Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr - Image 1
Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr - Image 2
Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr - Image 3
Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr - Image 4
Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr - Image 5
Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr - Image 6

Photo 1 / 6

Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour: Myth vs. Reality, 2 hr

TourTruth score 7.3 out of 10

AverageTop 34% in Chicago

4 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Chicago
  • 2 hrs
  • Updated November 1, 2026

Uncover Chicago’s Prohibition-era vice districts, Al Capone’s rise, and the stories behind the city’s Roaring Twenties legends.

About this tour

Step into the stories behind Prohibition-era Chicago and separate historical fact from Hollywood legend. This 2-hour Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour explores how the city’s turn-of-the-century culture helped shape the 18th Amendment and the turbulent years that followed.

Hear about notorious vice districts along the Chicago River and in the South Loop, then follow the rise of Al Capone through the infamous Beer Wars and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Along the way, discover Chicago’s role in the growth of jazz and consider how the Roaring Twenties have been brought to the screen in films such as The Untouchables and Chicago. The tour begins in the plaza on Michigan Avenue between Tribune Tower and the Apple Store, where the story starts with Chicago’s early growth.

The route is wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Stories include murder and sex work, so parents should use discretion when deciding whether it is appropriate for children under 15. Join this Chicago Prohibition Walking Tour for a vivid look at the history behind the myths.

Highlights

  • Trace the stories behind Chicago’s notorious Prohibition-era vice districts
  • Hear how Al Capone rose to prominence during the Beer Wars
  • Explore the history behind the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
  • Discover Chicago’s influence on jazz and Roaring Twenties culture
  • Compare the era’s history with its portrayals in film

What's included

Included

  • Entrance fee

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Bottled water

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • The tour includes stories of murder and sex work; parents should use discretion for children under 15
  • Wheelchair accessible, including transportation options and all areas and surfaces
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller
  • Public transportation is available nearby
  • Meeting point: plaza on Michigan Avenue between Tribune Tower and the Apple Store
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 4 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Chicago
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.3. Top 34% in Chicago means it ranks in the top 34% of tours in Chicago by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Chicago

How many tours in Chicago have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

More Historical Tours in Chicago

from $35

on Viator

Check availability