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Sightseeing Cruises

90-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise

Visitors on Chicago River cruise viewing city architecture.
Chicago River cruise boat passing under a bridge with city skyscrapers in the background.
Wrigley Building and Chicago River view on 90-minute architecture cruise.
Visitors on Chicago River architecture cruise viewing skyscrapers.

Duration

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

Put the focus on Chicago's architecture on this 90-minute cruise with an expert guide by your side. Operator: Wendella

4.9/5

(266)

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.
Aicha bellani

Aicha

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Architecture boat tour is a must when visiting Chicago or having guests from out of town.Stunning views with detailed walkthroughs of the buildings,their architecture and the architects that designed them!Whats outstanding is how knowledgeable the guide was and his sense of humor !My guests were do happy with the tour !one thing I really appreciated was the history behind each building it was just amazing!
Frances M. Sweeney

Frances

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
It was a truly spectacular experience-- beautiful blue skies that showed off the architecture even more! We had a super tour guide who knew how to blend the interesting history of Chicago with fun humor. And it was a fun way to meet other visitors. Overall a great time! Highly recommend this one!!
    • Enjoy a 90-min guided architecture cruise on the Chicago River, complete with expert commentary, skip-the-line access, and onboard refreshments.

    • Sail through the main river and its north and south branches, taking in Chicago’s skyline from an open-air deck or a climate-controlled interior.

    • The tour highlights 130 years of Chicago’s architectural history as expert guides share fascinating stories behind the city's most famous and innovative buildings.

    • 90‑min Chicago architecture cruise

    • Boat tour with an expert tour guide

    • Food and beverages (available for purchase with cash or card on the boat)
  • 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
    266 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.

    243
    14
    7
    0
    2
    Guests from Canada, United Kingdom, Germany 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.
    Courtney Walters

    Courtney

    Dec 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. I attended the tour in the winter and although it was cold, it's still worth it!
    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.
    Roseanne A Howe

    Roseanne

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    It was a wonderful experience! It has been years since I took that tour so it was nice to get a refresher on Chicago's rich history. I absolutely loved our tour guide, Spiro. He was fun, informative, and made it a point to visit with as many people as possible. I would certainly do the tour again.
  • Enjoy breathtaking views of Chicago’s iconic skyline from the unique vantage point of the Chicago River. As you cruise through the heart of the city, marvel at world-famous architectural landmarks, including the Willis Tower, Tribune Tower, and the Wrigley Building.

    Expert-led architectural insights

    Let the experts take over and give you fascinating insights into Chicago’s rich architectural history with engaging commentary during your cruise. Learn about the evolution of the city’s skyline, the vision behind its most famous buildings, and the significance of architectural movements that shaped modern Chicago.

    Relaxing and comfortable experience

    Sit back and enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Chicago River, offering a stress-free way to explore the city’s stunning architecture. With open-air and climate-controlled seating options, you can take in the sights comfortably in any weather.

  • What's not allowed

    • Keep in mind outside alcohol, weapons of any kind, flammables, and explosives are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!

    • Smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes is not allowed on board.

    Accessibility

    • This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

    • Your guide dogs are welcome on board.

    Additional information

    • The Captain reserves the right to adjust the tour route as needed to ensure passenger safety and comfort.
    • 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 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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