Best Al Capone Tours in Chicago

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 am 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 large number of sites that were very important during the Prohibition era.

Of all the gangsters who have ever lived, the one who has had the greatest impact on the popular imagination is undoubtedly Al Capone. Synonymous with the mafia and organised crime, Al Capone, along with John Dillinger, public enemy number 1, have left their mark on the city of Chicago and the world. Today, you have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the sites where they had their most famous encounters with the police. Enjoy this tour of the best of the Chicago mafia!

The best option

Chicago Mob and Crime Bus Tour

Following in Al Capone's footsteps through the streets of Chicago

Discover the most iconic locations of organised crime on a bus tour of Chicago's historic mafia haunts.

From £38 at Hellotickets

With this bus tour through the history of the mafia, you can travel the streets where Al Capone and his criminal network left their mark. Over the course of two hours, you'll visit real organised crime scenes, accompanied by an expert local guide who will tell you all about Capone, the Untouchables, Frank Nitti and other key figures.

The tour includes places such as Holy Name Cathedral, the Biograph Theatre, the Streeterville neighbourhood and the Gold Coast, with stops to walk around and explore. An ideal experience if you are interested in the city's dark past.

Recommended if... you want to learn about the history of the Chicago mafia through its real-life settings and with an immersive narrative approach.

The night-time experience

Chicago Mob and Crime Night Bus Tour

Discover the darkest side of Chicago after dark

Explore the secrets of the mafia on this night-time bus tour with key stops and fascinating stories about Al Capone and other famous gangsters.

From £44 at Hellotickets

This night tour of Chicago's criminal history is perfect for those who want to delve into the legacy of the mafia under the city lights. For about two and a half hours, you'll travel by bus to key locations associated with Al Capone, Frank Nitti, Bugs Moran and other protagonists of the crime era.

With stops to take photos and listen to stories in places such as Lincoln Park, North Avenue Beach and old speakeasies from the Prohibition era, you'll be totally immersed in Chicago's darkest history.

Recommended if... you prefer a night-time experience with atmosphere and shocking stories about crime and the mafia.

Enjoy a unique experience on this tour of the history of organised crime in the city of Chicago. You will be picked up from the comfort of your hotel or Airbnb and travel around the city in a luxury vehicle. Visit places such as Lincoln Park, Green Mill and The Loop. Accompanied by your expert guide on the history of the city, you will visit some of the speakeasies that Al Capone's gang ran during Prohibition.

The Loop and the Biograph Theatre

At The Loop, you can enjoy hundreds of old news images of Dillinger and Capone, a real trip back in time, where you will understand why these two gangsters achieved worldwide fame. Your guide will tell you some incredible stories that will leave you speechless.

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 where Al Capone's car was riddled with bullets.

Holy Name Cathedral

You will visit some of the historic hotels where the mafia operated, along with Holy Name Cathedral, where you can still see bullet holes on the façade and entrance steps from the murder of Earl Weiss, nicknamed Little Hymie, one of Dean O'Banion's main allies, who considered him his right-hand man.

The Green Mill

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

Other attractions in Chicago

This is undoubtedly one of the best tours in Chicago and a unique opportunity to visit some of the city's most important landmarks, such as Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, a huge outdoor work of art. Your guide will also take you to 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 or refreshments 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 a thing. This tour is not recommended for very young children, but it is ideal for those over 10 years old, making it one of the 10 best things to do in Chicago with children.

The best option for booking an excursion or guided tour is always online. On the website, you can find the different options available for the tour you want to take, and you can also read comments from other people who have already had the experience, how well it went, whether the guides are worthwhile, and whether or not it is a recommended experience. If, on the other hand, you choose to book a tour on the street, you run the risk that the company providing it is not entirely reputable, or that what is offered is not as advertised.

Duration of the Al Capone tour in Chicago

This type of tour includes many places of interest, so it lasts approximately 3 hours. This is the time it will take from when you are picked up at the comfort of your hotel or Airbnb until your return. In any case, you will find that time flies by as you listen to stories about the Chicago mafia.

This type of tour offers a unique journey through Chicago's past and the most representative sites of the city's relationship with organised crime in general, and more specifically, with the history of one of the most famous mafia bosses: Al Capone. You will also visit some of the landmarks of modern-day Chicago, such as the imposing sculpture The Cloud in Millennium Park and the Willis Tower.

For this type of tour, where there is a lot of historical content, I recommend reading up on the subject beforehand so that you can recognise the places mentioned, thus enriching your experience.
Get your camera ready to take incredible photographs at some of the sites you will visit, which seem frozen in the 1920s.
Please note that the tour does not include any drinks or snacks, so you may want to bring something with you.

While you can study the subject and visit the places on your own, there is no doubt that having a specialised guide adds something extra to the experience. It's not just about visiting places, but about the background of each one. Taking a guided tour is always a good option, as it enriches the experience with stories that may not be found on the internet, stories that only a local would know, because they are part of the history and legacy of their city.