The Gray Line Chicago Historic Chicago South Shore tour is a terrific way to see a significant number of Chicago’s most famous attractions in a fairly short amount of time. Your tour guide will narrate the sights and sounds you encounter as you ride past some of the Windy City’s more iconic spots in the comfort of one of Gray Line Chicago’s coach buses. Along the way you’ll experience the best of Chicago’s Loop neighborhood and near South Side. The Historic Chicago South Shore tour will get you to such Chicago landmarks as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum Campus, Jackson Park, and much, much more—all in the course of a couple hours.
Money Saving Tip! This tour is included in the Go Chicago Card as well as the Chicago Explorer Pass. Both Chicago Tourist Passes can save you a lot of money if you are going to multiple Chicago attractions.
Historic Chicago South Shore Tour Details
Gray Line Chicago’s Historic Chicago South Shore tour focuses on Chicago’s bustling downtown and the historic area found just south of there. This means your tour will take you to many of Chicago’s most prominent cultural attractions. You’ll see the crowds mingling near “The Bean” at Millennium Park, and catch a glimpse of the green expanses of Grant Park. From there you’ll view the magnificent Art Institute of Chicago, as well as the remarkable collection of facilities that comprise the Museum Campus: Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium. When the tour continues south, you’ll visit Jackson Park, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Hyde Park neighborhood. Throughout the entire tour Chicago’s stunning skyline and shoreline will serve as a breathtaking backdrop. The Historic Chicago South Shore tour usually clocks in at around two hours. It is most often only run once a day—departing each morning at 11:30am—but do make sure and check their website in advance of your trip to access their most up-to-date schedule. Tickets cost about $35 for adults, and just under $20 for children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old.
Historic Chicago South Shore Major Highlights
Art Institute of Chicago: Routinely considered one of the finest art museums anywhere in the world, the Art Institute of Chicago is a can’t-miss attraction for any visitor to the Windy City. Its famous lion-guarded main entrance faces vibrant Michigan Avenue, while the Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing looks north toward Millennium Park.
Museum Campus: Prominently situated between the southern edge of Grant Park and Lake Michigan, the Museum Campus is one of Chicago’s most beloved areas. There you’ll find such acclaimed attractions as the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium. Soldier Field, home of the National Football League’s Chicago’ Bears, is nearby, too.
Jackson Park: This beautiful lakeside park was the site of the legendary 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition—better known to many as the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair. Located adjacent to the Hyde Park neighborhood and the campus of the University of Chicago, it remains to this day a very spot for Chicagoans to go to unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.
Museum of Science and Industry: Situated at the northern end of Jackson Park, the Museum of Science and Industry is one of the only structures used during the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair still in existence. Today it’s a well-regarded museum featuring permanent exhibits like a replica coal mine, a German submarine captured during World War II, and a passenger train.
Is the Grayline Historic Chicago South Shore Tour for You?
The Gray Line Chicago Historic Chicago South Shore tour is a convenient way to see a nice cross-section of some of Chicago’s most famous attractions in a short amount of time—all as part of the same guided outing. You could spend an entire day and more exploring many of the attractions highlighted during this tour, so if you hold a particular interest in learning more about a specific landmark—like, say, the Field Museum or the Art Institute of Chicago—you might consider making the time to visit that attraction individually. However, if you’re new to Chicago and seeking a pleasant introductory overview of the city’s downtown business district, Museum Campus, and the Jackson Park area, the Historic Chicago South Shore tour will likely prove to be a very satisfying experience.