Enjoy your Millennium Park tour and learn all about its history.

Start from the park’s north end, by the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance. From there, head south toward the Pritzker Pavilion while hearing some background on how the park came into existence. Once at the impressive pavilion, learn about the vast array of performances held here and the high-tech design which makes it all possible, as well as the man behind it: Jay Pritzker. Get the full story on this precocious kid who went from building model cities out of his grandfather’s scrap wood to designing some of the most famous structures in the country.

Continue to the park’s so-called “Secret Garden.” Take a stroll along a peaceful boardwalk surrounded by plant life and listen to a little-known symbolism behind the garden’s design. Then pause for a fantastic look at Chicago’s skyline. Next, head past the Art Institute of Chicago and end up at the astonishing Crown Fountain. Get familiar with the intricately detailed “face towers” of the fountain, then head north toward Chicago’s most famous sculpture.

At last, you’ll arrive at Cloud Gate, known by the locals as “The Bean” (although the artist positively hates this name). Learn about the wacky artist behind it, as well as the technique he used to create such a huge, smooth surface. And don’t forget to snap some surreal pictures of your reflection. The tour concludes here.

Explore the most famous park in Chicago
Find out how the park was transformed from a derelict trainyard to a lively green space
Hear the stories of the people who brought this park to life
Find fascinating spots most visitors miss and learn the history not many people know
Get up close and personal with the world-famous Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as The Bean

Important to know

Know in advance:

This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The Action Tour Guide app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do not wait until you are onsite
Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
This tour has been developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists
The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms
This tour is valid for an entire year - from the moment of booking. You can use it multiple times over multiple trips
This tour is an audio tour guide and not an attraction entrance ticket