Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Marvel at the magnificent architecture on the Chicago River with expert tour guides! All ages welcome. Each architecture river tour is narrated by a professional guide which leads passengers down the Chicago River to discover the city’s most renowned landmarks. In addition to historical insight on well known structures such as the Civic Opera House, Trump Tower & the Merchandise Mart, passengers will also get a chance to learn about current and upcoming developments. This Chicago River Cruise is the only cruise that navigates the three primary branches of the river including the main branch to Navy Pier, the north branch to Goose Island, and the south branch to Chinatown. It is also the cruise closest to Skydeck, has the least expensive parking, and is great for those coming from the suburbs due to its location off Interstate 290.
Inclusions
What's included
- Fully enclosed interior with air conditioning, seats, & windows
- Outside seating available (seating is first come first serve basis)
- Restroom on board
- Guided architecture cruise of the historic Chicago River
What's not
- Full bar & snacks (available for purchase)
- Gratuities
- $12 to $15 discounted parking lot connected to marina
Itinerary
Located in the center of the Magnificent Mile, and steps from the Michigan Avenue Bridge, The Wrigley Building has been a hallmark of Chicago’s skyline since 1920. Designed as the headquarters for the successful chewing gum, the building was modeled after the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. Today, it is still home to Wm Wrigley Jr. Company, and is perhaps best known for its dazzling white towers that illuminate the city at night.
Willis Tower is the heart of downtown Chicago and the future of work and play. The 110-story building is one of the tallest buildings in the world and the second tallest building in Chicago, making it impossible to miss when appreciating the city’s skyline.
Aqua Tower is an 82-story mixed-use residential skyscraper in the Lakeshore East development in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
The Chinatown neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois is on the South Side and is an example of an American Chinatown, or ethnic-Chinese neighborhood.
Chicago's Merchandise Mart is an iconic building housing top home showrooms and plenty of office space.
Drawing crowds for over 100 years, the Navy Pier is a must-see on any visit to Chicago.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 51,784
- 480
- 325
- 211
- 140
Ratings come from 1,940 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.
5Do it
What an informative and interesting tour. Comfortable seating. Docent Dan was fantastic, very knowledgeable and a relatable way of sharing that knowledge
5David was great! He knows...
David was great! He knows a lot about Chi’s architecture and he will keep you engaged throughout the whole tour. The boat has clean bathrooms and a bar as well!! Great tour and we will be doing it again!
5Our docent was better than your docent
David was amazing!!!! It was so interesting and informative. It has been a trip highlight for us.
5Great Tour!
We had a great time & our tour guide, Jay Jay was awesome. A definite must see when visiting Chicago. Do the late afternoon to catch sunset.
5Take the tour; you won’t regret it
Heath, the guide, was very knowledgeable and hilarious. I love that he conducted the tour with empathy for the residents and immigrants that built Chicago. This made the tour feel more sentimental and gave me a greater connection to the city.
5David gave a thorough and...
David gave a thorough and insightful explanation to all the buildings as we made our way through the river. Super enjoyable and easy to follow along, would recommend!
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Registration takes place in the parking lot connected to the marina. Please note that parking typically costs between $12.00-$15.00. For more details on directions and parking.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 150 travellers
- Operated by
- Tours and Boats
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tour times cannot be changed
- Cruises are on rain or shine
- Minimum drinking age is 21 years
- Please arrive 30 min before your cruise time
- Seating is first come first serve. If you have a large group, arrive early
How it compares in Chicago
- Its from-price is 61% 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 6 of 106.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
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.
Special offers in Chicago
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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