Booking choice: The lakefront bike tour, 3 hours. Book this See all the options below
Seven listings on GetYourGuide take in Lincoln Park in some way: three guided bike tours, a daytime walking tour, two ghost walks and a self-guided bike rental. They differ more than the titles suggest, especially in where they start.
Below you will find a side-by-side table, then a closer look at each type of tour. For the ghost walks in depth, see our Lincoln Park ghost tour guide, and for a day on your own, things to do in Lincoln Park.
The quick answer
If you want a tour built around the park itself, the walking tour is the one: according to the listing it runs from Oz Park to the Conservatory lawn and the Lily Pond. The bike tours start downtown and ride north along the lake, passing the zoo and North Avenue Beach. For evenings, there are two ghost walks of very different lengths.
Which Lincoln Park tour should I book?
Pick by pace: a bike tour covers the most lakefront, the walking tour stays inside the park and its neighbourhood, and the ghost walks are evening storytelling.
| Tour | Type | Length | Meets at | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakefront Neighborhoods Bike Tour | Guided bike | 3 hours | 540 N. Lake Shore Drive | Gold Coast, Old Town and the park by bike |
| Amazing Lakefront Bike Tour | Guided bike | 2 hours | Opposite Millennium Park | A shorter lakefront ride |
| Bikes, Bites & Views | Guided bike with food | 4.5 hours | 540 N. Lake Shore Drive | Adults who want food stops (16+) |
| Lincoln Park Walking Tour | Guided walk | 2 hours | Tin Man statue, Oz Park | The park on foot, with coffee (12+) |
| Haunted History Ghost Tour | Evening ghost walk | 2.5 hours | Chicago History Museum, Clark St doors | Ghost stories and park history (7+) |
| Embers of the Windy City | Evening ghost walk | 1 hour | Tin Man statue, Oz Park | A short, family-friendly walk |
| Full-Day or Half-Day Bike Rental | Self-guided bike | Half or full day | Near Navy Pier | Riding at your own pace |
A guided lakefront ride with bike, helmet and guide included, according to the listing.
Book thisDo the bike tours start in Lincoln Park?
No, the guided bike tours start downtown and ride north to the park.
The Lakefront Neighborhoods Bike Tour meets at 540 N. Lake Shore Drive, and the listing says the route passes North Avenue Beach and Lincoln Park Zoo on the way through the Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park. The Amazing Lakefront Bike Tour starts opposite Millennium Park; its listing names the zoo, the Conservatory, the Notebaert museum, North Avenue Beach and Navy Pier.
Think of these as lakefront tours that include the park, rather than tours of the park alone.
What does the Lakefront Neighborhoods Bike Tour cover?
According to the listing, it is a 3-hour guided ride through Streeterville, the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park, passing North Avenue Beach and the zoo.
- The listing states it includes a bicycle, helmet and guide, with child equipment available.
- It meets at Bobby's Bike Hike HQ, entrance on Ohio St. just west of Lake Shore Drive; the listing asks you to arrive 15 minutes early.
- It runs rain or shine, with ponchos, and is not suitable for people who cannot ride a bike.
- The listing asks for closed shoes: no high heels or open-toed shoes.
A relaxed way to link downtown, the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park in one ride, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead according to the listing.
Book thisIs there a walking tour of Lincoln Park?
Yes: the Lincoln Park Walking Tour with Coffee & Treat is the one built around the park itself, and it is a new listing.
The listing states it lasts 2 hours and covers about 1.5 miles, starting at the Tin Man statue in Oz Park and ending on the lawn outside Lincoln Park Conservatory. Along the way it lists the Mid-North Historic District, Lincoln Park and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond. Coffee and a treat are included.
According to the listing it is not for children under 12. Dress for the weather, as it is outdoors.
Which ghost walk is better for families?
The Embers of the Windy City walk is the shorter one at 1 hour, and the listing calls it family-friendly.
The Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour runs 2.5 hours from 8 p.m. on select evenings and, according to the listing, is not for children under 7. Embers meets at the Tin Man statue in Oz Park and covers about a mile of the neighbourhood. Our ghost tour guide goes through both stop by stop.
Ghost stories by lantern light around the old cemetery ground, as the listing describes it.
Book thisIs the Bikes, Bites & Views tour worth it for Lincoln Park?
It suits adults who want food as much as scenery: the listing states it is 4.5 hours, about 13 miles, and age 16+.
According to the listing, the ride tastes five Chicago foods and visits Wrigleyville, the Gold Coast, Old Town, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, passing Wrigley Field on the day route. Vegetarian options are listed, with a minimum of 2 people. Lincoln Park is one neighbourhood among several here.
Can I rent a bike and ride to Lincoln Park myself?
Yes, the Full-Day or Half-Day Bike Rental lets you pick up near Navy Pier and ride north on the Lakefront Trail.
- The listing states a helmet, lock and map are included.
- Hybrid, road and electric bikes are listed, plus junior bikes, trailers and child seats.
- Pickup starts at 8:30 a.m. in summer and 9 a.m. in other seasons; return times vary by season, according to the listing.
Ride at your own pace and stop wherever you like in the park, with a helmet, lock and map listed as included.
Book thisWhich tour suits a first visit to Chicago?
If you want the city and the park in one go, a lakefront bike tour gives the broadest view; if you want to slow down inside the park, take the walking tour.
Many visitors pair a daytime tour with a free stop at the zoo or the Conservatory afterwards. See our one-day plan for how to fit them together, or the comparison on the homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a ticket to enter Lincoln Park?
No. The park itself has no ticket, and Lincoln Park Zoo is free with no reservation. Tours are optional ways to see it.
How long are Lincoln Park tours?
According to the listings, from 1 hour (Embers ghost walk) to 4.5 hours (Bikes, Bites & Views), with the walking tour at 2 hours.
Are there age limits?
The walking tour listing says not for under 12, the Haunted History ghost walk not for under 7, and Bikes, Bites & Views is 16+.
Can I cancel?
The listings state free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option, booked on GetYourGuide.
Lakefront Neighborhoods Bike Tour
- Bicycle, helmet and guide; child equipment available
- Meets at Bobby's Bike Hike, 540 N. Lake Shore Drive (entrance on Ohio Street)
- Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park on protected paths
Lincoln Park Walking Tour with Coffee & Treat
- Local guide, about 1.5 miles on foot
- Coffee and a treat from local venues
- Oz Park, Mid-North Historic District, Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond
Lincoln Park Haunted History Ghost Walk
- Guide and paranormal ghost-hunting equipment
- Meets at the Clark Street doors of the Chicago History Museum
- Select evenings at 8 p.m.; ends at 2122 N. Clark Street
