Chicago Architecture River Cruise
Price on request90 minutesExperience
Ninety minutes on the Chicago River with a trained architecture docent, past around forty buildings that explain how the skyscraper was invented here. The single best thing to do in Chicago.
- Duration90 minutes
- Tour typeExperience
- PickupChicago Riverwalk dock
- CancellationFree up to 24 hours before
No booking fee, ever
The ticket costs what the venue charges. Nothing on top.
Instant mobile voucher
Straight to your phone the moment you book.
Honest slot advice
We tell you which entry time is actually worth having.
The day, hour by hour
Choosing a departureLate afternoon is best
The last two departures of the day put low sun on the west faces of the buildings, which is when the river corridor looks its best.
BoardingRiverwalk, near Michigan Avenue Bridge
Arrive 20 minutes early. Boarding is orderly but the good upper-deck seats go to whoever is there first.
The cruiseThree branches of the river
Main branch, then north and south. The docent is a trained volunteer, not a script-reader — the quality of the commentary is the product.
AfterThe Riverwalk
Stay on it. The bars along the water at street level are the best-value evening in the city centre.
What to bring
- A windproof layer — the river is consistently colder than the street, even in July
- Sunglasses for afternoon departures
What your price includes
Included
- 90-minute river cruise with an architecture docent
- Open upper deck and covered lower deck seating
- Instant mobile voucher
Not included
- Food and drink — a bar is available on board
- Transport to the dock
Questions people actually ask
Is the architecture cruise really the best thing to do in Chicago?
Yes, and it is not close. The city's identity is its buildings, the river runs through the middle of them, and ninety minutes on the water explains more than a day of walking.
Which company should I choose?
The docent matters more than the boat. Cruises with trained architecture docents cost a little more than the general sightseeing boats and are worth every cent of the difference.
Upper deck or lower?
Upper, for the views and the sightlines, unless it is raining hard. The lower deck is covered and heated, which in April or October is not nothing.
Does it run in winter?
The season generally runs spring through late autumn; the river ices and the boats come out. {{TBC: confirm current season dates each year}}
Is Navy Pier the same thing?
No. Navy Pier boats go onto Lake Michigan for skyline views, which is a different and less interesting trip. The river cruise goes between the buildings.
Can children follow it?
Older children usually enjoy it more than expected — Marina City looks like corn cobs and the bridges lift. Under about seven, ninety minutes of architectural history is a long time.
