Whether you’ve recently moved to Chicago or you’ve been here for years, there is always something more to learn about the city.

One of the best ways to tour a new city is to take a running tour. Most people know about your standard bus tours, but a quick internet search will reveal that there are tons of specialized tours ranging from food to ghosts as the subject.

One of our favorites is  Chicago Running Tours & More . You can take your pick from their shorter 5K tour options or make a day of it with their 10K, half marathon, or marathon-length tours. The shorter tours tend to be more popular and there’s no need to worry if you don’t consider yourself a “runner.”



Tours are taken at a leisurely pace (5K tours range from 90 min to 2 hours), and while you do jog from one site to another, there’s plenty of time standing at each location in order to hear more about the history of the city.

The most popular tour routes are:

Grant Park — 3.1 miles

You will tour through Grant Park and visit many of the popular landmarks such as Buckingham Fountain. On top of exploring the expansive park and some of it’s most well-known sights, you will also learn how the park came to be — a fascinating story to anyone who is unfamiliar with its history.

Chicago River Navy Pier — 3.4 miles

Take a run around Chicago’s Navy Pier, learn about it’s history, and find out what two characteristics the Chicago River has that no other river in the country does.

Tragic Events — 3.8 miles

The longest of the short tours, the tragic events tour covers 5 of the most tragic events in Chicago’s history. You’ll stay inside Chicago’s Loop to learn all about the people and places involved in the city’s sordid past. Definitely recommend!

Tours are offered year-round and the tour guides make the experience a very memorable one. If you’re looking for a new way to see the city, simply visit the website or contact Marlin at marlin@chicagorunningtours.com  for more information or to schedule your own running tour!