Sightseeing Cruises

90-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

4.8/5(1,186)

Liyuan L

Couple

Verified booking

4 days ago

Taking the 90-minute Wendella architecture tour was easily one of the highlights of my time downtown. Gliding through the river canyon gives you an entirely different appreciation for the scale of the skyline—craning your neck up at the Willis Tower, Marina City, and the canyon of glass and steel from water level never gets old. The guide managed to strike the right balance between architectural history and fun storytelling without feeling rehearsed. Transitioning out through the locks into the open lake offered incredible, breezy panoramic views back toward Navy Pier and the skyline, which made for amazing photos. The boat was comfortable, the staff kept boarding running like clockwork, and having a full bar on deck was a welcome touch on a warm, clear afternoon. If it’s your first time in the city or you just want to play tourist for an afternoon, this is well worth every penny.

Lisa S

Group

Verified booking

5 days ago

The cruise itself is top notch! Great tour guide...informative, funny, personable. Beautiful views! You learn a lot! The logistics of getting where you have to be can be confusing and chaotic. Michigan Avenue ticket stand informed us (already purchased tickets) to go down and right and left. We ended up in line for the water taxi instead of the line to get on the boat. Once we got to the right place they still weren't very clear on where we should get in line. There are too many people in too many lines and not enough instruction on where they want you to be. Bottom line...leave early to arrive early because you will really end up getting there just in time.

Keiwanna B

Solo

Verified booking

2 days ago

I absolutely loved this cruise! The views of Chicago were beautiful, and seeing the city’s amazing architecture from the river made the experience even better. The tour was informative, relaxing, and the perfect length. Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable, and I would definitely recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Chicago!

Angela T

Solo

Verified booking

Last week

The guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. She also made everyone aware of when the breaks would be or good times to get refreshments/enjoy the AC without missing any senic views. It was a great experience learning about the history of Chicago and how the architecture was tied to different eras.

Joanne K

Group

Verified booking

Last week

Enjoyed the scenery! The guide was great! I wish we had better weather. A recommendation I would have is to offer those plastic rain ponchos. Could even get them with your logo. I am glad you offer elevators for people with mobility issues but we found it hard to locate so better signage?

Dawn S

Solo

Verified booking

Yesterday

I take the Wendella Architecture cruise every summer in Chicago. The narrator was so knowledgeable. A wonderful way to learn about the architecture of these gorgeous buildings. I absolutely love this cruise. I learn something new everytime I go.

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
Centennial Fountain
NBC Tower
Tribune Tower
Wrigley Building
Trump International Hotel & Tower
AMA Plaza
Marina City
Merchandise Mart
Reid-Murdoch Center
Residences at River Bend
Kinzie Park
River Point
150 N Riverside Plaza
100 N Riverside Plaza
2 North Riverside Plaza
Old Post Office
Union Station Power House
Canal Street Railroad Bridge
River City
The Southbank
311 South Wacker
Willis Tower
Chicago Board of Trade
CME Center
Civic Opera Building
333 West Wacker
LaSalle/Wacker Building
Chicago Riverwalk
77 West Wacker
Leo Burnett Building
35 East Wacker
Carbide and Carbon Building
London Guarantee Building
Aon Center
Aqua Tower
Vista Tower
Crain Communications Building
Chicago Marine Safety Station
Goose Island
The Domain

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

1,186 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.
1K
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Guests from Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico and over 39 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Gemma H
Solo
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
I felt like I came to know more about the stunning city that I'd inhabited for the past weeks and visited numerous times. Through this experience, I felt more connected with my surroundings and the person I was lucky enough to embark with. Also, it was just plain gorgeous! Would recommend.
Joseph S
Family
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The architecture boat tour was by far the best part of our weekend trip to Chicago. We have recommended it to all of our friends and family and will definitely book the trip again next time we're in town. We learned so much about chicagos history
Evans O
Family
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
On time! Learnt a lot on the architecture. Seen unexpected views and the one's I've always wanted to. Very informative lady tour guide. Recommending Wendella to friends back home already.
Liyuan L
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
Taking the 90-minute Wendella architecture tour was easily one of the highlights of my time downtown. Gliding through the river canyon gives you an entirely different appreciation for the scale of the skyline—craning your neck up at the Willis Tower, Marina City, and the canyon of glass and steel from water level never gets old. The guide managed to strike the right balance between architectural history and fun storytelling without feeling rehearsed. Transitioning out through the locks into the open lake offered incredible, breezy panoramic views back toward Navy Pier and the skyline, which made for amazing photos. The boat was comfortable, the staff kept boarding running like clockwork, and having a full bar on deck was a welcome touch on a warm, clear afternoon. If it’s your first time in the city or you just want to play tourist for an afternoon, this is well worth every penny.
Giorgia P
Group
Verified booking
Last week
An absolute must-do in Chicago! The river cruise was one of the best experiences of our trip. Seeing the skyscrapers and historic buildings right from the water lets you appreciate the city’s incredible architecture even more—especially thanks to the guide Emma’s explanations, which were always interesting and fun. The tour was just the right length, the atmosphere was pleasant, and we learned so many fascinating facts about Chicago’s history that we probably would never have discovered just by walking through its streets. It offers a completely different perspective on the city and, in my opinion, is an experience that’s absolutely worth having. Highly recommended!

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