Crime And Mob Coach Tour

Chicago Crime Tours and Experiences LLC built this coach ride around the city's mob years, and the crowd response is massive: 4.6 stars from 3,603 reviews. The route runs about 1.5 to 2 hours. Seats start at $49.

Overview

A coach bus pulls up outside 163 E. Pearson Street, on the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue, and from there the tour works its way through the city's gangster era over roughly an hour and a half to two hours. Al Capone, Hymie Weiss, John Dillinger and The Untouchables all feature as the bus rolls past the Magnificent Mile, Water Tower Place and the lakefront, with a live guide narrating in English and historic video footage played on board.

The route is not all windshield time. Riders step off for photos at points along the way, including a historic courthouse and the Biograph Theatre, where the stop is timed at about 10 minutes. Back on the bus, a souvenir brochure with special offers, a mini mob museum and a crime trivia quiz round out the package. Onboard extras are subject to availability.

The tone lands somewhere between history lesson and comedy set. Many reviewers praised guides who mixed solid facts with jokes, and a few serious mob enthusiasts found it too lighthearted for their taste.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Michigan and PearsonMeet outside 163 E. Pearson at the southeast side of Michigan Ave and Pearson St. Report 15 minutes early, as the bus departs on time and latecomers cannot join.
2. Gangster overview on boardThe tour begins with a 15-minute introduction covering gangsters, mobsters and criminals of the city's past, with video footage and guide commentary.
3. Magnificent Mile corridor drive-byThe coach passes or makes short stops at Water Tower Place, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Magnificent Mile, the John Hancock Center, Abraham Lincoln Park and North Avenue Beach.
4. Biograph Theatre stopA 10-minute stop with free admission, a chance to get off the bus and photograph one of the most infamous crime sites on the route.
5. Oz Park and returnThe bus passes or makes a short stop at Oz Park before the tour wraps up.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details shape how this tour plays out, from the fixed departure time to the no-food rule on the bus.

• Arrive early. Check-in opens 15 minutes before departure and the bus leaves on time.
• Seated and easy. This is a coach tour, so the physical demands are low. One reviewer called it a nice break from walking, though some off-bus stops include stairs.
• No food or drink. Eating and drinking are not allowed on the bus, and there are no restroom breaks. Go before check-in.
• Bring cash for tips. Gratuity is not included. The listing recommends a per-person tip via cash or Venmo.
• Photo opportunities. The tour builds in off-bus photo stops, and the listing promises pictures at infamous sites. Rain can make the windows harder to see through, one traveller noted, so weather affects both views and photos.
• Bring the family. The listing says most travellers can participate and pushchairs are allowed, with limited storage for a folding wheelchair or stroller. Reviewers described the content as great for all ages, mixing history with jokes.

Common issues. The bus is not wheelchair accessible: boarding involves five steps, there is no electronic lift, and some off-bus stops include stairs. Seating is general admission on a first-come basis, so groups are not guaranteed to sit together. One reviewer reported a mid-tour breakdown and another a last-minute cancellation when the guide became unavailable, though the operator offered reschedule or refund contact details in that case. Recordings are not permitted without written consent, and talking or translating during the tour is discouraged.

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