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Chicago Elevated Architecture Tour: Train Ticket Included
4.8
72 Ratings
Chicago
Discover Chicago’s iconic architecture on an elevated train tour. Learn about the history of the ‘L’ system and explore the city’s famous buildings from a unique perspective. Train ticket included!
Discover Chicago’s iconic architecture on an elevated train tour. Learn about the history of the ‘L’ system and explore the city’s famous buildings from a unique perspective. Train ticket included!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Chicago Architecture Center - Start your tour at the Chicago Architecture Center. The fare for the Chicago Elevated Rail system is included. Be sure to get a “Ventra” card from the Chicago Architecture Box Office when you check in for the tour.
- Washington/Wabash - Washington/Wabash “L” station
- Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago -…
- Chicago Architecture Center - Start your tour at the Chicago Architecture Center. The fare for the Chicago Elevated Rail system is included. Be sure to get a “Ventra” card from the Chicago Architecture Box Office when you check in for the tour.
- Washington/Wabash - Washington/Wabash “L” station
- Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago - See Trump Tower.
- Marshall Field and Company Building - See the Marshall Field Building
- Harold Washington Library Center - See the Harold Washington Library and State/Van Buren Station
- MCC Chicago, Federal Bureau of Prisons - See the Metropolitan Correction Center
- 343 S Dearborn St - See the Fisher Building.
- DePaul University - DePaul Center - See the DePaul Center.
- 175 W Jackson Blvd - See the Insurance Exchange Building
- Clinton - Clinton St/Lake St “L” Station
- 567 W Lake St - See the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) headquarters.
- Chicago Board of Trade Building - See the Chicago Board of Trade Building
- 180 N Wabash Ave - See the LeMoyne Building
- Washington/Wabash - Washington/Wabash “L” Station
- Chicago Architecture Center - Return to the Chicago Architecture Center
What's Included
- Ride on the Chicago Elevated Rail
- Access to Chicago Architecture Center galleries
- Guided narration by a certified professional
- Ride on the Chicago Elevated Rail
- Access to Chicago Architecture Center galleries
- Guided narration by a certified professional
What's Not Included
- Food or drink
- Storage for luggage or strollers
- Coat check
- Food or drink
- Storage for luggage or strollers
- Coat check
Additional Information
Experience the awe-inspiring architecture of Chicago from the distinctive vantage point of its elevated rail and station platforms. Discover the history of the renowned ‘L’ system and its influence on the development of the Loop’s buildings. The inaugural elevated train, a significant emblem of Chicago, began its operation in 1892. Now, the ‘L’ offers…
Experience the awe-inspiring architecture of Chicago from the distinctive vantage point of its elevated rail and station platforms. Discover the history of the renowned ‘L’ system and its influence on the development of the Loop’s buildings. The inaugural elevated train, a significant emblem of Chicago, began its operation in 1892. Now, the ‘L’ offers unparalleled views of the downtown area. Its elevation of over 20 feet provides an opportunity to observe architectural nuances that often go unnoticed by sidewalk pedestrians. This is our most extensive tour in the Loop, encompassing hundreds of buildings and spotlighting those of architectural interest. As a certified nonprofit organization, your CAC ticket purchases directly fund our educational initiatives and community outreach programs.
- Only about 15 minutes of this two-hour tour is on a train, while most of the remaining tour takes place outdoors standing on the station platforms.
- Pets are not allowed.
- The itinerary of this tour is subject to change without notice.
- Seating at stations and on the train is not guaranteed.
- This tour is not ADA accessible. Stairs are required.
- Not recommended for travelers with difficulty walking or standing.
Location
111 E Wacker Dr
East Wacker Drive
Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E Wacker Drive.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(72 Ratings)
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270bhaveshp
Jun 8, 2025
CTA El tour from the Chicago Architecture Center - Steve did a great job of combining history of Chicago, history of the El, architecture of the El stations and architecture of near by buildings along the ride. I definitely recommend this your.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U8902btrosej
Jun 8, 2025
Great experience for all - including regular L riders - Even as regular riders of the L, we thoroughly enjoyed the "Elevated Architecture: Downtown L Train" tour. We learned so much about the history of Chicago's unique train system as well as the rich historical architecture along the loop. Our tour guide, Steve, was enthusiastic, funny and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorenj421
Jun 3, 2025
CAC: Best Tours in Chicago - Our tour guide was insightful and funny, the tour didn't feel long and we got plenty of breaks to sit down, and overall the vibes were excellent
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Odyssey09172417174
Jun 1, 2025
Great experience for locals and visitors - I’ve lived in Chicago for 7 years and wish I’d taken a CAC tour earlier! We did the El tour with Matt, who was super friendly and knowledgeable and was more than happy to go “off-script” with additional tidbits about the history of the El, the loop, and various significant buildings in the vicinity. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nancyau1520vt
May 31, 2025
What a great tour experience!! - The tour guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. The tour itself was wonderfully designed with so much interesting historic information across a wide range of subjects - history, engineering, politics, architecture. Our whole family enjoyed the tour immensely!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ibatra171
May 25, 2025
Thanks Chris! - Thank you Chris for the excellent tour! We learned a lot - it was great to learn both the history as well as learn to see and understand the details in all the buildings around us!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Uzo_n
May 22, 2025
Great insight into Chicago architecture from the Elevated train - This was a really unique tour experience which involved riding the Pink line of the Elevated train to various stops along the line and getting out to the train platform to look at various buildings of architectural interest. The tour guide Howard is a Chicago native who knows the city in and out and was very knowledgeable about the architecture of Chicago and the architects who helped shape the city’s skyline. This was a very interesting and informative tour and I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Squarebohemian
May 10, 2025
My favorite CAC tour - I took this tour in the late morning and a boat tour in the afternoon, and I actually preferred this between the two (though of course they're both great). This one got the pick because it's not as rushed of a feel - the boat is obviously moving the entire time so the poor docent just has a few moments to tell you about this amazing building before another amazing building comes up. Here, you spend actually more time on the train platform gazing around you, allowing you the ability to focus more on the stories and views as well as the very interesting history of the L. (I believe our docent's name was Steve, and he was a great and entertaining fount of stories.) And despite roaming all over these very streets before taking the tour, I was unsurprisingly opened up to a ton of new perspectives that I failed to miss on my own, helped by looking at everything from the train platforms. If only every train platform wait were as entertaining as this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katems4791xm
May 5, 2025
If you don't have much time, add this train tour to your walking and boat tours - Having done two of the CAC tours I was desperate to squeeze in a third, and this one, led by Teresa, didn't disappoint. As with the other tours, your attention is drawn to details that you would overlook alone, always supported by interesting stories and bits of history. After my tour, I did a bit more exploring on my own to view some different areas of Chicago from the train.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Philiplcooper
May 4, 2025
The entrepreneurial construction of the Loop and the appreciation of the architecture seen in detail from it. - Steve rescued us at the CAC reception as we were trying to organise a self-guided tour the docent for our pre-booked Deco tour having been taken ill and our being offered no alternative.
This elevated tour of the architecture of Chicago as seen from stations and trains on the loop was very special due to Steve’s knowledge and passion for it being expressed in such an animated witty and conspiratorial way! He certainly brought the entrepreneurial shenanigans of Charles Tyson Yerkes to life for us all.
Thanks for squeezing us in Steve and making our last full day in Chicago so memorable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
