Chicago Fireboat Tours

Absolutely spectacular river tour! We were on the last boat of the season and we had so much fun! Really enjoyed the smaller boat size. Saw many other river boats that were packed and it was nice to not be packed.

This was a special treat for our youngest son's bday (3 years old). Him and his brother (5 years old) were very excited and a little scared since it was both of their first times on a boat. The crew made it an experience to remember! Very friendly and personable to the boys. They had a few things to bring out for the boys to play with too. The tour itself was great. The tour guide, Austin, was very knowledgeable and funny too. He was able to answer questions from other guests as well as my boys, which is a task in itself at times. Austin was even nice enough to give my son a birthday shout out over the PA when we were heading back to the dock. We loved this tour. We are thinking of going back around Christmas when they have a Santa boat tour! Thanks for making our day special Austin and crew!

We always enjoy a boat ride when vacationing near big bodies of water, seeing from the shore just isn't the same. We saw this company while walking along the docks. We were not disappointed! The ride included much information provided by Cliff about the waterway, Lake Michigan, Chicago River, and the varied architecture of the many huge buildings along the way. The trip to the river also requires passing through the lock that I really enjoyed. Be sure to get a spot where you can watch the lock open and see the water equalize the Lock to the next body of water. They also have a good selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages to quench your thirst.

This experience was absolutely heaven sent. The crew was amazing!! They were so polite, pleasant and caring. I took both of my aunt's. And it was ALL of our first time on a boat. So we were a little bit nervous. They mad us feel so comfortable. It was like a family outing. And OMG it was beautiful and informative. I can't believe I live in Chicago all my life and didn't know these places along the river even existed. And learning the history behind these places was amazing. Thanks to our very funny and caring tour guide. He even took time out to come check on his passengers. I definitely recommend everyone come check them out. It was such a great and memorable experience 💖.

This was by far THE BEST boat tour in Chicago! Not only was it on a historic 1937 fire boat, but the crew was laid back and very genuinely happy. The tour guide was so full of energy and great information about everything.

I had wonderful experience on the boat. It was truly amazing and beautiful. I love the every second I was on the boat. My Team arrange an amazing trip for me we drink juices and share beautiful memories together. We saw some great scenes from boat, saw the downtown skyscrapers 🏙️ , navy pier and beautiful lake ❤️ I will highly recommend to visit with them and enjoy your trip ☺️

Went on the fire boat for the air and water show, and it was a great experience! Food and drinks (non alcoholic) were included in the purchase, and we were able to get so close to the show as opposed to some larger boats. It was also the only boat tour we could find that covered the entire show as opposed to just half (for the same price). Crew was very nice, there was plenty of good seating and viewing for everyone. We would absolutely see the air and water show this way again and would also consider going on other fire boat tour experiences!

This was such a a great tour. Our tour guide Cliff was so much fun and full of information on the history and architecture of Chicago. Manny the bar tender was great and so was the rest of the crew. They could not have made the experience any better. This was a spur of the moment decision to come and I'm so glad we did. Would recommend this trip over any of the other tour boats because the boat itself is an old Chicago fireboat and part of Chicago history.

There are many tour boat companies to choose from and we are so happy we chose Chicago Fireboat Tours! It was GREAT! Just being on a such an historic treasure of a boat. Not too big of a boat either so you can maneuver around it all for great views of Lake Michigan & the Chicago River. This was a Historical & Architectural tour. We learned so much from the speaker ( Cliff) about this great city. Stunning views. Plenty of memorabilia on the boat from it's storied past. Even a full bar ( and small bathrooms). Very fair price. Tour was just under 2 hours which went by quickly because it was fun. If there is one boat tour to do of Chicago, it's this one. Just grab an Old Style (beer), sit back, and enjoy.

Took the family for an afternoon tour. Two teens and my spouse. Everyone enjoyed it. Smaller than other tour boats but it gives it a different feel which I appreciated.

Loved the Chicago fireboat tour. It's a smaller tour boat than some of the others. My friend and I found them on Groupon the deal was super easy to use and book. We got there with plenty of time to spare before boarding. Austin the tour guide gave an awesome satirical history of chicago and the unique architecture and stories that makes up the city. Loved seeing the buildings from the vantage point of the river. I was glad I dressed warm because the wind gets pretty strong coming out back onto Lake Michigan! There were also refreshments to purchase at the bar but my friend and I just stayed in our seats the whole time except to move around a bit to take pictures!

It was a lovely night. My son and boyfriend loved the whole experience since it was their first time on a boat

This tour was one of the highlights of a recent trip to Chicago. We had a great time learning about the locks on the river, the river itself, Lake Michigan, Chicago parks, and the architecture. We arrived early, so we got our choice of seats. They have a little bar, so you can sip a cocktail, beer, wine, or soda while during your cruise. The boat is an old fire boat that has quite a history. It has been very well restored and modified for its current use. The pricing is very reasonable for the tour. I will definitely recommend this tour to anyone traveling to Chicago.

Loved this tour! Great architecture tour. Cool historic fireboat. Much better than the huge touristy boats. Small bar for beer, wine, soft drinks, water. Can sit outside or inside. Great staff. Veteran owned.

If you want to spend a lovely afternoon and learn something about the architecture of the buildings in downtown this it's the best way. Take a sit ,relax and enjoy. It's nice cuz on the back side of the boat it's covered but unfortunately you can't hear very well because of the noise of the engine so in a hot summer day,that's the best spot if you don't come prepare with had ,sunscreen etc.:) There it's also a small lovely bar that provide snacks and drinks ,2 tinny restrooms service ,a lovely entrance where you can admire some beautiful and tragic moments in the history of firefighters and of course the front side of the boat that it's having chairs to sit and enjoy.

book this for your visiting friends/family around @chicagofireboattours Lakeshore, Chicago This was a fireboat that ran for 45 years. Starting in 1936. Owners were in the navy and are starting a nonprofit to train veterans to work these tours and unique historical boats in Chicago, isn't that cool? They'll have a navy boat coming up, so stay tuned! It's $45 for 2 hours in the lake + river for a sunset tour. Firework cruises and architecture Tours also available

Had a great time here going on the river and learning about all the different buildings and histories. The boat is nice and there is a covered section as well as an uncovered section in the front. The water was really calm and the weather was quite nice and there was also a bartender there too! I got a coffee. Overall, great thing to do when you're here in Chicago and it's next to the navy pier for you to check out as well. There lots of paid parking around so check spothero for the best deal.

Wonderful tour on the river and in the lake on a small, veteran-owned, historic boat. Cliff did a fantastic job talking about both the architecture and the history of Chicago. Highly recommend!

After living in Chicago for so many years it's my first time taking this boat ride! I believe it's. Retired fire boat and the people working on the boat couldn't be nicer. As a chicagoans living here for more than ten years and many boats later I still absolutely loved the experience. Our tour guide Austin was amazing too. He was witty detailed and so very patient to answer any questions we had I found the boat ride as a part of Groupon deal and couldn't have loved it more on the beautiful day we took the ride!

This tour has been on my list for YEARS and this was AWESOME! There were so many different tours to pick from, and were so glad we picked this one! We passed several other ones along the river and they were PACKED with people. There was plenty of room and space on this one! There was a little fire museum and history of the boat on board, which was nice to look at. The tour guide infused humor in with his facts. He was so friendly and knowledgeable. And the sights were unbeatable! This is the best way to see the city! There was a bar on board, as well as a few small bathrooms. There were chairs, but also tables set up too.

There are many boat tours and cruises that you take on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. However, none are quite like Chicago Fireboat Tours. For starters, the boat itself is very historical. According to the owners, the boat dates back to 1936, and was an operating Chicago fire boat for 44 years . Yes, this is one of the actual boats used to fight fires and patrol Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. I went for what might be considered a sunset tour in June of 2023. The boat left from Du Sable Harbor, and went out into Lake Michigan. It went North to Navy Pier, and then turned back South again. We then turn West to head into the Chicago River. After passing through the Chicago River locks, we went West and turn into the South Branch of the Chicago River. We went South to about River City before returning to Du Sable Harbor along roughly the same route. The course itself was mostly at a leisurely pace. We did pick up some speed after we entered the Chicago River. The total time of my cruise was about two hours. You have two options for enjoying the cruise. You can sit up front and feel the speed of the boat and be outside. The other option is to stay in the back and remain inside and under a covering with plastic covered openings if you want a slower paced experience. I moved back and forth to both spaces throughout the course. While this course does not have the commentary of the architectural cruise, I still enjoyed viewing the iconic building along the Chicago River. In sum, this was a fun cruise on a very cool boat.

Wow what a great activity to do while visiting chicago! Whether you're from out of town or a local you'll learn something new ! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and humorous. All the staff was so friendly and run a smooth ship! They have a bar with drinks and snacks for purchase. The boat is owned by a veteran family which makes it a great choice to support local businesses !

Great time out with my girls and an amazing historical tour lead by Austin who not only made it enjoyable and informative, but also very engaging. The weather was perfect; boat wasn't crowded, plenty of options to sit, and just a great day overall.

We really enjoyed the tour yesterday. Hubby and I had done the same tour about three years ago so we brought my adult son this time. The guide is professional and very knowledgeable. We received a lot of architectural tour info in a much more comfy and less crowded boat than the bigger Architectural Tours. The bartender is awesome and we liked the option of sitting at a table in the covered area. The captain checked in with every passenger personally. I highly recommend this tour!

Really enjoyed this tour. Was initially going to go with the Wendella which most people do. I like this one because the vessel is smaller, so not as many people like the Wendella and priced better. It was informative, fun, and you get some AMAZING views and pictures. Wasn't too happy that they don't accept Groupon on weekends and holidays. But got over it and purchased from them directly. Based on the experience, glad that we went with them.

We had SO much fun on the Thursday night brew-cruise (I bet any tour is great here)! The crew was awesome and clearly love what they do and we loved the Brew Cruise IPA collab. Can't recommend this boat enough - chill, fun and felt totally at home on the water! Looking forward to next time!!

This was our second time to experience the BEST tour of Chicago waterways. Austin, the tour guide is an amazing guide who knows the architectural and history of structures for every building in view. He details the eco systems along with a great narrative of Chicago's history from a variety of viewpoints. The owner and crew are great. Dan and other veterans who own the Fireboats in service take veterans on given days Free on their tour. They represent the best that Chicago offers! See for yourself how much more you'll enjoy the Fireboat Tours! Tom C

Had a long layover at O'Hare and decided to take a boat tour, dad and I ended up taking ' Historical and Architectural Lake and River Tour' where we had so much fun. The tour was a little less than two hours, the guide was very good, there was a bar on board but not a lot of food. We went for the morning tour and it wasn't very crowded- which we appreciated. It was a nice sunny day and much better than going to an observation tower. We got a good deal for the tour on groupon which was really nice.

Great experience with Fireboat Tours! I was in Chicago a few weeks ago and saw them float by and thought it would be the perfect experience for my toddler the next time we were in town and I was right. He was so excited to be riding a fireboat. Our tour guide was awesome pointing out the cool architecture. Nice to have bathrooms on board. And there's booze on board too! What a great combo! Enjoy the ride with a drink in hand (or chase a toddler around, which is what I did) but either way, great way to spend an afternoon in Chicago.

So, I check out Groupon whenever I'm traveling to a new city and sure enough, I stumbled across a Groupon for the Fireboat Tour. It had good reviews and I figured "why not give it a try?" Turns out, the positive reviews are well deserved and I'm happy that I can add one more. I took the afternoon daily river tour and was not disappointed. First of all, the boat itself is pretty darn awesome. It has a ton of personality and plenty of room to move around accommodate large groups. Second, they have a very nice selection of adult beverages from which you can partake while you cruise around. Finally, the running commentary was fantastic. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and really breathed life into the whole experience. He brought the city of Chicago alive with a combination of stories, anecdotes, and facts about the about the city's architecture and history. If you find yourself looking for something to do in the Windy City, consider taking a cruise on the fireboat. You won't be disappointed.

This is a great tour we went with family visiting from Germany and it was overall just a fun experience big plus that they allowed our dog to come with

Nothing better than an historic boat run by Navy veterans with a sense of humor and great Chicago back story. In the 90 minute tour, we went out onto the Lake, through the locks, up the river and on the the north branch. It was a spectacular day. The boat has restrooms, bar with alcohol and not, shaded seating and not. And of course Chicago in your sights. I've been on the other boats and love the small size of this tour. They all have docents, all tell pretty much the same stories give or take. I had not gone to the north branch by boat, good opportunity. Nothing like the Chicago architecture along the river and boats, parks and museums along the lake. Just book it before the summer ends!

Austin did an amazing job narrating our boat tour. He would even come by to see if we had any questions during our tour. The rest of crew was always very amazing & friendly. We were hesitant to take the tour since we were told Chicago First Lady was the best tour, but we had an amazing time. Ambiance was outstanding! Definitely would recommend this tour 100%. Thank you all crew members for making it a memorable one for us. Can't wait to return

Lovely tour on lake and river. Very informative guide to share fun tidbits on architecture, Chicago history and even a bit of firefighting history of Chicago. Easy going staff and lots of reasonably priced beer and non alcoholic drink options. $3 iced lemonade, woohoo! They are totally fine when you bring your food and drinks and there's no pressure for you to purchase food from them at all. If you're gonna do a boat tour, this is the tour to choose to get a more personable tour, less crowded setting, affordable snacks and drinks and reasonable tour price.

I have been on several Chicago boat tours over there years, but none compared to this one! Not only are you traveling on a museum of sorts, but you are being entertained by the crew. Austin, the tour guide, shared info I had never heard on other tours or even in my years spent growing up and living in Chicago, interspersed with clever humor. I highly recommend!

My wife and I went on a tour with these guys last year. Fantastic time and consummate professionals. I would highly recommend these guys!

This was one of our family's favorite experiences while visiting Chicago. Captain Erich and Captain Ray (Navy Veteran owners) were incredible hosts. We learned about the river, the locke system, and the spectacular architecture and history of this iconic city. Their bar features local brews from Phase Three Brewery along with anything else you could want to drink. We enjoyed the night cruise so much we had to come back for the day cruise. Support small businesses and even better, support Veteran-owned businesses! Thank you Chicago Fireboats for being the highlight of our trip--you guys rock! P.S. don't forget to buy some of their awesome merch!

Of all the boat tours in town this is the best. You get a great view of Chicago while having plenty of space to yourself, you never feel like you're crowded or don't have a seat like the other tours.

I liked their music taste fits perfectly with my age. Also, this boat stayed longer than any other sunset boat (as long as I know. Other boats were returning as the sun went down). Even go around navy pier to have better view of nightlight of Chicago. wonderful experience, friendly staff, and safe, clean boat. Also, it was not crowded so we could have enjoyed our moment privately.

This was the last activity for us before we departed after spending 12 days in Chicago, little did I know it would be a tour that changed my life forever. The tour guid was funny, the deckhand was helpful and walking around offering to take photos for people and the sites and history given was amazing! But let's talk about why it was life changing! My then boyfriend talked to deckhand and the tour guide and they went above and beyond to help him propose to me on the boat. They gave him the mic so he could ask loud enough for the whole boat to hear and even congratulated us with a bottle of champagne! I highly recommend this tour to all and a special thank you to the crew that helped make this day special

Had an incredible time out with the Fireboat Crew. The drinks at the bar were great (and reasonably priced,) the crew was friendly and knowledgeable, and the tour itself was lovely. Had some amazing views of Chicago and felt I learned a lot. Would definitely do it again!

Love love loved our tour today! The tour guide was fabulous - just the right mix of history and fun facts with lots of jokes in between. I was so relieved to see they made sure everyone followed the COVID guidelines at all times. Even being local to Chivago for almost 2 years now, I learnt a whole lot of new tidbits today and I have done different boat tours on 2 different occasions other than this. They had a full bar on the boat, the boat in itself was beautiful - an original fireboat from 1937! There was good covered seating in the back and open seating in the front. Highly recommend opting for the fireboat tour over the others since it was worth every penny I paid and was 120mins of full adventure by the clock.

Great tour. Very informative. Especially since we only had a few days in Chicago. Can only recommend!

An awesome fun 90 minute tour of Lake Michigan and Chicago River. You can bring food and buy drinks including alcohol aboard. Crew is very friendly and Captain Bob provided a fun narrative of the city's history. Also, how often do you have the opportunity to ride on a retired fire boat built in 1936?! I highly recommend it!

Reviews All crew44 informative35 tour guide27 lake24 +6 Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest Jenn H 5 reviews·12 photos 5 minutes ago NEW My husband and I took this tour on October 20th during our trip to Chciago. It was among the best things we did our whole trip. The entire crew was welcoming and friendly and the tour guide was very informative. We loved being on the ... More +9 Amanda Martin 4 reviews·4 photos a month ago Great experience for my family. Enjoyed it all. Very enthusiastic presenter who had knowledge and passion about the history of Chicago, naval facility, parks, etc. We enjoyed this smaller vessel since it was less crowded than the other ... More Barbara Talisman 6 reviews·10 photos 2 months ago Nothing better than an historic boat run by Navy veterans with a sense of humor and great Chicago back story. In the 90 minute tour, we went out onto the Lake, through the locks, up the river and on the the north branch. It was a ... More +7 María Carolina Berríos Local Guide·43 reviews·558 photos 3 months ago This is a hidden gem! We did the historical and architectural tour and we couldn't be any happier. First, you're riding in a beautiful piece of Chicago's history. The boat is small (compared to the others available), so you have a more ... More +5 Facebook https://m.facebook.com ' reviews Chicago Fireboat Tours - Reviews The ride was really smooth and amazing precision to turning around in the middle of the river. The boat has options for water, alcohol, and... More ... 5.0(90) Chicago Fireboat Tours https://www.fireboattours.com Chicago Fireboat Tours - cruise on a piece of Chicago history || Lake Michigan + ... We're Chicago Fireboat Tours! We offer Chicago boat tours, sunset cruises, and fireworks cruises on an original Chicago Fireboat. Tours & Cruises About History Calendar Location & Parking Location Groupon https://www.groupon.com ' deals Go on a Architectural Boat Tour - Up To 41% Off - Chicago, IL Staff were very friendly, fun and informative. Tour is a great way to see Chicago from the water and FUN on a refurbished fire boat. Highly recommended for all ... 4.9(591) · $29.00 People also search for Shoreline Sightseeing Wendella Tours & Cruises Chicago Electric Boat Com... Chicago Architecture Center Chicago's First Lady Cruises Island Party Boat Urban Kayaks on the Chica... Chicago Line Cruises More results Feedback Web results Groupon https://www.groupon.com ' deals Go on a Chicago Skyline Sunset Cruise - From $55 Staff were very friendly, fun and informative. Tour is a great way to see Chicago from the water and FUN on a refurbished fire boat. Highly recommended for all ... 4.9(591) · $55.00 to $79.00 eVisitorGuide https://www.evisitorguide.com ' chi... Chicago Fireboat Tours History Tours Chicago | Chicago Tours | Boat We cruise both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, and invite you to join us for a memorable cruising experience. Review our options below and purchase your ... ABC7 Chicago https://abc7chicago.com ' chicago-f... Chicago Fireboat Tours return this spring; cruise the river, Lake Michigan on floating ... Mar 26, 2022 -- Chicago Fireboat Tours return this spring with a chance to cruise the Chicago Rivera and Lake Michigan on a floating piece of history. Top-Rated.Online https://www.top-rated.online ' place Chicago Fireboat Tours - Boat tour agency in North Chicago, United States Jul 28, 2022 -- Very cool tour. Pictures give it no justice. Ray and the crew including Natalie and ed are very friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. This boat ... Related searches Chicago Fireboat Tours parking Chicago Fireboat tour Promo Code Chicago boat tours Groupon Chicago Fireboat Tour Chicago Fire Department boat Chicago tours Chicago Boat Tour Groupon Boat cruise Chicago Jenn H 5 reviews·12 photos 5 minutes ago NEW My husband and I took this tour on October 20th during our trip to Chciago. It was among the best things we did our whole trip. The entire crew was welcoming and friendly and the tour guide was very informative. We loved being on the smaller retired fireboat and learning about its history as well (lots of cool pictures inside the boat). They a had clear weather protective shade/wall around the back of the boat so you could be comfortable inside or outside the boat with plenty of seats for all. We got lucky with a gorgeous (and still/no wind) day so we sat out front. Loved this tour and would recommend to anyone, we were glad we chose this over one of the larger less intimate boats. My only suggestion to the tourguide would be to lower the speaker level of the microphone as we felt it was louder than needed, even when passing under the bridges with the car noise. The views of the buildings were spectacular and learning about the history was very interesting If you are looking to do one this is the one you want!

It was a great way to see the city and the amazing architecture. The crew was friendly. Matt, the tour guide was excellent. Would highly recommend it!

So glad we chose the Fireboat Architecture Tour during our visit to Chicago in July. Tour guide was fantastic and I liked that it was a small group of people. Highly recommend'

One of my favorite tours I've taken anywhere. We're native Chicagoans, but learned about the history of the city. I love our skyline and the photo opportunities seem to be endless.

We are from Boston and have been to Chicago a few times and decided we wanted to do something different. We saw the fire boat advertisement and we're sold especially with it being a pair of Navy Veteran's that started it up! The tour was great tons of details but enjoyable. The employees were all very knowledgeable and nice. Both owners were on the boat as they said they usually are and they made the cruise even more interesting learning where they found it and got it home and made it the boat it is today! I cannot recommend this tour enough, well worth the money!

Awesome experience with Chicago Fireboat Tours- highly recommend for those wanting to learn about the architecture and history of Chicago. It takes you right along the river and the staff is extremely funny and witty throughout the tour. Plenty of space on the boat so doesn't feel uncomfortable with seating. Absolutely plan on returning, thanks for a great morning on the boat!

This company is extremely unprofessional! They booked a corporate excursion on the fire boat as well as sold tickets to people not with the company. My Wife payed over a $100 for my birthday cruse, We were treated as though We weren't welcomed and the people from whatever company were disrespectful as well.

Have taken a few boat tours over the years when family is in town. Most recently we went on the fireboat architecture tour and it was by far my favorite! Wonderful tour guide, all the staff were very friendly, and we had the best drinks I've had on one of these tours. From now on will be booking this tour when friends and family are in town!

Such a fun, unique experience! Excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable. And so much fun to get to ride on a retired fire boat. Highly recommend!

Wonderful trip and wonderful crew. This trip was unique because the fire boat was so special. We did the historical tour. You start in the lake. It was about sunset, so great from pictures. Then you go through the locks (pretty cool!). You go up the river and then the north branch (not the south branch). Not an architectural tour, but interesting. Make sure you try the Chicago Handshake! Find out if you're the 1 in 49?

Wow, great experience! The fireworks tour was amazing. Taking in the show on the lake and seeing the buildings lit up at night was spectacular. For the price don't be expecting a yacht. Best bet is to not drink if you get seasick and PB4UGO!

By boyfriend and I took the sunset cruise on Wednesday evening. We had such a great time. We actually bought a Groupon, but would easily pay full price for the experience we had. Incredible views, stunning sunset, full bar, great music, friendly staff, relaxing atmosphere, and a clean boat with plenty of space! Can't wait to go again.

Amazing tour!! The guides are friendly and funny, and taught me a lot about the Chicago skyline. Great to tour the city aboard the fireboat, an important piece of Chicago history!!