Best Al Capone Tours in Chicago

Visit Chicago and immerse yourself in the world of the underworld, speakeasies and more, in this, the city that immortalised one of the most important figures of the mafia: Al Capone.

Nicolas Reffray

Nicolas Reffray

6 min read

Best Al Capone Tours in Chicago

Casa color naranja | ©Rick Donaldson

There are many things to see and do in Chicago, but without a doubt, your visit would not be complete without a tour of its darker past. I'm referring of course to its relationship with the world of the mafia. With incredible stories, places that have remained intact since the 1920s, and a great number of places that have been very important during the Prohibition era.

Of all the gangsters that have been known, the one that has been most deeply rooted in the popular imagination is undoubtedly Al Capone. Synonymous with the Mafia and organised crime, Al Capone, along with John Dillinger, public enemy number one, have left their mark on the city of Chicago and the world. Today you have the chance to take a guided tour of the places where they had their most famous encounters with the police. Enjoy this tour through the best of the Chicago Mafia!

Private tour of the fascinating world of Al Capone in Chicago

green bar entrance| ©Stephanie Barto
green bar entrance| ©Stephanie Barto

Live a unique experience on this tour through the history of organised crime in the city of Chicago. You'll be picked up from the comfort of your hotel or Airbnb, and travel in a luxury vehicle throughout the city. Tour places like Lincoln Park, Green Mill and The Loop. With your knowledgeable guide and history buff, you'll visit some of the speakeasies that Al Capone's group ran during the Prohibition era.

The Loop and the Biograph Theatre

At The Loop you can enjoy the hundreds of old newsreel footage of Dillinger and Capone, a real trip back in time, where you will understand why these two gangsters made their names around the world. Your guide will tell you some incredible stories that will leave you open-mouthed.

This tour will take you to the Biograph Theatre, now renamed Victory Gardens, where John Dillinger was shot by the police, as well as the site of Al Capone's car being showered with bullets.

Holy Name Cathedral

You will see some of the historic hotels where the Mafia operated, along with the Holy Name Cathedral, where even today you can still see the marks of the shootings on its façade and on the steps of the entrance, the result of the murder of Earl Weiss, nicknamed Little Hymie, one of the main allies of Dean O'Banion, who considered him his right-hand man.

The Green Mill

At the Green Mill, the club that Al Capone used to frequent, you can even sit at the table reserved just for him. Today the club is one of the city's most iconic jazz clubs. Feel like a mob boss as your eyes wander around the same places Al used to see.

Other Chicago attractions

This is undoubtedly one of the best tours of Chicago, and a unique opportunity to visit some of the city's most important landmarks, such as the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, a huge open-air work of art. You will also walk with your guide past the Willis Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the western hemisphere, standing at no less than 442 metres high.

The tour does not include drinks and snacks and lasts approximately 3 hours. Once the tour is over, you will be taken back to your hotel, so you don't have to worry about anything. This tour is not recommended for very young children, but is ideal for those over 10 years old, making it one of the top 10 things to do in Chicago with kids.

Book an Al Capone tour in Chicago

How to book an Al Capone tour in Chicago

hands playing white keyboards| © Damian Zaleski
hands playing white keyboards| © Damian Zaleski

The best way to book a guided tour or excursion is always online. On the web you can find the different options available for the tour you want to take, and you can also read reviews from other people who have already had the experience, and how well it went, if the guides are worth it, if it is a recommendable experience or not. If, on the other hand, you choose to hire a tour on the street, you run the risk that the company providing the tour may not be entirely reliable, or that what is offered is not what you are told it is.

Duration of the Al Capone Tour in Chicago

moving train| ©Sawyer Bengtson
moving train| ©Sawyer Bengtson

This type of tour includes many sites of interest, so the duration of the tour is approximately 3 hours. This is the time it will take you from the time you are picked up from the comfort of your hotel or Airbnb to your return. Either way, you'll find the time flies by as you listen to the stories of the Chicago mob.

What will I see on this type of tour?

view of the city| ©Seán Murray
view of the city| ©Seán Murray

This type of tour offers a unique glimpse into Chicago's past and the most representative sites of the city's relationship with organised crime in general, and in more detail, with the history of one of the most famous Mafia bosses: Al Capone. In addition, you can visit some of the landmarks of modern-day Chicago, such as the imposing sculpture The Cloud in Millennium Park or the Willis Tower.

Tips for an Al Capone tour in Chicago

two men in front of the lake| ©Seán Murray
two men in front of the lake| ©Seán Murray

For this type of tour, where there is a lot of historical content, I recommend that you read up on the subject beforehand so that you can recognise the places that are mentioned, thus adding to the richness of the tour.Get your camera ready to take amazing pictures at some of the sites you will visit, which seem to be set in the 1920's. Please note that the tour does not include any drinks or snacks, so you may want to bring something in your bag.

Book an Al Capone tour in Chicago

How much does an Al Capone tour in Chicago cost?

hand holding 100 dollar note| © Andres Perez
hand holding 100 dollar note| © Andres Perez

This type of tour is around 895 euros per person, as it includes a very complete tour, an expert guide, pick up and drop off at your accommodation and travel aboard a very comfortable luxury vehicle.

Why is it advisable to take an Al Capone tour in Chicago?

Cyrus Tang Hall of China| ©Morgan A
Cyrus Tang Hall of China| ©Morgan A

Chicago is famous for many things, from its basketball team to its museums to its irreverent and daring architecture, but the city has undoubtedly become associated in the popular imagination with the world of the Mafia. While Chicago today is a safe city, the stories of John Dillinger's big robberies or Al Capone's shootings still lure you in. That's why a guided Al Capone tour is highly recommended, as you'll get to know that part of the city's past, plus it's a fun experience!

What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting Al Capone's haunts on my own?

people in a shop| ©Daniel Rangel
people in a shop| ©Daniel Rangel

While you can study up on the subject and visit the sites on your own, there is no doubt that having a specialist guide adds to the experience. It's not just about visiting places, but about the whole background of each place. Taking a guided tour is always a good option, as it enriches the tour with stories that may not circulate on the internet, stories that only a local knows, because they are part of the history and legacy of his city.

Book an Al Capone tour in Chicago