Wendella Tours & Cruises

A group of us (co-workers/colleagues) came on a weeknight cruise at 5:30PM to do the Architectural Tour…. It was GREAT! It was easy to board, once boarding started. They have a full bar and very light snacks (chips, pretzels, etc), beer, etc. They also have plenty of seating on the upper deck, where you can see everything being talked about just perfectly. The narrator was great on this cruise, he did an excellent job telling stories about the places we saw, as well as explaining a little history and how certain sites were important to Chicago. The route through the lock to the lake was also fun to experience! Highly recommend taking the tour if you want to learn more about Chicago and all the amazing history and architecture that make it such a great place!

I had a wonderful 90-minute cruise with Wendella Boats and absolutely loved the experience! The route along the Chicago River and out onto Lake Michigan offers breathtaking views of the city skyline. The guide was engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate about Chicago’s history and architecture. The boat was comfortable, well-organized, and the staff was friendly. A must-do activity if you’re visiting Chicago!

This was such a neat experience! We enjoyed our tour guide and the overall experience with the staff on board. Our guide gave us a bit of humor with history and obviously architecture facts and insights. There is no shade on the upper level of the boat so plan for that if you are booking during the day but the lower level is available, it is just very small compared to the rest of the boat. There was not a bad view on board so don’t worry about not being right on top, you get 360 views from your boat. We booked the sunset cruise and that was the way to go. Drinks were reasonable, a mixed drink was $12 and it came in a cute souvenir metal cup. We would book this tour again and recommend it to anyone interested in getting the chance to see the Chicago riverwalk and learn about so many of the beautiful buildings we walked by. Follow Kenna_with_a_camera for more.

It was a beautiful day for a river cruise! We had the 4:15 PM time slot, which turned out to be the perfect time to explore the city from the water. Our tour guide, Kenny, was spectacular—fun, knowledgeable, and really made the experience unforgettable. You couldn’t ask for a better way to see Chicago. Great time, great vibes, and a great price. Highly recommend!

It's been easily 40 years since I used to bring kids on these boat rides as a Boys & Girls Club counselor. I went on my birthday as a change of pace and truly enjoyed the experience in addition to learning a few things about my great city. Arrived early and got a good seat. The tour guide was informative and passionate about Chicago. Validation of parking was 10 hours for $14 (giving me time to go to Billy Goats afterwards). Overall a wonderful time I will not wait another 40 years to repeat!

We had an nice time on the Wendella Chicago Architectural Boat Tour and it was largely thanks to Jack, our tour guide. From the moment the boat pulled away from the dock, Jack’s energy, knowledge, storytelling was rich and engaging, weaving history, architecture, and personal anecdotes into a tour that felt more like a lively conversation than a lecture. He had the whole crowd smiling, laughing, and asking questions. The way he interacted with guests. Jack didn’t just point out buildings; he brought the city’s skyline to life. One moment that truly stood out to me is that Jack’s service in Vietnam was mentioned, and I just want to express heartfelt thanks for his bravery and dedication. To have someone who’s served his country now sharing its beauty with others it’s humbling and inspiring. If you’re visiting Chicago and want to experience the city from a fresh, welcoming perspective, Wendella’s Rivera boat tour is the way to go. Chicago’s architecture is stunning but the stories Jack tells make it unforgettable

We took the river architecture tour at 6:30. The views were spectacular and the whole thing was amazing. Our tour guide was amazing and told us lots of stories and made us fall in love with Chicago. The architectural information was detailed and pretty extensive but it was not boring at all. Overall it was a stellar experience. Our tour guide Spiro was amazing and I 10/10 recommend.

I have enjoyed this tour on two wonderful occasions. Once in the middle of the day and on another occasion later in the evening as the city comes alive with lights. The tour is fantastic, they provide a wonderful guide who is very knowledgeable about the city and its architecture. The ship is also very spacious, providing comforts like food, beverages, and restrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed this activity and the entire atmosphere of the river, the buildings, and a different perspective of beauty that the city captures.

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!!

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.

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

This was such a fun experience to take when I was in chicago during a crazy heat wave. The breeze was welcome and I learned so much about the architecture that lined the river and our tour guide was great. If course I had to grab an Aperol Spritz from the lower deck to drink while cruizing.

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

So glad we did this while visiting Chicago. We were accompanied by locals who have also done this architecture tour and even they learned new things and enjoyed themselves. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and her wit and jokes kept us laughing and entertained. I highly recommend this tour while you're visiting.

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.

This was an awesome tour. Explored the river and architecture. Then took us out to the lake. It was a beautiful sight. The day we went was warm, but windy (it is Chicago!) which was perfect weather. There are drinks (including alcohol) and snacks on the boat. Bathrooms were what you would expect on a busy boat cruise. Such a nice experience and would totally do it again.

Took our friends / Chicago first-timers on this tour and everyone loved it! This is definitely a must for anyone visiting the city for the first time. The tour was actually a bit longer than 45 mins and we learned a lot. Our guide, Dave, was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Plus, he's a native Chicagoan and takes pride in his work. We had a lot of fun and would highly recommend Wendella to all visitors! Just make sure to dress appropriately, especially in spring or fall as it can get windy / chilly on the river.

We went right after opening since COVID. It was a little cold; but beautiful. The cruise director gave a lot of information.

Was in Chicago with my husband, his brother and his wife the beginning of April. Our first time in Chicago. So naturally beforehand, I did my due diligence and Googled and Yelped all the "Must See" and "Must Do" in Chicago. Of course this cruise came across on most if not all my searches. There was no way I could NOT do this tour any way it was everything architecture and I am a sucker for architecture. Make sure to grab yourself a yummy beverage or dessert from Ghiradelli before you board. If you don't have time they do sell some refreshments on the boat. Check-in was simple. Then you walk down some stairs and board. The guide was knowledgeable and engaging. He even went the extra mile and offered to take questions afterwards of food recs. That was nice. Weather was cooperative and you even get a view of the skyline from a vantage point you would not get if you weren't on the cruise. I totally recommend if you've never been to Chicago. You gain a lot of history on Chicago and the buildings that was very nice. It's a great 90 minute tour.

This is the best way to experience Chicago's iconic skyline, the Wendella River Cruise. And, it prepares you for Chicago trivia. The tour has fantastic views of some of the most famous buildings in the city. I gotta say the Morse Code Building at 150 North Riverside was my favorite. The facade spells out the building's address in Morse code. About as clever as you get in architecture. I have to mention the new St. Regis Chicago, designed by Jeanne Gang, making it the tallest building in the world designed by a woman. The cruise also highlights the iconic Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), once the tallest building in the world. If you're a history buff nerd like me and you love to learn, do it amongst the city views! Pro Tip: Try to book a late afternoon or early evening cruise to see the skyline light up as the sun sets.

Thoroughly enjoyed our 90 minute architecture tour on the river! Our guide was a wonderful tour host and provided great history and education on the buildings along the river. The tour was fun and educational! The boat is massive and the tour can accommodate over 200 people, and although our tour was super packed, it was easy to grab a spot for our group and we still had room to roam around. The upper deck is the best place to be for sights and listening to the tour guide, but it was nice to be able to go downstairs for some shade and cool air. The boat had a bar with water, canned cocktails, wine, and beer, you could purchase it there or pre-purchase drink tickets when you book the tour, which lets you get them discounted. This is the only architecture tour I've done in Chicago, so with nothing to compare it to I'd say it was really great and would do it again!

I purchased my tickets directly on their website. It was easy to find the arrival area & the representatives were friendly. We were asked to line up to check our tickets and bags. We boarded and selected our seats, they are not assigned. It was a cold day, so we started off in the bar area. I enjoyed an Irish coffee then went upstairs to listen to the tour guide (you can still hear in the bar area). He was so funny and knowledgeable. I will suggest this to the next person I hear is going to Chicago!

Skyline and historic building cruise up the river. Easy to locate on the river . On arrival check in , head down the steps to the boat . It's a ticket office located downstairs if tickets weren't purchased online . Board the boat with the scan of your tickets. Once on the boat pick a seat or head downstairs to the bar with sitting as well . The boat has sitting on the first and second floor . Restroom is located on the 2nd floor across from the bar . The bar serves Acoholhic drinks soda and snacks . The views are nice and the commentary was nice and informative. The boat ride was about 45 minute and it went near the navy pier . I will definitely recommend this as something to do in Chicago.

Loved Wendella tours for the recent trip to Chicago. The tour was a bit crowded but they had a nice loud speaker and plenty of seating. Our tour guide was amazing and engaging. Plus they have a bar for drinks and snacks.

I had a 90 minute reservation and went to Wendella station and asked for guidance where to go. I was 30 minutes early and a wendella worker told me to go to the other side which I thought was interesting and I ended up missing my reservation. I do not recommend this place because all workers were rude. I have done this tour before and the workers were great. I am so disappointed.

The BEST tour guides on the Chicago River! I've been on the Wendella boats for the Chicago River Architecture Tour several times and it's been fantastic every time and worth every penny! A must for anyone visiting Chicago. Even if it's cold out, bundle up and get out there to experience it!

I've been on this architecture boat tour several years ago but this particular tour we chose the evening time and it was great! It's so different seeing the buildings lit up at night versus doing the day tour. Our captain was funny and had lots of tidbit facts along the way of his tour. I do recommend getting there early so you can make sure to get a seat on the top level. We were the last people on the boat as we were running late from dinner and got side bench seating on the bottom level but were able to move around to find a better spot.

Beautiful day to be a tourist in your own city! Loved the tour by David he was amazing! Overloaded with so much info! I got the drink tickets when I got my boat ticket. And when I got to the bar after boarding the boat they scanned both tickets so I got a double drink! I got to sip on that during the whole cruise. Definitely get there early if you want a prime seat!! I sat at the back on the benches. Such great views!

I've done the Wendella Boat Tour four times now whenever friends or family visit, and it's always an awesome experience. This is a must-do if you're in Chicago--the guides are super knowledgeable, and you'll learn a ton about the city's history and buildings that you wouldn't just by walking around. The tour is 90 minutes, fully narrated, with drinks available on board and bathrooms for convenience. The boat is never overcrowded, and the ride is always smooth and comfortable. My most recent guide, Alex, was hands-down the best one yet--engaging, informative, and made the experience even better. If you're visiting Chicago (or even live here), this tour is 100% worth it every time!

Did a boat tour this past July. Loved this architectural tour. This tour took us all the way through the water lock and into Lake Michigan and back. The weather was perfect, a little wet at times with splashing of water but the boat was large enough to not feel a ton of rocking. Beautiful views though. Definitely a most do if visiting Chicago. Con was it was a little hard to hear the tour guide at times.

Highly recommend this!! I first went on this about 15 years ago and it still was just as amazing! We took our nieces and made it right before the cruise left (our breakfast place took awhile)! We called to see how strict the 30min before boarding was, and they were understanding and told us as long as we arrived before the departure time. I get easily seasick but this boat goes fast + the windy city helps prevent nausea. And you can walk around as well. The second deck is great for shade. The best spot on the boat for pictures is below on the second deck at the back of the boat. The city skyline is absolutely amazing! I loved the info we got from our tour guide (forgot her name)! She did great and even took pictures for people during her break. I highly recommend this fun activity if you are wanting to get a full tourist experience of Chicago and if you are interested in moving here.

This rating may not be fair, due to the weather. It was super cold on the late April evening when we did the 7:30 pm architectural tour. So cold we didn't go outside, which meant we didn't to really enjoy the experience. I am hopeful that I'll enjoy the tour the next time we go when the weather is better. The employees were friendly!

*1st time on the river in Chicago (Try to get a Groupon beforehand) -Nice views -Friendly staff -Tour guide kept me interested adding jokes here and there -You can hear the tour guide below the boat as well -You can choose to sit inside or out

Any boat architecture tour while in Chicago is must do, even for locals! Wendella Tours is super flexible with changing tour times after purchasing a ticket. I did the 90 minute tour and time flew by, it is such a unique experience to see the cityscape from the river and the lake. Lots of photos were taken. Overall the tour guide was informative and answered any and all questions. I do wish there was more depth of information about the different styles of architecture. Unfortunately there were bursts of pouring rain during the tour and I wished ponchos were offered. But I should have been more prepared too! I would definitely take this tour again when I'm back in town. You'll learn something new every time. Be sure to head to the appropriate dock early as seats are first come first served.

Booked my tickets online four days in advance. I recommend coming here at least 40 minutes before boarding time so that you can be one of the first ones in line and get a good Seat. They do have a bar on the lower level of the boat. Restrooms are also available on the lower level of the boat. Our tour guide Alex was very knowledgeable and friendly. He even stayed behind to answer any questions and offer food suggestions. We didn't follow the parking instructions after booking our tickets however we found a local parking garage and we parked there to walk to where are we supposed to meet up. All in all the architecture tour provided a lot of history and such a beautiful view of the architect in Chicago. I learned a lot and grew an appreciation for the architect in Chicago. I definitely would recommend booking with them if you are looking to take the architecture tour while you're in Chicago.

Excellent tour on the Chicago River! An amazing way to learn about some city history, explore beautiful architecture and spend time on the water. We took a 90 minute tour and really appreciated the information and humor from our guide. I've done 2 boat architectural tours in Chicago and they are a must!

I was at a conference and was told I had to do the boat architecture tour if I am limited on time. This is conveniently located in Magnificent Mile, downtown Chicago. I paid $44 for a 90 minute tour around the architecture of Chicago. I loved seeing the older buildings with their beautiful details. This was worth it. I did not buy advanced tickets, just showed up and was lucky the boat would be leaving in 15 minutes. I learned quite a bit about Chicago in general. Our guide talked about the Chicago Fire, the World's Fair, how they dye the river green for St. Patrick's Day and more. Highly recommend if you're short on time and want to see some beautiful architecture.

It was a great way to go sightseeing in Chicago without having to walk everywhere! Our tour guide was great and each building had its own unique story.

During a break from the primary visit to Chicago for the SHRM 2024 annual conference and expo, me and some wonderful new HR buddies decided to take an adventure to an architectural boat tour. The Wendell's tour was popular with great reviews including many from TikTok. It was a 90 minute tour for $44 which wasn't bad at all. There was a bar to order drinks and snacks and restrooms down below along with seating but majority of the ppl were upstairs to fill see the views. Our tour guide was funny and knowledgeable and we really saw some amazing architectural buildings. It was also very relaxing to not be walking and stressing. We could just sit back and enjoy the weather and the view while we learned about it all. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to take advantage of this...

The tour was super informational, enjoyable, and entertaining. Scotty covered all that I could want to know about the river!

With so many tours to chose from, we really weren't sure what one to chose. We were very happy with our choice of Wendella. The tour guide was entertaining and informative with the right balance of history/information and entertainment. The boat was packed but we were able to get good seats. The bar area itself seemed a bit dirty and the sink in the bathroom was broken so a bit of area to improve.

Today was my third time on a Wendella architectural boat tour in the past 5 years, and it was by far the best! We did the 45-minute tour, and our tour guide was outstanding! She talked about different kinds of architecture--art deco, brutalist, post-modern, etc. During the 45-minute tour, she informed, explained, joked, and narrated for about 42 minutes. She was part architecture professor, part comedian, part historian--never got dull or boring. Highly recommended!!

One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Chicago was the Wendella lake and river tour! We wandered down the Chicago River, soaking in the sights, lights and sounds of Chicago. From the river, we ventured out onto Lake Michigan to take in a wider view of the beautiful city that is Chicago! The views of the water and the Chicago skyline were stunning, especially from a boat at dusk. If you think Chicago is beautiful during the day, experiencing it from a boat on Lake Michigan at night will warm your heart and blow your mind! Booking tickets online was a breeze, and finding their location was fairly easy with the dedicated staircase and entry at the base of the Wrigley Building. I recommend arriving early since seating is first-come, first-served, but honestly, there's not a bad seat on the boat. The bar on the bottom level serves a great selection of beverages, including cocktails and beer, which added to the fun. You can purchase for full price on the boat, or pre-purchase drink tickets at a discounted price. Our guide was phenomenal! He was knowledgeable, engaging, and great at keeping things light while also enforcing the rules. He definitely helped make the time entertaining, educational and overall fun! Overall, this tour was easily the highlight of our Chicago trip. I can't recommend it enough!

With so many different river tour companies to choose from, I'm glad I decided to go with Wendella. Their loading dock is conveniently located off Michigan Ave...super easy to find. It cost $44.00 per person for a 90 minute tour. Our tour guide was informative and kept the tour interesting. I really enjoyed hearing the history/facts of buildings, architect, how goose island came to be, etc. We were here for St Patrick's Day weekend and it was cool seeing where the green dye stopped. I've always thought there was some kind of 'stopper' somewhere but our tour guide said by the waves of the currant....the dye doesn't flow in that direction. There's bathrooms located on the first level of the boat. Clean and for a bathroom in a boat....it was relatively spacious. Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages as well as snacks can be purchase on this floor also. Dress accordingly, especially if you want to be on the upper deck which let's face it...that's where you want to be at to be able to see everything. For the colder months....literally over dress. You're on the river so the temperature is much colder! Plus add in the wind/breeze....you'll be miserable if you don't dress warm. I even thought to myself at what point does frostbite kick in because my toes were numb! This was my first time visiting and I was glad to have chosen Wendella for a crash course in Chicago history.

We loved our Wendella River and Lake tour! Definitely a highlight of the trip and something I recommend doing as early in your trip as possible to help give you a lay of the land and possibly some ideas of places to see. Our guide was excellent, I cannot remember her name but she is a local math teacher and did a great job at sharing the information but also making it engaging and interesting. She has been doing it for over 3 years so you can tell she is a pro. We did the tour where you also get to go out on the lake and although it was windy, it was cool to see the city from the lake and go around the navy pier. We even got to go by the football stadium while a game was happening. `

It's been a hot minute since I was back in Chicago, so having a few days to explore on our own before heading to Indiana with friends, my husband and I opted to see the cities architecture by boat! It proved to be an A+ experience! ++ Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online - along with payment! Tickets are sent straight to your email or phone making the process seamless in checking in and boarding the boat! ++ Pricing ranges depending on the type of tour taken...and there are plenty to choose from! 45 minute, 90 minute architecture tours, firework cruise, sunset cruise, wine and cheese tour, etc...! We chose the 90-minute tour and paid $44/person which we found to be extremely reasonable! ++ What a unique view of Chicago! Despite the tour you choose, you'll wind your way through the waterways and see skyscrapers of all sizes and learn history along the way! There is literally no better seat in the house to experience Chicago! ++ We opted for a mid-morning tour which proved to be a great idea. It wasn't too crowded despite the rooftop being pretty full. The weather was a perfect sunshiney day - but beware - the rooftop gets HOT, so make way to the lower level for a bit of shade and a cocktail to cool down! Just to note: getting to the boat, on-board and exiting is all handicap friendly, so everyone can partake in the fun! ++ Staff is insanely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable of their Chicago history! Our guide knew all kinds of information pertaining to the cities' history, architecture, even where celebrities lived and provided us with fun trivia questions along the way! He made the experience that much better! ++ Beverages and food are offered for purchase on-board and decent at that! We happily sipped on refreshing cocktails as we made our way through the city! I could easily go on and on about this tour, as it was one of my favorites to date! I can easily see why this tour and company was rated one of the best in town!

Group ride on a Saturday morning and it was a great experience a great way to see the architecture up close and personal our tour guide Kenneth was great

I'm not a structured tour person but this architectural tour was excellent. Dave the guide was articulate and witty keeping the boat engaged while explaining the history of Chicago and the buildings along the Riverfront. Could be better directed in where to go and meet for the trip but both boarding points are near each other so a non-issue in the end.

This was a great tour my lover brought us on. He paid $80 I believe for 90 mins for both of us. I looked forward to going on one of these for many years and happy to have finally experienced it. Chicago architecture is truly beautifulllll. Scotty D was an entertaining tour guide with witty jokes so that was pleasant. It was a very gloomy and windy day but luckily my man brought a blanket for me so that helped. It was nice to learn facts about Chicago that I never knew or sought after. Why didn't i know the first Chicago burned down (it was made of wood) and this is the 2nd version? Did you know that? I wish there were better snacks downstairs that are more health conscious friendly, however, it's all good as the most important aspect is the boat and tour itself. The tour is worth it. Tourist Tip: Check the weather before you go, sunscreen yourself, bring a blanket if it's a windy day and dress accordingly. Also be conscious of space and the people around you.

This river architecture cruise was one of the highlights of my time in Chicago. It was a cool way to learn about the history of the city and see some of the famous buildings. There were seats available or you could walk around the boat. We took the opportunity to snap a few photos at the front of the ship and learned why Chicago is called the windy city when my hair wrapped around my head as the wind blew off the water.

As always, great experience on the Chicago River Architecture tour! The guides are always so knowledgeable and entertaining. Great way to spend an afternoon with visitors from out of town.

Scotty D. is a Great American Hero! He made this boat tour 3 E's...entertaining, educational and excellent! The staff were all friendly and helpful. My husband has a cochlear implant and is also a lipreader and all of the staff ensured a seat in front of Scotty D. and a shout out to the manager Q. Highly recommend the 90 minute tour. No need to buy a Groupon as it was the same $44 price at the Wendella ticket stand. Bon Voyage

Great tour! The right amount of detail from the guide, with the perfect views of the city throughout the tour. No better way to see the city architecture than from the tour boat. Bar on board, indoor and outdoor viewing options. You should arrive to the dock early to ensure you get good seat(s) for your group.

This river tour is phenomenal ! There are always groupon deals so try to snatch one of those. You ride through the Chicago River and into Lake Michigan, all whilst being guided through the architectural history of the Windy City. The tour happens rain (not thundering) or shine so come prepared. There's also a bar on deck if you so wish for the beverages :) Come prepared to take in all the information and fascinating sights

There are a number of architectural tour companies in Chicago and my company chose this one. We did the 45-minute cruise up and down the River which was reasonably priced and informative. Our weather was great too.

We did the 1.5 Hour Guided Architecture Tour on the Chicago River and absolutely loved it! Definitely book your excursion through Wendella! We arrived about 30 minutes before our scheduled boarding time and were towards the front of the line to board the boat. Finding the boat was very easy - you can see the sign off of DuSable Bridge! The boat is large and has both indoor and outdoor space. The bottom deck has a nice covered area with chairs to sit on. They also have a bar which sells a variety of hot and cold beverages plus snacks. Our tour guide was very engaging and informative! We learned a lot about the history of the buildings around the river and of the city in general. One recommendation I would have is to increase the volume of the speakers especially on the lower deck. At times it was difficult to hear the tour guide, but overall, not a deal breaker for an otherwise awesome experience!

Came here for the 12noon tour today leaving from Wrigley building at the docks - and it was a fantastic experience! Tickets were $44 per person and we booked tickets online the week before. The tour came highly recommended from friends who are from Chicago and also tourist visitors. Pros: - A pretty good price for what you get! The tour is 90 mins long and you get a LOT of information and entertainment ! - lots of seats available in the upper deck , but if you really want a good one I recommend lining up early - there's a good view from anywhere on the boat, but I recommend a seat that either faces forward or to the right - since the tour guide often points at buildings on the right when he talks about it - super entertaining tour! Talks about multiple buildings and architects, and talks about some Chicago history (including the world fair, the Chicago fire, etc). Corny jokes but they kept me focused ! - really good speaker system on the upper deck and outside on the lower deck - if you get cold, you can go inside to the lower deck area - bar available ! - super easy to use screenshot mobile tickets that they email you (Not legit ) Cons: - can get cold upstairs during windy seasons! Strongly recommend dressing warmly or appropriately if you go in the summer - speakers inside lower deck can't really be heard if there's a lot of talking amongst the clients Overall 10/10, strongly recommend for anyone visiting the city! The crew made us feel safe the entire time.