WHO WE ARE

INSIDE CHICAGO WALKING TOURS is the top-ranked architecture tour business in Chicago on TripAdvisor, founded and run by Hillary Marzec. Officially launched in 2014, this small, local, woman-owned business is an underdog in one of Chicago’s biggest and most competitive industries (tourism). The foundation of her small business — and indeed why she named it “Inside" Chicago Walking Tours — is a desire to give guests the experience of Chicago’s architecture from the inside out, which can only be done on foot. Her desire to show people the stunning interiors that so often get overlooked led her to create Chicago’s very first interior-architecture-themed tours, and all the tours she creates for her small business are thoroughly researched and fascinatingly engaging, with an authentic local flavor to each one. Most visitors only experience Chicago from the outside via boat, bus, bike, or segway. Hillary wants to show locals and out-of-towners the inside of Chicago’s world-famous architecture, and she hires fellow educators, comedians, theater performers, and expert tour guides to help her lead her award-winning tours, ensuring that your tour experience is truly engaging and informative, while also being fun and interactive.

Formerly, as the Director of Product Development for a major boat tour company in Chicago, Hillary reformed and retrained their entire docent staff, hiring and training new guides and doubling their workforce — a workforce and training program that eventually earned that company the #2 position in TripAdvisor’s “Top 10 Travel Experiences in the World” (second only to the Vatican!). Hillary creates all of her company’s tours; she also made (and maintains) this website, designs her marketing materials, and has been the creative force — both in person and behind the scenes — driving this tiny company.  And given the smallest full-time staff size possible, it’s pretty darn impressive that — in its very first season of operation — INSIDE CHICAGO WALKING TOURS soared to Chicago's #1 tour spot on TripAdvisor, and continues to gain spectacular reviews from delighted guests.

With public walking tours and private group tours offered year-round, INSIDE CHICAGO WALKING TOURS gives guests of all ages and backgrounds a chance to experience Chicago in an enriching, fun, memorable way — from the inside! Join us on one of our award-winning interior architecture tours!