Breathtaking Chicago: Iconic Lake & River Architecture Cruise
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!
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
4 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Liz_K, 10/24/2025 10:14:58 PM
Very informative. Well organised. Friendly staff. Lot of stories and historical information given throughout.
Andy_S, 10/24/2025 7:50:27 PM
This experience was really great! What made it Fun and Exciting was the commentator telling us all about the history of Chicago architecture. John was really funny and had the crowd laughing. If you take this tour, go with John.
Steven_B, 10/24/2025 6:40:38 PM
Great experience. Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and funny. Highly recommend going thru the locks and onto Lake Michigan.
Katie_F, 10/22/2025 9:47:38 AM
Great tour, great guide. It was probably a little too long for out kiddos (9 & 11), but we grown ups thought it was perfect. A boat cruise in Chicago is worth every penny. Everyone should add it to their must see list
Tonya_D, 10/21/2025 2:30:22 PM
Excellent tour! The tour guide was so good. And we loved learning all about the history of the downtown area. Such a beautiful tour! Highly recommend it!! Shout out to our tour guide John! So entertaining and informative.
IULIANA_P, 10/19/2025 7:39:43 PM
Great tour, the tour guide was excellent, easy understanding, funny. The boat was clean, the length of the tour was great, I would’ve prefer more of the Chicago river tho
Toeur_S, 10/19/2025 11:39:31 AM
It was fun and amazing we learned alot from Kenny our tour guide. He was impressive with all his knowledge.
christinacJ9037HV, 10/18/2025 11:09:33 AM
We were looking forward to this tour and it did not disappoint. Of course the lake was beautiful and the architecture is amazing. What is really important here is who has the microphone and how much do they know. We got lucky, our tour guide Kaye was great! She was knowledgeable and funny and the weather was beautiful so our experience had almost everything perfect. What Could have been better… well they tell you to get there 30 min in advance. It’s a good recommendation because the top seats fill up first and fast and ideally that where you want to sit. They do have a lot of upper seats on this boat but if you get delayed finding the boarding location or your children aren’t moving as quickly as needed you could end up not sitting together or in subprime seating where it’s difficult to hear the narrator. Also the lake part of the trip is windy and can be downright cold so jackets would be a good idea for those who don’t like to be cold!
Amy_H, 10/18/2025 10:12:58 AM
Beautiful views but people do stand in front of you blocking views :(. Big bar in lower level Windy on lake Lots of info
Rhonda_C, 10/18/2025 10:12:33 AM
A lot of information in a short time. The guide talked very fast. People were standing blocking the view
- 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
Departure point
Arrive at 400 N Michigan Avenue 30 minutes before your departure and you will be directed to your boarding dock. Please allow yourself plenty of time to arrive if driving. We do not have parking. It is recommend that you book parking in advance.Return details
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!Redemption
Your ticket will be scanned from your phone, so you do not need to exchange anything at the window. All guests need a ticket to board, including children & infants. The closest address to most docks is 400 N Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 (near the Wrigley Building). From there you can check in with an employee who can direct you to your boarding area. You must arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time to be directed to your dock. If driving, note that Downtown Chicago traffic can be slow and congested. Please allow yourself plenty of time for traffic and parking if driving. Wendella does not have parking. We recommend that you park at InterPark Public Parking located at 430 N Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Wendella guests may park for up to 8 hours at a discounted rate of $14.00 with a parking chaser coupon from our ticket office. You may also park at Trump International Hotel & Tower located at 401 N Wabash, Chicago, Il 60611. Wendella guests may park for up to 6 hours at a discounted rate of $18.00 with a parking chaser coupon from our ticket office. Parking is subject to availability and will fill up on holidays and weekends. If these lots are full, you are responsible for booking your own parking. We cannot validate parking booking in advance. If you are late due to traffic, parking, etc., you must contact us before your departure time to discuss your rescheduling options. If you arrive late, with no notice, you will not be compensated or rescheduled. Please plan accordingly. Some docks require that you walk down many stairs to the boarding area. If you need an ADA-accessible dock, please call us at 312-337-1446 with at least 24 hours’ notice. Seating is general admission and is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Alcohol & weapons are prohibited. All bags are subject to search. Tours are rarely cancelled due to weather and are only cancelled if weather conditions are unsafe (tornado warnings, extreme ice or subzero temps, etc.)24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund