pedway chicago tour

A visitor’s guide to navigating the Chicago Pedway System

Last updated on September 3, 2019 by Amanda Scotese

When we venture downtown, with the snow of winter or the humidity of summer, the Chicago Pedway System comes in handy. This mostly underground system of passages connects buildings so that you can walk downtown while avoiding the elements.

You know you’re in the Pedway System when you see this symbol. In this network of passages that connect buildings, train stations, and parking lots, you find government offices, food courts, and most importantly during wintertime — warmth. As part of downtown infrastructure, the Pedway eases foot traffic on street level and provides a quicker route, as you don’t have to wait at any stoplights. Pretty much everyone you pass is in a hurry like you.

That is, if you know where you’re going.  A few maps of the Underground Pedway System are out there, but some only show the location of the passages, which isn’t enough to help the unfamiliar user confidently access this system of passages that goes both underground and above street level.

A different approach to map-making is necessary to elucidate the Pedway System. This map designed by my tour company, Chicago Detours, is a helpful guide with the user experience in mind as it includes all kinds of tips on navigating the system. In addition to showing the passages, this map marks all stairways and buildings that connect with the Pedway to explicitly show where people are permitted to enter a building . Check out the two-page map and you’ll find where to access the 40-plus-block-long network of passages, the disparate open hours for different sections, and tips on navigating the system.

While some suspect that the Chicago Pedway System involves underground tunnels that connect buildings downtown, really they are not tunnels but passages, like hallways, that create a network between buildings and places of transport.

The Pedway provides a convenient escape from Chicago’s challenging weather. However, it is not necessarily a space where you would want to spend an afternoon. The mostly underground system is essentially a basement (see the area by Macy’s pictured below), and you’ll find better architectural eye candy on street-level. What’s really exciting about the Pedway is the discovery that the city is navigable in spaces under our feet. It’s about uncovering the unseen layers of the city.

Beyond Chicago Detours , which offers an interior architectural tour that includes magnificent lobbies, other tour companies venture underground. Comedian Margaret Hicks of Chicago Elevated , aka the “Pedway Lady,” knows every inch of the system and offers tours of the Pedway several days a week.

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About Amanda Scotese

Amanda Scotese started the tour company Chicago Detours , so she can have a legitimate excuse for wandering Chicago and geeking out on architecture. She dug in to anything Chicago, especially architecture and urban geography, through the Masters of Arts Program in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. Her travel writing has appeared in Rick Steves’ Italy travel guidebooks, Trazzler, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and the Chicago Detours blog .

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A walk through the Pedway: Mastering the Loop’s network of underground tunnels

A lifesaver or pedestrian purgatory?

Chicago is known for a variety of transportation: busy airports , a popular riverfront , and a strategic rail transit hub . However, the city’s downtown is perhaps best traveled by foot. It’s the only way to explore a series of underground tunnels and bridges known as the Pedway that link more than 40 blocks in the Loop.

Plus, knowledge of the underground path comes in handy during the city’s extreme cold and unpredictable seasons. Tens of thousands of travelers use parts of the roughly five-mile pathway everyday which connects to CTA stations, public buildings, and private offices, according to the city.

Despite living in Chicago for almost two decades, I find myself chronically underdressed each winter and usually in need of protection for impractical footwear making it from the L to meetings that take place in the Loop. For this reason, I have become quite familiar with the downtown Pedway system.

History of Chicago’s underground tunnel system

The Chicago Pedestrian Walkway System works in conjunction with street level paths that connect to almost 50 buildings in the Loop. The longest continuous section of the Pedway runs east-west from 120 N. LaSalle Street to the Millennium Park near Columbus Drive and Randolph Street with various points radiating north and south.

The system includes several shorter sections, at times serving only as a connection between buildings and CTA or Metra Stations. Nearly every civically significant building in the Loop, including City Hall and the James R. Thompson Center, is connected by a section of the Pedway.

The system opened in 1951 with the completion of tunnel between the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway and the State Street Subway, connecting what is now the Red and Blue lines. In 1966, the former Brunswick Building at 69 W. Washington Street was linked to the Civic Center. Then in late 1980s a connection was made to the Millennium Metra station which was completed in 2005. Another extension of the Pedway was added in 2010 which opened up access to north of Lake Street to Aqua Tower.

While the notion of an indoor pedestrian subway in Chicago existed as early as the 1920s, it took the success of indoor suburban malls and the transition of State Street from that ‘Great Street’ to a series of discount stores, pawn shops, and burlesque theaters to encourage city planners to push for all-weather pedestrian walkways. Several comprehensive plans presented in the late 1960s urged Chicago to consider connecting commercial and civic buildings in the Loop.

In its primary civic role, the Pedway allows underground access between City Hall, the Daley Center, the Cook County Office Building, and the Thompson Center which bridges these government buildings. It also provides ingress to the private sector and public citizens to Daley Center Court rooms, offices of the Cook County Clerk, and the Central Illinois Secretary of State Facility. Between these are a super colony of businesses, including dry cleaners, salons, shoe repair shops, and restaurants and bars.

However, the Pedway has issues with inconsistent signage and an official map that lacks dozens of informal pathways. Some of these walkways are through private property or in many cases across commuter or rapid transit train platforms. Many Pedway routes are marked with blue and yellow compasses set into the terrazzo floor, but others are designed to match the colors and aesthetic of the building it connects to which can be misleading.

Some areas of the Pedway are aggressively patrolled with staff and cameras, while others appear to be entirely void of any attention. As sections of the Pedway are operated by individual building owners, not all doors remain open in the evenings or weekends.

A walk through the Chicago Pedway

Earlier this week, I descended into the Chicago Pedway beneath the Roger Brown mural of Daedalus & Icarus at 120 North LaSalle, towards City Hall and the County Building, where the entrance was clearly marked with the Pedway system compass. This is a good sign, I thought. As the Pedway travels beneath buildings, it reflects the building just above through matching designs or materials, providing a more kickable example of the architecture, as the Pedway is public space. In the case of 120 North LaSalle, the same gray-black marble is repeated in the hallway, transitioning through a steel doorway to the City side of the City Hall/County Building, where the walls are tiled in the black and grey of the Chicago Police Department.

Cadet training occurs in this area of the basement of City Hall, as well as case research. There’s also a bike room down there for city employees. The Pedway forces itself upstairs from here, and into the first-floor lobby of the City Hall/County Building. The path continues into the county building, and down an escalator facing east to Clark Street. Getting back into the Pedway when it is no longer underground can be tricky. This was my first instance of mild confusion, but I learned that my intuition to head to the down escalator was a good one.

The bowels of the Daley Center mimic the building above, including glossy terrazzo floors, tan Roman brick and plate glass—something like the International Style gone casual. The foot traffic really picks up in this portion of the Pedway, as Chicagoans make their way to file forms, apply for licenses, obtain certificates and go to court. The directory within this area is a useless piece of brass, indicating that picnic permits could be obtained if one walks towards the direction of a solid brick wall.

I observed a nervous woman in an Anthony Rizzo jersey briefly checking out the directory before bolting in the direction of the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, only to suddenly pivot on a clipped expletive before turning around in the opposite direction.

Next to the Liquor License Appeal Commission Offices, is a Starbucks with a tiny patio, quietly piping music into the heavily cooled air. The Pedway is known as a welcome respite from the harsh winds and cold winters, but it can also provide relief from late summer heat.

The Pedway splits off here, with one branch headed towards the Dunne Office Building and the other headed towards the Red Line and Block 37.

Within the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building are the Pedway shops including Angileri’s Barber Shop, Around the Clock Repair, and an entrance to Trattoria No. 10. Doubling back towards the east end of the Pedway is the mezzanine to the State Street Subway, Block 37, and the Red Line near Macy’s.

This portion of the Chicago Pedway dates to 1989, but was brightened in 2013 by the addition of 22 art glass windows. The collection, once part of the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows at Navy Pier, includes designers part of the American Victorian stained glass movement like Louis Comfort Tiffany. Here, the omnipresent florescent light of the rest of the Pedway is replaced by brilliantly colored faceted glass set into innovative compositions and lit from behind.

Nearby, the entrance to the Cultural Center is marked by a simple postmodern rotunda, perhaps evocative of the treasures within the building, such as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall and Preston Bradley Hall, home of a 38-foot Tiffany Favrile glass dome. Both spaces are within the same building but represent two distinct decorative moods.

East of the Cultural Center and heading towards Millennium Station, the Pedway takes a dark turn. The nearly 20-year effort to turn the cavernous, dank underground of Millennium Station into a modern terminal didn’t affect all of the spaces, and many still appear to be under construction, particularly the musty and littered entrance corridors. Bare concrete floors and dusty utility lights give way to the Millennium Station Concourse, with its cool blue terrazzo floor with pedestrian lanes, a gentle design reminder to keep movement orderly while moving through the space during rush hour.

Close to 20,000 people board Metra and South Shore Line trains daily, many of them working the Pedway to shave off precious seconds from their commute from offices downtown to awaiting trains. Fans of the Batman franchise will remember this area from 2008’s The Dark Knight. Batman sped through the concourse on the Batpod with the same ferocity as a sneaker and white tube sock suburbanite, frantic to catch her Union Pacific Northwest to Arlington Heights that leaves at 5:05 p.m.

Mbar, within the station, and perhaps the Pedway’s only official bar (as Infields is technically located inside Macy’s), provides commuters with drinks and snacks before their rides home. I watched a weary professional order an “extra-large Chard” from the bartender, who emptied out the cold coffee from her mug and filled it with Chardonnay, as travelers on commuter trains may choose to take their beverages to go.

North of Lake Street and accessible only above ground, is the second largest segment of the Pedway, connecting Michigan Plaza at 205 N. Michigan Avenue, to the Swissotel Chicago. The western-most entry point to this portion of the Pedway was difficult to find. I initially followed the wrong escalator down once inside Michigan Plaza and into a private area where I was chastised for taking a photograph of a particularly unhelpful sign.

The Pedway here, toted by neighbors as beneath the New East Side micro neighborhood, extends to several hotels, including the Fairmont Hotel and the Hyatt Regency, and takes on a decidedly different character than the larger portion of the Pedway. Spaces along this stretch are cleaner and carpeted, and have more in common with hotel hallways than the larger portion of the Pedway connecting civic and commercial buildings.

With only three residential buildings boasting connections to the Pedway, specifically the Heritage at Millennium Park, the Park Millennium, and Aqua Tower, residents of the area were disappointed that the Pedway did not continue east once it was connected to Aqua in 2009. Despite the limited access to residential developments, this area of the Pedway seems popular with young parents and dog owners during the day, as I dodged several sleepy toddlers in strollers and joyful terriers.

The route became particularly confusing as I approached the Hyatt Regency, where several entrances and pathways are unmarked. Twice I ended up going down the wrong hallway and was plunged into the perpetual darkness of Lower Wacker Drive with no Pedway compass in sight. Here I ran into a young man who seemed to lose all hope in finding the Central Auto Pound. Was this some sort of pedestrian purgatory?

I asked a parking lot security guard for directions back down into the Pedway, heading south on lower Columbus Drive at his suggestion. When I arrived at what I heard to be the entrance to the Pedway, I found a stairway leading up. Did the security guard mistake my question about the Pedway entrance as one asking how to just simply get out of here?

I ascended the steps onto upper Columbus Drive, a street full of hotels, commercial buildings and general pedestrian unfriendliness that is more evocative of suburban Schaumburg than the Loop. Following an escalator down into the Pedway connected to Aqua, back on track towards the Swisshotel.

I thought about the simplicity of Chicago’s street grid system, creating a zero point at State and Madison streets that has assisted Chicagoans to get where they are going since 1909, against the intricacies and colloquial habits of the Pedway system.

There is room for improvement, particularly in terms of increasing the number of signs and making them consistent overall, but with three levels to Wacker Drive, neighborhoods and the grid system slashed by highways, diagonal streets and boulevards, knowing how to get around in Chicago is often an experience that maps and signs cannot teach. The only way to master the Chicago Pedway is on foot racking up the underground miles step by step.

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Chicago Pedway Tour

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Underground Chicago: Pedway Tour

Tour runs wednesday and friday.   book now.

Take a tour of Chicago’s Pedway system, a network of underground tunnels that allow pedestrians to pass from one end of the Loop to the other. We’ll go above ground periodically to view some special Chicago sights.

Our tour begins in the lobby of the Swissotel (325 E. Wacker Dr.) with a brief overview of the Pedway system.  We then descend into the Pedway and begin our journey to the Cultural Center, passing through a series of hotels, office buildings, restaurants and a train station along the way.  After a brief “above ground” tour of the Cultural Center and its famous Tiffany Dome, we return to the Pedway for a short walk to Macy’s department store where we view the famous Tiffany ceiling from two unique perspectives, then stop by the store’s iconic Walnut Room.

We return to the Pedway and follow it west to the Richard J Daley Civic Center where we ascend to the plaza for a visit to the Picasso sculpture and also view the Chicago Temple and it’s Sky Chapel, one of the world’s tallest church buildings.  We return to the Pedway for a brief walk to City Hall and Marriage Court and then a short walk outside to the L Stop at Wells and Washington Streets.

A quick train ride to the other side of the Loop takes us to Wabash and Adams where we stroll past the origin/terminus of Route 66, enjoy the Art Institute’s lion statues and journey through one last stretch of Pedway to Millennium Park to view the famous Cloud Gate sculpture (aka, The Bean), Lurie Gardens and Crown Fountain.

Tour Highlights

• Masks optional
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• Option to purchase food/beverage

Book Underground Chicago: Pedway Tour

Duration: 3 hours

Price: Adult $60

• Tour price includes professional tour guide, train ride. Food/beverages purchased by guests.
• Days of operation: Wednesday and Friday
• Start time: 10 a.m.
• Tour begins and ends in the Loop.
• Walking distance: 1.5 miles

Additional Information

• Tour operates rain or shine.
• Tour begins at scheduled start time. Late arrivals may miss all or part of the tour.
• Tour itinerary may be subject to minor revisions as necessary.
• Cancellation Policy
• In case of delays

Ticket Purchase Requirements

• Must be able to climb stairs.
• Tour requires minimum of 2 guests to run.
• Tickets are required for all guests.
• Children must be 12 years or older and accompanied by an adult (age 18 or older). Tickets for children are not discounted.

Tour Meeting Point and Stops

323 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 (in lobby)

Meet your guide in the lobby.

Chicago Pedway System

Use the Pedway to explore the Loop

Enjoy a variety of sights and attractions along the way.

Cultural Center

78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

View architectural treasures.

108 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602

Continue strolling the Pedway through this popular city mall.

Daley Plaza

What do you think this sculpture looks like?

121 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60602

See Chicago's City Hall and County Building and if we're lucky, a wedding!

Millennium Park

201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602

See Chicago's famous "Bean" and surrounding gardens.

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Chicago Loop Pedway Underground Winter Tour

Please note the tour calendar below is our full tour calendar. we offer a limited schedule during the winter months. if you're interested in a private tour please contact us via our private tour page..

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What you will see:

• The Roger Brown Daedalus and Icarus Murals
• The State of Illinois Building (James R. Thompson Center)
• Chicago City Hall
• The Daley Center
• The Picasso
• Tallest place of worship in the world
• Marshall Field's Flagship Store (Macy's)
• American Victorian Stained Glass Exhibit
• Stained Glass Gallery
• Chicago Cultural Center
• And of course, Chicago's Pedway System!

Stories you will hear:

• Mosaics inspired by Greek mythology
• The fight to save the "spaceship" in downtown Chicago
• WHy is the building rusting?
• A Chicago building in the Guinness Book of Records
• The man behind the "customer is always right"
• The woman behind the Tiffany Dome
• And in one building, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, a library and the Civil War

Meeting Point:  Outside 120 N. Lasalle St., Chicago, IL 60602. Underneath the Winged Angel Mosaic. (Robert Brown's Icarus and Daedelus)

Address:  120 N. Lasalle St., Chicago, IL 60602

Distance: 1.1 miles walking distance

Time: About 2 hours from start to finish

Cost: FREE! Our guides work off the generosity of our guests. If you felt your guide has done a good job you can show your appreciation at the end of the tour by leaving a tip.

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Chicago Pedway

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Chicago Pedway - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Chicago Pedway Tour

Tour Information

Pedway tour, pedway tour highlights.

Construction of this labyrinth began in 1951 to simply connect the Red and Blue line subway/'L' train stops. Now it connects over 50 buildings, 40 blocks, and 5 miles of pathways.

While on this tour, we will see Chicago's famous architecture while peering out of the windows of intricate lobbies, amazing examples of art, and we'll discover some of the best "secret-eats" in the city- all while enjoying the comfort of the temperature regulated pathways!

Sites on the Chicago Pedway Tour:

• The Wrigley Building
• Trump Tower
• The Marina Towers
• The Leo Burnett Lobby
• The Thompson Center
• Stained Glass Museum (Temporary)
• The Cultural Center

Tour information

Reservations: REQUIRED. Click here to reserve . Groups of 9 or more must contact us before booking.

Where: Directly inside of the Wow Bao at 1 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601.

Duration: Tour lasts approx. 2 hours. Total walking is just over one mile (1.6km).

When:    View our Calendar . Tours are on U.S. Central Standard Time. This tour is offered seasonally only.

Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget.

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Underground Chicago Walking Tour of the Pedway

American Walks - Daley Center - SE corner of Clark & Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60612

The Underground Chicago Walk is a tour through Chicago’s pedway, a little-known underground tunnel system in the heart of downtown Chicago — with food samples included. It may sound scary but fear not, the recently rehabbed tunnels are used by thousands of savvy locals every day.

Purchase half-price tickets to this event.

Start Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020 End Date: Friday, August 28, 2020 Time: varies by date Location: American Walks – Daley Center – SE corner of Clark & Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60612 Cost: $25 (Ticketing processing fees apply.)

Additional dates and times may be available. Times and prices vary by date. Please view ticketing page for details. * Exact meetup location is confirmed when reservations are made. *

The pedway connects many of Chicago’s beloved landmarks, like Macy’s (Marshall Field’s), The Thompson Center, Block 37, The Daley Center, Millennium Park, City Hall and many more. Miles of new tunnels have been opened, with miles more in the works. Come explore the underground tunnels while sampling food at some of the unique restaurants, cafes and shops the pedway has to offer. You’ll sample artisan grilled cheese sandwiches, frozen kefir, traditional Thai cuisine, Garrett’s popcorn (a treat bag of their famous “Garrett’s Mix”), a wine tasting at Macy’s wine shop (Friday tours only) and a stop at Macy’s Candy Kitchen. The tour stops by the unexpected underground American Victorian stained glass art exhibit and ends in the Chicago Cultural Center, home to the world’s largest Tiffany dome glass ceiling. Give yourself some extra time after the tour – which is updated for winter to keep you inside and warm – to take in one or all of the Cultural Center’s free art exhibits. Note that meeting locations change frequently and you will be given the correct meeting location after you book a specific date.

More half-price, discount and pre-sale theater tickets, comedy, musicals and more.

Discount Parking: StyleChicago.com recommends booking convenient & affordable parking in advance through SpotHero , the nation?s leading parking reservation app & website.

More fun things to do in Chicago * StyleChicago.com’s 13th annual Resolutions 2020 at the W Chicago – City Center * Chicago Artisan Market – Sun, March 8th at Morgan MFG

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Chicago Pedway Tour

108 N. State St. , Chicago, IL 60602

Tour Operators

The Pedway is the unsung hero of Chicago - an all-indoor series of hallways and walkways that keep Chicagoans warm (and cool!) and dry.

When we start to dig into the Pedway and examine it – it reveals itself to be a fascinating study. This tour studies the Pedway, the history of it and how to use it, but you also get really great insight into the city. We talk about everything on this tour - Chicago history, architecture, culture - the Pedway encompasses all of those topics! This is not a well-known part of the city, a mystery to even the most seasoned natives! By the time we're finished, you'll know more than most of the city does about this unsung hero. 

All tours are $26.00. 

Monday/Thursday at 10:30AM 

Start: The Thompson Center - 100 W. Randolph

Saturdays at 10:30AM & 1:00PM

Start: Fairmont Hotel 200 N. Columbus

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Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age

Learn about the great architectural landmarks of Michigan Avenue and State Street. The 40 years between 1890 and 1930 saw the creation of some of Chicago’s the most memorable buildings, many of which are featured on this tour.

Discover a living urban canvas along the Wabash Avenue Arts Corridor in the South Loop. Learn more about the murals that make up this colorful corridor and discover art in hidden places.

Tiffany in Chicago

Learn about the life and work of Louis Comfort Tiffany as we visit some of Chicago’s most magnificent art-glass and mosaic installations, each designed and crafted by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.

Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous buildings, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis (Sears) Tower, and more!

Architecture of the Magnificent Mile

Discover how a dirt road known as Pine Street transformed into a "Paris on the Prairie" and later into the Magnificent Mile, the city’s premier shopping district. Hear the secrets and stories behind the striking buildings on North Michigan Avenue that…

Over the course of 90 minutes, explore some of the newest buildings around the Chicago Architecture Center, focusing on construction elements and their impact on the city’s built environment.

Previously titled Mid-Century Modern Skyscrapers, this tour takes a look at iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture in Chicago and its triumvirate of modern architects (Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and SOM)

Humboldt Park

Walk the historic core in the largest of Chicago’s West Side parks, created by many including William LeBaron Jenney and Jens Jensen. Discover architecture and sculpture that honor many of the immigrant groups that have created our city. Our walk partner…

Historic Austin

Explore the architectural gems of Austin, a former “railroad suburb” on Chicago’s West side. Annexed in 1899, Austin became the home of numerous immigrant communities and remains a hub for many grand residences built in the fashionable Queen Anne…

Walk Kenilworth's leafy streets, learn the history of the village, view its earliest houses and see other fine examples of residential architecture that were designed between 1891 and the mid-1920s by distinguished Chicago architects.

This lively overview of Chicago architecture explores iconic buildings from the 1890s to present. We'll compare and contrast a wide range of buildings with varying architectural styles and see how older structures connect to new skyline additions.

Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. View the exteriors of nearly a dozen of Wright’s structures.

Discover the art, architecture and history of Chinatown on this 90-minute walk, which includes stops at a Chinese bakery and a former Italian church. The tour begins and ends near some of Chinatown's tastiest restaurants, convenient for those wanting…

Discover Northwestern University’s stunning, wooded campus on the shore of Lake Michigan. This two-hour walking tour explores a wide variety of architectural styles, from 19th Century Collegiate Gothic buildings to cutting-edge, contemporary designs…

Learn about The 606/Bloomingdale Trail and how it came to be during this 90-minute, one-mile walking tour along the beautifully restored Bloomingdale railroad viaduct on Chicago’s northwest side.

Discover the fascinating 150-year evolution of the Fulton-Randolph Market District from food wholesaling and meatpacking to gourmet restaurants, technology hubs and boutique hotels.

Lights, Camera, Architecture!

Chicago’s unique architecture has co-starred in movies with Ferris Bueller, Batman and the Blues Brothers, among other famous big screen characters. See some of the buildings featured in these films and more!

Hear the history of this stately neighborhood, home to Chicago’s early industrialists, modern-day innovators and President Barack Obama.

Walk Pilsen

Discover Pilsen, a neighborhood that continues to welcome immigrants, adding to the mosaic that enriches urban life. Walk a vibrant community whose architecture and art reflect the dreams of all who come to Chicago. Trace European and Mexican influences…

Discover Uptown—a treasure trove of terra cotta ornament and creatively repurposed historic buildings; home to entertainment palaces like the Riviera, Green Mill and the Aragon Ballroom; and one of the most diverse neighborhoods on the North Side.

Evanston Along the Lake

This walk through Evanston's Lakeshore Historic District explores a variety of churches and residences in the town that became Daniel Burnham's "country retreat" and which is still considered one of Chicago's most desirable suburbs.

In addition to being the site of the 1893 World’s Fair, Hyde Park is also home to the University of Chicago and many significant buildings, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Robie House.

Gold Coast: Astor Street

Discover the architectural treasures of the Astor Street Historic District, one of Chicago's most affluent neighborhoods. The tour covers residential architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and looks at the preservation movement of the…

Gold Coast: Dearborn Street

See beautifully preserved examples of domestic architecture of the early 1900s in this delightful walk along three blocks of Dearborn Street in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast.

Take a short walk to see the Lakeshore East neighborhood, featuring two notable buildings designed by the woman-led Studio Gang Architects: Aqua Tower and the St. Regis Chicago.

Mies and Modernism: The IIT Campus Tour

The Illinois Institute of Technology is home to the largest group of buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe—the most influential figure in American Modernism. This tour traces the evolution of the campus with a special emphasis on the years 1938—1958—the…

Wicker Park

Learn the history of this Northwest Side classic Chicago neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Developed by numerous immigrant communities beginning in the 1870s, today it is a diverse mix of economic levels and architectural…

Grant Park’s landscape is both front yard and recreation spot for Chicago. But did you know that the area was once under water? Or that at one time it housed an airfield, a major league sports team and the tomb of a Civil War hero? Join us as we unlock…

Understand how the unique Chicago-style bascule bridges work. View the underpinnings of the bridges, as the tour follows the bridge lifts of three of the Chicago River’s most famous bridges, including Michigan Avenue’s DuSable Bridge, Columbus Drive’s…

Hear the stories behind the people buried at the beautiful and tranquil Oak Woods Cemetery on Chicago’s South Side, from important local African Americans who fought for Civil Rights to Confederate prisoners of war.

Civil War and Chicago's Role: Rosehill Cemetery

Hear the stories of the heroes, villains and ordinary citizens on this visit to Rosehill Cemetery. Learn about the people who were instrumental in the nomination of Lincoln, discover the role of newspaper editors in this struggle and those who were involved…

Explore Chicago’s amazing architecture from the unique perspective of elevated trains and station platforms. Learn the history behind the famous "L" system and hear how it has shaped the development of buildings within the Loop.

875 N. Michigan Ave (John Hancock Center)

Completed in 1970, 875 N. Michigan Ave (John Hancock Center) dominates the northern end of Chicago’s skyline. On this tour, you'll learn how the building forever changed the character of North Michigan Avenue.

Architectural Highlights by Bus

Discover the exciting diversity of Chicago’s world famous architecture as we trace its development from the early days up to the present.

Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during the business boom of the Roaring '20s. Learn how Art Deco reflected the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornament.

Beverly (South): A Castle, Mansions and More

Tour one of Chicago’s most fascinating neighborhoods, Beverly. Explore two houses built just after the Great Fire of 1871, a Frank Lloyd Wright home and a true Chicago castle. This tour showcases part of Chicago’s Longwood Drive Landmark District…

Bohemian National Cemetery

Discover a wealth of stories told in stone and bronze at Bohemian National Cemetery. Since 1877, Bohemian National has remained the cemetery of choice for Chicago’s Bohemian and Czech immigrant communities. In this beautiful space, immigrants have vividly…

Chicago Board of Trade Building

The Chicago Board of Trade is a Loop icon and City of Chicago and US National Historic Landmark that anchors La Salle Street, described in the building's opening brochure as the 'monarch' of the street, still standing tall and proud. We’ll see newly…

Devil in the White City

History buffs and true crime lovers, rejoice! This bus tour delves into the compelling true story told in Erik Larson’s best-selling novel, “Devil in the White City.” The story traverses two simultaneous events in Chicago’s history: the World’s…

Fine Arts Building

Discover living proof of the Fine Arts Building’s motto “All Passes – Art Alone Endures” while learning the stories behind this Chicago landmark, which has remained a hub of creativity for over 125 years.

Fort Sheridan

Discover the history and architecture of Fort Sheridan, a former military base listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Frank Lloyd Wright by Bus

Discover the neighborhood where Wright's famed Prairie Style of architecture evolved. The tour includes bus transportation to and from Oak Park with commentary, a one-hour interior tour of Wright’s Home and Studio and a walking tour of the Frank Lloyd…

French Language (Langue Française): Les Incontournables

Cette visite vous propose un aperçu complet de l’architecture de Chicago, de ses bâtiments les plus connus et admirés, ainsi que la collection de nombreuses œuvres d’art dans le centre de la ville.

GRACELAND CEMETERY

Beautiful and serene, Graceland Cemetery is a treasured oasis in the center of our bustling city. Notables interred here are Chicago's movers and shakers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Daniel Burnham, Potter Palmer, Charles Wacker, George…

Graceland Cemetery: Symbols in Stone

As we explore a venerable section of Graceland Cemetery, we’ll discuss the meanings of and changes to gravestone symbols and shapes, from Victorian times to the present day.

Graceland Cemetery: Women of Influence

During Chicago’s period of growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women played a hugely influential role by participating in the Underground Railroad, exhibiting the first Modern Art paintings, creating the juvenile justice system and even…

Highland Park

This tour traces Highland Park’s history from pioneer settlement to summer retreat for Chicago’s wealthy to year-round suburb. Encounter a beautiful variety of residential styles and see homes by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and W. W. Boyington…

Hotel Boom: Making Old New Again

Chicago’s growth as a favorite travel destination has fueled a surge in the creative repurposing of historic skyscrapers into chic new hotels. Learn how and why a former motor club, insurance company and bank have undergone this change

Inland Steel Building

As the first skyscraper built within the Loop after World War II, the Inland Steel Building became an instant symbol of Chicago’s prominence as a modern American city in the 20th century.

Explore the fascinating history reflected in the unique designs of the North Shore suburb of Lake Bluff. Trace the history from the formation of the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association, and their plans for a resort similar to the Chautauqua movement,…

Lake Forest Cemetery

Experience the Lake Forest Cemetery's park-like setting overlooking Lake Michigan in one of Chicago's most beautiful premier suburbs. Hear stories of Lake Forest's founding and those who made their mark from Civil War to modern times.

Lincoln Park: From Cemetery to Sculpture Garden

Take a pleasant walk through Chicago’s beautiful Lincoln Park—a former lakeside cemetery turned recreation destination. Hear about the park’s history, learn the stories behind famous sculptures and enjoy a stroll through the park’s beloved zoo…

Macy's on State: The Legacy of Marshall Field's

Explore the construction, development and renovation of this State Street landmark by Daniel Burnham.

Marquette Building

Completed in 1895, the Marquette Building brings Chicago’s early history to life in an artistic and elegant setting. Examine the innovative exterior and get an up-close view of the beautiful interior.

Merchandise Mart

Once the largest building in the world, the Merchandise Mart remains a center for commercial and residential design. This massive structure has kept up with the times and is now recognized as a key Chicago hub for technological innovation.

Monadnock Building

Tour the world’s tallest commercial building with load-bearing masonry walls and learn how the transition from masonry to steel frame skyscrapers transformed the workplace.

Old Town Triangle

No other Chicago neighborhood is like Old Town. Tucked behind high-rises and moments from the vast green space of Lincoln Park, this landmark district has a unique history and diversity. Today diversity adds richness to Old Town from St. Michael's Church—considered…

Take a trip back into the Golden Age of the automobile when all your automotive needs could be found in what remains the most intact historic automotive mall in the United States. The Landmark Motor Row Historic District contains more than 50 buildings…

Palmer House Hotel

Experience the glamour, intrigue and excitement of the bygone "Grand Hotel" era at the Palmer House. See recently restored public spaces and renovated guest rooms while learning about the history of Chicago’s oldest continually operating hotel.

Pub Tour: Andersonville

Experience the Swedish influences of Andersonville a historically landmarked neighborhood settled in the 1850's. Join us in seeing architecture taken to new uses and now operate as churches, restaurants and schools with Scandinavian inspiration. Get…

Pub Tour: Near North

Explore the variety of living spaces in the Near North neighborhood, part of River North. High rise living among micro-unit apartments interspersed with various hotels broaden the idea of working from home. Historically a destination for Italian immigrants…

Pub Tour: West Loop

Combining post-Chicago fire buildings with the recent influx of residents and company headquarters locations, see how buildings in the West Loop have adapted to spaces for families to live, work and play. Stroll by an abundance of cutting-edge dining…

Reliance Building

Marvel at the original marble, mahogany doors and decorative wrought iron found throughout the two lobbies and uppermost floors of this 1895 building, designed by John Wellborn Root and Charles Atwood.

River North: Transformation of a Neighborhood

See historic gems in this former center of manufacturing and explore its boom-and-bust transformation into a vibrant neighborhood buzzing with residential buildings, entertainment venues and office towers. Steeped in history and character, River North…

This tour helps you discover the western portion of the Riverwalk, starting at the Vietnam Memorial near State Street. As we walk to Lake Street, hear how this linear park—called Chicago’s new coastline by some—has become a magnet for outdoor recreation…

Rookery Building

Explore the interior and exterior of one of Chicago’s most famous and beloved historic buildings: The Rookery by Daniel Burnham and John Wellborn Root.

Sacred Spaces in Downtown Chicago

Chicago's downtown is home to a number of striking and architecturally significant houses of worship. Visit several of these sites, including "the tallest church in the world"—a skyscraper with offices, designed for worship and work.

Sheffield Historic District

Historic Sheffield is long considered a gem of late 19th century architecture, its streets lined with gorgeous homes from that era and beyond. Also noteworthy are the three Row House Districts from the 1870s and ’80s, each of them landmarked by the…

The Old Post Office

Explore the new Old Post Office Building, whose early 20th-century design has been adaptively reused into a beautiful, modern Class A Office building.

University of Chicago

Come explore the early Collegiate Gothic roots of the university campus in the original quadrangles, the “march of mid-century modernism” along the Midway and the recent, breath-taking architectural additions such as the Helmut Jahn’s Mansueto Library…

Union Station: Icon of a Great Age

Union Station is one of the last grand train stations still operating in the U.S. and the only one in Chicago, serving both Amtrak and Metra commuter rail. Take in the elaborate details of this historic landmark, including the stunning Great Hall, which…

Columbia College Student Center

This Gold LEED certified building, with myriad sustainable features throughout, includes recyclable materials, glass that protects against birds flying into the building, noise cancelling walls for music practitioners and low-carbon concrete.

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Chicago Architecture Walking Tour: The Underground Pedway & Secrets Of The Loop

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Underground Tours That You Didn't Know Were Right Under Your Feet

Posted: May 26, 2024 | Last updated: May 26, 2024

Life Below Ground

Some of the coolest spots you’ve never heard of may lie right beneath your feet. From one-of-a-kind caves to commuter walkways to “underground cities” from the early 1900s, there are many places to find adventure below ground. Some of these are free to explore, while other sites collect an entrance fee. Have you been to one of these fascinating subterranean spaces? Please share your experience in the comments.

Chicago Pedway

Chicago can swing between oppressively hot and brutally cold, but the city’s underground Pedway takes the pain out of the weather for pedestrians. About 5 miles of hallways connect buildings and train stations in a 40-plus-block area of the central business district. It’s free to walk through. 

Underground Atlanta

Atlanta boasts its own “ city beneath the streets ” in the Five Points neighborhood. Stretching over the equivalent of six city blocks, the area encompasses three underground levels filled with shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. There’s even an Art Walk showcasing six artist galleries and weekly immersive art activations.

Wabasha Street Caves

St. Paul, Minnesota

These sandstone caves , carved out during the mid-1800s, are accessible from downtown St. Paul. Once upon a time, they were the scene of mobster meet-ups and housed speakeasies, but these days, the caves are the setting for tours and select nights of live, big-band music. The caves can be toured for $11.

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Seattle Underground

The Great Seattle Fire destroyed 31 downtown blocks of walkways and basements in the mid-19th century. After the streets were elevated, the network of abandoned underground spaces became a historic attraction. Touring the area costs $22, but Google reviews give the tour — especially the entertaining guides — high marks. 

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Cumberland Caverns

McMinnville, Tennessee

With 32 miles of caves and underground passageways, this national natural landmark  is one of the longest caves in America. Besides being a site for tours and exploration, the caves are also the venue for Bluegrass Underground, a musical performance broadcast regularly on PBS. Tours are separated into three different categories, sorted by difficulty, and prices vary between the options. For the "easy" tour, visitors ages 13 and up can expect to pay $27 for the experience. 

Buffalo Bayou Cistern

A drinking-water reservoir built in 1926 for the city of Houston, this underground marvel has been repurposed as a public space that will house temporary art installations. Tour prices start at $8 for adults. Children under 9 are not allowed, and advance reservations are required. 

Related:   Free Walking Tours From Across the U.S.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

This national park in central Kentucky is the longest known cave system in the world. To date, 400 miles of the caves have been explored. Prices vary depending on the tour but are as low as $8 for adults.

Ape Cave Lava Tube

Mount St. Helens, Washington

Ape Cave Lava Tube , located on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is the longest continuous lava tube in the continental United States. It’s also a popular hiking destination. The cave is free to visit, but daily parking costs $5.

Port Angeles Underground

Port Angeles, Washington

Downtown Port Angeles had a problem with constant flooding and high tides in the early 1900s. The streets were raised in 1914, leaving a network of underground tunnels that visitors can explore. Tours cost $15 for adults, and less for seniors, students, and children.

Niagara Cave

Harmony, Minnesota

Niagara Cave is a geological wonder. Along the route of the 1-mile tour, visitors pass an underground waterfall, view ancient fossils and passageways created by an underground stream, and stop at a chapel where scores of couples have married. Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 3 to 12.

Old Sacramento Underground

Sacramento, California

The city of Sacramento is yet another community lifted above floodwaters during the latter half of the 19th century, leaving behind underground spaces. Adults can tour the historical remnants with a guide for $22 ($15 for kids).  

Havre Beneath the Streets

Havre, Montana

Fire destroyed the business district of Havre in 1904. While the town rebuilt, business owners moved underground, creating a city beneath the streets. Visitors can tour spaces once used as saloons, markets, and even a bordello. Adults pay $17; tours cost less for seniors and children.

Underground Eureka Springs

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Underground Eureka is the result of road improvements to the downtown area that required businesses to create new entrances on their second floors. The original entrances were walled off, leading to a series of basement passageways . A tour is required for viewing, and adult tickets cost $17.50; children under 12 enter free.

Moaning Cavern

Vallecito, California

Moaning Cavern is so deep that the entire Statue of Liberty could stand inside. While visitors can rappel into the cave, the cheapest (and least daring) option is a family-friendly walking tour , priced at $22 for adults and $16 for children ages 3 to 11.

Indianapolis City Market Catacombs

Indianapolis City Market sits atop a hidden network of brick catacombs . The space was originally part of Tomlinson Hall, a large building that seated 3,500 people until it burned down in 1958. The basement of arches was left behind, and now visitors ages 12 and up can tour the space for $12. The fee for 6- to 11-year-olds is $6.

SubTropolis

Kansas City, Missouri SubTropolis is a giant underground business complex built in an excavated mine with limestone walls. About 1,000 people toil here every day in enterprises ranging from specialty food packaging to cloud computing to storage for postage stamps.

Ellinwood Underground

Ellinwood, Kansas The city of Ellinwood features a well-preserved underground space from the 1800s that once housed saloons, a barbershop, and a bathhouse — basically everything a cowboy would need. Visitors can still see some of the original items, such as the barbershop’s wallpaper and flooring. Tours are $6 for adults.

Grants, New Mexico

Visit the Ice Cave  to see natural layers of crystal-clear ice that accumulate year-round in a collapsed lava tube. General admission for a guided tour is $12 for adults and $6 for kids. Visitors may want to bring a jacket; the ambient temperature in the one-room cave is below freezing. 

The Mystery Hole

Ansted, West Virginia

If you want to try defying gravity, look no further than the Mystery Hole . The tourist trap is a series of underground rooms with walls and floors built on various angles to make visitors feel like there's something wonky with the gravity. Adults pay $10 for guided tours ($8 for ages 3 to 11) and no infants are allowed.

Related:   Weird Tourist Attractions Across America

Florida Caverns State Park

Marianna, Florida

Stalactites and stalagmites abound in the depths of Florida Caverns . Visitors can explore the limestone underground cave system that is amplified with a new LED lighting system for a truly colorful experience. Tours cost $10.75 for ages 13 and up; $5 for ages 3 to 12.

Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad, New Mexico

As far as underground caverns go, the Carlsbad Caverns are a must-see — and visitors only have to pay $15 to tour them. Located in Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico, the caverns are in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, which is home to more than 100 limestone caves that are known as some of the most incredible, beautiful environments in the country.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

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