Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Tour
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Be inspired by the captivating, visual art that is Chicago’s legendary architecture, and the exceptional architects who created this ever-changing, dynamic legacy for all to enjoy and admire. This comprehensive 90 minute tour will navigate through the heart of the city on all three branches of the Chicago River while your professionally-trained architectural guide tells the story of more than 130 years of innovation in design, style and technique and why it is important today. The Chicago River Architecture Tour is the most authentic and encompassing Chicago experience the city has to offer.
Inclusions
What's included
- Indoor and outdoor seating available (indoor is climate controlled)
- Narrated tour on board by professionally trained tour guide.
- Expert Local Guide
- Restroom on board
What's not
- Drinks and snacks available for purchase on-board the vessel.
- Gratuities
Itinerary
Vessels depart from Wendella's docks at the northwest corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (DuSable Bridge), at the foot of the Wrigley Building.
Dedicated in 1989 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, known for reversing the flow of the Chicago River in 1900. For the first five minutes of every hour, the fountain shoots a water arc across the river from a tiered waterfall.
The largest commercial building in the world.
Michigan Avenue is home of the Chicago Water Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and the shopping on the Magnificent Mile.
This white, terra-cotta landmark was built in 1922 as headquarters for the Wrigley chewing gum company.
An open, pedestrian waterfront called the city's 'Second Lakefront.'
Second-largest opera auditorium in North America, with an Art Deco interior
Pass by these iconic mixed-use apartment buildings - "a city within a city" with their unique corn-cob exterior.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.7
- 59,470
- 4839
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Ratings come from 11,132 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.
4Decent
It’s a beautiful tour with amazing sites of Chicago. My main complaint is it was a little difficult to hear our tour guide and sometimes not clear which building or landmark she was talking about. That said, decent value and we enjoyed it.
5Great Tour, don’t miss it.
Fascinating tour with an outstanding tour guide (Gaby). The history and the architecture insights were excellent.
5Chicago River tour
The narrator was extremely knowledgeable and personable. My entire family enjoyed it. Excellent tour.
5Spirit was a fantastic...
Spirit was a fantastic guide. I’ve done this tour before and would do it again because you always learn a few new tidbits about Chicago!
5Great architecture tour at night
Easy to find the meeting point, the guide was knowledgeable and funny. She made whole experience fantastic for our family!
5Excellent tour
This 90 minute tour was excellent! It was full of information on the architecture and also interesting facts about the city. Our tour guide, Justine, was superb. She was clear she was funny. She was intelligent. We highly recommend her.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Arrive at 400 N Michigan Avenue 30 minutes before your departure and you will be directed to your boarding dock. Please allow yourself plenty of time to arrive if driving. We do not have parking. It is recommend that you book parking in advance.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 300 travellers
- Operated by
- Wendella Tours & Cruises
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Weapons prohibited by US Coast Guard
- Outside alcohol is prohibited
- All bags subject to search
- Arrive 30 Minutes prior to your departure time.
- Contact tour operator for wheelchair & ADA access
- Indoor and outdoor seating is available on a first come, first served basis
How it compares in Chicago
- Its from-price is 47% 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 2 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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