Sightseeing Cruises

90-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

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

4.9/5(961)

Kevin M

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

The cruise covered so many unique and historical buildings along the Chicago River shoreline. I enjoyed navigating all 3 branches of the river, and only wish we'd gone further north to Division near Goose Island because of the history of that location. The south leg was more thanI expected and I was able to get awesome photos along the river cruise. The narrator for the cruise was awesome as well, unfortunately I forgot to remember to jot his name down, but he was knowledgeable and entertaining. Thanks Wendella, in comparison to the 1st Lady architectural cruise we were originally booked for, this gave us our best bang for the buck, and it was much less crowded. As we passed the 1st Lady I could see there barely any extra seats available. I also loved the enclosed air- conditioned downstairs bar area

Diane E

Family

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

This Chicago River architecture tour was absolutely fantastic! Our tour guide was incredibly helpful, informative, and genuinely funny. They kept everyone engaged with interactive storytelling and shared so many fascinating facts about the city’s rich history and architecture. The scenery was truly breathtaking, seeing Chicago from the river felt like something out of this world. Every turn offered stunning views of the skyline and iconic buildings. I learned so much while having a great time, which made the experience even more memorable. If you’re visiting Chicago, I highly recommend this tour. It’s the perfect combination of history, entertainment, and spectacular views.

Leslie V

Couple

Verified booking

5 days ago

I loved everything about the cruise, from the beautiful views to the energy and enthusiasm of our host, he made it so much fun and very informative, we learned a lot about Chicago and its history, I didn't know that The Dark Knight was filmed here that was cool! Only one thing stood out to us, our host seemed to have trouble keeping some people quiet throughout the ride even though he specifically asked us to stay quiet multiple times, to enforce his rules I believe security would be a good option, the people did try to get hostile but eventually stopped, other than that I loved the experience!

Dharam P

Family

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

We had an amazing experience on the Wendella Cruise in Chicago! The views of the city's beautiful skyline and incredible architecture were breathtaking. Our tour guide, Kenneth, was outstanding—knowledgeable, entertaining, and full of interesting stories that made the tour both fun and informative. The boat was clean, the staff was friendly, and everything was well organized. Thanks to Kenneth, this was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend Wendella Cruises to anyone visiting Chicago!

Wing L

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

We had the perfect guide for this tour. He did an amazing job explaining how the city’s architecture has evolved and adapted over time through human activities, river changes, and policy shifts. The experience was totally worth the ticket price. Despite the hazardous air quality in Chicago today, he and actually the whole crew remained incredibly professional and positive, keeping everyone engaged with great stories and jokes even in such extreme conditions. Highly recommend this tour!

Steven M

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The cruise was fantastic! We want to do it again. The information was so interesting, the guide had a great personality and I saw parts of Chicago I never knew even existed. We went on the day of the intense smoke from the Canadian wildfires. You could barely see the tops of many of the buildings but it didn't diminish the tour for us in any way. Highly recommend this for anyone visiting Chicago!

90‑min Chicago River architecture cruise

Boat tour with an expert tour guide

Food and beverages (available for purchase onboard)

TOTAL DURATION1 hour 30 minutes
1 Boarding point
Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks
Get direction
Sights covered
Lake Point Tower

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

961 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 Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and over 39 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Dharam P
Family
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
We had an amazing experience on the Wendella Cruise in Chicago! The views of the city's beautiful skyline and incredible architecture were breathtaking. Our tour guide, Kenneth, was outstanding—knowledgeable, entertaining, and full of interesting stories that made the tour both fun and informative. The boat was clean, the staff was friendly, and everything was well organized. Thanks to Kenneth, this was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend Wendella Cruises to anyone visiting Chicago!
Tiffany J
Family
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
My experience on the Chicago River Cruise was nothing short of AMAZING!! I learned a lot from the presenter, he was very knowledgeable about the information he provided and spoke very fluently. The people on board were very friendly, the workers were very professional and polite. It was very clean, the ride was very smooth. I rate this experience two thumbs up and 100 stars.
Mrs. Shireen A
Couple
Verified booking
Jun 2026
The boat cruise was amazing showing the history of Chicago. Boat itself was clean and all the safety protocols were put in place before we headed out which is critical for everyone's well being. The tour guide also had lots of knowledge and guided us through the tour with humor and history of Chicago..,Amazing!! Will recommend it anyone visiting Chicago.
Hetav S
Group
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
It was a wonderful experience. It was our first time in Chicago and we heard that boat tour is one of the best experiences and must try in Chicago. So we are glad we did it. The guide was very nice and explained everything nicely. The services provided on deck were good as well. Overall great experience.
Esha M
Couple
Verified booking
Jun 2026
The guide Alyssa was amazing! Her knowledge of Chicago buildings was top notch and she kept the information engaging and never boring. We did the 830 cruise and it was super cool to see the building all lit up. Would highly recommend this river cruise if you get the chance!

What's not allowed

Keep in mind that 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