“What we see before us is just one tiny part of the world. We get into the habit of thinking, ‘This is the world,’ but that’s not true at all.”
The World Within (Part 2): Secret Interiors of the Riverfront
Currently available for private booking only — contact us to arrange for your group!
Maybe you took our “The World Within (Part 1)” tour, and it inspired you to explore more — or maybe taking a boat tour piqued your curiosity about what you’re missing if you don’t get inside those buildings lining the Chicago River. Whatever the case, this tour route gives you more of what we love to show: Chicago’s beautiful and often overlooked architecture interiors! This 2-hour walking tour shows you some of the best buildings along the Chicago River up close — taking you closer than any boat could ever take you! — but then you’ll also get to venture INSIDE, experiencing some of the best interior architecture of buildings you’d recognize from Chicago architecture boat tours. But whereas most boat tour guides’ knowledge of river tour buildings will stop at the exterior, our guides are ready and eager to show you what they know about the interiors — including which ones are worth visiting!
This special riverfront tour is the perfect yin to any Chicago architecture boat tour's yang. From Art Deco interiors that stun with their glamorous interior details, to vaulted lobbies that impart a sense of importance and grandeur to everyone who enters them, to thoughtful extras like reflecting pools, digital art walls, and more, these interior spaces will absolutely delight you, architecture buff or not. Do you like beautiful spaces? Then you’ll like this tour, period.
The Chicago River, flowing silently through the heart of the city, provides amazing and world-famous views of over a hundred years' worth of architecture, but if you only experience Chicago from a boat, you're missing more than half of its beauty. Let Inside Chicago Walking Tours show you the fascinating “second side” of an architectural boat tour by showing you the interiors of some of the best buildings on the Chicago River!
TOUR LOGISTICS & FAQ
How much do tickets cost (USD)?
Available for private booking only, with public tours added later in the year. Contact us for details.
How long is it?
This tour lasts about 2 hours, covering about 1.5 miles on foot.
Do we go inside buildings?
Absolutely! That's kind of our thing.
How many people in the group?
We will be capping this tour route at 20 guests.
When is this tour offered?
Available for private booking, so offered anytime!
Where does this tour start & end?
We start near the Old Post Office, and end on the main branch of the Chicago River near the “Corncob” buildings.
What about rain?
Tours run rain or shine, though may be cancelled/refunded due to extreme weather. Always dress for the weather!
Can I book this as a private tour?
Yep — that’s all we’re doing with this route for now, with plans to launch publicly in 2025 (or late 2024!). Just contact Hillary at 312-799-0164 to set that up!