Sightseeing Cruises

Official Chicago Architecture Cruise by First Lady

Name: Official Chicago Architecture Cruise by First Lady
Start: 2026-09-17T17:00:00
End: 2026-09-17T18:30:00
Location: First Lady

4.9/5(645)

Donald L

Couple

Verified booking

3 days ago

On an absolutely gorgeous Sunday morning, my wife and I boarded the First Lady with a friendly and warm welcome. Within minutes, we were underway to experience what turned out to be an extraordinary 90 minutes. Our very knowledgeable tour guide, Kimberly, shared her enthusiasm about the stunning buildings that hug the Chicago River. These Giants of Chicago with their unique architectural style and design were explained by Kimberly in great detail without missing a beat and nonstop interesting facts. All said and done, the First Lady tour was a fantastic experience and one I highly recommend.

Lynn W

Solo

Verified booking

4 days ago

My time on the water is always great. I've been on this boat times before. What was NOT great was that I attempted to cancel and even purchased protection that was supposed to allow me to be able to cancel without cause but found no way to do so. There was no clear instruction on how and all that I saw everywhere I looked was that the ticket could not be cancelled even after I paid for cancellation protection. I feel it was a rip off. I had no choice but to attend rather than reschedule. I will never purchase from this site again and will inform others about my experience.

Shellene C

Group

Verified booking

3 days ago

The volunteer docent, Sarah, was terrific! I learned soooo much about the history of Chicago, the river and the magnificent buildings. Her knowledge & enthusiasm was contagious ! I also appreciated the helpful staff and how clean the First Lady restrooms are 😉. I was surprised that the volunteers do not accept tips ~ I think if you had QR code stickers on the back of each chair, guests (all holding their phones taking photos) would immediately lean forward and make a donation to the Chicago Architecture Center. Loved this tour❤️

Bonnie S

Group

Verified booking

Yesterday

Friendly and professional crew on a very clean boat. Boarding was quick- Diane narrated an amazing tour without any notes in her hand! I loved that she still referred "Sears Tower" (instead of Willis) for us longtime Chicago folks. Architecture boat tours are my #1 booking to introduce Chicago to family and friends. This was my 3rd First Lady cruise in the past couple years of about 7. We had a perfect weather day, too!

Paul G

Solo

Verified booking

4 days ago

Brad super guide. Architect. Always explained termanology without dumbing down the tour or waisting time of diverse backgrounds of tourists. He'd thought out his presentation, timed it well to ships schedule. His local pride was obvious, but not obnoxious. Every one learned. No one was bored.

Susan H

Group

Verified booking

6 days ago

The expert guide. She really enjoyed sharing her knowledge. I had a lot of difficulty dealing with getting my digital tickets, however. Another time I would go directly to the Architecture Society for tickets and information. The boat ride was really smooth and delightful. Thank you.

90-minute guided architecture river cruise

Live narration by Chicago Architecture Center docents

Covers all three branches of the river

Guaranteed open-air outdoor seating

Restrooms onboard

Free stroller storage

Limited mobility services

Food and beverages (available for purchase at the bar/snack bar)

Gratuities

Parking (discounted parking available with validation, but not included)

Transportation or hotel pickup

TOTAL DURATION1 hour 30 minutes - 1 hour 30 minutes
FREQUENCYEvery 20-30 mins
MODE OF TRANSFERBoat
1 Boarding point
112 E. Wacker Drive
Get direction
Sights covered
NBC Tower
Trump International Hotel and Tower
Civic Opera House
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Wrigley Building
Tribune Tower
DuSable Bridge
Marina City
333 Wacker Drive
Willis Tower
Aon Center
875 North Michigan Avenue
Aqua Tower
Lake Point Tower
Merchandise Mart
Lyric Opera
The Rookery
Carbide & Carbon Building
Chicago Board of Trade
Navy Pier
Adler Planeterium
La Salle Street Bridge

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

645 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, France and over 25 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Dulguun T
Couple
Verified booking
Aug 2026
We absolutely loved our Chicago Architecture Cruise! Our guide, a Chicago native, was wonderful. Her speech was clear, simple, and easy to understand, which was especially helpful for us as international visitors. She explained the architecture and history in an interesting and engaging way. We also really enjoyed the comfortable onboard bar and the interesting cocktails. But what impressed us most was how friendly and welcoming everyone was from the very beginning. The staff member by the bridge kindly showed us where to go, the ticket staff were helpful, and the entire crew, bartender, and lifeguards were friendly and professional. We felt welcomed and well taken care of throughout the whole experience. The beautiful views of Chicago from the river made the cruise unforgettable. We would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago!
Giorgi M
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Fantastic way to experience Chicago’s architecture from a completely different perspective. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining, and the 90 minutes passed incredibly quickly. A must-do in Chicago, especially for anyone interested in architecture and the history of the city.
Avishai H
Group
Verified booking
Aug 2026
The guide from CAC was amazing! Great experience. The cruise was very smooth and effortless. Bar provided hit and cold drinks.
Timothy K
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
First Lady made the experience enjoyable, fun, and interesting. We really enjoyed the knowledgeable, articulate tour guide. Car parking for this Cruise is wonderful and discounted!... great for old people (me included). We parked at the recommended parking spot across the street from the boat launch. It was a little tricky to find even with GPS. I took the on line advice and validated our parking ticket at the tour ticket office when the cruise was over... 15 bucks... a bargain in downtown Chicago... the total experience was great. Enjoy the River Walk (too) when the tour is over. Remember though...your discounted parking is 4 hours max.
Donald L
Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
On an absolutely gorgeous Sunday morning, my wife and I boarded the First Lady with a friendly and warm welcome. Within minutes, we were underway to experience what turned out to be an extraordinary 90 minutes. Our very knowledgeable tour guide, Kimberly, shared her enthusiasm about the stunning buildings that hug the Chicago River. These Giants of Chicago with their unique architectural style and design were explained by Kimberly in great detail without missing a beat and nonstop interesting facts. All said and done, the First Lady tour was a fantastic experience and one I highly recommend.

What to bring

A hat, sunglasses, or visor to shield you from the sun as you cruise.

Your booking confirmation, either on your phone or printed, for a smooth check-in.

A government-issued photo ID if staff request to verify your reservation.

What’s not allowed

Large suitcases or oversized bags; you’ll need to travel light.

Open strollers during boarding; please fold strollers and store them, and carry children aboard.

Outside food or beverages. Snacks and drinks are available to purchase on board.

Pets (service animals are welcome).

Any form of smoking, including e-cigarettes.

Accessibility

The cruise offers limited mobility services, including early boarding and river-level drop-off for guests with accessibility needs. However, full wheelchair accessibility may not be available on all vessels. Please contact the staff in advance for assistance.

Additional information

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure; general boarding starts 15 minutes prior.

Cruises run rain or shine; tickets cannot be refunded for no-shows.

Infants under three years old still require a paid ticket.

Open-air seating is guaranteed but unassigned; seating is first-come, first-served.

Enjoy discounted parking at 111 E. Wacker Drive; validation available at the ticket office (parking fees not included).

River routes may vary due to weather or city events.

A portion of every ticket sale supports the Chicago Architecture Center’s educational mission.

During major events or street closures, please allow extra travel time to reach the departure point.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

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

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

Boarding point

Board your cruise at First Lady.

Address: 112 E Wacker Dr, 60601 Cook County Chicago, US.

Get directions to the boarding point