Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Marvel at the magnificent architecture on the Chicago River with expert tour guides! All ages welcome.
Each architecture river tour is narrated by a professional guide which leads passengers down the Chicago River to discover the city’s most renowned landmarks. In addition to historical insight on well known structures such as the Civic Opera House, Trump Tower & the Merchandise Mart, passengers will also get a chance to learn about current and upcoming developments. This Chicago River Cruise is the only cruise that navigates the three primary branches of the river including the main branch to Navy Pier, the north branch to Goose Island, and the south branch to Chinatown. It is also the cruise closest to Skydeck, has the least expensive parking, and is great for those coming from the suburbs due to its location off Interstate 290.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tour times cannot be changed
Cruises are on rain or shine
Minimum drinking age is 21 years
Please arrive 30 min before your cruise time
Seating is first come first serve. If you have a large group, arrive early
Child Ticket (3 and under) is for free but needs a registered ticket
Youth Tickets available on our main ticketing page
Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
Vessel has full bar and restroom
Please take note that parking is about $12.00 - $15.00. Please go on this link for more info. Link: https://toursandboats.com/sogdirections
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Fully enclosed interior with air conditioning, seats, & windows
Outside seating available (seating is first come first serve basis)
Restroom on board
Guided architecture cruise of the historic Chicago River
Full bar & snacks (available for purchase)
Gratuities
$12 to $15 discounted parking lot connected to marina
What To Expect
Wrigley Building
Located in the center of the Magnificent Mile, and steps from the Michigan Avenue Bridge, The Wrigley Building has been a hallmark of Chicago’s skyline since 1920. Designed as the headquarters for the successful chewing gum, the building was modeled after the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. Today, it is still home to Wm Wrigley Jr. Company, and is perhaps best known for its dazzling white towers that illuminate the city at night.
Willis Tower is the heart of downtown Chicago and the future of work and play. The 110-story building is one of the tallest buildings in the world and the second tallest building in Chicago, making it impossible to miss when appreciating the city’s skyline.
Options
Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour
Reviews
1,491 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The tour was great! The...
Tracy D,
Jul 29, 2025
- Viator
5.00The tour was great! The information about the architecture of the buildings was really interesting and the vantage point of seeing the city from the water was amazing. Our tour guide, Adam, was very knowledgeable and funny!
Informative but lacking in some detail. More.background on the other architects would have been appreciated.
Ron D,
Jul 28, 2025
- Viator
4.00Arrive on time! Be careful for the parking lot company. The lot is in very poor shape and the management is very hard to reach.
Awesome
Danielle S,
Jul 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00The tour was very informative, and David did an outstanding job as our guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable, had a great personality, and kept us engaged with fun jokes along the way. You really get to appreciate the beautiful architecture of Chicago from the boat. We sat on the upper, uncovered deck, which offered the best views—especially at the front or back of the boat. There’s also additional seating on the lower, covered level for those who prefer shade. Seating is first come, first served, so arrive early for the best spots. There’s a concession stand on the lower deck offering drinks, which was a nice touch. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and definitely worth paying for in advance!
Hidden Gem
LISA S,
Jul 24, 2025
- Viator
4.00Location tucked away from the beaten path. No real direction at check in but to line up and wait. Boat crew was welcoming and we had a wonderful knowledgeable tour guide that made it a fun learning experience. Speakers could have worked better in downstairs area for anyone unable to go topside. Overall, glad we picked this tour and suggested it to many others.
Get Full Correct Directions
Gwendolyn R,
Jul 22, 2025
- Viator
1.00We were not provided the name of the street we needed to access the boat. Two of us went to the pier and were unable to take the Architectural boat ride. We found out too late that there was a street that we were too load the boat from. We did not have enough time to get a cab to drive us to the street location for the 5:00 boat ride The 6:00 boat ride was full.
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