Adults-Only Loop Ghost Walk

Ghost City Tours of Chicago keeps this 90-minute walk strictly for grown-ups, mixing downtown ghost lore with material that skews adult. From $34.99.

Overview

This adults-only ghost walk from Ghost City Tours of Chicago starts outside the Chicago Theatre on North State Street and finishes at a pub on South Wabash. No entry fees come into play: every stop on the route carries free admission.

The route runs from the Chicago Theatre to the James M. Nederlander Theatre, the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Congress Plaza Hotel, ending at Exchequer Restaurant and Pub. Reviewers often single out the guides' storytelling, several naming their guide as the best part of the night, while a few felt there was more walking than information.

It suits travellers who want a night activity that keeps moving. The stories cover gruesome and gory chapters of Chicago's past, and the tour is restricted to adults. Groups run up to 30 people, the route is wheelchair accessible, and the end point can shift depending on the route the guide takes on the night.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Chicago TheatreMeet the guide just outside the Chicago Theatre at 175 N State St, near the walkway.
2. The Chicago TheatreThe first stop lasts 13 minutes, with free admission and no entry required.
3. Nederlander TheatreAround 11 minutes at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, free admission.
4. Chicago Cultural CenterAn 11-minute stop, free admission.
5. Millennium ParkAbout 11 minutes in Millennium Park, free admission.
6. Art Institute of ChicagoAn 11-minute stop outside the Art Institute, free admission.
7. Congress Plaza HotelAround 11 minutes at the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, free admission.
8. End at Exchequer PubThe walk finishes after 11 minutes at Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, 226 S Wabash Ave. The end point may vary depending on the guide's route.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape this tour, from Chicago weather to the amount of walking involved.

• Dress for weather. One reviewer mentioned cold weather making it hard to hear the guide, so warm layers matter on winter nights.
• Walking pace. More than one reviewer noted there was a lot of walking relative to the information provided, so expect to be on your feet most of the time.
• Group size. The listing caps the group at 30 travellers.
• No pickup. Hotel pickup is not included. The meeting point is just outside the Chicago Theatre on North State Street, close to public transportation.
• Guide quality varies. Many reviewers praised their guide's knowledge, humor, and storytelling, and the gory historical detail is a repeated highlight. A couple of reviewers were less impressed, so the experience can depend on the night and the guide.
• Timing and food. The tour ends at Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, so a drink or meal afterward is easy to arrange on your own. Gratuities for the guide are not included.

Common issues. The most serious complaint in the reviews is a no-show: one reviewer reported waiting past the start time in the freezing cold with no guide and no response from customer service. The listing also states the tour requires a minimum number of travellers, and if that minimum is not met it can be cancelled with an offer of a different date, a different experience, or a full refund. Weather is another factor; the tour requires good weather, and one reviewer said cold conditions made it hard to hear and follow the guide. A few travellers also felt the balance leaned toward walking rather than storytelling, and gratuities are not included in the price.

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