Chicago Greeter

We loved Brian!!! So thankful we did this on our first day! Brian really knows his stuff and basically gave us a very informative tour! Totally exceeded my expectations! We toured hyde park and university of Chicago! Loved the walk so much and because of this tour, me and my husband are now considering to move in Chicago! He has answers to every single thing you can think of! Oh so cool and super fun! He didn’t mind a coffee stop. We felt so comfortable and we are so thankful to Brian for making our labor day weekend so fun and memorable :)

The Chicago Greeter tour was one of the best parts of our trip. Sue, our greeter, personalized the trip so that the length and location was to our liking. She was probably the most knowledgable tour guide. She loved being a greeter, and you could tell. We were able to go inside different buildings that we never would have thought of. This is a great, free program. She wouldn’t even allow us to tip her. I recommend this to anyone visiting Chicago!

This is a fantastic service for any visitor to Chicago. My tour guide, Stuart was awesome. Our tour lasted 3 hours. He gave detailed account of the architect and art downtown. My husband and I learned so much about Chicago. Stuart gave great suggestions on where to go and how to get to those places. I am so glad that I found the greeters. Such a great service.

We took our tour with Tom N., he’s without a doubt an awesome person, he truly like to do those tours, and he knows a lot about the city… I also liked that he was open to change every aspect of the tour I wanted to change, and I could give him my opinion. We enjoyed the tour! Beside it’s free!

Chicago Greeter is the best kept secret. Go to their website, sign up for a tour and be ready to be amazed! Pam was our tour guide and I couldn’t have been happier. She showed us everything that we wanted and more. I would have never thought to look inside of Macy’s to see the beautiful restaurant up top, get free samples from the chocolate counter, get free coupons from the machine in the basement and see the wonderful architecture.

Such a great experience! Paul, our tour guide, was the best!
I just moved to the city and wanted to get acquainted with everything. Paul talked to us about our interests and decided what we «had to see» and led the way. He was so friendly and knowledgeable — he even knew the «best hot-​dog joint in town,» so we could stop and have lunch as well as showed us some of the less-​traveled spots so I knew a place or 2 I could visit once I got all settled in. It was fast-​paced and so personalized. The confirmation email said the tour would be anywhere from 2 – 4 hours… we ended up walking around the city for well over that, Paul said as long as we weren’t tired or had to go, he was around to give us a great tour of Chicago.
I would always recommend this :)

Hands down one of the highlights of the weekend!
Since it was marathon weekend, of course they had lots of requests. I didn’t receive confirmation until two days before that we had a greeter available. Unfortunately, they had the wrong date. But luckily I was able to work something out directly with our greeter.
Nancy took us around Chicago for about two hours. After inquiring about what interests we had, she took us all the city from the river, ending at Millennium Park. We stopped in hotels, stores, businesses, and parks. She shared so much of Chicago’s history and essence of the city and its people. Despite having run the marathon just the day before, we could have followed her around the city for hours. I can’t wait to do it again!

I highly recommend! Where else can you get a free, walking tour of a place of your choice/​interest in Chicago? Not only that, but the tour guides they set you up with are not only knowledgeable and fun, but also very passionate about what they do. I had reserved a time/​date and had a tour guide all to myself. We walked everywhere, saw beautiful sights and I learned a LOT about the city. Definitely gave me more appreciation for Chicago and helped me to «see» things I would have usually skipped over. I definitely recommend taking this tour toward the beginning of your Chicago trip. I did and I think that helped me to enjoy my trip even more. Cheers to the city of Chicago for supporting such an amazing service!

FREE. Yes, Free.
We had John give us an hour walk in 2hrs. He said when the hour was up and told folks that needed to leave that they should head on out but he’d continue talking until either he was done or no one was there to listen.
Such great stories of the history of Chicago. He grew up on the streets and could really make us see and feel the bygone days.
Not only did he take us to and into the buildings in downtown Chicago, he had photos to help illustrate his points.
Quick pace.
Lots of beauty.
Lots of history.
Lots of great stories.
Free.
Chicago Greeters rock!

«If it’s free, it’s for me!» For this reason, & the great Unilocal reviews, I decided to check this out. I’m somewhat new to the area, so I wasn’t really sure of what to plan for my family’s upcoming visit. With Chicago having so much to offer, I thought this sounded like the perfect way to kick things off.
When you schedule a tour through the website, you fill out a short survey. It’s filled with questions about what your interested in getting out of the tour. How amazing, right? Not only do you get your own personal tour guide, but they cater the tour to your own personal interests!
I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about the area. I wish more cities offered this program!

This was one of the best experiences I’ve had with a «tour» in the many cities I’ve visited. I have to say I was a bit nervous about meeting someone randomly for the first time and have them take us around the city but Larry was an amazing guide. The way he catered our tour to our wishes was amazing. He offered us a very different view of a great city and gave us an insider’s knowledge of things you would have probably just walked past. I’ve recommended this and Larry to everyone I know who is going to Chicago.

Who doesn’t love free stuff?
… … *crickets*… *crickets*
Well, listen up, Chicago Greeter is your best deal in the Windy City. If you book at least 10 business days in advance, they’ll assign you a free guide to show you the best of Chicago. You can customize the route based on your interests and get a local’s view of the city.
We were assigned the lovely Gail, and we emailed back and forth for a while to figure out the itinerary. It was so nice of her to take time out of her Mother’s Day to take us around. We covered Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Uptown (including Argyle Street, which was the original request), and Andersonville. Lakeview’s hipster feel reminded us of Silverlake; we even stopped at Intelligentsia. The rooftop private clubs by Wrigley Stadium were fascinating. Gail showed us Uptown’s charm (you do have to try hard to see it) and we really enjoyed the cool antique/​furniture stores in Andersonville.
If you’re a procrastinator and missed the 10-​day deadline, there are Instagreeters at the Chicago Cultural Center who will show you around the loop, yes for free.

We toured the city and it’s beautiful architecture with Larry this past weekend and had a great time. He has a wealth of knowledge on just about everything in the city, enjoys what he does, and we learned so much from him. Much more fun than a cookie cutter tour you’d find from a big company for $$. Highly recommend.

As if Chicago doesn’t have enough going for it!!! The Greeter Program is AWESOME! We did not find out about it until shortly before our trip. I was browsing everything Chicago and ran across it. OMG… Free, People, Free. A program paid for by the City of Chicago for anyone wanting a walking tour or biking tour with a one on one «volunteer» who is dying to show you his/​her beautiful city. We were lucky enough to meet Katie in the Cultural Center where the Program is run. She is the boss. Nice woman who clearly is proud of the Program with good reason. We were matched up with Gary. Gary actually worked half a day at his normal «job» and then came to volunteer with the Greeter’s Program. In the three hours we were with him, we learned more about Chicago then we ever knew. Laid back guy who obviously loves this gig and is so good at it. Took us thru Millenium Park… had no idea how beautiful and interesting this fairly new part of Chicago is. How lucky the people of Chicago are to have this in their backyard. Also did the River Walk only not the busy tourist one but thru the «back door». Wish we had Gary in our back pocket during our entire visit. Thanks, Gary, we sure enjoyed it!!! Be sure and check out the Building the Greeter Program is located too. Gary gave us a tour of the building and it was beautiful. Don’t miss this opportunity. Google «Chicago Greeters».

Thanks to Unilocal,I stumbled across this amazingly awesome Free tour option for my recent trip to Chicago. Yes, I said Free! There are two different kinds of tours, from what I understand. There are InstaGreeter tours that happen at specific places and times throughout the city. Or, if you are anal and plan ahead and just can’t stand to be spontaneous while on vacation (like me), you can go on the web page and register for a personalized Free tour. You do need to fill out a questionnaire with specifics about your trip (dates, ages of people, number in your party, interests, etc).
We were so blessed to have an awesome guide named Mark. A few days before our trip he emailed and asked specifically what we wanted to do and see. I asked for a tour of the loop highlighting architecture and history. I also mentioned that we thought seeing some of the mansions in the Gold Coast area would be cool.
I was expecting a quick rundown of some highlights around the loop, but no, it was an almost 3 hour tour just there. And then he produced a 1 day pass for the subway for each of us and away we went to the Gold Coast. It was by far the highlight of our weekend!
What really blew me away was that our guide didn’t even take the tip we offered him. He’s working strictly on a volunteer basis. How cool is that? It really was Free! Also, when we asked how long he had been doing it our jaws dropped when we learned we were only his second tour! He was just so personable and knowledgeable.
If you’re going to Chicago and have time for a tour (and I’m sure they don’t all have to be over 4 hours like ours was) please check this out. And ask for Mark. He rocked.

Our guide Nancy was a true 8-​decades of Chicagoan and amazing. It was sweltering hot and she was able to keep us indoor/​underground for the most part while still giving us interesting tidbits. We saw some beautiful mosaic work, enjoyed a river view and tasted some chocolate. Lastly, she shared with us beautiful view of skyline from her private residence’s rooftop. We would highly recommend requesting for Ms. Nancy if possible!

Okay people, listen up! Everyone pay attention, an important community announcement is about to take place.
Do you like ridiculously awesome stuff?
Do you like ridiculously awesome stuff that is 100% free?
Who the heck gives that stuff away, you ask?
My friends, let me introduce you to the best kept secret in Chicago cultural circles, the InstaGreeter!
Upon moving to Chicago from California, my sister (who was the original Unilocal!back when we had to check newspapers (what are those again?) for local culture and events. What a quaint thought eh? Oh well, back to the main story! I didn’t end up taking the tour until almost two years later, and what a fool I was for not taking advantage of this sooner!
I’ve always been intrigued by the history, culture and architecture of the City of Chicago, well before moving here. Perhaps watching all those old films that were shot here makes one nostalgic. When you watch one of those old films, the buildings become one of the characters unto themselves, no less than their flesh and blood counterparts.
The Chicago Greeter Program is masterfully orchestrated by an all-​volunteer staff of locals who graciously volunteer their time. It has been about a year now, but I want to say Edward was his name, a retired gentleman who was a brain trust of just about every city block we walked on!
Our goal was to visit Old Town, which we hit at a very leisurely pace. Ed let us pace the tour, so if we found something that required more answers, he’d just stop and fill us in on the details until we were ready to proceed. Unlike many tours which rush you along at a breakneck pace, this was a welcome change of format.
Amongst the amazing things that Ed pointed out included:
+The fantastic Chicago Cultural Center on Randolph, including the jaw-​dropping Tiffany stain glass dome, gorgeous paintings, and intricate marble
+ Moody’s Bible Institute Choir (amazing chorale music if that’s your thing)
+ The Spice House (200+ reviews here on Unilocal,virtually all of them 5 stars, including from this author)
+ The last remaining wooden street planks from before the Chicago Fire of 1871, you’re literally walking on history!
+ An actual historical hotel where the original Rat Pack used to hang out and sip cocktails
+ Notches on the curbs where they were used at one time for street vendors to sell paintings and stay within their prescribed areas
+ The homes of famous Chicagoans and when they were bought, sold, and the history of the people who have lived in them
+ Tips on where to get a great meal (if your iPhone battery dies, Ed is your living, breathing Unilocal app, for real)
Pros:
+ Ridiculously knowledgeable tour guide
+ If Ed was on Chicago-​style Jeopardy, just forfeit and hand the prize to this man already
+ 100% free
+ No hidden costs
+ Did I mention that it is free?
+ You get to chill with the friendliest neighbors in Chicago
+ The tour will flow at the pace you dictate
+ Our guide was willing to stop anywhere along the way when we needed breaks or a bite to eat
+ Ed convinced me to use Unilocal more frequently, and have been addicted ever since
+ By taking one of these tours, you are passing the legacy of local knowledge, which should be a quintessential virtue to any true Unilocaler! (TRIPLE EMPHASIS IN ANNOYING CAPS TO GET THE POINT ACROSS!)
Cons:
— Seriously?
If you are one of my friends and you’re reading this now, but haven’t taken the tour yet, now is the time to act. I will seriously consider having you arrested by the cultural police if I found out you’ve slacked off and haven’t paid these guys a visit.
(Fin)

I loved everything about my tour. Chinatown was my 3^rd choice & my purpose in taking the tour was to learn about the neighborhoods I’m looking to move into (you know hear from a local then make my move).
Well MS. JUDITH was a HUGE delight. She knows her stuff. She’s got connects & treated me like a welcomed guest in her home (but we were in the City). I was late due to the parking — she even gave me a choice of a) Chinatown or (b) New Chinatown — after explaining the difference.
Can’t wait to do it again. She apologized profusely for not being able to provide me with a Bronzeville tour but la dee dah — she was great with what she knew. Gotta respect honesty! I am sooo grateful they have this program.

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grand chicago klug denkender kopf und dynamisches herz an den großen seen, seit jeher unbestritten wirtschaftlicher und kultureller mittelpunkt des mittleren westens +++ nicht wenige halten diese grandiose stadt für die perle unter den metropolen nordamerikas +++ hätte ich mein herz nicht bereits an seattle verloren, so sähe ich dies genauso +++ wer new york oder san francisco liebt, der wird von dieser stadt mit gotham-​city-​klima ganz besonders angetan sein +++ new york den ausländern, los angeles den außerirdischen und chicago den amerikanern, so lautet ein amerikanisches sprichwort +++ keine andere stadt hat die eigenarten des modernen us-​amerikanischen politik-​klüngels mehr geprägt +++ wie viele hochrangige politgrößen vor ihm, ist auch präsident obama ein ziehkind der eingeschworenen seilschaften chicagos
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die chicago greeters wurden aus einer kommunalen marketing-​maßnahme zur förderung des städtetourismus geboren +++ in diesem segment hat es grand chicago trotz blues und al capone im vergleich mit ny und frisco immer schwer gehabt, obwohl seine geografische lage an den windumwehten ufern der großen seen nicht weniger attraktiv ist, als die seiner konkurrenten +++ die greeters sitzen in der altehrwürdigen stadtbibliothek an der north michigan ave (gegenüber millenium park) +++ sie bieten besuchern kostenlose stadtführungen zu etwa 40 unterschiedlichen themen +++ interessierte sollten sich rechtzeitig vor anreise unter angabe ihrer unterkunft bei
anmelden, die sprache für die 4-​stündige privatführung wählen und 3 themengebiete aussuchen, von denen dann eines — je nach verfügbarkeit — realisiert wird +++ alle teilnehmer bekommen ein kostenloses 24-​stunden-​ticket für das gesamte nahverkehrsnetz (außer wassertaxi), kartenmaterial und prospekte +++ die ehrenamtlichen scouts rekrutieren sich aus studenten und rentnern, die einen besonderen faible für die stadt mitbringen, sachbezogen ausgebildet und in chicago beheimatet sind
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ich hatte folgende drei themen zur auswahl eingereicht:
1. frank lloyd wright prinzipien der organischen architektur am beispiel innerstädtischer gebäude
2. fahrradtour zu standorten für postkartenmotive und in stadtviertel mit lokalkolorit
3. märkte und basare
insgeheim liebäugelte ich mit dem zweiten thema +++ und tatsächlich, vor ort bot man mir die radtour an +++ mein scout, ein rüstiger rentner ende 60, führte mich zunächst endlos durch gigantische katakomben und unterirdische malls zu einem städtischen fahrradverleih im millenium park +++ hier durfte ich unter hunderten verschiedener modelle rad und helm aussuchen +++ hierzu muss man wissen, dass in den usa die fortbewegung auf dem rad weit weniger populär ist, als in asien oder europa +++ viele kommunen möchten ihren bürgern diese umweltfreundliche mobilität schmackhaft machen und betreiben daher kostenlose verleihstationen an zentraler stelle +++ mein freundlicher und äußerst kommunikativer führer radelte voraus +++ fast 5 stunden lang führte er mich über die schönsten viewpoints im grant park (hier entstehen beinahe alle bekannten skylinemotive), weiter durch den south loop nach old town, den finanzial district entlang des chicago river und schließlich wieder zurück zur marina +++ was soll ich noch sprechen? ich war restlos begeistert! +++ meine einladung zum dinner nahm der scout mit hinweis auf seine ehrenamtlichkeit nicht an, bat mich aber um eine ehrliche kritik im netzforum der greeters, welche ich hiermit gerne ein zweitesmal der öffentlichkeit zugänglich mache +++ da ich den führungstermin vorausschauend auf den tag vor meiner abreise gelegt hatte, konnte ich das kostenlose nahverkehrsticket für die fahrt zum o’hare airport nutzen
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jay pritzker pavillon von frank o. gehry — hier veranstaltet einer der edelsten klangkörper der usa, das chicago symphony orchestra, open air konzerte im hochsommer
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lake shore drive
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dichterviertel — hier goethe street und starbucks coffee house
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aussichten vom john hancock tower bei tag und bei nacht
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yachtclubhafen am millenium park
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mündung des chicago river in den lake michigan
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lichtinstallation im millenium park

This is such a fantastic program because you get to take a tour of the beautiful city of Chicago for FREE! It’s a program where people from Chicago kindly volunteer their time to show you around their city. How cool is that?
You basically go to their website and fill out the registration form. It asks what parts of Chicago you’d like to visit and vuola! Then someone contacts you within a week of your tour.
Our volunteer took us to Millennium Park, the gold coast, and finally finishing at the Lincoln Park zoo. The volunteer services also gave us an all day CTA (bus or subway) pass for FREE. Along the way our volunteer Ellen provided us with a brief history of the city, buildings, parks, etc. It was a lot of walking but well worth the site seeing and it’s architectural history.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this FREE service tour.

Outstanding program that is actually FREE. Totally unbelievable!
I found this while doing research on TripAdvisor and other sites and saw that this was a volunteer program where locals gave up their time to show visitors parts of Chicago that they were experts in. I noted that I wanted to learn about the Chicago Fire, street food and architecture/​skyline, which is exactly what we got with our greeter.
We met up with our greeter at the Cultural Center. It was a rainy day which really got us down but our greeter was gung-​ho about showing us around. We navigated the transit system with him and he showed us what we wanted to see. Tours generally can last up to 4 hours; our greeter had suggested showing us northern Chicago suburbs (where he lives) but we were also headed towards the Museum of Science and Industry so it would’ve been out of our way. We spent approximately 2 hours with our greeter touring the market, as well as chatting about Chicago history.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with our greeter and would definitely recommend this service to any visitors. I am told that there are greeter programs in a lot of the big cities in US and wish I had known about it when we went to New Orleans!