Top Chicago Shows & Performances

Cruise down the Chicago River to see the city's famous architecture on this boat tour. With commentary from your onboard guide, watch the spectacular skyline glide by, including more than 40 notable buildings like Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building, and the John Hancock Building. Cover all three branches of the Chicago River, passing the East Bank Club, the old Post Office Building and the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower).

Discover the architectural gems of the Windy City from an ideal vantage point on a cruise down the Chicago River. Offered several times throughout the day, it’s easy to fit the leisurely excursion into your itinerary. Covering more than 130 years of architectural history, the tour is the perfect opportunity to see a huge area of the city without the hassle of taxis and public transit.

Experience a colorful side of Chicago history with this Gangsters and Ghosts Tour. With a historian as your guide, you’ll step back to the roaring 20’s, when the Chicago Loop was a hub for bootleggers, speakeasies, and gangsters like the infamous Al Capone. Visit onetime gangster hangouts and haunted sites like the Palmer House, Congress Hotel, and Death Alley.

Step aboard a boat for a comprehensive cruise that details the history of Chicago's architecture. Enjoy views of the Chicago skyline accompanied by architecture-focused commentary that points out each of the landmark buildings. As you cruise through Lake Michigan, snap photos of you and your party against the stretch of Chicago's 26-mile shoreline.

Stroll through downtown Chicago on this walking food tour. Visit Millennium Park, the Palmer House Hotel and other city landmarks. Taste quintessential Chicago foods such as deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, plus chocolates and pastry. All food tastings are included, and the tour covers an easy 1.5 miles (2.4 km) suitable for most fitness levels. Upgrade your tour to include three pours of local craft beer.

The easiest and most affordable way to explore some of Chicago's top attractions at your own pace, the Chicago Explorer Pass by Go City saves you up to 40 percent off compared to buying individual attraction tickets. Create your own sightseeing itinerary by choosing 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions, tours, and activities from among more than 25 top sites, including SkyDeck, 360 Chicago, the Field Museum, a shoreline sightseeing cruise, a hop-on hop-off Big Bus tour, Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center. Please note: Enjoy the extra flexibility in case your travel plans need to change: All passes are valid for two years from purchase date and only become activated with your first attraction visit. After activation your pass will be valid for 60 days and/or the remaining number of attraction choices purchased.

Explore Chicago's gangster past on this mafia tour in a coach vehicle. Drive around the Windy City to see where Al Capone, The Untouchables, Hymie Weiss, and John Dillinger, among other thugs hung out. A history-savvy guide introduces you to some of the most storied locations of Chicago’s criminal past, including Holy Name Cathedral, Biography Theatre, and the site of the bloody St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. You'll be able to get out and pose for pictures in front of a historic courthouse, among other infamous sites.

Get a front row perspective on the exquisite buildings that line the Chicago River during a 45-minute architecture cruise. Hear live commentary about the history and architectural heritage of Chicago on this family-friendly tour, which highlights landmarks such as the Chicago Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue Bridge, Wrigley Building, and Willis Tower. Sit on the open-air top deck or the sheltered bottom deck for the ultimate view of Chicago.

Tour the historic Chicago Theater, a must-see city landmark, with a guide providing in-depth commentary. You'll get the most out of your visit by traveling with a guide and get access to some areas of the theater that the public never sees. Learn about its architecture, history, and famous performers throughout the years.

Sit back and take in some magic during this outrageous, hilarious show. Show up a few minutes before curtain time to get the best possible general admission seat and start sipping the drinks you brought. Cups and bottle openers are available for your use. Buying your tickets in advance means less waiting for entry; you'll be sure to get the day and time you that fits your schedule.

Enjoy a performance of the legendary Blue Man Group, one of Chicago’s longest-running shows, at the Briar Street Theater. This worldwide performance troupe, whose hilarious and quirky show has earned them raves in cities around the world, has recently updated their performance with new technology. Experience the group’s gigantic tablet, the “GiPad,” as you enjoy the laugh-inducing antics, stunning visuals and high-tech stage show of this ever-changing, family friendly show. Your ticket purchase also includes a choice of seating options and show times.

One actor has five shots of whiskey and then attempts to perform in a Shakespeare play. New York Times Critics' Pick!

The Magic Parlour is Chicago's longest-running magic show. Performed by 3rd-Generation Magician Dennis Watkins, the close-up magic and mind-reading performance takes place inside the legendary Palmer House Hilton Hotel. The showroom seats fewer than 40 guests, placing each and every audience member right at the center of the magic.

The show incorporates real-life individuals from Chicago's gangster era, including Frank and Annette Nitti who actually lived in the building in which the show is performed. We have partnered with the director and many of the actors from the popular show Tommy Guns Garage, which ran for 33 years until the pandemic led to its closure.

Get your Chicago Girl's Weekend started with a bang! This is the Ultimate Girl's Night out event, starting with a sparkling wine tasting. Sample 8-10 different sparkling wines from the best vineyards in the world. Now that you're all tipsy, it's time for a photoshoot! Finally, get a crash course in the art of seduction with a crash-course in burlesque. Don't forget to grab a sexy pair of stockings on your way out!