“It has been our utmost privilege to serve the visitors and locals of Chicago for the past 25 years. We look forward to providing the most quality experience for the next 25 years and beyond,” said Chicago Trolley Executive Director Walt Chadick. “Chicago Trolley & Double Decker continues to offer a unique adventure for both tourists and residents alike and is always looking for new and exciting ways to enhance each and every passenger’s experience.”
Continuing to make Chicago’s favorite tour accessible to a larger audience, Chicago Trolley gives riders access to an exclusive multi-lingual app from their cellphone for the Downtown Tour. Passengers can experience the journey in Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese (Brazilian) and Deutsch powered by a GPS-locator. In addition, Chicago Trolley also offers a bus tracker, where passengers can track the nearest bus at ChicagoTrolley.com/gps. All busses currently in-route appear on a map, allowing the rider to see what time their bus or trolley arrives at each stop.
Chicago Trolley City Tours
Chicago’s culture, architecture and history come alive with the Downtown Tour, featuring 14 distinct locations around the city. Beginning at Millennium Park, tours will venture south over the Michigan Avenue Bridge to the Art Institute of Chicago and Hilton Chicago. The tour continues south to museum campus visiting Adler Planetarium as well as the Filed Museum and Shedd Aquarium. Looping north, the tour continues to the newest stop, Buckingham Fountain then travels to the Sheraton Hotel, Navy Pier and the Chicago Theater. Continuing to take in all of the sights, the tour travels up the Magnificent Mile and stops at Water Tower Place, the Hancock Tower featuring 360 Chicago, the Hard Rock Café and ending with the Willis Tower Skydeck. The full Downtown Tour departs from downtown Chicago Trolley kiosks with all day access to hop-on and hop-off. Tours operate daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and are approximately two hours in duration.
The Wrigley Field/Lincoln Park Zoo Route departs from 360 Chicago (875 N. Michigan Ave.) and heads to the Chicago History Museum, Chicago’s oldest cultural institution that today, preserves an estimated 20 million items important to the city’s history. Passengers then visit some of the area’s most popular residents at Lincoln Park Zoo where they can visit 1,200 animals call home at one of the oldest zoos in the nation. The tour ends with a trip to Wrigley Field, home of the 2016 World Series Champions, the Chicago Cubs, for a photo opportunity under the stadium’s famous red marquee. The Wrigley Field/Lincoln Park Zoo Route is approximately 90 minutes in duration. The first tour departs at 10 a.m. and the last tour departs at 3:30 p.m. For approximate departure times at each stop, riders can check the Chicago Trolley Guidebooks available with a ticket purchase or visit http://www.ChicagoTrolley.com.
The Night Tour showcases Chicago’s dazzling skyline and illuminated landmarks after the sun goes down. Beginning at two different stops, Millennium Park or 360 Chicago (875 N. Michigan Ave.), the Night Tour will make one full loop of the Downtown Tour where passengers are able to hop-on or hop-off throughout the evening. The Night Tour operates daily from 7:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
For exact departure times and tracking options for all tours, visit ChicagoTrolley.com. All Chicago Trolley Tours run now through September (with the Downtown Tour running year-round), and each tour is included with the Three Day, Two Day and One Day tickets.
Land, Lake and River Package
The Land, Lake and River Package ($68 adults; $26 Kids) allows passengers to experience the grandeur of the city by land and sea with Chicago Trolley and Mercury Skyline Cruiseline. The package includes a two-day ticket for any of Chicago Trolley’s tours and routes, as well as a Mercury Urban Adventure or Chicago by Night Cruise. Passengers glide along the Chicago River and Lakefront taking in the sparkle of the city at night or enjoy the breathtaking views of the dramatic skyscrapers and other architecture gems along the lake and riverfront by day. Together with Mercury Skyline Cruiseline and unlimited access to Chicago Trolley’s Downtown Tour, the Wrigley Field/Lincoln Park Zoo Route and the Night Tour, passengers are able to experience many distinct perspectives of Chicago.
Both the Mercury Urban Adventure and Chicago by Night Cruise depart from 112 E Upper Wacker Drive and are approximately 90-minutes in duration. The Mercury Urban Adventure departs at 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The Chicago by Night Cruise departs once nightly at 8:15 p.m., excluding Wednesday and Saturday.
Ticket Information
Tickets are sold as a Three Day Ticket ($52 for adults/$50 online), a Two Day Ticket ($49 for adults/$47 online) and a One Day Ticket ($39 for adults/$37 online). Tickets for children ages 5 – 15 are $19/$17 online and are good for up to three days; children four and under ride free. Tickets include treats from Garrett Popcorn as well as a coupon book with savings at partner venues, restaurants and attractions.
With the purchase of Chicago Trolley tickets, passengers will have the opportunity to purchase discounted attraction tickets to Skydeck, 360 Chicago and Blue Man Group.
Tours operate daily with vehicles departing the designated stops beginning at 9 a.m. Passes can be purchased in-person at various stops along the tour route or in advance online at http://www.ChicagoTrolley.com. Groups of 15 or more receive a 20% discount off the regular retail price per ticket. To receive this group rate, tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 773.648.5000.