The best Chicago architecture cruise

Which Chicago architecture cruise is best?

The First Lady for the narration, the Shoreline cruise for the value, and the Wendella 90 minute tour for a full-length ride that you can still cancel.

All three are rated 4.7 or better. No single boat wins every category, so the table below puts the differences in one place.

Who does the talking on each boat?

Volunteer docents on the First Lady, professionally trained guides on Wendella, and a live expert on the Shoreline architecture cruise.

Per the Chicago Architecture Center page, the docents have had hundreds of hours of training and each cruise varies with the docent's own take. That makes it the most story-led of the group. Watch one trap: the Shoreline architecture cruise has live commentary, but Shoreline's separate 45 minute lake skyline cruise uses pre-recorded commentary, so read the listing before you book the cheaper one.

Where does each boat leave from?

The First Lady boards at the Riverwalk, Wendella at the Michigan Avenue Bridge, and Shoreline lets you choose between Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier.

The First Lady meets at 112 E Wacker Dr at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, by the black awning at the stairway. Wendella's main dock is at 400 N Michigan Ave, next to the Wrigley Building. Navy Pier is on Lake Michigan, not on the river, so check where your boat meets before you set off. The enclosed boat at 900 S Wells St is the odd one out: it leaves from the quieter south end of the Loop.

Which cruise copes best with rain or cold?

Every boat here runs rain or shine, and the Wendella boats, the First Lady and the enclosed boat on S Wells St all have sheltered seating.

The Wendella FAQ says all Wendella boats have heated, air-conditioned cabins in fall, winter and spring, with covered seating always available. The S Wells St boat is fully enclosed with air conditioning and also has open seats. The First Lady has a climate-controlled lower level. In bad weather, pick a boat that lets you sit inside and still see out.

Is the First Lady worth the extra money?

If you care about the story behind the buildings, yes. If you mostly want the view, the price gap is hard to justify.

It costs $57 against $39 for Shoreline, runs 90 minutes instead of 75, and has the strongest rating of the group. Two real limits: the ticket cannot be refunded or changed, and the Chicago Architecture Center page says the First Lady is not wheelchair accessible. Evening sailings leave after 5 p.m. and add a cocktail option.

What is the best cheaper option?

Chicago 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour at $37, rated 4.8 from 2,003 reviews, or the 45 minute Wendella tour at $28.

The enclosed boat covers all three branches, as its listing says, with covered and open-air seating. It lists a discounted parking lot at $12 to $15 connected to the marina. The 45 minute tour is the shortest way to see the core of the river and the right pick when you are short on time. See the 45 or 90 minutes guide for what the shorter ride skips.

A fully enclosed boat with open-air seats too, and a connected parking lot.

★ 4.8 2,003 reviews · 90 minutes · from $37

Explore the enclosed 90 minute architecture boat tour →

Is there a more unusual way to see the river?

Yes: Chicago Fireboat River and Lake Cruise, a two hour cruise on a piece of Chicago history, rated 4.9 from 518 reviews.

It leaves from Dock H at 111 N DuSable Lake Shore Dr, takes up to 100 guests, and its listing says it is stroller accessible but not wheelchair accessible. Alcohol is served only to guests aged 21 and over. At $39 it is a low price for two hours on the water, and the cruise covers both the river and the lake. Book it through the fireboat listing.

Frequently asked questions