Chicago P.D. TV Show Set Tour

Lottie’s Pub is a real Chicago bar that doubles as a fictional hangout on Chicago P.D. That small screen-to-street twist sets the tone for this two-hour tour: you’ll visit recognizable show locations while getting a quick look at the city around them.

I like the door-to-door pickup, which saves you from planning a route between scattered stops, and the mix of TV sites and city sights, including Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. A guide drives, so you can focus on the locations instead of traffic and parking.

The main consideration is the pace. With several stops packed into about two hours, this is a brisk overview, not a long visit at each location. It is best for fans who want to see the exteriors and hear filming context, rather than anyone expecting access to working police or fire facilities.

• Lottie’s Pub is real: The bar appears as a fictional place on Chicago P.D., and the tour gives you a short stop outside.
• Firehouse 51 is an exterior visit: You’ll see the Engine 18 location used for the firehouse on Chicago Fire.
• District 21 is a filming location: The UIC police headquarters is where scenes for the show’s police department are filmed.
• The city gets screen time, too: Stops include Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center, not just TV locations.
• Pickup is included nearby: Your hotel or other pickup point must be within five miles of downtown Chicago.

From Lottie’s Pub to the city on screen

This is a driving tour for people who recognize Chicago through its TV shows, but it is not limited to fans with a photographic memory of every scene. You’ll see several locations tied to Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, with the guide adding context about filming as you move through the city.

The first stop, Lottie’s Pub, is a useful example of how the tour works. On screen, it serves as a fictional bar; in real life, it is a Chicago pub. You have about 10 minutes here, enough for a look and a photo, but not a meal or a long pub visit.

That distinction matters. You are seeing places used as settings, not walking through a studio set. The experience is strongest when you enjoy connecting a familiar TV image to an actual city address, and when you are happy with exterior visits rather than access to private interiors.

The tour is run by Deenil Experiences and includes a driving guide, private transportation and bottled water. It is offered in English. No guide names are provided, so you should not expect to request a particular guide based on the information available.

Firehouse 51 and District 21

The Engine 18 Chicago Fire stop is the longest scheduled visit, at about 30 minutes. This is the exterior location associated with Firehouse 51, the home base of the firefighters and paramedics on Chicago Fire. If you follow both Chicago shows, this is likely to be one of the most satisfying stops because it connects the two series in one real place.

Keep expectations practical: the tour describes an exterior visit, not entry into the firehouse. The show’s version of a working fire station and the real building are not the same thing, and this is not a chance to meet firefighters or watch emergency crews at work.

Next comes District 21, the UIC police headquarters where the show’s police department scenes are filmed. You’ll have about 10 minutes here. It is a quick stop, but a meaningful one for fans who want to identify the real location behind the show’s police station scenes.

The Chicago Fire Academy is another exterior photo stop, scheduled for about 10 minutes. The building is where firefighters train, but it is not open to the public for tours. Think of this as a look from outside, not a facility visit. The tour’s disclaimer also makes clear that it is independently operated and has no affiliation with the Chicago Fire Department.

Taken together, these stops give you a solid sense of how the shows use real city buildings. They also set a clear limit on the experience: you are visiting filming locations, not entering active public-safety workplaces.

Museum Campus and Columbus Drive Bridge

At Museum Campus, the tour drives by an area used for tense moments in the show. The stop is also valued for city skyline views and photo opportunities. The itinerary allows about 10 minutes, so it is a brief scenic pause rather than a museum visit.

That difference can be useful when you are planning your day. You get a city view without committing to a full museum or campus outing, but you should not expect time to explore the museums themselves. If you want to visit one, plan a separate block of time.

The route also includes a drive to Columbus Drive Bridge, dedicated to police officer William P. Fahey. No separate stop duration is listed for the bridge, so treat it as a route-side point of interest rather than a guaranteed long photo break. It adds a real-world detail to a tour centered on a fictional police drama.

Millennium Park and the Cultural Center

Millennium Park is the longest stop after the firehouse, with about 20 minutes to see Cloud Gate, better known as The Bean, and take in city views. This is a familiar Chicago landmark, but it gives the tour a welcome change of pace from tracking down TV locations. You can stretch your legs, take photos and enjoy one of the city’s most recognizable public spaces.

Twenty minutes is enough for a look at The Bean and a short walk nearby, but not enough to see every corner of the park. If Millennium Park is high on your list, you may want to return later and explore at your own pace. The tour’s value here is that it folds a major city sight into a TV-focused outing without asking you to arrange another transfer.

The final listed stop is the Chicago Cultural Center, with about 10 minutes for a tour of the building. It is known for its architecture and the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome. Even a brief visit can give you a strong reason to look up and appreciate a landmark beyond the TV series.

This stop also broadens the tour’s appeal. A companion who is less interested in Chicago P.D. still gets a taste of the city’s public architecture, while fans get one more memorable setting in the day’s route.

What the two-hour format really means

The tour lasts about two hours, and the listed stop times add up to roughly 100 minutes, before accounting for driving between locations. That leaves a compact schedule with several short visits. You’ll see a lot in a limited window, but you will need to keep moving.

That format works well if you have a tight itinerary or want a guided introduction to locations spread around Chicago. It is less suitable if you prefer to linger, browse shops, sit down for a drink or spend an hour at each landmark. The guide’s driving commentary is part of the experience, and the time in the vehicle helps connect the stops.

The group is capped at six people, though groups may be combined with another small group. The listed price is $315 per group of up to three. Since the booking information also allows a maximum of six people, check the price for your exact group size before confirming rather than assuming the same rate covers everyone.

For a couple or a party of three, $315 works out to $105 per person before gratuity. That is a meaningful expense for a two-hour tour, but the price includes private transportation, a driving guide, bottled water and pickup and return within five miles of downtown. The value depends on what you would otherwise spend in time and effort getting between the locations, and how much the show connection matters to you.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with bookings averaging 54 days in advance. That is a useful signal to plan early if your dates are fixed, especially if you want a private outing for your own small group.

Pickup, food and other practical details

Free pickup and return are offered at a hotel or other location within five miles of the center of downtown Chicago. You need to communicate your pickup location ahead of time. This makes the tour easier to fit into a city stay, but do not assume a location outside the stated radius is included.

Private transportation is provided, though the tour can combine your party with another small group. All participants must be able to get in and out of the vehicle by themselves. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

Bottled water is included. Food is not, though you can be taken to a Chicago-style popcorn, hot dog or doughnut stop. The information does not specify which food stop you will visit or how much time you will have there, so treat it as an option to ask about, not a meal built into the tour.

The activity has a five-star rating, with 16 reviews and a recommendation rate of 100 percent. One particularly enthusiastic account came from someone whose husband was a Chicago P.D. fan and loved the chance to see places from the show. That praise points to the tour’s clearest strength: it gives fans a concrete way to connect the program with Chicago, rather than just another city drive.

The same fan-focused appeal is also a fair test of whether you should book. If nobody in your group follows the shows, the short exterior stops may not carry enough weight to justify the price. If one of you is a devoted fan, the locations can make the outing feel personal, while Millennium Park and the Cultural Center provide interest beyond the series.

Who should book the Chicago P.D. tour

I’d consider this tour a good fit for Chicago P.D. fans who want to see filming locations without researching addresses or managing city traffic. It is also a sensible choice for a small group that wants a guided overview with downtown pickup and a few major sights folded in.

It is less compelling if you want access inside a firehouse, police headquarters or the Fire Academy. Those are working or restricted locations, and the tour focuses on exteriors. It is also not the right choice if your priority is a leisurely city tour with long stops or a full meal.

Booking comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours beforehand are not refunded, and changes within that window are not accepted. The tour requires good weather; if poor weather forces cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Book it if seeing Chicago through the shows is the point of your visit, especially if you value having a guide handle the driving and route. If you are only mildly curious about Chicago P.D., you may get better value from spending those two hours exploring the city at your own pace.

FAQ

How long is the Chicago P.D. TV Show Set Tour?

The tour lasts about two hours. Stops are brief, with around 10 to 30 minutes at the locations where a duration is listed.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $315 per group of up to three. The booking information allows a maximum of six people, so check the price for your party size before booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return are included for hotels or other locations within five miles of downtown Chicago. You must communicate your pickup location ahead of time.

Can I go inside the Firehouse 51 location or the Fire Academy?

The tour visits the Engine 18 exterior associated with Firehouse 51. The Fire Academy is also an exterior stop and is not open to the public for tours.

Is food included?

No. Bottled water is included, but food is not. The tour can take you to a Chicago-style popcorn, hot dog or doughnut stop.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour allows a maximum of six people and a minimum of one. Your small group may be combined with another small group.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and poor-weather cancellations come with the option of another date or a full refund.