Sightseeing Cruises

90-min Chicago River and Lake Michigan Architecture Cruise by Wendella

Chicago River cruise boat with city skyline, part of 90 Min Chicago River and Lake Michigan Architecture Cruise.

Chicago River with skyline view, featuring modern skyscrapers on a 45min architecture cruise.

Chicago skyline with Willis Tower viewed from the river, featuring a raised railway bridge.

Chicago skyline with boats on the river during architecture cruise.

Duration

1 hr 30 mins

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

4.8/5(119)

Mauricio G

Family

Verified booking

Last week

I really enjoyed the guide's knowledge of the city. Over all was a great experience. Couldn't put a price on my children's faces from the sights and views. Would definitely do it again. Thanks Wendella.

Brenda H

Couple

Verified booking

4 days ago

The weather was perfect! The sights were beautiful. The cruise narrator was entertaining, knowledgeable and knew when to just let the passengers enjoy the ride without narration! A++

Evelyn T

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

The weather was far from ideal — rainy, windy, and honestly too cold for a tour like this — and yet we absolutely loved it. Our tour guide was outstanding. From start to finish, she shared fascinating insights in such an engaging and knowledgeable way. Listening to her was a real pleasure, and her passion for the city was obvious throughout. Architecturally, this is one of the most impressive cities we have seen so far, and she brought its history and character beautifully to life. The food was definitely overpriced, but that is somewhat expected at events like this. What truly stood out, however, was how exceptionally friendly and welcoming the staff were. Overall, this tour is an absolute must-do and worth every penny — even when the weather is not what you had hoped for.

Aaron H

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The tour on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan was absolutely fantastic and the highlight of my trip! The contrast between the narrow canyons of skyscrapers in the Financial District and the endless expanse of the lake is impressive. The trip through the lock was particularly fascinating—a technical experience you don’t get every day. From the lake, you also get the perfect postcard-worthy panorama of the entire skyline and Navy Pier. The guides share details about the architecture and history with plenty of humor and expertise—information you won’t find in any guidebook. Bottom line: An absolute must for every visitor to Chicago! The 90 minutes fly by, and you gain a completely new perspective on the “Windy City.”

Jeffrey P

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The tour guide was fabulous, mixing facts, history, stories and humor in the right mix. We got incredible views for sure. And it's great how you get the river and lake experiences which are very different. Highly recommended .

Lisa W

Solo

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Very nice overview about the architecture and history of Chicago combined with amazing views from both River and Lake. Tess was an amazing narrator and answered all questions, perfect combination of Information and humor

90-min architecture cruise

Boat cruise on the Chicago River & Lake Michigan

English-speaking tour guide

Food and beverages (available for purchase onboard)

TOTAL DURATION90 minutes
FREQUENCYOnce per day
1 Boarding point
Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks
Get direction
Sights covered
Chicago Harbor Lock
Navy Pier
Oak Street Beach
Chicago Lighthouse
Museum Campus
Buckingham Fountain

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

119 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.
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Guests from United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and over 13 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Mauricio G
Family
Verified booking
Last week
I really enjoyed the guide's knowledge of the city. Over all was a great experience. Couldn't put a price on my children's faces from the sights and views. Would definitely do it again. Thanks Wendella.
Brenda H
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
The weather was perfect! The sights were beautiful. The cruise narrator was entertaining, knowledgeable and knew when to just let the passengers enjoy the ride without narration! A++
Ian H
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
All the information, including the architectural information, historical context, stories, and humor.
Joyce C
Group
Verified booking
Last week
Scott's factual and humorous commentary made the boat tour a 10/10 for us!
Michael A
Couple
Verified booking
6 days ago
Great cruise, amazing views, very knowledgeable and engaging tour guide

What's not allowed

Alcohol, weapons of any kind, flammables, and explosives are not allowed on this experience.

Smoking cigarettes (including e-cigarettes) is prohibited on board.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Your guide dogs are welcome on board the boat.

Additional information

The Captain may adjust the tour route as needed to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers.

Safety comes first. All bags are subject to inspection.

The crew reserves the right to deny entry to anyone who appears intoxicated, impaired, or may pose a safety risk.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

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

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Wendella Tours & Cruises.

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

Landmark: The dock is 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