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Sightseeing Cruises

90-min Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Wendella

Visitors on Chicago River cruise viewing city architecture.
Chicago River cruise boat passing under a bridge with city skyscrapers in the background.
Wrigley Building and Chicago River view on 90-minute architecture cruise.
Visitors on Chicago River architecture cruise viewing skyscrapers.

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(605)

Luxshini S

Solo
Verified booking
Last week
I had an amazing experience on the Chicago Architecture Cruise. What I enjoyed the most was learning about the city's incredible history and the stories behind its iconic buildings while cruising along the Chicago River. The guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both educational and entertaining. Seeing Chicago's stunning skyline from the water offered a unique perspective that you simply can't get from the streets. I especially loved hearing about the different architectural styles and how the city evolved over time. The views were breathtaking, and there were plenty of opportunities to take beautiful photos. This cruise was the perfect combination of sightseeing, history, and relaxation. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago or even locals who want to appreciate the city's remarkable architecture in a new way.

Holly W

Group
Verified booking
6 days ago
Our family absolutely loved this cruise! Our guide, Jack, was incredibly knowledgeable about Chicago’s architecture, history, restaurants, and must-see attractions. He shared so many interesting facts and stories while keeping everyone entertained with his great sense of humor. The cruise was both informative and fun, and we learned so much about the city in a short amount of time. It ended up being one of the highlights of our trip to Chicago, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city!

Kevnn R

Solo
Verified booking
Last week
Absolutely the best thing to do in Chicago! Very highly recommended. We lucked out with the amazing weather. The sights from the river as well as having the live naration of each buildings history was incredible. It was so good that we will definitely come back for another tour. Maybe this time in the evening. What a treat! :)

Helen F

Solo
Verified booking
Yesterday
A very professional outfit all round. A great set up on the boat so that no matter where you sat everyone could hear and see the same things. Dave was a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and interesting guide - and an entertaining guy too. Very enjoyable.

Dana E

Family
Verified booking
Last week
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and created a quiet, enjoyable ride for all passengers. We enjoyed the architectural information as well as the recommendations for restaurants and bars in the many Chicago neighborhoods.

Alec R

Solo
Verified booking
3 days ago
Great commentary about the history of the city, the architecture, food, and culture. I would recommend this to anyone visiting to learn more about Chicago's deep history and local favorites.
    • 90‑min Chicago River architecture cruise

    • Boat tour with an expert tour guide

    • Food and beverages (available for purchase onboard)
  • TOTAL DURATION90 minutes

    1 Boarding point

    Wendella's Michigan Avenue Docks

    Get direction

    Sights covered

    Lake Point Tower

    Lake Point Tower

    Centennial Fountain

    Centennial Fountain

    NBC Tower

    NBC Tower

    Tribune Tower

    Tribune Tower

    Wrigley Building

    Wrigley Building

    Trump International Hotel & Tower

    Trump International Hotel & Tower

    AMA Plaza

    AMA Plaza

    Marina City

    Marina City

    Merchandise Mart

    Merchandise Mart

    Reid-Murdoch Center

    Reid-Murdoch Center

    Residences at River Bend

    Residences at River Bend

    Kinzie Park

    Kinzie Park

    River Point

    River Point

    150 N Riverside Plaza

    150 N Riverside Plaza

    100 N Riverside Plaza

    100 N Riverside Plaza

    2 North Riverside Plaza

    2 North Riverside Plaza

    Old Post Office

    Old Post Office

    Union Station Power House

    Union Station Power House

    Canal Street Railroad Bridge

    Canal Street Railroad Bridge

    River City

    River City

    The Southbank

    The Southbank

    311 South Wacker

    311 South Wacker

    Willis Tower

    Willis Tower

    Chicago Board of Trade

    Chicago Board of Trade

    CME Center

    CME Center

    Civic Opera Building

    Civic Opera Building

    333 West Wacker

    333 West Wacker

    LaSalle/Wacker Building

    LaSalle/Wacker Building

    Chicago Riverwalk

    Chicago Riverwalk

    77 West Wacker

    77 West Wacker

    Leo Burnett Building

    Leo Burnett Building

    35 East Wacker

    35 East Wacker

    Carbide and Carbon Building

    Carbide and Carbon Building

    London Guarantee Building

    London Guarantee Building

    Aon Center

    Aon Center

    Aqua Tower

    Aqua Tower

    Vista Tower

    Vista Tower

    Crain Communications Building

    Crain Communications Building

    Chicago Marine Safety Station

    Chicago Marine Safety Station

    Goose Island

    Goose Island

    The Domain

    The Domain

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

  • 605 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.

    557
    31
    16
    0
    1
    Canada
    United Kingdom
    Germany
    Mexico
    France
    Australia
    Argentina
    Brazil
    Ireland
    India
    Canada
    United Kingdom
    Germany
    Mexico
    France
    Australia
    Argentina
    Brazil
    Ireland
    India
    Guests from Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and over 35 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Luxshini S

    Solo
    Verified booking
    Last week
    I had an amazing experience on the Chicago Architecture Cruise. What I enjoyed the most was learning about the city's incredible history and the stories behind its iconic buildings while cruising along the Chicago River. The guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both educational and entertaining. Seeing Chicago's stunning skyline from the water offered a unique perspective that you simply can't get from the streets. I especially loved hearing about the different architectural styles and how the city evolved over time. The views were breathtaking, and there were plenty of opportunities to take beautiful photos. This cruise was the perfect combination of sightseeing, history, and relaxation. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago or even locals who want to appreciate the city's remarkable architecture in a new way.

    Holly W

    Group
    Verified booking
    6 days ago
    Our family absolutely loved this cruise! Our guide, Jack, was incredibly knowledgeable about Chicago’s architecture, history, restaurants, and must-see attractions. He shared so many interesting facts and stories while keeping everyone entertained with his great sense of humor. The cruise was both informative and fun, and we learned so much about the city in a short amount of time. It ended up being one of the highlights of our trip to Chicago, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city!

    Kevnn R

    Solo
    Verified booking
    Last week
    Absolutely the best thing to do in Chicago! Very highly recommended. We lucked out with the amazing weather. The sights from the river as well as having the live naration of each buildings history was incredible. It was so good that we will definitely come back for another tour. Maybe this time in the evening. What a treat! :)

    Helen F

    Solo
    Verified booking
    Yesterday
    A very professional outfit all round. A great set up on the boat so that no matter where you sat everyone could hear and see the same things. Dave was a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and interesting guide - and an entertaining guy too. Very enjoyable.

    Dana E

    Family
    Verified booking
    Last week
    Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and created a quiet, enjoyable ride for all passengers. We enjoyed the architectural information as well as the recommendations for restaurants and bars in the many Chicago neighborhoods.
  • 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

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