Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour
Description
An authentic Chicago tradition since 1935, this is the tour that started it all. This unique excursion tells the story of more than 200 years of fascinating social, cultural and political history, and explores more than a century of groundbreaking architecture. The journey begins with an up-close perspective of Chicago's internationally-known architecture as seen from the Chicago River. Then venture through the Chicago Lock on to the calm, cool waters of Lake Michigan for expansive views of Chicago's extraordinary 26-mile skyline. Take the selfie of a lifetime on this inspirational experience!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Lake and River Architecture Tours begin at Michigan Avenue and explore Chicago's amazing architecture along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. All tours are narrated by professional tour guides.
Your tour travels along Lake Michigan and explores Chicago's beautiful skyline.
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.
Pass by these iconic mixed-use apartment buildings - "a city within a city" with their unique corn-cob exterior.
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
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Weapons prohibited by US Coast Guard
- Outside alcohol is prohibited
- All bags are 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
- Special requests entered at checkout cannot be guaranteed
Reviews(2,410)
Emma our tour guide to the fantastic job! It was such a fun and engaging tour and we got to see so much of Chicago in the hour and a half. The AC worked well and you were able to get drinks while I’m bored and of course, go in and out as you please. The bathrooms were clean and the stuff was all very helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
This is the one item we do when in Chicago, which says how much we enjoy it. With this said, on the recent tour (8/8/26), 2 items negatively impacted the tour. One within the tour operators control, the second one not in their control. First the meet point was not specific enough. Just had the meet address as 400 N Michigan. So we went there, and stood in line for 20 minutes for the Wendell Tours, only to be told after we got to the front, we needed to walk around the building to get in line for another boat. So we wasted 20 minutes, and then we were one of the last people in line, and did not get the desired seats, which we why we got there early. That was in their control. The second item was how long we had to wait to get through the locks. Which being a Saturday, it generally is busier, and created the issue. The challenge was we got back 45 minutes later then expected, and missed something else we had planned on doing that day. Wait time to get through the locks is not within the tour operators control. Again, it’s something we do every time we come to Chicago because we like it so much, but this last time it was not our best experience.
The guide Kenny was the best! Our experience was top notch! Would totally do that tour again!! Thank you for a great time!
I’m a Chicagoan myself and did this boat tour and it was nothing but short of spectacular. Spiro our guide was amazing and the tour showed why this city is one of the best cities in the country from views to its history. If you come to Chicago in the Spring, Summer or Fall this should be the first thing you go too.
This tour was amazing! It was very organized, easy check in & our tour guide Kate was wonderful, very informative, knowledgeable & funny.
Incredibly informative tour, absolutely reccomend the tour that takes you through the Lock system and onto Lake Michigan!
The views are beautiful. The tour guides are knowledgeable. The Wendella is nice and clean . Cruise fills up fast. Come early ( 30mins before) so you can get a spot on the top.
High level architecture tour. Spiro was a good guide and kept things light. The bartender downstairs was unnecessarily gruff, didn't stir/ mix my drink and acted like my request for a top was a request for a lung. We picked the river and lake tour thinking we'd get to see a lot more but the lake portion was brief and about 25 minutes was spent going in and out the locks. There is no shade on the top deck and it's hard to hear on the shaded lower deck. Overall, something interesting to do on a nice day
Great experience, Lake ride was best part! Highly recommend this tour specifically! Make sure to arrive early so you can grab a good seat on top of the boat! Wear sunscreen! :)
It was fantastic. I highly recommend it for anyone taking time to see the beautiful architecture of Chicago.
