CHICAGO · ILLINOIS
The best of Chicago.
The 15 best cruises & boat tours in Chicago, with honest prices, run times and who you book through. Which ones are worth your time downtown, and what each one actually gets you.
Chicago Architecture River Cruise with live expert commentary, skyline views, mobile tickets, pet-friendly boats, and about 1 hour on the water.
Most Popular“Even in cold weather, this trip is worth it. Entertaining and enjoyable to see Chicago from the river!”
Chicago River 1.5-hour architecture cruise covers main stem plus north and south branches. Expert guides, indoor comfort, deck views.
“It was the most interesting architecture tour I have ever been!! The tour guide was very charismatic and made us laugh at lot, we explained everything in a very passionate way and we had a blast!”
Chicago Architecture Center cruise aboard First Lady. 90 minutes of docent-led river views of Willis, Marina City, Navy Pier, and more.
“Evening was the perfect time to view the architecture along the river and Amy was a great tour guide.”
Skip the ticket line for Chicago’s architecture river cruise with a live docent, 40 landmarks, and a cash bar on 3 river branches.
“The tour leader was very knowledgeable about the history of Chicago from a waterfront viewpoint. He had the audience entertained as the we caught the beautiful sunset. This tour is a MUST.”
A 45-minute Chicago River family architecture cruise with live English guide, indoor and outdoor decks, and skip-the-line entry for $28.
“I booked the evening tour for my anniversary. The views were beautiful in the evening. Check the weather before in case it gets cold. There is a lower deck in the event it's too cold.”
Chicago’s River and Lake Michigan architecture cruise. 90 minutes, expert narration, Chicago Lock, skyline photos, and indoor or deck seating.
“Jack was a very knowledgeable and fun guide. Even if the weather wouldn't have been as spectacular as it was, I'm sure we would have had just as great a time.”
A 90-minute Chicago River architecture cruise with live narration, covered seating, and big skyline moments from Wrigley Building to Navy Pier.
“This was an exceptional tour!. The tour guide was great and incredibly knowledgeable. I would recommend this cruise to everyone..”
A 90-minute sunset cruise from the Chicago River to Lake Michigan. See skyline lights turn on, with a warm lounge and onboard bar.
“We did a standard architecture tour a while ago, but we've never been out on the lake. Amazing activity, the whole friend group loved it. I'll do it again with my mom when she visits Chicago”
A short, dog-friendly Lake Michigan cruise from Navy Pier with skyline views, English audio commentary, and a restroom onboard. Great value.
“Great view of the skyline buildings of the city. The old light house would be great to see inside. The tour was nice and smooth with the announcer informing us of what we were seeing. Great quick tour.”
1.5-hour Chicago River architecture boat tour with a local guide, stops near Navy Pier and Cloud Gate, plus drinks and snacks.
“The tour guide was fantastic in her knowledge! Well worth the time and money spent! Even when it was rainy and freezing cold still was fun and educational.”
90-minute Chicago River architecture cruise with live narration, free coffee and lemonade, and views from Lake Point Tower to Navy Pier.
“Absolutely fantastic. And the lecturer, Tyler, was so knowledgeable and yet very funny and engaging.”
A 90-minute Chicago sunset cruise from the river to Lake Michigan via the Chicago Locks, with skyline views and an onboard cash bar.
“Breathtaking views of an amazing city. Well informed and extremely nice guide ( Bob) who answered all our questions.”
Cruise Lake Michigan from Navy Pier for big skyline photos, quick boarding, and clear recorded narration of Chicago’s skyline landmarks in 45 minutes.
“My first cruise was supposed to leave at 8pm, but due to traffics, we couldn’t make it so I called to reschedule an hour later. And the lady on the phone was so kind and adjusted it for us. And the boat ride was perfect. I was able to have conversations with the people sitting…”
Small-group Chicago architecture tour by minibus, with optional open-top river cruise. Hit the Loop, skyline views, and top icons fast.
“My family and I had the best time! Rick did such a fantastic job in showing us around Chicago and learning about the history of such a marvellous city! A 10/10 tour will definitely be coming back to do again”
A 1.5-hour night cruise that shows the Chicago skyline from the river and Lake Michigan, including a pass through the Harbor Lock.
“It was great, a bit of waiting time for the locks but our guide was very knowledgeable, funny and the views were fantastic.”
From the river and the skyline to the gangster trails, the lakefront and the deep-dish counters, every way to spend a day in the city.
