Sightseeing Cruises

Lake Michigan Cruise

4.8/5(416)

Lori S

Solo

Verified booking

Oct 2026

Wendella boat tours are wonderful, I have been on several. My favorite is the Lake and River cruise. The Dosets are very knowledgeable about the city. The scenery of the downtown from the lake view is spectacular. I highly recommend this tour. It was my third this summer!

Martin M

Couple

Verified booking

Oct 2026

The crew on shore and water was very professional. We were surprised to experience entering the lake through a Locke! It was such a cool surprise and wow what an experience. Seeing the city from the river and the lake was amazing. We highly recommend the cruise!

Thomas S

Couple

Verified booking

Oct 2026

What a great overview of Chicago. The background on some of the architectural marvels in the city and the view from the lake set the tone for a great weekend in the Windy City!

Chantal H

Couple

Verified booking

Oct 2026

I very much enjoyed the cruise, but it ended up being a lot longer than expected and we had to go to dinner afterwards so if I had known it was gonna be more than 90 minutes, I don't know if I would have planned it so close to dinner. They had explained that this cruise was gonna be a little different but I didn't hear why they said it was gonna be different. We had to pull over a couple times to stop so I don't know what was going on. The views of the buildings and the sunset were really nice. I couldn't really hear what they were saying about the buildings & the history of them because we sat downstairs but if I was to do this again, I would try and get a better seat so I can hear them hear them speaking about what we're seeing.

Brock G

Couple

Verified booking

Sep 2026

It was a good overall experience. Spiro was a great guide, and the time on the river & lake was very enjoyable. My only small quibble was that I emailed someone there to ask about whether this cruise on the river and lake included all the arms of the river and the lake, or an abbreviated river tour to allow time on the lake. The person who responded said it was all 3 arms of the river and then the lake ... but it ended up being just the east/west arm of the river. Not a huge issue, but a small disappointment.

Jill R

Solo

Verified booking

Sep 2026

For 90mins I was treated to an incredible view of the city from the river and a wider view from Lake Michigan. Our guide gave us interesting insights about almost every building we passed and kept everyone engaged with some history as well. The boat was clean, the staff was friendly, and the entire experience was well worth the money. I only had one day in Chicago and I'm so glad I chose to spend that time on this cruise through the city.

Experience Chicago’s iconic skyline from the water on a Lake Michigan cruise, offering a unique vantage point and engaging narration that brings the city’s history and architecture to life.

Enjoy skip-the-line entry, onboard commentary (live or pre-recorded in English), and seasonal perks like complimentary hot chocolate on select December evening departures.

Enjoy well-rounded inclusions such as expert-guided or narrated tours, scenic cruising durations of 45 to 90 minutes, and access to onboard amenities like a full-service bar (on select cruises).

Sail past landmarks like Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, and the Chicago Riverwalk while gaining insight into the city’s architectural legacy.

Choose between a quick 45-minute cruise from Navy Pier, a 90-minute architecture-focused river and lake tour with a live guide, or a 90-minute sunset cruise offering scenic evening views with light narration and a more relaxed ambiance.

45-minute Lake Michigan boat tour with audio guide (as per option selected)

90-minute Chicago River and Lake Michigan guided architecture cruise (as per option selected)

90-minute sunset sightseeing cruise on Lake Michigan (as per option selected)

Full-service bar onboard (available for purchase with a valid ID) (as per option selected)

Complimentary hot chocolate on select December evening cruises

Admission to other Chicago attractions

Food and beverages (except complimentary hot chocolate on select December evening cruises)

Transportation to/from departure locations

Additional personal expenses onboard

Gratuities

TOTAL DURATION45 minutes
MODE OF TRANSFERBoat
1 Boarding point
Navy Pier
Get direction
Sights covered
Hancock Building (875 North Michigan Avenue)
Chicago Lighthouse
Willis Tower
The Museum Campus
Shedd Aquarium
Adler Planetarium
Field Museum of Natural History
Centennial Wheel
Aon Center
Aqua Tower
Field Museum of Natural History
Adler Planetarium
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
Lake Point Tower
Grant Park
TOTAL DURATION1 hour 30 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.

416 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, Mexico, United Kingdom and over 24 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Martin M
Couple
Verified booking
Oct 2026
The crew on shore and water was very professional. We were surprised to experience entering the lake through a Locke! It was such a cool surprise and wow what an experience. Seeing the city from the river and the lake was amazing. We highly recommend the cruise!
Wesley S
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Excellent host with comprehensive knowledge of Chicago. Her anecdotes were interesting and delivered with good humor. Would do it again.
Jennifer B
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The crew did a fantastic job, the boat was clean, and the views were stunning.
Kim S
Family
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The views were amazing and the host was awesome!!! Loved the experience
Mary M
Group
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Excellent guide. Great views. Accommodated 3 80 year old women.

What to bring

Bring a credit card if you wish to buy refreshments, as the snack bar operates on a cashless (card-only) system.

What's not allowed

Bringing alcohol, weapons, flammable items, or explosives onboard is strictly prohibited.

Smoking is not allowed onboard, including the use of e-cigarettes.

Additional information

Boarding typically starts 15 to 30 minutes prior to departure.

Bags may be inspected before boarding.

For safety and comfort, the Captain may alter the route during the tour.

Entry may be refused to guests who are intoxicated, impaired, or considered a safety concern.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

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

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.