Visitor Q and A

How much does a Chicago Greeter visit cost?
Chicago Greeter is free, and there is a no-tipping policy. Every greeter is a volunteer.

How will I be matched with a greeter?
Matches are based on your specified interests, preferred language and availability.

When and how will I receive information about my Chicago Greeter visit?
If a match occurs before you leave home, we will telephone or e-mail your Chicago Greeter confirmation.

If a match occurs after you arrive in Chicago, we will telephone, e-mail or fax your Chicago Greeter confirmation to your hotel or local residence the day before your scheduled visit.

Why might my greeter contact me before my scheduled visit?
Your greeter might contact you to reconfirm and learn more about your interests to customize your visit.

Am I guaranteed a greeter?
While Chicago Greeter makes every effort to schedule a greeter for you, we cannot guarantee it. And, during our busy times, your first choice of theme or date/time may be unavailable.

Can I register for a Chicago Greeter visit to take place the day I arrive?
Greeter visits are scheduled no earlier than the day after arrival to accommodate any unforeseeable travel delays.

What if I am unable to pre-register seven to ten business days before my Chicago arrival?
Try our year-round InstaGreeter service or seasonal Millennium Park Greeter service instead.

InstaGreeter
InstaGreeter, an on-the-spot service, offers visitors the opportunity to see downtown Chicago in an hour. Greeters lead these free walking visits focusing on Chicago history and architecture.

First come, first served, on-the-spot, one-hour walking visits.

Available year-round (except major holidays): Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Just check in at the InstaGreeter booth in the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph Street) Visitor Information Center by 3 p.m.

Millennium Park Greeter
Millennium Park Greeter leads free, summertime, daily walking tours of Millennium Park departing from the Millennium Park Welcome Center (201 E. Randolph Street). For details, visit www.MillenniumPark.org or call 312.742.1168, or call Chicago Greeter at 312.744.8000.

Are there other Millennium Park tours?
Yes, including the Guided Tours of The Lurie Garden and other special tours presented by Millennium Park. For details, visit www.MillenniumPark.org or call 312.742.1168.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation also offers a Millennium Park tour. For details, visit www.Architecture.org or call 312.922.3432.

My group has more than six people. Will you make an exception for us?
Because greeter visits are informal, personalized tours, we can only accept groups of six or fewer.

The Millennium Park Greeter service can accommodate groups of 10 or fewer.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation can accommodate larger groups. For details, visit www.Architecture.org or call 312.922.3432.

For more tour options, visit www.cityofchicago.org/Tourism or call toll-free 877.Chicago.

What if I have to cancel my greeter visit?
The greeters are volunteers who make the trip to the Visitor Center just to meet your group. If you are unable to meet with your greeter, please call (312.744.8000) 24 hours or more prior to the meeting time.

Which other cities offer a Greeter program?
Other cities with Greeter programs are New York, New York; Fairbanks, Alaska; Houston, Texas; Toronto, Canada; Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Paris and Nantes France; and Thanet, the seaside towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate in Kent, England.

How can I start a Greeter program in my city?
For information, contact Chicago Greeter's program coordinator Katie Law at 312.744.8000 or chgogreeter@cityofchicago.org.

Know before you go!

Greeters are volunteer “friends,” not professional tour guides.

Confirm your accommodations before registering for Chicago Greeter: visit dates, hotel and a local telephone number with voice mail required (we cannot accept long-distance cell numbers).  

Register for Chicago Greeter at least seven to ten business days before arriving in Chicago.

You may submit only one Chicago Greeter request per Chicago stay.

Chicago Greeter accommodates travel parties of six or fewer, matching each party with its own greeter. Generally, greeters are not shared among groups.

Greeters and visitors travel by foot and public transportation; private transportation (yours or theirs) is prohibited.