Top 8 Chicago Heritage Tours

1.Chicago’s Chinatown Food and Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 600 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79Our pick

Spend about three hours walking Chicago’s Chinatown with an English-speaking local guide and a small group of up to 15. The route pairs five restaurant and bakery tastings with stops at Chinatown Square, the Pui Tak Center and the Nine Dragon Wall. Come hungry: portions can add up to a full meal.

“What a great experience! I was able to taste food from different regions on China that are produced locally in the community as well as learning a bit about local Chicago history. The wonderful weather didn’t hurt at all. Highly recommend”

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2.African American Heritage Tour of Chicago

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 127 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

This four-hour Chicago tour travels through Bronzeville, Hyde Park, and South Shore in an air-conditioned vehicle, with commentary from local guide Steve. Expect stories about gospel, jazz, migration, and Black public figures, plus views of landmark homes and a planned soul food restaurant stop. Pickup options are available, including conditional airport pickup.

“The tour guide was excellent! He was passionate about the city of Chicago and wanted to share his excitement with us.”

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3.Taste of Chinatown Food and Cultural Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 97 reviews · 3 hours · from $84

Start at Phoenix Restaurant and follow a local guide through Chicago’s Chinatown, tasting dim sum, hand-pulled noodles, cumin lamb flatbread, chili chicken, and an egg tart. Along the way, learn about the Gateway Arch, Zodiac Plaza, Nine Dragon Wall, and Pui Tak Center. Guides including Jeff and York have led past tours, though your guide may vary.

“We really enjoyed our tour. Our guide Jeff was very knowledgeable and fun to be with. The food was very good and do much of it.”

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4.Chinatown Chicago: Dragon Kings Quest Outdoor Escape Game

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 48 minutes to 1 hour 18 minutes (approx.) · from $7

Follow a story-led route through 12 Chinatown stops using the Questo app. You’ll solve clues on your phone, from Chinatown Square Plaza to Ping Tom Memorial Park. It’s self-guided, available around the clock, and usually takes 48 minutes to 1 hour 18 minutes. No guide is included, so your group sets the pace.

“The directions at times were unclear. I feel like a more detailed map would have helped me to not get turned around a couple times. But the people in Chinatown extremely nice. So that helped balance the frustration at times.”

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5.Chicago Black History Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $5Best value

Join guide Gillian for a one-hour walking tour through Chicago’s South Side, linking Rainbow PUSH, homes connected to Elijah Muhammad and Muhammad Ali, and Barack Obama’s former home. The route ends near Harold’s Chicken in Hyde Park. Bottled water is included; food at Harold’s is extra.

“Had an amazing time on this Southside black history tour! Gillian, our guide, was so knowledgeable and really brought the stories to life. They made the tour feel personal and fun, while still packing it with history. The best part was seeing PresidRead more”

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6.2-Hour Chicago’s Chinatown History and Culture Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Spend two hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Chicago’s Chinatown, including Chinatown Square, the Pui-Tak Center, the Chinese-American Museum, the Nine Dragon Wall, and Ping Tom Memorial Park. The small-group walk is capped at 15 people and costs $30 per person, with a souvenir included.

“Very superficial walk through the town. Not much info about the lives of the people or how it was started.”

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7.Explore Black History on the Southside of Chicago

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $5

Join Gillian, a fifth-generation South Sider, for a roughly 2.5-hour walking tour from the DuSable Museum through Washington Park, Kenwood, and Bronzeville. Stops include the Obama home, Muhammad Ali’s former home, Operation PUSH, murals and street art, and the historic Blackstone library. The $5 tour does not include museum admission.

“This tour takes you through some amazing neighborhoods, but Kenwood is truly something special. The architecture there dates all the way back to the early 1900s, and you can really feel the history as you walk by the grand old homes anRead more”

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8.Black Heritage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $125

Follow the Great Migration route into Chicago with guide Steve, whose own life connects him to the city’s Black history. The four-hour tour visits Bronzeville and Pilgrim Baptist Church, passes the homes of Black artists and leaders, and makes room for photos, questions, and optional custom stops.

“Great tour! Steve was knowledgeable, flexible. Answered all of our questions.”

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