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Sightseeing Cruises

45-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise

Chicago River with raised lift bridges and skyline during architecture cruise.
Tour boat on Chicago River with city skyline in background during architecture cruise.
Visitors on Chicago River cruise viewing city architecture.
Chicago River with skyline view, featuring modern skyscrapers on a 45min architecture cruise.

Duration

45 min - 1 hr 30 min

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

Spot the best of Chicago's architectural marvels, all in 45 mins on a guided river cruise.

4.9/5

(409)

Jenny Davis

Jenny

Nov 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Our party of 4 arrived early to be among the first in line since my disabled father was with us and he can not maneuver quickly. As more people arrived, they moved the line from one place to another. Because of this we lost our place in line as people rushed past my father. This situation was frustrating to say the least. The staff approached us and allowed my father and one of us to board first. This was much appreciated and we are very thankful the staff listened and helped. We highly recommend based on how this was handled and of course, the ride itself was beautiful and the tour guide was full of cheesy jokes. We rolled our eyes and chuckled the entire ride.
Consuelo Bracamonte

Consuelo

Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
I took the 45-minute Chicago River Architecture Cruise and it was absolutely worth it. Even though it’s shorter than the classic tour, it still delivers amazing skyline views and covers the key architectural highlights along the river. The guide was engaging and knowledgeable, giving just the right amount of history and fun facts without feeling rushed. The route is very scenic, and you get great views of iconic buildings like Marina City, the Wrigley Building, and the Tribune Tower. It’s the perfect option if you’re short on time but still want a great introduction to Chicago’s architecture and riverfront. Fast, fun, and totally worth it. Highly recommend!
Qazi Shabihul Mateen

Qazi

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The Chicago Architectural Cruise was absolutely fantastic and one of the best ways to experience the city! The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, blending fascinating facts with humor and storytelling that brought Chicago’s architectural history to life. Cruising along the river offered stunning, up-close views of iconic landmarks while learning how the city rebuilt itself after the Great Fire. The boat was comfortable, the pace was perfect, and the skyline views were breathtaking especially after sunset. Highly recommended for architecture enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike.
    • Sail through the heart of Chicago on 45-min guided architecture cruise, enjoying expert commentary, gorgeous skyline views, and onboard refreshments.

    • Glide along all three branches of the Chicago River including the North Branch, the Main Stem, and the South Branch, as your guide shares fascinating insights into the city's 130-year architectural evolution.

    • Capture unobstructed views of Chicago’s iconic skyscrapers from the open-air upper deck, offering perfect photo opportunities of the cityscape.

    • Spot famous buildings like the Tribune Tower, Apple Store, AMA Building and the Wrigley Building.

    • River cruise

    • Expert tour guide

    • Food & drinks from the snack bar onboard
  • TOTAL DURATION45 minutes

    1 Boarding point

    Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks

    Get direction

    Sights covered

    London Guarantee Building

    London Guarantee Building

    Carbide and Carbon Building

    Carbide and Carbon Building

    Crain Communications Building

    Crain Communications Building

    35 East Wacker

    35 East Wacker

    Leo Burnett Building

    Leo Burnett Building

    77 West Wacker

    77 West Wacker

    Chicago Riverwalk

    Chicago Riverwalk

    LaSalle/Wacker Building

    LaSalle/Wacker Building

    333 West Wacker

    333 West Wacker

    Civic Opera Building

    Civic Opera Building

    CME Center

    CME Center

    Willis Tower

    Willis Tower

    2 North Riverside Plaza

    2 North Riverside Plaza

    100 N Riverside Plaza

    100 N Riverside Plaza

    150 N Riverside Plaza

    150 N Riverside Plaza

    River Point

    River Point

    Merchandise Mart

    Merchandise Mart

    Reid-Murdoch Center

    Reid-Murdoch Center

    Marina City

    Marina City

    AMA Plaza

    AMA Plaza

    Trump International Hotel & Tower

    Trump International Hotel & Tower

    Wrigley Building

    Wrigley Building

    Tribune Tower

    Tribune Tower

    NBC Tower

    NBC Tower

    Centennial Fountain

    Centennial Fountain

    Lake Point Tower

    Lake Point Tower

    TOTAL DURATION90 minutes

    1 Boarding point

    Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks

    Get direction

    Sights covered

    Lake Point Tower

    Lake Point Tower

    Centennial Fountain

    Centennial Fountain

    NBC Tower

    NBC Tower

    Tribune Tower

    Tribune Tower

    Wrigley Building

    Wrigley Building

    Trump International Hotel & Tower

    Trump International Hotel & Tower

    AMA Plaza

    AMA Plaza

    Marina City

    Marina City

    Merchandise Mart

    Merchandise Mart

    Reid-Murdoch Center

    Reid-Murdoch Center

    Residences at River Bend

    Residences at River Bend

    Kinzie Park

    Kinzie Park

    River Point

    River Point

    150 N Riverside Plaza

    150 N Riverside Plaza

    100 N Riverside Plaza

    100 N Riverside Plaza

    2 North Riverside Plaza

    2 North Riverside Plaza

    Old Post Office

    Old Post Office

    Union Station Power House

    Union Station Power House

    Canal Street Railroad Bridge

    Canal Street Railroad Bridge

    River City

    River City

    The Southbank

    The Southbank

    311 South Wacker

    311 South Wacker

    Willis Tower

    Willis Tower

    Chicago Board of Trade

    Chicago Board of Trade

    CME Center

    CME Center

    Civic Opera Building

    Civic Opera Building

    333 West Wacker

    333 West Wacker

    LaSalle/Wacker Building

    LaSalle/Wacker Building

    Chicago Riverwalk

    Chicago Riverwalk

    77 West Wacker

    77 West Wacker

    Leo Burnett Building

    Leo Burnett Building

    35 East Wacker

    35 East Wacker

    Carbide and Carbon Building

    Carbide and Carbon Building

    London Guarantee Building

    London Guarantee Building

    Aon Center

    Aon Center

    Aqua Tower

    Aqua Tower

    Vista Tower

    Vista Tower

    Crain Communications Building

    Crain Communications Building

    Chicago Marine Safety Station

    Chicago Marine Safety Station

    Goose Island

    Goose Island

    The Domain

    The Domain

  • You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

  • 4.9
    409 reviews

    How do we collect reviews?

    These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.

    371
    24
    10
    1
    3
    Guests from Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Donna R Gaydusek

    Donna

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Great guide! Learned and enjoyed so much from him! It may have been the coldest day yet in Chicago. But with the sunshine we still stayed up top most of the trip. Having the warm main cabin and drinks was perfect when we needed to warm up! All the Wendella people were very very friendly!
    Mary Grace Urciada

    Mary

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    I was amazed by all the buildings and some insights about it. It was a great experience with my friends. The cruise was smooth and really safe. As an exchange teacher from Philippines here in New Mexico I can share it to my students and relatives to try it when they visit Chicago.
    Arian Banaee

    Arian

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Great tour with a great guide. Even in the cold she kept it warm and kind through her humor and storytelling. only regret is not bringing gloves or doing the longer tour!
    KEERTHI REDDY

    Keerthi

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    It was very good experience looking into the history of Chicago I enjoyed it and i will recommend everyone to put this in their Chicago bucket list
    Paola Marmolejo

    Paola

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The tourguide was GREAT!!! Even with the cold weather we had a nice time and the information provided was really cool and interesting
  • Enjoy unforgettable views of Chicago’s skyline as you cruise along the Chicago River. This 45-min tour offers a unique vantage point to admire the city's world-famous skyscrapers, making it a must-do experience for architecture lovers.

    Let the experts lead you

    Gain insights into Chicago’s rich architectural heritage with engaging commentary from knowledgeable guides. Discover the history and design of iconic landmarks while enjoying a scenic and informative journey through the heart of the city.

    Perfect for time-conscious travelers

    Short on time? This 45-minute cruise provides a concise yet immersive look at Chicago’s architectural wonders, making it an ideal option for those with busy itineraries.

    Great for first-time visitors and locals

    Whether you're visiting Chicago for the first time or a local looking for a fresh perspective, this cruise offers a fun and accessible way to experience the city’s stunning urban landscape from the water.

  • What to bring

    • If you wish to purchase refreshments at the snack bar, bring your credit card along, as cash transactions are unavailable.

    What's not allowed

    • Keep in mind alcohol, weapons, flammables, and explosives are not allowed on this experience.
    • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

    • Please arrive at the meeting point 30 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

    • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

    Meeting point

    • Meet your guide at Wendella Tours & Cruises.

    • Address: 400 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.

    • Landmark: The cruise departs and returns to Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks, located at the northwest corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now called the DuSable Bridge), at the base of the Wrigley Building on the Chicago River.

    Get directions to the meeting point

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