8 Best Bike Tours in Chicago to Explore Like a Local (2024)
One of the best ways to experience Chicago is by bike. The city is very bike-friendly with plenty of trails and bike lanes. You can easily rent one of the blue Divvy bikes you’ll see all around town, but if you really want to get to know the city I strongly recommend one of the locally guided bike tours in Chicago.
Of all the Chicago travel tips I can give you, as a local myself, taking a guided tour is one of the top ones. There’s so much more to Chicago than what meets the eye, and taking a local-led tour helps you uncover it all. Even as a Chicago native I’m regularly learning new things about the history and culture of this city.
Especially if you’re visiting Chicago in spring, summer or fall taking a smooth Chicago bike ride (Illinois is pretty flat!) is a great way to get acquainted with the city. If you’re visiting in winter…well, here’s how to survive!
Don’t have time to read about every tour on this list? I’ve got you covered — the best bike tour in Chicago is Bikes, Bites & Brews: Chicago’s Signature Dishes Bike Tour. With nearly 500 outstanding reviews, it combines a Chicago bike ride with a sampling of must try Chicago foods!
8 Best Bike Tours in Chicago
1. Bikes, Bites & Brews: Chicago’s Signature Dishes Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
Combine must-try Chicago foods with a bike tour across popular Chicago neighborhoods in this combo Chicago bike food tour.
Chicago is a foodie haven and on this tour you get to try some of the foods the city is best known for, including our famous Chicago style pizza and hot dogs!
The tour was great! Our guides were Julia and Elise and they were fabulous!!!!! The stops were great, food experience was good. Overall an excellent way to see several neighborhoods of Chicago while enjoying the outdoors. Highly recommend!!!!
— Cheryl (READ MORE REVIEWS)
This tour covers approximately 13 miles, with stops along the way, and recommends a moderate fitness level. It’s available both as a day tour and night tour.
You’ll ride through several Chicago neighborhoods including Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park and Gold Coast during the day. On the night tour you’ll ride by Millennium Park, Buckingham fountain, the Chicago Riverwalk and more.
Foodie stops on this tour include two breweries, one pizza shop, a hotdog stand and a cupcake bakery!
2. Chicago’s Ultimate City Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 3 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
Want a chance to see all of Chicago’s most iconic sites? Then this is the bike tour for you, and a great option for Chicago first-timers who want to see it all.
This tour was the highlight of our time in Chicago. Gabe’s knowledge of the city was impressive!! I would recommend taking the tour on your first or second day in the city.
— Erin (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
You’ll learn about Chicago’s history and culture while you take in sights including Chicago’s Museum campus, Soldier Field, Lakefront Trail, Millennium Park and more. You’ll also see some hidden gems along the way.
This tour is designed to accommodate most ages and fitness levels. If you want to take a Chicago bike tour but are nervous about biking through Chicago streets, rest assured. This tour runs entirely along Chicago bike paths.
3. Custom Chicago Bike Adventures
⭐️ Rating: 4.95 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
Looking for a guided Chicago ride that YOU get to help custom design?
This is the one. No two tours guided by Steve are exactly the same because he adjusts based on your responses to a pre-ride questionnaire.
He’ll even include a stop for a taste of Chicago’s craft beer upon request.
“Really nice trip around Chicago. We discovered places that we would have missed without this 4 hours bike tour. Interesting cinematic, architectural and mafia stories and references. Steve is a great narrator, dynamic and easygoing. I highly recommend!
— Ylan (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
Potential sites you might see on a Chicago bike tour with Steve include historically diverse neighborhoods, 1920s gangster-related sites, stunning skyscraper views, movie locations, street art and more.
4. Chicago’s West Side Foodie Ride Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
Chicago is an incredibly diverse city. If you’re interested in a Chicago bike food tour with a more multicultural flair then this tour is calling your name.
Great way to see a non-touristy side of Chicago. Enjoyed riding through the neighborhoods and sampling diverse foods. Great for foodies who want exercise as well
— Matthew (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
On this tour you’ll ride through Chicago neighborhoods including Fulton River Distric, West Loop, Wicker Park, Bucktown and Old Town.
You’ll even pass Google’s Chicago office! If riding through less touristy areas of Chicago and sampling pierogies, tacos and a local liquor appeal to you then book this tour now.
5. Chicago Lakefront Neighborhoods Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 3 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
What do Oprah’s house, the Playboy Mansion and Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo have in common? You’ll see them all on this tour.
In addition to these sights you’ll also get off the beaten path with this Chicago bike tour through quiet, scenic parks and through beautiful residential neighborhoods on Chicago’s North side.
Our tour director Lou was fantastic. Lou made sure that everyone felt comfortable and his tour was informative and fun. We saw a lot of things on the bike tour that we would have not seen otherwise. Highly recommend.
— Barbara (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
Cruise by the Museum of Contemporary Art, through Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and make a stop to admire North Avenue beach. This ride is appropriate for all ages and fitness levels.
6. Chicago Downtown Family Foodie Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
This family-friendly Chicago bike tour even has infant seats available so the whole family can enjoy!
Another great option for anyone craving a Chicago bike food tour, this one includes the opportunity to try Chicago’s Italian beef in addition to Chicago-style pizza and hotdogs.
Lots of fun. Everyone in the family loved the tour and it was the highlight of the trip to Chicago.
— Julian (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
This tour also gives you the option to add on a craft beer package to enjoy along the ride. The bike ride will take you past Oak Street beach, the Chicago Theater and more.
One highlight of this tour if you take it at night is that you’ll be able to visit and admire the Buckingham Fountain light show!
Highly recommend this option, which will also give you a chance to see the city lit up as you ride along Chicago Riverwalk.
7. Chicago Lakefront Electric Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 2 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
Want to get outdoors with a Chicago bike ride without breaking too much of a sweat? Opt for this electric bike tour. You’ll see some of Chicago’s top landmarks on this shorter tour.
Beautiful ride, we got to see so many interesting spots, tour guide was super nice and very informative. I definitely would recommend this bike tour.
— Amy (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
This lakefront bike tour also makes stops along the way so you can snap some iconic Chicago photos!
Take pictures of the beautiful skyline views seen from Museum Campus and Buckingham Fountain, to name a couple. You’ll also take a scenic ride through well-known Navy Pier.
8. Chicago ‘Fright Hike’ Bike Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | ⏰ Tour Length: 3 hours | 🚲 BOOK NOW
Interested in weird Chicago tours? If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary the Fright Hike Bike Tour is certainly a unique Chicago tour.
Great all round scenes of Chicago, lakeshore, city streets, under the L, around museums. The ghost stories were very informative and fun. I highly recommend it and I’d do it again!
— Adriana (SEE MORE REVIEWS)
Learn about Chicago’s most notorious serial killer, hear ghost stories and explore the creepy dark side of Chicago on this spooky tour through the city.
FAQ: Best Bike Tours in Chicago
If you’re considering taking a bike tour in Chicago you might also be wondering:
Is Chicago a good city to bike in?
As a fairly flat city with plenty to see, Chicago is a good city to bike in both for locals and tourists. It’s a great way to see the city from a different vantage point.
Is it easy to bike around Chicago?
Beyond a guided bike tour, it’s very common to see people biking around Chicago. Many bike to and from work each day, and there are bike lanes on most roads. In the end, it really depends on your personal comfort level when it comes to biking alongside road traffic.
Final Thoughts: Best Bike Tours in Chicago
These best bike tours in Chicago are a great way to sightsee and learn about the city. If you’d rather skip the guided tours but still want to explore Chicago by bike, rent a bike instead.
Want to see even more of Chicago AND save money doing it? Buy an explorer pass to get deals on visiting popular attractions.
Preparing for a Chicago trip? Check out 33 Chicago travel tips and mistakes to avoid as a tourist!
