Best Short Tour: Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise
If youre strapped on time and want a quick taste of some of Chicagos attractions, as well as an overview of the architecture, the Lake Michigan Sightseeing Cruise is an excellent, budget-friendly option. The 40-minute cruise gives you some fantastic photo opportunities of the city skyline as you listen to commentary about the history of Chicago and major skyscrapers such as the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower. A bar is available on board for adult beverages, but it is suggested to bring your own lunch. The cruise leaves every hour from the Navy Pier’s Dock Street but does not operate in the winter. Viator members felt that although a short cruise, it was a good value overall.
Chicago Explorer Pass Architecture Tour
Did you know thatwith the Chicago Explorer Pass, you can book a Chicago architecture tour forfree?
Chicago Explorer Pass is a discount card, which can get you around 40% discount on top Chicago attractions, including Shoreline Architecture River Cruise, 360 CHICAGO, Skydeck Chicago, Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus, and 20 other attractions.
Since the card hasa validity of 30 days, you can pace your sightseeing.
You can skip the ticketing lines in all the attractions and thus save yourself a lot of time.
Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
An obvious first choice when seeking out the best Chicago architecture boat tour would be one of the Chicago architecture tours offered by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Visitors hop aboard Chicagos First Lady, the vessel that will take passengers on a very informative 90-minute cruise. Chicago Architecture Center-certified docents tell guests about more than 50 buildings that sit along the Chicago River, offering details about construction and the citys exciting history. Theres a full-service snack bar aboard the ship, beautiful open-air decks on top, and climate-controlled lower cabins.
To book: $48-$53 architecture.org
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Chicago Architecture Tour: A Nod To International Styles
As you cruise down the river, youll notice that many of the citys buildings feature international styles of architecture. You can basically take these structures and put them anywhere in the world and theyll fit right in.
The Wrigley Building, for example, is made up of two buildings with white terra cotta tiles that look like they were inspired by the European Renaissance. It also has a clock tower modeled after the Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain.
Wrigley began as a laundry detergent company, and in each container of detergent it sold, a free package of gum was included. The gum became so popular that the company decided to do away with the detergent and sell gum instead.
Discover The Windy City From The Water
Set Sail on a Premier Charter Cruise
Architecture boat tours are one of the best ways to delve into Chicagos history. Youll see the different art styles on the buildings that line the Chicago Rivers shores while expert guides explain how the city was rebuilt after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. We offer 90-minute architecture tours that cover all three branches of the Chicago River, or you can book a private boat tour for your event that covers Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Check out our cruises below to learn more.
Chicagos Best 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour
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Women Make Their Mark On The Scene
Women architects figure prominently in Chicagos cutting-edge architectural scene. Among them is Jeanne Gangs firm, Studio Gang, which designed Aqua, an award-winning hotel and residential tower.
The buildings unique rippling balconies and colored glass give it a sculptural quality and create the impression of water flowing down its sides. Its also planet-friendly with a host of energy-efficient features.
After your boat tour, make sure to take time to stroll along the scenic Chicago Riverwalk, a continuous pathway connecting the lakefront with the heart of downtown.
Youll have the opportunity to get a different perspective of the cityscape, plus there are plenty of cafes and watering holes to stop at when the mood strikes. And the people watching is a recreational pursuit in itself.
For more information: www.cruisechicago.com
Best Land And Water: Chicago City Tour With Optional River Cruise
If you prefer a smaller group size, the Chicago City Tour combines sightseeing in an air-conditioned bus that holds 12 people or less with a peaceful boat ride . The tour begins with a narrated, two-hour ride around the city with a chance to get out and explore a few stops, including the 1888 skyscraper called The Rookery, which is known for its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed lobby. Next up is a 75-minute cruise on an open-top boat to delve even deeper into the citys famous architecture and to learn about the role the river has played in the citys development. Transportation from most area hotels is provided but is not round-trip.
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Chicago Is Synonymous With Famous Architects And Iconic Architecture
Chicago is also an architectural mecca. Its the birthplace of the skyscraper, boasting over 1,300 high-rises, nearly fifty of which stand taller than 600 feet. This dynamic cityscape represents architectural styles ranging from Beaux Art and Art Deco to Mid-20th Century Modern and Contemporary.
Over the years, innovative architects, such as Daniel Burnham, Bertrand Goldberg, Harry Weese, William LeBaron Jenney and Mies van der Rohe, helped determine the fabric and design of the town.
About Our Boat Partner
Were proud to partner with Chicagos First Lady Cruises, operator of Chicagos finest fleet of cruising vessels. Its boats hold up to 250 passengers and feature open-air upper decks, full-service bars, climate-controlled lower cabins and upscale marble and granite restrooms. Being onboard is sure to be an experience you’ll never forget.
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Chicago Line Cruises River Architecture Tour
With Starbucks coffee and a bar on board, Chicago Line Cruises is all about a laid-back approach to sight-seeing on the water. Chicago Line Cruises can also customize a private architecture boat tour for your party of 20 or more passengers, if you are seeking a more personalized tour on the Chicago River. Chicago Line Cruises certified docents weave in the history of Chi-town as they provide context around some of the most important examples of Chicago architecture. In addition to architecture cruises, Chicago Line offers dog cruises , nighttime cruises, and firework cruises. Their classic Chicago River architecture tour is 90 minutes.
To book: $45, chicagoline.com
Best Extended Tour: Chicago River Architectural Tour
For an extended version of an architecture cruise at a reasonable price, the Chicago River Architectural Tour runs a full 90 minutes and has a bar on board to boot. Entertaining and educational guides narrate the journey as the boat passes more than 50 landmarks and architectural gems, keeping an eye out for gargoyles and icons from the Neoclassical period to the Art Deco era. The tour runs seasonally to avoid the cold winter and departs from the Lofts at River East . Non-alcoholic refreshments and cookies are served, but beer and wine are additional. Viator members recommend arriving early to grab a seat on the upper deck because the trip is very popular and the boat can fill up.
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About The Chicago River Boat Architecture Tours
Chicago is known around the world for its architectural feats, both inside and outside of the buildings. From the 100-year-old Art Deco, Neo-Classical, and Gothic Towers, to some of the tallest modern-day skyscrapers, Chicago is where old meets futuristic architectural endeavors. It has something for everyone in a way that no other city replicates today.
Give The Gift Of Chicago Line Tours
GIFT TICKETS
To give a special someone, friend or client the best tour in Chicago, simply ask at our ticket office or contact us.
This is my 8th time on a Chicago architectural river cruise and this was by far the most informative and biggest bang for your buck.Operagolf / LaHabra
The best guide on our whole USA trip. We took the Architecture tour where the boat meandered in between all of the incredible buildings of the city with the guide knowing EVERYTHING about each building its style, age, height, architect, cost, purpose, owner .. Quite brilliant!DrCumbrian / TripAdvisor
I’ve done several of the architecture cruises since my family moved to Chicago, and this is the best one yet! Allie K / TripAdvisor
If you only have time for one sight-seeing event while in Chicago, do this. We really have no great interest in architecture, but this tour came highly recommended and we did not regret it. Allice I / Oklahoma
My wife and I very much enjoyed the Chicago Line Cruise jazz cruise… My spouse said this was one of the favorite things she has done in Chicago since moving here in the past year, and I agree. I am a jazz snob, and … I was very pleased with the music offered by the Geordie Kelly group. He’s a fine jazz guitarist, and his band was great. / Yelp
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The Best 5 Chicago Architecture Boat Tours
From the Two-Flats and Graystones of the suburbs to the skyscrapers and sacred buildings of The Loop, Chicagos hotch-potch of architectural styles can be enjoyed on a number of city boat tours.
The vast organism of rivers and canals that run through Chicago serve as a striking vantage point from which to marvel at the citys land-based attractions. By joining a themed boat tour, visitors have the chance to learn all about the citys rich architectural history as you cruise past some of its most notable buildings and structures. Here are 5 of the best Chicago architecture boat tours currently available.
1.5-Hour Guided Architecture Cruise
Navigate all three branches of the Chicago River on this engaging tour through the heart of the city. During the trip, youll have the choice of sitting on the outside deck-top or indoors as your expert guide regales you with stories and information about Chicagos long architectural heritage and how it has evolved down the years. Among the prestigious buildings youll pass will be the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the art deco Merchandise Mart, and mid-century skyscrapers like the Mies Van der Rohe AMA Building. Pick up refreshments and snacks on-board at the full-service cash bar. From $40 per person.
2-Hour Premier Chicago River Architectural Lunch Cruise
45-Minute Family-Friendly Architecture Cruise
Chicago Sunset Cruise
75-Minute Architecture Cruise by Speedboat
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Chicago Architecture Boat Tour
A 90-minute history tour on the Chicago River from the comfort of an open-deck boat with views of the Civic Opera House, Wrigley Building, Willis Tower and more.
Adult tickets start at $49. Tickets for students under 18, Seniors, Military, Veterans, COVID-19 Healthcare Workers, and First Responders are $25.
For more information click here.
Crane Your Neck For The Willis And Marvel At Riverside And River Point
Impossible to miss is Willis Tower , the tallest building in Chicago and the second tallest in the country.
At a height of 1,451 feet, this icon was once the tallest building in the world. Its bundled-tube construction was considered groundbreaking in 1974 when it was first introduced by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The firm also designed Trump International Hotel and Tower, currently the second-tallest building in the city.
Newer construction projects such as 150 N. Riverside and River Point are also attracting much attention. The former seems to defy the laws of physics. Designed by Goettsch Partners, it features a 54-story tower lodged into a narrow site that is constrained by the river on one side and rail tracks on the other. This feat of engineering is twenty times taller than its base is wide.
River Point is located where the main stem of the river meets its two branches. The ultramodern structure sits behind rail tracks hidden in a tunnel on top of which is a public park. The arched cutouts of the building reflect its shape and the curves of the banks around it.
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Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour
With building highlights like the Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, and Marina City, Shoreline Sightseeing will take passengers past more than 40 landmarks that have defined Chicago as the beautiful and iconic gem that it is today. The cruise will visit all three branches of the Chicago River for breathtaking views of and detailed stories about the citys most famous landmarks.
To book: $35-$48 shorelinesightseeing.com
Seadog Cruises Architecture River And Lake Tour
On the Seadog Chicago Architecture Boat Tour, passengers will board a sleek open-air speedboat and spend 75 minutes cruising around the Chicago Locks and then right up the Chicago River for sweeping views of the citys impressive skyline. On the Chicago River boat tour, youll also cruise past iconic locations like Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain. Theres live, guided narration with bits and bobs about Chicago’s history and stories about notable architecture, like the Willis Tower and Lyric Opera, so guests are sure to come away with plenty of historical and architectural information about the storied Windy City. And for some extra fun: this cruise is BYOB!
To book: $45 seadogcruises.com
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Chicagos Architecture Is Stunning
Gothic, contemporary, Art Deco, mid-century modern thats only a short list of the different architecture styles youll see and learn about on this river tour. Youll see more than 50 Chicago buildings, including these iconic landmarks:
- , the circular riverfront corn cobs
- River City, the rounded residential units with rounded windows on the South Branch of the Chicago River.
- Willis Tower, the 110-story skyscaper is one of the tallest buildings in the world
- The glass-walled Apple store, with a flat silver roof designed to look like a MacBook Air
- The Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue, with its famous white clock tower
- The Tribune Tower, another Michigan Avenue icon, that was once home to the venerable Chicago Tribune
- The Merchandise Mart, this Art Deco wonder is so big that it once had its own Zip code.
Youll also see an ordinary Wacker Drive office building with a 400-foot-tall street map on the side, a curved glass skyscraper on Wacker Drive with reflective views of the skyline and river, and skyscrapers built over trains and highways, including the massive former Chicago Post Office.
While I dont know much about architecture or design, I still found the tour really interesting because the docent explained everything in a way that regular people would understand.
A post shared by Cindy Richards on Aug 3, 2017 at 1:00pm PDT
Our Commitment To Your Touring Experience
We believe that tours should be entertaining, enlightening, informational, and perfectly organized, every single time. A tour shouldnt feel laborious in any way you should feel an effortless inclination to learn more about what we present at your fingertips. With our Chicago architectural tours, thats exactly what we strive to provide, basing each tour from the perspective of an expert with the real-life example in the background.
If youre thinking about booking a tour with us, know that our commitment to flexibility and accessible makes our Chicago Architecture Tours easy and convenient:
- Tours run daily:
- Chicago River Boat Architecture Tour:
- 3 pm *Not Available Friday thru Sunday Summer Months*
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Chicago Architecture River Cruise
On this 75-minute tour, you’ll see the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, Willis Tower, Wrigley Building, and Lyric Opera House, as well as buildings created by famed architects Mies van der Rohe, Helmut Jahn, Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill.
Adult tickets are $43-$47, children 3-12 are $24-$28, and children 2 and under are free.
For more information click here.
Why Tour Chicagos Architecture With Us
We are born-and-raised Chicagoans ourselves, passionate about the community that we know and love. That passion and desire spills into all of our tours, drawing on personal experiences for curating a tour that just cant be duplicated by a book or a movie. We want you to experience everything firsthand. Why tour with us?
- Expertise: All of our tour guides are either architects, architecture students, or architecture historians, making for an in-depth and personally rooted kind of touring experience that covers all of the discreet details.
- Variety: We offer a variety of uniquely different tours that cover everyones individual taste. We offer the Chicago River Boat Architecture Tour that takes you down the famous Chicago River there are several different options such as Architecture, History, Jazz/ Cocktail Cruises and Firework Viewing Tours
- Flexibility: We want you to enjoy your Chicago River Boat touring experience, which is why were happy to talk with you and learn more about how our tours can accommodate you, your party, or your corporate outing. Our tours run daily, with availability always posted on our website here.
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Chicago Architecture Boat Cruise On Chicagos First Lady
One of the best ways to appreciate this exciting landscape is via a Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicagos First Lady.
Chicago boat tours are narrated by knowledgeable volunteer docents. They provide detailed information within the context of the citys past and present. In just ninety minutes, youll get the best overview of Chicagos architecture and its history, along with an understanding of the many ways the river has affected the development of the city.
