Which Chicago architecture cruise to book
Six architecture cruises work the same few miles of river, and most of them pass the same famous towers. The differences lie in who does the talking and how long you stay out. One of them also leaves the river for Lake Michigan. Pick your priority first and the choice tends to make itself.
Six cruises at a glance
Every cruise below passes the towers of the main branch, and five of the six also reach at least one of the outer branches. Read across the table for the trade-offs, then jump to the section that matches what you care about. Prices are GetYourGuide "from" fares per adult.
| Cruise | Length | From | Who talks | Pick it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendella 1.5-hour, our pick | 90 min | ~$45 | Live guide, English | Most reviews, all three branches |
| First Lady Architecture Center | 90 min | ~$57 | CAC volunteer docent | The deepest building commentary |
| Shoreline skip-the-line | 75 min (60 in the colder months) | ~$39 | Live guide, English or Spanish | Spanish speakers, a lower fare |
| Wendella 45-minute | 45 min | ~$28 | Live, family-friendly | Children and short visits |
| Wendella Lake and River | About 90 min | ~$45 | Live guide, English | The skyline from Lake Michigan |
| Chicago Line with drinks | 90 min | ~$42 | Guides on board | A quieter dock, free soft drinks |
For the deepest architecture commentary
Only one boat carries docents certified by the Chicago Architecture Center, and that is First Lady's Architecture Center cruise from ~$57. These docents are trained volunteers, and the talk follows design and style from Art Deco through postmodernism instead of stopping at names and heights. The listing promises over 50 buildings and 13 bascule bridges across the three branches, plus a guaranteed seat on the open upper deck.
The drawbacks are price and season. It is the dearest of the six and sails only from about mid-March to late November. Its 631 reviews are also a small fraction of Wendella's count. The docent cruise in depth covers the museum add-on and the dock.
For a cruise thousands have tested
Our pick, Wendella's 1.5-hour guided architecture cruise from ~$45, is the most reviewed boat tour in Chicago on GetYourGuide, rated 4.8 from 9,624 guests. It also covers the most river of the Wendella trips. From the Michigan Avenue bridge the boat runs up the main branch past Wolf Point, explores the North and South branches, then comes back past the Riverwalk toward the lake. Reviewers name their guides again and again. Wendella has been family-run since 1935, and its listing calls this the tour that started it all. It sails year-round, with an open deck up top and a climate-controlled cabin below.
The weak spots are small. Deck seats are not reserved. One reviewer found the upper-deck speaker hard to hear near the engine exhaust. Another found no skip-the-line lane on the day. Bags are searched before boarding.
Ninety minutes, three branches
Wendella's live-guided cruise from ~$45 runs in every season and cancels free up to 24 hours before.
On a tighter budget
Shoreline's architecture river cruise from ~$39 still reaches all three branches, in 75 minutes (60 in the colder months) with about 40 landmark buildings. Its guides score 4.9, the highest on this page, across 4,709 reviews, and Spanish-speaking guests keep praising a guide called Javier. You get a barcoded ticket that skips the ticket office and a photo at boarding. Outside food and drinks are banned, and the boarding spot changes with the ticket option, so check the voucher.
Wendella's 45-minute family-friendly cruise from ~$28 is the lowest fare of all. It goes from Lake Shore Drive to the Willis Tower along the South Branch and back, so it leaves out the North Branch. Its guides aim the talk at families, and under-4s travel free. Cruising with children has more on this one, and the price guide compares every fare.
For Lake Michigan as well as the river
Wendella's lake and river cruise from ~$45 suits anyone who wants the skyline from open water as much as the canyon of towers. After a run up the main branch to Wolf Point and back, it passes through the Chicago Harbor Lock, where the boat rises a few feet to lake level, and heads out past Navy Pier. From the lake you see the whole skyline, with Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain ahead and the Museum Campus farther south. The trade is that the North and South branches drop out, and the lake can be choppy and windy. One reviewer said the lock was the part they loved most. Lake or river sets the two styles side by side.
For a smaller dock with free soft drinks
Chicago Line's architecture boat tour with drinks from ~$42 boards at its own dock on Ogden Slip, a short walk east of the Michigan Avenue crowds. One reviewer liked being away from the bustle of the bigger boats' departures. Coffee, tea, lemonade, water and soft drinks come free, and the 90-minute route covers all three branches. The boats are open-air with covered areas rather than enclosed cabins, and the season runs from about mid-March to late November.
Length and seating
Forty-five minutes gives a first look at the main branch and the start of the South Branch, and suits children or a packed afternoon. Seventy-five minutes on Shoreline reaches all three branches at a brisker pace. Ninety minutes lets the guide explain as well as point, and gives the boat time for the North Branch. Most adults with a free half day will be happier on one of the longer cruises. If you plan to go after dark, our evening guide explains what the night hides.
On a warm day the open upper deck is where everyone wants to be, and only First Lady guarantees you a seat up there. Wendella's deck seats go to whoever arrives first, with a climate-controlled cabin below for cold or wet spells, and First Lady has climate-controlled salons too. Shoreline asks you to dress for the outdoors, and Chicago Line's boats are open-air with some cover. Most sail rain or shine. When to go and cruising in winter cover the weather side, and the photo guide explains where to sit for pictures.
Who should pick which
- Architecture fans. The First Lady docent cruise;
- First-time visitors. Wendella's 90-minute cruise, our pick;
- Spanish speakers. Shoreline, with a live Spanish-language guide;
- Families with small children. The 45-minute Wendella cruise;
- Skyline seekers. The Lake and River cruise through the lock;
- Anyone tired of crowds. Chicago Line from Ogden Slip;
- Wheelchair users. Read the accessibility guide first, since some docks are stairs only.
Before you book, check where each boat boards. The docks sit on different banks of the river, and starting from the wrong one can cost you the departure.