Our pick
Chicago River: 1.5-Hour Guided Architecture Cruise
You board just below the Wrigley Building, on the north bank by the Michigan Avenue bridge, and the boat heads west up the main branch with a live guide on the microphone. Within minutes you pass the white terra-cotta of the Wrigley Building, the Gothic crown of Tribune Tower and the two round towers of Marina City, then the curved green glass of 333 Wacker Drive bending with the river. At Wolf Point, where the three branches meet, the boat turns up the North Branch and then down the South Branch toward Willis Tower before heading back east past the Riverwalk.
Wendella has been running boats from this spot since 1935, and the listing calls this the architecture tour that started it all. What makes it our pick is the mix. It covers more water than the shorter loops, it costs less than the docent cruise, and the guides, rated 4.8 out of 5, get named in review after review for keeping it fun. There is a cash bar with local beer and Garrett's Popcorn, a heated and air-conditioned cabin below, and you may bring your own food and soft drinks on board.
- Price
- from ~$45 per person
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Route
- Main, North and South branches
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 from 9,624 reviews
- Meeting point
- 400 N Michigan Ave, by the Wrigley Building
- Seating
- Open deck or covered cabin, first come, first served
- Guide
- Live, in English
- Cancellation
- Free up to 24 hours before
How the cruise runs, step by step
Guides adapt the commentary to the boat and the traffic on the river, so no two tours sound the same. This is the outline, from the listing and the operator:
On the north bank
- Check in with a dock employee near 400 N Michigan Ave, about 30 minutes early
- Bag check, then pick a seat on the open deck or in the cabin
Out under the Michigan Avenue bridge
On the river
- West along the main branch, past the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower and Marina City
- The Merchandise Mart and 333 Wacker Drive at the bend toward Wolf Point
- Up the North Branch, then down the South Branch toward Willis Tower
- Back east past the Riverwalk, the Aon Center and Aqua toward the lake
- Return to the dock after about 90 minutes
What the price covers
The ticket covers the cruise and the guide. Everything you eat or drink on board is extra unless you bring it.
Included
- A 90-minute cruise on all three branches of the river
- A live local guide
- Access to the open deck and the climate-controlled cabin
- Restrooms on board, with changing tables
Not included
- Drinks and snacks from the bar, paid by card only
- A tip for the guide and crew
- A reserved seat: the best deck spots go to whoever boards first
- Lake Michigan, which only the lake and river version visits
Between us, before you go
A little advice, as one traveler to another. Get to the dock early if you want the top deck, because seats are first come and the front rows on the upper level go fast on a sunny afternoon. Sit away from the exhaust at the back: one reviewer said the sound system was hard to hear there. And take a jacket even in July. On the water the wind comes straight off the lake, and it is several degrees cooler than on Michigan Avenue.
The Michigan Avenue dock is 62 steps below street level with no elevator. If stairs are a problem, Wendella has a second dock just west with an elevator, so read our access guide and call ahead.
The river you will be cruising
The Chicago River is short and slow, and it runs backward. Engineers reversed its flow in 1900 so the city's sewage would stop reaching Lake Michigan, the drinking water supply. Today the main branch flows west from the lake to Wolf Point, where it meets the North Branch, and carries on down the South Branch toward the Sanitary and Ship Canal. Along those few miles stand buildings from almost every chapter of modern architecture, which is why architects come from around the world to ride these boats. The buildings, branch by branch are in our guide.
Who we would not send on it
Architecture students and anyone who wants depth over entertainment, because the Architecture Center cruise has docents who trained for months to give that tour. Families with small children, who will be happier on the 45-minute loop at ~$28. And travelers who mainly want the skyline from the lake, who should take the lake and river version for the same price.
Book it if
It is your first river cruise in Chicago, you want all three branches with a guide who keeps things light, and you would rather spend the difference on a drink than on docents.
Skip it if
You want the docent commentary, a shorter ride for children, the lake view or a step-free boarding without planning.
Ready to cast off?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and with reserve now, pay later you hold your seats without paying anything today.
