Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. The story of the Chicago River is one that continues to unfold. Through periods of industry, transportation, revitalization and recreation, it has grown and changed like the city itself.

   1.5 h

2. The Chicago Architecture Center is directly across Wacker Drive from the Chicago's First Lady docks. Discounted admission of $5 per person is available if you show your river cruise ticket.

   Passes by

3. From naval base and university campus to shipping hub and entertainment destination, Navy Pier is Chicago’s hallmark of adaptive reuse.

   Passes by

4. When architect Bertrand Goldberg envisioned Marina City, it was an urban experiment designed to draw middle-class Chicagoans back to the city after more than a decade of suburban migration.

   Passes by

5. When our docents explain that the Trump International Hotel & Tower reflects its surroundings, they aren’t only referring to its shiny glass and steel exterior.

   Passes by

6. One of the last American projects designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, this powerful Modernist structure occupies a prominent place on the Chicago River.

   Passes by

7. Gravity-defying 150 North Riverside has already taken its rightful place among Chicago’s architectural and engineering wonders.

   Passes by

8. View Boeing International Headquarters at 100 N Riverside Plaza.

   Passes by

9. For nearly 25 years after its completion, the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, held the title of tallest building in the world.

   Passes by

10. Size has always mattered in the Midwest. Upon its completion in 1930, it was the largest building in the world and served as Marshall Field’s wholesale warehouse, where retailers could buy stock.

    Passes by

11. View the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Building, located at 20 S Wacker Drive.

    Passes by

12. Chicago Tribune Freedom Center.

    Passes by

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

Ratings come from 7,395 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 53 C's with Mark

  Our volunteer docent, Mark on the 3 C cruise was very knowledgeable and created a great atmosphere for the cruise. We took the 6pm cruise. It started in the daylight and then transitioned to evening with all the lights coming on the skyscrapers. It was beautiful. I highly recommend this tour.

  OnAir209784October 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Unique Experience

  Mark is a truly passionate and knowledgeable guide. It was an absolute pleasure to discover Chicago’s magnificent architecture and fascinating history through his stories and insights. An unforgettable experience and, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my time in Chicago!

  andreagK1362TVOctober 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Skip Wendella and do this tour

  This was our second time on this tour and the fourth or fifth by our son, who lives here. Once again, this tour was five-star all the way. Our experience: The ticketing process was simple. We bought the priority boarding, which allowed us avoid the boarding line and choose our seats (as a group of five) on the upper deck and get settled with drinks etc. before the great majority of other passengers boarded. Recommended. The tour guide, Lisa T, was AMAZING. How she is able to provide so much substantive information about Chicago architectural (and general) history is beyond us. She was articulate, friendly, engaging, easy to understand, and managed to audience beautifully. Tip: We were on the 5.30 pm sailing in October, which meant we left the dock in broad daylight and returned with the cityscape illuminated in a magical, almost fairytale way. The sun set half-way through the trip, and provided a spectacular backdrop to the city. We were back at the dock at 7, perfectly timed to catch the L to West Loop and make our 8 pm dinner reservation (at The Loyalist: shout-out to our favorite Chicago "splurge" restaurant). I think every review says this is a must-do for first timers--and a wonderful refresher for repeat participants--with excellent reasons for that advice. Skip Wendella and do this tour.

  donaldm126October 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5great tour

  Chuck was an amazing guide- informative and engaging - he inspired new architecture nerds! Highly recommend this tour!

  Dana ROctober 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Wonderful architecture brief during the cruise.

  I had been gone from Chicago for 30 years and was astounded by the changes in downtown construction. The architecture docent onboard was a gem, with detailed information about the growth of the areas along the Chicago River. We even corraled him afterwards to discuss historic events like the sinking of the "Eastland" in 1915.

  G449AQandrewcOctober 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Great

  A fantastic cruise and membership. Very happy we joined

  Exploration813475October 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Chicago

• Its from-price is 33% below the median of the 106 city tours we list in Chicago.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 106.

About Chicago

Chicago is a Great Lakes city on Lake Michigan, famed for skyscraper architecture, deep-dish pizza, blues and jazz and a long lakefront of parks.

Chicago rebuilt itself after the fire of 1871 and became the cradle of the skyscraper. The Chicago River runs through the Loop, where tall towers rise, and boat tours explain the architecture from the water. Millennium Park's mirrored Cloud Gate sculpture, known as the Bean, and the Art Institute of Chicago, with its Impressionist paintings, are close together. Willis Tower has a glass-floored observation deck.

Top-ranked sights in Chicago: Navy Pier, Wrigley Building, The Magnificent Mile.

See all 524 experiences in Chicago