Sightseeing Cruises

45-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

4.8/5(1,795)

Joao B

Group

Verified booking

Last week

We had an absolutely wonderful experience on the 45-minute architecture boat tour in Chicago. It was one of the highlights of our visit to the city. The tour offered a fantastic and unique perspective of Chicago’s incredible skyline and allowed us to appreciate the architecture from a completely different angle. The guide was excellent, very knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. We learned so many interesting facts about the history of the buildings, the architects who designed them, and how Chicago’s skyline has evolved over the years. The explanations were clear and entertaining, making the entire experience enjoyable from beginning to end. The boat was comfortable, the views were spectacular, and the 45 minutes passed incredibly quickly. Seeing the magnificent buildings from the river was truly unforgettable, and we took some amazing photos along the way. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Chicago. It is a great way to discover the city, learn about its remarkable architecture, and enjoy a relaxing and memorable experience on the river. Definitely worth it!

Liyuan L

Couple

Verified booking

5 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

6 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

3 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?

45-min Chicago River architecture cruise (as per option selected)

90-min Chicago River architecture cruise (as per option selected)

Expert tour guide

Food and beverages (available for purchase onboard)

TOTAL DURATION45 minutes
1 Boarding point
Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks
Get direction
Sights covered
London Guarantee Building
Carbide and Carbon Building
Crain Communications Building
35 East Wacker
Leo Burnett Building
77 West Wacker
Chicago Riverwalk
LaSalle/Wacker Building
333 West Wacker
Civic Opera Building
CME Center
Willis Tower
2 North Riverside Plaza
100 N Riverside Plaza
150 N Riverside Plaza
River Point
Merchandise Mart
Reid-Murdoch Center
Marina City
AMA Plaza
Trump International Hotel & Tower
Wrigley Building
Tribune Tower
NBC Tower
Centennial Fountain
Lake Point Tower
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.

1,795 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, Mexico and over 48 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Ma U
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Our boat tour in Chicago was such a wonderful experience! From the moment we stepped on board, everything felt organized, relaxing, and enjoyable. The views of the Chicago skyline from the water were absolutely breathtaking, and it was amazing to see the city from such a different perspective. The architecture was definitely the highlight, and seeing the famous buildings along the river while learning about their history made the experience even more special. The tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and entertaining. They shared interesting stories and facts about Chicago’s architecture, history, and landmarks without making the tour feel overwhelming. The pace was perfect, giving us plenty of time to take pictures, enjoy the scenery, and simply take in the beautiful surroundings. The boat itself was comfortable, clean, and provided great views throughout the entire tour. It was also nice to have a relaxing break from walking around the city while still being able to explore and learn about Chicago. Overall, I highly recommend this boat tour to anyone visiting Chicago, whether it’s your first time in the city or you’re a local looking for something fun to do. It was relaxing, informative, and memorable. Definitely an experience I would love to do again!
Avishay G
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The cruise was phenomenal. The sites themselves were well chosen for a shorter tour (I did one of the full length ones before) and the guide was knowledgeable, passionate and amusing. Not to mention that it was incredibly affordable. Even my skeptical friend who I dragged along for the experience had a blast. . I highly recommend this tour!
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.

What to bring

If you wish to purchase refreshments at the snack bar, bring your credit card along, as cash transactions are unavailable.

What's not allowed

Keep in mind that alcohol, weapons, flammables, and explosives are not allowed on this experience.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please arrive at the meeting point 30 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

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

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