Chicago Lakefront Cruises - Chicago, Illinois

S T.

We had an unforgettable time on the 90-minute architecture tour with Chicago Lakefront Cruises. This tour was ideal for our family, offering not just a relaxing cruise along the river but also an insightful journey through Chicago’s storied architecture. The boat had both open and enclosed seating, so everyone in our group could enjoy the views in comfort.

Our guide was fantastic—engaging and packed with knowledge about the landmarks we passed. They wove Chicago's architectural and cultural history into each building’s story, making the experience both educational and entertaining. From classics like the Wrigley Building to newer structures, the guide’s enthusiasm kept us hooked. And with stops on all three river branches (Main, North, and South), we saw iconic sites like Goose Island, Chinatown, and the renowned river locks.

The boat was well-maintained, and the views were stunning, especially from the upper deck. This tour offered a unique vantage point for capturing skyline photos, and everyone, from our youngest to oldest family members, enjoyed it. It was a smooth ride even in varying weather, and though there were some open areas, the enclosed space kept us comfortable.

Overall, Chicago Lakefront Cruises offers an immersive experience into the heart of Chicago’s architecture. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, this tour is a fantastic way to explore the city. Highly recommended for families and anyone looking to learn more about Chicago’s architectural gems.

Nate F.

Great tour! Heath was a fantastic guide. His passion for the city really shines and inspires to explore more of the city. Boat was clean and the process was smooth. Easy affordable parking at the dock too.

norah

Wonderful tour; we had Captain Joe and tour guide Heath! Highly recommend! Our tour was very informational about the various forms of architecture and history of Chicago. I assure you it was not boring at all, and the whole audience was captivated in what Heath had to say about the city. The staff are very accommodating when it comes to the visitor’s needs as well. This tour offers and covers a wide range of the city, (more than other boats), and we could take wonderful pictures. Don’t miss out!

John H.

I would give five stars, but I was disappointed in the boarding process. My sisters (in from out of town) had bought tickets a week in advance from Groupon — I didn’t know my plan, so I waited. I called morning of and they said I can standby once I get there. I get there… I’m 17 on standby… The women working tries to convince my party to go on the next tour and we’d all be first on “standby” to get on. Welp flash forward everyone cleared the standby list on the first boat, so it was odd that the women told us to wait. The boat wasn’t full… They should have just told us that the standby passengers would board right before departure.

Anyways, spectacular views of the Chicago skyline and an incredible tour guide who was super funny. Great for friends and family alike!

Gabriella L.

Went on the architecture boat tour as part of a girls’ weekend and we all agreed it was a highlight of the trip. Accessing the marina and boarding were both easy. The tour offered great views and photo ops. David was an awesome tour guide that presented architecture in a way it could all be appreciated even if it wasn’t your favorite style. Captain Joe was also wonderful!

John

The Chicago Architectural boat tour is the best way to explore the city skyscraper, and the Chicago Lakefront Cruises is the best choice, in my opinion. The Chicago Lakefront Cruises provides a complete Architectural tour of all three areas/corners of the Chicago River (Chinatown, Navy Pier, and Chicago Tribune). The tour guide, David, is great at providing the details of the buildings. I learned so much from him, even though I'm from Chicago, living here for three decades. The public parking lot is next to the dock for $12 all day. To ensure parking is available, do an earlier tour before noon because the parking lot is small. We did the 1230 tour, and there were plenty of parking spaces when we arrived at 11 am. There aren't enough parking spaces during the transition of the tours. Plan accordingly and strongly recommend Chicago Lakefront Cruises as your choice of Architectural tour.

Amin

I had a very good trip with this boat. It starts from this place and goes to the lake and returns. It probably took about 1:30 minutes round trip. A very big advantage here is having a parking lot where you can easily park your car in the parking lot here, of course, for a fee.
The boat has a place to sell food and drinks and a man explained the whole route about the places around.

Liina L.

Great tour with David, packed full of architectural information and great humor! I loved learning about all the buildings and getting tips on riverfront dining. Highly recommend!