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About

1.5 hrs

1 mi.

8 guests

$34.99

Get up close with art featured in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" on this unique walking tour at the Art Institute of Chicago

Calling art enthusiasts and Ferris Bueller fans! Get ready to step into the iconic world of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on our popular 90-minute walking tour, aptly named The Art of Ferris Bueller. 


Led by a passionate Ph.D. guide, this immersive experience will take you through the renowned halls of the Art Institute of Chicago, where a memorable portion of the 1980s teen comedy unfolds.


As you enter the Modern Wing, the adventure begins. Marvel at the same masterpieces that Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron admired during their legendary day off.


Your guide, armed with a wealth of knowledge and a flair for storytelling, will regale you with little-known anecdotes and behind-the-scenes facts that will deepen your appreciation for both the art and the movie. As with all of our guided movie tours, your experience here will be enhanced with clips, photos, soundbites, and screenshots.


On The Art of Ferris Bueller, you'll traverse three floors of the museum, covering a distance of about 1.5 miles. Along the way, you'll discover 16 carefully selected pieces of art, each with its own unique connection to the characters, director, and storyline of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ever wondered why Cameron fixated on that Seurat painting? Prepare to have your curiosity satisfied!


Ideal for Gen-X—and all ages, of course!—this immersive experience promises to reignite your love for Ferris Bueller's Day Off while deepening your appreciation for the treasures housed within the Art Institute of Chicago.


So, grab your tickets for The Art of Ferris Bueller, gather your friends, and get ready for a journey through art, cinema, and nostalgia that you won't soon forget! 


NOTE: Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is not included in the public walking tour. Learn more.

Movies/TV Highlighted

  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)


If you're interested in exploring more than one film with us, check out our full list of guided walking tours.

Public Tour Dates

Saturday

Apr 19, 2025

4:30 PM

Buy Tickets

Private Tours

Book this tour as a private or group tour! The private tour price listed below is a flat fee for up to 8 guests. If you have more than 8 in your party, please contact us to see if we can accommodate you.


NOTE: The Art Institute of Chicago closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so we cannot run this tour on those days.

Tour Specifics

Start/End Points

The tour starts in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, Griffin Court, by the staircase/chairs. This is NOT the Michigan Ave. entrance with the lions. Please arrive about 10 min. before the tour begins.


Museum Admission

Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is NOT included in our public walking tour (learn more). For ticket prices, please refer to the museum's ticketing chart. 


Waivers

Guests must initial a digital general waiver of liability with Chicago Movie Tours when they book. Guardians must sign waivers for children under the age of 18.


Low Attendance

To ensure we can provide a fun, engaging, and economically feasible public tour, we typically need a minimum of 4 guests. Head over to Tour Terms and Conditions for more on this policy, including reasons behind it and your refund options if, in the rare instance, a tour is cancelled due to low attendance.


Parking/Transportation

By Car: The Millennium Garages are located underground, below the parks adjacent to the museum. Public Transit: The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple 'L'train lines all stop above ground at Adams/Wabash, one block west of the museum. The Red and Blue lines stop underground at Monroe, just a few blocks away.


Accessibility

Elevators are located throughout the museum for access to all levels. 


What to Bring

Checkrooms are free for all visitors. Bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked. If you plan to check bags, please arrive early as there may be a line. Water bottles are allowed, but they must be stowed in a bag when guests are in spaces that house art.


Restrooms

Restrooms are located throughout the museum on each level.


Children

Guests ages 10 and up can attend.


Photography/Video

Non-flash photography is permitted in all permanent galleries. Tripods, selfie sticks, and video are not permitted.


Cancellations and Refunds

You may cancel or amend your reservation 48 hours or more before the tour departs. Read more Tour Terms and Conditions.

What's Included

  • Immersive experience exploring Ferris Bueller's Day Off inside the Art Institute of Chicago

  • Solid overview of the world-famous museum (three floors, covering about 1 mile)

  • Tour guide commentary from a passionate Ph.D. in film  

  • Small groups to enhance engagement and foster a more personalized experience

  • Visual and audio media to enhance your museum experience

  • Little-known anecdotes, stories, and theories about the 1986 teen comedy

  • Plenty of Instagram opportunities

  • Mini (Ferris-themed) goodie bag!

Reviews

Cristen

Art of Ferris Bueller

average rating is 5 out of 5
I did one of the Ferris Bueller's Day Off tours and found it an absolute delight. Clearly a lot of research has been put into crafting this tour; despite claiming not to be an art expert, she did a very credible job of relating the history of the paintings and how their use in the film helps to further character development. Though the tour touches on everything from Chicago history to fine art to film, the delivery is fun and enjoyable, with something for everyone. It's the best type of tour where you learn a lot, but you don't FEEL like you're learning. Note that there IS a lot of standing/walking and you move through the museum fast. However, she was extremely conscientious about the needs of her guests and was constantly checking not just on our comfort, but also to make sure that she moved her group through the museum without blocking/annoying any other patrons. I had a great time and will be back to check out her other tours!

December 9, 2023

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Patti

Art of Ferris Bueller

average rating is 5 out of 5
Don't think twice--Just book this tour!!! My husband and I were planning to visit the Art Institute of Chicago during our trip to downtown Chicago. We came across a listing for The Art of Ferris Bueller tour, and as big fans of the movie, we thought it would be an excellent add on for our museum visit. What a great decision as the tour was fantastic! We learned so much and had a blast! The reason this tour is unique is because Kelli, the tour guide, is not your average part-time guide who has learned a script. She is educated in the humanities and has a PhD in Film Studies. The way she interwove scenes from the movie (on her handy dandy tablet) with the art on display and her own insights into filmmaking was incredible. On this tour you not only learn things about Ferris Bueller's Day Off that you didn't know, but you also get a very insightful lesson on relevant art history. We absolutely loved how Kelli achieved all this in such an entertaining and engaging way. This tour is perfect for a range of ages and whether this is your first visit to the Art Institute or you have been many times before. We suggest giving yourself an hour or so before the tour begins or planning to stay after to enjoy other areas of the museum as well. I have to stop now...I need to go sign up for more Chicago Movie Tours. We're hooked!

November 10, 2023

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Sian

Art of Ferris Bueller

average rating is 5 out of 5
Really enjoyed the tour. Kelli was very knowledgable and full of interesting information. And very nice to spend time with, too!

October 29, 2023

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