Best Architectural Boat Tours: Exploring Chicago's Waterways

Chicago is famous for its architecture, and there are many boat tours available to take in the best of the city's buildings from the water. The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady is rated the number one boat tour of the city by TripAdvisor, and is the only Chicago River cruise partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center. The 90-minute tour is narrated by highly trained and enthusiastic docents, and includes full-service cocktail and snack bars. For a more budget-friendly option, Tours & Boats offers a 90-minute architecture boat tour for $49 for adults and $25 for kids. The tour takes in famous buildings, as well as the locks on the river's main branch, Chinatown in the south, and Goose Island in the north.

Chicago River Architecture Tour

The Chicago River Architecture Tour is widely regarded as the best boat tour in Chicago. It is the only tour partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) and offers a 90-minute exploration of the city's iconic architecture and world-famous skyline.

The Tour

This comprehensive tour takes you through the heart of the city, along all three branches of the Chicago River. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic CAC docents provide a detailed narrative of Chicago's various architectural styles and the stories of the legendary figures who designed and built the city.

The Boat

The tour is hosted on Chicago's Finest Fleet, which features unobstructed sightlines and guaranteed seating on open-air upper decks. The climate-controlled interior salons offer full-service cocktail and snack bars.

Tickets

General boarding tickets start at $54, with an additional $5 for entry to the Chicago Architecture Center. Priority boarding tickets start at $69 and include early boarding, skip-the-queue privileges, and CAC admission.

Reviews

The Chicago Architecture River Cruise is highly recommended by travellers, with a 97% bubble rating on TripAdvisor. One reviewer, Ashley M., says:

> "The tour was our favorite part of our Chicago trip. Beautiful views and learned a ton. Guides are passionate about Chicago and its architecture and it shows!"

Practical Information

The tour departs from Michigan Ave and Wacker Drive and lasts 90 minutes. Cruises resume on Saint Patrick's Day Weekend in 2025. Boats are wheelchair accessible and have restrooms onboard. Outside food and drink are prohibited, but a full-service bar and snacks are available for purchase.

Other Options

If you are looking for something a little different, there are plenty of other boat tours in Chicago to choose from, including:

• Seadog River and Lake Architectural Tour: A 75-minute tour that combines speed and sightseeing, ending with a thrilling ride across Lake Michigan.
• 1.5-Hour Guided Architecture River Cruise: A 60-minute trip highlighting over 40 landmarks, including the Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building.
• Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour: A top-rated cruise that offers unparalleled views of Chicago's skyline.
• Lake Michigan Odyssey Gourmet Lunch Cruise: A two-hour cruise with a three-course meal, coffee, tea, and a cash bar.

Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise

The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady is consistently rated as one of the best boat tours in Chicago. The 90-minute cruise is the only official tour that partners with the Chicago Architecture Center and is led by expert docents from the CAC. The highly trained and enthusiastic volunteer guides provide a detailed and compelling narrative of Chicago's various architectural styles and the stories of the legendary figures behind the city's construction.

The cruise takes passengers along all three branches of the Chicago River, offering unobstructed views of the city's iconic architecture. The boats feature open-air upper decks with guaranteed seating, as well as climate-controlled interior salons with full-service cocktail and snack bars. Tickets start at $54 for general boarding and $69 for priority boarding, which includes early boarding, skip-the-queue privileges, and admission to the Chicago Architecture Center.

The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise is highly recommended by travellers, with 98% of reviewers on TripAdvisor giving it a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Reviews praise the knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides, beautiful views, and comfortable seating. The cruise is also wheelchair accessible, with crew members assisting in guiding wheelchairs across the gangway.

In addition to the river cruise, passengers can also purchase tickets to the Chicago Architecture Center for just $5, valid for up to 7 days after the cruise. This offers a more comprehensive experience, allowing visitors to explore the city's architecture both from the water and on foot.

Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour

The Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour is one of the best ways to appreciate the city's famous skyline. This top-rated cruise on Lake Michigan offers unparalleled views of Chicago's world-renowned architecture and breathtaking skyline.

Tour Details

The Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour is a 90-minute experience that takes you through all three branches of the Chicago River and out onto Lake Michigan. The tour guides are highly knowledgeable, providing fascinating insights into the history of Chicago's architecture and the city itself. You'll learn about the people who built the city and the stories behind its most prominent edifices.

What to Expect

The tour offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with climate-controlled salons and open-air upper decks. You can enjoy refreshments and snacks from the full-service bar and snack bar, and there are restrooms onboard as well.

Tickets and Location

Tickets for the Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour start at $54 for general boarding, with the option to add on early boarding and skip-the-queue privileges for an additional fee. The tour departs from the Michigan Avenue Bridge, near the Wrigley Building, with plenty of dining and shopping options nearby.

Reviews

The Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour is highly recommended by travellers, with a 91% recommendation rating on TripAdvisor. Reviewers praise the knowledgeable tour guides and the stunning views, with one reviewer calling it the "highlight of our trip to Chicago." Another reviewer noted that the tour was "very worthwhile," offering a great balance of interesting information and stunning visuals.

Chicago Architecture Boat Tour

Chicago is famous for its architecture, and one of the best ways to experience this is from the water. Chicago Architecture Boat Tours are consistently named the best way to see the city and its iconic skyline.

Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise

The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise, aboard Chicago's First Lady, is TripAdvisor's number one-rated boat tour of the city. The cruise is the only Chicago River tour partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC). Highly trained and enthusiastic CAC docents provide a detailed and compelling narrative of the city's architecture and the people behind it. The 90-minute tour takes in all three branches of the Chicago River, with guaranteed seating on open-air upper decks and full-service bars in climate-controlled interior salons.

Wendella Tours & Cruises

Wendella Tours & Cruises offer an experienced guide and bartender service on their 90-minute Chicago River Architecture Tour. The tour covers all three branches of the river, giving an overview of the 130-year history of the city's skyline.

Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour

This tour, as the name suggests, takes in both the river and Lake Michigan, giving a different perspective of the city's famous skyline. This tour is also highly rated by TripAdvisor, with 91% of reviewers giving it a rating of 4 or higher.

This tour, as seen on TripAdvisor, gives a view of the city's architecture from the Chicago River. Expert guides provide commentary on the buildings, with 97% of travellers recommending the tour.

Lake Michigan and Chicago River Architecture Cruise by Speedboat

This speedboat tour of the city's architecture is also highly rated by TripAdvisor, with 93% of reviewers giving it a rating of 4 or higher.

Chicago's Original Architecture Tour

Experience Chicago's legendary architecture from the best seat in the house—the river. Our experienced tour guides will detail the 130-year-long history behind the iconic skyline, while our bartenders and staff keep you comfortable and entertained. This comprehensive tour navigates through the heart of the city on all three branches of the Chicago River. It’s the one thing everyone tells you to do in Chicago, done right.

What to Expect

On this 90-minute tour, you'll navigate all three branches of the Chicago River, while your guide fills you in on the stories behind some of the skyline's most prominent edifices. You'll get to see famous Chicago landmarks such as the Willis Tower, the Merchandise Mart, the Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, and Marina City (a.k.a. "The Corncobs" or "The Wilco Building").

Our highly trained and enthusiastic volunteer docents will provide a compelling and detailed narrative of Chicago's numerous architectural styles and the stories of the legendary figures who designed and built the city. You'll learn interesting facts about the history of the city's renowned waterfront and its skyline, as well as the people who built it. For instance, did you know that the Lyric Opera House was built in the shape of a giant throne, or that the Chicago River is the only natural river reversed by humankind?

Practical Information

Tickets for adults start at $44, while tickets for children (4-12) are $20. Under 4s go free but still require a ticket. Tickets are non-refundable but are transferable. Boarding begins 15-30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. All bags are subject to inspection, and outside alcohol, weapons, flammables, and explosives are prohibited.

You can sit on the top deck to listen to the live tour with unobstructed views, but bring a jacket or sun hat if the weather is cool or sunny. Climate-controlled seating is offered below, as are restrooms. There is also a full-service bar with wine, local beer, craft cocktails, and snacks available for purchase.

Tours are generally available daily beginning at 9:30 a.m., with multiple departures throughout the day and evening. If you’re short on time or traveling with kids, there is also a 45-minute version of this architecture tour available.

Frequently asked questions