Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour
By Tours and Boats
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 4-54, max of 150 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Restroom on board
- Outside seating available (seating is first come first serve basis)
- Guided architecture cruise of the historic Chicago River
- Fully enclosed interior with air conditioning, seats, & windows
What's not included- Full bar & snacks (available for purchase)
- Gratuities
- $12 to $15 discounted parking lot connected to marina
- Start:
- Tours & Boats Architecture Tours, 900 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, USAPlease enter 900 S Wells Chicago, IL 60607 to your GPS for directions to the boat dock. Go through the parking lot behind the River City condominium building. The parking lot is located across from the soccer field on 9th St and Wells.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 126870P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- 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
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 126870P1
From
$37.00
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 900 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, USAPlease enter 900 S Wells Chicago, IL 60607 to your GPS for directions to the boat dock. Go through the parking lot behind the River City condominium building. The parking lot is located across from the soccer field on 9th St and Wells.
- Pass byWrigley BuildingWillis TowerAqua TowerChicago ChinatownMerchandise MartNavy Pier
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- tom516c0 contributionsVery Informative & Not Boring!I went back in the end of September/beginning of October & even though it was two months ago, I still tell my friends about the facts that I learned on this tour. Our guide was amazing and put those "boring" facts in such fun way! It is worth the money!Written December 29, 2022
- acable20220 contributionsGreat activity for a large groupThe whole experience was seamless. The tour guide (forgot his name) was engaging and witty. Our whole group enjoyed the cruise - what a fun way to see the city! Definitely recommend.Written December 1, 2022
- harrymcclell0n0 contributionsChicago’s Best 90 Minute Architectural Boat TourThe tour was magnificent. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny at the right moments. Everyone loved him.Written November 29, 2022
- lauredegalbert0 contributionsFantastic!!!!The tour was truly great, I learned a lot. In addition to be very knowledgeable, the guide was fun! Thank you, I really recommendWritten November 29, 2022
- Alexander L0 contributionsAwesome Tour and GuideHighly recommend this tour. Funny and informative. Choosing this tour alos supports a family owned business and the price was better than most.Written November 28, 2022
- Patty G0 contributionsTerrific TourWonderful guide , full of knowledge. Views from all 3 branches of the Chicago river and under the bridges was spectacular. From arrival, parking to the very end top flight service all the way.Written November 26, 2022
- aiadkinsonlove150 contributionsAmazing!!My children and I loved every minute of the tour. Very informative and entertaining! Can’t wait to do it again.Written November 26, 2022
- phillipburgess240 contributionsChicago is amazingI had an amazing time learning about my city. Born and raised here in Chicago this made me feel even more of a Chicagoan knowing the history of the buildings. Thank youWritten November 26, 2022
- janjrschicken0 contributionsBoat tourFamily adventure for the day. We all loved the boat and the narrator. She was great and very informative.Written November 26, 2022
- begumfirdous67860 contributionsOne of the most beautiful skylines in the world was revealed in greater detail!Whether you are an art enthusiast or not, this tour is for you! My husband and I visited in October and enjoyed the tour so much, we didn't realize 90 minutes had passed. It was an informative and enjoyable tour with a wonderful guide who kept us on our toes the whole time.Written November 26, 2022
- ladybast1510 contributionsWould do again!Love love loved the Tour! And it gos farther than some of the others ive been on! Had friends in town and this was the perfect afternoon activity to see the City.Written November 26, 2022
- kaufmanartwork0 contributionsGreat Boat TourThis tour was so fun, and the lady who gave the tour was the best! So funny and so informative, I actually learned things! And I've done these several times.. Summer of George was my favorite!!Written November 26, 2022
- TerriA4180 contributionsFun timeThis was a very fun and informative tour. The tour guide really gave us a lot of information on the buildings along the River. Would take this tour again if we visit Chago in the future.Written November 26, 2022
- maxwell2320220 contributionsEnjoyable and educationalNot only do you get to enjoy the Chicago skyline, you also really do learn about the history of the archictecture. Perfect adventure on a good weather‘s day :)Written November 23, 2022
- Waldodad0 contributionsGreat boat tour!Had a great time on the boat and found the guide very well informed. She had a fun way of communicating the information.Written November 22, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
978 reviews
Excellent
918
Very good
30
Average
10
Poor
2
Terrible
18
Nikki H
7 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
I went on the nighttime (7:30pm) architecture tour and it was amazing! The city is so beautiful at night and our guide was really knowledgeable and witty. I was amazed to learn so much about a city I’ve been visiting since I was a kid. I highly recommend going on a boat tour to really take in the city!
Written November 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mmgervase
Milwaukee, Wisconsin11 contributions
Oct 2020
I've always wanted to do one of those architecture boat rides, but as someone that lives in the city it just never happened. I'm so glad I finally booked a tour because it was so worth it, even in the rainy cold! The tour guide was fantastic, incredibly knowledgeable and I learned a lot (coming from a former tour guide myself!). The boat was kind of noisy inside where some visitors weren't as keen on listening to the guide but that didn't stop us from enjoying the tour. I'd recommend to family and friends.
Written December 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
izbobh
Marco Island, FL46 contributions
May 2021
We live in the Chicago burbs and enjoy taking out of state visitors on an Architecture Tour. We have never been disappointed on any of the tours we have taken over the year from the boats down near Navy Pier. However, this time we decided to try The Chicago Architecture Boat Tour bases from the River City Marina. A big deciding factor was that with a Groupon coupon it was about same price as near Navy Pier but the tour was 90 minutes versus 60. So we got to explore one of the legs of the rivers not normally covered which was great.
We also had a very experienced and entertaining tour guy name Hillary who made the tour that much more enjoyable
We also had a very experienced and entertaining tour guy name Hillary who made the tour that much more enjoyable
Written May 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for that amazing feedback! Our knowledgeable and courteous Tour Guides like Hillary, definitely give their 100% on each tour that they do. Not only do we want it to be a fun-filled experience, we also strive into making it a memorable one, that you can surely share with family and friends!
Written May 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ruben
San Diego, CA11 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
My brother and I took this tour as we were both visiting for an extended weekend. We loved every minute of it. Easy to find and everyone was super nice. They took every precaution and mentioned all current Covid rules from the start. The Captain, who happens to be very funny, was also very inviting and made everyone feel comfortable. The guide was the best! She happened to work this Friday which was awesome! She made the entire experience even better. From her insane knowledge, or as she put it Geeked out explanations, to her funny and sarcastic way of explaining things. It was laughs all throughout the 1.5 hrs.
We took the 4:00 PM tour which was great because soon after departing the weather changed and it got super cold quick! It happened to be the 1st of October but both my brother and I didn't realize how cold it would be. So make sure you layer or take a blanket if you take the tour in October.
Highly recommend this tour!
We took the 4:00 PM tour which was great because soon after departing the weather changed and it got super cold quick! It happened to be the 1st of October but both my brother and I didn't realize how cold it would be. So make sure you layer or take a blanket if you take the tour in October.
Highly recommend this tour!
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hpolat
Las Vegas, NV35 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
This tour was a lot more fun and better quality than I thought while visiting Chicago. We had the best tour guide you f the city, she was super funny while providing plethora of information about each tower; it’s history, architect, specifics etc. you will have an amazing picture and video opportunities.
They have the highest boat so your view has never been obstructed, your pretty much covers all the Chicago downtown area.
Captain was funny and guide the guests professionally to eliminate any kaos while boarding or disembarking.
Ship has a bar with plenty of alcohol and nice bathroom as well.
I will definitely do this tour again with friends, it’s a good value and very pleasant tour.
Highly recommended.
They have the highest boat so your view has never been obstructed, your pretty much covers all the Chicago downtown area.
Captain was funny and guide the guests professionally to eliminate any kaos while boarding or disembarking.
Ship has a bar with plenty of alcohol and nice bathroom as well.
I will definitely do this tour again with friends, it’s a good value and very pleasant tour.
Highly recommended.
Written July 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erik L
4 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
This tour was great! It was very informative and the tour guide Dave was very entertaining as well. Directed the tour in a way that people enjoyed it while learning the history of the buildings of Chicago, and cracking a few jokes along the way. Went the entire river to Navy Pier and back. There’s a bar on board too for snacks and drinks. Easy parking accessible close to where to board. between $10-$12 in outside lot) Cost compared to the other options is less but that is because boarding is not in prime Riverwalk location where the restaurants and bars are. Strictly off the architecture tour itself and the experience on the boat, this is a great option and I definitely recommend it.
Also, this is the 2nd architecture tour I did and compared to the other company’s I proclaim The Summer of George to be better.
Also, this is the 2nd architecture tour I did and compared to the other company’s I proclaim The Summer of George to be better.
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John K
Granger, IN22 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
When we received the gift of this tour, we didn’t know what to expect. Having been born and raised here, we thought we’d seen it all. We could not have been more pleased to be wrong. Our tour guide was amazing! She not only gave the architectural perspective of the buildings we passed but added a ton of historical stories and information about the city. She kept it interesting, entertaining and the time flew by. Regardless if you’ve lived here all or part of your life or if your just visiting, you will definitely want to take advantage of this incredible experience! Note: we toured in fall of 2019.
Written December 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geraldine S
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
My family had the best time! As soon you as you step on board, you are greeted by good attitudes and a hilarious captain. The highlight of the entire tour was our tour guide HILLARY! She went above and beyond to keep the crowd entertained, while also informing us about the great architecture around Chicago. This tour is family owned/operated and it is definitely worth the trip!
IT's A MUST TRY when you go to Chicago!
IT's A MUST TRY when you go to Chicago!
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for a great review. We are truly glad we were able to meet your expectations. We hope to see you again on one of our future tours.
Written August 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Catherine F
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Of all the Chicago boat tours offered in the city, I chose this one because of an extra Groupon deal going on. I’m so glad that it was a great deal and also a wonderful tour. My group and I enjoyed the entire 90min tour so much that we all agreed that it was one of the best parts of our trip. It didn’t even feel like 90mins had passed!
We decided to take the earliest tour of the day to beat the heat and it was the best choice. The weather was perfect and not too hot. I do recommend bringing a hat or coverup if it’s a hot day because you have no cover at all. The tour itself was amazing and so informative, but not in the boring lecture way. Our guide, Hillary, was so fun and engaging. She knew how to give out the information in a way that kept you interested and also knew to give us breaks in between so we could digest everything we just learned. You could tell Hillary really loved what she was doing and I always think that makes for a great guide. She also mentioned at the end of the tour that she also does other tours around the city, which I would definitely love to take if I had more time. Will definitely look into them the next time I’m back in Chicago!
I would highly recommend this boat tour!
We decided to take the earliest tour of the day to beat the heat and it was the best choice. The weather was perfect and not too hot. I do recommend bringing a hat or coverup if it’s a hot day because you have no cover at all. The tour itself was amazing and so informative, but not in the boring lecture way. Our guide, Hillary, was so fun and engaging. She knew how to give out the information in a way that kept you interested and also knew to give us breaks in between so we could digest everything we just learned. You could tell Hillary really loved what she was doing and I always think that makes for a great guide. She also mentioned at the end of the tour that she also does other tours around the city, which I would definitely love to take if I had more time. Will definitely look into them the next time I’m back in Chicago!
I would highly recommend this boat tour!
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guide324187
5 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
I've been on the Chicago Architecture Boat Tour several times and it never fails to fascinate me. I'm a lifelong Chicagoan and yet each time the tour helps me to see our beautiful city in a new light. Viewing the city from the vantage point of the river provides a unique perspective and each time I feel a renewed love and appreciation for Chicago. The tour guide has such interesting facts and antecdotes to share and the staff is always professional and friendly. Great tour!
Written December 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can I board with one SMALL carry on bag, airline size carryon? Thx
Written September 6, 2024
Hi, we are traveling can each passenger board with one SMALL carry on bag? Thx U kent
Written September 6, 2024
Hi, what's the entry price for children? We have an 8 and 10 year old. Please advise. Thanks.
Written June 30, 2022
It says 18-54. Why would a 16 year old or an 81 year old be excluded???
Written June 26, 2022
I’m not sure. We had done a bus trip that dropped us off
Written June 24, 2022
What happens if it rains during our tour time? When are tours cancelled? Is there a refund if our tour is cancelled?
Written July 3, 2021
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
