This tour came highly recommended from tripadvisor and Chicagoans alike. Six of us went last weekend, and even though the day was gray we had a great time. The volunteer docent was personable and knowledgeable, and she gave a great tour. Do buy the tickets ahead of time. We thought that since it was September tickets would not be a... more

My fiance and I took the 7:30PM, 2 hour tour of both the river and the lake and the only word to describe is was "OUTSTANDING!" It was worth the $25 price, the guide was great and they even have a walk up bar with affordable drinks. If you only have one day to spend in Chicago, I definitely recommend... more

This was my first visit to Chicago and the first thing we did was to take this tour. It was a great introduction to the city since you see a lot of the downtown and learn much of the history too. The docent is very informative and entertaining. Do purchase tickets early as the tour does fill up. If your... more

I loved it. The tour was amazing, and the voluntary lady who works for the nonprofit chicago architecture foundation had a lovely voice which kept us listening to her all the way. the tour covered almost all of the buildings in the interesting parts of the chicago river, and the guide lady went through the very interesting details about the... more

What a great way to see Chicago! You really don't get a chance to see the city this way and it offers a unique perspective to see many of Chicago's beautiful buildings. Great for people who want to see the city but not exhaust themselves by walking all over or trying to get from spot to spot. You have comfy... more

We went on this tour on a perfect Sunday in the summer and had a great time. Even though neither of us are architecture experts, we both learned a lot from the narrator of the tour about Chicago in general and the wonderful buildings that line the river. The narrators of the tour are all volunteers and love Chicago and... more

After talking with the locals we decided that Chicago's First Lady was the best & most accurate tour if you want in-depth information on Chicago's many famous buildings. You board the boat approx 20 mins before the appointed time at Michigan Ave & Wacker Dr at the Southeast Corner of the bridge. Go to the upper deck for the best... more

My family ranging in age from 62 to 14 went on this 90 minute architectural tour of Chicago. The boat has 2 decks. We sat upstairs for the best view. The tour was narrated by a volunteer docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Every building on the Chicago River (and sometimes a bit beyond) from the mouth and up the... more

After using TripAdvisor's travel forums, I decided the best architectural cruise in Chicago for my family would be the one offered by the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago's First Lady Cruises. I was right! The boarding location at Michigan and Wacker is clearly marked, the staff and crew are extremely helpful, the boats are clean, comfortable and safe, and the... more