
The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.5/5
Based on 17 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour worth booking?
The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour is a 3-hour experience in Chicago, United States, from $75 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 17 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 4.5/5 (17)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $75 per person
We are Chicago's first and best Devil in the White City tour, offering the history, legends and lore surrounding H.H.Holmes, the World's Fair and Victorian Chicago. We visit Prairie Avenue, Chicago's Victorian "Easy Stre
What you get
About this experience
We are Chicago's first and best Devil in the White City tour, offering the history, legends and lore surrounding H.H.Holmes, the World's Fair and Victorian Chicago. We visit Prairie Avenue, Chicago's Victorian "Easy Street" and site of the Fort Dearborn Massacre, travel to the World's Fairgrounds and the Midway Plaisance at the University of Chicago, and make the notorious trek to the site of Holmes' "Murder Castle."
What's included
Included
- On-board restrooms
What you'll see and do
Prairie Avenue Historic District
Historic Victorian district and site of Fort Dearborn Massacre
30 minutes here
The site of the former Murder Castle, workers at this unassuming post office have gotten more than they bargained for with the spirits of H.H. Holmes' restless victims.
25 minutes here
Jackson Park's Japanese Garden
Perfect spot for pictures as you learn the ghost stories of Jackson Park and the 1893 World's Fair
15 minutes here
Jackson Park
The former World's Fairgrounds of 1893
30 minutes here
Union Stockyard Gate
A consequential place of late Nineteenth Century history, discover the historic place where Upton Sinclair based his groundbreaking work, "The Jungle".
10 minutes here
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Hear the ghost stories of the last remaining building from the 1893 World's Fair
15 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Chicago
The tour meets in the Congress Lounge bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel. The bus departs from the front of the Congress Plaza Hotel on South Michigan Avenue. Please be there early, the bus has to leave promptly to be able to reach every destination. We cannot guarantee participation for late arrivals.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The tour meets in the Congress Lounge bar at the Congress Plaza Hotel. The bus departs from the front of the Congress Plaza Hotel on South Michigan Avenue. Please be there early, the bus has to leave promptly to be able to reach every destination. We cannot guarantee participation for late arrivals.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Sat
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Chicago Hauntings
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 17 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
17 verified traveler reviews for The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Devil and the White City tour!
This is a very comfortable tour with a little walking and so much Chicago history. Our your guide, Tony , was so funny and friendly and informative. It was a fascinating afternoon.
Response from the operator: Thanks for the awesome review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and had a great time with Tony he really knows how to make history come alive. Hope to see you on another one soon!
via Viator
Wow
Tony was absolutely amazing and delightful. He was very knowledgeable. What a way to spend the day learning about the history of Chicago
Response from the operator: Thanks so much! We're thrilled you had a great time with Tony he's a pro at making Chicago history both fun and fascinating. Hope to see you again soon!
via Viator
If you want a tour about...
If you want a tour about the world’s fair of 1893, architecture, and a bunch of millionaires then this tour is for you. The only ‘haunting’ part is a brief mention of the ghosts haunting the congress plaza hotel and a five minute speech on the murders of H.H. Holmes when you visit the sketchy post office in englewood. Unless you consider some tidbits on Al Capone and a rushed cliff note on other serial killers “of Chicago” on the ride back to the hotel enough to make this a haunted tour then the $70 ticket is worth it. Otherwise, I highly suggest finding an actual haunted tour about the paranormal stories of the city. This tour does not grant you any kind of special access to the locations mentioned on the tour. You can visit all the sites regularly, for free. And the tour guide was knowledgeable, but left out pretty key parts regarding the whole theme of H.H. Holmes and instead overshadowed the whole point of the tour with the above mentioned topics. The two star drops to a one due to the bus. At least 3 seats were broken (aka were fallen all the way back and unable to be let up, effectively taking out the seat itself and the one behind it), multiple dirty seats with crumbs on them, and the audio barely worked half the time so the tour guide was either yelling which could barely be heard in the back or blasting scratchy audio that kept going in and out.
Response from the operator: Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations, both in terms of content and comfort. Our goal is always to deliver a tour that blends history and hauntings in a way that’s engaging, while also ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone. We appreciate your comments and will keep them in mind as we continue improving our tours.
via Viator
HH Holmes and Columbian World's Fair of 1893 tour
Tony was very knowledgeable about the history of Chicago and the prominent people during the Columbian World's Fair of 1893. We explored some interesting neighborhoods we have never been to. Eg. Prairie Historic district. We had very good fall weather during our tour. What would have made it interesting is going to the haunted 12th floor of the Congress hotel. (Our meeting place). We wish there was more to see of the HH Holmes murder Castle. Unfortunately it's no longer there.
Response from the operator: Thanks for the thoughtful review! Tony loves sharing Chicago’s deep history, and we’re glad you enjoyed discovering new spots like the Prairie Historic District. We hear you on the haunted 12th floor and the Castle too bad those can’t be toured anymore. Hope to see you back for more chills and history soon!
via Tripadvisor
Below average
Honestly the story telling wasn’t great, it was 2 hours longer than it probably had to be and the bus driver kept getting lost. We didn’t talk about the world fair or H.H. Holmes for an hr into the tour. I think I learned more on Google.
Response from the operator: Hi Julia, thanks for the feedback on our Devil In the White City haunted history bus tour. The tour starts at the Congress Plaza hotel which was very active during the era of the Columbian Exposition and has lots of ghost stories, so the tour not only covers the Worlds Fair and HH Holmes, but the history of Chicago during the era of the Worlds Fair. Some people are more into history and some people are more into the ghost stories, but we appreciate your input.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Sat
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 6
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Chicago.
How much does The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour cost?
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Prices start at $75 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Chicago usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Chicago is not rushed.
Is The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 17 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Chicago, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour?
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Around 6 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Chicago can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Chicago and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does The Devil in the White City: A Haunting History Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Chicago within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Chicago?
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Chicago's signature experience is still the architecture boat cruise, and the difference between the docent-led originals and the party-boat imitators is the single biggest quality gap in the city. Beyond the river: gangster history walks, Art Institute access, deep-dish and hot-dog crawls, and skydeck timed entry. Outty Ranking leans on guide credentials and how consistently the promised route runs. On Outty we rank every Chicago experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Original Chicago Architecture Interiors Tour: Dazzling Interiors, Chicago Murder Mystery Tour, Chicago Favorites Ultimate Food and Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
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May to October. Winter cruises stop running when the river ices. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Chicago?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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