s vibrant ceramic mosaic, a visual celebration of Chicago’s changing seasons and cultural diversity. (10 minutes)

8. The Rookery Building (Exterior & Interior)
   Step inside one of Chicago’s finest historic skyscrapers, where Frank Lloyd Wright’s redesigned lobby showcases his signature blend of light, space, and intricate detailing. (10 minutes)

9. Willis Tower (Sears Tower) – Exterior View
   Stand beneath one of the tallest and most iconic skyscrapers in the world. Once the tallest building on Earth, this engineering marvel revolutionized skyscraper design and remains a defining feature of the Chicago skyline. (10 minutes)

10. The Board of Trade Building & Exterior Sculptures
    Stand before the Art Deco headquarters of Chicago’s financial district, where monumental statues of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, watch over traders. (10 minutes)

11. Monadnock Building (Interior Visit)
    Admire this early skyscraper, an engineering marvel that marks the transition from masonry to steel-frame construction, featuring its original 19th-century interiors. (10 minutes)

12. Federal Plaza & Calder’s "Flamingo" Sculpture
    See Alexander Calder’s bold red "Flamingo," a striking modernist contrast to the surrounding Mies van der Rohe-designed buildings. (10 minutes)

13. Grant Park & Abraham Lincoln Statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens
    Discover Chicago’s “front yard,” where Saint-Gaudens’ lifelike bronze statue of Lincoln captures the spirit of the nation’s beloved leader. (10 minutes)

14. Buckingham Fountain
    Conclude your tour at one of the world’s largest fountains, a stunning Rococo-style centerpiece that symbolizes Lake Michigan. Watch as its jets of water soar skyward. (10 minutes)
    Highlights: Highlights generally Include:

15. Cloud Gate ("The Bean") – Anish Kapoor
    Chicago’s most recognizable sculpture, this seamless, mirror-like installation in Millennium Park invites visitors to see the city—and themselves—from a whole new perspective.

16. The Chicago Theatre – Balaban & Katz, Rapp & Rapp
    Admire the dazzling marquee of this 1921 movie palace, a masterpiece of French Baroque style and one of America’s most famous historic theaters.

17. Untitled Sculpture – Pablo Picasso
    See the first modern public art commission in Chicago, a towering 50-foot abstraction gifted by Picasso to the city in 1967.

18. Buckingham Fountain – Edward H. Bennett
    One of the largest fountains in the world, this Art Deco masterpiece in Grant Park symbolizes the grandeur of the city.

19. Willis Tower (Sears Tower) – Fazlur Khan & Bruce Graham
    Once the tallest building in the world, this engineering marvel revolutionized skyscraper design and continues to define the Chicago skyline.
    Check in Details: • It is imperative that you provide us with guest's MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code).

• Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes prior to the tour's scheduled departure time.

• Your guide will reach out to you the morning of the tour for any URGENT matters. Please reply to their message.
Their contact details are also sent to your email by the morning of your tour.

Babylon Tours
Phone / Text 0019179990380
Web: www.babylontours.com
Mail: babylontoursinfo@gmail.com
What to Bring: • Recommended Attire: Comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• A bottle of drinking water is recommended.
Special Requirements: • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• No large bags or suitcases; the tour involves outdoor stairs uneven pathways.
Restrictions: Children under a 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Disclaimers: • The tour route may be affected by national celebrations. In such cases, we will provide guests with an alternative route, ensuring all highlights of the tour are still covered. Refunds or discounts cannot be provided in these situations.

• Due to increased security measures at many attractions, sites may not be accessible for interior visits.

• Latecomers risk missing the tour.
Faqs: What time should I arrive for my tour?
- Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

How will I recognize my guide?
- Your guide will be wearing a Babylon badge on a Babylon lanyard. They will also reach out to you on the morning of the tour to confirm the meeting point.

Are tickets included in the price?
- Yes! All tickets for the permanent collection are included and organized by Babylon Tours.

When will I receive my guide’s contact information?
- Your guide will reach out to you the morning of the tour by text and email. Please ensure you have provided your correct telephone number (including country code) and email beforehand. Please be sure to check your SPAM folder if you don’t see the email in your inbox.

Are you Viator?
- No, Viator is a booking platform and Online Travel Agent. They sell our tours, but we are Babylon Tours, a Tour Operator currently offering tours in 12 major cities worldwide!

Can I reschedule my tour?
- Yes! You can reschedule free of charge if you notify us at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. For rescheduling within 24 hours, a fee applies to cover guide payments, unused tickets, and company costs (no profit is made on this fee). If you booked through a booking platform like Viator or GetYourGuide, you must reschedule directly with them.

What do I do if I’m running late?
- Please inform your guide as soon as possible. As this is a semi-private tour, it must start on time. If your tour is ticketed, the guide will reply to your message with the tickets so you can enter the museum or monument on your own and try to join the guide inside if possible. Please note that once the tour begins, the guide will not be able to regularly check their phone.

What do I do if I have a medical issue and can’t attend the tour?
- Please let us know immediately by email to babylontoursinfo@gmail.com or by texting or calling +1 917 999 0380. Our refund policy does not cover medical issues that arise within 24 hours of the tour’s start. In such cases, please contact your travel insurance provider. We can provide a document confirming you were unable to attend.

What do I do if my transport is canceled and I can’t attend the tour?
- Please let us know immediately by email to babylontoursinfo@gmail.com or by texting or calling +1 917 999 0380 . Our refund policy does not cover transportation issues within 24 hours of the tour’s start. In such cases, please contact your travel insurance provider. We can provide a document confirming you were unable to attend.

Can I get my tickets before the tour and meet the guide inside?
- No, as the museum is large, locating the guide inside is challenging. The guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and accompany the group inside. However, you are welcome to stay in the museum after the tour ends!

Can I stay in the museum after the tour finishes?
- Yes, you are welcome to stay in the museum until it closes.

I don’t see my tickets in the email. How can I download them?
- Your guide will have your tickets. As long as you bring proof of ID, the guide’s name and number, and arrive at the meeting point on time, the guide will assist you with entry.

Will my walking tour run if the weather is bad?
- Yes, our tours run rain or shine. Please check the forecast and dress appropriately. Tours will only be canceled in the event of a dangerous weather alert from local authorities.