With its random-access MP3 technology, the guide offers a customized tour every time it's used since visitors may access messages in any order and begin anywhere they wish in the museum, according to their own interests.

Four tours are available:

Silk Road Tour
The Silk Road tour features an introduction with Yo-Yo Ma, lively commentary by curators, and traditional Chinese music.

To hear excerpts, click here.

Director's Tour
Join Art Institute Director and President James Cuno as he discusses a selection of the most significant works in the collection. This tour has 40 stops.

Lions Trail Family Tour
The Lions Trail tour is designed for children ages 5 to 10 for an informative, dramatic, and fun tour of the collection. Listen in English or Spanish. This tour has 32 stops.

Gallery Overviews
Each stop highlights the organizing themes of the chosen gallery and points out masterpieces in the room. Museum curators, educators, conservators, and other staff, as well as outside scholars, professionals, and collectors provide enlightening details of the collection. Enriching context is provided by complementary music, readings of artist's writings and other sources, poetry, and related commentary. This tour comprises a total of about 4.5 hours in 135 stops, with messages lasting between 90 and 120 seconds.

• The commentary is presented in a conversational tone appealing to any age listener.
  
• If you need to interrupt your visit with lunch or other plans, you may return the player to its original destination and pick it up later in the day with a receipt.
  
• The commentary is available in English, with a Spanish version of the family tour only.
  
• Rent an audio guide in the Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive lobby.
  
• The guide is available for $6 ($5 for members). It is free for visually impaired visitors and their escorts.
  
• When available the audio guide also includes any exhibition audio tour.

The gallery audio guide is produced by Antenna Audio.