I've been to Chicago many times, but never did the architectural boat tour thinking 'oh it's too touristy.' This time I gave in thinking the weather is nice and I want to do something relaxing. Wendella was highly ranked and a friend recommended them. I was bummed when I saw the 90 minute sunset tour was sold out. I saved $50. lol I was happy to find that they had a 45 minute tour at 8pm. This was actually perfect and for $28! I got to see a little bit of light when we boarded and the actual sun setting and views of the city in the dark. Very beautiful. The host tries to tell us history and be funny, but I think most were busy taking photos or just relaxing as a breeze hit. The ride is smooth so not to worry if you typically get motion sick. I felt fine. You may book tickets online and I'd show up by 7-7:15pm to get on the 8pm boat. The line gets long and if you want premium seating in the back or along the sides, then you want to be early. This 45 minute tour takes off a little bit further in than the 90 min one that has entry just off the bridge by Michigan Ave. Not sure if the boat had a restroom. Overall I'd budget about 2ish hours for this activity from the time waiting in line, cruise, and getting off the boat. Highly recommend! read more

So many choices, lucked out with today's architectural tour with the amazing John narrating. Knowledgeable, comical, and personable, I learned an incredible amount of Chicago history and architecture while being entertained. Who knew? Plus over 75 photos!!! This is a MUST DO for visitors and locals alike !!! Thank you John!! read more

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While waiting in a long like, in extreme heat, 2 girls allowed line cutting. I alerted staff and they didn't care. Those extra people filled up the seats fast and we barely had a seat. Spend your money where you're valued. read more

My family and I had such a wonderful time with Wendella Tours and Cruises! Even though the weather wasn't perfect, it actually made our adventure even more special. The friendly and knowledgeable staff went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable, including cleaning the seats for us. Our tour guide was so well-informed and kept us dry, which was really impressive. They even had $5 rain ponchos for sale. The boat had two floors, and those who preferred a more private space could also buy drinks like free spirits and alcoholic beverages. Since this was my very first trip to Chicago, I definitely want to join the tour again. The price was fair, the staff was warm and welcoming, and the relaxed atmosphere made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Plus, I learned so much! Overall, my family had a fantastic time, and we wholeheartedly recommend it! read more

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90 minute Architecture tour It was a cloudy, windy, and cold day in June. Even with the clouds rolling in & out and blocking a lot of the views it was still interesting and our awesome guide, Bobby, was knowledgeable, funny, and kept it interesting and flowing for adults and kids. The tour starts on the river heading towards Lake Michigan. The ride into the lock was a little lengthy as we had to wait for them to fill it with boats first. Once we made it onto Lake Michigan it was very chilly, but I'd rather be freezing than sweating like crazy on a hot humid day. We were on a smaller boat which was nice. - upper deck: Seats long the outside and chairs in the middle. Only wish they had cushions. - lower deck: had some small seating outside and standing bar tables - lower deck: indoor restrooms and bar area - snacks, drinks available for purchase If rain is in the forecast bring paper towels to clean off your seats. I also saw some people with Wendella rain ponchos, but not sure where to get them? Really fun and beautiful way to see the city! Highly recommend! read more

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First time on the architecture boat tour on the recommendation of a bunch of friends who had already taken the tour in the past. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised. The words "architecture" and "boat tour" don't immediately spell a fun time in my mind. But this tour is 1) a pleasant way to see the center of Chicago from the water, 2) actually interestingly informational, as the tour guides are extremely on top of their game, 3) much more dense that you expect (these guys are talking non-stop), and 4) surprisingly good views, especially when you get all the way out into the edge of the harbor! Finding the place was a bit roundabout, but once we got there, staff were super friendly, and it was easy to get on the boat and off to our next stop afterwards. Parking suggestions on the site are solid too. I'm not sure whether I'd do it again, but I'd definitely recommend it as a must-do stop on any visit! read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Skyline view. - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Definitely worth the money. The 90 minute trip taught Mr things about Chicago's skyline that I never knew. The narrator was very knowledgeable on the history and specific details of buildings along the river. We have friends that live downtown and they even learned things about downtown buildings they never knew. Staff was very friendly and helpful. If you are ever in Chicago this is a tour to do without a doubt. read more

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This cruise was such an educational and amazing experience and the highlight of my trip. It was nice to learn about the extensive history of Chicago and its architecture. The trip was about an hour and a half and has a bar that serves a few cocktails and snacks. There was ample seating on the top deck and lower seats as well. We scheduled around 3pm which was a great time to visit. Access to the boat was easy to locate. I would recommend arriving at the stop earlier as seats are first come first served. read more

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When you arrive the signs are very clear. We almost got looped in with the wrong time and the employees were very helpful in ensuring we made it to the right boat! A side note there is a Peet's coffee right above this that you can stop in for a snack. They also have a full bar and snacks available for purchase on the boat which was a surprise to me! The bathrooms on board are super clean as well. Now, the best part was Scott! Our tour was engaging, fun, and very informative. You can barely feel yourself moving which is wild! I got a ton of great photos and learned so much about the city. I would do this exact tour again it was so fun. They do have lots of options to choose from! read more

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Wendella Architectural Tours' tour guide was amazing and funny! I love this dude. He explains the history and describe them as fun as possible. It was a fun experience. read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wonderful tour. The tour guide Alyssa was knowledgeable and kept the tour upbeat and fun with interesting facts and excellent corny humor. Great way to spend 90 minutes in Chicago. The views were spectacular and even though it was 85 degrees, the breeze on the boat felt good (and there is AC downstairs on the inside cabin if you need it). I brought my own water bottle but they did have a bar with lots of cold drinks for sale. read more

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We took the 10:15am architectural tour. It was about an hour and a half tour and it was very informative. It is July 3rd and very hot and sunny. I highly recommend wearing a hat, sunscreen and bring water. We sat on the top deck to have the best view. There is a lower deck that has ac, restrooms and sells alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. A can of water is $6. It will save you a few dollars to bring your own. Our tour guide, Molly, was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Despite the nonstop rain, we had a fantastic experience on our boat tour with Wendella. The tour was incredibly informative and gave us a whole new appreciation for the city's history and architecture. A special shoutout to Jack, who did a superb job as our guide. His knowledge, storytelling, and enthusiasm kept everyone engaged throughout the tour, even with the less than ideal weather. While we certainly would have preferred sunshine, the rain didn't take away from the experience thanks to Jack's excellent commentary and positive attitude. We learned so much and truly enjoyed our time on the water. Highly recommend this tour and if you're lucky enough to get Jack as your guide, you're in for a treat! read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best way to see the city! We did the 45 minute tour and while it went by quick it was a perfect introduction to all of the history of architecture in Chicago. The skyline views are gorgeous and there's really no bad view from the top of the boat. Just a note that not everyone fits on top so you need to show up early to secure your spot in line. It was very hot and humid when we went, and the metal deck reflects heat, so remember plenty of sunscreen and water. It cools down once you're on the water and you can stand as well. Some people brought umbrellas for shade so that's an option too. They do stop for a few minutes once you're out toward the lake so you can take in the skyline which was amazing! read more

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Our tour guide, Lucas, was a wonderful story teller and architectural guide of the buildings of Chicago. Being from the South, I was woefully unprepared for a Memorial Day weekend below the temperature of 70. And windy. So I stayed in the indoor area by the snack bar with a full bar. The 90 minute boat ride was pleasant sitting inside with my tonic water and popcorn. I would recommend booking between June-August on a warm sunny day for optimal viewing from Southerners. read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Tonic water and snack for my boat tour. Indoor seating thankfully at snack bar area - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great tour! Knowledgeable and funny guide and nice long 90 minute tour. Started and finished on time. Easy boarding. Great experience! read more

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Great tour! Worth the money! They also provide military discount! Goes over history of buildings read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the chance to go on a Wendella River Cruise while visiting Chicago and it was so great! It was easy to book a trip just a few days out and everyone in my party had a good time! It was really cool that we went out onto the Lake and left the downtown river area for a bit of the ride. Even my nieces enjoyed the cruise! Our tickets advised us to get to the dock early and I can't stress that enough- the line quickly grew well ahead of the cruise even starting. I was surprised. Seating is all first come, first serve, so good to get there early if you want to get a particular seat. read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Wendella signage - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wonderful architecture boat tour at sunset! Gabby was a lovely tour guide, informing me on the history and unique facts of all the fascinating Chicago buildings! read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Booked the architectural riverboat tour down the Chicago River well in advance. We charged it on their website paying $45 pp. Unfortunately, we were on a boat with 300 middle school children on a class trip. Our guide was informative and wonderful. She shared a lot of information about the fire, the new second city and all of the wonderful architectural gems that we passed. We went underneath 37 bridges crossing Chicago River. I was impressed when we went through the lock system & went into Lake Michigan. The primary "system of locks" for the Chicago River is the Chicago Harbor Lock, which controls water levels between Lake Michigan & the river, enabling boats to pass between them and serving as a critical component of the Chicago Area Waterway System for flood control and navigation. This lock operates by raising or lowering boats using gravity, ensuring the river's water stays below the lake level and preventing contamination of Lake Michigan by wastewater read more

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We had a great time on a cruise with Wendella on the Chicago River. Our run club was invited to join a special cruise sponsored by a company associated with the Chicago Marathon. We were treated to a Chicago River Architecture Tour which showcased some terrific buildings, structures, and history which was pointed out and narrated by a tour host. Open bar with plenty to drink along with a terrific buffet spread of tasty food. This offered both great sightseeing, some education, along with a nice way to spend a few hours during a sunny afternoon. read more

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Such a beautiful yet rainy experience lol. Although it did rain while on our night cruise, we still had so much fun! read more

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Beautiful experience! My boyfriend and I took the sunset cruise over 4th of July weekend. The tour guide was really upbeat and gave some fun architecture and city facts. Once we got out on Lake Michigan, they turned up the music and just let us enjoy the water and sunset. It was really romantic. There was even a proposal on board and we all cheered for the happy couple. We had delicious cocktails on the boat too. Beverages and snacks available for purchase. I enjoyed my aperol spritz and it was served in a nice travel cup that kept it really cold. The boat was very spacious and had multiple levels to explore. The weather was lovely and it was such a perfect experience. Amazing city views and I highly recommend it. read more

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I never write reviews, but the experience with Wendella Tours was bizarre and made me angry. AVOID THIS TOUR GROUP. Me and my partner scheduled a 90-minute architecture tour for 06/24/2025 at 8:30PM (Total $90 for two tickets). We arrived early and while waiting, we received an email at 7:56PM saying there was an issue with their boat and they had to cancel the tour. We went down to the ticketing office and spoke with the employee. He explained there was an issue with their boat and it was impossible to refund our tickets at his ticketing office. He advised me that we could call the main office number and ask for a refund and then shrugged saying he wasn't sure if they would be able to. The employee stated he could reschedule us to 8:45PM (a firework tour - not what we wanted) or 9:00PM for the architecture tour. I advised him we would be fine with shifting our plans to 9:00PM. He printed me and my partner our tickets and we stepped aside to wait for an hour. We looked at the tickets and noticed that the 9:00PM tour was printed as only 45-minutes long, not the 90-minutes originally purchased. I went back up to the ticketing office and inquired about the discrepancy and asked for a refund on the difference, as the 45-minute tour was only $28 per ticket (Total $56 for two tickets). The employee again said he couldn't refund us for the difference. At this point I was upset because literally, what do you mean you can't refund the difference? After me being persistent (and a different employee also saying no refunds), they finally admitted they actually COULD refund me there, and then issued me a refund / receipt saying my card would be credited for the original amount in 2 - 5 days. I left completely confused by the interaction. How are YOU going to cancel on me, and then say "Oh no refunds" *shrug*. Umm you didn't provide the service I purchased... I would urge you to use literally any other architecture tour group. read more

The Wendella tour seems to be quite popular, with the boat being packed for the golden hour cruising time. Don't get me wrong, there's still space for everyone, though. Just make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure time to get your preferred spot to sit. There's truly no bad view though! The cruise was very informative and delved into the history of Chicago and made me feel quite proud to be a part of the city I'm not even from. Our tour guide Elsie (?) was also very funny and put a lot of jokes into the tour. My only concern is that it seems that there are a few different check-in points for the various Wendella cruises, so we had a hard time finding which one to check in at. This made us climb a lot more stairs than we really cared to. In this same notion, I don't know that all of the check-in points are necessarily accessible if you cannot traverse stairs, which may be something important to consider if you need ramps or elevators to commute. read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Views - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Perfect experience worth every penny! We had planned to do sunset things in a building/rooftop but couldn't work it out. We found Wendella Tours and went with this for our sunset situation. Unfortunately it ended up being partly cloudy on our day. We still took the cruise and it was awesome. The guy riding with us did tell us about some of the buildings on our way out to the lake. We cruised the lake a few times. Even without the sunset, as it started to get dark, the buildings being lit up were still beautiful and worth it. Since it was cloudy, I think the company goes the extra step. We ended up sailing down the river on our way back and received a partial architecture tour. Super nice of them. We'll do a cruise every time we're in Chicago. This company's setup is easy. Their boats are primarily right there at Michigan Avenue so they're not hard to find. Our sunset tour was 90 minutes but I think they have shorter tours... just not sure. It's totally worth your time. My best guess is maybe 100-150 people per cruise... on the top of the boat and underneath(where the restrooms/bar are). It never felt crowded at all. You are allowed to stand up if you need the perfect photo. It was a perfect and romantic way to spend our first night in Chicago. read more

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'Wendella Tours & Cruises' has been in existence since I was a kid, and I am in my 60s now. Everyone visiting Chicago should take this tour of the Chicago River and it's surrounding architecture at least once. Everyone who lives in Chicago should take this tour many times, because when family and friends visit Chi-town, they MUST be taken on this tour. Then the more friends and family coming to see you, the more time you take this tour with them. - It's Obligatory. So every time a visitor comes town, I treat them to an afternoon tour on Wendella Tours & Cruises. It's not just that Wendella offers an amazing service - it's that this service is necessary in order to understand Chicago's unique architectural heritage. read more

I've been to Chicago multiple times but decided to finally take a boat cruise/tour. My tour was on a Wednesday and I bought my ticket around 9am for a 1:00 tour. Everyone was extremely friendly and had excellent communication. Boat was very comfortable and I would highly recommend anyone thinking about learning more about the architecture in Chicago. It's a well timed tour that is very informative. I'd highly recommend. read more

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If there's one thing in common with all the travel posts you read about coming to Chicago, it's to take an architecture tour. I'm glad I did. Not only do these tours do a great job of highlighting all the one-of-a-kind buildings found in this place, but you get to learn lots about the history and about some of the famous architects. It's cool too because when you look at the Chicago skyline, you see the distinctness in the buildings, but being in a boat floating by them at a time, really gives you time to appreciate them in all their glory. The Wendella tour I took was for 90 minutes, which is their most popular tour and takes you the furthest along the river. The tour guide stops about halfway through when there's nice photo ops for like 5-10 minutes so you can take some pictures and grab a drink. But don't worry about missing the tour if you need to head to the restroom or buy something, there are speaks throughout the entire boat which is awesome. I sat on the benches in the back as per recommendations on reddit, and I agree these were great seats. I was able to snap good photos without people right up next to me. The docks for Wendella tours are located right by the Wrigley building. You can access them by the stairs next to the bridge, and there is also an elevator that takes you halfway down if need be. When I'd go back to Chicago I'd take another tour and I recommend anyone who visits to take one as well. Oh, and it was a great way to spend the morning of my birthday!! read more

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First of all, IMO, Chicago Illinois is the best city in the U.S.! This city is beautiful! This fireworks tour boat added to our stay. Apparently, Chicago has fireworks every weekend in the summer, obviously if the weather cooperates. Fireworks were amazing along with seeing the city line during the nighttime and it's awesome how many boats are out on Lake Michigan during the fireworks. If you want seats, get in line early. The reason I did not give five stars was because the woman that was speaking during the tour was boring and 95% of the music was terrible. Other than that, it was worth it read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Totally recommend Wendella's tours & cruises such a wonderful & unique experience , would do it all over again & again!!! & the price is decent to read more

Wendella Tours & Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Every time someone proposes to go on a Chicago River Cruise I groan. Why would you want to go on a boat for an hour when I can see the buildings perfectly fine from here? I've already done the cruise, why would I do it again? I end up going along with the group and doing a cruise, and I love it every time. On the river is the best way to experience the skyline of Chicago. You get to see the best of the best and hear history behind it. Even though this is a tourist trap, it is one of the few that I've been on that I actually think it is worth it. read more

So the only negative is that this place was super hard to find. Theŕe is a lot of signage for other companies and where this one was located there was construction going on so it would have been better to have a more prominent sign or something because we circled around a few times since there are like 4 potential sides in the Riverwalk to go to so we had to keep going up and down and around the Riverwalk to find this company. However, while we were frustrated after finally finding where to get the boat, the tour guide Dave was amazing. Not only was the tour educational but he was hilarious, it was like a comedy show and a tour in one. So I would definitely recognize it since there are so many unique structures in downtown. read more

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I booked the 11:45 AM Monday tour through Viator. Tickets were $28 per adult. They recommend arriving 30 minutes early, so we got there around 11:25 AM and found a pretty long line already forming. They hadn't started boarding yet, but by 11:30 the line began to move quickly. They scanned our tickets, did a quick bag check, and we were good to go! There were more than enough seats for everyone. I headed to the lower deck to grab drinks from the bar while my friend saved us a spot upstairs. I ordered two rum punches. It wasn't on the menu, but the bartender was super nice and made them anyway ($12 each). They accept cash, card, and Apple Pay, from what I saw. The boat pulled off right on time at 11:48, and we were back and docked by exactly 12:33. I was initially worried that 45 minutes wouldn't be enough, but it was actually the perfect amount of time. The tour was informative and relaxing. I saw some really cool buildings. I even spotted window washers up high, which I've only ever seen in movies! That had me totally intrigued, lol. Overall, it was a great experience and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a quick and fun sightseeing tour. Friendly staff read more

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if you are on the fence, just do it. Usually, I avoid tourist traps like this, but this was really enjoyable. Our guide mentioned that he has been doing these tours for many years and it showed. His knowledge on the buildings was impressive and the information that he chose to share was valuable and entertaining. I recommend getting there early if you have a large party just to make sure everybody can sit together because the seating is first come first serve and you definitely want to be on the upper deck. read more

Disclaimer I haven't been on many boat tours, as in this is my first so I don't have much to compare it to. That being said this one was pretty nice. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept it interesting for us the entire time. We learned about a lot of the architectural history on the 45 minute river cruise. At the end we got to take a nice shot of the shoreline so that was pretty cool. If I had to say anything, maybe one thing that would have made the cruise better was if the seats were cushioned? But maybe their type of seats are like that because there's no roof or coverage to protect them from rain or harsh sun etc. read more

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I have taken multiple tours with Wendella, and I always have a great experience! I enjoy learning new things from each tour guide, and hearing their different perspectives regarding the history and architecture, and even current events within the city of Chicago. Which, might I add is fabulous. read more

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NOT ACCESSIBLE! IF YOU HAVE A MOBILITY ISSUE, BEWARE! I purchased tickets for myself and two co-workers for the 90 architecture river cruise. I use a rolling walker due to hip issues so I made sure, before I purchased tickets that they were accessible. Their website said there was an elevator available at the dock and gave a number to call for assistance. When we arrived, I had to ask one of the workers where the elevator was because it wasn't obvious. A very helpful young lady took us on a long, circuitous route to an elevator and then to a locked ADA entrance. She had to call someone to unlock the ADA door. We finally got onto the boat. It loaded onto the very full top deck and, since I can't manage stairs with my walker, I just parked myself at the back railing next to the stairs for the entire 90 minutes. The tour was interesting and I would've felt that it was well worth the money, if not for the coming humiliation. At the end of the tour, as the boat was docking, the tour guide announced that we would be disembarking from the lower level so everyone would need to move to the stairs. When he approached, I asked him how I was supposed to get downstairs. He carried my walker down and I slowly made my way down the stairs. After we disembarked, it became immediately apparent that we were at a different dock from the one where we boarded. I asked an employee how to get to the elevator. The only way, I was told, was to climb a large set of stairs to the next level and then she could take us to the elevator that would take us to street level. There was no other option. Being forced to climb stairs with a disability is humiliating, not to mention. painful. I had to stop several times trying to get the pain under control. The route she took us was through a smelly underground street & maybe a parking area (?) It was barely traversable for me and would absolutely not have been for anyone in a wheelchair or electric scooter. Again, I had to stop several times due to the pain. Bottom line: the company is NOT accessible or anywhere near ADA compliant. The employees where we embarked and the tour guide all saw me get on the boat with my walker. No one stopped us and said that they couldn't accommodate me for the entire experience. I'm thankful that there were two very nice young ladies who were willing to go out of their way to assist me when the greater company would have left me stranded. read more

We had a great time on the 90-min architecture tour with tour-guide Kenny. The boat tour was on schedule and had visible signs to identify the boarding area. They really packed on the people and we were, unfortunately, at the back of the line. We were some of the last to board and were stuck standing along the railing. It ended up being the perfect place. We had great views, the breeze, and got to stretch our legs after a long day of travel the day before. The tour itself was extremely informative. We learned a lot about the different buildings and the history of Chicago, in general. I'd say to plan ahead and buy the tickets off Groupon. You can save over $30 on two tickets, by doing that. If you buy through the site or at the counter at the time of, it's $90. Still worth it for an enjoyable experience we'd likely only do once. read more

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Bought tickets online for this architectural boat tour. Arrived about 20 mins prior to departure and a line had already formed. They let us start to board 15 mins prior to leaving. There's plenty of room for everyone to have seats throughout the boat. If you're sitting up top be prepared for the sun (and heat); however, the clouds and bridges we passed under gave us a break. There's a bar inside to get drinks and food as well. The tour guide was very knowledgeable of the city's architecture and the views were amazing! Great tour! read more