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 immortalized 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 mob. With incredible stories, places that have remained intact since the 1920s, and a lot of sites that have been very important in the era of Prohibition.

Of all the gangsters who have been known, the one who has penetrated deep into the popular imagination, is undoubtedly Al Capone. Synonymous with the Mafia and organized 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 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 organized crime in the city of Chicago. You'll be picked up in 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 guide who is a specialist in the history of the city, you can visit some of the speakeasies that Al Capone's group ran during the Prohibition era.

The Loop and the Biograph Theater

In The Loop you will enjoy the hundreds of old news footage of Dillinger and Capone, a real trip back in time, where you will understand why these two gangsters became famous 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 where Al Capone's car was 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 on its facade and on the steps of the entrance, the marks of the shootings, product of the murder of Earl Weiss, nicknamed Little Hymie, one of the main allies of Dean O'Banion, who considered him his right hand.

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 most representative jazz clubs in the city. Feel like a mob boss as your eyes roam the same places Al used to see.

Other Chicago attractions

Without a doubt, this is one of the best tours of Chicago, and a unique opportunity to visit some of the most important points of the city, such as the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, a huge outdoor work of art. You will also pass with your guide by the Willis Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the Western Hemisphere, at no less than 442 meters high.

The tour does not include drinks and snacks and lasts approximately 3 hours. Once the tour is over, you will be taken to your hotel, so you don't have to worry about anything. This tour is not recommended for very young children, but it 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 keyboard| © Damian Zaleski
hands playing white keyboard| © Damian Zaleski

Always the best option to book an excursion or guided tour is through the internet. On the web you can find the different options available for the tour you want to do, and you can also read the comments of other people who have already lived 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 risk that the company that provides the tour is not entirely reliable, or that what is offered is not what you are told.

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. That's how long it will take you from the time you are picked up from the comfort of your hotel or Airbnb to your return. Anyway, you'll find that 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 journey through the past of the city of Chicago and the most representative sites of the city's relationship with organized crime in general, and more in detail, with the history of one of the most famous mob bosses: Al Capone. In addition, you will be able to visit some landmarks of today's 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 the historical content is very large, I recommend that you read up on the subject beforehand, so you can then recognize the places that are mentioned, thus bringing more richness to the tour.Prepare your camera to take amazing pictures in some of the places you will visit, which seem to be stopped in the 1920's. Keep in mind 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 bill| © Andres Perez
hand holding 100 dollar bill| © Andres Perez

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

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 without a doubt, the city has become associated in the popular imagination with the world of the Mafia. Although today Chicago is an absolutely safe city, the stories of John Dillinger's big robberies or Al Capone's shootings continue to attract people. This is why taking a guided Al Capone tour is highly recommended, as you will get to know that part of the city's past, and it is also a fun experience!

What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting the sites Al Capone frequented on my own?

people in a store| ©Daniel Rangel
people in a store| ©Daniel Rangel

While you can study about the subject and visit the places on your own, there is no doubt that having a specialized guide adds a plus to the experience. It is not only about visiting places, but also about the background of each one of them. Taking a guided tour is always a good option, since 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